The Regional Trial Court has scheduled three more hearings before it is expected to decide on the case filed by SM Prime Holdings, Inc. against the Negros Occidental provincial government and Ayala Land, Inc. involving the sale and lease of the 7.7-hectare prime property of the provincial government.

RTC Judge Estefanio Libutan of Branch 50 has set the hearings of the case on August 31, October 5 and November 9.

Merlita Caellan, head of the Provincial Assessors Office and the appraisal committee of the provincial government ,was presented at the witness stand during the hearing of the case Friday.

Vince Bayhon, legal counsel of SMPHI, said they have manifested their legal questions on the witness which will still be resolved by the court.

The SM Prime Holdings Inc. filed a petition last year before the Bacolod Regional Trial Court seeking the annulment of any negotiated sale and lease by the provincial government property to ALI, and for SMPHI to be declared the winning bidder of the July 7 bidding.

The case was filed by SMPHI against Governor Alfredo Maranon Jr. and the members of the Provincial Award and Appraisals Committee.

SMPHI claimed that it won in that bidding after they offered a higher bid than the other bidder, Ayala Land Inc.

Bayhon said that they are through with the cross examination of. Lucille Pines, head of the General Services Office. They will leave the matter for the court to decide on the case, he said.

The SP unanimously approved