BACOLOD City – The ongoing P223-million construction of the Bacolod City Hall (commonly known as the old city hall) is facing legal hurdles after the property where it stands has a pending civil case at the Regional Trial Court (RTC) – Branch 50.
Former city councilor Archie Baribar submitted a letter to Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran dated November 12, 2024 requesting for a public hearing in relation to Civil Case No. 09-13457 entitled “Luzuriaga v. Municipal Government of Bacolod that is now pending before the said court.
Baribar was then a member of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) when the case was filed in 2009, and also one of the intervenors.
Part of his letter stated that the case is about the claim of the Luzuriaga family on the property where the old city hall stands.
The old city hall has been fully demolished, contrary to earlier reports that it will be “refurbished/rehabilitated”. The present destruction or the intended construction may prejudice the rights of the city over said property, said lawyer Baribar.
“With this, it is of great importance that the SP takes a second look on the matter, as this will have grave consequence,” read part of the letter.
As intervenor in said civil case and as a concerned constituent of the city, Baribar said he is requesting the SP to conduct a public hearing, either as a committee of the whole or thru its appropriate committee, to look into, investigate and assess the present action taken on the property to eliminate or diminish any legal liability the city may face.
On his part, City Legal Officer Romeo Carlos Ting Jr. said the plaintiff is an heir of the late Jose de Luzuriaga.
The property where the Bacolod City Hall is located was a donated land from the Luzuriaga family, Ting said.
He said the heir filed the case to annul the title of the donated lot, which the plaintiff claimed that the issuance of the title to the Bacolod City Hall is fraudulent .
Ting further said the SP cannot hold a public hearing while the court case is unresolved./PN
