Deficiencies Found In An Anomalous Payment Transaction At The Local Government of Manila

A two-page notice of disallowance against some of the government officials in the city Manila was released by the Commission on Audit last October 29, 2009. The Commission on Audit filed the said notice when they found out that there were deficiencies on the voucher presented by the officials, which concerned the payments for the alleged contracted services of 21 consultants. However, based from the results of the audit prepared by Domingo C. Bocalan Jr., State Auditor IV, the submitted vouchers or payrolls for the period covering July1, 2007 to June 30, 2009 for alleged contracted services were void and that the supposed 21 consultants were fictitious employees. This under-the-table transaction have cost the city P5,058,000.00.

Mayor Alfredo Lim claimed in his affidavit that he have no idea about the said anomalous transaction, which in turn reinforced the Commission on Audit file the notice of disallowance against the involved officials. As a follow up, Lim also noted that he did not sign any contract for the said services nor did he allowed the fictitious consultants to receive any consultation fees or compensations. Lim's statement were further reinforced by three of his office staff. Ms. Rowena Senatin, Ms. Helen Natividad and Mr. Arturo Mijares were the said officials who attested Lim's words through their affidavits.

According to the officials, the names of the consultants that appeared in the payrolls that was submitted to them by some of the members of the accounting and property division of the city of Manila were not included in the list of consultants that were employed by the mayor. The three also confirmed that the consultants were fictitious. Such government anomaly is an indication of the existence of illegal transactions taking place in the local government of Manila. Likewise, this transaction was not necessarily carried out to help the city but a mere justification for the involved personnel to acquire personal gains.

The notice given by the Commission on Audit named 11 officials from the accounting and property division of Manila. They were Pacifico Lagramada, Yolanda Ignacio, Marleen Young, Gloria Quilantang, Vicky Valientes, Erlinda Marteja, Philip Cabalun II, Cherry Chan, Alicia Moscaya, Fritz Noel Borres, and Rodelio Leyson. The said officials consented the release of P5,058,000.00 as a payment to the non-existent consultants for their supposed services to the mayor's office. Mayor Alfredo Lim and the affidavit of his staffs attested the involvement of the said personnel.

The involved personnel from the accounting and property division of the city of Manila were recommended by Bocolan, in his notice of disallowance, to return the full amount of P5,058,000.00. The said amount was the payment for the consultants of the alleged contracted services. The notice given by the Commission of Audit was final, giving the involved officials six months to settle the issue. Accordingly, if the said individuals were not able to comply, the commission would take the necessary steps in order to enforce the notice.

Although Mayor Alfredo Lim, in his affidavit, served as the way to expose this particular corrupt activity, it appears that something in this picture does not coordinate. Considering that all the local projects of Manila are needed to be approved by the mayor, what remains questionable in this instance is the fact that the release of payments was still done in spite of Lim claiming that he did not gave his authority for the said project. While there may have been people held liable for this transaction, the above question is a simple inquiry to further shed light on how the transaction was carried out. The public is waiting for this side of the story to be clarified.

A notice of disallowance was given by the Commission on Audit against some of the government officials from the city of Manila. The notice was filed following the deficiencies found in the vouchers submitted to the Commission on Audit, which contained the supposed payment for 21 fictitious consultants. This government anomaly had cost the city P5,058,000.00. Mayor Alfredo Lim noted that he did not approve and signed any of the contracts for the said consultation services.

-Julius Arante

COA Found Anomalous Payment Transaction At Manila City Hall

Just last October 29, 2009, the Commission on Audit filed a two-page notice of disallowance against some of the officials and members of the local government of the city of Manila. The notice was filed after it was found that the claims for the consultancy payment of the 21 consultants, who were supposedly appointed to work at the office of the mayor, were deficient. The said vouchers did not complement the audit prepared by Domingo C. Bocalan Jr., State Auditor IV and that the vouchers were void because the 21 consultants listed in the payroll were inexistent. The illegal transaction was said to have cost the city the amount of P5,058,000.00.

The notice of disallowance was filed soon after Mayor Alfredo Lim said in his affidavit that he did not have any knowledge, whatsoever, of the said transaction, and that he never authorized the purported contracted services to take place. The Mayor also added that he never signed any contract related to the purported services nor did he granted the payment for the supposed 21 consultants. Lim's claims in his affidavit were backed up by three of his trusted staff. The three office staff who supported the mayor's statement were Rowena Senatin, Helen Natividad and Arturo Mijares.

The three office staff said in their affidavit that the consultants, whose names appeared in the voucher submitted to them, were never employed by the mayor. Senatin, Natividad and Mijares confirmed that the name Nelson Del Mundo as well as the other alleged consultants was fictitious. This government anomaly is a clear manifestation of the ongoing corrupt practices in the local government of Manila. Likewise, this transaction was not necessarily carried out to help the city but a mere justification for the involved personnel to acquire personal gains.

The anomalous transaction was carried out and consented by 11 officials from the accounting and property division of the local government of Manila. The named officials were Pacifico Lagramada, Yolanda Ignacio, Marleen Young, Gloria Quilantang, Vicky Valientes, Erlinda Marteja, Philip Cabalun II, Cherry Chan, Alicia Moscaya, Fritz Noel Borres, and Rodelio Leyson. Subsequently, the aforementioned officials facilitated the payment amounting to P5,058,000.00 among the 21 fictitious consultants, who never rendered actual services. Mayor Alfredo Lim and his staff confirmed that names of the perpetrators.

The involved personnel from the accounting and property division of the city of Manila were recommended by Bocolan, in his notice of disallowance, to return the full amount of P5,058,000.00. The given amount was the supposed payment for the 21 consultants, who purportedly worked for the office of the mayor. The notice of disallowance given by the Commission on Audit is final and executory under the law, and can only be appealed by the involved participants in the anomalous transaction within six months from the day the notice was filed. Accordingly, if the said individuals were not able to comply, the commission would take the necessary steps in order to enforce the notice.

Although the words of Mayor Alfredo Lim may have served as the justification for the named individuals to be held liable by the Commission on Audit, it appears that there is something wrong with this transaction. It is known that every local project are needed to be approved by the mayor before it is facilitated; in this instance though, what remains questionable is the fact that the project was not hindered although Mayor Lim said that he did not approved it. Although the involved people in this anomalous transaction were already held liable for their corrupt practice, answering this question would somehow shed light to the blind side of the story. Perhaps this question is needed to be answered for the public's understanding.

Some officials from the city of Manila were involved in yet another government anomaly. The Commission on Audit filed a notice of disallowance against 11 Manila officials after deficiencies on the vouchers were found during the auditing process. The voucher contained the alleged consultancy fees of 21 fictitious consultants, who purportedly contracted to work for the office of the Mayor. Mayor Alfredo Lim claimed that he did not sign any contract concerning the appointment of the said consultants.

Bidding Gone Wrong: Lim and Colleagues Engaged In Unlawful Public Bidding

Mayor Alfredo Lim and members of Manila's Bid and Awards Committee are facing graft charges that was filed last April 8, 2010. The charges were filed by Reynaldo Bagatsing after allegedly engaging in an unlawful public bidding for the rehabilitation of 15 schools in Manila. Bagatsing said that the bidding have benefited the involved officials. Bagatsing also took into account that the bidding prejudiced the local government of Manila as the involved associates were more concerned about the profits that can be reaped from the project rather than the expected results.

Bagatsing immediately filed his complaint after obtaining an online copy of the bid notice abstract that came from the Philippine Government Electronic Procurement (PhilGEPS), which specifically concerns the rehabilitation of 15 Manila elementary schools. It is noteworthy, based from Bagatsing's obtained bid notice, that the said invitation was posted last February 18, 2010, and on that same post also specified that interested bidders can submit their letters of intent from February 10-16, 2010""dates that have already elapsed by the time the notice was posted. The supposed notice for open bidding was in fact a front as another accompanying document request list clearly identified that three entities were already the preferred bidders. The said entities were ALE Builders Construction and Development Corporation, Diamond Head Construction/Supplies, and VITES Construction and Development Corporation.

Reynaldo Bagatsing, Mayor Lim's former legal colleague and legal counsel, said that the anomalous transaction was performed unnecessarily quick and considered it as a bidding violation. The swift process of the public building is said to be a violation against the Republic Act NO. 9184 (R.A. 9148) or Government Procurement Reform Act. In accordance to the proofs presented by the complainant, it was apparent that the involved parties were rushing to implement the bidding, which can be seen from the overlapping dates. This is remotely related to the implementing rules stipulated by R.A. 9148, which stipulates that the advertising and posting of invitations to bid should be twice in a period of 14 calendar days for newspaper ads, while continuous advertisement with a maximum coverage of 14 calendar days for website posting; the issuance of documents for bidding must be carried out within 30 calendar days from the last day of the advertisement posting, while the opening of bids depends upon the amount of the contract but must not be less than 15 calendar days for contracts of up to P25 million.

Members of the Bids and Awards Committee mostly make up the roster of perpetrators in the said transaction. They are Atty. Rafaelito Garayblas, Atty. Renato Dela Cruz, Vicky Valientes, Leanie S. Sanding, Ma. Lourdes Manlulu, Alicia T. Moscaya and Thelma Perez. The members of the committee who acted on their own free will, despite knowing the issues behind the transaction are held responsible for infringing Republic Act No. 3019 (R.A. 3019) or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices and Republic Act No. 6713 (R.A. 6713) commonly referred to as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. Mayor Alfredo Lim, who authorized the unscrupulous act to be carried out, is also liable for the same violations.

Due to the rigging of the said public bidding, the city of Manila is set to lose P23,550,000.00. Bagatsing also stressed that involvement of the city in this form of transaction ousted it with the chance to save funds. The complainant called forth for the Ombudsman to closely examine the existence of these illegal acts. This is so in order to provide the justice due to Manila residents and tax payers.

The instances presented clearly points out how local government projects can became an avenue for the perpetration of illegal activities. Despite the presence of laws that are aimed to deter the existence of fraudulent acts within the government, the people who condone these acts are growing in number each day. As such, it becomes much harder to put these issues into the forefront. In the long run, if this issue is left unattended, the political career of Mayor Alfredo Lim could be jeopardized.

Mayor Alfredo Lim, along with some of his colleagues in the Bid and Awards committee were charged with graft and corruption lawsuits following the anomalous bidding for the rehabilitation of 15 classrooms in the city of Manila. Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing filed the charges, claiming that the transaction was a bidding violation, set to cost Manila P23,550,000.00. The charges against the officials were filed on April 8, 2010. Bagatsing requested the Ombudsman to take immediate action on the said complaint.

Angels Burger House Anomaly Perpetrated By Mayor Alfredo Lim and Other Manila Officials?

Graft and corruption charges were filed against Mayor Alfredo Lim last April 8, 2010 before the Office of the Ombudsman. Lim allegedly conspired with other Manila officials to a non-existent affair and falsified receipts, which is said to have cost the city of Manila P221, 250.00. Lim's former legal adviser, Reynaldo L. Bagatsing filed the graft charges against the Mayor and his allies. The complainant, in his affidavit, called forth for the Ombudsman to administer preventive suspension against the involved perpetrators.

Seven other Manila officials were implicated by Bagatsing in the said anomaly. The seven were Atty. Rafaelito M. Garayblas, Atty. Analyn T. Marcelo-Buan, Maria Lourdes R. Malulu, Cherry Chao, Cecilia V. Sican, Leanie S. Sanding, and Vicky R. Valientes. Accordingly, in his sworn statement, Bagatsing pointed out that Lim and the said officials' falsified the receipts issued by Angel's Burger House. According to Bagatsing, the falsification of the said receipts were related to the fabricated assembly known as the Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team, which was allegedly spearheaded by the Barangay Bureau in all barangays in Manila last August 27, 2009.

To further strengthen his claims about such Manila government anomaly, Bagatsing explained in detail how the events unfolded. Specifically, it was claimed that the officials noted in the accompanying reimbursement voucher that the participants of the non-existent assembly consumed 5,500 pieces of cheeseburgers. What made Bagatsing suspicious of the said transaction was the idea that small burger joints like Angel's is not capable of producing 5,500 cheeseburgers in a day because it would normally take a small burger house 15 days to complete such order. Adding up to this was the evidence presented by Bagatsing to support his claim""the inspection report filed on October 19, 2009, which showed that the original receipt numbers which were originally 0066 and 0067 were falsified to become 0214 and 0215, and was later on approved by the inspector, Cecilia V. Sican of the City General Services Office (CGSO).

Due to the forged documents presented by the officials to the city treasurer of Manila during the reimbursement process, they were able to obtain P221, 250.00. All the evidences gathered by the complainant apparently shows that the officials violated articles 217 and 171 of the revised penal code or the malversation of public funds property and falsification by public officer, employee or notary or ecclesiastical minister respectively. This Manila government anomaly well exemplified that such release of government funds for liquidation associated with the alleged city wide Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team did not conduct the required bidding, proving that the officials failed to adhere to Section 367 of Republic Act No. 7160 (R.A. 7160), otherwise referred to as the local government code of 1991. It should be taken into consideration that the amount disembursed and reimbursed by the officials surmount the required amount indicated by Section 367 of R.A. 7160, which specifically points that only P150, 000.00 should be allotted for the procurement of supplies in one month period for all local units of Metropolitan Manila area.

Bagatsing included Mayor Alfredo Lim in his complaint as he was represented in the said illegal transaction by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas. Garayblas notably signed the falsified documents with Lim's consent, which in turn gives the Manila officials the permission to facilitate the anomalous activities. Although Lim may not have directly signed in this anomalous activity, the mere fact that his secretary has authorized the existence of this corrupt practice with his knowledge makes him liable as well. Nonetheless, considering that Garayblas directly report to Lim, it is apparent that the Mayor condoned such transaction.

With the election just around the corner, political candidates are vigilant about their actions so as not get themselves involved with illegal activities. Mayor Alfredo Lim consistently won the trust of the publicly, which is why he is still in the office to date. However, the alleged illegal activity that he and his allies were involved with can affect the trust that the people have given him. For this reason alone, the officials involved in this allegation should take appropriate action for them not to lose the trust of the public.

Mayor Alfredo Lim and some of his allies are facing graft charges for violating the falsification and malversation law after they allegedly conspire to forge receipts from Angel's Burger House to procure government funds. Reynaldo Bagatsing presented several evidences against this Manila government anomaly, and called for the Ombudsman to place the officials under preventive suspension. Lim was involved in the lawsuit, as he was represented by his secretary Rafaelito Garayblas, who signed the false documents with his consent.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim Deserves Negative Rating

The nation's capital which was once called The Pearl of the Orient Seas, deteriorated and decayed under the administration of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. As city mayor, Lim has completely reversed all the growth and development enjoyed by the city under the leadership of his predecessor. Since he took control, the city has encountered drastic blows to its dream of becoming a premiere and world class city.Moreover, a lot of impoverished Manilenos suffered under the city government's incapacity in delivering basic social needs.

The failures of governance in Manila are clearer than ever as the city degenerates at a faster pace.Just by walking around Manila's streets can give us an idea how the present administration had become insensible and ignorant of the city's needs. It is no wonder why Manila has lagged behind other Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in all aspects. For a person who endears the city so much, the pain becomes unbearable in accepting the fact that the once mighty and lovely city has turned into a complete mess and cesspool. We do not have to look beyond things on finding the culprit of the deterioration of our beloved nation's capital. No one is more liable for the failures of governance in Manila than Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.The present mayor along with his administration failed miserably in organizing the city as they completely discarded and negated what was successfully initiated by their predecessors.Instead of starting on what was completed by the former mayor; Lim started to employ a new policy and form of governance much to the discontent of the already thriving city residents.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and the city's inability to take action during emergency situations and tragedies was apparent during the recent fire that razed the old downtown Manila.The crowded shantytown was burned down completely and almost 3,000 families lost their homes. The incident further exposed the city government's poor evacuation and relocation capabilities as three thousand families were left struggling on finding a new place for shelter. Instead of taking good care of the fire victims, the city government became too busy in trying to sell the area to a property developer.

Under Alfredo Lim, a former police officer himself, Manila's peace and order situation was at its worst as evident in the record-high levels of crime recorded in the city.The streets of Manila are still haven to some of the most notorious pickpockets and holdup artists. In terms of infrastructure, the city does not have the adequate infrastructure it needs to improve navigation and travel within the city. The city's streets are still polluted and traffic flow is chaotic.

The present mayor was also unsuccessful in providing housing programs that could have benefited thousands of homeless people inhabiting almost every city street.Mayor Lim also promised to veto the measure that would call for the removal of the oil depot in Pandacan but when the measure was passed, he acted the other way. There was also no economic plan dedicated on uplifting the lives and providing the poor with employment and livelihood opportunities. Public hospitals of the city are seeking for new medical equipment and medical supplies, and there is a shortage of medical facilities to which Manilenos could run into when needed.It was also during Lim's administration that the beautification of Manila was halted as evident in the now stinking Luneta Park and dimmed Avenida Rizal. Manila stinks just like its esteros and streets.

Despite all of these failures of governance in Manila, Alfredo Lim is still seeking reelection in this forthcoming Manila Election. Lim is again showing several unproven achievements he made during his tenure as city mayor.As he pushes through with his campaign, Lim is again promising to fulfill numerous programs and projects, though majority of his prior promises were not fulfilled.Let's just hope that the Manilenos can realize what it was like before Alfredo Lim.

No one is more accountable for the failures of governance in Manila more than Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. Manila further deteriorated and decayed under the administration of the present mayor. As city mayor, Lim has completely negated all the growth and development gained by the city under the leadership of his predecessors. The present mayor failed miserably in running the city as he completely abandoned and negated what was successfully started by his predecessors.

Alfredo Lim Is Not A Real EDSA1 Hero

Alfredo Lim has been consistently receiving accolades and admiration for the role he played during the famed EDSA 1. The mayor of Manila, who is running for reelection, has been stating false claims and wrong representation to solidify his image as a real EDSA 1 hero.Mayor Lim has enjoyed tremendous success in doing so as evident in the current status of his political career.However, as he succeeds in building up his reputation, he also continues to make misrepresentation of the facts.

Recorded events of old Manila watch will tell us exactly the opposite of what Alfredo Lim has been telling us. The mayor of Manila has been furnishing his image for cheap politics at the expense of another great unknown EDSA hero in Col. Jose H. Dawis. Dawis acted as the Chief of Police of Quezon City during EDSA 1 under the control of the then General Lim.Dawis is witness to how the former general acted during the height of EDSA1. However, his account of Lim's participation in EDSA1 is yet to be told and is often misrepresented.

Colonel Dawis witnessed how General Lim acted like a coward during the height of demonstrations and protests. As Commanding General, Lim was not bold enough to face the angry demonstrators and was cowardly hiding in small Antique shop in P. Tuazon the whole time laden with fear. He was often unwilling and fearful that he passed on the burden of controlling the crowd in EDSA to his personnel. Dawis remembered that it was General Lim who ordered him to disperse the crowd in EDSA at all cost upon the order of order of then President Ferdinand Marcos.

Colonel Dawis only had a handful of 100 people under him at that time when he was ordered by General Lim to disperse the crowd of more than 100,000 in EDSA.To help Colonel Dawis, General Lim has promised him with additional 500 military men to help him in the dispersion of the crowd in EDSA. But Colonel Dawis was defiant. The brave Colonel stood his ground and told Gen. Lim that he will not disperse the crowd who were just expressing their grievances peacefully.

The insubordination of Colonel Dawis has made General Lim enraged and fuming.He was completely mad with how Colonel Dawis responded and defied his orders. As a response, General Lim started to berate Colonel Dawis who remained unmoved. Colonel Dawis followed his principles and defied the orders of his superior officer despite the threats of losing his job.

Former Senator Butch Aquino can attest to this claim since he and Colonel Dawis had developed a very good relationship. Colonel Dawis was very considerate and warm to the opposition leaders and would allow them to protest peacefully in Quezon City.

This is a clear sign that the accolades and admiration that Alfredo Lim enjoys should not be extended to him. Lim should not be bestowed with the recognition as one of the many real heroes of EDSA1 for the fact that he was never one.Lim is confusing the public into believing his false claims and misrepresentations of facts at the expense of another great and worthy hero. Colonel Dawis is the real EDSA1 hero and should be given with the necessary accolades and recognition, and not the person who desperately tries to build his self a reputation using nothing but lies.

The mayor of Manila, who is seeking reelection, has been making frivolous claims and false representation to bolster his image as a real EDSA one hero. Mayor Alfredo Lim has been erroneously receiving accolades and admiration and has in many ways succeeded in doing so as evident in the current status of his political career. On the contrary, Lim is using his frivolous claims and misrepresentations of facts at the expense of another great and worthy hero, Colonel Dawis.

-Julius Arante

Jueteng In Manila And Mayor Alfredo Lim

Jueteng makes comeback in Manila?
By Nestor Etolle July 05, 2009, The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines – Intelligence officers of the Manila Police District (MPD) are verifying reports that operators of jueteng, an illegal numbers game, are slowly resuming their activities in the city.

Anti-crime operatives of Meisic police station, led by Senior Police Officer 4 Ver Navarro, nabbed last Tuesday Angelina Nepomuceno, alias “Angge,” 52, while allegedly collecting jueteng bets in Binondo. Recovered from Nepomuceno were more than P200, a ballpen and a list of number bets.

During interrogation, Nepomuceno named the jueteng “cabo” or maintainer as a certain “Gorie,” while the financier is one “Edmund.” She said they have been in operation since May and the drawing of the winning bets is mostly done in the Sta. Cruz area, with operators hopping from one place to another to escape arrest.

Meisic police station chief Superintendent Nelson Yabut directed his men to intensify the city’s crackdown on jueteng following reports that the illegal numbers game has resurfaced in the city with the blessing of unscrupulous police and city hall officials.

“Our investigation showed jueteng lords in the city operate ‘kangaroo’ style or transfer from one place to another to escape detection. Jueteng bet collectors hide their operation through EZ-2 lotto of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office,” Yabut told The STAR.

Jueteng collectors pretend they are soliciting bets for the government-sponsored EZ-2 lotto to escape arrest. EZ-2 and jueteng both involve placing bets on a winning two-number combination. While the former is legal and drawn live on television, the winning jueteng combination is reportedly picked by operators, who choose combinations with fewer bets.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay have repeatedly announced that they will not allow jueteng in the city.

Source: manilawatch

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim Faces Graft Charges For Sale Of Century Park Hotel

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno is facing graft charges before the Office of the Ombudsman for playing a major role in the fraudulent bidding and sale of the Century Park Hotel at a bargain price of P 1 Billion. Lim and Moreno alongside 20 councilors, four other city officials and four John Does are included in a 26-page complaint filed by former legal adviser of Lim and close friend Atty. Reynaldo L. Bagatsing. The complaint calls for nullification of the said anomalous transaction and the penalization of the perpetrators involved.

Bagatsing has been alarmed by the transaction which he believes is manifestly and grossly disadvantageous to the City of Manila as the city is set to lose almost P2 billion.The five-star Century Park Hotel is currently located on a 4.5 hectare prime property which could have earned the city government with at least P3 billion in sales. Instead, the city government sold the prime property at a bargain price of P1 billion, a far cry from what should have been its original price. It was claimed by Bagatsing that Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno have lobbied for the transaction to take place for the benefit of the mayor's ally in Lucio Tan.

The documents obtained by Bagatsing from the City Assessor's Office clearly shows that the land occupied by the hotel was mysteriously reduced to an area of 22, 967 square meters and worth P 965,261,850 or almost P1 billion. The price of which the land was sold was not based on the current zonal valuation of the land as directed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue.In reference to the BIR's assessment, the current value and selling price of prime properties in the Malate-Ermita district ranges from P 50,000 to P 80,000 per square meter. Using the current assessment, the land should have been acquired for about P3 billion.

The land was sold to the alleged winning bidder, Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation, the owner of Century Park Hotel. The corporation is publicly listed under the name of business tycoon Lucio Tan, a known ally of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. In 2003, Tan's firm gained the rights to operate the hotel in 2003 from Tourist Trade and Travel Corporation of the Martel family. Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation, the current hotel's operator, submitted a P1 billion bid and was later given with the right to the land.It was believed that Lim used his authority to pave the way for the said anomalous transaction due to his closeness to Tan.

It was claimed that the city council composed of 20 councilors have granted Lim with the authority to negotiate the sale of the hotel through City Council Resolution No. 176 adopted on August 5, 2008. The city council was also the one who affirmed and ratified the award and sale to Tan's firm through Resolution No. 278 approved on December 23, 2008. The said transaction was also completed hastily in only a span of five months after Lim was granted authority to negotiate the sale. To cover up the anomalous transactions, the Committee on Bid and Award issued and published erratic and false notice of auction in the in the Philippine Star.

All the evidences gathered and collected clearly show that there had been an attempt to reduce the price tag for the said property which clearly makes this transaction a sweetheart deal. The deal was made to benefit an ally of Mayor Lim and is a clear betrayal of the city's taxpayers and residents. The involvement of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in this fraudulent transaction is a clear indication of abuse of authority and power, and a clear betrayal of the public's interest. The Ombudsman on its part must take a closer look in this case and bring all the people involved to justice.

The involvement of the Mayor of Manila in the fraudulent transaction sale of the Century Park Hotel at a bargain price of P 1billion, is a clear indication of abuse of authority and power, and a clear betrayal of the public's interest. Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno are charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman for their alleged involvement in the said anomalous transaction.

-Julius Arante