By: Modesto P. Sa-onoy
LAST Wednesday, I asked a series of questions on the compliance of the members of the Yanson family of their constitution that embodies the will and aspirations of their patriarch, Ricardo. I assumed the family adheres to them as well. The answers to those questions can be gleaned from the series of discussions on the events that relate to the family conflict.
I reopened the subjects to underscore that the violations of the family constitution mainly rest on the shoulders of Olivia Yanson and consequently on the two children, Ginnette and Leo Rey who supported her. They not only cooperated with Olivia in violating their constitution but also helped enforce them even in a hostile manner as the brutal use of police force. In fairness,
Ginnette had remained in the background. Most recently, Olivia appears leading the charge to further emasculate their constitution.
Even with only those violations, the three Yanson family members stand accountable not in the court of law but before Ricardo Yanson who meticulously worked to ensure that the family and the businesses he founded would not end in disarray. But he is deceased and can do nothing.
What is sad is that the person that triggered the family splinter is not a member but an employee who did not come up to the standard of honesty and integrity that Ricardo Yanson demanded of his family.
If only Olivia would contemplate on the consequences of her actions, she would take the initiative to heal the wounds she inflicted when she took the side of an alien to the family. Her stance is puzzling although we can speculate the reasons.
But it seems she is a woman of strong sense of self, of dominance and would take all actions necessary to prove her worth. Nay, she even violated what she declared to her husband and family when she signed their constitution.
We cannot change her resoluteness but only to show what Ricardo wanted for his family as expressed in the family constitution. Perchance, things will change. If not, then at least the public before whom this conflict has been dragged will have the bases for their conclusions not in judgment but in understanding.
I quoted last week Article I, Section 4 of the family constitution. Let me fall back to Section 3 as a provision struck me with thoughts of Ricardo when he approved this document and which the family agreed upon. It says, “We value our ‘Word of Honor’. We will conduct ourselves with the highest integrity. We will be honest in all our dealings.”
Did Olivia and her two children agree to the drafting of this document merely to please Ricardo but with no intent of complying when the patriarch is no longer around to impose penalties? That sounds unfair, but should not Olivia at least be candid about this document whether indeed she intended to comply with the provisions?
From the events and the facts that had been revealed plus the actuations of the members of the family, has this provision been followed? How valuable was honor? Or was the “word of honor” and “honesty” been thrown to the wind?
In retrospect, I believe that this family feud would never have happened if these two values enshrined in the family constitution were observed. Was there honesty in the loss of P380 million at the Manila Purchasing Office under the watch of Leo Rey as president of VTI?
If it was an “honest mistake” in failing to comply with the rules to submit supporting documents for the millions of fund withdrawals, why can’t Leo Rey explain the matter to the satisfaction of his siblings and make amends by at least resigning? Had he done so, this conflict would have been averted, except if Olivia used the removal of Leo Rey to impose her will.
Was there “word of honor” when Olivia sued her four children to recover the VTI shares she willfully gave up and swore to in the extra-judicial amicable agreement on the disposition of the Yanson properties? In fact, honor is not only involved here, but an oath sworn to before the law. In that document, Olivia’s name and signature appear at the top.
Although the feud is within the Yanson family, their businesses have been dragged into the conflict.
How so? We continue tomorrow.
