The Department of Justice (DOJ) affirmed that the contract between the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc (NPFI) and Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. (LRPDC) is flawed and unlawful, Malacañang stated on Friday, August 31.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. in a Palace press briefing announced that the DOJ has formally submitted to the Office of the President its findings on the Nayong Pilipino-Landing International lease contract.
According to Roque, the Justice Department characterized the contract as being void ab initio, or not legally binding from the very beginning.
“According to the Secretary of Justice, the contract of Landing with Nayong Pilipino is a Build-Operate Transfer (BOT) contract disguised as a lease contract. Because it is a BOT project, it should have complied with the BOT law including public bidding,” the spokesperson pointed out.
The said contract was put in review by the DOJ after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte strongly condemned the project as being “grossly disadvantageous” to the government.
“This, of course, rebuts the public advertisement paid for by former officials of the Nayong Pilipino. Again, I reiterate, the DOJ has joined the President in concluding the contract is void ab initio,” Roque said, noting that the lease contract is now “definitely for cancellation.”
The Palace official then asked the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to take the lead in filing the necessary charges before the Office of the Ombudsman.
“Or I hope the [Office of the] Ombudsman under the new Ombudsman will initiate a motu proprio investigation dahil kinakailangan naman pong mapanagot ‘yung mga pumasok sa ganitong kontrata,” Roque further noted.
‘NFA Council allows rice importation beyond MAV’
During the same press briefing, Malacañang announced that the National Food Authority (NFA) Council will be authorizing the importation of rice beyond the minimum access volume (MAV).
“Ibig sabihin, ito ‘yung pinakakaunting amount na ating aangkatin mula po sa iba’t ibang bansa para sa bigas. Pero dahil ito po ay minimum, pupwede pong tumaas pa ang ating importation,” Secretary Roque explained.
He said the NFA Council will now allow further importation of rice by the private sector in order to address the rice crisis in several parts of the country.
“It’s really just a resolution to authorize further importation of rice,” Roque stressed, as he further sought the cooperation of the NFA Administration.
“Ang paniniwala po talaga natin ay mas mabuting pribadong sektor ang mag-aangkat nyan. Unang una, mas mabilis po ang panga-angkat kapag pribadong sektor. Pangalawa po, mas maiiwasan ang korapsyon… Pangatlo, patungo naman na talaga tayo doon dahil ‘yung rice tariffication na-approve na ng mababang kapulungan,” he added. PCO-Content
