Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama welcomed a court decision which he said proves there is no obstacle to passing a stalled P2.8 billion Supplemental Budget.
THE Regional Trial Court dismissed the case filed by former prosecutor Romulo Torres against the Cebu City Council which sought to bar the use of proceeds from the sale of the South Road Properties (SRP) earlier this year.
In a joint order, RTC Branch 9 Presiding judge Alexander Acosta said there was “no conflict” between Cebu City Ordinance No. 2332 and City Council Resolution No. 130418-2014 which authorized Mayor Rama to sell two SRP lots through public bidding.
The judge said the ordinance authorizes prior authorization and not ratification by the City Council on the disposal of SRP lots.
“There is no iota of doubt”, said the judge, that the resolution “is valid”.
He also denied the motion for intervention filed by German Perez on the case.
The pending civil case has been repeatedly cited by the Osmeña majority bloc in the City Council as its reason for not taking up the Supplemental Budget.
Mayor Rama, who was in Manila, told reporters through a telephone conference that he would celebrate a thanksgiving Mass for the court decision.
He said he wanted the City Council to be “enlightened” and pass the supplemental budget because there was no violation when the city disposed of the two SRP lots through public bidding.
“There is no reason for the budget to be delayed further,” said City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo.