THE Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has sought Malacañang’s help to stop the auction of the controversial 18.4-hectare Payanig sa Pasig property, PCGG chairman Andres Bautista disclosed on Friday.

Bautista disclosed that a memorandum issued by the Office of Executive Secretary and signed by Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr., enjoining the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Justice, Department of Finance and Office of the Solicitor General to help the Presidential commission, apparently prevented the scheduled auction.

Bautista admitted that the commission sought Malacañang’s help after learning that Pasig local government set for auction a portion of the controversial property being occupied by the business establishment who refused to pay rentals from PCGG.

These establishments are mostly identified with Blemp Commercial Philippines Inc., a company associated with Gov. Luis Chavit Signson of Ilocos Sur.

The memorandum issued on October effectively prevented the auction, which was set on November 22.

Bautista said that the commission sought Malacañang’s help after the local government of Pasig City refused to heed the PCGG’s request to consider their decision.

The PCGG maintained that Payanig, which was surrendered by Jose Campos, as part of alleged ill-gotten wealth of former strongman Ferdinand Marcos in exchange for non-filing of suit, is owned by the government.

The commission’s position was sustained by Supreme Court decision that the government remain the “presumptive owner” of Payanig for tax purposes.

Earlier, the PCGG admitted that ownership issue is the biggest stumbling block to be hurdle for eventual disposal of the controversial prime property.

Louie Quiogue, general manager of Independent Realty Corp., the PCGG holding firm, which manages Payanig where the Metrowalk Mall is situated, said that the commission has actually taken initial step in preparation for the eventual disposal of the said property.

At present, ownership dispute for the property is pending before Sandiganbayan after the wealthy Ortigas clan through its Ortigas and Co. Ltd. Partnerships (OCLP) decided to reclaim the said property.

The OCLP said that they remain the rightful owner of the property since the surrender was void and the supposed sale of property to Marcos was done under duress.

Blemp, a former lessee, on the hand, also staked their claim on the property after claiming that they already bought the same and presented documents that included absolute deed sale.

Sandiganbayan junked Blemp’s petition to intervene in the case between PCGG and Ortigas clan, urging the court to recognize their claim on the grounds of the supposed sale prompting Singson to elevate the case before the Supreme Court.