Does the controversial appointment of businessman Alfonso Yuchengco as ambassador to Germany have to do with the expose’ of Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano in 2006, when he was still a member of the House of Representatives , about a secret bank account of the Arroyos in HypoVereins Bank ?
Or does it have to do with Fraport AG, a German company that partnered with Philippine International Air Terminals Co. Inc. (Piatco) in building the $350 million Terminal 3 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport? It must be recalled that the Supreme Court under Gloria Arroyo nullified the Piatco-Fraport contract because of anomalies.
These are just some of the questions that came up as we tried to find rhyme and reason for Arroyo’s appointment of 87-year old Yuchengco to Germany with only three months left in her administration.
From a very reliable source:
Heard that the German ambassador has recommended that German government deny the request for agrément on the basis of age if such a request is ever sent.
Foreign Service officers were shocked and disgusted to learn about the letter of Gloria Arroyo to the Commission on Appointments coursed through the Office of Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo asking for the confirmation of her nomination to Yuchengco as ambassador.
The letter, which was received by the office of Romulo, only last week, was dated March 9, 2010, two days before the 60-day ban on presidential appointments before Election Day. Many suspect that the nomination was ante-dated.
(Arroyo’s letter to the CA, by the way, also included the nomination of Monina Callangan, a career foreign service officer, as ambassador to Budapest.)
The one most surprised about Yuchengco’s nomination was Delia Albert, the current ambassador to Germany. Basic courtesy requires that before one is replaced, she should be notified.
News reports said she was told about her removal from her post on the day she was given the award, by Arroyo herself, as “Most Outstanding Filipino Woman in Global Diplomacy.”
How can Yuchengco assume his post before June 30 when there is no scheduled convening of the Commission on Appointments ? Congress is now on recess and the will only meet after elections as national board of canvassers and to proclaim the winner in the presidential election.
In fact, in a Dec. 16, 2009 letter of Sen. Miriam Santiago, chair of the committee on foreign relations, to Arroyo, the number one item is on “No ‘midnight’ political appointment to the diplomatic service.”
Santiago said, “It appears that for each new appointment, the government will spend more or less P10 million for relocating both the incumbent and the successor. Ordinarily, this can’t be helped.
“But if there are only six months left of an incumbent president’s tenure, this would be unnecessary expense because the new president will likely make his own political appointments.”
This was the basis for the rejection of the nomination of Rep. Antonio Cuenco as ambassador to Italy.
This was six months ago. It is expected that Arroyo would be out of Malacañang in three months and two days.
Vicky Bataclan, president of the Union of Foreign Service Officers, said, “by operation of law, political ambassadors should be out of their country of assignments on or before June 30, 2010.”
Santiago also asked Arroyo that “No request for agrément should be issued by the DFA until after the nominee for ambassador has been confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.”
An agrément is the acceptance of the receiving state of the ambassador being sent by another state. Without an agreement, the ambassador could not present his credentials to the receiving head of state. Unless he has presented his credentials, he has no official personality in that country.
Bataclan said Yuchengco’s appointment is “void. There is no CA to confirm his nomination which is necessary to do the necessary steps to get his agrément from the German government.”
Another issue against Yuchengco is his age. At 87, the former ambassador to China (1986 to 1988), Japan (1995), and to the United Nations (2001) does not impress people as physically and mentally agile.
Although the age limit set by the Foreign Service Act has been grossly violated by Arroyo, it is still the law. Section 23 states,” All officers and employees of the Department who have reached the age of sixty-five (65) shall be compulsorily and automatically retired from Service. Provided, however, That all incumbent non-career chiefs of mission who are seventy (70) years old and above shall continue to hold office until June 30,1992 unless sooner removed by the appointing authority.”
Clearly, Yuchengco’s appointment defies law and reason. The question is, why did Arroyo even make it?
Sorry, I don’t know what happened. This posted this article in advance (time-stamped). It’s only now that I saw that it was “closed for comments.” I’m sorry. it’s now open.
Thanks.
Anna posted this comment in my Facebook wall:
“My, my! 87? Isn’t he a bit old for a difficult job? I suppose the man speaks German like a true blooded German so he was appointed. Just the same, isn’t there anyone else in the Philippines who can do the job? “
That’s the problem, the penchant of this administration for making illegal appointments and dismissing appointed officials.
For instance the DFA spokesman said that in 2005 Amb Albert ceased to ba career diplomat for a lot of reason. Is she already overaged and a political appointee?
My question to Mr. Malaya, as a career officer of the DFA, aren’t you a political appointee also?, you are given presidential appointment whenever you get promotion and or assigned abroad.
Ganyan na ba talaga ang utak ng mga taga DFA ngayon pagtapos pakinabangan wala na kayong paki-alam, e kung sa iyo kaya gawin yan gg. eduardo malaya, papayag ka ba.
May ambisyon ka pang maging ambassador sa isang bansa sa ASEAN, e kung ganyan ang pag iisip mo pano na ang mga empleyado sa ating embassy sa bansang pupuntahan mo?e yung sakaling papalitan mo nanamn e kapit tuko, kasi malakas daw kay romulo, pero pulos kasipsipan naman ang alam at walang paki alam sa mga tao nya, pwera na lang kung sipsip ka sa ambassador na yun. Malamang ganun ka rin siguro gg malaya.
UNIFFORS tingnan nyo naman ang mga extension ng mga ambassador nyo, lalo na yung nasa isang bansa sa ASEAN.
prans
From Nelson:
For an 87 year old, no question will be asked in case it’s used for safe haven.
“Another issue against Yuchengco is his age. At 87, the former ambassador to China (1986 to 1988), Japan (1995), and to the United Nations (2001) does not impress people as physically and mentally agile.” – Ellen
I have seen Mr. Yuchengco in a few social occasions recently and his facial expression seemed blank.
Sorry to say this, but could he be in the early stage of Alzheimer’s disease?
ang tanong:
…malaki ba ang utang na loob ni putot kay Yuchengco?
…malaki ba ang takot ng mga arroyo that if the Ambassador sa Germany is not on their side..may malaking escandalo na lalabas? like the deposits of the arroyo sa bangko sa Germany?
..on basic courtesy mentioned in the article…does putot know what courtesy means?
…does Yuchengco know that due to his age, common decency demands of a decent person to politely refuse the appointment?
…does he know that due to his age he may not be able to function mentally or physically as expected?
…does he not feel that it is time for men of his age to give way to the younger generation?
…accepting this position seem to indicate that he can not mentally function well..naguulianin na ata..how greedy can he be for power? honor? he is capable perhaps twenty years ago but at 87? does he think he is superman? or is he like the men in the old testament that lived over 100 years? it seems that with him as the super ambassador in Germany he is going to give a haven not heaven for arroyo and family..kaya lang wala na ata siya sa correct state of mind..
Ellen,
Does this Yuchengco belong to the same family of “insurers” that defrauded thousands of families of their hard earned savings for the education of their children?
Whatever one says, 87 is a bit too old for the job. Would’ve been alright if he had the stature of Carlos Romulo whose name was respected internationally. But Yuchengco? Is he so indispensable in RP relations to Germany that at 87, this man who is halfway to his grave has to be shipped to Bonn? Is the foreign service lacking in diplomats of ambassadorial stature?
I’m sure there are at least 100 Filipinos who can do the job better than this man whose agility of mind and physique is dubious to say the least.
Ellen, I’m pretty sure that the real answer why Gloria’s is sending Yuchengco to Bonn is to guard against anyone who wants to know more about “a secret bank account of the Arroyos in HypoVereins Bank”.
Gloria is so contemptible — she really doens’t bloody care about what people in RP or abroad might think. She does as she pleases and people who matter don’t seem to give a bloody hoot even as she slaps them around.
Shitabrick!
Arroyo’s appointment of 87-year old Yuchengco to Germany with only three months left in her administration.
Bastos na Gloria! Binabastos talaga ang Filipino!
I hope his nurses lose his hearing aids (plural.)
Yes, Anna. he is the same Yuchengco that defrauded thousands of families when his educational plan company collapsed.
Where’s Soleil? Dapat sumama siya sa rally against Yuchengco’s appointment.
Ellen, what’s the cut off date on presidential appointments before Election day?
Inquirer says March 10. But AFP Chief Delfin Bangit got his appointment on that day, the retirement date of his predecessor Victor Ibrado.
Bonifacio, my count is March 11, start of the two-month ban on appointments.
You are right about Ibrado missing the ban by one day. Swerte pa rin si Bangit that Ibrado’s birthday was March 10, the day before the ban.
From a very reliable source:
Heard that the German ambassador has recommended that German government deny the request for agrément on the basis of age if such a request is ever sent.
“Clearly, Yuchengco’s appointment defies law and reason. The question is, why did Arroyo even make it?”
Why should I be surprised? GMA defies law and reason. Period.
ellen, anong kinalaman ni yuchengco sa fraport at yung expose ni cayetano?
John, The Hypovereins bank account of Arroyo (under another person’s name I suppose) is in Germany, reportedly.
Fraport AG , as you knows is a German firm.
If there are unresolved issues that you need to hide or work on these last three months, you need an ambassador who understand your situation and is willing to help you in that. Use the resources and clout of the Philippine government.
Yuchengco, without doubt, would be more than glad to help save the Arroyos. Yuchengco and Arroyo have a long history of friendship.
Yuchengco is one of Arroyo’s campaign contributors.
Arroyo has helped Yuchengco in his time of troubles with the educational plan fiasco.
The anomalous Peace Bond of Dinky Soliman and Dan Songco’s Code-NGO was brokered by Yuchengco’s RCBC.
What Gloria wants, Gloria gets. Period!
“The anomalous Peace Bond of Dinky Soliman and Dan Songco’s Code-NGO was brokered by Yuchengco’s RCBC.” – Ellen
These two individuals who are now in the forefront of lambasting Gloria for her illegal misdeeds and her corrupt ways must once and for all clear the mess that is the anomalous PEACE BOND/ Code-NGO. If not, they are a bunch of hypocrites.
I always have doubts on the integrity of the so-called Hyatt 10, they who were once part of Gloria’s evil empire jumped ship when they thought the ship was sinking.
I presume that at 87, Yuchengco must not be as sharp as he was in his younger days mentally.
That means, he will just be a front there. Gloria will send someone who would do the operations that she wants to do, whatever it is. Could be related to Hypovereins.
At 87, must be senile already. He should be ambassador to Home For The Aged.
Kaya pala ganoon nalang kung ipag-tanggol ni Vivian si Gloria. Ganoon pala kalalim (ang bulsa) ang pinagsamahan ng dalawang pamilya. 😛
Vivian I think is niece, not daughter, of Alfonso Yuchengco.
Alfonso Yuchengco’s daughter is Helen Dee.
everyone here seems to be able to read what this putot is thinking and planning but unfortunately nobody can stop whatever she may have in mind.except of course peoples action.
Hypovereins bank?
In a united Europe, is there no recourse to the authorities in Brussels with regard to money laundering? Maybe Anna can inform us.
Meanwhile, I will poke around in the EU website.
maybe, just maybe there is a plan to review the case of the failures of the pre-need and to prosecute those criminally responsible (crimes have no statute of limitation)and this is just a case of preemptive actions..just some sort of speculation, since there is no other justification for appointing an over the age to replace another of Her appointee in a matter of just 3 months that could be again replaced. It is just a waste of resources and again just to provoke some controversies and that is the trademark of GMA that will kick back on her, and it is already starting right at this very moment…
is there no recourse to the authorities in Brussels with regard to money laundering?
Sax,
There is a recourse but nothing can be done unless authorities in the Philippines do something about it, i.e., ask finance authorities in any of the member nations of Europe to help track the money launderer’s scheme. OECD is the intl body that could and would do something if the Philippines decides to launch a complaint against suspected money launderers.
For info: The financial brigades in the EU will accept anonymous tips complete with documentations so they can start the investigations.
In fact, we thought Alan Cayetano was going to do that. He said he had proof of the Arroyos’ huge deposits in the German bank. All he had to do was bloody send those to any of the Brigade des Finances in any of the member EU nations and bob’s your uncle. For all his bloody hooplas, he was actually just shitting us all about!
Money laundering in Europe is a serious offence but authoritiies in Pinas or anonymous tipsters should tip the authorities here — with documents in their possession.
In fact, when the shithead Cayetano was brandishing his papers containing bank account numbers (including amount I believe), suspected of belonging to the Arroyos, I said I was prepapred to help ferry those papers to an OECD judge and why not to a member of the Brigade des Finances I know in France. Either the shithead got cold feet or he was bought out by the Arroyos!
kaya naman pala…magkautotan dila si Yuchengco at putot..who kisses one’s ass? putot of Yuchengco’s or vice versa..or they take turns…Yuchengco: now I kiss your ass, then you kiss mine…they both are Sugar Honey Iced Tea…but it seems na hindi na ma babawi ang appointment kahit matalsik si putot…
I think he is the same Yuchengco whom Erap filed a libel case. At his age he allowed himself to be used during the time when Ping has gone berzerk. Yuchengco claimed that Erap pressured him by threatening to arrest his grandson. This is not in the character.
Now it can be told, he is really very close to the Evil Bitch that is why he allows himself to be used to destroy the evil one’s enemies.
Sa picture pa lang mukhang lupa na ….. ano ba yan????? Mukhang may hidden wealth talaga ang mga Arroyo sa Germany para bago siya umalis sa ninakaw niyang puwesto ay maisa-ayos na lahat ng taong ito. Kung si Marcos ay may Lucio Tan eto naman si Gloria ay may Alfonso Yuchengco.
I did not know that the Philippine Embassy in Germany is now a nursing home?! Somebody please explain to the Reyna? Wez ko getz?!
Tedanz, yan din ang sapantaha ko. Maglilinis yan sa Germany ng mga nakatagong nakaw ng mga Arroyo. Lalo na ngayon na baka kolektahin na ni kamatayan si Mike Pidal.
I did not know that the Philippine Embassy in Germany is now a nursing home?! — Reynz
🙂 🙂 🙂
Maglilinis yan sa Germany ng mga nakatagong nakaw ng mga Arroyo
Luz,
Pretty sure you’re right.
Yuchengko is the right person for the Arroyos’ money laundering job in Germany. He’s an expert at defrauding people of their hard earned savings — with an official mantel of ambassadorship, it will be a walk in the park even for half senile oldies like Yuchengko; he doesn’t even have to do the walking, his lieutenants (or more likely Arroyo’s lieutenants assigned to him) will do it for him; all they need is some embassy seal and his signature. Et voila, done!
Ellen is right, Vivian (or Vivienne, to some) is not Alfonso Yuchengco’s daughter. She carries the family name Yuchengco though becuase her mom Vicencia divorced her husband and got back her maiden name. Alfonso and Vicencia are siblings.
Vivian was once married to Teddy Boy Locsin.
Labandero pala ng Familia Lechon de Leche itong si Ingkong Ponso. Kunsabagay, sa kanyang edad na ‘yan ay masasabing bata pa rin nga siya kahit masasabing matanda na.
Isip batang tumatandang paurong.
…………sa kanyang edad na ‘yan ay bata pa rin nga siya kahit masasabing matanda na.
Anna, can the UNIFORS do something about this questionable appointments of Gloria?
Puro na lang paglabag sa mga batas at policies ang pinaggagawa nitong administrasyon na ito. sasagarin kahit sa kahuli-hulihang segundo ng kanilang kapangyarihan.
Luzviminda’s observation is probably true. They need a most-trusted silent operator who will make sure FG’s assignee who holds trust of the bank accounts (in street parlance means dummy) will not collect the money for himself and run to Timbuktu.
FG is dying (hopefully) and the holder of the bank account can technically own all the money in Germany.
Remember, Alicia (Aleli) Arroyo sued ex-husband Iggy Arroyo for half of all the money in the Jose Pidal Account, which Iggy claimed was his, in their legal separation suit. (Some naughty brokers say this probably caused FG’s first aneurysm problem.) The Pig couple had been trying to bribe Alicia with posts like the Chairmanship of Phil. Stock Exchange (which was once held also by Vivian Yuchengco) but her falling out with Vivian resulted in Aleli being replaced by Francis Lim. But the claim to the Pidal loot stays. Aleli has the Pidal brothers’ money hostage.
Suddenly, the Hypovereins account is back in the grapevine.
Is it coincidence that Mike Arroyo’s heart is again acting up? Or is there a brewing problem in the same account that aggravated FG’s heart ailment, and that an old but trusted fart like Yuchengco is injected some magic liquid that will keep him alive at least until after the account has been done with. Mike was probably injected the same magic potion. Gandang thriller, diba? Parang Alfred Hitchcock!
To spoil your day further, Francis Lim has resigned the PSE post last month and guess who is most likely taking over? According to my broker-friends, all fingers are pointing in the direction of John Aloysius Bernas.
Yes, the presidential son-in-law.
Wow, so many dirt to clean up in just three months!!!
sax, anna,
The EU anti-money laundering council could start by investigating HSBC, a British-owned bank that is popular here for being the laundromat of choice by bigtime criminals. Smalltimers, even. You can start a “privileged” account for a mere $5,000.
Tongue, from what I read, Aleli Arroyo withdrew all the money in their conjugal dollar account. I forgot the amount but it was hefty.
That was when she found out about the affair of Iggy with the former wife of GC, the movie actor, who was the former husband of the famous actress.
You are right. It turned out that the money in that bank account was not all theirs. They were holding it for someone.
sorry, I quoted an old file on my archive. Francis Lim resigned last year and it was Hans Sicat who replaced him. John Bernas remains Board Member of PSE.
Ellen, Totoo pala yung Grace I – Iggy chism? Dapat talagang alagaan yang si Aleli. Maraming ikakanta yan sa July 1, 2010! Hahahaha!
TonGuE, dapat talaga nilang alagaan at tutukan nh husto. Ang kaso, kung pasaway itong si Ms. A, baka mabalitaan nalang natin na….. 🙁
Diyos ko po, huwag naman po sana. Knock on wood.
O.T.
Interesting article…
Faking One’s Poverty – by: Lito Banayo of Malaya.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03302010/edbanayo.html
Maraming ikakanta yan sa July 1, 2010! Hahahaha!
Tongue, mukhang malabo. Mukhang she’s not the type.
BTW, the dollar account was in several millions. If we compute the sum of all the incoming transactions in the Jose Pidal accounts, just the unspent (excesses to the) campaign contributions accounted for P270M.
Ang daming ililista, ang daming patatahimikin. Basahin ninyo na lang, ang mga witness dito sa Jose Pidal pa lang, sandamukal na.
Refresh your memories here: http://members.fortunecity.com/josepidal/index.htm
OK lang if she’s not the type, but her lawyer, Atty Lorna Kapunan is.
Ang kapal talga ng mukha ng gobyernong arroyo… ang liit ng pilipinas para sa kanilang kawalang hiyaan… kung saan-saan pa ng panig ng mundo nagkakalat!
Faking One’s Poverty – by: Lito Banayo of Malaya.
http://www.malaya.com.ph/03302010/edbanayo.html
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Kitang kita sa mukha ni Villarroyo ang pagka inis nung pinalabas to sa GMA News!
Great job Lito Banayo!
Ang tanong kanina ni Fr. Corapi sa EWTN…why does God allow evil to happen? Ang sagot ay–to bring out the good! kaya ang kasamaan ni putot ay magbibigay ng kabutihan…ano kaya? maisugba (cremate) na si FiG? mukhang payat na siya..wala ng mantika! hindi na puedeng malitson de leche ang leche..makunat na ang tainga at mahaba pa ang buntot ni satanas..kaya isugba na lang ng very very well done..cremate..pero huwag ilibing sa lupa at gawing fertilizer baka mamamatay ang mga tanim..at huwag isabog at baka magalit si Loren Loren sinta..protect the air..don’t pollute! sana magkasama silang dalawa na mawala sa Pinas..
The “receiver” always has the right to refuse what is being send by the “sender”. In this case, the one best thing that the German government could do is to reject the appointment of this old man Yuchengco. If both countries expect productivity, an 87 year old man is already a washed-out and not fit for the job, unless he is being send there as a “cleaner”.
Otherwise, the German government should stamp a “return to sender” note right on the face of Yuchengco.
“mukhang payat na siya..wala ng mantika! hindi na puedeng malitson de leche ang leche” – rose
Pag babuyan na ang usapan pati si Sister Rose napapamura, hahaha!
Ang alam ko, kapag ang edad o gulang mula, 85-90-95-years old, ang ” galaw ng kamay sa pag-pirma ay parang lindol na intensity, 9.5 hanggang 10-12, di na masyadong maintindihan”, saka, spending more in the rest room, for a prostate problems.
Kaya ang productivity as “head ” ay apiktado na, kasama na ang ” laway” at salita na malabong maintindihan…Dapat sakanya ay retirement ( sa mga military officers, 56-years old ang retirement, kasi, baka mag-karoon ng palyado ang mga disisyon, at buhay ng kanyang mga staff-personnel ang naka-sala-lay, bukod, sa mga hadlang doon sa mga qualified for promotions…Kaya sabi ko, wala na bang ibang batang, qualified sa pwestong iyan sa Germany…mahirap masakyan ang mga ” palyadong mga kaisipan ” dahil lamang sa pag-tatago ng kayamanan ni Juan de la Cruz ???..Kung minsan naisipan ko tuloy, ang “regionalism-negative-cultures” may-depikto din ( dato-dato-system katulad ng unang panahon ). Napupuna ko ito sa mga regional-attitudes sa buong mundo,kahit saan…( subukan nating magkaroon ng innerself discernment, mula ki ” LuzViMinda “, iba-iba ang regional
characters ???…isang malayong pananaw, halimbawa…((( Si Luz, ay sakim, na parang “boksingero” mahirap ibukas ang kamay, ng walang kabig, si Vi naman ay mapagbigay, at nagpapasamantala kahit alam ng mali, nagkaroon tuloy ng ” Hello”,..si Minda ang matindi, pinakakanta ay mga sandata, at kung minsan walang galang sa value ng buhay ng tao )))..tsk..tsk..tsk..di kaya dito ang problema, innovation ng
edukasyon mula bata ( katulad ng ginawa ng CNN-HERO Efren Penaflorida ), Dept. of education innovation ???..na maka-Diyos, maka-Bayan, at maka-Tao, ang mga subjects or values ??? not in rising the tuition fees, and commercialized na sistima..siguro, kung ang mga ” campaign funds na milyones ng mga billionaires ( kandidatos ), gamitin, sa innovation ng Dept. of Education, sapat na sapat na sana, sayang-na-sayang lamang…ang pirang ginu-gogol, at panahon, sa proseso ng COMOLECT…
Tongue: sino ba naman ang hindi magmura sa baboy na ito? makunat na ang balat para sa litson de leche..kaya isugba na lang..at very well done pa…cremated!kahit sabihin niya na she is going to step down..nobody would believe him..and even if Olivar asked for prayers..mahirap gawin. but Holy week ngayon kaya I will pray for those I don’t like (I can’t say he is an enemy) sana makatulog na siya ng mahimbing at magpahinga tunay sa kapayapaan..inglesin ko na…may he sleep peacefully..rest peacefully FiG! and don’t wake up on the third day..tagaltagalan mo…
Should we then say…”So old and still so corrupt?”
Clearly, Yuchengco’s appointment defies law and reason. The question is, why did Arroyo even make it?
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In gloria’s enchanted kingdom, she doesn’t need any reason(s) to bastardize any and all law(s) for as long as her own perceived evil notions serve her purpose.
In fact she can even name Yuchengco as chairman of the now defuct Kabataang Baranggay for all we care. Or perhaps exhume Yuchenco’s grandfather to head COMELEC.
Hey, nothing is impossible with Gloria.
“Hey, nothing is impossible with Gloria.” – jawo
So true. The best occasion that comes to mind to prove you right was when Gloria, in her SONA, declared, and stole credit for, the lowering of text charges from a peso to half.
It was simply a fucking promo, hahaha! Stupid credit grabber. It’s now a Gloria classic I won’t ever ever forget.
Yes Tongue, that text faux pas was classic. Hindi ba nila inuulit in their ads on the acheivements of her administration?