Earlier, Board Member Alain Gatuslao said majority of the Negros Occidental Sanggunian members are in favor of filing charges against SMPHI for damages caused by malicious prosecution.

The officials feel that they are being “bullied and pressured” by SMPHI so that it can get what it wants, and at this point, the provincial government is already losing money, Gatuslao said.

SMPHI has lodged numerous legal actions against the provincial government officials for awarding the sale and lease of the 7.7-hectare Capitol property in Bacolod City to AyalaLand Inc. (ALI).

Recently, SMPHI again filed charges against the Negros Occidental provincial government officials, led by Marañon, and members of the SP, and this time, also included ALI.

In Civil Case No. 14-14323 it filed before Bacolod Regional Trial Court Branch 48, SMPHI is seeking the nullification of a deed of conditional sale and contract of lease between the Negros Occidental provincial government and ALI, involving the Capitol’s 7.7-hectare property.

Marañon said he supports the SP plan to file charges.

SMPHI is bullying the people of Negros Occidental, not just the Capitol officials, because the money the provincial government could already have earned from ALI’s purchase and lease of the property could have been used for social projects for the poor.

He cited scholarships, livelihood and health programs for the people of Negros Occidental.

The governor said that, despite the latest suit by SMPHI, Ayala will go ahead with the development of the Capitol property soon.

Meanwhile, he said the Negros First CyberCentre may be inaugurated in August yet.*CPG

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