CIAC Board: Reprimand Luciano as penalty

BY: Joel P. Mapiles


CLARK FREEPORT --- The Fact-Finding Committee of the Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) finds president Victor Luciano liable for violation of the rules and regulations of the Department of Budget and Management and Commission on Audit on the disposal of government properties.

This is with regard the unauthorized demolition of 17 old buildings at the civil aviation complex, Architect Nestor Mangio, chair of CIAC board said.

With this development, Mangio -- who also heads the probe body -- disclosed to this reporter that the board of directors will come up with a resolution to reprimand Luciano as penalty.

It can be recalled that last week, Luciano denied any irregularity in the said demolition of old buildings as he said that it was done in good faith and he has followed the process.

The CIAC board, the chair said, would also recommend the conduct of more formal investigations that would be filed before the Office of the Government Corporate Council (OGCC).

The chair disclosed that the fact-finding committee has also proven that there was no complete accounting of the proceeds of the 17 demolished buildings and its scrap materials.

Mangio also said based on their investigation and study, these demolished buildings still have commercial and economic value as they would still be serviceable if they were not demolished.



Investigation

In an in-depth investigation, this reporter went to Guagua town to meet some of the second-hand lumber businessmen involved in the said demolition.

An informant from Guagua town who asked not to be named said a trader engaged in the 2nd hand lumber business allegedly gave a certain “Josie” -- who acted as agent -- an amount of more or less P3-million as cash advance for the demolition of the old buildings.

This is aside from the car of a sibling which served as a “reservation” for the said demolition, and its subsequent conversion into scrap materials.

It was learned that the trader failed to demolish the “promised” buildings, as these were allegedly awarded to other contractors. This resulted to the breakdown of his second-hand lumber business.

Reports have it that certain siblings, who were also engaged in the 2nd hand lumber business, also gave cash advances of more or less P800,000 to “Josie”.

Another businessman also gave a certain “Noli” -- who acted as sub-agent -- an amount of P500,000 which was subsequently turned over to “Josie”.

The informant also bared that Oscar Rivera, chairman of the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association, received some cash and 100 cavans of rice.

The informant said all transactions on the demolition of the old buildings can be traced to “Josie”.

In line with this ongoing controversy, the involved businessmen who invested their money but failed to get the old buildings for demolition want their money back.

The source also said that few days from now, more demolition contractors will come to the open to shed more light on the said unauthorized demolition at CIAC.