Escudero seeks Senate probe into Nayong Pilipino’s $1.5-billion resort project
Senator Francis Escudero is seeking a Senate probe into corruption allegations against former officials of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation (NPF) over its $1.5-billion resort project with a Hong Kong firm in Parañaque City.
Escudero filed Senate Resolution No. 858 directing the Blue Ribbon Committee to investigate NPF’s $1.5-billion integrated resort and theme park that will be called Nayon Landing.
The project, expected to be completed in 2022, was supposed to be built by Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corporation of the Hong Kong-based Landing International.
NFP is in a 25-year lease agreement with the corporation.
“Corruption, power play, incompetence and dishonesty, especially if government is involved, adversely affect not only this particular project but other high-stakes development projects of the government,” Escudero said in a statement on Wednesday.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier sacked the NPF board over the “grossly disadvantageous” property lease contract entered into by the NPF board.
READ: Duterte fires all Nayong Pilipino officials
‘Very damaging’
Escudero also said any corruption in the government is “very damaging” to the country’s “Build, Build, Build” program and “distorts our much-needed infrastructure developments.”
“It delays or even scraps services needed by those who rely on government,” said Escudero, who chairs the Senate Committee on Banks and Financial Institutions.
The senator said he also wants to look into other business interests of Landing International in the country to verify that these are not involved in alleged corruption. /vvp
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