Gil, Sonalan to represent 4 councilors in civil suit
The Sangguniang Panlungsod recently approved a resolution authorizing Atty. Reynaldo Sonalan and City Legal Office chief Atty. Edgardo Gil to represent the four city councilors in a civil case filed by businessman and newspaper publisher Bernie Miaque.
The resolution emanated from the request of Gil to the City Council to grant authority to Sonalan to defend Councilors Jose Espinosa III, chair of the committee on transportation, Eduardo Peñaredondo, Merci Garcia and Armand Parcon before the Branch 29 of the Iloilo Regional Trial Court. Gil's request was dated March 7, 2006.
The resolution granting authority to Sonalan and Gil was authored by Peñaredondo. Gil's request only contained Sonalan's name. However, Peñaredondo also included Gil's name because of Sonalan's absentism. "Bisan pala absent siya sige na lang dugang ta lang si Gil (We will just add Gil even if he is always absent)," he said.
The civil case filed by Miaque against the city councilors stemmed from the recommendation of the committee on transportation to stop the car parking business of Miaque in the airport as the space they are occupying is considered a government property.
In an interview, Gil said the city has authority to stop Miaque from his car parking business as he has no business permit. Every business entity must first secure a business permit before they can operate.
Earlier, the lower court denied the petition for a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) filed by Miaque but later was reversed by retired Judge Alfonso Combong. A permanent injunction was handed down by Combong before he retired, Gil lamented.
Gil said Miaque argued that he has rented or acquired an authority from the former ATO manager Gerochi to operate a business at the Iloilo Airport. Miaque also alleged that the authority is a guarantee for him not to secure business permit for his car parking business. He believed Miaque falsified the said ATO authority.
He added that Miaque applied for business permits in all his businesses inside the Mandurriao airport except for his car parking business. Miaque's restaurant, pasalubong center and porterage have business permits, Gil said.
The CLO chief said ultimately the case between the city and Miaque will be resolved. He said there are several court cases involving the city government and it took sometime for the court to resolve but they have to observe the judicial system.