GMA denies links with Piatco consultant

President Arroyo vehemently denied yesterday she had links with an airport company consultant accused of being an administration "bagman" in the securing of government contracts and concessions.

In a video teleconference from Bangkok, Thailand, the President said she did not know businessman Alfonso Liongson, who allegedly receives $200,000 monthly from Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) as a consultant to protect its interests and secure more concessions from the government.

"I do not know him," Mrs. Arroyo said. "How can he be a friend of my family?"

The President was reacting to recent revelations by House Minority Leader Carlos Padilla who, in a privileged speech, said the consultant was actually acting as a conduit to powerful government officials.

Piatco, a consortium of Filipino and German investors, is the developer of the $500-million Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 (NAIA 3) project.

Padilla stressed that the consultant, being an "ordinary man with a modest background," cannot possibly secure concessions from the government unless he has powerful connections.

"Liongson could not possibly be the lone beneficiary of these appropriations since he has no official capacity nor is he a high official of a government agency involved in the Piatco deal," he said.

The congressman said the consultant "must be fronting or acting as a conduit for powerful officials who can secure the additional benefits and privileges Piatco is seeking."

Padilla said the total $2.1 million that will be paid to Liongson will be part of fees that the public will pay for the use of Terminal 3, scheduled to be opened late this year.

Top officials at Malacañang declined to comment on the allegations.

Executive Secretary Alberto Romulo said yesterday the Piatco deal was being handled by Presidential Adviser on Strategic Projects Gloria Tan-Climaco.

"As far as Piatco is concerned, she is the one in charge. I would not know how to comment. We will have to ask her about it," Romulo said.

Meanwhile, Sens. Edgardo Angara and Sergio Osmeña III have asked the Commission on Appointments (CA) screening panel to subpoena Liongson, Tan-Climaco and businessman Cheng Yon to appear at the next hearing on embattled Transportation and Communications Secretary Pantaleon Alvarez to shed light on their roles pertaining to the NAIA 3 project.

Piatco’s vice president for public affairs Moises Tolentino said yesterday that despite massive propaganda, detractors have been unable to prove any illegality or irregularity concerning the project.

"Pitaco’s detractors are now obviously very desperate... the issues have raised have been thrown out by appropriate authorities for being unfounded and absolutely without merit," he said. — Marichu Villanueva