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Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Vergara hit for prying on suit vs bar time limit
By Rimaliza Opiña
POLITICS reared its ugly head even with the effort of Baguio City bar owners to join forces in asking the court to nullify Administrative Order 114.
This developed after lawyers Cheryl Daytec-Yangot and Benedict Kato Tuesday notified the Office of the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of their intention to withdraw as counsels for Alberto Cabreira, owner of the Jecks bar.
Last Thursday, Cabreira informed both lawyers that he accepted the free legal assistance offered by former Mayor Bernardo Vergara.
Cabreira was the first bar owner to petition a local court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the implementation of AO 114, which limits the operation of bars and liquor-serving establishments in the city.
The petition is still pending before the sala of Judge Clarence Villanueva of RTC 7.
Ninety-two bar owners and operators filed a class suit last Friday for the nullification of the AO.
Lawyer Nicasio Aliping, a known ally of the opposition Timpuyog ti Baguio party, represented them.
Yangot and Kato, in their two-page withdrawal of appearance, said Vergara's offer of a free legal assistance is but a plan on his part to "get back" at Mayor Braulio Yaranon.
"The former mayor is interested in using the case to vindicate his name and use his legal powerhouse to get Mayor Yaranon down to his knees," the two lawyers added.
They explained that they accepted and would have defended the case only on its merits. "Counsels cannot involve themselves in lawyering that will go beyond the borders of ordinary law practice where political maneuverings will necessarily be the yardstick of their performance."
Vergara reportedly promised Cabreira and other club owners that he would settle their legal fees.
Both lawyers however criticized Vergara saying his assistance to affected bar owners is merely to serve his political purposes.
"Counsels are totally disappointed at the ex-mayor's unprofessional interference; however, they only serve at the pleasure of their clients - stupid or otherwise. In light hereof, they have come to withdraw their appearance in order not to deprive plaintiff of a tooth-for-a-tooth legal representation that will guarantee him success. After all, withdrawing counsels are not the best in town. Their only qualification is they believe in the things they do, and to this extent only so far as the instant case," the withdrawal petition added.
(September 14, 2005 issue)
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