SM Group answers BCDA claim

The SM Group Monday hit back the state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), which earlier assailed a court decision favoring the conduct of a Swiss challenge for the 33.1-hectare Bonifacio South Pointe property.

“Despite a valid completed and binding agreement, BCDA chose to ignore it and even called for a bidding that compelled SM to seek relief from the Supreme Court (SC) and to seek clarification on the legality of our agreement. [The] SC has confirmed with finality the legality of the SM agreement with the next step, to submit it to a Swiss challenge,” Epitacio B. Borcelis Jr., senior vice president of legal affairs for the SM Group, said in a statement.

“Any party can put in a bid and which SM can choose to match or not, in which case the project will be awarded to the superior bid. This is the essence of the law and fairness,” Borcelis added.

The SM Group issued the statement to counter the claims made by the BCDA that the SC decision “prioritized the commercial interest of SM Land Inc. instead of the lives and welfare of the soldiers of Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).” Amy Remo