Young pushes for speedy resolution to Rallos lot woes

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said Mayor Michael Rama should look for an urgent solution to the Supreme Court’s order directing Cebu City to pay the heirs of Rev. Fr. Vicente Rallos for his lot in Barangay Sambag 2 that was used as a public road because the P133 million will increase everyday.

“Ang among nahadlokan diha kay ang interests sa kantidad kon dugay mabayran nagsigi og patak. Kaniadto bayran bitaw na ni mayor Tomas Osmeña siya man si Rama ug si kanhi konsehal Joy Pesquera ang mibabag unya wala man siya maninguha nga masulbad ang isyu. Gibasol man hinoon niya ang abogado nga maoy sad-an,” said Young.

But Rama explained that the city officials should not be afraid of the huge amount of money the court ordered to be paid to the Ralloses because the good public officials are those who will protect the taxpayers’ money against unnecessary expenses.

“Sa kadako sa maong kantidad basin og magmahay kanato ang ato unyang mga anak, ang atong mga apo, kon nganong wala man nato panalipdi ang kwarta nga dili mausik gikan sa atong panudlanan kay sa maong kantidad daghan na kaayong proyekto nga mamugna,” Rama said.

Rama yesterday called up Cebu City Legal Officer Joseph Bernaldez and instructed the latter to make an immediate legal remedy about the order of Regional Trial Court Judge James Stewart Himalaloan giving the court sheriff the go signal to pursue the notice of garnishment against the city’s deposits in order to pay the Ralloses.

Himalaloan denied the city lawyers’ motion to set aside the court sheriff’s notice of garnishment and to set aside the writ of execution of the Supreme Court’s saying that the lower court does not have power to reverse or to disturb the decision of the High Tribunal.

Young said the city has no other choice, but to pay the amount because the case has been settled already by the Supreme Court with finality.

“Bisan og moingon pa si mayor Rama nga dunay siya’y balido nga rason apan final na man gud ang disisyon,” he said.

One of the Rallos heirs asked the court to cite Rama in contempt for not complying with the court’s order, but the mayor explained “Walay problema og mapriso ko basta kapanalipdan lang nako ang kwarta sa katawhan nga ilang gipiyal kanako.”

Rama already warned the managers of the city’s depository banks to defy the court’s order to garnish P133.4 million from its deposits because the city will be filing some legal remedies against them if they will not protect the people’s money.

The mayor said based on their actual inspection of the concerned lot, it was found out that it is occupied by squatters and only a small portion is part of the road.

The Supreme Court had already ruled in finality the previous RTC decision that ordered the city to pay Rallos heirs P9,500 per square meter of the 4,654-square-meter lot and 12 percent interest per annum to be computed 40 days from July 24, 2001. (FREEMAN)