Manila city gov’t OK with purchase of Basa-Guidote lot

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim suspects that the fire that hit the market on the Basa-Guidote lot may have been intentionally set.. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

The Manila city government is not contesting the sale or ownership of the controversial Basa-Guidote Enterprises Inc. (BGEI) property in Legarda, Sampaloc.

“It belongs to us (the city government). There was a sale. Manila paid P34 million. We’re just asking where the title is,” said Ricardo de Guzman, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim’s chief of staff.

On paper, the status of the BGEI property remains in limbo, with the current city administration still unable to transfer the title to its name for lack of documents validating the sale.

The Manila government has been using the property for the Sampaloc public market since it was bought in 2001. On Sunday, a fire struck the market. Lim suspected the fire may have been intentionally set.

The BGEI property became the subject of controversy recently when it was brought up by the prosecution in the impeachment trial of Chief Justice Renato Corona. In 2001, then Manila Mayor Lito Atienza purchased the property for a market site, and issued a P34.7-million check to Corona’s wife Cristina “in trust for BGEI.” BGEI is owned by Cristina’s family, although she has been disavowed as an authorized agent for the company.

Following these revelations, the Commission on Audit (COA) issued a notice of disallowance, citing irregularities in the sale such as Cristina’s lack of authority as an agent and the nonsubmission of required documents like the original copy of the deed of absolute sale approved and duly registered with the Manila Registry of Deeds. The COA also ordered Cristina to return the P34-million payment.