Solon joins petition vs Piatco

Akbayan Party List Rep. Loretta Ann P. Rosales has joined as additional petitioner in the petition for mandamus filed in the Supreme Court on Oct. 24, 2002 by Reps. Salacnib F. Baterina, Clavel A. Martinez and Constantino G. Jaraula against Philippine International Air Terminals Inc. (Piatco) and responsible government agencies in connection with the NAIA Terminal 3 Project.

The petition docketed as G.R. No. 155547 seeks to annul the contracts for the construction of the NAIA Terminal 3 project executed by the government through the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) with Piatco, for being in violation of the Constitution, the Administrative Code of 1987 and the Build-Operate-Transfer Law, and for fraudulently violating public policy.

The case is set for oral arguments on the prayer for the issuance of a temporary restraining order on Dec. 10, 2002.

Rosales was one of the first legislators who spoke out against the Piatco contracts. She earlier delivered a privilege speech assailing the unilateral termination of existing contracts of ground service providers. According to Rosales, the termination will be unfair to 10,000 employees who will be displaced by the unilateral termination.

Acting through counsel, Jose A. Bernas, Rosales filed a motion to admit her as additional petitioner, in order to join petitioners Baterina Martinez and Jaraula who asserted that unless it is annulled, the Piatco contracts will serve as blueprint for fraud and for prejudicing the Filipino people.

Rosales added that government infrastructure projects must not unduly prejudice labor, regardless of their merit.