Graft raps filed vs CIAC prexy

Mayor Pelayo, with Atty. Batacan, shows a copy of his complaint filed against Luciano.

Photo by Albert B. Lacanlale

Story by Joey Pavia

QUEZON CITY—Clark International Airport Corp. (CIAC) President and CEO Victor Jose Luciano and 10 others were charged on Thursday before the Ombudsman office here in connection with the alleged illegal demolition of at least 17 warehouses at the CIAC property in Clark whose amount was pegged at some P100 million by the complainants.
Candaba Mayor Jerry Pelayo, through his lead counsel, Atty. Edna Hererra-Batacan, filed violation of anti-graft and corrupt practices, dishonesty and malversation of public funds and property against Luciano, CIAC officers Silverio Clemente and Engr. Ruel Angeles, Clark Development Corp. (CDC) official Tarcicius Tiotuyco, Arnel Pineda of CDC, Pampanga-based Aeta tribal chieftains Oscar Dizon and Oscar
Rivera, scrap agent Josie Gomez of Mabalacat, Pampanga and private individuals Antonio Castro, Rene Soliman and Noli de Guia.
Luciano, in a statement, described as “publicity stunt” the cases filed against him by Pelayo, president of the Pampanga Mayors’ League (PML).

“It is the same issue on demolition where a fact-finding team is currently doing, checking all our documentations. The one of Pelayo is purely a publicity stunt by an attention seeking town politician intended to harass me and a desperate attempt to put me in a bad light before the public,” said Luciano in a text message to this reporter.
“It is also an act of vindictiveness for him not getting a permit to operate his farm business due to gross violations of his usufruct contract with CIAC,” he added.
Pelayo said he had filed the complaint against Luciano because “the CIAC president caused the demolition of 17 economically repairable and serviceable buildings owned by the government amounting to P100 million.”
“Mr. Luciano is bragging that he is enjoying the support of President Aquino. I think the president should make Luciano a sample of his desire to rid graft and corruption in government,” said Pelayo to reporters just before filing his complaint.

Pelayo was joined by two other complaints – Angelo Manalo of the Mawaque, Mabalacat farmers association and Jose Paguinto, a farmer official in Candaba.
“Public official is a public trust. It was scandalous for us to find out that Luciano treated the facilities of Clark as if it were his private property. Was his very high salary not enough?” said Pelayo who submitted a 12-page complaint before Atty. Marlyn Galvez, director at the Ombudsman main office.
Pelayo earlier exposed the alleged illegal demolition of 17 warehouses at the CIAC property, asking CIAC Chairman of the Board Nestor Mangio to investigate the alleged anomaly.
“I already learned of the demolition of two warehouses last December. I told Luciano that it was enough but he had continued the illegal act,” said Pelayo, adding that the 15 others were demolished this year just before the May 2010 elections.
Pelayo said those who benefited by selling the scrap materials taken from the warehouses should be held accountable.