Hindi isang republika ang Subic Bay Freeport at hindi dapat magsalita ang administrasyon ng Subic Bay Metropolitan Autho­rity (SBMA) na mistulang hindi sila sakop ng ating mga batas.

Ito ang ibinabala kahapon ni Senate minority leader Aquilino ‘Nene’ Q. Pimentel Jr. (PDP-Laban) bilang reaksyon sa pahayag ni Arreza na hindi aatras ang SBMA at ang South Korean construction company Hanjin sa pagpapatayo ng dalawang high-rise condominiums sa loob ng protected forest area ng free port.

“I admire Administrator Arreza’s tenacity in defending the project. But he should remember that among others, he may be responsible for possible violations of the law over the project,” pahayag ni Pimentel.

Ayon kay Pimentel, mistulang sinasabi ni Arreza na dapat payagang matapos ang proyekto dahil lamang sa nasa papatapos nang gawin ito.

“Don’t tell me we will hack off several floors from this building,” ayon umano kay Arreza.

Sinagot ito ni Pimentel na: “If need be, in the bigger interest of protecting the environment and the rights of the indigenous people who face displacement because of the pro­ject, the project itself could be scuttled.”