BCDA execs cleared of plunder

MANILA, Philippines - Top officials of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) were cleared of plunder raps, with the Office of the Ombudsman dismissing the allegations against as “pure speculation.”

The Ombudsman dismissed for insufficiency of evidence the charges of alleged violation of the Anti-Plunder Law, obstruction of justice and grave misconduct filed by Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson against more than 40 officials of the BCDA, the Poro Point Special Economic and Freeport Zone, and John Hay Poro Point Development Corp., as well as a former head of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel (OGCC).

Singson questioned the validity of the joint venture contract entered into by the BCDA for the development and management of the Poro Point seaport in San Fernando, La Union.

The Ombudsman ruled that the BCDA diligently met all the requirements of the law on transactions pertaining to the development of the Poro Point seaport.

The Ombudsman brushed aside as “pure speculation” Singson’s insinuation that the respondents conspired with one another to deprive the government of at least P38 million a month.

In another ruling handed down last week, the Ombudsman dismissed for lack of evidence the administrative and criminal complaints filed by businessman Armando de Rossi against BCDA president and chief executive officer Narciso Abaya, general legal counsel Arnel Casanova and program manager for engineering and construction Eduardo Lena.

In a ruling last July 21, the Ombudsman said Abaya, Casanova and Lena were “indisputably discharging their duties” as BCDA officials when they released P59.28 million to the Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Joint Venture, a major contractor for the 93.7-kilometer Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway built by the BCDA.

The Ombudsman also cleared five executives of Hazama-Taisei-Nippon who were named co-respondents.

The complaint filed by De Rossi purportedly on behalf of Italy-based CMC Asia Inc. stemmed from the complainant’s failure to collect the P59.28-million in consultancy fees from Hazama-Taisei-Nippon.

The BCDA released the amount to Hazama-Taisei-Nippon following an OGCC opinion that the state-run company was not obliged to withhold it from the contractor due to CMC Asia’s claim.