Graft raps filed vs Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice-Mayor Isko Moreno for P1B sale of Century Park Hotel

Graft raps filed vs Lim, Isko for P1B sale of Century Park Hotel
by People’s Tonight
Monday, 01 March 2010 20:13

GRAFT charges were filed yesterday before the Office of the Ombudsman against Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim, Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso, 20 councilors, four other city officials and four John Does for the allegedly fraudulent bidding and sale of the Century Park Hotel at a bargain price of P 1billion.

Atty. Reynaldo L. Bagatsing, erstwhile legal adviser of Lim and former close friend, pointed out in a 26-page complaint that the transaction should be nullified and the perpetrators penalized as it is “manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the City of Manila. The Century Park Hotel is a five-star crown jewel of the city government and sits on a 4.5 hectare prime property that could easily fetch a P 3 billion price tag.”

Bagatsing also noted that on paper, as reflected by documents obtained from the City Assessor’s Office, the land alone occupied by the hotel at the “mysteriously reduced area of 22, 967 square meters is already worth P 965,261,850 or almost P1 billion. This is not the actual market value because the zonal valuation of the land made by the Bureau of Internal Revenue was conducted in 2005 in addition to the fact that present selling price of prime properties in the Malate-Ermita district ranges from P 50,000 to P 80,000 per square meter.”

The hotel building, Bagatsing pointed out, underwent an upgrading or renovation works few years ago undertaken by the Tourist Trade and Travel Corporation, the original lease holder, at a cost of P 1 billion as reflected in a supplementary contract it entered into with the city government. “This clearly shows that the hotel building alone and the improvements thereat is worth more than P 1 billion.”

Records show that the winning bidder, which now owns Century Park Hotel, and the 4.5 hectare land it occupies is Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation which submitted a P1 billion bid. The firm is publicly known to be owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan. Tan’s firm actually obtained the rights to operate the hotel in 2003 from Tourist Trade and Travel Corporation of the Martel family.

Tan is not yet named in the graft complaint pending verification of documents, instead four “John Does” were listed, Bagatsing said. Only lawyer Melissa Saez Co, who represented Maranaw Hotels & Resort Corporation in the bidding, was included in the charge sheet. Aside from Lim and Vice Mayor Domagoso, also named as respondents were Secretary to the Mayor Rafaelito Garayblas, chairman of the bid and awards committee; Maria Lourdes Manlulu, Alicia T. Moscaya and Thelma Perez, members.

Twenty councilors were also included in the complaint for their role in granting Mayor Lim the authority to negotiate the sale of the hotel through City Council Resolution No. 176 adopted on August 5, 2008 and for affirming or ratifying the award and sale to the Tan firm through Resolution No. 278 approved on December 23, 2008. The councilors include Moises Lim, Erick Ian Nieva, Arlene Koa, Ernesto Dionesio,Jr., Carlo Lopez, Rolando Valeriano, Ernesto isip,Jr., John Martin Nieto (the actor known as Yul Servo), Maria Shiela Lacuna-Pangan, Luisito Chua, Edward Maceda, Victoriano Melendez, Roderick Valbuena, Raymundo Yupangco, Josefina Siscar, Ernesto Rivera, Danilo Victor Lacuna, Luciano Veloso, Philip Lacuna and Russel Ibay.

Bagatsing stressed that while it pains him to sue Lim because the mayor was formerly a close friend but find it necessary and an obligation as a taxpayer and Manila resident to bring him and his cohorts before the bar justice. “It is certainly the duty of every citizen to protect their rights. Public interest dictates that Lim should be made to answer for a wrongful act.”

At the same time Bagatsing also challenged the political opponents of Lim to issue a public commitment and assurance that should they win in the forthcoming 2010 elections, they will nullify the sale of the Century Park Hotel. “After recovery, the city government should proceed in disposing the property in a transparent and open public bidding,” he added.

The anti-graft crusader and lawyer also lamented the undue haste the sale of Century Park Hotel was undertaken. “There was evident rush in having it disposed in a period of only five months since August 5, 2008 when the City Council granted Lim the authority to negotiate the sale. It must be noted that the Committee on Bid and Awards immediately caused the publication on September 8 and 12, 2008 a notice of auction in the Philippine Star. The bidding was held September 16 with Garayblas presiding. He declared a failure of bidding because only Maranaw Hotel and Resort Corporation made an offer.

“On September 18 & 23, the Garayblas Committee again caused the publication of a second notice of public auction, also in the Philippine Star. But it contained factual errors so it also caused the publication of an erratum on September 27 clarifying that the sale involved two parcels of land occupied by the hotel and not 20 parcels as contained in the second notice of auction.

“The second auction was held September 30, 2008 with Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation offering a P 1billion bid and A. M. Oreta & Co., Inc. that presented the miraculously close bid of P997,300,000.00 or a hairline difference of only P 2,700,000.00. This was obviously a companion bid submitted few days before the September 30 second bidding,” Bagatsing pointed out.

He said the Ombudsman should also look into the mysterious reduction of the lot area actually occupied by hotel which is 45,689 square meters to only 22,967 square meters in the contract or a difference of 22, 722 square meters. “This could actually be a case of a clever attempt to reduce the price tag for the said property which clearly makes this transaction a sweetheart deal,” he added.

‘DOUBLE-CROSS’ ANGLE HINTED IN SLAY TRY VS. LIM AIDE

By Marlon Ramos, Allison Lopez
Philippine Daily Inquirer

Filed Under: Crime, Law & Justice,Local authorities

MANILA, Philippines – The attempt last week on the life of Rafaelito Garayblas, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s executive secretary, could be the handiwork of people whom the former allegedly “double-crossed.”

Lawyer Ferdinand Topacio, Chinatown Development Authority of Manila (MCDA) secretary general, said in an interview earlier this week that the slay try could be an offshoot of “under the table deals” at the Manila City Hall between Garayblas and some businessmen.

MCDA, an agency created by Lim, is made up of some of the most influential Chinese-Filipino businessmen in the city, with Dante Ang, head of Commission on Overseas Filipinos, as chair.

Topacio, who said he was appointed to his post by Lim, said he learned about the supposed irregularities at City Hall when some Chinese-Filipino traders came to his office to air their concerns.

These included Garayblas’ alleged involvement in the city government’s controversial P400 million-garbage collection project.

The businessmen also claimed that Garayblas influenced the conduct of the bidding for metal plates used in making business permits, Topacio added.

“As executive secretary of the mayor, the documents about these projects go directly to Garayblas. Projects will not start unless he gives his blessing,” he told the Inquirer.

Asked if Lim knew about the supposed corruption in his administration, Topacio replied, “Maybe he doesn’t. But now he should.”

Topacio, who said he was appointed as assistant secretary when Lim took over as interior secretary, said he had even written the mayor about the purported irregularities at City Hall although he did not receive any reply.

“I respect Mayor Lim. He is a good and incorruptible public servant. But I suggest that he use his skills as a former police general to investigate the dealings of some of his trusted men,” he said.

Lim, however, stood by Garayblas in the face of Topacio’s allegations.

Sought for comment, he dismissed the reports as “conjectures” and said the city government would let the police do its job of probing the attempt on Garayblas’ life.

“We cannot indulge in these speculations. We will let the Quezon City police do their work because they are the principal investigators of this ambush. We will just play a supporting role because we are also interested in finding out who are the masterminds who commissioned these people to kill Secretary Garayblas,” he told the Inquirer Wednesday.

On June 12, motorcycle-riding men opened fire on Garayblas’ car as it was traveling on Quezon Avenue at around 7:30 p.m.

His companions, among them his 27-year-old son Paulo, managed to return fire and kill one of the gunmen.

Five other people were wounded in the attack while one of the gunmen, later identified as Christopher Abasula, was killed by the official’s bodyguards.

Lim defended his longtime lawyer-friend for his “integrity and character” and said Garayblas could not be involved in irregularities.

“He is a stickler for what the law is and for complying with existing regulations. You cannot make him change his mind once he has decided, because he will stand by what is the rule of law,” he added.

Lim, however, stressed that anyone who has knowledge about questionable transactions should come out in the open and back it up with evidence.

“My policy there is I will not make any comment unless it is supported by facts. If someone knows something, we will pursue it,” he said.

Meanwhile, in an open letter posted at the City Hall website, Garayblas’ son and assistant secretary to the mayor, Pio, said the rumors about his father were “not true.”

“Instead of emulating and honoring the dedication, integrity and sacrifices of people like my father, these people are trying to destroy him. My father will not back down and I hope the people who believe in him will not lose faith in him,” Pio said.

He thanked those who have expressed support for his father, even the people behind the slay attempt, saying the incident has given them a “stronger resolve.”