Politicos cut ties with Suntrust
THE CITY'S lawmaker and mayor were both previously inked to Suntrust Properties Incorporated [SPI], the firm which lost its environmental clearance following damages to Gibraltar road in South Drive.
SPI has been stripped of their Environmental Compliance Certificate [ECC] for failing to administer remedial measures to the caving in of the Gibraltar road and for the collapse of the nearby Tower Condominium’s retaining wall.
Without the ECC, there will be no construction done aside from repair of the Gibraltar road and the perimeter wall of Tower Condo until the Department of Environment and Natural
Resources deems it proper to lift the suspension. The links to the Mayor and to Congress
The journey of SPI into the mountain community started in 2013 when Baguio Representative Mark Go entered into a development agreement with SPI represented by Harrison Paltongan.
Go’s family under, Tasaday Realty and Development Corporation owned the two parcels of land in which SPI now stands totaling 4,352.96 square meters [covered by transfer certificate titles 182013001908 and 182013001909]
Earnest money was paid in the amount of P10 million to the Go family in partial payment for the property.
Under the 2013 agreement, the Go family will remain as owner while Paltongan will stand as developer.
Paltongan was tasked to undertake the building of a low density nine storey residential condominium project and provide improvements and facilities envisioned by the two partners, which includes: concrete internal roads, curbs and gutters, drainage system and appurtenances, water distribution system, power and electrical systems, open spaces as mandated by law, parking spaces and amenities.
Paltogan is also tasked to secure and take possession of the property and proceed with the preparation of all plans for the project development and apply for the issuance of the development and building permits.
The agreement specifies the Go family’s succeeding shares will be remitted within a seven year period which will commence from the launching of the project and issuance of all government permits.
Go then issued a full power of attorney to Paltongan to act for and his behalf in all transactions for the project.
Meanwhile, Domogan has been adamant in declaring he has no ties to the company and quashed allegations of favoring SPI calling allegations to his connections to the company as ‘fabricated accusations” which are politically motivated.
However, the mayor admitted his daughter and son in law were taken in by the company to stand as legal counsel in the past.
This is attested by interviews by SunStar Baguio which reveal, Domogan’s daughter, Janice was with the team of SPI tasked to talk to residents in the area about the project. Go – Domogan connection?
Both Go have severed the SPI connection.
In a statement by the Go family given by wife Sol, links to SPI have been cut since last year when a decision was made to sell the property executing an absolute deed of sale October 24, 2016 for the two parcels of land [now with TCT numbers 182017000519 and 1820170520]
The sale automatically quashes the agreement between Go and Paltongan turning over all responsibilities and shares the previous pact covered.
Sol said there was no problems with the construction of the project when the development agreement was still in effect, attributing the move to a pure business venture for the family owned corporation.
Sol admitted it was last year when the first complaints were brought to their attention by the sisters of the Good Shepherd, to which they countered their non-involvement to the project.
Sol said the family is in contact with Paltongan to this day, urging him to repair damages done to both the road and Tower Condo.
For the part of the chief executive, Domogan said he has asked Janice to cut all connections with SPI.
The mayor has since publicly urged representatives of the company to cooperate with the city government and repair what needs to be fixed.
The chief executive said permits were acquired by the company from the City and said it passed through the zoning and city planning offices. Mitigating measures
Paltongan meanwhile in a statement said there was a hearing with the DENR last week regarding the ECC
“It was explained by DENR that the office wants to know the mitigating measures we are doing to protect the adjacent properties. We are asked to submit this report this month end,” said Paltongan.
Paltongan added the company ensures to have enough workers doing the tower 1 area (near the Tower condominium) to put up the retaining walls and columns because these are part of the mitigating measures.