HLURB recalls questionable transfer orders after court rule

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY -- The Housing, Land Use Regulatory Board has designated directors in their regional offices in Regions I and Cordillera following a ruling from the Regional Trial Court here over the appointments controversy.

In a memorandum order, lawyer Romeo Fabol, HLURB chief executive officer, directed Rebecca Torres to remain as HLURB-Cordillera director while Teresita Galacgac, who assumed her post will go back to her old post as regional director of HLURB Region I.

The order was issued by Fabol after Judge Fernando Vil Pamintuan of the RTC’s Branch 3 here who berated the agency's legal counsels for their alleged defiance in recognizing the status order earlier issued by the court preventing the ouster of Torres from her old post.

The case stemmed when Torres decided to question in court the legitimacy of a cross positioning order issued by Fabol ordering her transfer to HLURB Region I and transferring Ms. Galacgac to the HLURB-Cordillera office.

Pamintuan then issued a status quo order for Torres to remain at the HLURB-CAR office pending the resolution of the case.

While the court dismissed the case after several hearings due to alleged lack of jurisdiction, Torres filed a motion for reconsideration which is still being heard by the court, thus, the status quo remains valid.

Despite the pendency of the motion for reconsideration, Fabol still insisted to issue a directive for Galacgac to assume her new post while Tores will go to Region I.

Lawyer Aurelio Galacgac, legal counsel of Ms. Galacgac, said his client is willing to abide by whatever decision of the court on the pending case but she has to respect the decision of her superiors to prevent her from being charged with insubordination.

For his part, lawyer Jimboy Atonen, legal counsel of Torres, explained there is a need for the camp of Fabol to respect whatever decision of the court relative to the pending case to prevent any confusion which might hamper the smooth operations of their offices in Regions I and the Cordillera.

Atonen added his client will bring the matter to the appellate court and the Supreme Court once she gets and adverse decision from the lower court, thus, there is no need to rush the transfer of its officials because the case is already within the jurisdiction of the court.

With the latest orders from the HLURB central office, housing industry stakeholders in the region are now confident their transactions with the concerned offices will not be prejudiced by the undue re-assignment of officials.