THE City Government will file a motion for reconsideration after Benguet Prosecutor’s Office dismissed the complaint it filed against some residents who allegedly diverted the Asin Power Plants’ water source.

City Administrator Peter Fianza said the City Legal Office is already preparing the necessary pleadings. They have yet to decide if a civil case will be pursued, as suggested in the same resolution dismissing the complaint.

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Notwithstanding this, Fianza said city officials have decided on taking a softer stand in terms of pursuing criminal complaints against the group led by Roger Sinot.

Pending cases at a local court in Baguio are few of the reasons for this. Regional Trial Court Branch III Presiding Judge Fernando Vil Pamintuan earlier asked both parties to come up with proposals concerning land claims. Mediation was then suggested by the court.

Acting Mayor Daniel Fariñas said the city remains open to mediation with the claimants.

Last April, the court ordered land claimants in Asin and the City Government to submit a list of claimants who opt to sell or lease their properties or those who prefer to share in the usage of water produced by the hydroelectric plants.

The list will come from both the city and the claimants for the counter-checking of records by the court.

Under dispute resolution, arbitration, mediation, conciliation, early neutral evaluation, mini-trial, or any combinations of these processes can be implemented.

Alternative Dispute Resolution System as defined in Republic Act (RA) 9285 means any process or procedure used to resolve a dispute or controversy, other than by adjudication of a presiding judge of a court or an officer of a government agency in which a neutral third party participates to assist in the resolution of issues.