Coerced, compelled borrowing

CTALK

- CITO BELTRAN

Now — or the next 30 days — is the "season" when companies or businesses are best advised to put out or place their full-size SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, helicopters and executive jets for servicing.

If it's not on the schedule yet, simply "put them up on blocks" or "jack stands," take off wheels or landing gears, remove seats and have them shampooed to dry out for 30 days!

After you do so, the next three or four weeks before the May 12 elections would be the best to schedule your executive check-up, elective surgery, family corporate team building or vacation. Spending P1 million on your family or employees is better spent than giving away money to people who never held a real job in any company.

Skipping town may also be the best security measure against this season of kidnapping for election fund-raising. There are already two high-profile rumors of kidnapping amounting to millions in US dollars.

This advice is about how to avoid solicitations for campaign funds and the practice of "coerced, compelled borrowing" of various types of vehicles and planes for campaign purposes.

Since 1992 onwards, I have listened to the lamentations and losses of companies that have been victims of "coerced, compelled borrowing" of vehicles. Given a choice, many have opted to be "voluntold" to lend their vehicle or aircraft rather than make million-peso campaign contributions that require process and approvals.

Unfortunately, this can also be "penny wise — pound foolish" when the borrowed vehicles end up being "possessed" by the borrower.