Court orders P56-M damages for ‘Payanig’ property use

MANILA, Philippines - The Pasig City Metropolitan Trial Court (MTC) has ordered a private company to pay over P56 million to a government-owned firm as damages for the use and possession of part of the “Payanig sa Pasig” property.

Judge Eduardo Ramon Reyes of the Pasig City MTC Branch 68 ruled in favor of the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in the ejectment case it filed against Rockland Construction Co., Inc. in February 2001.

PCGG chairman Andres Bautista said yesterday the decision was released a few weeks ago.

Reyes ordered the company to pay Mid-Pasig Land Development Corp. (MPLDC), one of the corporations surrendered by known Marcos crony Jose Campos to the PCGG, the sum of P1.48 million as reasonable compensation for the use and possession of a 31,000 square-meter portion of the Payanig sa Pasig property.

The court also asked the company to pay the MPLDC more than P54.5 million (P2.48 million per month) from March 2001 until January 2003 for the use and possession of the property and the amount of P10,000 as attorney’s fees and the cost of suit.

Bautista said Rockland has appealed the ruling before the Pasig City Regional Trial Court Branch 155.

“The MPLDC, through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), had filed a motion for execution pending appeal due to Rockland’s failure to post the required appeal bond,” Bautista said.

Bautista said there are many ejectment cases still pending with the Pasig MTC against “non-paying” tenants occupying the Payanig sa Pasig property.