Capitol, Ayala ink deal;
It’s a go, governor says
BY CARLA GOMEZ

The sale and lease of the 7.7-hectare prime property of the Negros Occidental provincial government in Bacolod City to AyalaLand Inc. is a signed deal, it’s a go, Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. said yesterday.

Marañon said he and ALI president Antonino Aquino and senior vice president Jose Emmanuel Jalandoni signed on Thursday the deed of sale and contract of lease for the property that is part of the Commission on Audit requirements for approval of the deal.

The signed contract is set to be ratified by the Negros Occidental Sangguniang Panlalawigan at a special session 9 a.m. Monday, Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz said.

The Negros Occidental provincial government has filed before the Regional Trial Court a manifestation with motion to cite Vincent Patrick Bayhon, the legal counsel of SM Prime Holdings Inc., in contempt.

However, Maryann Lamis-Manayon, the legal counsel of the provincial government, refused to comment on the matter after RTC Judge Estefanio Libutan Jr. asked them yesterday to refrain from giving any interviews on the merits of the case filed by SPHI against the local government.

Since Libutan did not want to issue a gag order, he requested Bayhon to file his comment on the motion filed by the provincial government within 15 days from yesterday.

Court Administrator and Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez yesterday said a P100,000 reward is being offered for any vital information leading to the identity of the persons suspected of killing or ordering the killing of any judge and another P100,000 will be given upon the conviction of the accused.

Marquez, in a speech he prepared for the necrological service of Kabankalan Regional Trial Court Judge Henry Arles at the Rolling Hills Memorial Chapel in Bacolod City last night, a copy of which he furnished the DAILY STAR earlier in the day, said the reward was put up by the Philippine Judges Foundation.

A delayed flight from Manila prevented him from delivering the speech at the necrological rites, although he was able to condole with the family of the judge shortly after midnight.