Puentevella wants review of PSC-Brent old contract

As part of his proposed lifestyle check on key officials of the Philippine Sports Commission, Bacolod Rep. Monico Puentevella plans to take a second look into the alleged "sweetheart deal" between the PSC and Brent School, a highly-exclusive institution sitting inside the government-owned Philsports Complex in Pasig City.

Puentevella said he will try to find out how much the PSC, now under chairman Eric Buhain, is or should be getting from Brent School, which caters to a lot of foreign students in elementary and high school.

Puentevella explained that the old contract between the two parties was allegedly disadvantageous to the government. This led to a court case between the government and Brent School in 1994.

"The contract hasn’t been renewed. It (rent) is going to an escrow account. May kaso pa since 1994," said PSC media officer Arsenic Lacson.

After the case was filed, reports circulated that some former PSC officials were allegedly coerced to go slow on the case.

"Madaming may alam nito but it was not pursued. May isa kasing kumanta na taga PSC na nagbigay ang Brent ng apat na sasakyan para sa sweetheart deal na ito (A PSC officer admitted that Brent had given away four vehicles to the PSC as part of the deal)," said Puentevella, who said he wants to find out if this remains the case.

If it does, then this will become part of the lifestyle check, spurred by reports about the sudden influx of expensive sports utility vehicles (SUVs) inside the PSC parking lot.

Buhain welcomed the lifestyle check and said he has submitted his statement of assets and liabilities to the Commission on Audit as early as five weeks ago. Buhain said seven of his immediate staff, now being dubbed as the "Magnificent Seven," have done the same, among them Ramon Suzara, Ed Mateo, Ike Buan and Lacson.

"But my question now is how much is the PSC charging Brent for the use of that prime land and prime property? Magkano?," asked Puentevella.

"Now, if the (present) price is giveaway or peanuts, then there’s another issue here. Baka may kapalit din ‘yan," he said.