Council: It's up to Rama to solve Rallos issue

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council decided yesterday to give a “free-hand” to the executive department to explore legal remedies to resolve the issue surrounding the property owned by a deceased priest in barangay Sambag 1 that is being used as road since 1963.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said after more than an hour of closed-door deliberation, the city legislators have agreed to give the executive department under Mayor Michael Rama a “free hand to do whatever it takes to save some money.”

Young said the City Council asked City Treasurer Ofelia Oliva, City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez and City Administrator some two weeks to resolve the issue hoping that they can reach an amicable settlement with the relatives of the late Rev. Vicente Rallos.

City Planning and Development Officer (CPDO) head Alipio Bacalso informed the members of the City Council that M.H. Aznar Road, which is adjacent to the Aznar Coliseum, is the controversial road that has been part of the Rallos property.

Young is hoping that the executive department and the relatives of the deceased priest will come up with a “win-win” solution to the issue.

During the start of the executive session at the caucus room yesterday, City Lawyer Jerome Castillo briefed legislators on the legal background of the case from when the collection case was filed before the Regional Trial Court, to the appellate court and finally when it reached the Supreme Court.

When the lawyers started discussions on legal remedies, the vice mayor requested the reporters who were covering the proceedings to leave the room.

“Dili maayo nga mentras naghisgot pa kita sa isyu naa ang mga reporter kay ibalita man g’yud ni nila… mahibaw-an dayon sa pikas ang atong gipanghisgotan,” said the city treasurer. City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete also agreed.

Fortunato D. Veloso, the counsel of the Ralloses, has reminded the city of its obligation to pay P224.5 million as of last June 15. The amount increases by almost P30,000 everyday for as long as it is not fully settled.

The City had paid over P56 million to the heirs of Rallos – the P34.9 million was garnished from the city’s depository banks upon the order of the court in 2001 while the city paid P21 million that was coursed through the court.

The Supreme Court sustained the lower court’s decision that declared just compensation for the lot at P9,500 per square meter, plus 12 percent interest per annum until the full amount is fully paid.

Veloso explained that if the City delays the payment, it would mean “needlessly and wastefully spending money which it can easily save if it merely settles in full promptly, with deliberate haste and without undue delay its judgment debt.”

However, the mayor said the City will be extra careful about it because they are dealing with people’s money. (FREEMAN)