Court battle continues on P100M Capitol loan
From the Guimbal Court here to the Court of Appeals (CA) in Cebu, the legal battle continues and heightens on the now controversial P100 million loan of the Iloilo Provincial Government.
The amount as sought was earmarked for the purchase of heavy equipment such as dump trucks, pay loaders and backhoes yet the move as pushed by Governor Niel Tupas, Sr. met opposition from the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan's 'conscience bloc.'
Latest legal maneuverings got the administration board members Rodolfo Cabado, Domingo Oso, Jr., Niel Tupas, Jr., Cecilia Capadosa, Romeo Palmares, Sr., Eric Barbosa, Sr, Lilia Gonzales, Jeneda Salcedo and Angel Briones to get a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) from the CA to counter the TRO of the conscience bloc board members.
In a Petition filed before Guimbal Judge Teodulo Colada of Branch 67, Petitioner-Board Members Manny Gallar, Macario Napulan, Bernardo Silla and Licurgo Tirador moved to nullify the contract and Deed of Assignment relative to the P100 million loan to government bank, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP). Gallar's group argued that said loan is violative of government-prescribed regulations particularly when it used as collateral the province's Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA). Questions were also raised on the personality of an LBP official who represented said government bank in the Deed of Assignment when legal representation supposedly identifies a different officer.
As such, Judge Colada issued a TRO that held in abeyance the ratification of the earlier resolution authorizing the loan between the Capitol and the LBP.
Yet with the CA resolution came another TRO that specifically called on the Guimbal Judge to 'at least temporarily restrain' from proceeding further in Civil Case No. 300 until further orders. It was not to end there however.
Yesterday (Thursday) saw the continuation of the Court hearing in Guimbal, a continuation of Wednesday's proceedings that saw the petitioners and their counsels. It was to be a one-sided fight though with the respondent-board members and the Provincial Legal Office (PLO) defense panel absent.
The News Today (TNT) obtained a copy of the Ex-parte manifestation presented instead by the PLO that informs the Court of the CA order with the Capitol legal team seeking for such to be 'properly noted.'
One move that generated questions from the petitioners and their counsels who argued that as of yet, they have not officially received the CA Resolution.
TNT also learned of Judge Colada's order in open court for the Capitol counsels to explain in ten days why they will not be held in contempt for not appearing in Wednesday's hearing.
Such alongside the nine-page Amended Complaint submitted by the 'conscience bloc' that now included the LBP Iloilo branch officials as defendants.