CONGRESS has summoned former Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority chief operating officer Mark Lapid to appear in an investigation of the supposed anomalous sale of the 10-hectare Paskuhan Village heritage site in Pampanga in 2016.
The House committee on good government and public accountability, led by Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel, issued the subpoena following Lapid’s repeated failure to show up in the inquiry of the sale, which is deemed grossly disadvantageous to the government.
Pampanga Rep. Aurelio Gonzalez Jr. filed House Resolution 654 questioning the sale of the heritage site to Premier Central Inc., which he said could have violated many laws.
Pampanga’s San Fernando could be at the losing end because of the deal, Pimentel said, citing the city government’s argument that, under RA 9593, the city had the right of first refusal to the sale.
Cebu Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia, deputy speaker, said such provision was clearly specified in the law under Section 54 stating ‘‘Tieza and the Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Privatization Council, shall determine which assets shall be put up for sale or lease.”
Tieza and the DoT were supposed to take into consideration the importance of maintaining and preserving the Philippine Tourism Authority and its assets that had been considered cultural treasures and heritage sites, such as the Banaue Hotel and similar assets, which should not be sold or in any way disposed of but placed under the ownership of the Tieza for their continued maintenance, Garcia said.
The contentions of Tieza, in its position paper submitted to the Department of Justice, was flawed, she added.
She reminded Tieza chief operating officer Pocholo Paragas that the law was clear with its proviso that circumventing it would mean a clear violation.
Just like the Banaue Hotel, the Paskuhan Village might be considered a heritage site and, therefore, could not be sold or disposed of, she said.
She said the joint congressional oversight under Section 103 of the law must also be informed about the issue for a study and decision on the matter.
Ako Bicol Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr., a deputy minority leader, requested a copy of a report on the supposed interlocking ownership of the four participating bidders for Paskuhan Village from the Securities and Exchange Commission and answer accusations of collusion in the bidding.
Based on the documents that the SEC submitted, the owners/board of directors belonged to the same Sy family of the SM group of companies.
Garbin and Sagip Rep. Rodante Marcoleta said it was incumbent upon the new Tieza head to carefully study the deal and come up with the necessary recommendations.
Benguet Rep. Ronald Cosalan asked about the status of House Resolution 1898 filed in the past Congress by then Pampanga Rep. Joseller Guiao so the committee on good government and public accountability could incorporate the inputs from its results.
