Court rejects luxury cars for Nueva Vizcaya board

BAYOMBONG, Nueva Vizcaya — Thirteen members of the provincial board will have to content themselves with their existing vehicles after the court junked their bid to purchase luxury cars worth a total of P7 million.

In a seven-page decision, Regional Trial Court Executive Judge Jose Rosales ruled with finality against the implementation of an appropriation ordinance that would entitle each of the 13 board members to a luxury vehicle.

The court acted on a petition filed by board member Leonardo Perez Jr., the only one who frowned upon the purchase.

Perez had argued that buying such luxury vehicles at this time was a blatant disregard of President Arroyo’s call for all public officials to initiate belt-tightening measures because of the economic slowdown.

"Under the provisions of the Civil Code, these officials could be charged for lavish spending based on the present economic hardship we are into," he said.

Human rights lawyer Ernesto Salunat, in his capacity as taxpayer, also filed a petition against the ordinance, arguing that the board members were resorting to "thoughtless extravagance."

The provincial board passed the controversial appropriation ordinance last Oct. 30. Gov. Rodolfo Agbayani subsequently vetoed it.

But the board junked Agbayani’s veto, prompting Perez to bring the matter to the court.