Real estate firm files raps vs La Trinidad mayor

JARCO Realty and Development Corporation recently filed an administrative complaint against La Trinidad Mayor Gregorio Abalos for allegedly failing to enforce the lease-contract the municipality entered with the firm.

This after the alleged refusal of Abalos to abide with the lease contract entered by the Municipal Government during the previous administration for the lease for at least 30 years of a 3,910 square meter property on which Jarco will construct a P200 million commercial building last December 21, 2009.

The complaint was filed by Jarco corporate secretary Juanito Teope on behalf of its board of directors last August 17 at the Office of the Ombudsman for Luzon against Abalos for allegedly committing grave misconduct and oppression by refusing to abide by the lease contract despite the developer already submitting plans and specifications of the building to the municipal engineer and had bored holes on the land to determine how the construction would proceed.

The developer also said it had already caused sums of monies and will continue to incur losses on the project as well as income on their part and the town due to rentals to be paid by the developer.

“Jarco feels that with the inaction and refusal of Mayor Abalos to enforce the lease agreement, he has violated his oath of office and [committed] violations of Republic Act 3019 or the Antigraft and Corrupt Practices Act and Republic Act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials,” the affidavit-complaint stated.

The developer claimed prior to the execution of the lease contract they entered with then former Mayor Artemio Galwan, during the election period, Mayor Abalos, then vying for the mayoralty position allegedly announced in his campaign speeches that if elected he will not allow the lease of the land as well as the construction of Jarco’s commercial building.

After elections, Abalos filed a civil action case with a prayer for injunction before the Regional Trial Court of Benguet to enjoin Jarco from constructing the building as well as not allowing the developer to take possession of the land subject of the lease-contract.

But the developer claimed the case filed by the mayor was dismissed. However, Jarco claimed despite the court decision, the mayor still did not allow them to take possession of the land subject of the lease-contract until today despite a demand-letter sent by their lawyer Juan Valdez on March 21.

The developer also demanded before the Ombudsman for Luzon for the preventive suspension of the town mayor during investigation of the complaint to prevent him from allegedly influencing parties or witnesses and prevent him from tampering records relative to the complaint.

Abalos was ordered by the Deputy Ombudsman for Luzon through an order issued October 9 signed by Director Adoracion Agbada to give his answer to the complaint through a counter-affidavit within 10 days from receipt of the order.

The complainant, meanwhile, may file a reply to the counter affidavit within 10 days upon the receipt of the town mayor’s counter-affidavit after which the case is considered submitted for final disposition by the Ombudsman.