City officials adopted the comments and suggestions of City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias to collect the unpaid obligations in the amount of more than P2.6 million from Lilia Nugal Koh, court appointed administrator of the estate of Basilio Nugal, for the property located at No. 3 Upper Market Subdivision.
However, Ms. Nugal Koh shall be given a period to settle the said obligation upon agreement with the City Treasurer.
Earlier, the Committee on Appropriations and Finance, Cluster B on Taxes, Fees and Other Charges, in its 3rd indorsement dated August 22, 2022 recommended the adoption of the comments and suggestions of City Treasurer Cabarrubias to collect the alleged unsettled obligations including its surcharges and interest.
In response to her appeal for humanitarian consideration, the committee recommended that she be given a period to settle the said obligation basing on the recommendations of the City Treasurer upon any agreement they may come up with.
Ms. Nugal Koh, court appointed administrator of the estate of Basilio Nugal, in her letter dated November 29, 2021, requested for humanitarian consideration in the form of an amnesty from the city council members considering the reported large amount of outstanding obligation amounting to more than P2.6 million representing lot rentals, surcharges and interest to be paid for the property located at No. 3 Upper Market Subdivision for the years 10 January 1999 to February 10, 2021 for the non-inclusion of surcharges and interests of the said obligation and the paying period from 1 and a half years to 3 years considering the present economic situation. The said property was included in the Benguet Special Proceedings Case No. 95-SP-001 as a result of the intestate death of Basilio Nugal, beneficial user, On October 11, 1994 as per ERP No. 2009-017-93455.
In his letter dated January 12, 2022, City Treasurer Cabarrubias submitted his office’s stand on its action pertaining to the said matter stating among others that granting the request of Ms. Koh is a dangerous precedent which will absolutely sacrifice the interest of the local government.
He added that the said office had previously encountered clients that have similar situation with Ms. Koh of which the said office imposed the necessary penalties in accordance with the city’s existing ordinance. In fact, Cabarrubias informed the council that some of them are still paying their obligations.
Notwithstanding that the city treasury office advised Ms. Koh to execute an affidavit to lay down the terms and conditions in settling her obligations, Cabarrubias claimed that the same was done voluntarily, otherwise, she had all the time and opportunity to withdraw the same.
The city treasurer asserted that his office stands firm in collecting the unsettled obligations of Ms. Koh, including its surcharges and interests where the same had been long overdue for the city which was ultimately deprived of its rights to utilize to the maximum its resources for the general welfare of the city’s constituents.
