Norkis files charges vs. Mandaue mayor

The lawyer of Norkis Trading Company has filed criminal and administrative charges against Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Ouano yesterday over his alleged illegal takeover of the company's display center without the authority from the city council.

Lawyer Wilbert Dumon, in-house counsel of Norkis, charged Ouano before the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas for violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and asked the anti-graft body to place the mayor under preventive suspension pending the investigation.

The case stemmed from Ouano's order to take over the Norkis Display Center in barangay Looc last November 29 for alleged violation of the memorandum of agreement that the city government and Norkis entered into in 1993.

The MOA covers a parcel of land located in barangay Looc that was initially foreshore lot leased by the national government to Norkis chairman Norberto Quisumbing Jr. in the 1960s.

In the early 1970s, Norkis reclaimed the lot into what it is today, according to Dumon.

When Mandaue became a chartered city in 1980, it executed a lease contract with Norkis giving the company, which has to pay P1,000 per year, the right to use the property for its sports center and storage facilities.

In 1993, a portion of the 17,432 square meter lot measuring 6,000 square meters was recovered by then Mayor Alfredo Ouano and was donated as site for the Mandaue City National Comprehensive High School. Another MOA was again signed between the Mandaue City government and Norkis officials.

Under the agreement, the city government could only rescind the MOA if Norkis fails to comply with the conditions set forth under the contract. The conditions include the submission of plans and specifications for the mini-park, playground or other projects.

Dumon said despite Norkis' compliance with these conditions, they were surprised when Ouano announced early this year that he is going to rescind the contract. He added that even without the authority from the city council, which only authorized the mayor to negotiate with Norkis for a new MOA, Ouano took over their property.

Dumon said after the illegal takeover, they found out that their properties have already been removed, adding that Ouano's act was "illegal, unjust, improper and oppressive." - Fred P. Languido