Pablo John says: House inquiry not harassment

CEBU, Philippines – For Cebu 3rd District Rep. Pablo John Garcia, the move to initiate a House inquiry into the alleged questionable agreement with Filinvest Land, Inc. on the sale and development at the South Road Properties is “not harassment but a fight.”

This after Cebu Mayor Tomas Osmeña expressed he is upset with the said move, saying that the congressional inquiry is only “pure harassment” to make mockery of the agreement.

Pablo John then reminds Osmeña it was him who started the fight.

“Mayor Osmeña is complaining of harassment. It’s only harassment when the other party is helpless and as if he is not doing anything. Kinsa man ang nag-una-una sa away? So don’t call it harassment, what I would call it now is a full blown fight,” Pablo John said.

The congressman was in Balamban town together with his sister, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for the signing of a memorandum of agreement for a deed of donation on the lot between the town and the province for a provincial hospital.

Governor Garcia questioned the joint venture contract between Filinvest and the Cebu City government, and even showed to reporters the copy of the “certified true and faithful reproduction” from the original agreement which was furnished to them by city administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez.

The governor questioned the allegedly highly anomalous transaction, on some provisions of the agreement particularly on the acquisition of the 10.6 hectares by the Filinvest.

Capitol, in a media presentation last Monday, showed that City Hall intends to transfer SRP lot titles and full ownership of the “sale properties” to Filinvest by March 2013 despite a projected P445.8-million balance to be collected from Filinvest.

The provincial government doubts whether the city government can collect about P1.5 billion within three years, as stated in the invitation to apply for eligibility and to submit a comparative proposal.

Under the agreement, the city government shall transfer the absolute title, ownership and possession to Filinvest free of any lien or encumbrance. It will execute the first deed of absolute sale for 20,000 square meters of the sale properties.

In turn, the Filinvest will pay City Hall P269.5 million in March 2010, P269.2 million in 2011, P248.8 million in 2012, and P238.4 million in 2013, for a total of P1.125 billion.

These run counter to the invitation published by City Hall, which stated a “minimum of P1.5 billion in cash payable within three years.”

Governor Garcia said that the agreement entered into by the city and the Filinvest was “in special favor to the Filinvest but grossly disadvantageous to the city.”

Pablo John said that he will push through with the planned investigation once Congress resumes on April 13.

He pointed out that the inquiry is in aid of legislation because it involves procurement laws, which is already under review by the House and it also involves the power of the local government unit to enter into a joint venture.

“It’s a proper forum because it’s in aid of legislation. We will see whether there are loopholes in our laws,” he said.

Meanwhile, Governor Garcia yesterday clarified the discussion between her consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda and Fernandez on a so-called meeting between the two.

Fernandez reportedly told Sepulveda he wants to talk to the governor upon the instruction of Osmeña.

“Gisugo kuno siyang Tomas nga ipapangutana ko kung unsa gyod akong nahiubsan. Listening to Rory, I said, I think one of the many things I have learned is that you can never trust Tomas,” the governor told reporters.

Governor Garcia said she declined to talk with Fernandez. — Garry B. Lao/MEEV  (THE FREEMAN)