Probe into MCIA land titling project sought

CEBU, Philippines - An airport employee is asking for an investigation into the status of the P14.620 million land titling project of the Mactan Cebu International Airport.

Copies of the letter request were sent to Deputy Ombudsman for the Visayas Pelagio Apostol, Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III, and Commission on Audit Chairperson Maria Gracia Pulido Tan.

The project took place in 2008 but COA found deficiency in the full payment of a consultant’s fee because it was reportedly authorized even if the required services for the project were not completed yet.

“As of this writing, no land title has been received by the MCIAA. Hence, in the best interest of the public, it is out right to be informed if said project went through surveying and bidding process,” reads the letter dated March 26, 2014, a copy of which was furnished to The FREEMAN.

The FREEMAN contacted MCIAA General Manager Nigel Paul Villarete for comment yesterday but to no avail.

MCIAA Legal Officer Glenn Napuli earlier said the consultant has already gathered the necessary documents for land titles and have reportedly sent them to the Office of the Solicitor General.

Together with the letter request for investigation, the airport employee attached a copy of a letter from a member of the MCIAA Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) who divulged an alleged buy-out by a contractor for the replication project with an estimated cost of P822 million. The letter was reportedly sent to Villarete.

Said BAC member told Villarete that the bidding for the replication of the Philippine Air Force (PAF) structures was allegedly rigged to favor a company and that three members of BAC allegedly received P500,000 each to disqualify another company.

These three BAC members allegedly met with someone from the favored company in Manila before the bidding and received the money there.

Villarete reportedly admitted having received the anonymous letter, which prompted him to open an investigation. The FREEMAN is withholding the names of the companies involved pending results of the probe.

The replica of the PAF structures will be transferred to other areas of the Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base.  (FREEMAN)