Caña withdraws as lawyer of City Council in BREDCO controversy
BACOLOD CITY -- Former Sangguniang Panglungsod Member and lawyer Lyndon P. Caña has withdrawn his voluntary services as legal counsel in the case of the city government against the Bacolod Real Estate Development Corporation (Bredco).
In a letter to Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson dated November 25, 2008, Caña said that he has served his usefulness in the case and that he also believes that the SP Members are best defended by another counsel. He was referring to SP Member Dindo Ramos, who is also a lawyer, principal author of City Ordinance 454 popularly known as the "takeover ordinance" as well as Chairman of the Committee on Laws and Good Government.
Caña, however, lamented that the Sangguniang Panglungsod did not oppose Bredco's application for renewal of permit to operate the port.
He suggested that what the City Government has to do is simply write a formal letter or communication opposing Bredco's application for the renewal to operate the port.
He recalled that last October 21, 2008, he personally delivered an urgent communication to the danger that Bredco is seeking renewal of its permit and so now, Bredco, per report, has another 25 years to operate the port.
Earlier, Atty. Jack Maalat, one of the Bredco's legal counsel, confirmed that the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) renewed Bredco's permit to operate the port for another 25 years.
On the other hand, Vice Mayor Sayson was saddened by the decision of Atty. Caña of withdrawing from the case. He said he would convince Atty. Caña to help on the case until it is finished.