Naga News
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PLAZA RIZAL BELONGS TO THE CITY
OF NAGA
Bikol Reporter. Mayor Sulpicio Roco
Jr. expressed elation over the recent decision of a regional trial court
in Naga pointing to the city government as the administrator of the controversial
Plaza Rizal located at the navel of this city.
Roco said, "this will end all
misconceptions, and ultimately will ascertain the right of the city to
exercise administrative supervision, management and control over Plaza
Rizal."
The city government of Naga,
in two previous administrations, and the province of Camarines Sur as represented
by Camarines Sur Governor Luis R. Villafuerte have been disputing the issue
for over seven years now.
Regional Trial Court Judge Andres
Barsaga of Branch 61 decided in favor of the city government in his four-page
decision to Civil Case no. RTC 97-3691, last March 10, this year.
"Considering that the Province
expressly acknowledge that Section 2 of Republic Act 305 merely defines
the territory of Naga City, then it is safe to assume that it also accept
that the City of Naga as represented by the City Mayor exercises control
of all the properties of the city," Barsaga said in his decision. Properties
as used in the above-qouted provision refer to lands, buildings, records,
money, credits and other properties and rights of the city.
"Since Sec. 2 of R.A. 305 defines
the territory of Naga and Plaza Rizal is within its territorial jurisdiction,
ergo, it is the City who has the right of administrative control and management
over Plaza Rizal", the honorable judge added.
In this controversial case,
both parties undisputedly admitted that: Sec. 2 of R.A. 305 defines the
territory of the City of Naga; before the enactment of R.A. 305, it was
the Province which exercise supervision and control over Plaza Rizal; before
the present site of the Provincial Capitol of Camarines Sur is in Naga
City, in front of the plaza; the property in question is within the territorial
jurisdiction of plaintiff; that the province does not secure permits from
the City for any activities held or improvements introduced over the property
in question; and a tax declaration in the name of the province of Camarines
Sur.
Earlier, the same RTC judge
ruled against the land registration case filed by the Province for lack
of merit.
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