MANILA, Philippines?President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is preparing the pre-war Laperal Mansion on Arlegui Street near Malacañang as a possible official residence for her likely successor, who has yet to make up his mind on where he wants to live as president.

Presumptive president-elect Sen. Benigno ?Noynoy? Aquino III reportedly plans to take up residence at the Arlegui Mansion, like his mother the late President Corazon Aquino did during her term, when he assumes office on June 30.

The Supreme Court, however, has handed down its final ruling, ordering the Arlegui property returned to its original owner, Tarcila Laperal-Mendoza, an elderly widow who was booted out of her home upon orders of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the height of martial law.

On Oct. 4, 2007, the Supreme Court?s first division, that included newly appointed Chief Justice Renato Corona, unanimously ordered the government to return the 4,924-square-meter property to Mendoza, who is now past 90 years old.

The court also ruled that until it returns the property, the government should pay Mendoza a monthly rental of P20,000 starting July 1975 plus annual interest once the ruling becomes final.

The accumulated back rental was estimated to be P8 million as of October 2007.

In an interview Monday, Supreme Court spokesperson Midas Marquez said the ruling became final on Dec. 16, 2008, when the Supreme Court made an entry of judgment.

The high court ?affirmed with modification? the Oct. 4, 2007, decision, said Marquez.

On March 18, 2009, the records were remanded to the Manila Regional Trial Court to execute the decision.

The Arlegui Mansion currently houses the Presidential Action Center and other agencies under the Office of the President.

Aside from President Aquino, former President Fidel Ramos also took up official residence there during his administration.

Back to Arlegui?

Asked if Senator Aquino could still take up residence at Arlegui Mansion despite the ruling, Marquez replied: ?It?s up to him. That?s his discretion.?

The senator is apparently not new to the Arlegui Mansion because his family lived there during the tumultuous term of his mother.

His old room located in the right wing on the second floor has been undergoing renovation, much like the rest of the two-story, 1,400-sq-m mansion since last week, according to Elena Bautista, chief of the Presidential Management Staff (PMS).

She said the renovation?paint job, replacement of worn-out flooring, wall panels and ceilings?would be completed by June 4 by a 120-person team of ?volunteers? from the military and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Transition teams

Bautista said the mansion would be ?offered? primarily as a temporary house for the transition teams of both the outgoing and incoming administrations for ?better coordination.?

Arroyo?s team, which is headed by Bautista, could occupy the ground floor while Aquino?s group could stay on the second floor for ?more privacy,? the PMS chief said.

Bautista said the space in the right wing on the first floor would be converted into a lounge and probably, a media briefing room for the remaining days of the Arroyo administration.

Asked if the mansion was also being groomed as Aquino?s official residence, she said: ?It?s up to them what they want to do with the house after it is used by the transition teams.?

Palace has ?bad vibes?

?We will just offer the place as an office and we hope they will agree,? Bautista told reporters before giving media a tour of the mansion in the afternoon. ?But we won?t force anything. We just want to have an office ready in case they would want one.?

Bautista?s team went ahead with the renovation even as Aquino all but stirred another controversy, this time, regarding his official residence.

Having been advised that the Palace had ?bad vibes,? the presidential front-runner announced that he could just stay in his home on Times Street in West Triangle, Quezon City.

The preference immediately raised security concerns for the Presidential Security Group and convenience issues for his neighbors.