Summit fall-out

THEY WERE invited. A number of them even confirmed they would attend. They did not come.
Simple as that. The Clark Freeport locators veritably snubbing the education summit hosted by 1st District Rep. Carmelo “Tarzan” Lazatin and presided over by Education Secretary Armin Luistro at Hotel Stotsenberg Thursday last week.
He was invited. He was even given a key part in the program, in deference to his stature as top honcho of the site of the event. He did not come.
Simple as that. Atty. Felipe Antonio Remollo, president-CEO of the Clark Development Corp., apparently spurning the summit too.
“Sabotage!” cried someone who looked like an Angeles City official, and – not without malice – labelled Remollo as “anti-Kapampangan,” lambasting the former three-term Dumaguete City mayor for – allegedly now – “barring the Clark locators, under pain of imagined sanctions, from attending the summit.”
“In effect, Remollo stitched the deep pockets of the Clark locators thereby preventing an outpour of financial support to build more classrooms for the youth of the first district.” So the official, in unofficial persona, averred.
Yes, the education summit was primarily intended to present the sorry state of school buildings in the first district and knock at the hearts of prospective donors to adopt a school of their choice, contributing to the construction or repair of school rooms.
“If I had my way, I would have Remollo declared persona non grata to the people of Pampanga,” said the official. “And send the declaration to President Aquino to show that he appointed a misfit at CDC.”
Fall from the summit of hope to the depths of disgrace. Strong words. So it’s been clichéd that hell hath no fury than a woman scorned. Yeah, same thing there with a politico spurned. So it shows now.
Anyways, CDC’s public relations department has issued a statement that said Remollo had sent his “regrets” to Cong Tarzan for his absence at the summit owing to a “loss in the family in Manila.”
In Punto’s banner story yesterday, CDC PR head Angelo “Sonny” Lopez said “Remollo is fully supportive of the education summit of Cong. Lazatin and its objectives of the event as ‘he shares the Congressman’s view that quality education should be given paramount importance.’”
Furthered my compadre: “The CDC Office of the President was even the conduit of the invitations of Rep. Lazatin for the locators inside Clark Freeport Zone and the staff of Mr. Remollo were even responsible in making follow ups on the letters of invitations sent through various firms regarding the education summit,”
And that “Full complement of CDC PRD staff were sent to cover the event in support of its objectives because we are aware of the importance of the education summit led by Cong. Lazatin for the future of our children.”
There, all cleared now. Remollo is with the Cong in spirit, even as in the flesh he had to be with a departed relative. Very reasonable excuse.
Yeah?
Listen now to a Mabalacat official quoted in the Punto banner yesterday: “If indeed (Remollo) was indisposed, then why did he not send a representative? He has a battery of vice presidents at his behest.”
Yeah, no EVP Philip Panlilio, no VP Ernesto Gorospe, not even Remollo’s usual coterie of VP Bernie Angeles and some other managers were present at the summit.
Remollo’s alibi would not stand in the court of public opinion, the public officials’ opinion, that is. Hence, Remollo’s sincerity in dealing with the local leaders of the communities contiguous to the Clark Freeport will ever be suspect. Maliciously suspect.
What can be done to reverse this?
Easy. Remollo can broker a mini education summit at the Metro Clark Advisory Council whereby the officers of the Clark Investors and Locators Association and the heads of the biggest investment companies at the Freeport could hear the state of schools in the first district from Cong Tarzan and the mayors. And hopefully take it from there.
There and then, Remollo can prove himself a Mekeni lover.
It’s hardsell, I know. But it will most certainly work.