Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre tells a hearing of the House of Representatives that the fastest way to revoke the alleged anomalous banana plantation deal between Floirendo-owned Tagum Agricultural Development Co. (TADECO) and the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) is for President Rodrigo Duterte to cancel the deal.
Aguirre informs lawmakers that he has already recommended this move to the Chief Executive.
Aguirre appeared on Tuesday at the joint hearing of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability and the House Committee on Justice.
Legislators are looking into the contract after House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez alleged that it deprives government of billions of pesos of worth of income.
TADECO is owned by the family of Davao del Norte Rep. Antonio “Tonyboy” Floirendo.
The Commission on Audit (COA) earlier found that TADECO Farm in Davao Penal Colony in Davao del Norte far exceeded the 1,000-hectare original allotted banana plantation limit supposedly stated in the joint venture agreement.
At the House investigation today, Aguirre said, another option that government may take against TADECO is for BuCor to file a case in court.
The Secretary noted that a complaint is already pending at the Ombudsman.
He said the Department of Justice may submit to the Ombudsman a legal opinion on the issue.
TADECO earlier maintained that COA’s findings were based on the erroneous application of laws and constitutional provisions.