Manoling: QI sold
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The gritty former chairman of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Manoling Morato, again made his presence felt recently, this time exposing what he believes are budding anomalies involving among the staunchest supporters of Noynoy.
This time around, however, Manoling gathered bloggers instead of members of the traditional media, likely as a result of his perception that major newspapers and broadcast outfits are protectors of the administration.
One of those in the interview related that Manoling gave an explosive insight into the backroom dealings among Noynoy’s circle of supporters, as he particularly trained his sight on the PCSO, which obviously he still has allies informing him of what is transpiring within the walls of the lotto and sweepstakes agency.
The most explosive of the revelations was the planned sale of the sprawling Quezon Institute (QI) property along E. Rodriguez Avenue.
Manoling claimed that the sudden transfer of the PCSO office from its long-held QI headquarters to the former Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) at the Cultural Center complex was meant to pave the way for the sale of the property.
Manoling, who has picked an early fight with the new PCSO chief, Margie Juico, noted that the first act of Juico when she met with the PCSO board, was to transfer the PCSO offices to the PICC.
He said that the transfer was very abrupt that it resulted in the disruption of PCSO operations for months. Morato also claimed that the transfer was illegal since it required an approval of the President.
Morato said that Juico and her board unilaterally decided to pre-terminate the rent-free lease contract of the PCSO with the Philippine Tuberculosis Society Inc. (PTSI)-QI.
The 50-year contract was terminated with 37 years still left in it before expiration.
Now the PCSO needs to shell out funds for rent payments on the use of the PICC building.
Manoling surmised that the likely reason for the rushed and hushed up transfer was the result of Alex Lopez, the son of former Manila mayor and now Philippine National Oil Co. (PNOC) chairman Mel Lopez, suddenly owning the 6.5-hectare property.
Lopez is planning to develop the former QI property for high-rise residential condominiums to be undertaken by the architectural firm Massive Design.
Morato said the Lopez purchase of the property was very suspicious since Lopez is a colleague of Margie’s spouse, Popoy Juico, when Popoy was an official of the Philippine Sports Commission.
Morato alleged that the Juicos facilitated the sale of the property and in return Margie, Morato claimed, will “receive three condominium units, over and above the promised commission.”
Such an allegation, however, may be difficult to prove.
Morato said the transfer is setting back the PCSO in terms of its operating funds.
The Lopezes and the Juicos are ardent supporters of the Aquino from the term of former President Cory Aquino.
It took not more than a year since the assumption of Noynoy for his backers to sell the property that had made major developers water in their mouth.
Estimates placed its value at up to P5 billion.
Prior to Manoling’s claimed sale of the QI, various groups had opposed the auction of the property to such giants as Ayala Land, saying that the property has historical value and that instead a co-development deal will be offered.
If the claims are true, then evidently, the planned sale is certainly not going through channels, but must also have had the approval of Noynoy, which says a lot about his hypocritical straight path.
Plans to sell the QI property should also have passed through the National Historical Commission of the Philippines.
Straight path? No corruption? What a big joke.
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