The Quezon City Regional Trial Court Branch 104 suspended the writ of execution ordering the Sheriff to secure a parcel of land inhabited by 19 families in Vista Real Classica subdivision in favor of 8990 Housing Development Corp., a unit of publicly-listed 8990 Holdings Inc.
Quezon City RTC 104 Judge Catherine Manodon, in a decision dated Oct. 4, 2022, directed the suspension of the implementation of the writ of execution issued on June 7, 2022 “until the issue of ownership over the subject property has been finally resolved”.
“Further, the plaintiff [8990 Housing Developmen]) is directed to remove the security guards it posted in the premises of Vista Real Classica Subdivision to allow free access therein by the homeowners,” Judge Manodon said.
8990 Housing Development legal counsel Atty. Hazel Helmuth earlier clarified the company was not trying to evict the affected homeowners. “Right now, while we already have the legal standing to exercise our ownership and possessory rights, we understand the homeowners of Vista Real Classica are also victims like us. We are one with them in making sure their rights as buyers of Sta. Lucia are also protected,” she said.
She said 8990 is the “rightful owner” of the Quezon City property in question. “We stand firm and confident in our legal position that the Courts have lawfully declared: that 8990 is the rightful owner and possessor of Lot 116 at Old Balara. Under this valid, final and executory decision and a lawful writ of execution, we will continue to exercise all our rights over our property, including but not limited to guard and protect the same, occupy the same, and make sure that Sta. Lucia does not sell the same to other unwitting buyers,” said Helmuth.
About 30 men, hired by 8990 Housing Development Corp. which insists on its ownership of the property in question, arrived in the subdivision, immediately built temporary shelters and advised maintenance personnel to vacate the property on August 17, 2022.
Vista Real Classica homeowners called for the removal of the 8990 Housing men from the area to ease the tension and avoid the escalation of any untoward incident while the Supreme Court is hearing the case.
The court said the lot being claimed by Sta. Lucia Realty & Development Inc. and its business partner Garsons Co. is part of Lot 116 owned by Evangeline Puzon, now represented by 8990 Holdings. The lot has been developed as part of Phase III-A of Vista Real Classica Village and was subdivided, developed by Sta. Lucia Realty and sold to the homeowners. Sta. Lucia Realty is a subsidiary of publicly-listed Sta. Lucia Land Inc.