Lapu-Lapu City gov’t serves warrant to seize MCIAA lots

CEBU — The Lapu-Lapu City government served the other day a warrant of levy on the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), notifying it of the attachment of the agency’s almost 200 parcels of land, including the airport itself, the runways and taxiways.

Mayor Arturo Radaza, together with Vice Mayor Norma Patalinghug, city counsel Vincent Joseph Lim and members of the city council, personally served the warrant on MCIAA general manager Marcelino Cordova.

The warrant of levy was served 72 hours after a temporary restraining order expired at 5 p.m. on Monday.

Lapu-Lapu Regional Trial Court Judge Benedicto Cobarde ruled that it was "moot and academic" for the Solicitor General to restrain the serving of the warrant of levy.

Cobarde is expected to decide on the petition filed by the MCIAA asking the court to declare the airport terminal building, the airfield, runways and taxiways exempt from real estate taxes.

City counsel Michael Dignos said the levy will be annotated in the properties’ tax declaration and land titles at the city assessors’ office and register of deeds, thus giving the city government the authority to publish a notice of sale of the MCIAA lots in local newspapers.

The airport will then be auctioned after the publication. — Freeman News Service