Presidential Spokesman Ignacio Bunye denied rumors that a "group of private businessmen close to the Palace" was trying to wrest control of NAIA 3 from the Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco).
"The idea of a third party takeover is not being considered at this time," he said. "There is no takeover being contemplated at this time other than the operations by government of the facilities."
Bunye said Mrs. Arroyo has declared that the government would eventually allow the private sector to run NAIA 3 after a "temporary" government takeover of the project.
"And it would have to be undertaken by the new administration," he said. "The thrust of the government is to make sure that NAIA 3 is operationalized. I believe the President earlier made mention of the immediate priority to just keep the terminal going."
Meanwhile, acting Government Corporate Counsel Manuel Teehankee said yesterday the government will ask the Commission on Audit and foreign appraisers to examine Piatco’s claims of expenses in constructing NAIA 3.
"(The Department of Transportation and Communications) together with the (Manila International Airport Authority) is currently in consultation with the Commission on Audit to arrive at a plan to value or appraise the so-called NAIA terminal 3 to arrive at alternative approaches to valuation," he said.
Teehankee, a member of a Cabinet panel tasked to look into the government takeover of NAIA 3, said they are looking for the original documents on the bid price of $350 million, which Piatco and the Asian Emerging Dragon Consortium had submitted to get the project.
"That is why (Piatco) has to make presentation as to the so-called expenses," he said. "Let us not forget that the bid documents and the original contracts stated $350 million as the projected cost of construction of this NAIA terminal 3."
Teehankee said the government is open to a "discussion" with Piatco for the reimbursement of its expenses in building the new terminal.
Justifying the "cost overruns" is the problem of Piatco, he added.
Last May 5, the Supreme court voided Piatco’s contract with the government for the construction and operation of NAIA 3 for being onerous and contrary to public policy. — Marichu Villanueva, Pia Lee-Brago