Some of the 86 contestants vying for the Miss Earth 2014 crown are presented to the media in Manila on Monday. The winner of the Miss Earth 2014 pageant will be crowned on November 29 at the University of the Philippines Theater. (MNS photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) – The United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) is asking the organizers of the Miss Earth beauty pageant to scrap one of its events in a Palawan resort allegedly owned by former Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, a critic of former Makati Mayor and now Vice President Jejomar Binay.
“I have serious misgivings about the holding an international event in the controversial 100-hectare Coron Underwater Garden Resort in Palawan,” UNA interim president Toby Tiangco told Carousel Productions’ Ramon Monzon, Lorraine Schuck, and Stella Araneta.
He said the organizers should think of the repercussions of holding the event at the 100-hectare Coron Underwater Garden Resort. The event will be held on November 23 to 25.
“It may be wise for Carousel Productions to think over the holding of the Miss Earth 2014 event in the said resort in order to protect the reputation of the pageant and the Miss Earth franchise,” he added.
Tiangco accused Mercado of acquiring the property through illegal means.
He said Mercado “has admitted that he got kickbacks during his term as vice mayor and the money he used to acquire the island and build the resort came from illegal sources.”
Tiangco had previously asked the Senate and the Bureau of Internal Revenue to conduct a lifestyle check on Mercado and his family over their alleged ownership of prime properties in the country and abroad.
Senate President Franklin Drilon said the Senate will probe the matter if there is a resolution filed.
“Kung may mag-file ng resolution at iyan ay irefer sa Blue Ribbon Committee o kung saan man, yaan po ay maiibestigahan. Kung may sapat na pruweba at kung may katiwalian, at kung ano ang batas na dapat ayusin para hindi na iyan maulit – dahil ang dahilan naman na iyan ang pakay ng mga imbestigasyon sa Senado – not to find criminal offense, but to aid legislation,” Drilon said.
Tiangco earlier said the government should look into the companies and businesses of Mercado, aside from the resort.
Among these are:
The multi-million villa-resort Villa Juanita in Coron, Palawan.
The 1-hectare Grand Villa Pateros in Bgy. Aguho, Pateros.
JMK Professional Manpower Solution Inc. under the name of Juanita Mercado and Karla Pascual Mercado
The 200-hectare Grand Villa and Butterfly Center in Bae, Laguna.
The 500-hectare Hunter Valley Plantation and Resort in Cabanatuan, Nueva Ecija.
Nitz Face & Body Care Center in Bgy. Aguho, Pateros.
Lawndale Finance Company (LFCI) in Cabanatuan City.
St. Therese Multi-Specialty Services Inc. in Makati City.
Properties in West Rembo, Makati City and in Laur, Nueva Ecija.
Poultry farm in Palayan, Nueva Ecija and many more. (MNS)