CLARK FREEPORT – A fact-finding group is set to report its findings today (June 2) before the Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) board as Chairman Nestor Mangio questioned the demolition of at least seven buildings at the CIAC property here.
“It has come to my attention that several warehouse structures within the CIAC are being demolished. I have also brought this matter in our meeting last May 21 in my office. I understand we have not discussed this matter in the Board. May I know what authority these demolitions are happening? In the meantime, kindly hold demolitions until we discuss this matter in the Board,” said Mangio in his letter to CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano dated May 26. Luciano reportedly left for the U.S.A. early May.
Mangio’s letter reportedly forced CIAC Executive Vice President Alexander Cauguiran to form the fact-finding group and investigate the demolition of buildings, it was learned.
“We are still compiling our report and it will be ready by Wednesday when we appear before the board,” said Cauguiran in a phone interview Monday night when asked about their statements. He is at the helm of CIAC management since Luciano left for abroad.
told Punto.
Last April 15, Commission on Audit (COA) State Auditor Constantino Gatchalian wrote a letter to Luciano inquiring about the demolition of buildings in the 2,367-hectare CIAC area.
“This refers to your letter dated April 14, 2010 requesting our assistance in facilitating the conduct of inspection of Buildings Nos. 7191, 7252, 7253, and 7235 located within Clark Aviation Complex which has been scheduled to be demolished as soon as the demolition permit from Clark Development Corporation is issued. We are made to understand that the proceeds from the sale of scrap materials from the demolished buildings would be donated to the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (BATA) to support their livelihood program,” said Gatchalian.
“In our count of the number of buildings demolished in your previous requests, there were at least seven (7) buildings already demolished but no report of the amount of proceeds from the sale of the scrap materials were submitted and no report of who among the members of the association received the benefits from the proceeds,” he added.
“Some information reached this office that not all the proceeds from the sale of the scrap materials went to the members of the Association. In this regard and to avoid speculations that the other people and not the members of the Association benefited from the sale of scrap materials, kindly asked the concerned officials of the Association to make a simple report of the total amount received from the sale of the scrap materials recovered from those buildings demolished and who are the members of the Association and the amounts they received from the proceeds,” Gatchalian said.
It could be recalled that BATA Chairman Oscar Rivera wrote a letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early last year and asked her to donate Building No. 7208 at CIAC. It was requested for demolition and its scrap materials would be given to BATA for their livelihood.
Arroyo through then Presidential Management Staff Hermogenes Esperon approved the demolition last June 23, 2009. A certain Josie Gomez of Barangay Atlu Bola, Mabalacat, Pampanga was authorized by Rivera to demolish the said donated building for them.
Last July 27, 2009, Luciano wrote a letter to CDC Manager Tarcisius Tiotuyco and “favorably endorsed” the issuance of demolition permit for Building 7208 because it no longer serviceable to CIAC and may even cause harm or death to people if not demolished.
But as of press time, there was no explanation yet from Luciano on why at least six other buildings had been demolished or had they been issued permits for demolition. It was learned that most of them were slightly damaged and could still be used.
“It has come to my attention that several warehouse structures within the CIAC are being demolished. I have also brought this matter in our meeting last May 21 in my office. I understand we have not discussed this matter in the Board. May I know what authority these demolitions are happening? In the meantime, kindly hold demolitions until we discuss this matter in the Board,” said Mangio in his letter to CIAC President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano dated May 26. Luciano reportedly left for the U.S.A. early May.
Mangio’s letter reportedly forced CIAC Executive Vice President Alexander Cauguiran to form the fact-finding group and investigate the demolition of buildings, it was learned.
“We are still compiling our report and it will be ready by Wednesday when we appear before the board,” said Cauguiran in a phone interview Monday night when asked about their statements. He is at the helm of CIAC management since Luciano left for abroad.
told Punto.
Last April 15, Commission on Audit (COA) State Auditor Constantino Gatchalian wrote a letter to Luciano inquiring about the demolition of buildings in the 2,367-hectare CIAC area.
“This refers to your letter dated April 14, 2010 requesting our assistance in facilitating the conduct of inspection of Buildings Nos. 7191, 7252, 7253, and 7235 located within Clark Aviation Complex which has been scheduled to be demolished as soon as the demolition permit from Clark Development Corporation is issued. We are made to understand that the proceeds from the sale of scrap materials from the demolished buildings would be donated to the Bamban Aeta Tribal Association (BATA) to support their livelihood program,” said Gatchalian.
“In our count of the number of buildings demolished in your previous requests, there were at least seven (7) buildings already demolished but no report of the amount of proceeds from the sale of the scrap materials were submitted and no report of who among the members of the association received the benefits from the proceeds,” he added.
“Some information reached this office that not all the proceeds from the sale of the scrap materials went to the members of the Association. In this regard and to avoid speculations that the other people and not the members of the Association benefited from the sale of scrap materials, kindly asked the concerned officials of the Association to make a simple report of the total amount received from the sale of the scrap materials recovered from those buildings demolished and who are the members of the Association and the amounts they received from the proceeds,” Gatchalian said.
It could be recalled that BATA Chairman Oscar Rivera wrote a letter to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo early last year and asked her to donate Building No. 7208 at CIAC. It was requested for demolition and its scrap materials would be given to BATA for their livelihood.
Arroyo through then Presidential Management Staff Hermogenes Esperon approved the demolition last June 23, 2009. A certain Josie Gomez of Barangay Atlu Bola, Mabalacat, Pampanga was authorized by Rivera to demolish the said donated building for them.
Last July 27, 2009, Luciano wrote a letter to CDC Manager Tarcisius Tiotuyco and “favorably endorsed” the issuance of demolition permit for Building 7208 because it no longer serviceable to CIAC and may even cause harm or death to people if not demolished.
But as of press time, there was no explanation yet from Luciano on why at least six other buildings had been demolished or had they been issued permits for demolition. It was learned that most of them were slightly damaged and could still be used.
