Monday, February 12, 2007
SC urged to expedite ruling on pay parking firm case
BELIEVING that the cases filed by the pay parking firm Jadewell against Baguio City officials are a ploy to threaten the incumbent officials, suspended Mayor Braulio Yaranon asked the Supreme Court (SC) to already decide on the pending cases.
In his manifestation and omnibus motion for early resolution, Yaranon said the only issue that the SC would have to decide on is whether Jadewell is vested in contractual rights; if Jadewell could impose Ordinance 3-2000 or the Pay Parking Ordinance; and whether the collection of parking fees be declared as criminal activities for usurpation of authority and grave coercion.
The suspended mayor is a respondent, co-respondent and co-petitioner in the seven cases, which have earlier been consolidated by the SC.
Yaranon said it is time that the SC decides on the cases following the rescission of the pay parking memorandum of agreement (MOA) and the repeal of Ordinance 3-2000. "The supervening events have rendered the pending cases moot and academic," he said.
Yaranon told reporters that because it is taking so long for the SC to decide, additional complaints have been filed. However, he stressed that this is meant only to harass city officials, adding that at present, Jadewell no longer has a course of action to pursue.
"Jadewell can't file a case against me that's why they go after other city officials," Yaranon said, referring to the contempt charge filed by Jadewell against acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., City Legal Officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes, acting Vice Mayor Leandro Yangot Jr., and city councilors who voted for the rescission and repeal of pay parking.
Jadewell, likewise, filed a disbarment petition against Rabanes and lawyer-members of the City Council.
Councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia has the same view as that of Yaranon. He said the delay benefits Jadewell because the longer it will take for the SC to decide, the parking firm could file all pleadings they could think of in court. (RO)
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