Palace: DOJ declares Nayong Pilipino’s contract ‘void ab initio’

August 31, 2018

The Department of Justice (DOJ) affirmed that the contract between the Nayong Pilipino Foundation, Inc (NPFI) and Landing Resorts Philippines Development Corp. (LRPDC) is flawed and unlawful, Malacañang said on Friday.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a Palace press briefing, announced that the DOJ has formally submitted to the Office of the President its findings on the Nayong Pilipino-Landing International lease contract.

According to Roque, the justice department characterized the contract as being void ab initio, or not legally binding from the very beginning.

“According to the Secretary of Justice, the contract of landing with Nayong Pilipino is a Build-Operate Transfer (BOT) contract disguised as a lease contract. Because it is a BOT project, it should have complied with the BOT law including public bidding,” Roque pointed out.

The contract was put in review by the DOJ after President Rodrigo Duterte strongly condemned the project as being “grossly disadvantageous” to the government.

“This, of course, rebuts the public advertisement paid for by former officials of the Nayong Pilipino.  Again, I reiterate, the DOJ has joined the President in concluding the contract is void ab initio,” Roque said, noting that the lease contract is now “definitely for cancellation.”

The Palace official then asked the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) to take the lead in filing the necessary charges before the Office of the Ombudsman.

“Or I hope the [Office of the] Ombudsman under the new Ombudsman will initiate a motu proprio investigation because someone has to be held responsible for entering into this contract," Roque added. DMS