By EUGENE ADIONG
BACOLOD City — New members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) were wondering why they were included in the latest case that SM Prime Holdings, Inc. filed against the provincial government.
Neophyte Board members include Renato Malabor and Alain Gatuslao of the 5th District, Victor Javellana of the 4th District, Johanna Ko of the 3rd District, and Rolando Ponsica of the 1st District.
They “do not have anything to do with the transaction between the capitol and Ayala Land, Inc.,” stressed senior SP member Salvador Escalante.
Escalante said Gatuslao will brief all SP members during their caucus tomorrow morning regarding “the seriousness of the (nullification) case filed by SM.” He said the SP may also issue an official statement after the caucus.
Gatuslao, chair of the committee on laws, ordinances and good government, noted that “this was the third case filed by SM” against the capitol after the court and the Land Registration Authority junked its petition for certiorari and adverse claim case, respectively.
He said they were studying the possible filing of “malicious prosecution charges against SM.” If Gatuslao would have his way, however, he said he will file a criminal case.
Gatuslao said the provincial government is “losing (possible) income” due to delays in Ayala’s property development project.
SM earlier filed a case to nullify the deed of conditional sale and contract of lease between the capitol and Ayala involving a 7.7-hectare provincial government property.
It said the capitol, through Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and the Committee on Awards and Disposal of Real Properties, fraudulently circumvented the law on disposition and lease of the local government-owned real estate by executing the deed and the contract in favor of Ayala.
Named as respondents were Marañon, the committee chair; committee members Patrick Lacson, Mary Ann Manayon–Lamis, Nilda Generoso, Lucille Pines, Merlita Caelian, Enrique Pinongan and Ernie Mapa; all Sangguniang Panlalawigan members; and Ayala Land, Inc.
Gatuslao said the SP agreed to let Marañon represent them in the case.
Escalante clarified that the “SP’s part during the transaction was merely ministerial.” He also said the dismissal of the previous cases proves that “the SP then did the right thing.”
Marañon said the capitol-Ayala deal on the P6.2-billion development project at the 7.7-hectare provincial government property is still a go./PN
