Parañaque seizes NAIA properties over tax dues

The Parañaque City government started yesterday confiscation proceedings on the real properties of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) for its failure to pay realty taxes worth P624.5 million since 1992.

Mayor Joey Marquez said the confiscation proceedings started with the serving of a warrant of levy on the NAIA management yesterday afternoon.

"It was a drastic step we had to take to collect on those long-overdue taxes but it seems they have disregarded our warnings," Marquez said.

According to City Treasurer Tato Carabeo, the serving of the warrant effectively "freezes" the properties of NAIA, prohibiting any transaction on them.

Carabeo said that it also paves the way for their possible "takeover" of the airport but he stressed that the scenario was not being seriously considered.

Carabeo explained that the NAIA administration could stop the confiscation proceedings if they just approach the city government and signify a commitment that they will pay their tax dues.

"We just want to show them that we are serious in collecting the taxes and that they should not ignore us. Our door is still open to the NAIA if they want to discuss finally how they plan to pay their tax dues," Marquez explained.

The actor-turned-politician stressed that the city government’s action was legal.

"The law is on our side. It is NAIA which has been breaking the law with their non-payment of the taxes. It is a pity because as a national government agency, they should be the ones giving a good example," Marquez said.

The mayor said their confiscation of the NAIA real property was backed by taxation the Local Government Code of 1991. – Rainier Allan Ronda