BAGUIO CITY – The city prosecutor’s office dismissed the charges for violation of the pertinent provisions of Presidential Decree (PD) 1096 or the National Building Code filed by the city government against the owners of the famous Igorot Stone Kingdom for lack of merit.
In a 2-page resolution penned by Prosecuting Attorney Oliver Isabelo Prudencio and approved by City Prosecutor Conrado V. Catral, Jr., as earlier mentioned in the statement of facts of the case, it appears that respondents Pio and Hajji Velasco were able to satisfactorily complete all the requirements in issue and that the said requirements were duly received by the Office of the City Administrator acknowledging compliance to the requisites imposed on them by the local government for the issuance of the building permits for the structures being complained of, thus, putting an end on the issues raised on the complaint.
The resolution pointed out that receipt of the Office of the City Administrator of the letter together with the supporting documents for the issuance of the building permits of the structures of the Igorot Son Kingdom in issue on February 13, 2023 showed that the local government has acknowledged that the owners of the famous tourist spots were able to satisfactorily comply with the requisites set forth by the city.
On December 5, 2022, the city prosecutor’s office suspended the conduct of the requisite preliminary investigation on the case filed by the city government against the owners of the Igorot Stone Kingdom for violation of the pertinent provisions of the National Building Code on the basis that the owners were already on the verge of complying with the requirements in securing the building permits necessary for the structures in issue and to avoid the clogging of court dockets.
On December 14, 2022, the local government, through the Office of the City Building and Architecture Office, filed a motion for reconsideration before the city prosecutor’s office despite the fact that in the resolution dated December 5, 2022, it was clear that there was only a suspension of the conduct of the preliminary investigation and the assailed resolution was not rendered based on the merits of the issue.
For the said reason, the reviewing prosecutor issued a resolution dated January 20, 2023 remanding the compliant to the assigned prosecutor for resolution based on the merits of the issues raised by both the complainant and the respondents.
Before the resolution of the case, on February 17, 2023, the owners of the Igorot Stone Kingdom submitted a letter stating that they were able to fully comply with the requirements for their application of the building permits of the structures in issue together with attached documents.
In the said letter, attached was another letter which was addressed to Engr. Bonifacio dela Pena, City Administrator that was duly received by the Office of the City Administrator on February 13, 2023, stating, among others, that the documentary requirements as requested from them by the local government as the necessary requirements for the issuance of the building permits of the structures complained of by the city were attached in compliance to the same.
“Going over the issues, it appears that the respondents were able to comply with the requirements as prescribed under Presidential Decree 1096 with regards to the structures complained of,’ the resolution added.
During the onset of the said issue, the owners of the Igorot Stone Kingdom were able to provide proof that they have ongoing application for the issuance of a building permit of the structures in issue.
The city prosecutor reiterated that Presidential Decree 1096 is curative in nature and submission of the requisites necessary for securing a building permit addresses the issue raised by the City Building Official and it could be a basis for the dismissal of the complaint against the owners of the said tourist destination.
Last year, the local government allegedly unceremoniously closed the operation of the famous Igorot Stone Kingdom for the reported failure of the owners to secure the requisite building permits for the structures within their property in violation of the pertinent provisions of the National Building Code.
The Igorot Stone Kingdom has previously become a tourist attraction because of the man-made stone structures that were erected through the use of the stone masonry famous among Igorots.
