Noynoy free to move into Arlegui since property dispute is over

Presidential front runner Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is free to move into the presidential guesthouse on Arlegui Street near Malacañang since a dispute over the property’s ownership has been resolved two years ago. Aquino should have no legal impediment to stay at the Arlegui House, Supreme Court spokesman Jose Midas Marquez said on Monday. “It’s up to him [Aquino]. That’s his discretion, if he wants to stay in Arlegui," Marquez told reporters. Ownership of the property — which measures 4,924.60 square-meters — has been held in dispute by the government and its original owner, 93-year-old Tarcila Laperal-Mendoza. But the Supreme Court ended the case when it issued an entry of judgment on December 2008. The same decision affirmed with modification its earlier October 2007 ruling that ordered the government to vacate the property that was seized during martial law. In March 2009, the High Court remanded the case to the Manila Regional Trial court for execution of its December 2008 verdict. At the same time, the government was also instructed to pay Mendoza around P8 million representing back rent from July 1975 and monthly rent of P20,000 until the property is vacated. But the Mendoza family said it is no longer interested in the property and only sought proper compensation from the government. Earlier, it filed an appeal at the High Court for its October 2007 ruling, asserting it would have been beneficial for the Court to order government to pay just compensation — including opportunity losses — than just give the family a sum of P7.5 million. Given its dilapidated state, it will take some time before the property is returned to its original condition when the Philippine government took it from the original owners under duress. The original owners added that the amount granted by the SC was insufficient to cover the structure’s restoration efforts. A report said that as of March 15, 2007, the Mendoza family should be entitled to P150,231,000 as fair market value of the property, P230,720,011.06 as fair rental value for 32 years, and P1.32 billion for opportunity costs. An appraisal report released by Land Bank of the Philippines on March 26, 2007 indicated that the current value of the land alone is P113,266,000. Unfortunately, it was unable to estimate the value of the structure and the cost of lost opportunities. The Arlegui mansion has housed offices of the Presidential Action Center and other attached agencies. It has also served as a guest house during the term of former president Marcos and the official residence of presidents Corazon Aquino and Fidel Ramos. - RJAB Jr., GMANews.TV