BAGUIO CITY – Size does not matter.
Despite being the city government’s “smallest” department in terms of number of personnel, the city legal office has assisted a total of 2,673 clients in their various inquiries and needs from January to November this year.
In Monday’s flag-raising ceremonies at city hall, acting city legal officer Melchor Carlos Rabanes said his office has rendered 27 legal opinions, done 191 outgoing communications, drafted and reviewed 318 contracts and agreements.
His office’s accomplishment report stated that there were 109 pleadings and communications filed with the Regional Trial Court, Municipal Trial Court, Court of Appeals, Supreme Court, Office of the Ombud sman and other agencies during the period.
The report revealed a total of 398 cases filed in the said courts and agencies as of November 30, 2016, with 360 of these being pending cases as of 2015 and 38 cases received as of November 30 of this year.
Of this number, the city legal office has disposed 40 cases at the end of November this year.
In terms of squatting cases, the city legal office has accomplished 180 resolutions, 54 notices of demolition and 62 demolition orders for the 11-month period.
Rabanes revealed that his office currently has a complement of six lawyers and several other staff to fulfill its mandate and responsibilities to the public./Gaby Keith#
