Baquerfo mulls dropping lawsuit against Land Bank

CEBU, Philippines – Tudela Mayor Rogelio Baquerfo Sr. said he might drop the petition he filed against a government-run bank executive as he claimed that there were no more legal impediments for his assumption as mayor of the town.

This plan came after the decision of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia to terminate the accounts of the provincial government with Land Bank of the Philippines and transfer these funds to other commercial banks.

But before doing so, Baquerfo said he will first with officials of Land Bank of the Philippines and particularly bank manager Vivian Bisnar before he decides to withdraw the case.

Garcia pulled out Capitol’s depository account with the LBP amounting to P671.9 million because she was dissatisfied with the state-run bank’s service.

Bisnar got criticism from the province for releasing funds to the Tudela municipal government without informing Garcia, who was angry for LBP’s disregard of the political dispute in Tudela town.

The Cebu Provincial Board already approved a resolution authorizing Garcia to open accounts with commercial banks. These include Banco de Oro, Metrobank, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., Union Bank and Chinabank.

Baquerfo’s counsel Noel Archival said he was preparing a motion to withdraw the petition for mandamus against Bisnar.

With the issuance of a Commission on Elections resolution denying the petition of his rival, Demetrio Granada, Baquerfo confirmed that Land Bank released the funds to the municipality.

Baquerfo and municipal treasurer Angelita Roble earlier sued Bisnar for refusing to release funds to the municipal government.

From January to February, the Land Bank released the funds for the three salary payments of basic services, personal, maintenance and operating expenses, capital outlays and for salaries of employees.

Baquerfo said the funds were used for basic services such as personal, maintenance and operating expenses, capital outlays and for the salaries and wages of the town employees covering the months January and February.

Just recently, the Comelec en banc issued a resolution denying the motion for reconsideration of Granada.

But Granada insisted he will not step down since the Comelec ruling is not yet final and executory. — Garry B. Lao/BRP (THE FREEMAN)