Aznars to seek mediation over SWU corporate row

CEBU, Philippines – The feuding Aznar family has decided to look for possible mediation to the Southwestern University intra-corporate dispute following a closed-door meeting yesterday.

“The families agreed to look for possible mediation and to resolve all issues involving their family. Let us see if it is possible for the Aznar family to be reunited. That’s what the court wants,” Regional Trial Court Branch 11 Judge Ramon Daomilas Jr. said.

It took more than an hour before the family agreed to initially mediate among themselves and authorize their counsels to resolve the issues involved.

The incumbent Board of Directors of the said institution, Andrew Aznar, Victorio and Elma Sierra, Richard Christopher Aznar, Enrico Aznar and Elma Sierra filed a complaint last Wednesday, April 15, 2009 before the Regional Trial Court. They accused Emmanuel Aznar, Merlo Aznar III, Alexander Aznar, Ana Anunciacion Almario and Johanna Maris Hadaway for allegedly misrepresenting and usurping the Board of Directors of SWU.

All of the defendants were present during the Annual Stockholders Meeting last April 13, 2009 at the conference room of Southwestern University.

It was stated that the defendants allegedly walked out of the meeting due to a disagreement among both parties. The suit filed by the “past” administration of the school said that the estate of Merelito Aznar was falsely represented by Merlo Aznar.

“An incisive examination of the defendants’ dubious board resolution... would readily reveal that the estate of Merelito B. Aznar, with 3,124 voting shares, was exercised and falsely represented by Merlo Aznar,” the suit read.

In the advertisements, both camps declared themselves as the true members and officers of the school’s Board of Directors.

They claimed that what actually happened was that the defendants elected themselves as the school’s new board using the voting shares of Merlo Aznar, allegedly exercising the shareholdings of Merelito Aznar.

Another hearing on the matter is scheduled on May 5. — Iris Christine Cornito and Angelica Odias, (THE FREEMAN)