ILOILO City – The Iloilo Press Club (IPC) Inc. is readying legal action against city government officials responsible for delaying the issuance of – or refusing to issue – its building occupancy permit without justification or legal grounds.
“I will support whatever legal remedies you want to do against the concerned city officials. If all the requirements have been satisfied, there is no reason to deny an occupancy permit or any permits. They are bound by the law to issue it,” said Sen. Franklin Drilon in an interview yesterday.
Former IPC president Danny G. Fajardo earlier asked the incumbent officers of the club for an authority to take legal action against city officials for and in behalf of the organization.
“I support your cause. Freedom of the press is a basic right of every citizen. The press club building embodies your struggle for that freedom. I see no reason why, for a very long time now, your building is not yet open and used,” said Drilon.
On April 16, 1997 the Iloilo City Council passed Resolution N0-97-233 granting IPC the right to lease Lot N0-1384 (with an area of 300 square meters) situated on MH Del Pilar Street, Molo district.
“For and in consideration of the friendship, goodwill and cordial relationship between the parties and a rental fee of ONE PESO (P1.00) annually to be paid by the Lessee in advance for the entire period of the Lease Contract as evidenced by the corresponding receipt of payment, the period of the lease shall be Twenty Five (25) years,” the Resolution stated.
The Resolution was signed for the City Council by Ruth H. Arroyo, board secretary; Guillermo Dela Llana, presiding officer; and Diosdada C. Carado, city secretary.
It was approved by then mayor Mansueto Malabor for the city government and Danny G. Fajardo for the IPC.
In Nov. 11, 2016, then mayor Jed Patrick Mabilog and then IPC president Francis Allan Angelo changed the Lease Contract to a Deed of Usufruct with a term of 50 years.
But Mabilog, constantly bugged by a critical press, refused to issue the much needed permit despite the fact that all the requirements had been duly satisfied.
In October 2017 the Office of the Ombudsman dismissed Mabilog from government service for unexplained wealth. His successor, Mayor Jose Espinosa III, promised to issue the permit but has yet to do so as of this writing.
“I think Mayor Joe is afraid. Or perhaps he is not sincere either,” said Fajardo, one of the pillars of the oldest press club in the country.
According to Fajardo, there is no other alternative left for the media community to make use of the multimillion-peso building but to go to court and settle once and for all whatever issues that may come up during the hearing.
According to Drilon, the best legal solution is to file a mandamus against the concerned parties.
Rommel Ynion, incumbent president of IPC, donated a big amount of money for the club building’s construction./PN