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Thursday, December 22, 2005
Exec urges gov't to abide by SC decision on Piatco
HOUSE Majority Leader Prospero Nograles urged government to abide by the Supreme Court (SC) decision ordering it to pay Philippine International Air Terminals Co. (Piatco) P3.2 billion for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Terminal 3.
The Office of the Solicitor General said Wednesday that it would ask the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision.
Nograles said it's about time for Naia Terminal 3 to be opened for the benefit of the people.
"Let us open that airport and pay just compensation to Piatco. It's long overdue. Just follow the SC decision. If the government has no money to pay them then it should enter into an amicable settlement or joint venture with Piatco. Just settle the issue and open that airport or else that building would become a while elephant. It will deteriorate. It's a crying shame. Opportunity and revenues lost for the government. Our old airport is a mess compared to other Asian countries," Nograles said.
The high court earlier said the government should pay Piatco before it can be allowed to use and operate the facilities of Naia Terminal 3.
The SC on Tuesday ordered the government to pay up to P3.2 billion to a consortium led by Germany' Fraport AG, for the Naia Terminal 3, which it expropriated last year.
Voting 11 to 4, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of Judge Henrick Gingoyon of the Pasay City Regional Trial Court and ordered him to determine the compensation for Piatco.
This was the last decision promulgated by the High Court before Chief Justice Hilario Davide Jr. retired Monday.
Associate Justice Dante Tinga wrote the ruling.
Davide, Associate Justices Artemio Panganiban, Renato Corona, and Conchita Carpio-Morales dissented from the verdict.
President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo earlier revoked the consortium's contract with the government, citing what her advisers said were terms unfavorable to the government.
The deal was signed by her predecessor, Joseph Estrada, who is in jail while being tried on charges of corruption.
Fraport AG, which owns 30 percent of Piatco, had earlier demanded compensation of $465 million for the terminal project, and the case is currently subject to international arbitration. It was not clear how the Supreme Court decision would affect that case.
The Fraport project began in 1994, originally by a consortium of Chinese Filipino businessmen. The group transferred the concession agreement to the Fraport group in 1997. (BOT)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (December 22, 2005 issue)
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