Delay lease of RP properties in Japan, gov’t urged

Two senators asked the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) yesterday to defer implementation of the lease contract on four government-owned properties in Japan.

Saying the contracts "smacked with irregularities," Sen. Joker Arroyo suggested the two agencies wait until after the May 10 elections to be on the safe side. "It’s too much of a risk. The President cannot protect you anymore. After July 1, as I say then, if President Arroyo wins, she is in the position to protect you. But, if she does not win, she is not in the position to protect you."

On the other hand, Sen. Manuel Villar described as a "midnight deal" any action to implement the lease contracts 60 days before the May 10 presidential elections. "The question is this illegal or not, and more than just illegal, is it moral?" he asked.

"But doing this right before the elections ... with the end of term of a president will automatically lead to suspicion because (by) June 30, we may have a new term with the president, or we may have a new president."

Arroyo said the P250 million being offered for the Nempeiidai, Tokyo property will not give much to the government to improve its budget deficit.

"How much we will get from the P250 million, will that improve the budget deficit?" he asked.

"It smacks of irregularity. Why did they push it 60 days before the elections? They better be buried. There is an illegality. They should defer it after the elections. Why in a hurry?"

Villar, chairman of the Senate committee on foreign relations, said the Senate will have to review the lease contracts.— Jose Rodel Clapano

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"Normally all midnight deals are reviewed," he said. "So, to me this is now the time to show your patriotism. That would be the opportunity to show your patriotism.

"Whatever you do, you could not escape suspicion. Since you are all government officials, I don’t know why you will do this on your own knowing fully well the repercussions politically."

Lawyer Proferio Villena of the DFA’s legal department told the Senate committee on finance, which Villar also chairs, that the government has awarded to a private firm a two-storey government-owned building on a 2,489.96-square meter lot in Nampeiidai, Tokyo, Japan for development.

"The considered net as gross bid price of the highest bidders is $23.2 million," he said.

"Subtracting the lease cost of the reserved area for the government of the Republic of the Philippines, comprising two storeys, amounting to $18.45 million, the net affront to the government will be $4.8 million to P250 million."

Government properties in Obanoyama comprising 3,014.7 square meters, and in Naniwa Co. with 2,489.96 square meters, both in Kobe will also be rented out for commercial and residential use, he added.