'Moral force'
Posted by Tribune on Jun 01 2009 09:16:21 AM

By ELINANDO B. CINCO, mb.com.ph

What is now being looked up to as the new repository of public trust and the hope of citizenry – the "moral force" as advocated by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court – is on public trial itself, in a manner of speaking. Where is this?

Right there in Baguio City where two existing injunctions issued by the High Court are allegedly being ignored by local officials. And reports said the orders was first disregarded purportedly four years ago!

That is why I am now saying, a "moral force" is on sort of a trial in the summer capital with the community eagerly watching for the next development.

According to reports from the mountain resort city, the allegedly ignored Supreme Court orders stemmed from the city government's barring Jadewell Parking Systems Corporation from going into business shortly after it won the bidding for the city's parking project which, ironically, the city itself awarded to the company.

It seems that Jadewell has been in this lamentable situation since 2000, shortly after it had been awarded the contract to install, maintain and operate parking meters in the city’s main streets. This, after millions of pesos for the project was poured into the construction and development of the 3,500 sqm. Ganza parking facilities, adjacent to Burnham Park.

Subsequently, after the contract between Jadewell and Baguio City was declared illegal by the courts, several other attempts were reportedly made by city hall to disrupt Jadewell’s operations and shut down its offices. However, the timely intervention of the courts prevented its closure.

In January, 2005, then Baguio Mayor Braulio Yaranon padlocked Jadewell’s premises. Fortunately for Jadewell the SC issued a Writ of Preliminary Mandatory Injunction the following month and this allowed the company to continue its business. Yaranon was eventually suspended by the SC for six months in connection with that imbroglio. Malacañang also suspended him for six months for "abuse of authority," according to reports.

In that year, despite pressures against it, Jadewell sought protection under the law and the court granted it.

According to the records, the SC again issued on June 5, 2006, a temporary restraining order in favor of Jadewell. However, despite the standing two SC injunctions, city officials allegedly ordered the closure of Jadewell’s offices last January 2009. This report, if accurate, is alarming, and the public wonders at the force and effect of a High Court order. And people are asking, "Can a 'moral force' fight City Hall"?

(We certainly will welcome the side of the city, led by Mayor Reinaldo Bautista, on this legal issue.)
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