PEA vows to fight for auctioned land

An embattled Public Estates Authority (PEA) vowed to fight for its property purchased by the Parañaque City government in a public auction.

In a press statement, PEA general manager Teodorico Taguinod said the agency might ask the Court of Appeals to declare the auction "null and void" if a Parañaque court denies a pending petition for prohibition.

Taguinod added the PEA would also file a complaint against Parañaque Judge Aida Macapagal "for grave abuse of discretion."

Taguinod alleged that the judge failed to notify the PEA or the Office of the Solicitor General, the agency’s counsel, that she had denied its application for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the city government’s holding of a public auction last April 7.

Moreover, Taguinod questioned why the auction was held on a public holiday.

Taguinod insisted that the PEA properties which were auctioned off are exempt from real property taxes as "reclaimed lands belong to the public domain, are owned by the national government, and are, therefore, exempt from real property taxes."

"Some portions of the property are still under water. Thus, the imposition of real property taxes is highly questionable," he added.

Last Monday, the city government purchased more than 280 hectares of reclaimed land owned by the PEA worth P265.2 million in a public auction.

Two businessmen also bought small portions of the land.

The property was put on the auction block after PEA failed to pay real estate taxes since the year 2000.

City legal officer Leo Luiz Mendoza said the city government only exercised its right to collect taxes when it auctioned off the PEA property.

Another PEA-owned land in Pasay is in danger of being auctioned off. The agency owes the Pasay City government some P1 billion in unpaid realty taxes.

PEA has reportedly also failed to pay realty taxes to Las Piñas.

President Arroyo wanted the PEA abolished after the agency got embroiled in graft allegations and controversies, most notable of which was the allegedly overpriced President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.