City council approves signage case vs Giam

By Lito Rulona

THE city council yesterday authorized Mayor Vicente Emano to sue businessman James Giam in connection with the latter’s takeover signage around the jeepney terminal in Gusa.

Ordinance no. 2013-10, gave Emano, through the City Legal Office, the green light to file charges against Giam for setting up signage on the facade of the terminal office and across the road entrances to the jeepney terminal. City hall said Giam also blocked road and terminal bays.

But Giam was unfazed. His lawyer, Rogelio Bagabuyo, wrote to the city hall staff at the Gusa terminal and told them to vacate the property.

In a Jan. 15 letter, Bagabuyo  said Giam is the owner of the Gusa property, including the office the city hall employees were “illegally occupying over his objection and without his permission…”

Giam gave the city hall employees manning the terminal office seven days to vacate.

“Otherwise, criminal, civil and/or administrative cases shall be filed against you individually,” writes Bagabuyo.

The letter was addressed to ity hall employees Montano Sabanal, Ryan Beja, Felimon Gomez, Minister Peltran, Hermenio Mabaylan, Jonathan Tagapulgo, Randy Labitad, Jane Alavansa and Edith Diansanta.

In a letter to the city council, Emano said the signage set up by Giam around the terminal were a violation of an agreement between city hall and the donor of the property.

The signage included notices such as “Private Property, No Tresspassing”  and “This Land is Mine!” Outside the Gusa terminal office of the City Economic Enterprise Department (CEED) was a streamer: “Atty. Rogelio Zosa Bagabuyo, Bagabuyo and Associates Law Office.”

City hall officials also complained about the culverts which Giam used to prevent parking at the terminal.

Last week, Giam declared his takeover of the Gusa property even as he accused city hall of breach of contract.

He said he donated the property many years ago on condition that it would be used as a terminal for jeepneys bound and coming from eastern areas to help city hall decongest areas like Lapasan.

“What did city hall do? Since they no longer want to use the property, I decided to take it back,” said Giam.

Giam said he decided to take back a 4,784-square meter property he donated to city hall over a decade ago because local officials violated their contract with him. He said a clause in the agreement provides he can take the property back without the need to ask a court’s permission.

“This is my land, this is my property. If I put a sign here that says ‘Si Charot, bwisit’ or ‘We are being led by idiots,’ it’s my call, actually. Of course, I’m not thinking of doing that but assuming I did, what is that to them? It’s none of their business because this is my property, and that is my freedom. Now, if they are suing me because of the signage and not because of my takeover, if that’s really the best thing they can think of, then they can talk to the barber of my lawyer,” reads a statement sent to this paper by Giam.