Case filed against 8 men for padlocking Asin Resort

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – A complaint was filed with the provincial prosecutor’s office here Monday for trespassing against eight persons for allegedly entering the premises of the Sinot Resort in Asin, Nangalisan Tuba and padlocking the main gate and blocking the way to the residential house of the Sinot family by installing hollow blocks and cementing it late November.

Respondents were identified as Juris Awal, Luther and Ian both surnamed Batallier and Randy, Bryan, John, Jorlyn all surnamed Agumas including a certain Justin Ramirez.         

Karen Sinot in her complaint said she and her husband Roger got involved in a lengthy court case which led to a Supreme Court ruling that part of the area was owned by the city government of Baguio. 

Roger was ordered to vacate the property of 4,344.23 square meters.

Both parties then had a joint survey to determine where said square meters were located.

“A conclusive survey was reached. The survey plan showing the 13-sided polygon was signed by engineer Marcos A. Badongen of CENRO, La Trinidad; representative, general services officer Buyucan of the City of Baguio, engineer 1 Fabrico Guyon of the City of Bagio and Sheriff Joselito S. Tumbaga of Regional Trial Court Office of the Clerk of Court,” Karen said.

“The survey shows that the (swimming) pool is split into two – one side is city side and the other is Sinot side.”

Karen said “even before the termination of the litigation process (pendency of the resolution for the motion to quash), the city bid out the Asin Hot Spring Resort.

Respondent engineer Juris Awal won the bidding, Karen said in her complaint-affidavit.  “There, the Court issued a writ of execution and it was partially executed. Buyucan and my husband even agreed to put a line cutting the pool into two. The survey plan is the basis.” 

Karen said Roger and Buyucan agreed that plaintiffs will return on June 5, 2017 to place a wire or rope in the center of the pools and a tarp over the portion owned by the city without objection from the defendant.

Karen said Tumbaga had issued a turnover receipt showing they voluntarily and peacefully surrendered the property owned by the city government.

But without any permission from her, Roger or authorized employees, respondents entered their adjacent property around 6 p.m. of Nov. 29 and started mixing hollow blocks.

“Despite my pleas and those of my employees, they still refused to stop, Karen said in her complaint. “The fence blocked the way going to my residence and main store.”

              With these, Karen urged the provincial prosecutor, after due notice and investigation to file appropriate information against the respondents before the courts of Benguet.

                 Following these, Randy E. Pakew, lawyer of the Sinot couple wrote the city council in behalf of his clients regarding the issue.

“On Nov. 29, 2018, employees of the supposed winning bidder together with some officials of the (Baguio) public order and safety division padlocked the gates and placed a fence blocking the way to our client’s building. Both the gate and pathway are outside of the city property,” he told the city council. 

Pakeo said in behalf of his clients, he wanted to know whether a recreation hall in the area labelled in a city government map is owned by the city of Baguio.

He said, among others, it seemed the city government is backing off from the joint survey over the disputed property the latter earlier signed.

“We request your good office to put down in writing the information we seek,” Pakeo told the city council.