CA stops Camcam’s eviction from Makati mansion

MANILA, Philippines - The Court of Appeals (CA) stopped the eviction of Edna Camcam, the long-time partner of the late Armed Forces chief of staff Fabian Ver, from a mansion in Forbes Park, Makati City.

In a four-page resolution, the Special 11th Division of the appellate court issued a 60-day temporary restraining order (TRO) enjoining the Makati City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 66 from implementing its Feb. 14 decision ordering Camcam’s eviction. The resolution was penned by Associate Justice Nina Antonio Valenzuela.

The CA granted the immediate relief sought in Camcam’s petition questioning the RTC ruling.

But before the TRO can be implemented, the CA required Camcam to post a bond of P10 million.

The CA also directed Dr. Daniel Vasquez, who is claiming ownership over the mansion occupied by Camcam, to comment on her petition seeking the reversal of the Makati RTC’s ruling.

“From the facts shown in the verified petition for review, the judicial affidavit of Edna Camcam, and the petitioner’s urgent motion to resolve application for temporary restraining order filed with this Court...there is an extreme urgency...and it appears that grave injustice (and) irreparable injury would result to petitioner before the matter could be heard on notice,” the resolution read.

The Makati RTC issued a ruling denying Camcam’s ownership claim over the Forbes Park mansion that was lent to her rent-free since the 1990s by Vasquez. The Makati RTC noted that Camcam herself admitted that Vasquez owned the property on Cambridge Cirle.

Vasquez said he allowed Camcam to occupy the property upon the request of Ver, who went on exile following the ouster of the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos. Ver had asked Vazquez, his long-time friend, to provide Camcam and her children a home as they were returning to the Philippines from exile.

Vasquez offered the Forbes Park mansion, which was acquired from the United Coconut Planter Bank.  

The trial court noted that in September 1994, Camcam executed a legal document admitting Vasquez as the owner of the property. She also acknowledged and confirmed this document during the trial.

Camcam claimed ownership of the property after Vasquez’s camp filed an ejectment case following her refusal to leave the mansion. The ejectment case remains pending.

Camcam claimed to have fully paid for the property but the court said she issued the check to a corporation, not to Vasquez. She also could not present proof that the checks had been encashed.