REGIONAL Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Generosa Labra has directed the Cebu City Government to answer the civil petition filed by eight city councilors, who sought to nullify the resolution authorizing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign the joint venture agreement (JVA) to develop an P18-billion integrated resort and casino complex on Kawit Island.
Judge Labra gave City Hall lawyers 15 days to submit their answer to the opposition councilors’ petition for declaration of nullity with the prayer for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and preliminary injunction.
Apart from stopping the City’s JVA with Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI), the councilors are also asking the court to annul a council resolution approving the proposed Binaliw landfill project.
Labra set for today the hearing on the petitioners’ petition for issuance of a TRO.
The petitioners are Councilors Jose Daluz III, Jocelyn Pesquera, Raymond Garcia, Pastor Alcover, Erik Miguel Espina, Joel Garganera, and Eduardo Rama Jr.
They asked the court to declare as void Council Resolutions 14-0183-2018 and 14-0184-2018, dated Aug. 8, 2018, for being “irregular and patently unlawful.” (GMD)