Lim insists: Vitas slaughterhouse takeover legal

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said the city government has a legal basis in taking over the 22,000-square meter Vitas slaughterhouse leased out to Dealco Farms Inc. in October 1999 for 25 years.

In a statement, Lim said Dealco allowed the facilities of the abattoir to deteriorate, in violation of the contract, to make it appear that it had been losing money these past eight years.

“If it had been bleeding from its operations, why did it not back out and ask City Hall to terminate the contract?” he said.

Lim said Dealco subleased the facilities to Meatworld International Inc., whose board includes Councilor Dennis Alcoreza, without prior notice and clearance from the city government, as required by the contract.

“Dealco under-reported its income vis-à-vis its payment of one percent city share from the facility,” he said. “But when it subleased the facility to Meatworld, the latter reported to the Securities and Exchange Commission gross sales of P1.158 billion in 2006 and almost P1.312 billion in 2007.”

Lim said Dealco  did not upgrade the wastewater facility at the slaughterhouse, instead dumping its wastewater into Manila Bay.

“Clearly, both Dealco and its sub-lessee, Meatworld, are guilty of negligence and abandon of public health and safety and utter violation of the contract with the City of Manila,” he said.

Lim and Alcoreza met at a forum at the National Press Club yesterday. Manila Police District Station 1 chief Senior Superintendent Rolando Miranda accused Alcoreza of staging a “drama” to make it appear that he was being dragged out of the slaughterhouse.

Miranda said when he told Alcoreza, who refused to leave the facility, that they would carry him out, the councilor told him to do just that and lay down on the floor. He said police officers were peacefully carrying Alcoreza out of the slaughterhouse when the councilor started wriggling and acting like he was being manhandled just as he saw cameras flashing.

Lim said he will provide the police officers with legal assistance and that he is ready to face whatever charges arise from the takeover.      – Sandy Araneta