One Source nears takeover of Harbour Centre

MANILA, Philippines - One Source Port Services Inc. has moved a step closer to regaining control of  the 10-hectare port facility of Harbour Centre Port Holdings Inc. (HCTPI) in Manila after a lower court issued a writ of execution for the eviction of R-II Builders Inc. and R-II Holdings Inc. of businessman Reghis Romero II.

Pasig Regional Trial Court Branch 167 Judge Rolando Mislang issued last Dec. 19 the writ of execution of the permanent restraining order against the R-II Group on the strength of the petition filed by One Source Port last November.

Mislang has instructed the court sheriff to serve immediately the writ of execution.

In the writ of execution, Mislang instructed Romero and his two firms “to cease and desist from further disrupting and interfering with [One Source’s] peaceful management, control, operations, and possession” of the 10-hectare Harbour Centre terminal facility in Vitas, Tondo.

The group was also directed by the lower court to stop “representing themselves as owners of the defendant Harbour Centre Port Terminal Inc. (HCPTI).”

The writ of execution also enjoined Romero and his two firms to stop “collecting, receiving, and disbursing any and all funds of the HCPTI  and refrain from entering the premises of the port terminal facility “without the (expressed) consent and approval of (One Source), its representatives, agents, and employees.

Likewise, the court also barred Jemore Canlas; Amelia Lazaro; Ma. Leah Hernandez; Deo Olvina Jr.; James Lomeda; Iran Servillon; Alex Alingogan; Julie Quiozon; Carlos Solis; Fryan Valdez; Raymund Fran; Ketherine Modesto; James Santiago; Normal Castillo; Nani Pineda;  Bienvinido Latag; Kennneth Sodevilla; Jun Nombres; Miguel Estrada; and Jennifer Olaer from doing business in the name of Harbour Centre.

One Source Port counsel Ryann Macapagal earlier said the company was preparing for the full takeover of the facility of HCPTI after the lower court issued the permanent injunction.

Harbour Centre tapped One Source Port in 2007 to render port ancillary services and services management at the Harbour Centre.

Romero and his group was accused of illegally taking over the management and operations of Harbour Centre by harassing and evicting Harbour Centre Port Holdings (HCP Holdings).

It would be recalled that Romero “transferred and conveyed to HCP Holdings its majority outstanding capital stock” equivalent to 68.11 percent effectively rescinding control and ownership of Harbour Centre and authority over outstanding contracts of One Source with the port facility in March of 2011.

One Source Port has been operating in the terminal facility for the last seven years without any issue until the R-II Group evicted the company last Sept. 22 for inefficiency and threatening to rescind the Port ancilliary services contract.

Harbour Centre has become one of the country’s largest commercial hubs, with six million metric tons of cargo passing through each year.