ANGELES CITY -- A councilor here is planning to file charges against Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan and other city officials in connection with the construction of a hotel built inside a government property at the entertainment center of Barangay Balibago.
Councilor Carmelo Lazatin claimed that the city officials allegedly permitted Palladium Hotel to use government land without any contract.
On July 13, Lazatin filed a resolution requesting an urgent investigation on the hotel located at Real Street in said village covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) Number 15956 with an area of 1,126 square meters.
In a series of documented hearings conducted by the City Council Committee on Landed Estate and Assessment in April and May this year, Palladium Hotel requested approval for improving its building from eight to 12 floors, according to Lazatin.
He said that there are no documents showing that Palladium Hotel has a contract to lease the government property.
“On January 22, 2013, the City Government duly represented by Pamintuan entered into a lease contract with Crystal Palace Bar, allowing the business entity to use the land property owned by the local government located at Real Street, Barangay Balibago in exchange of a lease amount of P140,000 per month for a period of 25 years,” Lazatin stated.
Angeles City Communications Officer Jay Pelayo for his part clarified that the lease contract between the hotel and the City Government has been ratified by the City Council.
“The city administrator suggested to the querier to make a formal complaint instead of making premature press releases and false accusations,” Pelayo said.
Angeles City Administrator Dennis Pamintuan, who is a nephew of Mayor Pamintuan, said Lazatin's claim of irregularity is “baseless.”
“Go ahead, baseless naman ang [mga] accusations,” the young Pamintuan said.
Lazatin said under Article VI of the said lease contract, the lessee (Crystal Palace Bar) “shall not directly or indirectly assign or transfer its right of lease over the leased premises or any portion thereof under any circumstances and such contract made in violation of this clause shall be null and void, unless, the assignment or transfer is with the consent of the lessor (Angeles City Government).”
“There is no evidence or document proving that Palladium Hotel has a sub-lease contract with Crystal Palace Bar and should there be any, there is no document or certification from the Angeles City Government saying that it has prior consent on any transfer of lease from Crystal Palace Bar to Palladium Hotel as stipulated in the lease contract Under Article VI,” Lazatin said.
He explained that there is a clear violation of the lease contract because Palladium Hotel is not legally authorized to use the said property and it should be ordered to vacate the premises.
“Palladium is operating and using the premises without contract with the Angeles City Government,” he said.
“The Office of the Mayor also approved the proposed improvements on the property despite the glaring discrepancies and irregularities involving the leased property under TCT No. 15956,” Lazatin said.
“The Angeles City officials who approved the construction requested by Palladium Hotel obviously abused their authority inflicting undue injury and disadvantage to the government. They entertained and approved the request of Palladium Hotel despite the fact that it is not a legal party authorized to use the land property under TCT No. 15956,” the councilor added.
Lazatin claimed that Crystal Palace Bar and Palladium Hotel are two different entities.