Judge drops hold petition on Kawit island project

For failure of the plaintiff to show interest in pursuing the case, Regional Trial Court Branch 23 Judge Generosa Labra denied the application for writ of preliminary injunction filed by Busay Barangay Councilor Amilo Lopez against the P18-billion Kawit Island project.

In an order dated Sept. 14, Labra said that when the case was called for a hearing last Friday, Lopez and his counsel did not appear before the court.

City Attorney Joseph Bernaldez, along with city lawyers Bernard Inocentes Garcia and Yedah Ylanan as well as Universal Hotel and Resorts Inc. (UHRI) lawyers, appeared before the court last Friday for the supposed hearing of the case.

“They all informed the court that they are ready for the hearing of plaintiffs’ application for preliminary injunction. However, plaintiff and counsel did not appear despite notice, which is indicative of their lack of interest to pursue the case,” read a portion of the order.

Lopez filed a petition for injunction with prayer for temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction before the court, saying the joint venture agreement with UHRI is grossly disadvantageous to the City.

UHRI is set to develop an integrated resort, including a casino on Kawit Island in the South Road Properties through a joint venture with the City Government.

Before the denial of the writ of preliminary injunction, Labra also denied for being moot Lopez’s plea for the court to issue a TRO against the deal.

Aside from the case filed by Lopez, eight opposition councilors also asked the court to nullify the resolution that authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign the joint venture agreement with UHRI for being irregular and patently unlawful.

In a Facebook post, Osmeña said the other cases filed against the deal are all harassment cases.