Trillanes asks DAR chief to check other Tiu properties for irregularities

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on Thursday asked Agrarian Reform Secretary Virgilio delos Reyes to probe if other properties of businessman Antonio Tiu are tainted by irregularities.

The senator made the request after the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee found out from the businessman himself that the 350-hectare land now being scrutinized by the panel has no clearance from the Department of Agrarian Reform.

"Might as well check the other properties of Tony Tiu, his other properties in ANI (AgriNurture Inc.) as well as the others because I'm going to assume that he's practicing the same thing with the other properties as well," Trillanes told Delos Reyes during the Senate Blue Ribbon subcommittee hearing on corruption allegations being linked to Vice President Jejomar Binay.

 

Tiu is chairman of the board of ANI, an agro-commercial business exporting fresh mangoes, Cavendish and pineapple, and coconut water.

 

He is also chairman of the board, president and CEO of Greenergy Holdings Inc., a listed company engage in renewable energy and semiconductor business, according to the Philippine Stock Exchange.

 

"Walang permit pa from DAR for conversion," Tiu told the panel, adding his company is working on it.

 

According to the Agrarian Reform chief, Republic Act No. 6657 requires an individual or a company to secure a DAR clearance if land is covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

 

Tiu has said he bought the property from Laureano Gregorio. 

 

ANI closed at P2.43 per share on Thursday, down 8.3 percent from P2.65 on Wednesday.

 

Greenergy Holdings Inc. shares, on the other hand, closed at P0.69 apiece on Thursday down 15.85 percent from P0.82 on Wednesday. – Kathryn Mae P. Tubadeza/VS, GMA News