Ombudsman needs more documents to start probe into Balili mess

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman Visayas is waiting for three more documents to start its evaluation of the controversial Balili land transaction of the Cebu Provincial Government.

Dr. Belle Quijano of the Public Assistance Unit said in an interview over dyLA that the investigator assigned to handle the fact-finding investigation into the P98.9 million Capitol transaction is yet to receive a copy of the deed of sale, zonal valuation of the property and the survey result from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

According to her, the province has already submitted all the necessary documents relative to the transaction except the deed of absolute sale. A request has already been sent to the Bureau of Internal Revenue asking for the zonal valuation of the 24.7-hectare Balili property.

The DENR, on the hand, which was enlisted by the anti-graft office to conduct the ground survey of the property, is yet to submit its official findings. Although it has already revealed in another investigation conducted by the Adhoc committee of the Provincial Board that 82-percent of the property bought by the Province of Cebu is either submerged in seawater or planted with mangroves.

The DENR survey revealed that only 4.5 hectares is dry land and has a valid title because the large part of the property is still classified as timberland. Environment officials said they have already recommended to the Office of the Solicitor General for the reversion of the title of the submerged property sold by the Balili estate to the province.

Quijano said that as soon as these documents are submitted to them, the investigator will immediately start the evaluation process to determine whether or not there is enough evidence to warrant the upgrading of the fact-finding into a formal criminal and administrative adjudication.

As soon as the anti-graft office finds enough basis to upgrade the fact-finding, the people involved in the transaction will be asked to submit their counter-affidavit.

The Ombudsman earlier launched the fact-finding investigation into the controversial transaction after allegations that it is disadvantageous to the government because the property, which the Capitol bought at P400 per square meter, is allegedly under water.

The transaction was first questioned by the environmental lawyers led by Atty. Gloria Estenzo Ramos and Benjamin Cabrido who claimed to have found out that a portion of the property will be used as dumpsite of the coal ash from the Korean Power Corporation plant in Naga.

Documents showed that Governor Gwendolyn Garcia signed a memorandum of agreement with the representatives of the Balili estate on the same day that the provincial board gave her the authority.

Garcia however said there was a prior authority given by the provincial board to her which was later amended. — Fred P. Languido/WAB (FREEMAN NEWS)