HANGGANG ngayon na lang ang taning sa tagapamahala ng Ever Gotesco Grand Central Mall para lisanin ang gusali bago tuluyan iyong kunin ng pamahalaang lokal ng Caloocan.

Pero hindi susunod ang Gotesco Investment Inc. (GII) dahil may mga usaping ligal na hindi pa umano nareresolba ng korte, anang tagapamahala sa isang pahayag.

Ayon sa writ of possession na inilabas ni Judge Oscar Barrientos ng Caloocan Regional Trial Court, kailangang umalis na ang mga tagapamahala ng mall sa loob ng tatlong araw simula noong Lunes.

Ayon kay Mayor Recom Echiverri iginigiit lang ng lungsod ang karapatan nito matapos mabigo ang GII na bayaran ang P722-milyong buwis na naipon sa loob ng 23 taon.

yesterday defended their takeover of the mall, saying they merely wanted to enforce the city government’s right over the property after Gotesco Investments Inc. (GII) failed to pay 23 years’ worth of real property taxes amounting to P722.3 million.

“This is a simple issue. What we did was no different from what a bank would do if one of its customers failed to pay his mortgage. The bank would take over the property. This is what we did,” he said.

At the same time, he assured mall tenants that they would be allowed to retain their business spaces as soon as they sign a contract with the city government.

Echiverri added that about half of the tenants have already signed letters of intent on renewing their contracts.

“We want to check first who among them are serious about signing a contract with us and then we will discuss the contract as soon as the three-day writ of possession becomes final on Thursday,” he said.

According to the mayor, the city government will not increase the rental rates for stall owners.   

The mall administration, meanwhile, said in a statement sent to the Inquirer that it was business as usual despite the court order. 

“[We] wish to inform our patrons, clientele, staff and the general public that the mall is still open for business. Contrary to initial media reports, the mall is still being operated by the Ever Gotesco Group, pending the resolution of legal matters,” it said.

The statement added, “This matter is [being] handled accordingly by our legal department and we’re still waiting pending resolution on two contradicting orders issued by co-equal courts.” 

The mall administration noted that in November 2008, the city government had  expressed its intention to take over the mall. This prompted GII to file a case at the Manila Regional Trial Court Branch 11 the following month.

On Dec. 24, the court issued an order stopping the Caloocan City government from taking over and closing the mall. Local officials later filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied, according to the statement.

On Jan. 16, the city government filed a petition for the issuance of a writ of possession at the Caloocan RTC. The case went to the sala of Barrientos who granted the motion.

“Thus, what the Manila RTC Manila has enjoined or prevented, Judge Barrientos’ court, a co-equal court, has allowed,” the statement read.