Businessman clarifies ownership of Philippine Village Hotel

MANILA, Philippines - Businessman Jose Marcel Panlilio on Thursday said he does not owe the Nayong Pilipino Foundation some P100 million in unpaid lease obligations as he is no longer the owner of Philippine Village Hotel Inc., which the Supreme Court ordered to vacate the Nayong Pilipino complex in Pasay City. In an e-mail sent to GMANews.TV, Panlilio also denied filing a petition before the high court in 2005, saying he and his family had sold nearly 100 percent of their shares of stock and interest in PVHI to one Roger Serafica of the Burgundy Realty in 2002. “We have documents in our possession of absolute sale of the subject corporation and separately, absolute sale of all assets and liabilities--all dated January 23, 2002. Hence all liabilities, including the Supreme Court finding, are legally & factually the responsibility wholly of Mr. Serafica of Burgundy Realty," Panlilio’s letter read. GMANews.TV carried the SC ruling (http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/jan2009/170923.htm) in a report that came out last Wednesday, January 28. The petition sought the reversal of the October 14, 2005 ruling of the Court of Appeals holding the PVHI liable for rental arrears in the amount of P26.18 million. Panlilio said Serafica, who he said is now in complete possession of the corporation’s stock and transfer books, may have failed to inform the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of the sale and change of owners in 2002. Panlilio also said he had informed no less than President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo of the sale of PVHI when she personally asked him if he was the businessman being ejected from Nayong Pilipino during an event last week. “President Arroyo asked me directly ‘if I was the businessman being ejected by Nayong Pilipino’, on the occasion of the Ternate-Nasugbu road inauguration last Friday afternoon, January 23, 2009. I told the highest official of the government twice - because she asked me to swear twice that I wasn't involved - that I sold Philippine Village way back in January 2002," he said in his letter. Panlilio said President Arroyo took his answers “in comfort." Panlilio said he sent the letter to correct the misimpression of “perpetual negligence and delinquency" that the news report has wrought on his reputation. - GMANews.TV