We never —
learn
Tn quite familiar with the
government's case against the
Prieios-Rufinos, owners of
Philippine Daily Inquirer (my
favorite national broadsheet-
tableid), in
connection
with the 22,924
square meters of -
prime property
en Amorsolo-
Pasong Tamo
streets in’ is
This so
because leing
a residbnt-
owner of ene of the townhouses
at Beology Village, and a director-
for-life of the Ecology Village
Homeowrers Association, Tam
a member of the negotiating
panel with the government
privatizalion committee. The
‘committe’ represents the national
governnent and the National
Power Corp.
The pational government
and Najocor are owners of the
215,607sqmi prime property that
used tobe the Napocor power line
until Grmer First Lady Tmelda
Mares, as ch:
ct Technology
Center Foundation,
by Senator Joker
who was late President
Fk cocrotary,
eri SPettespreporey which
extended from Dasmarifias Village
all the: ‘to Vito Cruz (now Pablo:
This includes the Sunvar
‘of the Prietos-Rufinos—
and Mile Long—all the
‘way to the Makati Post Office and
Fire Station, and Ecoville.
sein
In spite of a contract with the
defunct TRCFL now the Philip
Development Alternatives
Foundation, that the 25-year
lease which expired on Dee.
31, 2002 could be extended for
another 25 years upon mutual
agreombot by the parties, the
national government and Napocor
Ghose agt to ontond the Tessa and
reneged on the contract,
That's where we are now with
Ecology Village Homeowners
Association and the government.
After a village referendum, we
decided to buy the property
being patties with vested rights
and having the “right of first
refusal,” in accordance with law
and jurisprudence.
‘We coulll not agree with the
government, however, since
the privatization committee
wanted me pay for the 150-
sqm lots where our units are in
with @ price-per-square-meter
even higher than that of our
neighbor, San Lorenzo Village.
Santa Banaaa, government even
wants us to pay for the vacant
lots and th¢ roads in the village!
Nowbackto the suit of state lawyers
against the Prietos-Rufinos, owners of
Sova
The issue here is that in the same
sway that we at Ecology Village and
all the others that occupied that
government property ave technically
“informal settlers” or squatters
‘occupying government property, 50
zeus) the Prete ufos think
they are sacred eons because of the
Philippine Daily Inquirer, they are
mistaken,
Just how the Prietos-Rufinos got to
lease that prime property is of course
anothet story as they say. We al know
that during the Cory administration,
the PDI wes very supportive of Cory
Aquino, Actually it stills.
Just how far the government
‘can go against the Prietos-Rufinos,
considering that they can always
claim to be harassed by the Arroyo
administration as the Inquirer is an
‘opposition newspaper, remains to be
seen.
But, my gulay since the government
lease of 25 yearshas expired, all private
‘occupants of that former Napocor
power line converted into villages and
commercial centers are affected. The
covernment is duty-bound to enforce
Hole D
Our case at Ecology Village is
different since we are willing to pay
forthe property.
ronan CIP IT
Turspay
ON...