 |
 |
|
|
The unexplained disappearance of Salvador "Bubby" Dacer, Tabac's PR whiz and a master spin doctor for the opposition, has everybody worried. Apparently he had a meeting at Malacãnang earlier last week. Some say the topic had to do with a fair and equitable exchange (a few million pesos for switching sides). But he also had a meet scheduled with Chavit Singson Friday to talk about another multibillion peso scam executed by certain government officials and personalities (unfortunately he had disappeared by then). Could have been leftists (or rightists?) who want to frame the administration. Side note is that a couple of decades ago Dacer was involved in a bar brawl vs. Erap Estrada and one of his barkada drinking buddies (Dacer threw a beer bottle and was hauled into court as a result). One of Raoul's cronies in the Palace told him that Erap has really been shaken up emotionally a lot more than he lets on (must be all that experience under the kleig lights). The weekend that Roxas quit and Drilon and Villar defected he was in tears and ready to hang it up. Certain folks, however, talked him out of it. Tsmismis is that Danding Cojuangco stopped by to console his old buddy, telling him he would have the support of his group no matter what, that the time might be coming when the movie would end unhappily, that he would even help negotiate a graceful exit, etc. Upon getting wind of it (and news travels fast in the Snake Pit), Ernie Maceda intervened and told Erap that Danding was ready to sell him down the river because he'd already gotten everything he wanted from the administration. Enrilé also leaped into the scene like gangbusters, appealing to Erap's macho instincts ("you can't be a wimp like that, bad for your image!"). Hmmm... might have something to do with the upcoming onslaught of litigation against Enrilé and the fact that his extra-judicial defenses based on Palace tricks would vanish into thin air if the Prez rides off into the sunset. The legal community is expressing their condolences to Erap's defense team, who are facing the massive challenge of keeping their client from hanging himself. Their motion to quash the impeachment papers is dilatory and can mean one of only two things: (1) they are ignoring their client in his requests to testify, knowing full well they might as well slip the noose around his neck, or (2) Erap is okaying the delays because they all know he's guilty and are trying to figure out a reasonable defense while buying time. Finally, a couple of weekend text messages making the Manila rounds:
Raoul...
|
 |
© Asian Business Strategy & Street Intelligence Ezine 2000
The views expressed here may not necessarily reflect those of partners, publishers, editorial board nor sponsors of the Asia Pacific Management Forum
| email updates | email this page | discuss | search | today's asian business strategy news | advertise | about |
| daily asian news, research & commentary for the international business strategy, market research & strategic management professional |