Court orders VSMMC: Open alumni compound

CEBU, Philippines - The court has ordered the management of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC) to stop the construction of structures and open the gate of the Southern Islands Hospital School of Nursing Alumni Association Inc. (SIH-SNAAI) compound on Osmeña Blvd., Cebu City.

Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) Executive Judge Francisco Seville Jr. issued a 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) against VSMMC after SIH-SNAAI filed a complaint against the hospital management.

The association alleged that on June 12, the hospital padlocked their compound’s gate and prevented them from entering the premises.

The hospital management also cordoned off the area thus, preventing its members and guests from using the parking lot.

Closed-circuit television cameras were also installed and a monument on the property was illegally removed.

The association claimed that they are the lawful occupant of the lot in Sambag II, Cebu City and their multi-purpose building was constructed way back in 1972 with an area of 4,434 square meters.

Seville, in his three-page order, said the actuation of VSMMC in padlocking the association’s property was a violation of right and considered a deprivation of property.

“This court sees that defendants’ act of padlocking plaintiff’s property, preventing plaintiff’s egress and ingress to the premises in question would cause an irreparable injury,” the order reads.

 Seville directed VSMMC to remove the padlock, cease and desist from constructing structures, remove the cordon at plaintiff’s parking area, remove the close circuit camera, remove the blue guards from SIH-SNAAI’s compound and restore the original condition of the lot.

Dr. Joseph Alesna of the Office of Special Concern of VSMMC said they will follow the court order once they receive a copy.

Seville added that the association has the right to be protected under Section 1, Article III of the Constitutions that states “no person shall be deprived of property without due process of law.”

In its complaint, SIH-SNAAI also asked VSMMC to pay P250,000 for moral damages, P100,000 for exemplary damages, P100,000 for reimbursement of attorney’s fees and P50,000 for litigation expenses.- (FREEMAN)