By Genalyn Kabiling
The government is looking into the possible termination of the controversial lease contract forged by Nayong Pilipino Foundation with a Hong Kong-based casino resort developer.
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the lease agreement, which President Duterte found grossly disadvantageous to government, would be placed on review by the Department of Justice (DOJ) towards the “possibly putting an end to the contract."
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque (PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said the lease agreement, which President Duterte found grossly disadvantageous to government, would be placed on review by the Department of Justice (DOJ) towards the “possibly putting an end to the contract.”
Roque made the remarks after Landing International Development Limited insisted on pursuing the construction of the $1.5 billion (about P79.5 billion) integrated resort on the land leased from Nayong Pilipino in Parañaque City.
The company reportedly claimed that it has not received any termination notice from the government so it remains committed to continuing with its NayonLanding investment.
“I issued a statement on this, because the company said that it does not affect its contract. So my clarification is: the President has expressly ordered the review of the contract because in his own appreciation of the terms and conditions of the contract, he characterized the contract as flawed,” he said during a Palace news conference.
“So when the President says it is flawed, then obviously the order to review is towards possibly putting an end to the contract. But he has tasked DOJ Secretary to do this,” he added.
President Duterte recently ordered the dismissal of all board and management of the Nayong Pilipino Foundation over the alleged irregular casino resort project.
Duterte argued that the lease contract was pursued without proper public bidding. It also put the government at a disadvantage with the long-term lease of a government property at “unconscionable” rental payment, Roque said.