Ma’am Arlene and her diversified business interests

 

MANILA, Philippines – The ties between Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno and the woman allegedly engaged in judicial wheeling-dealing, Arlene Angeles Lerma, go beyond the personal.

They’re also business associates in two companies named after Moreno’s children.

Lerma is also apparently well-connected in the Filipino-Chinese community, being a minority stockholder in their businesses.

Moreno, who is Francisco Domagoso in real life, confirmed that he and Lerma are incorporators of Tsen Wei Sen Manpower Inc and Tsen Chien Men Trading Corp, which were formed in 2008 and 2011, respectively .

“The two companies were named after my children. That’s their Chinese names,” Moreno said in a phone interview.

“Yes, we’re also business associates. But the two companies are inactive,” he added.

Data from the Securities and Exchange Commission showed Lerma as incorporator in 7 companies, 3 of which were recently incorporated on August 29. Rappler has been trying to reach her but has, so far, not been successful.

Another company where she is an incorporator, Manila Harbour Centre Industrial Park Association (MHCIPA), was engaged in a legal tussle with the government housing finance agency Home Guaranty Corp and developer R-II Builders over control of the Manila Harbor Center.

At one time, the judge handling the case was accused by one of the parties as being biased in favor of MHCIPA. Court personnel told Rappler that a compromise has been reached by the competing parties.

Neighbor and kumare

Moreno readily admitted his business connection with Lerma, when told about the search with SEC records. “Yes, that’s how close we are. She’s my neighbor, she lives about 3 blocks away from my house in Tondo. She’s also the godmother of one of my children,” he said.

“If she’s doing anything else, that’s her personal life,” Moreno said, referring to Lerma’s alleged influence-peddling activities in the judiciary.

Lerma is reportedly one of the Arlenes tagged as big-time fixer in the judiciary, wining and dining and shouldering the out-of-town and hotel accommodation of judges. She’s supposedly the counterpart of pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim Napoles in the judiciary.

Napoles, also known as “Ma’am Janet” to her former staff, reportedly cornered the pork barrel of some legislators in exchange for commissions through her bogus foundations. The “Ma’am Arlene” in the judiciary allegedly wields influence by obtaining favorable court rulings through her intercession.

An ad-hoc committee of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Marvic Leonen, is looking into the alleged influence-peddling.

Trial by publicity

Leaked photos of Lerma surfaced last week, prompting Leonen to issue a reminder against trial by publicity.

Moreno came to the defense of his good friend. “Why not file, If they have a case against her? There is no room for inconsistency,” he said.

Asked if he thinks that Lerma is engaged in wheeling and dealing, Moreno said: “I have high regard for the judges and the justices. I don’t think they can be persuaded by just anybody. Besides, the buck stops with the judiciary.”

The Vice Mayor said he believes that a group is behind the smear campaign against Lerma and by extension, on him. “Somebody’s trying to hit her. And they want to drag my name too.”

He said the last time he talked with Lerma was in November, while he was attending a one-week leadership program in Oxford University.

He also confirmed that Lerma has been going out of the country on a regular basis to seek medical treatment in Singapore. He said he is not at liberty to discuss Lerma’s sickness.

Well-connected

SEC records showed Tsen Chien Men Trading Corp’s primary activity is to “engage in marketing, distribution and sales of painting and other art products,” while Tsen Wei Zen Manpower main business is to provide janitorial, secretarial and clerical staff to local and foreign companies. Moreno’s wife, Diana Lynn, is also an incorporator in the two companies.

In these two firms, Lerma placed her address as Salonga Street in Balut, Tondo.

With MHCIPA, however, Lerma indicated her residence as Casa Rodriguez, BF Homes, Parañaque City. MHCIPA’s main objective is to manage and administer the 79-hectare Manila Harbor Center Industrial Park.

Apart from these 3 companies, Lerma is also incorporator in 4 other firms.

In 2011, she joined the group of former Manila councilor Manuel Zarcal in forming the Illuminati Internacional Renewable Energy Corp whose main business is to procure and sell electronic items such as solar and hydro-products.

In August 2013, she joined a group of Filipino-Chinese businessmen in forming Zea Mays Corp, Isabela Corn Corp, and Maize World Corp, which were all incorporated in a single day.

The main purpose of these 3 companies are also identical: to operate and manage plants and facilities for corn production.

One of the incorporators, Alfonso Uy, was former president of the Federation of Fil-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry. – with reports from Buena Bernal/Rappler.com