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Manila gov’t sued for illegal takeover of Vitas abattoir

By Rommel C. Lontayao

08/17/2007

One of the largest meat processing firms in Manila yesterday filed a civil case against the city government for taking over the management of Vitas Slaughterhouse in Tondo.

Represented by lawyer Norman Barazo and company executive vice president Joyce Alcoriza, Dealco Farms Inc. asked the Manila Regional Trial Court to issue a temporary restraining order stopping the local government of Manila from taking over the operations of the slaughterhouse.

The management of the slaughterhouse was given to the city hall’s Vetrinary Inspection Board after Dealco’s alleged inability to pay rental and other fees to the city government.

In its petition, Dealco claimed the local government’s takeover was illegal based on the agreement that they signed on May 2000.

The firm said the meat-processing industry would be greatly affected if city hall continues to handle the slaughterhouse’s operations.

Alcoriza said the awarding of contract to manage the then “dirtiest slaughterhouse in Metro Manila” to their firm in 1999 was legal and was affirmed by a Manila City Council resolution in March 2000.

She also denied Dealco had debts to the city government amounting to P44 million.

According to her, the allegation was impossible since they are directly paying fees to the City Treasurer’s Office which was then under the administration of Liberty Toledo who was removed from office a month ago.

Alcoriza said they have documents to prove they were able to pay the fees and noted they had allotted P45.7 million for the reconstruction and maintenance of the slaughterhouse’s building.

Dealco added the appointment to the city hall of a certain Rafael Mariano, who allegedly became a part of “double-dead” meat products selling in Bulacan, will probably pose another problem.

“Magulo ngayon sa city hall, kung sinu-sino ang pumapapel sa isyu, kaya sa tingin namin nararapat na ang korte na ang magpasiya sa problema,” Alcoriza said.