MALASIQUI–Former Vice Governor Oscar Lambino, a native of this town, has questioned the legality of the lease contract entered into by the municipal government led by Mayor Armando Domantay with the Magic Group of Companies over a prime property beside the municipal hall.

Lambino said the contract is based on a proposed municipal ordinance that was rejected by the provincial board in 2003 when Domantay was vice mayor.

“What we cannot understand is that five years after the controversial ordinance was remanded to the municipal council, Domantay – now Mayor – now used it as basis in entering into a lease contract with Magic despite the fact that the ordinance had no effect, being void from the very beginning,” Lambino said.

He further raised asked why the lease price per square meter in the said contract is lower than what was specified in the invalid ordinance.

“In all of these, Mayor Domantay is showing the people of Malasiqui that he is above the law,” said Lambino.

A resolution approved by the municipal council gave Domantay authority to enter into contract with the Magic Group.

“The resolution authorizing Domantay to enter into contract with Magic is in order but the ordinance on which the resolution was based is invalid,” explained Lambino.

The voided ordinance, numbered 005-2003, sought the conversion of some 1,100 square meter prime lot beside the municipal hall, where two statues of local heroes were standing, from public to commercial use as the municipal government then wanted to lease it out with a food chain.

Baniqued,
then and now

Then Provincial Legal Officer Geraldine Baniqued issued the opinion that the proposed ordinance was defective. The provincial board adopted it and remanded the ordinance to the Malasiqui municipal council.

But Lambino has noted that Baniqued, who has returned as the provincial legal officer, seems to have changed her mind and now appears to be “lawyering for Domantay”. Baniqued was the Dagupan City legal officer in the previous Benjamin Lim administration. Lim is the head of Magic Group of Companies.

Lambino stressed that he has nothing against the Magic Group and actually welcomes the potential investment that will boost the town’s economy. However, he maintains that the lease contract should be above board.

In a related development, Mario Armas, a private citizen, filed a petition before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 57 in San Carlos City, seeking to nullify the lease contract.

Lambino said Domantay should not have ordered the demolition of the puericulture center, Sangguniang Bayan session hall, post  office and two statues of local heroes on the project  site with the case still pending before the RTC.—LM

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