Beloria: The case is still pending

By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The complainants in the petition seeking a temporary restraining order against the P1.7 billion loan the Bacolod City government plans to borrow from the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) will file a motion for reconsideration after the Regional Trial Court-Branch 44 earlier denied the request.

Atty. Cesar Beloria Jr., spokesman for the legal team in the case, yesterday said they will file the motion next week.

“Definitely, we will file a [motion for reconsideration],” Beloria said, adding, if necessary, they will bring the case before the Court of Appeals and even up to the Supreme Court.

He also said reporting on the case has created confusion and misinformation.

“The case was not dismissed, only the [temporary restraining order] was denied,” Beloria pointed out. “The motion to dismiss, filed by the City of Bacolod, was also denied.”

“The case is still pending,” he added.

Beloria believes the city’s motion was denied because the court recognized probable cause in the motion they brought forward.

The petition for the temporary restraining order, filed by former Bacolod City Councilor Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, former Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, and businessman Antonio Wong was denied for “lack of legal basis.”

“After a careful analysis of the averments, contentions, and arguments of the parties, the court finds no paramount necessity to issue the injunctive relief,” the order stated.

The P1.7-billion loan is intended to fund the construction of the proposed Bacolod MassKara Coliseum, which is earmarked at P800 million; enhancements to Bacolod City College (BCC), which amount to P350 million; a relocation site; and towards the construction of road and bridges./DGB, WDJ