Sandiganbayan junks Chavit's claim on 'Payanig sa Pasig' land

MANILA, Philippines - The Sandiganbayan on Thursday dismissed the motion for reconsideration (MR) filed by BLEMP Commercial Philippines of Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson over its ownership claim on the 18.48 hectare Payanig sa Pasig land in Pasig City.

“This latest resolution further proves and solidifies the ownership of the government of the property,” Gerard Mosquera, Presidential Commission on Good Government commissioner-in-charge for litigation, told The STAR upon the PCGG’s receipt of the 26-page Sandiganbayan ruling issued last Aug. 26.

In junking the MR, the anti-graft court said that BLEMP Commercial failed to prove that it has legal interest in the case and that allowing it to intervene will not unduly delay the adjudication of the main case for the original parties.

It will be recalled that tension has recently gripped the Autocamp portion of the Payanig property when Singson deployed security guards there, and ordered the security guards of the PCGG-controlled real estate holding corporation, Independent Realty Corp. to leave the premises saying he owned the Payanig complex.

The Sandiganbayan already dismissed BLEMP Commercial’s petition to be recognized as the real owner of the property in its ruling on April 18.

Mosquera said that while Singson could file new cases before the courts, the MR strips him of the right to deploy security guards and declare ownership over the property in the meantime.

However, Singson shrugged off the Sandiganbayan ruling, saying he can still bring the case to the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court.