Luciano’s case ‘high profile’

BY: Joel P. Mapiles

CLARK FREEPORT --- The alleged involvement of Victor Luciano, president and CEO of Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) on the anomalies behind the demolition of 17 old warehouses inside the civil aviation complex, is a “high profile” case.

This was the initial assessment of an investigating team headed by Atty. Wilbert Candelaria, director at the Office of the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon, who also heads the Public Assistance and Corruption Prevention Office (PACPO) in-charge on the investigation of informal and formal complaints and conduct corruption prevention initiatives and rendering public assistance.

In an exclusive interview, Candelaria told this reporter that Luciano's case is high profile because he has a government salary grade of more than 27, and could be charged at the Sandiganbayan if found that he has violated the law on government disposal of property.

This came as the Team of Candelaria conducted an initial investigation on their own yesterday, on the basis of newspaper reports asking the Ombudsman to conduct a probe on the demolition anomalies here.

However, Candelaria said they have only learned that the CIAC board has already written a letter to Ombudsman Merceditas Gutierrez requesting for a formal investigation on alleged anomalies in the demolition and donation of 17 old warehouses to the Aeta tribal communities.

Candelaria said it appears there was a violation committed in the demolition and subsequent donation of the proceeds of the old buildings, as the CIAC board members were saying that it did not undergo the regular process in the disposal of government properties as stipulated in the guidelines of the Department of Budget and Management including the Commission on Audit.

He said the case is serious if it’s true that DBM and COA guidelines were not followed, and the CIAC board did not authorize him to proceed with the demolition and enter into a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the recipients.

Candelaria said they have learned that Luciano did not sign and enter into a MOA or deed of donation to the concerned Aetas, as it was done verbally on the basis of the letters coming from the Presidential Management Staff (PMS) in 2009 allowing the demolition of a certain number of buildings.