V-HIRE TERMINAL CASE: Deadline of mayor's pre-trial brief today

Regional Trial Court branch 21 presiding judge Eric Menchavez is giving Mayor Tomas Osmeña until today to file his pre-trial brief for his indirect contempt case filed by the operators and drivers of vans-for-hire.

The Cebu 3rd District V-Hire Operators and Drivers Multipurpose Cooperative filed a special civil case after its terminal at P. Del Rosario Extension was closed upon Osmeña's orders.

Both parties were supposed to file their respective pre-trial briefs not later than July 11 but Osmeña through his counsels Jerone Castillo and Bryce Ponce filed a motion to extend the filing until today as they needed more time to prepare their pre-trial brief.

Finding the motion "meritorious and well-taken" Menchavez granted it.

Members of the Cebu 3rd District V-Hire Operators and Drivers Multipurpose Cooperative asked for P1 million in damages, their lawyer Gloria Dalawampu said it is equivalent to the amount of the losses they incurred for the rental of the terminal lot and their supposed income since it was closed last November.

The group filed the indirect contempt case against Osmeña, personnel of the Special Weapons and Tactics, and those who were physically involved in the closure of the terminal for defying a court order.

RTC judge Ireneo Gako has issued a writ of preliminary injunction on October 29 last year directing Osmeña and all persons acting upon his orders to refrain from implementing and enforcing City Ordinance 1958, the ordinance that regulates the operations of terminals in the city.

But Osmeña still went on with the closure explaining that it had nothing to do with the implementation of City Ordinance 1958, but because the terminal operators failed to secure business permits and pay taxes to the city.

But the group, being a cooperative, maintained that under the provisions of Republic Act 6938, or the Cooperative Code of the Philippines, they are exempted from paying taxes. - Liv G. Campo