THE Regional Trial Court, 1st Judicial Region, Branch 56 in San Carlos City, granted a motion for reconsideration, returning possession of the Bayambang Central School, built in 1914, to the Bayambang municipal local government.

In a statement posted on Balon Bayambang, the town’s official Facebook page, it said that it received a copy of the court resolution granting the motion for reconsideration, thus confirming “that the people of Bayambang are the owners of the property covered by Tax Declaration No. 1228, where the old Bayambang Central School was built.”

The town promptly removed galvanized iron sheets and barbed wire that had been used as a fence by a private individual claiming ownership of the lot, making way for a massive cleanup in the area.

The statement described the court’s decision as a significant victory for the Bayambang municipality after almost a decade of battling for ownership and was confirmed in a separate posting with a video of the cleanup drive on the same Facebook page by Atty. Rodelynn David, municipal administrator.

Aware that the legal battle is far over, the town remains optimistic that the property will ultimately be fully regained by the town and its people.

She said while it marked an initial victory, while the court’s trial to determine the school’s owners continues, the court had decided to return possession of Bayambang Central School to the LGU Bayambang.

The LGU promptly hung a No Trespassing LGU Property tarpaulin in front of the school.

In a recorded video message, former mayor Cezar Quiambao congratulated the legal team, led by Atty. Brillante, for the victory, noting that although the case is not over yet, ownership of the Central School has been returned to the LGU.

Mayor Niña Jose-Quiambao urged the residents to be courageous and emphasized that if they truly love their town, they will do what is right no matter the circumstances.

Barangay Captain Ruel Layacan of Barangay Zone 2 expressed his gratitude for the central school’s return to their village.

A businessman, believed to be associated with a former high-ranking provincial official, entered into a land swap deal with the local government in 2013 for the transfer of the old Bayambang Central School to its new site in Barangay Magsaysay, exchanging the more than 100-year-old 3.1-hectare campus along the national highway with a 2.2-hectare property with educational facilities in Barangay Magsaysay.

This exchange became the subject of a legal battle. (Eva Visperas)

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