THE CEBU City Regional Trial Court (RTC) has dismissed the petition filed by eight councilors against the P18-billion Kawit development project of Gokongwei-led Universal Hotels and Resorts Inc. (UHRI). “In light of the foregoing considerations, the Court is of the considered view to ex mero motu dismiss this case on the grounds of litis pendentia and forum shopping,” reads the decision penned by Judge Soliver C. Peras, noting that the petition filed by Councilors Jose Daluz III, Jocelyn Pesquera, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Pastor Alcover Jr., Joel Garganera, Renato Osmeña Jr., Eduardo Rama Jr., and former councilor Erik Miguel Espina was already a subject of another petition pending before the court. The petitioners, who are members of the local opposition party, asked the court to stop Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña and UHRI officials from entering into an agreement for the mixed-use real estate project on Kawit Island at the South Road Properties. — The Freeman

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