Senate panel looking into ‘outright lying’ of businessman Tiu

The Senate blue ribbon subcommittee is looking into the "lying under oath" of businessman Antonio Tiu during recent hearings on the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II, a senator said Sunday.

"Pinapaaral ko sa staff kung merong instances of outright lying," Senator Aquilino "Koko" Pimentel, chairman of the blue ribbon subcommittee, said in an interview aired over dzBB.

Tiu may face perjury charges and may be cited in contempt if the panel proves he lied under oath, Pimentel added.

"Iba yung sadya na (lying)... para guluhin yung hearing, Perjury and (cite in) contempt na 'yun," he said.

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV had said he will recommend filing of perjury charges against Tiu.

On the other hand, Pimentel said Tiu may also face charges for non-payment of taxes and violation of agrarian reform law. "Titignan natin lahat 'yan."

The subcommittee in its hearing on Oct.30 found out that the Department of Agrarian Reform has not issued a clearance for conversion of the property in Rosario, Batangas.

Republic Act no. 6657 requires an individual or a company to secure a DAR clearance for conversion [into other purposes] if a land is covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program.

Tiu is the chairman of the board of AgriNurture Inc, an agro-commercial business engaged in export trading of fresh Philippine carabao mango, cavendish banana, pineapple, and coconut water.

He  is also CEO of Greenergy Holdings Inc, a listed company engaged in renewable energy and semiconductor business.

He owns Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp., which has real and enforceable rights over the 145-hectare property in Rosario, Batangas.

Tiu, who claimed he bought the Batangas property from Laureano Gregorio, is being dragged into the Senate's probe into alleged corruption in Makati when Vice President Jejomar Binay was still the city mayor.
 
Some senators began to suspect Tiu is a Binay dummy when former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado testified that the 350-hectare property in Batangas is actually owned by the Binay family. — Kathryn Mae Tubadeza /LBG, GMA News