Mr.Winston Garcia role in Smartmatic-TIM deal?

Inquirer headlined " 500-M demand did it" referring to the cause of the split between Smartmatic and Total Information Management (TIM). Makati Cong. Teddy Locsin revealed that lawyers of Smartmatic International received an "indecent proposal" from TIM President and CEO Jose Mari Antunez to the tune of 500 million pesos. Locsin said TIM suddenly played "hardball" when COMELEC announced the notice of award to the consortium.

Now, certain info has leaked especially on the circumstances that led TIM to play hardball. One of those information is the sudden appearance of a very powerful person into the picture. Who is this very powerful man?

Antunez revealed that his lawyers reportedly met and saw this powerful man with a member of the Aboitiz family at the Manila Peninsula hotel coffee shop last week. This powerful man is Winston Garcia, who was the one allegedly who nominated the Aboitizes to the deal. Garcia was talking with Don Enrique Aboitiz, Cezar Quiambao and Cesar Flores of Smartmatic International.
A few days after this, Antunez reportedly received a call from Aboitiz, demanding that he toe the line otherwise, he'll "offend very powerful people." That prompted TIM to play hardball to deliberately break the deal, because some sources said, Antunez does not want to be associated with "Mr. Gentleman."

Why did Mr. Antunez decide to break the deal? Sources say Antunez is an honest businessman who does not want to be associated with the "dirty antics" of this group. Which group? Read my next entry.

(By the way, who is Jose Mari Antunez? That will be my next entry.)

Aboitiz and Garcia to benefit from Meralco takeover

Friends and colleague read this: http://tongueinanew.blogspot.com/2008/05/meralco-vs-mafia.html. It hits the nail in the head and reveals a ton of stuff about this government attempt to break Meralco.

As we wrote here, there's really an insidious plan to takeover Meralco, not to lower these electricity rates. No. What government wants is to give this firm to the Aboitiz and the Garcias of Cebu, staunch allies of Madame devil infant, Gloria.

As what a reader commented on Tongueinanew's blog, this is the highest tongpats ever!

Imagine something like this, bigger than the water concessionaire bidding a few years back.

This is probably the reason why there's a multi-million propaganda funds being brandied about by propagandists of Garcia and the Aboitizes. It's a miniscule amount compared to the billions they'll earn from breaking up Meralco.

WE SHOULD STOP GOVERNMENT FROM DOING THIS. YES, BREAK THE HOLD OF THE LOPEZES, BUT GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO SELL THE FRANCHISES AND MERALCO NOW! IT SHOULD BE DONE AFTER THE MAY 2010 ELECTIONS, NOT NOW!