This is beginning to get confusing.
“A day after the city council withdrew its support from the project recently awarded to SM Land Inc, the city legal office said the PHP54.5 billion agreement signed by Mayor Antonino Calixto with SMLI still stands,” reports Nina Calleja on Philippine Daily Inquirer.
Severo Madrona Jr, the city legal officer, said the agreement between SM and the Pasay local government was already valid as it complied with all applicable laws and secured the approval of the city council.
The body’s sudden turnaround, after councilors voted to revoke its approval citing problems in the plans the other day, violated SM Land’s constitutional right to be given due process, Madrona explained.
Related story: Pasay City withdraws reclamation project from SM Land
Besides, the agreement would still need approvals of the Office of the Government Corporate Counsel and the National Economic Development Authority, so the city council should have allowed the contract to go through the wringer, he continued.
Can you guys please make up your minds?
