House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez has urged Volunteers Against Crime and Corruption (VACC) to file graft and corruption charges against the people involved in the sale of the Philippine Christmas Village (Paskuhan) to Premier Central Incorporated.
In his surprise appearance before the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability on the second hearing, Alavarez said there is a case of clear graft and corruption in the sale of Paskuhan amounting to P932 million.
Alvarez also asked that invitations be issued to former Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) manager Mark Lapid and members of the TIEZA and its bids and awards committee to appear in the next committee hearing.
Alvarez also expressed his willingness to stand with the house panel in case it plans to file a case in court against the Tieza officials.
The same committee had earlier requested the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Registry of Deeds not to proceed with the processing of the transfer while the
committee hearing is ongoing.
The committee, chaired by Surigao del Sur Second District Rep. Johnny Pimentel, is expected to come up action on the sale after Pampanga 3rd District Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, Jr. filed House Resolution 654 that called for the investigation of the sale.
Gonzales said relevant documents and personalities are expected to help shed light on the controversial issue. Gonzales told Sun.Star Pampanga that he has
received positive feedback from Pampanga stakeholders regarding the on-going hearing.
The Christmas village theme park –later renamed ‘Hilaga’ — was sold to SMDC by Tieza for P939 million as part of its asset privatization thrust.
Paskuhan is one of the 13 government-owned properties under Tieza which have been eyed for privatization. It was included in the Tier 1 of non-revenue generating assets which include Agoo Playa Hotel in La Union, and Matabungkay and Talisay in Batangas. The Hilaga property was part of the land owned by the Lazatin family. In 1989, it was reportedly sold to the government.
Gonzales and the members of the house panel are against the sale of the property. Gonzales for one had called to rescind the sale and bring back the property back to the government.