Fire guts market on former Corona lot

MANILA, Philippines - A market located in the controversial property owned by Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) that was originally owned by the family of Chief Justice Renato Corona’s wife in Manila was gutted by fire before dawn yesterday.

No one was reported injured in the fire at the New Sampaloc Market at J. Figueras street corner Legarda Avenue in Sampaloc district that started at around 1:50 a.m.

Chief Inspector Bonifacio Carta of the Manila Fire Department’s intelligence and investigation division said the fire started at the dry goods section of the market.

The blaze quickly spread and reached the third alarm due to the presence of flammable materials. It was put out at 4:30 a.m.

Carta said they have yet to determine the cause of fire as well as the total worth of damage.

Early last month, the Manila City government ordered an investigation on the supposed expropriation of the 1,020.7-square meter property of the BGEI in Sampaloc, Manila during the term of then mayor Lito Atienza with Corona’s wife Cristina.

Lawyers of Corona had even presented Atienza as a defense witness at the Senate impeachment trial against the Chief Justice.

The expropriation of the BGEI property, located along Legarda Street and covered by Transfer of Certificate of Title (TCT) no. 76220, was approved by the city government in a letter to BGEI in January 2000 to pave the way for the relocation of stallholders of the old and new Sampaloc markets who were displaced by the construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 2.

Authorities have also found several irregularities in the transaction between Atienza and Mrs. Corona, including the non-submission of the required documents needed for the sale of the controversial lot.

Documents, which were not submitted or complied with include the original copy of the Deed of Absolute Sale approved and duly registered in the Registry of Deeds of Manila, or the decision of the

Court, in case of eminent domain; TCT duly entered in favor of the city government of Manila; recommendation of the appraisal committee as to reasonableness of the price, duly approved by the authorities concerned and noted by the previous owner, and copy of the latest tax declaration transferred from the owner.

Such non-compliance on the part of the involved parties in the sale of

the Basa-Guidote lot prompted then City Auditor lawyer Gabriel Espina to issue a notice of suspension of the transaction.