■ HEARING TODAY: MINORITY’S CASE AGAINST KAWIT DEAL RESOLUTION STILL ON

While he prefers not to discuss the case filed against the P18- billion Kawit Island development, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the filing of another case that seeks to nullify a council resolution that authorized Mayor Tomas Osmeña to sign a joint venture agreement ( JVA) was a group decision.

In an interview yesterday, Labella said he opted not join the opposition councilors as plaintiffs in the case because part of the matter that will be resolved by the court was his ruling during the regular session of the City Council last Aug. 7.

“Of course, I was aware but I did not join (as plaintiff ) because it was my ruling that was the subject of the resolution,” he told reporters.

Minority councilors recently asked the court to nullify the resolution that authorized Osmeña to sign the deal between the City Government and Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI).

They want the court to declare void City Council Resolutions No. 14-0183-2018 and 140184-2018 dated Aug. 8, 2018 because these are irregular and unlawful.

The Regional Trial Court Branch 10 in Cebu City has scheduled a hearing for the case today.

Before that, Busay Barangay Councilor Amilo Lopez also asked the court for a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the deal, which was denied for being moot.

As to the denial of the TRO, Labella said it was already a fait accompli or a matter that has been decided or done.

“When the case was filed, before the judge issued a ruling on the TRO, it became a fait accompli because they already signed the deal. A TRO is just an ancillary remedy, it does not dwell on the actual merit of the case. There is still a hearing on the merits of the case and I would rather not discuss it because it would be sub judice,” he said.