UP execs face graft raps over ‘DiliMall’

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the University of the Philippines-Diliman are facing graft and administrative complaints before the Office of the Ombudsman for not honoring an agreement with displaced vendors from the UP shopping center, which was razed by fire in 2018.

The complainants, including the UP Shopping Center Stallholders Association Inc. (UPSCSAI), accused UP president Angelo Jimenez, former president Danilo Concepcion, vice president for development Daniel Peckley, and former vice chancellor for planning and development Raquel Florendo of violating the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees.

The complainants asked the ombudsman to place the respondents under preventive suspension and declare as null and void the lease agreement the university entered into with CBMS Research and Management Consultancy Services over the management of the DiliMall.

They cited a 2004 memorandum of agreement between UP and the UPSCSAI, which provides that members have the right of first refusal in any future redevelopment or relocation endeavor, and are entitled to a 20-percent rental discount for the initial five years in the new establishment.

Despite the agreement, the respondents proceeded with the development of DiliMall wherein the UP officials executed a master lease agreement (MLA) in January 2023 with CBMS, excluding direct vendor participation in lease negotiations.

The complainants said the MLA gave CBMS “absolute control” over the leasing operations of DiliMall.

They also said that UP officials did not consult the displaced vendors and “bypassed” their contractual priority rights.

The vendors were evicted in April 2024 from their stalls at the UP tennis court without alternative tenancy.

The complainants said the security deposits of the displaced vendors remain unrefunded.

They also claimed that the UP officials awarded the MLA for DiliMall and GyudFood Hub, which is managed by JoseBizCo Inc., without undertaking a transparent and competitive public bidding.