PCGG takes over part of ‘Payanig’ property

MANILA, Philippines - The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has taken possession of a portion of the 18.5-hectare “Payanig sa Pasig” estate this week.

The PCGG said in a statement that it has recovered a 1.1-hectare lot at the corner of Meralco and Julio Vargas Avenues by virtue of a court order.

On Oct. 21, Pasig Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 72 Judge Marilou Runes Tumang issued an order that granted the motion for execution to take over the property, occupied by 25 families.

The PCGG said it peacefully implemented the order on Wednesday, with the PCGG and the Mid-Pasig Land Development Corp. (MPLDC) – a corporation surrendered to the government – now in control of the property.

The court order stemmed from a complaint filed by the PCGG and MPLDC against Gold Park, Inc. (GPI), where they sought to recover the possession of the lot.

The court earlier ruled in favor of the government, and ordered GPI to vacate the property and restore physical possession to the government.

The defendant was also ordered to pay over P44.6 million in arrears from December 2001 to October 2006 and additional P770,000 per month plus interest covering the period when it remained in possession of the property.

PCGG said the government continues to lose income from the “Payanig” property as a result of the illegal tenants occupying a significant portion of the estate.

It said total loses amount to over P1 billion as of June 2013.

The commission said similar cases against illegal tenants are pending with the Pasig Regional Trial Court.

The Payanig sa Pasig estate was surrendered by alleged Marcos associate, Jose Yao Campos, to the PCGG in 1986.