Senator Villar: Court extends TRO on village new administration’s traffic scheme
THE new administration of BF Resort Village Homeowners Association, Inc. (BFRVHAI) suffered another blow after a Las Pinas Regional Trial Court (RTC), in its Order dated September 22, extended to 20 days the initial 72-hour Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) issued on September 19.
Senator Cynthia Villar said the TRO was extended up to October 9, 2022 after the court found basis based on the evidence presented by the petitioners during the summary hearing held on September 21, 2022.
While the TRO subsists, the court sets the hearings on September 27, 28, 29 and 30. 2022 for the parties’ presentation of evidence to determine whether or not it is appropriate for the court to issue a Writ of Preliminary injunction.
The TRO restrains the implementation of the new village traffic scheme, specifically the closure of Onelia Jose St. in BF Resort Village (BFRV), which the court said is is causing irreparable injury to the petitioners.
On September 19, Senator Villar, a resident of BFRV since 1976, and Rommel Dela Cruz and Virgilio Hernandez filed a Petition for Prohibition and Mandamus with Application for TRO and/or Preliminary Injunction against respondents BFRVHAI and its officers Euan Rex Toralballa, Michael Roxas, Atty. Angelo Ted Diesmos, et. al..
“The Petition seeks to enjoin the respondents from enforcing the new BFRVHAI administration’s traffic scheme and instead comply with the local ordinances on Las Piñas Friendship Route,” said Villar.
“This includes allowing Las Piñas City resident-holders of Friendship Route stickers to freely access and pass through the street, roads, avenues and thoroughfares declared to be part of the ‘Friendship Route’ in BFRV under the local ordinances,” she added.
Due to this, the Court found urgency and paramount necessity to issue a 72-hour TRO to prevent further damage, such as travel costs, productivity, wasted fuel and economic activity slow down.
It was as early as 1995 when the LGU of Las Piñas issued an ordinance directing developers and homeowners associations in Las Piñas to open and allow the public free of charge to use their sestreets as alternative routes (so called “Friendship Route”) to ease or decongest traffic along Alabang-Zapote Road and other main streets in Las Piñas, and imposing penalty for any violation.
Said ordinance and the subsequent ordinances that followed, particularly City Ordinance No. 715 series of 2006, enumerated the specific streets and roads in every subdivision, village or compound that are covered by the so called “Friendship Route”.
BFRV has ten streets, including Onelia Jose St., that are part of the “friendship route”.
The controversy arose last July 24 afterthe newly-installed village administration posted guards at the Onelia Jose St. that prevented Las Piñas resident-holders of friendship stickers to freely use the Onelia Jose St. that connects to the Zapote River Drive leading to CAVITEX and the bridge that leads to Bacoor, Cavite at a shorter distance.
Under the new traffic scheme implemented, non-BFRV residents, even if they are Las Piñas residents and holders of friendship stickers, will only be allowed entry and exit via Onelia Jose St. by BFRVHAI if they will buy BFRV sticker worth P2,500 per vehicle.
