Chavit files plunder complaint vs BCDA execs

Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis "Chavit" Singson filed a complaint for plunder with the Office of the Ombudsman the other day against Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) president Narciso Abaya and 42 others for allegedly illegally and fraudulently disposing of the property, assets and rights of the Poro Point special economic and freeport zone in La Union.

The other respondents are executives of Bulk Handlers Inc. (BHI), John Hay Poro Point Development Corp. (JPDC), Poro Point Industrial Corp. (PPIC), and the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).

In his 21-page complaint, Singson claimed that the respondents arrogated upon themselves on Nov. 1, 1999 the power and authority to utilize, manage, operate and develop the Poro Point special ecozone in San Fernando City for a period of 25 years renewable for another 25 years.

Singson alleged that the respondents disposed of the multibillion-peso property and assets of Poro Point to Bulk Handlers and the PPIC without any public bidding and the approval of the Office of the President, as required by existing laws.

Aside from Abaya, also named respondents in the complaint were BHI president Juanita Tan, PPIC director Manuel Tankianzee, BCDA chairman Rogelio Singson (a cousin of the governor), PPIC director Alvin Capino, and BCDA directors Rafael Azanza, James Lorenzana, Ari-Ben Sebastian, Gerard Seno, Renato Valencia, Asteya Santiago, Roberto Flores, Benjamin Abella, Roberto Montellano, and Isaac Puno III.

Singson claimed that the respondents have "unjustly enriched themselves at the expense of the government" in the amount of at least P2.856 billion since Nov. 1, 1999.

Lawyer Bonifacio Alentajan, Singson’s legal counsel, said they were charged with plunder as they allegedly amassed more than P50 million.

According to Singson, Abaya, Azanza, Lorenzana, Sebastian, Seno and Valencia were included in the complaint although they were appointed to the BCDA after Nov. 1, 1999 because they have "inherited and pursued the same felonious, unlawful and corrupt practices of their predecessors."

"They allowed the very serious crimes against the government and its duly constituted agencies and instrumentalities. They abetted the unabated and merciless plunder of the revenues, assets, properties, rights and interests of (the Poro Point special ecozone) by the other respondents," Singson said in his complaint.

Lawyer Brigido Dulay, the PPIC’s legal counsel, downplayed Singson’s complaint, saying the issues were "old hat" and "rehashed."

"Nothing new, same old issues. Those are rehashed," he said.

Dulay said they would answer the allegations once they receive a copy of the complaint. — With Jun Elias