We never — learn Tn quite familiar with the government's case against the Prieios-Rufinos, owners of Philippine Daily Inquirer (my favorite national broadsheet- tableid), in connection with the 22,924 square meters of - prime property en Amorsolo- Pasong Tamo streets in’ is This so because leing a residbnt- owner of ene of the townhouses at Beology Village, and a director- for-life of the Ecology Village Homeowrers Association, Tam a member of the negotiating panel with the government privatizalion committee. The ‘committe’ represents the national governnent and the National Power Corp. The pational government and Najocor are owners of the 215,607sqmi prime property that used tobe the Napocor power line until Grmer First Lady Tmelda Mares, as ch: ct Technology Center Foundation, by Senator Joker who was late President Fk cocrotary, eri SPettespreporey which extended from Dasmarifias Village all the: ‘to Vito Cruz (now Pablo: This includes the Sunvar ‘of the Prietos-Rufinos— and Mile Long—all the ‘way to the Makati Post Office and Fire Station, and Ecoville. sein In spite of a contract with the defunct TRCFL now the Philip Development Alternatives Foundation, that the 25-year lease which expired on Dee. 31, 2002 could be extended for another 25 years upon mutual agreombot by the parties, the national government and Napocor Ghose agt to ontond the Tessa and reneged on the contract, That's where we are now with Ecology Village Homeowners Association and the government. After a village referendum, we decided to buy the property being patties with vested rights and having the “right of first refusal,” in accordance with law and jurisprudence. ‘We coulll not agree with the government, however, since the privatization committee wanted me pay for the 150- sqm lots where our units are in with @ price-per-square-meter even higher than that of our neighbor, San Lorenzo Village. Santa Banaaa, government even wants us to pay for the vacant lots and th¢ roads in the village! Nowbackto the suit of state lawyers against the Prietos-Rufinos, owners of Sova The issue here is that in the same sway that we at Ecology Village and all the others that occupied that government property ave technically “informal settlers” or squatters ‘occupying government property, 50 zeus) the Prete ufos think they are sacred eons because of the Philippine Daily Inquirer, they are mistaken, Just how the Prietos-Rufinos got to lease that prime property is of course anothet story as they say. We al know that during the Cory administration, the PDI wes very supportive of Cory Aquino, Actually it stills. Just how far the government ‘can go against the Prietos-Rufinos, considering that they can always claim to be harassed by the Arroyo administration as the Inquirer is an ‘opposition newspaper, remains to be seen. But, my gulay since the government lease of 25 yearshas expired, all private ‘occupants of that former Napocor power line converted into villages and commercial centers are affected. The covernment is duty-bound to enforce Hole D Our case at Ecology Village is different since we are willing to pay forthe property. ronan CIP IT Turspay ON...