Nullification of Paskuhan sale sought

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO— House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability members are gearing to ask the court for the possible nullification of the sale of Paskuhan Village to SM Prime Holdings.

During yesterday’s hearing on the said sale,

1-SAGIP Representative Rodante Marcoleta asked if the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) during the time of TIEZA chief Mark Lapid had followed Commission on Audit Circular No. 86-264.

Assistant Solicitor General Marissa Macaraig Guillen also responded to the query of Marcoleta that the sale, based on what was discussed during the meeting, could be nullified.

But Guillen said that the Office of the Solicitor General would need to be furnished with the full details of the sale to come up with a formal opinion.

The committee, chaired by Surigao Del Sur Second District Representative Johnny Pimentel, had been looking into the alleged contentious issues of the sale.

The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability chaired by Pimentel led the inquiry on the sale after Pampanga Third District Representative Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. filed House Resolution 654 that called for the investigation of the sale on whether proper procurement laws were followed as well as ascertain the real ownership of the land of the said property.

Cebu Third District Representative Gwendolyn Fiel Garcia had earlier questioned TIEZA for using the same argument in selling Paskuhan when there were clear provisions under Republic Act 9593 on the right of first refusal.

Section 54 of the law said that “the TIEZA, in coordination with the Privatization Council, shall determine which assets shall be put up for sale or lease, provided that concerned LGUs [local government units] interested to manage and operate said assets shall have the right of first refusal.”

Gonzales and the members of the House panel are against the sale of the property. Gonzales for one had called to rescind the sale and bring back the property back to the government.

The Christmas village theme park — later renamed to Hilaga — was sold to Premiere by TIEZA for P939-million as part of its assets privatization thrust.

Paskuhan is one of the 13 governmentowned properties under TIEZA that have been eyed for privatization.