Construction giant Datem’s pursuit to collect nearly P1 billion in dues from bilyonaryo Andrew Tan gained momentum after the Quezon City Regional Trial Court (RTC) served the freeze order to Megaworld and its banks.
Court Sheriff IV Ferdinand M. Peralta issued a notice of garnishment to Megaworld’s lawyers, Sarah Jean Canete and Tiffany Ann L. Dy, on November 16 at Two World Square in BGC.
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Megaworld has 30 days to respond to Datem’s complaint. Failure to reply within this timeframe may lead Datem to seek a default judgment for the relief requested. The Tan-led property firm was advised against filing a motion to dismiss but to present defenses within the reply.
This action aims to cover the P873.324 million mentioned in the Writ of Preliminary Attachment (WPA) issued by Judge Rochel Yvette D. Galano in favor of Datem.
Datem has gone to court to force Megaworld to honor their mutual agreement signed in September 2022 to settle the contractor’s billings for Uptown Parksuites Towers 1 and 2; Eastwood Global Plaza corporate tower and luxury residences; One Le Grand Tower; 18 Avenue De Triomphe; and Clark Green Frontier.
The notice of garnishment has also been issued to several banks of Megaworld, including Asia United Bank, Union Bank of the Philippines, Bank of the Philippine Islands, Banco De Oro, China Bank, PS Bank, East West Bank, Maybank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., and Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.
The Court Sheriff is expected to serve the freeze order to Megaworld’s other banks – Land Bank of the Philippines, Philippine National Bank, Security Bank, and United Overseas Bank, tomorrow.
The notice of garnishment encompasses all goods, effects, stocks, interests in stocks and shares, and other personal properties possessed or controlled by Megaworld.
Banks are cautioned against delivering, transferring, or disposing of the defendant’s property to any entity except the court sheriff. They are required to respond to the court order within five days.