The City Government of Naga has officially secured ownership of the five-hectare property where the City Hall compound stands, ending a decades-long legal dispute and paving the way for long-term development plans—beginning with Mayor Leni Robredo’s initiative to reorganize and improve the entire compound.
In a notice dated May 6, 2025, the Supreme Court En Banc declared that it will no longer entertain further pleadings from the heirs of Jose Mariano and Helen S. Mariano, the original owners of the lot.
The High Court’s decision is now final and executory, closing a legal chapter that began in 2003 and affirming the city’s legal right to the land it has occupied since 1954.
City Legal Officer Atty. Angel Ojastro III, in a briefer to Mayor Robredo, emphasized that the city government can now proceed with development projects on the property without legal obstacles or the risk of Commission on Audit (COA) disallowance.
“The bottom line is that the City of Naga has legal certainty of ownership over the City Hall compound,” Ojastro said. “This eliminates audit risks for infrastructure spending and provides a strong foundation for long-term planning.”
With the legal battle now settled, Mayor Robredo’s plan to comprehensively improve the compound – including organized and presentable parking areas, and the removal of insignificant structures and clutter that have long contributed to congestion and disorganization – is further affirmed and strengthened.
The goal is to create au cleaner, more efficient, and people-friendly government center.
“This legal victory represents far more than the resolution of a property dispute – it affirms our city’s sovereignty over the very foundation upon which we deliver essential public services to our constituents. The certainty provided by this final decision enables us to confidently invest in infrastructure improvements and development projects within our City Hall compound, ensuring better facilities for our citizens and more efficient government operations,” the city mayor said.
The Supreme Court’s ruling is rooted in the principle of inverse condemnation, recognizing that the city’s continuous occupation of the land since 1954 constituted a legal taking for public use.
The High Court ruled:
• The city retains possession of the property—no vacation required.
• The city must pay just compensation based on property value as of August 16, 1954, with 6% annual interest until full payment.
• Exemplary damages of ₱1,000,000 are awarded to the Mariano heirs.
• The case is remanded to RTC Branch 26 for determination of the compensation amount.
• The prior orders for monthly rentals and eviction were deleted.
Mayor Robredo also extended the city government’s “heartfelt gratitude and deepest appreciation” to Atty. Jose Anselmo Cadiz and Atty. Randall Tabayoyong, who served as lead counsels in the case, working closely with the City Legal Office throughout the litigation.
“Your collaborative efforts in handling the complex proceedings before the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court have been instrumental in securing this landmark victory for our city and its people,” Robredo wrote in her letter to the legal team.
“The final decision conclusively establishes the City of Naga’s rightful ownership of the five-hectare property that has served as our seat of government for over 70 years.”
With legal ownership now secure, the Robredo administration is determined to maximize the compound’s potential—not just by opening up space for vehicles and pedestrian access, but by reimagining the entire area as a functional, orderly, and dignified home for public service. | via Jason B. Neola
