Monday, March 19, 2007 Pay parking firm hit anew for 'delaying tactics'
THE filing of a supplement contempt charge against some Baguio City councilors who voted for the declaration of Jadewell owners as persona non grata is "a plan to delay the Supreme Court's (SC) issuance of a decision on a previous action nullifying the parking firm's contract with the city for various violations," said Councilor Edilberto Tenefrancia.
"From all appearances, what petitioner intends to do is to file a slew of contempt charges and consolidate them with the main case for purposes of delaying the resolution of the main case," said Tenefrancia.
Jadewell filed a supplement contempt charge following the approval of a proposed resolution authored by Councilors Rocky Thomas Balisong and Rufino Panagan, which declared spouses Rogelio and Norma Tan as unwanted in Baguio on December 18.
The Tans filed the supplement petition based on a news report.
But Tenefrancia said while the report maybe true, there is nothing in the article that would indicate disrespect to the SC.
The petition stressed that the report merely contained the affirmative vote of the councilors but it did not contain the resolution, which declared them persona non grata.
This resolution was however vetoed by acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr., who said stooping down to the level of the Tans would only give the Jadewell owners an opportunity to have a forum for unwanted issues.
"Not to add to the legal imbroglios, the Jadewell issue has to be laid to rest," Bautista said in an undated veto message, received by the Office of the City Secretary on January 8.
Respondents to the supplement petition also included Councilors Erdolfo Balajadia, Faustino Olowan, Galo Weygan and Jose Molintas. (RO)
