HGC told to explain 'anomalous' sale of government land

MANILA, Philippines - Officials of the Home Guaranty Corp. (HBC) were ordered to explain their involvement in the alleged anomalous sale of a 2.8-hectare government property in Tondo, Manila.

In the order, the Office of the Ombudsman said it has “enough basis” to proceed with the preliminary investigation of the officials accused of depriving the government of some P300 million.

Among those told to submit counter-affidavits were HGC president Gonzalo Benjamin Bongolan, executive vice president Elmer Nonnatus Cadano, and vice presidents Melinda Adriano, Rafael delos Santos, Corazon Corpuz, Danilo Javier, vice president and Jimmy Sarona.

The case arose from a complaint filed by Jerome Canlas on how 2.8 hectares of land at the Manila Harbour Center was allegedly sold to La Paz Milling Corp. on July 21, 2008 for P384,715,800 or roughly P13,000 per square meter.

Canlas said an adjacent parcel of land was sold for P17,000 per square meter in 2001, and the properties should have been sold for at least P636 million.

The graft charges are based on how the respondents allegedly violated Republic Act 3019, the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for entering into a sale allegedly grossly disadvantageous to the government.

HGC officials signed the documents pertaining to the “absolute sale” of Lots 3 and 4, Block 3 at the Manila Harbour Center in Vitas, Tondo, Manila, according to Canlas. – Michael Punongbayan