NOT content with two “bukols” for failing to fact-check, Bicol Mail has just fallen victim to a “kuryente” in its latest editorial when it claimed, on the basis of an alleged information from the City Assessor’s Office, that the Naga Coliseum is squatting on private property. For one last time, I will oblige your editorial writer with pleasure. From the previous editorials written, I do not think we will get a fair shake from him. So from hereon, we will just look for other avenues to ventilate the truth.

        1. The city’s ownership over the the property where the Coliseum stands is secure. This we made clear when the issue was raised during the May 12, 2008 meeting of the City Development Council (CDC). Bicol Mail editor Joe Perez was there but your editorial writer was not. Furnished is a photocopy of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 45576 in the name of the City Government of Naga, which covers that lot. A digital copy is available from the city website at http://naga.gov.ph/coliseum.

        2. The questions raised on the bond float can be answered easily: it did not push through since the Central Bus Terminal project was eventually financed through a loan. We were able to negotiate a better deal with World Bank. With a grant component, borrowing was a significantly cheaper option than LGU bond financing and therefore more advantageous to the city. Moreover, the requested tax exemption on yields for bond floats was not approved by the Bangko Sentral thereby negating the advantages of said financing instrument.

        Two “bukols” plus one “kuryente” – that’s three strikes already because someone was loose and fast with his facts. This could have been avoided had the editorial writer heeded our invitations for him to check his facts first.

        But as they say, what can you expect? We have known that all along. But the public and Bicol Mail’s readers, like letter writer Marlon Bathan, deserve better.