Pagbebenta ng assets ng Pilipinas sa Japan tinutulan ng mga Senador
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) attend a joint press conference at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on October 26, 2016. Duterte makes a pitch for enhanced economic ties with Japan a day after hurling a bevy of fresh insults at countries that have criticised his brutal crime crackdown. / AFP PHOTO / AP POOL / Eugene Hoshiko
Tutol ang mga Senador sa panukala ni Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na ibenta ang War Reparation properties ng Pilipinas sa Japan.
Ang Real Estate property ay nakuha ng Pilipinas bilang bahagi ng Reparation agreement sa Japan noong 1956.
Kabilang na rito ng Ropponggi at Nampeidai properties sa Tokyo at Noniwacho at Obanoyama sa Kobe.
May nakapending na ring panukala sa Kamara na ibenta ang naturang mga properaties para tustusan ang pensyon ng mga retiradong militar at mga beterano at makapagalap ng dagdag na pondo para sa Philhealth.
Pero ayon kay Senate President Vicente Sotto, ang naturang mga properties ay simbolo ng Diplomatic ties sa Japan.
Iginiit ni Sotto na marami pa namang ari-arian ang gobyerno na maaring ibenta gaya ng Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) complex at ang Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
Statament Senate Pres. Sotto:
“They are symbols of our diplomatic ties with Japan. Besides, there are many other government properties in the Philippines that we can sell instead”.
Katwiran naman ni Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, ang naturang property ay bahagi ng public domain at maaari lang itong ibenta kung may clamor ang publiko.
Senator Koko Pimentel:
“Being war reparations, are properties belonging to the public domain. They belong to the Filipino people. Do not sell. Anyway there is no clamor or even sentiment from the people to sell these”.
Paalala naman ni Senate minority leader Franklin Drilon, hindi ang Pangulo kundi ang Kongreso ang dapat mag desisyon sa pagbebenta ng mga ari Arian batay sa desisyon ng Korte Suprema.
Kailangan muna aniya ng isang batas na aaprubahan ng Kongreso.
Tutol rin si Drilon na ibente ang properties dahil sa symbolic value nito sa mga Filipino.
Senador Franklin Drilon:
“I agree with and support Sec Locsin’s position on this issue. As decided by the Supreme Court, it is not for the President to convey valuable real property of the government on his or her own sole will. Any such conveyance must be authorized and approved by a Law enacted by the Congress. It requires executive and legislative concurrence. I will oppose the passage that law in the Senate. It is indeed true that the Roppongi property is valuable, not so much because of the inflated prices fetched by real property in Tokyo, but more so because of its symbolic value to all Filipinos, veterans and civilians alike. Considering the properties’ importance and value, the laws on conversion and disposition of property of public dominion must be faithfully followed”.
Meanne Corvera
