Chinese casino being built despite Duterte rejection

How can Chinese casino operator Landing Ltd. trifle with Rody Duterte? Defiant of the President’s “exasperation” with its “flawed” lease of prime government land, construction of Landing’s resort casino goes on. Landing acts unaffected by Duterte’s firing of the government-run Nayong Pilipino top brass for the “grossly disadvantageous” deal.

Earthmoving went on last week at the 9.6-hectare Manila Bay-front estate at Entertainment City, Parañaque. Bulldozers, backhoes, graders, cement mixers, and dump trucks were in use. About 50 workmen, some uniformed, were busy with tools. A concrete batching plant ran full-blast onsite.

Landing apparently ordered the earthworks. No one at Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) could have authorized it. There is still no new board and management since the wholesale sacking of Tues., Aug. 7.

In announcing the dismissals, his spokesman said the President fumed over unbridled bureaucratic corruption. Riling Duterte was NPF’s grant to Landing of a 75-year lease, “beyond the lifetime of anybody.”

NPF and Landing execs, then ceremonially breaking ground at the casino site, hurriedly dispersed. Later in the day Landing declared its resort casino will “push through” since its lease is “valid and effective.”

In subsequent days Duterte ordered the justice department to review the lease, for possible rescission. He reiterated his abhorrence of gambling, so rejects any new casinos other than those presently operating. Landing contradicted each presidential pronouncement with reassertions of project continuance and binding contract. It caused publication in Manila and Hong Kong, where it is listed in the stock exchange as Landing International Development Ltd.

Earthworks then resumed, interrupted only by monsoon rains. They began in July, coinciding with Landing’s publicity in Hong Kong that President Duterte no less supposedly had approved its project. The fence around the casino site has tarpaulin drawings of the theme parks, hotels, and gaming halls it would erect for $1.5 billion.

Duterte, a state prosecutor for nine years, did not use “grossly disadvantageous” lightly. It’s a legal definition of corruption, for which violators can be imprisoned for life. That Malacañang timed the NPF board ouster during the groundbreaking denoted seriousness.

Landing CEO Yang Zhihui, 46, of Anhui province, is used to defying authority. In 2013, as Chinese president Xi Jinping cracked down on sleaze and cash exports, Yang invested friends’ hot money in a $2.4-billion resort casino in Jeju, Korea. Koreans protested that it threatened the island’s hot springs and pristine beaches. A year later when Beijing cut tourism to Korea in economic war, Yang bought a 19-seater jet to continue enticing investors, including money-laundering officials. They helped him buy out his Genting-Singapore partner from the Jeju project. The $53-million jet in the name of his personal British Virgin Islands outfit he leased for $75 million to Hong Kong-listed Landing International; shareholders complained. Landing’s frequent publicities about Nayong Pilipino raised share prices.

Of Duterte’s NPF sacking and lease review, Landing said: “From the group’s viewpoint, the recent decision of the Philippine Government to replace members of the NPF board of trustees did not affect the validity of the subject contract of lease. Unless the lease contract is cancelled or nullified on legal grounds by the courts, Landing has reason to believe that it is a valid leaseholder and can legally proceed with its project.”

State auditors earlier red-flagged the build-lease-manage deal. At only P150 per square meter, lease was for 50 years, extendible by another 25. There were no adjacent land appraisals, solicitations of competitive offers, and NEDA permit to dispense with public bidding.

Before that, NPF’s Fema Duterte, the President’s distant niece-in-law, sued fellow-trustees for graft. Citing nearby leases of P500 per square meter, she said the government would lose P25.85 billion in half a century. Allegedly the accused junketed to Jeju, all-expenses-paid.

In July NPF tried to cure the flaws by upping the lease to P360 per square meter, and shortening it to 25 years. Still there were no land appraisals and Swiss Challenges as required by law.

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A holiday, tomorrow marks not only Eid’l Adha but also Ninoy Aquino’s martyrdom for freedom.

The Marcos dictatorship slew Ninoy in 1983. The world press witnessed the shooting at the airport tarmac, the attempts to cover up, the trial of the culprits, and the ouster of the mastermind. Those who heroize Marcos, help hide his stolen wealth, and restore his heirs to power cannot revise history.

Thousands of official accounts detail Marcos’ killing, torture, rape, abduction, and jailing of dissenters. In the files are his and family’s multibillion-dollar deposits, estates, company shares, artworks, and jewelry. Sworn affidavits debunk his fake war exploits and undeserved medals. Well chronicled is his election cheating in 1986 that sparked the People Power Revolt.

Ninoy’s ultimate sacrifice officially is recognized every year. Better than revising history is to learn from it.

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Message from Fr. Jerry Orbos: “Thank you for being with me in my health journey. On Aug. 20 will be the first of my four cycles of chemotherapy, to be given every three weeks. I face the big Ch (chemotherapy) with the bigger Ch (Christ), and with your prayers and support. Offering whatever pains and discomfort for the glory of God, in solidarity with the sick and the suffering, and for your intentions too. One with you! God bless us. Mama Mary loves us!”

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Catch Sapol radio show, Saturdays, 8-10 a.m., DWIZ (882-AM).

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