The head of the Divisoria Public Market Cooperative has denied the allegations of mayoral candidate and incumbent Manila Vice Mayor Honey Lacuna that the sale of the controversial market was facilitated by past chief executives of the city.
In a press conference, Emmanuel Plaza, chairman of the Paralegal Services of Divisoria Public Market Credit Cooperative, said the former mayors of Manila had nothing to do with the sale of the market, in particular Mel Lopez, father of mayoralty candidate Alex Lopez.
Lacuna earlier alleged that former Mayor Lopez had entered into an agreement with private company Linkworld Corporation, handing over the management of the land along with the Divisoria Public Market.
“It is clearly stated in the Deed of Absolute Sale that the selling of the land was between Mayor Francisco ‘Isko Moreno’ Domagoso and George Chua, chairman of Festina Holdings Corporation that transpired October 16, 2020. So why is she pointing her finger to the late Mayor?” Plaza said.
Plaza also belied Lacuna’s accusations that the City of Manila no longer managed the market because from 1992 to October 2021.
He said there was a market master who was the city hall’s representative to manage it and collect fees, and the last one to be assigned was supervisor Alexander Villanueva until October 2021.
Plaza also lamented that Divisoria Market was sold for only P13,000 per square meter based on the Deed of Absolute Sale.