Somebody in SMC giving Ramon Ang a bad name.

I pity Ramon S. Ang, head honcho of San Miguel Corporation (SMC). He has brought the company to the heights and diversity it’s in today, but it seems some people under him are undermining his successes that they are doing things that are giving RSA a bad name.

Take this whole brouhaha over the EPASS and RFID at the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). While it has been made very clear from its moves and statements, SMC is serious in ensuring its toll road projects become real jewels in its infrastructure portfolio. But someone in RSA’s employ keeps screwing around with the business that it just keeps moving them one step forward and two steps back. The worst thing about it? This person isn’t even organic in the organization but a mere consultant for the toll roads project.

We’re talking about Alec Cruz, sibling to Eldon Cruz who is married to Ballsy Aquino Cruz, sister of President Benigno S. Aquino III. Recall that Eldon and Ballsy recently were implicated in a major scandal with Inekon, that Turkish company that was being shaken down for the supply contract of MRT coaches. Well, nothing has been done about the MRT – they’re now running with less trains – and the complaint was lodged by no less than the Turkish Ambassador. But that’s another story.

Alec Cruz was formerly with the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) the operator of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) as senior manager for motorist facilities and special projects. There, NLEX moles say that Alec took care of reviewing contracts for tollway concessionaires like gas stations, eateries and, yes, restrooms.

Somehow Cruz would find a way to the bad side of people in MNTC – “Sinusuka namin yan” was a common comment – personality problem? Yes and no, they say. Cruz just had this habit of sticking one's nose in other people’s business. Maybe it’s the “special projects” part of the position.

Cruz left MNTC and somehow landed as toll roads project consultant to RSA. Well the resumé does have toll roads experience. But whether Cruz can be considered a toll roads expert or authority is another matter. But the "expert" again earned the ire of the the real toll roads people of SMC’s toll roads business like Manuel Bonoan and his team at SOMCO and MaTES, the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and Skyway operators bought by SMC.

Again, Cruz is not organic but serves as consultant to RSA. Having his ear Cruz is said to have a habit of skipping through the organization, bypassing the chain of command and dealing directly with whoever she wishes, bearing what she claims as orders from the top. As a result Cruz has been responsible for some of the really nasty fiascos in SLEX operations although the "expert" won’t admit it but would conveniently point to some lackey in the organization.

Among these fiascos is the utterly useless and ineffective “exact change only lanes” which caused more toll plaza congestion than they were supposed to solve. In fact, Edmundo Reyes Jr., Executive Director of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) specifically pointed out to this failed project in demanding an answer to the current problem of the EPASS, or lack of them.

“Is this another EXACT CHANGE ONLY blunder???” Reyes emphatically wrote in big, bold letters in his email to the tollways people. “Please investigate this ASAP and REPORT by tomorrow noontime thank you!” Reyes was of course reacting to the the blog of former investigative journalist and economic reform advocate JP Fenix entitled “Bring Back EPASS Now, Calling Edmundo Reyes, TRB.”

Furthermore, toll roads insiders said that major SOMCO and MaTES executives wanted to quit over the unceremonious pullout of EPASS sales which now forced them and SMC to prematurely launch its RFID system, something that is again attributed to – you guessed it – Cruz.

Perhaps Cruz can concentrate in installing restrooms along strategic points of the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) instead. We heard hundreds and thousands of motorists and their families stuck for hours there during the Christmas season holidays were literally pissed that they had nowhere to relieve themselves. Ask Senate President Franklin Drilon.

Some inside the SMC organization, however, have wondered if it was really Cruz that is responsible for these unsavory acts. Maybe it is indeed giving Cruz too much credit. One thing they all agree on: the moves are uncharacteristic of RSA, the shrewd but smooth businessman. He would not have exposed his ventures to such sophomiric tactics.

RSA always takes the strategic high road, even if it will cost a little more. Recall his very high projects bids and moves. In the end, he has always proven himself 10 steps ahead of the competition.

Whoever is responsible – whether Cruz or somebody else down there – it is making RSA and SMC look bad.