Apart from the controversial water concessionaire contract, the Ayalas may face another trouble this time concerning a huge land lease contract with the government.
An investigation into Ayala Land’s long-term lease for the commercial development of UP-Ayala TechnoHub project in Quezon City may be launched amid allegations the government was on the losing end of the deal, according to presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo.
Panelo said he read reports that the University of the Philippines, which has leased its Diliman property to the Ayala-owned firm, was receiving a small fraction of the monthly profits.
“I have to probe it. I read in the Internet that Technohub diyan sa UP run by the Ayalas parang maraming ginawang computation ‘yung nag-research parang lumalabas na ‘yung buong lugar na ‘yun is being rented by the Ayala at less than P20 per square meter for 25 years. Kung totoo, may malaki na namang problema,” Panelo said in a radio interview.
“Siguro papatingnan na rin natin. Basta lahat ng may anomalya titingnan ng gobyerno,” he added.
He assured the public that government is committed to review government contracts with private entities and remove any provisions that may be detrimental to the nation.
“Basta mayroon anomalya hindi lang mga Ayala, lahat ng may kontrata na may anomaliya sa provisions, titingnan natin,” he said.
The massive UP property has been developed into an Information Technology hub approved by the Philippine Economic Zone Authority. The university’s revenue share in the property is used to supplement the UP budget.
Meanwhile, Malacañang assured the Ayalas and businessman Manny Pangilinan that they will be given due process in case Duterte decides to file a case against them over the onerous contract between Maynilad, Manila Water, and the government.
Panelo made the statement after Duterte warned the two water concessionaires that he will just arrest them if they will file Temporary Restraining Orders against the government.
Panelo said Duterte’s threat against the two companies was based on the assumption that the court would issue an arrest warrant against them. He, however, assured them that they will be given due process.
“Kung makakita ng probable cause, eh, ‘di ang hukuman ang pwede mag-issue ng warrant of arrest. Kulong sila. Pero lahat ‘yan papadaanin natin sa prosesong legal,” he said.
“Kasi hindi ba kahit merong warrant of arrest hindi naman naaaresto yung mga dapat arastuhin kasi malakas sa law enforcement, malakas sa Presidente. This time hindi,” he added. (Genalyn Kabiling and Argyll Geducos)
