PHNO-BE:

BY BABE ROMUALDEZ: TURMOIL AT THE MANILA ROTARY
CLUB

MANILA, JUNE 19, 2012 (PHILSTAR) SPY BITS By
Babe Romualdez - Even the most prestigious clubs are not immune to
controversies, like the Manila Rotary which recently held – with much success –
its Journalism Awards in honor of outstanding media personalities and entities.

The term of outgoing president architect Urbano "Banit" Caasi seems to be
marked by a lot of infighting and disagreements from several quarters.
One of the casualties is past Rotary president Benjamin "Ben" Santos whose
expulsion by the current Board led by Caasi is now the subject of litigation
before a Makati Regional Trial Court.
Santos, who was unceremoniously removed as Insurance Commissioner by former
President Arroyo, is embroiled in controversy having been blamed for the
purchase of a biometric machine worth P177,000 from a company named I Oasis.

The machine reportedly proved defective and was pulled out by the supplier
who allegedly failed to return the machine and the money paid by the Manila
Rotary. Sources disclosed however that the more serious issue had to do with the
alleged failure of Santos to disclose his (50 percent) interest in I Oasis.
In one of the issues of Balita, the in-house publication of the Manila
Rotary, Caasi decried the conflict of interest that marred the purchase of the
defective machine and its implications on the leadership at the Rotary.
Not surprisingly, this did not sit well with Santos who, during a regular
luncheon meeting of the Club, rudely confronted Caasi in public uttering a
"colorful" Filipino expletive.
Pride hurt and nerves frayed, the outgoing president subsequently filed a
criminal complaint of "slander by deed" before the Makati Prosecutor's office.

The incident prompted a board resolution ordering the expulsion of Santos –
who disputed the action claiming the board failed to conduct an impartial
investigation and did not observe due process. Santos said Caasi spurned his
overtures to settle the issue amicably – leaving him no choice but to seek
relief from the courts.
Last April, Branch 149 of the Makati Regional Trial Court issued a 20-day
temporary restraining order enjoining the incumbent board from acting on the
resolution of expulsion. Santos said the board violated the TRO when it still
went ahead with the expulsion. He also claims that he properly disclosed his
interest in I Oasis, and that a certification of the disclosure was given to the
board and its officers prior to the approval of the biometric project.
"We asked for an impartial investigation of the case this Board made against
me but no investigation was ever made so the facts of my case can be properly
evaluated," the former IC chief wrote, adding that he hoped the next board under
president-elect Obet Pagdanganan would review his case and mount an impartial
investigation. Pagdanganan reportedly said he cannot move without a subsequent
court resolution on the matter.
Lawyers of Caasi, however, say the Makati RTC order was misinterpreted since
the TRO, and eventually the preliminary injunction, only called for the
non-publication of the expulsion. Besides, the TRO by its very nature is
temporary and was only effective for 20 days (or until April 23). Since the
period has expired, there exists no court order preventing the RCM from
performing any act in relation to the expulsion of Santos, the lawyers noted,
adding that it was latter who did not take the opportunity to appeal his
expulsion before the general membership meeting of the Rotary.
Manila Rotary is the oldest club in Asia so one would think its members –
whose average age is on the "senior" level – would display a high degree of
maturity. But the controversy and infighting is driving public perception that
they are "not acting their age."
(Disclosure: I resigned from the Manila Rotary two years ago but was
invited back by the late RCM president Gert A. Gust.)
Americans fight 'double taxation'
The non-profit, all volunteer organization American Citizens Abroad (ACA) is
exerting a lot of effort in pushing for legislation that would push
residence-based taxation instead of the current citizen-based taxation. The US
is the only developed country that uses a taxation system based on citizenship
rather than residence – meaning even those who were not born in the US and have
never worked there but whose parent is an American citizen can be hounded by the
IRS for failure to pay taxes, and are also required to file disclosures
regarding (foreign) bank account information.
There have been a lot of stories about Americans living outside the US who
have renounced their citizenship due to growing tax obligations and other
requirements by the IRS, with the Foreign Tax Compliance Act or FATCA perceived
as a scheme to shore up the US economy at the expense of citizens who have opted
to work or live abroad, in the process becoming citizens in their host country.

According to the ACA, which recently held its annual meeting in Geneva,
Switzerland, the current tax system places a lot of disadvantage for the US
economy on the whole and ordinary Americans who live and work all over the world
– including Fil-Am and expats who denounce what they call "double taxation."

"We've already sent our alternative proposal to US tax experts around the
world, and have presented and discussed it with members of Congress. From their
reactions, we know this is a serious and well-founded alternative to the present
system of citizen-based taxation which causes so many serious problems," an ACA
official disclosed.
Spy tidbit
Philippine Stock Exchange director Vivian Yuchengco sent us a thought
provoking message concerning media and its role, which we are printing verbatim:
"Media can criticize but not malign; media can be persistent but not
impertinent; media can investigate but not prosecute; media can opine but not
judge; media can express but not impress; media can evaluate but not speculate;
media can advocate but not pontificate; media should inspire but not
conspire."


Chief News Editor: Sol Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE NEWS ONLINE
All
rights reserved




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