HERE he goes again. He has only two more weeks in office, but he is trying to make a last-ditch effort to scuttle the 45.5-hectare sale to the country’s three major developers during the administration of then mayor Michael Rama. Kung sa Binisaya pa: “hirit pa gyud.” In a farewell speech during the flag raising ceremony Monday, the “has-been politician” is pushing for the rebidding of the lots purchased by the consortium of SM Prime Holdings and Ayala Land Inc., and Filinvest in the amount of P16.7 billion in 2015.
“We will simply ask for a rebid so that instead of getting P15 billion, we can get as much as P50 billion. That is for the future generation of Cebu,” the outgoing mayor said. The floor price when the three developers bought the lot was pegged at P38,000 per square meter. He insisted that it was highly anomalous, illegal and disadvantageous to the interest of the City Government. The City could have sold it at P110,000 per square meter.
The “has-been politician” said the real valuation of SRP lots as offered by a prospective buyer in an unsolicited proposal is P115,000 per square meter. He has been bragging about this price. Okay, but where is that buyer? He is about to exit City Hall following his defeat in the May 13 elections, but nobody was interested to buy the SRP lot. Even before he could assume office after winning the 2016 elections, his first order was to rescind the contract between the City Government and the three buyers. But until now, nothing happened.
Using a “ploy” named Romulo Torres, he brought the issue to the court. The Regional Trial Court (RTC) ruled that the sale was valid and legal, which was affirmed by the Court of Appeals that also ruled that the City can now use the P8 billion it received as advance payment. But in its last ditch effort, the “has-been politician’s” minions in the Council passed a resolution prohibiting the incoming administration from using the proceeds.
Because he failed to rescind the contract, he is now asking for a rebidding. From where can he ask for a rebidding? From his BOPK-dominated Council? From the three buyers or from the incoming administration? Why rebid when the court says the deal was aboveboard and legal? We can only rebid if there was a defect or anomaly in the original bidding. Do you think that the three buyers would just simply agree to his proposal, demand or request? I doubt. These three leading real estate companies have their battery of lawyers to question his move before the court.
He wants an “unsolicited proposal” like the one offered from a prospective buyer. You know, an unsolicited proposal is just like an indecent proposal, which is susceptible to graft. An unsolicited proposal, as defined, is a written proposal for a new or innovative idea that is submitted on the initiative of the proponent for the purpose of obtaining a contract with the government and that is not in response to a request for proposals or any other government-initiated solicitation or program.
Why should he force the issue on SRP sale when, again, the court said it is valid and legal? Nobody questioned him over the first transaction between the City and SM Prime Holdings for the property where the SM Seaside stands. He sold it for P9,000 per square meter only. Rama’s deal was already consummated and legal for P38,000 per square meter. That was in 2015. Let the buyers develop and enjoy their acquired properties. Once developed, it will boost our economy and offer employment to Cebuanos. Let’s put it behind and face the future. The present situation is quite different. If we can negotiate for a much higher price like what he envisioned at P115,000 per square meter, why not? There are still huge available areas at the SRP that we can dispose of at a higher price.
Mao nay nakadaot niya. Basta iyang transaksiyon, aw, legal tanan. Pero ug lain gani maka-transaksiyon, illegal. Imo mang gihimong personal property nang SRP. Mga mag-bubuhis baya ang nagbayad ana.