THE sheriff tasked to serve the temporary restraining order (TRO) issued by Regional Trial Court (RTC) Judge Manuel Cardinal Jr. of Branch 49 to Mushroom Realty Development Corp. (MRDC), developer of Metro Safari Resort in Barangay Alangilan, Bacolod City, has confirmed the presence of 221 laborers or construction workers at the site led by foremen Arnel Panaguiton and Reynante Odires.
Sheriff IV Ric Deypalobos reported his findings in the Sheriff’s Return he submitted to the court.
MRDC is represented by its president Francis Rey Cabuga.
Deypalobos was accompanied by barangay officials of Alangilan when he served the TRO. He explained to the workers that there was a TRO from the court preventing and restraining them from proceeding with the construction, and also discussed with Cabuga the content of the TRO.
On Friday, Cardinal extended the 72-hour TRO he issued Wednesday to 18 days, ordering Cabuga to refrain from continuing the development and construction of facilities and other structures in Metro Safari Resort without the required building permit and other mandatory clearances. Also named as respondent is Office of the Building Official head Isidro Sun Jr.
The TRO was issued by Cardinal in relation to civil case No. 14-14345 filed by Alangilan councilmen Alex Sausi, Roy Retiza and Donald Alimpolo against Cabuga and Sun on June 16.
Cardinal said the order was issued to give the parties ample time to submit the necessary pleadings on the issue of jurisdiction. The hearing of the preliminary injunction was reset to June 30.
In their complaint, the three councilmen asked the court that a TRO and/or writ of preliminary injunction be issued against MRDC and Cabuga or their representatives, preventing them from continuing the development on Lot. Nos. 1581-B-2, 1581-B-3, and 1581-B-4 in Alangilan without the required building permit and other mandatory clearances.
They also asked that Sun or his assistants or subordinates be prevented from issuing MRDC and Cabuga a building permit without compliance with the mandatory requirements.
City Legal Office Enforcement Team head Cesar Beloria also inspected the area last week.