16 September 2022, from Gems:

Marga, your mom posthumously deserves a special award for helping  Gen Abaya, Mrs Sta Clara, and the Maglonzo and Follosco families carry the fight from the RTC all the way to the Supreme Court and keep the hope alive for all Phase 678 Chapter lot owners past and beyond the MR filed by the former Solicitor General.

Now that the Supreme Court, through its resolution dated June 15, 2022, has decisively resolved to “DENY reconsideration with FINALITY” and that “no further pleadings, motions, letters and other communications shall be entertained,” the case is closed, a new jurisprudence has been established as precedent,  and justice will soon be served with the Navy’s settlement of damages.

All we need to do is wait for the entry of judgment which has to follow a strict process involving each of the parties in interest. And all we must prepare for are the ramifications of the execution of the court decision on the rest of our rightful claims.

For now, we wish to extend our warmest congratulations to Mrs Cobarrubias (as though she were still alive), to her daughter Marga and their legal team, led by Atty Faller, for staying on the side of those four intrepid Phase 678 lot owners and bearing their battle.

And we recognize and thank as well all those who persisted for many years on pounding on the gates and doors of many offices  and even raised placards, and followed the non-legal track, while supporting the cause of our four point guards, if I may call them. They certainly helped in making our cause resonate across decision makers in the government.

In complementary direction, our dogged pursuit of the administrative process has finally yielded the first batch of five (5) signed Deeds of Sale. The rest, we were informed, will soon follow.

So coming into our first General Assembly tomorrow, we bear nothing but great tidings. But above all them, Marge’s story should be told and shared for all its worth, especially its lessons for those who have waited seemingly in vain for so long. In fact, I wish the ranks of Sir Mars and Jess would help to shed light on their struggles if only to enable our 678 Chapter members to know what some of us did from different sides, and to ultimately draw strength from our unity and uniqueness as an association.

There can be no more any iota of doubt that the land used as a golf course for over five decades is truly ours. The final ruling of the Supreme Court is the tipping point.

God is almighty good and righteous. God bless our Ph 678 Chapter. 

See you all tomorrow, sirs and ma’ams.