Those in the know are asking these government instrumentalities to resolve the intramural of the warring groups for which the ongoing conflict is not only hampering smooth operation of the firms but is also affecting their financial performance.

You see, the government has majority shareholdings in those corporations, and as such regulatory agencies concerned must apply their supervisory power on how those firms are being managed, and find out whether they are making money or operating at a loss.

Similarly, officials appointed by the government to the boards of those firms are duty-bound to safeguard the assets of government specifically in the Philcomsat group.

Now comes Sen. Miriam Defensor Santiago filing a Senate resolution seeking legislative inquiry into the alleged irregularities in the management of the three companies.

In her resolution, Senator Santiago cited the urgency of the probe "to protect the interest of the Republic of the Philippines in the Philcomsat Holdings Corp., Philippine Communications Satellite Corp. and Philippine Overseas Telecommunications Corp. from any anomalous transaction, and to conserve or salvage any remaining value of the government’s equity position in these corporations from any abuses of power done by their respective board of directors."

Reports have it that PHC, in particular, suffered a loss of R7 million in 2004, despite its revenue of R84 million. The firm’s operating expense amounted to R90.6 million.

Then there is another information alleging that some PHC board members had put up the Telecommunications Center, Inc. (TCI), a wholly owned subsidiary, to engage in the call-center business.

Apparently, there is nothing wrong with it.

But Senator Santiago has information that some R73 million had been allegedly advanced to TCI.

Victor Africa who is president of both POTC and Philcomsat said he has not been furnished report of the alleged advances to TCI.

As a backgrounder: In many instances in the recent past, government agencies concerned have been remiss in their tasks, in so far as their mandated role in monitoring the operation of those companies is concerned. Specifically mentioned are the SEC and CoA.

The Philcomsat group and the corresponding government shares in each company: POTC, 35 percent; Philcomsat, 35 percent; and PHC (by virtue of the government’s 35 percent stake in Philcomsat), about 28 percent.

And, by the way, Philcomsat owns 81 percent of PHC.

Reports sent to media persons via e-mail state that PHC has been allegedly incurring losses, caused by increasing representation expenses and consultants’ fees.

Incidentally, some business reporters are saying that they will be watching the progress of the Santiago-sponsored inquiry. What interests them, particularly, is whether the probe will be able to compel PHC president Manuel Nieto Jr. to attend the hearings.

There are allegations that Nieto has not been airing his side of the controversy in person, and has sent messages with regrets to invitations for him to discuss in public forums the corporate problems as alleged.

FAMAS ON THE OFFENSIVE. Art M. Padua, president of Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences, is asking the Optical Media Board and the Philippine National Police to look into reports that allegedly pirated films are being reviewed at a Malate karaoke bar. Information reaching him alleged that some former members of the academy who resigned last year are behind the clandestine operation.

Padua contends that the mere showing of pirated films is a violation of anti-piracy law, and that any commercial establishment that allows those bootleg films to be shown in its premises may be answerable to a criminal offense.

MORE ON QC SLOGANS. In an SMS (txt) message to this column, Nicomedes Opiano of Biakna-Bato, Quezon City, has this to say: "A couple of years ago, the Quezon City government also ran a slogan, ‘Quality City.’ But officials, obviously, found it difficult to explain, much less support in concrete terms the motto. And so it quickly went to the City Hall dustbin."

They may have also thought that they hit a bright idea by sort of bringing out the first letters (QC) of the two-word catchphrase which are the initials of Quezon City.

Opiano’s contribution (in reference to my column last Monday, March 20), therefore, became the ninth slogan that littered the hallways of the Mayor’s Office in just a little over 10 years.