Manila to probe Vitas abattoir anomaly

A two-man fact-finding team was created to investigate the claims of Dealco Farms Inc. that it invested P51 million to modernize and upgrade the facilities of the abattoir in Vitas, Tondo, as part of its contract with the city during the term of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s predecessor.

In a statement, the Manila city government said that as a consequence of the court’s decision favoring the city’s demands for payment of unpaid rentals and real property taxes, Dealco claimed recently that it poured the P51 million into improving the abattoir.

However, this was contested by a team of engineers headed by city veterinary inspection board chief Francisco Co, who said the amount actually invested by Dealco did not even come close to P10 million.

Dealco, owned by the family of Councilor Dennis Alcoreza, entered into a lease for the operation of the city-owned slaughterhouse.

After operating the abattoir for eight years, the city government said Dealco did not comply with its modernization contract and sublet the facility to Meatworld International – a firm partly owned by Alcoreza – without notifying City Hall.

Manila city legal officer Renato dela Cruz said if the fact-finding team finds that Dealco lied about its investments in formal reports, then the city would be constrained to file appropriate charges against Dealco’s incorporators.      – Sandy Araneta