SBMA chief clears up issue with Bulacan gov

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT: Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairmman and Administrator Wilma Eisma on Friday broke her silence on an issue with Bulacan Gov. Cesar Fernando Ramirez ( Daniel Fernando), admitting that she denied a request by Fernando for him to pass through the Subic Bay Freeport on his way to Morong, Bataan.

The governor supposedly became upset because of her refusal. Allegedly, she had apologized for refusing him entry but still stands her ground.

According to Eisma at 3:41 p.m. on May 8, 2020, a senior SBMA staff received a text message from an intermediary informing him of a request for assistance from a three-vehicle party of Fernando, which was already at the Tipo Gate of the Subic Bay Freeport.

“They were reportedly on their way to Bataan through the Morong Gate to give donations, and asked if they would be allowed to pass through,” Eisma said, adding that she immediately responded, “If it’s for relief, ok. No stopping. Work with (the SBMA security men).”

She, however, said, the same intermediary soon texted her senior staff to say that “the truth was that the governor is going to check on his resort in Bataan” and that he was simply requesting to pass through the Morong Gate, and that there will be no “side trip” (presumably in the freeport).

“To this, I answered “No, only relief ( operations) can be allowed,” the SBMA chairman said.

The Bulacan top official on Wednesday claimed he did not violate any quarantine protocol or guidelines laid down by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases when he attempted to enter the Subic Bay Freeport on May 8.

He was reacting to a story published om May 20 in The Manila Times that he was refused entry at the Tipo Gate by the SBMA chief while on his way to bring assistance to a close relative undergoing dialysis.

At 4:04 p.m. on that day, Eisma said in her media statement to one Attorne. Datsun, who introduced himself as an aide of the Bulacan governor, texted her to ask if the governor can call her.

“I said yes, but added that if this was about the entry to Subic, I reminded him that we are strictly implementing the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine) rules issued by President (Rodrigo) Duterte,” she said, adding, “I trust that it is the leaders of the country like you and me who should follow it, so we can set an example to our people. If I will allow you to pass through, it’s only for one way. You have to go out through Morong.”

She said Datsun sounded amiable, so she further explained her position that she refused them

entry because she was advised that the governor was just going to visit his resort and that under the circumstances, she can only allow relief operations and delivery of essential services.

Eisma added that the governor’s aide claimed that they are not going to visit any resort, because the governor had already sold his resort five years ago and said Fernando has long provided help to Morong because he has relatives there.

She said she again apologized for having hurt the governor’s feelings, and explained again that she was just trying to do her job.

According to her, Datsun said he understood her position, but that the governor was really offended.

“After that, I called up the governor’s number that Attorney Datsun gave me and, at this point, I was considering letting them pass through, so that the situation can be resolved there and then,” she said.

“But I was not prepared for what I heard. Gov. Fernando simply went ballistic! He said he had already turned back and gone to Morong the long way (through Mariveles),” Eisma added.