Court asked to stop construction of new Pasig city hall

A petition was filed before a Pasig City court seeking the issuance of a temporary restraining order against the construction of a new Pasig City Hall.

The 39-page petition filed by Alejandro dela Vega Sanoy asked the court to nullify Resolution 42-11 approved in March this year, which allowed the city government of Pasig to enter into a multi-year contract that includes demolition of structures within the Pasig City Hall compound and the construction of a new Pasig City Hall, as well as Ordinance 13 Series of 2024 passed by the city council prescribing the guidelines for the issuance of a multi-year contract authority.

Named as respondents were Mayor Vico Sotto and city council members Raymund Francis Russia, Corazon Raymundo, Simon Gerard Tantonco, Paul Roman Santiago, Noel Agustin, Roderick Mario Gonzales, Marion Rosalio Martires, Keil Custillas, Maria Luisa de Leon, Mark Gil Delos Santos and Robert Vincent Judge Jaworski.

Sanoy said the project was illegal, noting that the city government did not request the Department of Public Works and Highways conduct a pre-demolition inspection.

"There was also no inventory and inspection of unserviceable property. Likewise, there is no ordinance nor resolution providing for the creation of a disposal committee. Evidently, the request for demolition was not in accordance with law," he added.

The estimated cost of the city hall complex project is P9.6 billion.

The Manila Timestried but failed to get a statement from the mayor regarding the filing of the petition.

The mayor last year said the city hall needs a massive reconstruction as the buildings are not structurally sound.

He said the city hall will be converted into a future-proof compound with open spaces for the public.

Earlier, two graft complaints were filed against Sotto before the Office of the Ombudsman for allegedly not distributing cash allowance for city employees and granting a 100 percent tax discount to a telecommunications company.

Meanwhile, the group Mayors for Good Governance said on Wednesday that it was supporting three local executives facing lawsuits, including Sotto.

It said the filing of complaints against Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas and Sotto was politically motivated.

Teodoro was accused of technical malversation for allegedly misallocating P130 million in Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) funds.

Sotto faced two graft counts, while Treñas was charged for the demolition of an art façade at a public market.

Teodoro said that the filing of the complaint was politically motivated and clarified that the PhilHealth funds, which were reimbursed during the Covid-19 pandemic, remain accounted for and intact.

"In the pursuit of public service, of standing up for what's right, of governing with integrity — is often met with resistance. But I'm calling for a fair and impartial investigation, one that lets the facts speak for themselves," he said.

"And I want the people of Marikina to know that my commitment to good governance, to the well-being of our community, remains as strong as ever," he added.

"As an organization that advocates for good governance and the fight against corruption, we always uphold transparency and accountability. The three mayors have demonstrated and continue to live by these principles," the group said in a statement in Filipino.