DHSUD welcomes CA junking of TRO on MVHAI election

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) has welcomed a recent ruling of the Court of Appeals (CA) denying the petition for a temporary restraining order (TRO), which sought to stop the Multinational Village Homeowners Association Inc. (MVHAI) in Parañaque from electing a new set of officers.

The petition was filed by businessman Julio Templonuevo.

Following the CA decision, the DHSUD said it can now regulate the operations of homeowners’ associations such as the MVHAI, in accordance with Republic Act 9904 or the Magna Carta for Homeowners and Homeowners’ Associations and RA 11201 or the law creating the DHSUD.

In an eight-page resolution promulgated on July 17, the appeals court’s 12th Division denied the petition for TRO filed by the group of Templonuevo and Carmelo Marquez.

The petitioners assailed the validity of the DHSUD-National Capital Region’s letter-order to MVHAI through its 2019 president Arnel Gacutan in conducting an election for the members of its board of directors for 2024.

In their petition, Templonuevo said the association conducted its regular election for the members of the board of directors for 2024-2025.

Templonuevo said the DHSUD supposedly ignored the election to illegally reinstate the disqualified board of directors elected in 2019.

Gacutan and the elected board members in 2019 will serve as the village’s board members until new officers are elected, following the CA’s ruling.

The DHSUD directed Templonuevo and Marquez to turn over all records, documents and properties of the MVHAI in their possession.