THE Bataan Regional Trial Court recently issued a writ of preliminary injunction stopping the public auction of certain properties located at the Mariveles Grains Terminal (MGT).
Bataan is auctioning MGT to recover alleged unpaid taxes by its operator Asian Terminals, Inc.
Doan Bustamante, ATI corporate communications officer, said the case has not stopped San Miguel Corp from pursuing its plan to acquire the MGT for an estimated P1.6 billion.
“Talks (regarding the sale) are on going,” he said, adding that the sale may push through anytime.
“We are fighting against it (property tax) and we had an appeal before the Board of Assessors. As far as we are concerned, we religiously pay taxes,” he said.
The amount of the alleged delinquent tax payments has not been disclosed.
Before the injunction, the court issued a temporary restraining order after ATI sought court intervention to avert the auction.
ATI holds the right to develop and operate the grains terminal for 20-years which ends on 2013.
