Ex-lawyer pledges P50m more to planholders

By Antonio M. Ajero
Sun.Star Davao
Nov. 13, 2006

OWNERS and officers of erring pre-need educational plan companies face the prospect of spending the rest of their lives behind bars, even if they will not be convicted of the criminal cases their victims will file against them.

This is because the holders of College Assurance Plan (CAP), Pacific Plans, Inc. and several other ill-fated pre-need educational plan companies are filing criminal cases of syndicated estafa against the firms’ owners and responsible officers. A person charged with the crime of syndicated estafa is not allowed to post bail for his temporary liberty.

This developed as former congressman Mario Batacan Crespo, more popularly known as Mark Jimenez, pledged to donate P50 million more in addition to the original P50 million he has given to help plan holders pay for the tuition and related expenses of their children while unable to collect from the erring pre-need companies.

Philip Piccio, president of the Parents Enabling Parents (PEP) Coalition, said at least five aggrieved Pacific Plans holders in Davao City went to the Davao City Prosecutor’s Office (CPO) last Fiday to file charges of syndicated estafa against Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco, other members of his family, and officers of Pacific Plans.

However, official filing did not push through as Malacañang declared a half-day holiday in Davao City on the occasion of the opening of the National Youth Day on Friday.

The five plan holders — Loida Z. Lombiso, Rita C. Tao, Graciano A. Inso, Eduardo P. Ortouste and Reuben D. Baldoza Jr. — comprise the original group of complainants of the more than 1,000 plan holders in Davao City about to file their individual cases starting Monday.

Veteran Davao lawyer Ruben Baldoza Sr., father of one of the complainants, acts as the group’s legal counsel in Davao.

Piccio said the coalition is ready to help the more than 300,000 plan holders of Pacific, CAP, and other pre-need companies file syndicated estafa charges against their owners and officers.

An aide told Sun.Star if all the victims will file the estafa cases, the respondents will languish in detention for the rest of their lives.

According to the younger Baldoza, the pledge of Jimenez for an additional assistance of P50 million to the plan holders was announced during a brief meeting at the Regency Inn on Villa-Abrille.

The amount is on top of the earlier P50 million Jimenez gave to the plan holders through the PEP Coalition.

Earlier, during a meeting at the Yellow Fin Restaurant, Baldoza explained to parents the process and documentation needed in availing oneself of the assistance of congressman Jimenez.

In that meeting, Piccio said that the computation indicated that the plan holders needed a total financial assistance of P75 million.

He also said that the assistance extended by Jimenez was without strings attached. He also refused to discuss the political plans of Jimenez.

Jimenez himself was evasive to questions on his political plans from local mediamen.

He was also reportedly mum on politics when he met with Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte at Claude’s Cafe on Rizal Street last Friday night. Also present in that meeting was a close friend of the mayor, businessman James Gaisano, who had a previous appointment with the city’s chief executive, and Representative Claude Bautista of Davao del Sur.

The following morning, Bautista brought Jimenez to Malita.

Earlier reports indicated that Jimenez has promised to give financial support to Bautista if he runs for governor of Davao del Sur against Representative Douglas Ra. Cagas, but these reports have not been confirmed.

Jimenez came to Davao primarily to speak during the National Youth Day and to meet with local conveners of the PEP Coalition headed by the younger Baldoza.

PEP to file more cases against Yuchengcos in various courts

GMANews.TV
6/30/06

Facing 10 libel cases before nine different courts, parents victimized by a failed pre-need program are now planning to fight fire with fire.

The Parents Enabling Parents (PEP) Coalition said Friday that they are now planning to expand the court battle against the Yuchengco family, owners of the failed Pacific Plans Inc. by filing other cases in various courts nationwide.

“We just filed a case of syndicated estafa against them before the Parañaque trial court. Starting next week, we’ll file cases against them in other courts in Metro Manila, then in courts around the country,”PEP Coalition president Philip Piccio said in an interview aired by radio station DZBB.

Piccio said that for now, they are considering filing cases in courts in Antipolo, Marikina and Pasig Cities. Those in Visayas and Mindanao will likely be filed later.

He said the coalition is now drawing up legal plans with its lawyers on filing the cases.

The scattered approach in filing the cases was similar to the tactic used by the Yuchengcos in filing libel cases against the coalition’s officers before courts in Manila and Makati City.

PEP Coalition members received a financial shot in the arm in the last several weeks after former Manila congressman Mark Jimenez donated P10 million to the parents of students affected by the failed education program.

Before this, a Makati court had issued arrest warrants for seven members of the PEP coalition while another Makati court dismissed one of 11 cases of libel filed against officers of PEP.

The PEP Coalition officers were sued by Pacific Plans, owned by the Yuchengco group, after they published remarks on their web site (www.pacificnoplans.blogspot.com) criticizing Pacific Plans.

On the other hand, Pacific Plans officials face syndicated estafa charges filed by members of the PEP Coalition.

The legal battle between Pacific Plans and plan holders started when the pre-need company announced that it was facing financial difficulties and would be unable to honor its commitment to fund the education of about 34,000 educational plan holders.-GMANews.TV

Aid for other education plan holders sought

Manila Bulletin
June 1, 2006
Byline: MARIO B. CASAYURAN

Senate President Pro Tempore Juan Flavier and other senators suggested yesterday that former Manila Rep. Mark Jimenez should extend financial assistance not only to parents charged with libel by Pacific Plans Inc. but also to clients of College Assurance Plan (CAP) whose children could not go to school because CAP, another pre-need firm, is similarly financially crippled.

The senators issued this statement after Jimenez donated last week R50 million to enable plan holders to send their children to school this semester.

“Mabuti yon, basta makatulong. We welcome that… As long as he is able to help people in need, okay lang,” Flavier said.

Opposition Sen. Sergio Osmena II said that any act of generosity to alleviate the plight of pre-need victims is all alright but Jimenez should also give to CAP educational plan holders.

Since government appears to be taking too long in helping unfortunate plan holders of bankrupt pre-need firms, Sen. Richard Gordon said “it is okay that somebody is helping the victims.” “Mabuti nga at may kumakalinga sa kanila because the government seem to have forgotten about them,” he said.

Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel and Sen. Manuel “Mar” Roxas II had earlier pressed the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to take over the distressed pre-need companies to protect the interest of contributors.

Roxas said the SEC had created three fact-finding committees to look into the operations of distressed pre-need companies but the SEC has yet to act on their recommendations.