Capitol: Balili lot being worked on

CEBU, Philippines - The Capitol has confirmed doing development work at the controversial Balili property in Barangay Tinaan, Naga City.

Provincial Planning and Development Officer, Engr. Adolfo Quiroga, yesterday said that to develop the site is a requirement of the Philippine Economic Zone Authority for an application for economic zone.

The Province of Cebu is applying for economic zone status for the said property before PEZA.

Around seven hectares of unused fishpond part of the property is being restored and is covered with a land title, said Quiroga.

Quiroga said that part of the development is the putting up of a road network, water and power supply that will cost around P27 million appropriated under the 2011 annual budget.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on the other hand said that alarm about what they are doing in the Balili property “is really uncalled for and irrelevant”.

“We have not made any secret about our intentions for Balili,” Garcia said.

The province intends to develop the site into a solid waste management facility. Garcia denied allegation that the contract in doing the project has no prior authorization from the Provincial Board.

Provincial legal officer Marino Martinquilla showed copy of the 2011 annual budget where P50 million intended for site development is listed.

Martinquilla said that the restoration work done in Naga property is part of site development duly covered by the budget passed by the PB thus no need for another authorization.

Garcia said that they already reached the Supreme Court to prove the same issue.

“I hope some people will be enlightened especially if you are here in the provincial government itself,” Garcia said.

“Should the appropriation ordinance for instance already contain sufficient detail of the project and cost of the capital outlay such that all the local chief executives needs to do after undergoing the requisite public bidding is to execute the contract. No further authorization is required, the appropriation ordinance already being sufficient,” read a portion of the SC decision.

“We wish to correct all possible misconceptions that this contract was unauthorized,” Garcia said.

Garcia and other Capitol officials are now facing criminal charges before the Sandiganbayan for the purchase of the property, most of submerged, amounting to P99 million. 

Meanwhile, Amparo Balili filed a motion to suspend proceedings before the Sandiganbayan pending resolution of her motion for reconsideration filed before the Office of the Ombudsman-Manila.

Earlier, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales recommended the filing of anti-graft case against Balili together with Garcia and others for the purchase of the Balili property in Tinaan Naga City.

Lawyer Cezar Tabotabo said the filing of the said motion was to defer the arraignment of the case. Tabotabo questioned the resolution of the case. He said there was no conspiracy between the local officials and the owner of the property.

“The reasoning was not clear…no evidence of conspiracy,” he said.- THE FREEMAN