Fictitious Contracted Services In The City Of Manila Questioned By The Commission On Audit

The Commission on Audit filed a two-page notice of disallowance last October 29, 2009 against some of the government officials in 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. 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. The illegal transaction was said to have cost the city the amount of 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. 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 statement were further reinforced by three of his office staff. The three office staff who supported the mayor's statement were Rowena Senatin, Helen Natividad and Arturo Mijares.

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. Senatin, Natividad and Mijares confirmed that the name Nelson Del Mundo as well as the other alleged consultants was fictitious. This particular government anomaly is just one of the corrupt practices plaguing Manila's local government. Likewise, this transaction was not necessarily carried out to help the city but a mere justification for the involved personnel to acquire personal gains.

Eleven officials from the accounting and property division of the local government of Manila were named as the persons liable for the said anomalous transaction. 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. The said individuals were responsible for facilitating the payment of the fictitious 21 consultants worth P5,058,000.00 without rendering actual services. Mayor Alfredo Lim and the affidavit of his staffs attested the involvement of the said personnel.

Bocolan recommended in the notice of disallowance that the identified perpetrators from the accounting and property division of the city of Manila to refund the full amount of P5,058,000.00. The said amount was representative of the payment of salaries of the fictitious consultants, who were supposedly contracted by the city 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. The inability to comply with the notice will allow the Commission on Audit to take necessary actions in order to settle the issue.

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. The only question that needs to be answered in this incident is how did the transaction came to fruition if Mayor Lim did not approve it in the first place? 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. This side of the story is something that needs to be clarified to the public.

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

Mayor Alfredo Lim and Other Manila Officials Charged With Graft for Illegal Public Bidding

Last April 8, 2010, graft charges were filed against some of the members of Manila Bid and Award's Committee along with the city's mayor, Alfredo Lim. The complainant, Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing filed the complaint-affidavit in response to the allegedly illegal public bidding for rehabilitation of 15 schools within the city. Bagatsing said that the bidding have benefited the involved officials. Bagatsing also believed that the bidding was especially disadvantageous to the local government of Manila as the participants in the illegal transaction manifested partiality, giving unwarranted benefits to the winning bidders.

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. Bagatsing stated in his sworn affidavit that the bid invitation posted on February 18, 2010 also included details about the filing of letter of intent for interested bidders which were supposedly on February 10-16, 2010""dates that are impossible to comply with as they have already elapsed. However, instead of openly accepting bids from other interested parties, it was well indicated in the attached document request list that three entities were already the preferred bidders. The said entities include ALE Builders Construction and Development Corporation, Diamond Head Construction/Supplies, and VITES Construction and Development Corporation.

Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing, former legal counsel of Lim, emphasized that the bidding was done in due haste and identified it as a bidding violation. The rigging of the said public building failed to adhere to the Republic Act NO. 9184 (R.A. 9148) or Government Procurement Reform Act. From the overlapping dates of letter of intent submission and the publication of the notice, it cannot be denied that the transaction was rushed. As such, the actions taken by the participants was a discordance to the implementing rules of R.A. 9148.

Seven other Manila officials were pointed out to have played major roles in carrying out the scheme; most of whom are members of the Bids and Awards Committee. They are named Atty. Rafaelito Garayblas, Atty. Renato Dela Cruz, Vicky Valientes, Leanie S. Sanding, Ma. Lourdes Manlulu, Alicia T. Moscaya and Thelma Perez. As most of the involved committee knew the illegalities involved in the bidding transaction, all of the involved officials said to have violated the provisions of 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 is also held liable for the same violations as he condoned the said acts.

Due to the rigging of the said public bidding, the city of Manila is set to lose P23,550,000.00. Bagatsing also lamented that by entering into this form of contract, the officials, who acted based on their best interest and gave preference toward their selected bidders chose to deprive the city and its people to save funds which could later on be used for other important projects. The plaintiff called for the attention of the Ombudsman to properly address the issue at hand. This is so in order to provide the justice due to Manila residents and tax payers.

All the evidences presented by Bagatsing clearly manifest how public projects like this could become a breeding ground for illegal activities. While various laws may be present in order to eliminate these illegal acts, the number of people who value their personal interest more than that of the public's interest are still growing in numbers each day. Hence, illegal acts become more difficult to resolve. 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.

-Julius Arante

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim: Anomaly At The 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 their alleged involvement 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 the people involved 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 expressed his deep concern about that the transaction which he sees as 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 has awarded 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 from the City Assessor's Office obtained by Bagatsing shows that the land occupied by the hotel was unaccountably reduced to an area of 22, 967 square meters and worth P 965,261,850 or almost P1 billion.The value of which the land was sold does not actually follow 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 and owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan, a known ally of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.In 2003, Tan's firm obtained 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, made a P1billion bid and was later awarded 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 believed that the city council composed of 20 councilors have given Lim 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 also took place in complete haste, 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 show clear evidences 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 has benefited an ally of Mayor Lim and has betrayed the city's taxpayers and residents. The involvement of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim in this anomalous transaction is a clear evidence of abuse of authority and power, and a clear betrayal of the public's interest. The Ombudsman on its part must take a concerted effort in bringing all the people involved to justice.

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

-Julius Arante

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim: Manila's Biggest Mistake

The nation's capital which was once regarded as The Pearl of the Orient Seas, further deteriorated and decayed under the leadership 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 helm, the city has experienced severe blows to its dream of becoming a premiere and world class city. Moreover, many Manilenos particularly the impoverished ones, suffered under the city government's incompetence in delivering basic social needs.

The failures of governance in Manila became more apparent than ever as the city degenerates at a faster pace. Just by taking a walk around Manila's streets can enlighten us on how the present administration had become insensible and ignorant of the city's needs. It is no wonder why Manila has been consistently lagging behind other Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in all aspects.For a person who loves the city so much, it causes too much pain to accept 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 completely burned and almost 3,000 families lost their homes. The incident further bared the city government's evacuation and relocation incapability as three thousand families were left struggling on finding a new place for shelter.Instead of giving priority to the welfare of the fire victims, the city government was 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 degenerated as evident in the record-high levels of crime in the city. The streets of Manila are still filled with 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 choking in pollution and traffic flow is more chaotic.

The present mayor also failed to provide housing programs that could have benefited thousands of homeless people inhabiting almost every city street. Mayor Lim also promised to support any 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 is a lack of an economic plan dedicated on uplifting the lives and providing the poor with employment and livelihood opportunities. Public hospitals of the city are struggling on looking for new medical equipment and medical supplies, and there is a little availability of medical facilities to which Manilenos could run into when needed. It was also during Lim's tenure that the beautification of Manila was stopped 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 searching for another three-year mandate in this forthcoming Manila Election.Lim is again presenting several unseen achievements he made during his tenure as city mayor. As he goes through with his campaign, Lim is again promising a lot of things to fulfill, though much of his earlier promises were not fulfilled. Let's just hope that the Manilenos can realize what it was like before Alfredo Lim.

Manila further deteriorated and decayed under the administration of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. No one is more accountable for the failures of governance in Manila more than Mayor Alfredo Lim. 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.

-Julius Arante

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

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 following the noted deficiencies on the claims for the payment of consultancy fees of purportedly 21 consultants who were contracted to work for the office of the Mayor. 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. Accordingly, the anomalous transaction cost Manila 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 statement were further reinforced by three of his office 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 also confirmed that consultants in the voucher were inexistent. This government anomaly is a clear manifestation of the ongoing corrupt practices in the local government of Manila. Nonetheless, like any other forms of illegal activities, the transaction was done in order to benefit the people involved.

Eleven officials from the accounting and property division of the local government of Manila were named as the persons liable for the said anomalous transaction. 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 the affidavit of his staffs attested the involvement of the said personnel.

In the notice submitted by Bocolan, he recommended that the involved personnel from the accounting and property division of the city of Manila to refund the 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. The only question that needs to be answered in this incident is how did the transaction came to fruition if Mayor Lim did not approve it in the first place? 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. This side of the story is something that needs to be clarified to the public.

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.

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

Graft charges were filed against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and some members of the city's Bid and Awards Committee last April 8, 2010. The complainant, Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing filed the complaint-affidavit in response to the allegedly illegal public bidding for rehabilitation of 15 schools within the city. The complainant noted that the bidding of repairs was done not out of necessity but for the personal gain of the involved officials. Bagatsing also believed that the bidding was especially disadvantageous to the local government of Manila as the participants in the illegal transaction manifested partiality, giving unwarranted benefits to the winning bidders.

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. According to Bagatsing, the invitation to bid was posted on the 18th day of February 2010, but the same post also indicated that interested bidders are given only 8 or 2 days (February 10-16, 2010) from the specified date of notice to submit their letter of intent (LOI) to bid, which was already impossible as the indicated dates have already elapsed. Despite the notice though, the request list that accompany the said bid notice clearly outlined three entities that were favored by the committee. The said entities include ALE Builders Construction and Development Corporation, Diamond Head Construction/Supplies, and VITES Construction and Development Corporation.

Atty. Reynaldo Bagatsing, erstwhile friend and legal counsel of Lim, pointed out that the transaction was carried out with undue haste, tagging it as a bidding violation. The instant public bidding is notably an infringement of the Republic Act NO. 9184 (R.A. 9148) or Government Procurement Reform Act. From the overlapping dates of letter of intent submission and the publication of the notice, it cannot be denied that the transaction was rushed. 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 named 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.

The city of Manila is set to lose P23,550,000.00, associated with this unscrupulous activity. Bagatsing also lamented that by entering into this form of contract, the officials, who acted based on their best interest and gave preference toward their selected bidders chose to deprive the city and its people to save funds which could later on be used for other important projects. The complainant called forth for the Ombudsman to closely examine the existence of these illegal acts. As such, the justice due to the public would be handed to them.

From the evidences shown by Bagatsing, it is apparent that public projects can be turned into the milking cows of officials. Although various laws are put in place in order to address these issues, there are still people who continuously participate in the perpetration of fraudulent activities. As such, illegal activities within the government turns into an issue that is too hard to address. If Mayor Alfredo Lim would not be able to address this matter immediately, not only will jeopardize his career but also the trust that the public has given to him.

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.

Mayor Alfredo Lim And Colleagues Charged With Graft and Corruption

Last April 8, 2010, graft and corruption charges were filed against Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim, placing him once again under public scrutiny. Lim, along with other Manila officials were said to falsified receipts worth P221, 250.00 in order to carry out a non-existent local affair to acquire money. 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 officials of the city of Manila were also included in Bagatsing's testimony for their role in the 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. Bagatsing pointed out that the said officials falsified the original receipts provided by Angel's Burger House. It was also indicated that, the officials made it appear that Manila Barangay Bureau simultaneously spearheaded on August 27, 2009 an activity called Barangay Peace Keeping Action Team""an affair which was supposedly participated by all the barangays in Manila, which according to the complainant was a non-existent affair.

In what appears to be another Manila government anomaly, Lim's former legal counsel described in detail how the illegal activity took place. 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 truly bothered the complainant was the fact that such small burger outlet is not capable of producing 5, 500 cheeseburgers in one day, when in reality such delivery could have taken the said burger joint 15 days to complete. To further reinforce his allegations, Bagatsing was able to acquire the inspection report filed on October 19, 2009 by the officials that was certified by Cecilia V. Sican, Inspector of the City General Services Office (CGSO), which apparently demonstrated that the original receipts that are numbered 0066 and 0067 were falsified to appear as 0214 and 0215.

The said forged copies that were presented to the city treasurer of Manila obtained the officials sum of P221, 250.00. As such this is a clear violation of article 217 of the revised penal code known as the malversation of public funds property, and article 171 or Falsification. Likewise, involved officials in this alleged Manila government anomaly failed to adhere to the required bidding process, making them liable for the violation of Section 367 of Republic Act. No. 7160 (R.A. 7160). 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. Lim's secretary signed the false and manufactured documents, thereby giving his authority and consent among the Manila officials who oversee the fruition of this illegal transaction. 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. Likewise, as Garayblas is Lim's subordinate, it is understandable that the mayor was informed about the transaction.

As election is already near, no person running for office would want their names to be involved in an unscrupulous activity. Mayor Alfredo Lim, like any other government official, was placed in the position because people trust him. Yet, with the ongoing issues of illegal activities under his belt could negatively affect the trust that the public gave him. Therefore, it would be best for these officials to clarify the surrounding issues in order to shed light to the questions of the public.

Mayor Alfredo Lim, together with seven other Manila officials, was allegedly involved in another Manila government anomaly that is centered on the falsification and malversation of documents. Lim's former legal counsel, Reynaldo Bagatsing filed the lawsuit before the Ombudsman after he was able to secure evidences to support his claim about the involvement of the said officials and Angel's Burger House.

-Julius Arante

Alfredo Lim - Is He Really A 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 in many ways succeeded 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 building up his image for his own political gain 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 brave enough to confront the angry demonstrators and was cowardly hiding in small Antique shop in P. Tuazon the whole time laden with fear. He was so reluctant and afraid 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 during that time only had a handful of 100 people under his command 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 disobedient.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 angered with how Colonel Dawis responded and disobeyed his orders.As a response, General Lim started to speak angrily to Colonel Dawis who remained unfazed.Colonel Dawis stuck to his principles and did not follow the orders of his superior officer despite the threats of losing his job.

Former Senator Butch Aquino can confirm 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 considered as one of the many real heroes of EDSA1 for the fact that he was never one. Lim is clearly 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 the one receiving all 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 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.

Mayor Alfredo Lim's Failures Of Governance In Manila

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 negated all the growth and development recorded in the city during the administration of his predecessor.Since he took rein, the city has taken severe 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 been consistently lagging behind other Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in all aspects.For a person who loves the city so much, it causes too much pain to accept the fact that the once mighty and lovely city has turned into a complete mess and cesspool. We do not have to go beyond things on finding who's to blame on the deterioration of our beloved nation's capital.No one is more accountable for the failures of governance in Manila than Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. The present mayor along with his administration failed miserably in running the city as they completely abandoned and negated what was successfully started by their predecessors. Instead of continuing what was initiated by the former mayor; Lim introduced a new policy and form of governance much to the disappointment of the already flourishing city residents.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and the city's incapacity to respond during emergency situations and tragedies was seen during the recent fire that razed the old downtown Manila. The crowded shantytown was burned to ashes and almost 3,000 families lost their homes.The incident further bared the city government's evacuation and relocation incapability 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 deteriorated as evident in the recorded levels of crime 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 still lacks the necessary 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 is a lack of an 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 tenure that the beautification of Manila was stopped as evident in the now stinking Luneta Park and dimmed Avenida Rizal.Manila is stinking just like its esteros and streets.

Despite all of these failures of governance in Manila, Alfredo Lim is still running for reelection in this forthcoming Manila Election. Lim is again presenting several unseen 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.

Manila further deteriorated and decayed under the administration of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. As city mayor, Lim has completely negated all the growth and development gained by the city under the leadership of his predecessors. The failures of governance in Manila became more apparent in almost all aspects. The present mayor failed miserably in running the city as he completely abandoned and negated what was successfully started by his predecessors.

Alfredo Lim: Uncovering The Mayor's Dark Side

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim is widely regarded as the city's version of John Wayne, Django Kojak and Dirty Harry. The former Western Police District (WPD) head and former Director of the NBI has received countless accolades and recognition for what he was able to achieve during his stint as police officer. The media has continuously portrayed Lim as a no-nonsense, honest to goodness police officer.Moreover, Lim is now regarded as a hero of Manila and recognized for his courage and devotion to duty for his beloved city.

It is a sad reality that many people have believed these kinds of stories that were created and written by Alfredo Lim for his own personal gain.Lim has had success his manipulation of the media which has helped him in building an outstanding reputation as a former police officer. Many people have been misled into believing that Manila's most outstanding policeman's rise to power is nothing but a product of years of dedication and hard work. The real story behind this fancied Manila Mayor and former MPD chief remains untold which is part of the reason why he still enjoys popularity and recognition among Manilenos.

Not too many people are acquainted with the dark side of Mayor Lim due to his constant manipulation of the media during his tenure in the MPD.Lim's well-documented exploits and heroics were creations made by his media friends.With the help of the media sympathetic to him, Alfredo Lim's dark side were successfully covered up and remained buried for many years. Whereas, the true stories about him was exactly the opposite of what has been touted by the media.

There exist untold stories which can enlighten us with the truthful side of this former police chief. Lim's career as a police officer clearly contradicts what the media has been telling us for many years. Alfredo Lim was once a filthy cop.Lim's career as a police officer was marred with reported cases of corruption, utter disregard for the law, abuse of authority and human rights violations including "salvaging," shady deals and a reign of terror, all perpetrated by Lim and his cohorts.

Alfredo Lim was a master of manipulations as revealed by his comrades in uniform. Lim was a specialist and knew a lot of ways of soliciting loyalty and support from his colleagues and subordinates in the police force. He worked his way and manipulated his subordinates to get their support for his personal gain and promotion.His mastery of manipulation has also helped him in covering up his misdeeds and his affiliation to a number of syndicates and illegal activities. Lim is also known for his reputation as a patron of Manila's drug lords and smugglers. The former MPD chief is affiliated with one of the most powerful drug lords in Manila. Lim has extended protection to a number of drug lords of the city including his friend Manuel Velasco, the leader of a big drug syndicate at Binondo; and even his nephew a certain Maynard Limcangco Siojo.Aside from illegal drugs, Lim is also identified with big-time smugglers and smuggling syndicates.

Alfredo Lim was successful in hiding all his wrongful acts and misdeed he has done during his stint in as police chief. The media has been constantly portraying Lim as a no-nonsense; honest to goodness police officer. The dark side of Mayor Lim continues to be untold and remained uncovered. The Manila Mayor's success in portraying himself as an outstanding police officer is nothing but a product of his ability to manipulate media. The Manila Mayor's success in portraying himself as an outstanding police officer is nothing but a product of his ability to manipulate media. Alfredo Lim was successful in hiding all his wrongful acts and misdeed he has done during his stint in as police chief. The media has been constantly portraying Lim as a no-nonsense; honest to goodness police officer. Meanwhile, the dark side of Mayor Lim continues to be untold and remained uncovered.

Manila Jueteng Problem And Mayor Alfredo Lim

Illegal gambling is still rampant in this poverty-stricken city.The Manila Jueteng Problem has once again resurfaced as apparent in the arrests of several people involved in the said illegal form of gambling. Manila mayor Alfredo Lim along MPD director Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay vowed that they will rid the city of illegal jueteng operators.Instead, there are intelligence reports that illegal jueteng operators are slowly resuming their activities in the city.

The recent arrests of several people are clear indications that the once eradicated Manila Jueteng Problem is still flourishing. Part of the reason why this illegal gambling problem has resurfaced is that police officers and city officials are involved in this trade. This illegal numbers game has the blessing of corrupt and unscrupulous policemen and city hall officials.In return for the protection extended, these protectors of jueteng are bribed with a portion of the profits generated from this illegal activity.

The inefficiency of the police force in arresting these people involved in Jueteng has further escalated the Manila Jueteng Problem.Many people who are engaged in this illegal activity were able to evade arrests due to the influence of higher police officials and city hall personnel including the Mayor of Manila. Moreover, jueteng operators in the city have developed a way to avoid arresting police officials.Investigations found out that jueteng lords in the city work using 'kangaroo' style and they transfer from one place to another to elude detection.

Jueteng operators in the city have also discovered some sort of resiliency in hiding their illegal operations. To avoid and mislead the city's law enforcers, these jueteng collectors act as if they are soliciting bets for the government-sponsored EZ-2 lotto. Jueteng bares resemblance to EZ-2 which is a legal numbers game launched by the government through the PCSO.Jueteng and EZ-2 both involved a winning two-number combination where bettors place their bets.

The only difference is that jueteng is drawn secretly and exists as an underground transaction. It is believed that the winning combination in jueteng is handpicked by the operator. Jueteng operators select combinations with fewer bets to accumulate more profits. Meanwhile, EZ-2 is legal and drawn live on TV.

Unless the city government under Mayor Alfredo Lim and Manila Police Department end their involvement in this kind of illegal activity; the Manila Jueteng Problem will remain unaddressed. If Mayor Lim and Chief Superintendent Rodolfo Magtibay are serious in eradicating this kind of illegal activity in the city, their action should begin within their ranks.They should be hunting down protectors and big time jueteng lords instead of arresting small bet collectors.Moreover, the city government must also look into the bigger picture and address the real cause why this illegal numbers game even exists.

The inability of the police force and Mayor of Manila Alfredo Lim to bring those people involved in Jueteng has further aggravated the problem. The reported involvement of police and city halls officials in the illegal activity has made it impossible to address this problem. Moreover, there are other reasons why the Manila jueteng problem has once again resurfaced as apparent in the arrests of several people involved in the said illegal form of gambling.

-Julius Arante

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim: How He Failed In Running The City

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 helm, the city has experienced severe blows to its dream of becoming a premiere and world class city. Moreover, many Manilenos particularly the impoverished ones, suffered under the city government's incompetence in delivering basic social needs.

The failures of governance in Manila became more evident than ever as the city degenerates at a faster pace. Just by simply walking around Manila's streets we can get an idea on how the present administration had become insensible and ignorant of the city's needs.It is no doubt why Manila has been left behind by other Asian cities like Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur in all aspects. For a person who loves the city so much, it is too painful to digest 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 accountable for the failures of governance in Manila than Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. The present mayor along with his administration failed miserably in running the city as they completely abandoned and negated what was successfully started 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 incapability to act swiftly during emergency situations and tragedies was clearly evident 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 uncovered the city government's lack of evacuation and relocation capabilities as three thousand families were left struggling on finding a new place for shelter. Instead of prioritizing the welfare of the fire victims, the city government was 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 deteriorated as evident in the recorded levels of crime in the city. The streets of Manila are still home 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 choking in pollution and traffic flow is more 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 support any 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 available economic plan dedicated on uplifting the lives and providing the poor with employment and livelihood opportunities.Public hospitals of the city are begging for new medical equipment and medical supplies, and there is a lack of medical facilities to which Manilenos could run into when needed. It was also during Lim's tenure that the beautification of Manila was stopped as evident in the now stinking Luneta Park and dimmed Avenida Rizal.Manila is stinking 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 presenting several unseen 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.

Manila further deteriorated and decayed under the administration of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim. No one is more accountable for the failures of governance in Manila more than Mayor Alfredo Lim. 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.

-Julius Arante

Alfredo Lim: The Truth Behind EDSA1

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 in the hunt for reelection, has been making false claims and fake representations to boost his image as a real EDSA 1 hero. Mayor Lim has been successful in doing so as evident in the current status of his political career. However, as he successfully builds up his reputation, he also continues to misrepresent the facts.

Recorded events of old Manila watch will show us exactly the opposite of what Alfredo Lim has been claiming. The mayor of Manila has been building up his image for his own political gain at the expense of another great unknown EDSA hero in Col. Jose H. Dawis. Dawis served as the Chief of Police of Quezon City during EDSA 1 under the leadership 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 still untold and misrepresented.

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

Colonel Dawis at that time only had a handful of 100 people under him when he was ordered by General Lim to disperse the crowd of more than 100,000 in EDSA. To make Colonel Dawis' job more manageable, 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 furious with how Colonel Dawis responded and disobeyed his orders. As a response, General Lim started to berate Colonel Dawis who remained unmoved. Colonel Dawis stuck to his principles and did not follow the orders of his superior officer despite the threats of losing his job.

Former Senator Butch Aquino can prove 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 considered as one of the many real heroes of EDSA1 for the fact that he was never one. Lim is misleading the public into believing his frivolous claims and misrepresentations of facts at the expense of another great and worthy hero. Colonel Dawis is the real EDSA1 hero and should be the one receiving all 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 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

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim And His Involvement In The Fraudulent Sale Of Century Park Hotel

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno is charged with graft before the Office of the Ombudsman for facilitating 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 also facing graft charges 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 expressed his deep concern about that the transaction which he sees as 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 situated on a 4.5 hectare prime property which could have netted 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 used their authority to make sure that the transaction will 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 value of which the land was sold does not actually follow the current zonal valuation of the land as directed by the Bureau of Internal Revenue. In reference to the BIR's appraisal, 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 valuation, the land should have been purchased for around P3 billion.

The right to the land was sold to the winning bidder Maranaw Hotels and Resort Corporation, the owner of Century Park Hotel. The corporation is publicly listed and owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan, a known ally of Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim.In 2003, Tan's firm obtained 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 is believed that Lim may have played a hand in the said anomalous transaction due to his closeness to Tan.

It was believed that the city council composed of 20 councilors have given Lim 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 also took place in complete haste, 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 are clear indications 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 look carefully in this case and bring all the people involved to justice.

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

-Julius Arante

Mayor Alfredo Lim And Other City Officials Charged Before Ombudsman

BY JOMAR CANLAS - The Manila Times Tuesday, 02 March 2010 00:00

A former legal adviser and close associate of Mayor Alfredo Lim of Manila has charged the mayor, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, the city councilors and several city hall officials before the Office of the Ombudsman for the alleged rigged sale of a property that is now owned by business tycoon Lucio Tan.

In a 24-page complaint-affidavit, former Lim ally and lawyer Reynaldo Bagatsing said the mayor and the other respondents allegedly committed criminal acts when they disposed of the property in a rigged bidding after passing City Council Resolution 176 Series of 2008 which “authorized the City Mayor Alfredo Lim to enter into a negotiated sale of the property of the City of Manila.”

The property is the Century Park Hotel which stands on a land measuring 45,680, which Bagatsing said could have easily fetched P3 billion.

“The use of the word ‘negotiated’ in the aforementioned City Council Resolution is an indication of unlawful and nefarious intent of the respondents to defraud the City of Manila. The word ‘negotiated sale’ provides a blanket authority to respondent Mayor Alfredo Lim to negotiate the sale of the aforementioned properties with intent to do away with applicable laws on public bidding,” Bagatsing’s complaint stated.

He added that the respondents be charged for violating section 3e and g of Republic Act 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act for causing undue injury to the city government and to private bidders of the property.

Besides Lim and Moreno, or Francisco Dumagoso in real life, also included in the charge sheet were Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) Chairman and Secretary to the Mayor Rafaelito Garayblas, BAC members Lourdes Manlulu, Thelma Perez, Alicia Moscaya, Roberto Amores, Racquel Acosta and Ronald Siojo.

20 councilors charged
The councilors who were charged were Moises Lim, Erick Ian Nieva, Arlene Koa, Ernesto Dionisio Jr., Carlo Lopez, Rolando Valeriano, Ernesto Isip Jr., Yul Servo (John Martin Nieto in real life), Maira Sheila Lacuna Pangan, Luisito Chua, Edward Maceda, Victoriano Melendez, Roderick Valbuena, Raymundo Yupangco, Josefina Siscar, Ernesto Rivera, Danilo Victor Lacuna, Luciano Veloso, Philip Lacuna and Russel Ibay.

Also named in the charge sheet was lawyer Melissa Saez Co who represented Maranaw Hotels and Restaurant Corp., which is owned by Tan, in the bidding of the property.

All the respondents were also charged for violating the Local Government Code for giving undue preference to a private party and entering into a contract without the benefit of public bidding.

Atienza Son Claims Harassment By Manila City Hall Department Heads

By Nestor Etolle (The Philippine Star) Updated February 25, 2010 12:00 AM

MANILA, Philippines - Concerned Manila residents yesterday called on the police and other government agencies to look into the alleged harassment of City Hall personnel who tore down and removed posters of former Manila mayor Lito Atienza.

The residents, led by Atienza’s son Ali, enumerated before mediamen several incidents involving personnel from the City Hall’s Department of Public Safety who almost figured into clashes with supporters of the former mayor and secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.

The young Atienza said that on Monday men on board an Elf van (SHP-763) tore down and removed information posters of Atienza at the Tanbunting area along Aurora Boulevard. The men were reportedly personnel from the DPS, which is headed by former policeman Caloy Baltazar, a known ally of Mayor Alfredo Lim.

The DPS men were warned by residents not to remove those posters since they were put on private properties and allowed by the house owners to show their support for Atienza, Ali said. However, the DPS men continued with the removal of the posters.

At around 10 a.m. along Honorio Lopez Blvd. in Tondo, another DPS truck (565) arrived and the men on board also removed Atienza posters, Ali said. The same was repeated along Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo past 2 p.m., Ali said.

DPS personnel and residents also clashed in Tondo yesterday when some irate residents broke the windshield of a DPS van. The residents observed that it was only Atienza’s posters that were being removed by the DPS men.

“I am only wondering why these DPS personnel are singling out the posters of my father,” Ali told mediamen.

The young Atienza said that the situation is not fair since Lim also has a lot of campaign materials posted in several places, and asked why Lim has not ordered the removal of his own posters and tarpaulins in Manila.

Ali said they are now gathering more evidence for the filing of appropriate charges on the DPS personnel and Baltazar before the Civil Service Commission. He also called on the police to remain vigilant on the streets to thwart an impending clash of DPS men and residents that could lead to loss of lives and properties.

Lim, Atienza and former Palace adviser on the peace process Avelino Razon will slug it out for the mayoralty race on May 10.

The STAR tried to get the reaction of Baltazar but was told he was not at his office attending to some commitments. – With Sandy Araneta