Gwen faces media, talks on purchase of Balili lot

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday gave a detailed report to selected members of the media about what transpired regarding the controversial purchase of the Balili property in barangay Tinaan, Naga City.

Garcia spent three hours with newspaper editors and broadcasters to give a presentation on the details of the deal and to answer questions.

She said that the idea to purchase the property came from beleaguered Provincial Board Member Juan Bolo.

The purchase became controversial when it was found in a geodetic survey that 80,124 square meters are submerged in seawater while 14,402 square meters is a mangrove area.

Garcia said that Bolo convinced the provincial government that the 24.73-hectare property was a perfect site for an international port. Initially the price per square meter was pegged at P434 but later went down to P400, which Bolo allegedly negotiated.

Radio personality Pablito ‘Bobby’ Nalzaro, asked Garcia how come she did not follow of the lead of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who was hands on in the deals for the South Road Properties (SRP), which could have saved her a lot of trouble.

Garcia said that she made it a policy for her administration that no suppliers, brokers or contractors would be dealing directly with her office.

She said that it was Bolo, who presented her the Memorandum of Agreement.

It was on January 14, 2008 when the Provincial Board passed Resolution No. 187-2008 authored by Bolo to purchase the property for a price of P434 per square meter. This covers 10 lots with the total area of 247, 317 square meters.     But Garcia explained that she refused to purchase the properties or sign the MOA unless the price per square meter will be brought down to P400 square meter.

She said that she approved the resolution on April 4, 2008 after she was told by Bolo that the sellers have agreed to lower the price to P400 per square meter.

“It is only now that I know nga dili diay ang among provincial legal officer maoy nag-prepare sa MOA,” Garcia said as she presumed that the MOA was prepared by the legal office.

The first payment for the Balili property was made on May 21, 2008, in accordance with the MOA. The check was released to lawyer Romeo Balili, who is the court appointed executor of the estate of Luis Balili, at the office of Bolo.

It was deposited to an account at BDO under Balili’s name. The second and the last payment was made on October 7, 2008.

On June 11, 2008, the execution of the unilateral deed of sale was made in the office of Bolo. Present were Romeo Balili and Amparo Balili, the widow of Luis.

It was July 30, 2008 that the certificate of titles of the property were transferred to the province and a ceremonial turn over was done on August 27, 2008.

Another columnist asked Garcia if she is convinced that there are “people” who received money from the purchase of the lot.

She did not answer the question, but assured that she will take drastic action against those people who withhold any information regarding the property.

She said that she does not want to preempt the ongoing investigation being conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas.

The governor has, however, demanded from the Balili estate to refund the amount of P37,810,400, representing the amount paid for the submerged and mangrove areas.

Garcia said she had never put any doubt to Bolo when the transactions started considering that the board member has been in office even before she became governor.

After this incident, Garcia said, “I will be more careful now in dealing with John Bolo.” — Garry B. Lao/NLQ (THE FREEMAN)