The Bacolod City Water District and the owners of the Boro-Boro Springs in Brgy. Alangilan, Bacolod City, were given by the court only until Friday to come up with a compromise agreement before it makes a decision on the injunction case filed by Baciwa against the owners.

Baciwa had filed an injunction case with prayer for temporary restraining order and establishment of right of way against Edmundo Sausi and children, owners of the springs, after they closed the only access road leading to the property.

The court had granted on Jan. 13 the TRO sought by Baciwa against the Sausis in order to allow the Baciwa personnel to enter the property to check the reported sabotage of its spring intake box and the alleged diversion of water from the springs.

Romeo Natino, legal counsel of the Sausis, said they will again meet today with the lawyer of Baciwa to finalize how much compensation the owners will ask from the water district for the use and rent of their property. He said the other heirs are being represented by Ivan Solidum Jr.

Natino said both the owners and Baciwa have been given by the court five days to submit a compromise agreement unless they could get an extension.

Jovim Entila, legal counsel of Baciwa, said he does not think an extension could be possible since the TRO issued by the court will lapse on Feb. 2. He said he will meet with the owners of the springs today to receive their proposals.

Entila said that during their meeting Tuesday, the owners had proposed an amount of P30.6 million but he told them that since it is almost equivalent to the total assets of Baciwa, the water district may not be able to afford it. "But whatever amount they will propose, we will refer it to the Baciwa board, the Office of the Government Corporate Council and to the Commission on Audit that will determine its legality," he said.

Entila, however, said it is not yet clear if the amount covers the 32 years, which they claimed Baciwa failed to pay the owners for the use and rent of their property. He said the owners have not yet shown a formula of computation or how many years they have computed to be able to come up with such an amount.

Entila said if Baciwa has to pay for the use of the property, it wants to pay to the legitimate owners. He said there are three groups involved in the case - Earl Gonzales, who claims to be the descendant of Ladislao and Aquilino Sausi, Edmundo Sausi and the administrators of the estate of Ladislao Saosao.

He said the latter claimed that they came from Ladislao Saosao (who was formerly Sausi) but Gonzales claims that Ladislao Saosao has no children so it is impossible for them to have descended from him and never did Ladislao and Aguilino Saosao change their family name until they died.*CGS

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