Saavedra files additional charges vs 12 airport execs

CEBU, Philippines — Anti-graft advocate Crisologo Saavedra Jr. has claimed he has found new pieces of evidence for the alleged anomalous P590 million land deal of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA).

This prompted him to file yesterday a supplemental complaint or rejoinder against 12 current and former officials of MCIAA and seven other private respondents on the alleged illegal payment of the 42,329 square meter lot in 2016.

Named respondents are former MCIAA general manager Nigel Paul Villarete; former MCIAA board members Pericles Dakay, Melanie Ang, Justice Undersecretary Jose Vicente Salazar, Tourism Undersecretary Ma. Victoria Jasmin, Finance Assistant Secretary Maria Edita Tan, Transportation Undersecretary Perpetuo Lotilla, and Gen. Rodente Joya of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP); incumbent MCIAA board member Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III; MCIAA Assistant General Manager Glenn Napuli; Legal Division Chief Cyril Apao; and Accounting Division Manager Venus Casas.

Named private respondents are Anatalia Booc, Eduarda Patalinghug, Maximo Patalinghug, Juana Maranga, Apolonio Maranga Jr., Virgina Samonte, and lawyer Joselito Lopez as counsel of the heirs of Juan Pulvera.

Saavedra said the additional pieces of evidence he presented were discovered by the investigating team of the Commission on Audit (COA) Fraud Division.

He alleged that MCIAA officials led by Napuli paid the P590 million to the heirs of Pulvera on June 23, 2016 even prior to the approval of Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management in November 2016.

He also alleged that there was an overpayment when the more or less 2,500-square meter of the 42,329-square meter lot was used as main road by the Department of Public Works and Highways long time ago.

On April 8, 2016, the MCIAA Board approved a resolution that the negotiated amount of P590 million reached by the parties in the case filed by Eduarda Patalinghug be the amount in the Compromise Agreement as payment of subject lot with an area of 42,329 square meters.

The controversy stemmed from the purchase of the subject lot and allegedly paid the said amount to individuals who are not owners when the original title is still in the name of Juan Pulvera and Julia Igot.

Based on the COA Audit Observation Memorandum, MCIAA did not secure from the court an order directing the register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City to transfer the name of the original certificate before paying the agreed amount.

The Court of Appeals also reportedly did not order MCIAA to pay the P590 million in advance but approved the Compromise Agreement.

Napuli stressed that they have a Court of Appeals’ order, the owner's copy of the certificate of title, and they are in possession of the lot in question.

While they have strong basis of ownership, Napuli explained that they are careful in not spending more for the transfer of title to MCIAA’s name because COA might later declare the deal as irregular.

“COA should first settle in their minds whether it was irregular or not.  It was already approved by the Court of Appeals but still I am interested on what COA will finally say on the Court of Appeals ruling,” he said.

“Also, COA has to understand first that the lot was acquired through court proceedings and not by acquisition through RA 10752.  COA, despite their powers, cannot just mix the application of laws,” he added.—  KBQ (FREEMAN)