Lopez said this following attempts by Gloria Arroyo’s avid supporter, Winston Garcia, president and general manager of the Government Service Insurance System, to take over Meralco, the Lopez family’s flagship firm.

Analysts say the Arroyo government’s desire of Meralco stems from its pique over what it perceives as critical coverage of the administration by the Lopez broadcast network, ABS-CBN.

One gets the feeling of déjà vu reading "A Country Not Even His Own" by Steve E. Psinakis, a Greek-American Lopez in-law. Psinakis is husband of Presy Lopez, daughter of Don Eugenio Lopez Sr., who founded the Lopez business empire that includes power and media entities.

Published by Anvil Publishing, "A Country Not Even His Own", recounts Psinakis’ involvement in the Filipino people’s struggle against the Marcos dictatorship.

The book is well-written. It lives up to Anvil’s promotion that it "reads like a Ludlum novel." It has suspense, adventure, humor, political intrigue and international conspiracy.

Although the story of the escape of the late Geny Lopez, the big boss of ABS-CBN and former Sen. Serge Osmeña III has been extensively written and made into a movie, Psinakis’ narration of that is still riveting.

Psinakis’ account of the role of the US in supporting the Marcos’ authoritarian regime (complete with State Department confidential documents) is very relevant as we witness today the Bush administration’s turning a blind eye to the illegitimacy of the Arroyo administration and its role in the controversial Memorandum of Agreement between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Ancestral Domain.

But it seems that to the Americans, meddling in another country’s affairs should only be one way. In 1987, when Psinakis was facing charges of transporting explosives in the US, then Senate President Jovito Salonga wrote State Secretary George Shultz asking for him to "prevail upon the Reagan administration to exercise the highest diplomacy and sense of fairness... as a way of re-affirming the basic friendship and mutual respect between our two peoples."

Shultz’ reply was arrogant. He said, "Your letter suggests that the prosecution had political origins and that its continuance may have implications for the United States-Philippine relations. I believe you may misunderstand the nature and basis of Mr. Psinakis’ prosecution..."

Shultz continued: "I am profoundly disappointed at the suggestion in your letter that United State-Philippine relations will in any way be affected by a United States prosecution of a United States citizen for terrorist-related activities committed in the United States."

One journalist said Psinakis’ book is actually an "ode to Presy". The chapter on Presy starts with this paragraph: "Presy was Don Eugenio’s only daughter – his crown jewel. She was stunningly beautiful young woman who moved gracefully and always seemed at ease. Everything about the way she carried herself was unhurried and elegant."

Psinakis’ account of the struggle against the Marcos dictatorship, however, reveals that behind Presy’s delicate facade, is a strong and decisive woman who was not afraid to take risks for the family and country.

The sidelights of the book give a glimpse of the lifestyle of the very rich in the Philippines. Like the part where Psinakis related the time Don Eugenio and the whole Lopez family visited him and Presy in Greece. His father-in-law noticed that his car was an 8-year old Jaguar with an air-conditioning unit that was not working. Since they were going to tour Greece by car, Don Eugenio bought three new cars: a BMW, and Audi and a Mercedes Benz.

I’m reminded of Scott Fitzgerald’s line "Let me tell you about the rich. They’re different from you and me."

In his foreword, former Senate President Jovito Salonga underscored why the story of Psinakis, most of them transpiring in the later 80’s should be read today. He said, "Because we have very little sense of history and are likely to forget what is not featured on television and radio, the youth particularly those in the universities and colleges, would do well to peruse and discover anew how Filipinos and foreigners alike, during the trying times of our historic struggle for freedom and human dignity, gave of themselves without counting the cost."