Fight for inheritance: Ludo heir says CA taking too long in their decision

Alex Lu, brother of businessman Douglas Lu Ym yesterday aired his disappointment for the delay of the resolution of the Court of Appeals after the latter appealed the decision handed down by RTC Judge Olegario Sarmiento favoring their mother, the common-law-wife of Don Cayetano Ludo, Gertrudes Nabua, in the division of Don Cayetano's properties.

"Ambot nganong hangtod ron wala pa man gihapon nila ma-resolve? Last October pa man unya na nila ug hapit na gani mag tuig wala man gihapon nila ma-resolve ang appeal sa akong igsoon," Lu, the older brother of Douglas, said.

Earlier Sarmiento favored Nabua by giving her half of all Don Cayetano's properties.

Lu's legal counsel Makilito Mahinay also wondered why it is taking the Court of Appeals so long to resolve the appeal.

"Ang akong gikahadlokan ani nga edaran na ra ba si Gertrudes Nabua, ang akong client, ug masakiton pa gyud. I hope the CA will resolve the issue soon," Mahinay said.

In the meantime, Mahinay also asked investigators from the Bureau of Internal Revenue to check with the court records handed down by Sarmiento to strengthen its investigation on the alleged tax evasion against Douglas Lu Ym.

Earlier, Sarmiento in a decision handed down last March 16, 2005, favored Nabua and others siblings George Lu, Alex Lu, Cayetano Lu, Julieta Lu and Bernardita Lu against Douglas Lu Ym.

In his memorandum dated May 30, BIR-7 director Jaime Santiago has asked the estranged brothers and sisters of Douglas to furnish the regional office of BIR the certified true copies of the following documents such as the deed of absolute sale of the private plane owned by Don Cayetano, the deed of absolute sale of Crown Oil Corporation's Shares of Stocks, the deed of absolute sale of the Philippine Bank of Communications' shares of stocks and the deed of absolute sale of Don Cayetano's luxury cars.

Douglas, now the president of Ludo and Lu Ym Corporation is holding "in trust" all of the properties of his late father.

The brothers of Douglas said they are entitled to claim part of Don Cayetano's properties, as heirs of the tycoon who died in April 14, 1983.

The legal counsel of Douglas Lu Ym has already appealed the decision of Sarmiento and it is now pending before the CA. - Ramil V. Ayuman