This, according to a press statement issued by the CDC Communications Department Monday.
Irmina Bautista, graft investigation and prosecution officer II who handled the case said it was “dismissed for lack of merit.” The verdict was approved by Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales.
The case was filed last year by Kim Eung Il (aka Steve Kim), president of Holywood Park Development Corp., when Tugade was still president and chief executive officer of CDC which manages this freeport.
Tugade, through his CDC employees, cancelled the CDC’s contract with Kim’s firm and took over the Korean’s office here, allegedly for non-payment of lease.
In dismissing the case filed by Kim, the Ombudsman said “records show that the lease agreement between CDC and complainant (Kim) was terminated due to the latter’s violations of the provisions of the agreement which include among others non-payment of the agreed rentals, failure to comply with the development timeliness and meet employment and investments commitments, and subleasing and/or selling the leased property without the consent and approval of CDC.”
“It cannot be said that respondents (CDC) prevented complainants and his employees without authority, or by means of force, threats or intimidation from doing something against their will, whether it be right or wrong, so as to indict for grave coercion,” the graft court said.
Also cleared by the Ombudsman were other CDC personnel, including vice president for legal affairs and general counsel and corporate secretary Perlita Sagmit, vice president for business development and business enhancement group Evangeline Tejada, vice president for security services Ricardo Banayat, manager for marketing and promotions department Thelma Ocampo, senior legal officer Juvy Manwong, and former asst. vice president for business enhancement group Mariza Mandocdoc.
The CDC statement did not say when the case was dismissed.
