OSG Files Suit to Recover 4.2-hectare Compania Maritima Property from Cebu City

The Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) has filed before the Cebu City Regional Trial Court a complaint for injunction with quieting of title to recover the 4.2-hectare Compania Maritima property from the Cebu City Government.

The OSG filed a complaint in behalf of the National Government which was represented by the Cebu Port Authority (CPA).

Named respondents were the Cebu City Government, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and Cebu City Assessor Eustaquio Cesa.

In its complaint, the OSG said the City of Cebu and the city mayor illegally usurped CPA’s property, which is behind the executive building of the Cebu City Hall.

The property was converted into a parking lot for the general public and City Hall employees.

In July 2013, the City Government started claiming ownership of Compania Maritima by acquiring a tax declaration for the property.

But the OSG said the claim lacks legal basis.

The OSG said, instead, that the State has “equitable title” to the entire baseport of Cebu including Compania Maritima.

The premises were once used for docking operations and berthing.

The OSG asked the court to stop the Cebu City Government from exercising acts of ownership over the property.

It also asked the court to issue a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction to stop the City from “interfering” with its right to manage, maintain, and develop the ports, and to declare its tax declaration void. (PNA) LAP/EB/SSC