MCIAA board, 5 government officials sued for graft

CEBU, Philippines – Whistleblower Crisologo Saavedra filed a case for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority Board of Directors for allegedly conducting a rigged bidding and some government officials who are allegedly involved in the construction of the MCIAA Administrative Building.

Saavedra, who has requested the office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to conduct an investigation into the alleged questionable and anomalous construction of the MCIAA Administrative Building in the MCIA, quoted Capitol spokesman Rory Jon Sepulveda that its construction was stopped because of certain impediments, including a claim to the lot by the Godinez family.

The MCIAA directors to be investigated are Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, Renato Osmeña, Patricia Roa, Valeriano Avila, Winglip Chang, Nilo Jatico, Gordon Joseph and Ma. Lourdes Dedal, while the government officials are former general manager Adelberto Yap, Sigfredo Dublin, Bienvinido Malayang VII, Veronica Ordoñez and Lanto Makabangkit.

It is stated in the complaint that the MCIAA Board of Directors, being fully responsibility for the approval of the construction including funding the project, has caused P65M government funds to be wasted and has given unwarranted benefit, advantage or preference in the discharge of their duties by doing improvement in the property of a private owner.

Sepulveda stood firm with his earlier statement that the MCIAA administration building was not finished because of certain impediments, including a claimant to the lot.

Sepulveda said that he is willing to testify if Saavedra wants. He added that the project is same one which led to the ousting of the previous general manager Yap.

A representative of the Godinez family tried to ask for payment from MCIAA by sending a demand letter.

Mario Ortiz, counsel of the heirs of Isabel Godinez wrote a letter objecting the proposed building plan of MCIAA and stating that they have not given any authority or consent to MCIAA to build there.

The family went to then Mayor Arturo Radaza and the building official of Lapu-Lapu City issued a cease and desist order but it did not prosper because MCIAA has its own building official.

Sepulveda said that the administration building was constructed despite so many lapses given which was the subject for investigation.

Sepulveda, however, said the doubts the businessman has raised over some MCIAA transactions are "all in his malicious mind."

Saavedra also questioned the P120-million administration building, where MCIAA already spent P65 million but the structure, which is being constructed by Young Builders Corp. remains unfinished.

The other deals Saavedra questioned included the aborted awarding of the parking area, the allegedly overpriced asphalting projects during the Association of South East Asian Nation summit, and the acquisition of the P120-million Instrument Landing System from abroad. - Ria Mae Y. Booc and Gregg M. Rubio/BRP (FREEMAN)