NEWSFLASH

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GENERAL SANTOS PUBLIC PARK SALE SCAM

Batasang Pambansa, Oct 31, 1997 - A Congressional body has found evidence of fraud in the sale of 1.5 hectares of a public park in General Santos City for P440 million.

House Committee on Good Government chairman Rep. Junie Cua said the sale appeared questionable because Magsaysay Park is covered by several presidential proclamations which make it inalienable.

The city government did not object to the sale last July. However, during the congressional investigation, General Santos City mayor Rosalinda Nunez declared that her office would seek to annul the sale.

The investigation was prompted by a privilege speech of Rep. Lualhati Antonino, who exposed the sale of foreshore land reserved for public recreation. Antonino also revealed that the sale was grossly underpriced. She said Mayor Nunez as well as officials of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources should be held accountable for the anomalous sale of the public park.

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