THE Quezon City government on Friday vowed to respect a Supreme Court (SC) decision declaring that the city cannot foreclose and seize a seven-hectare lot occupied by the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation Inc. since the property is owned by the National Housing Authority, a tax-free institution.
“Although we haven’t received a copy, the Quezon City government fully acknowledges the Supreme Court’s decision regarding the invalidation of the zoning ordinance (enacted in 2003) relating to the property used by the Manila Seedling Bank,” the local government said in a statement.
“We shall always respect the rule of law, and undertake to thoroughly review the High Court’s decision to fully understand its implications,” it cited.
“We remain fully committed to ensuring that our local policies and legislation, whether past or present, adhere to the proper legal principles and serve the best interests of our people. We will closely monitor the decision and its directives, and have our legal office evaluate for our appropriate actions in accordance to the same,” it added.
The SC, in a July 30 decision, invalidated a Quezon City ordinance that reclassified the land used by the Manila Seedling Bank Foundation, which effectively deprived the entity of its use.
In 2012, the city government took over the lot occupied by the MSBFI over the past 35 years after a one-year redemption period for the auctioned property had expired.
It auctioned the property over the MSBFI’s failure to pay P57.208 million worth of taxes across a 10-year period.
The disputed prime property is located at the corner of Quezon Ave. and EDSA.
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