Mariveles wins property share

BALANGA CITY - The provincial government of Bataan has finally recognized Mariveles as co-owner of the ship-repair facilities of the Bataan Shipyard and Engineering Corp. and its entitlement to a share from a P200 million held in escrow by the courts during a 17-year legal battle over the property ownership.

Mayor Angel Peliglorio of Mariveles said that based on an agreement between the provincial government and his municipal government, Mariveles will receive P140 million out of the escrow money, besides its entitlement to a 10-percent share from Bataan’s 51-percent ownership share from the Baseco facilities.

Governor Enrique Garcia had entered into a tripartite compromise agreement with Baseco and the Presidential Commission on Good Government to end the ownership dispute as suggested by the Supreme Court.

The agreement calls for a 51 percent to 49 percent sharing, with 51 percent going to the province and 49 percent to Baseco.

Vice-Governor Ben Alonzo claimed that the transaction was disadvantageous to the provincial government. However, Garcia disputed this.

"There is absolutely no truth that Bataan, even without the compromise agreement, is already the sole owner of the Baseco property because the PCGG is going after these facilities," he said.

Peliglorio, a supporter of Alonzo and Garcia’s other political rivals in the May 2004 elections, said the compromise agreement was a "wise move."

He said that with the agreement, Baseco and the PCGG had dropped all cases against the provincial government and all parties, including Mariveles, will enjoy the fruits of the property.

Baseco was formerly the National Shipyard and Steel Corp. which was organized on March 3, 1953. It was acquired by the Romualdez group in the 1970s and renamed Baseco.

The pieces of property were auctioned off in 1988 over nonpayment of real-property taxes.

The Bataan Regional Trial Court had earlier declared the province as owner of the Baseco, the Philippine Dockyard Corp. and the Baseco Dockyard and Construction Co. on June 22, 1989.

Baseco and the PCGG contested the ownership, resulting in the filing of cases that reached the High Court.

Ernie B. Esconde

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