|
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Mayor wants pay parking firm to leave Baguio
BAGUIO CITY -- This Saturday will be the last day of pay parking firm Jadewell's stay in Baguio City, that is, if the parking firm's management agrees to leave.
Sun.Star Network Online's 12th Asean Summit Watch
Acting Mayor Reinaldo Bautista Jr. said Friday that orders have been given to department heads in line with the City's plan of action following the repeal of the pay parking ordinance and expiration of the 60-day notice to rescind the pay parking memorandum of agreement.
City Engineer Leo Bernardez would be ordered to dismantle the traffic signs installed by the pay parking firm. The Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) headed by Senior Superintendent Moises Guevarra will implement the repeal of the ordinance.
Asked if the order would entail the arrest of pay parking attendants who will continue to collect parking fees, Bautista said any move to be undertaken by the police has his approval.
He also rejected any plans for a renegotiation with Jadewell, saying that in implementing these orders and in view of the contempt and administrative charges filed against him and some members of the City Council, consultations would only be done with the city legal officer.
"I am not inclined for a renegotiation. It's too late," he said.
Bautista explained that he does not have plans to meet Jadewell's owners nor their representatives as this might be misinterpreted as allowing them to extend their operation.
Councilor Jose Molintas said that Jadewell's attempt to renegotiate is "a desperate move to stop the City Government from ending the pay parking contract."
"Their (Jadewell personnel) days are numbered. Like them, we also invoke the MOA. It's not supposed to benefit Jadewell only," he said.
The councilor also downplayed the administrative charge filed by Jadewell against city officials before the Office of President, stressing that Bautista and the City Council followed procedure in the repeal and rescission of the ordinance and the agreement.
But Jadewell president Rogelio Tan said the injunctions issued by the Supreme Court (SC) in cases regarding their operations do not only cover suspended Mayor Braulio Yaranon and other past City Government officials but also those serving in an acting capacity at present.
"There were two injunctions already issued by the SC on the cases pending review before them and these do not only prevent Yaranon, Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 3 Judge Fernando Vil Pamintuan, businessman Benedicto Balajadia, and former city officials from acting in contempt of the High Court. Although I am not a lawyer, I believe that these also prevent the present set of city officials from committing acts that may be seen to be in contempt," he added.
On February 9, 2005, the SC issued a writ of preliminary mandatory injunction "directing Yaranon, his agents, representatives and any person or persons acting upon his orders or his place to immediately reopen the streets and premises operated and occupied by Jadewell."
"They (city officials) were further directed to let the streets and premises remain open until further orders of the same court," Tan added, quoting an order issued by the SC Third Division dated April 20, 2005.
Last June 5, the SC also issued another order after Jadewell filed a petition before it with city officials as respondents. In this order, the High Tribunal "enjoined the respondents from continuing with the proceedings in Civil Case 6089-R" upon the authority of SC Third Division chairperson Leonardo Quisumbing. (Sun.Star Baguio/Sunnex)For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Zamboanga. (December 2, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
|
|
[return to top]
[home]
|
|
Town mayor, two others found dead at sea