Department Public Works and Highways Regional Director Rolando Asis and DPWH Special Attorney Mary Grace Lim are facing charges of indirect contempt from landowner Joaquin Bilbao Jr.

The charge stemmed from the case involving the collection of toll fees by Bilbao from vehicles passing through the portion of the HInobaan highway that is part of his family's property.

In his complaint, Bilbao Jr. stated that when Asis and Lim filed for TRO and injunction against him on June 20, they did not state that there is a similar pending petition filed in court by the estate of Joaquin Bilbao.

Bilbao Jr. said this act of omission on the part of the DPWH personnel constitutes indirect contempt under the Rules of Court.

He also filed a motion to declare DPWH in default for its failure to submit an answer to the case he filed against the agency within 15 days as allotted by the court.

Bilbao Jr. said the court will hear all motions he filed against DPWH on July 16. He also filed a motion to dismiss the case filed against him by the DPWH questioning the legal capacity of Asis as the petitioner and citing a violation of Rules of the Court.

On July 3 Kabankalan RTC Judge Henry Arles issued a writ of injunction ordering Bilbao Jr. to stop blocking the road and charging toll fees.*NAB

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