Power restored at Mango Mall but dispute continues

IT’s business as usual at the Mango Square Mall despite an ongoing ownership dispute between members of the prominent Ludo and Luym families over the commercial strip near the Fuente Osmeña rotunda in Cebu City.

Ludo Dev consultant Jenar Suson, who spoke on behalf of Mango Square operations manager John Luym, told Cebu Daily News that electric power was restored to the mall which houses 35 office and commercial tenants.

Among the tenants are three outsourcing companies which have stayed in the mall for over five years. Suson said the mall will continue to operate.

“We are currently in status quo as issued by the Court of Appeals. We expect the Management Committee to abide by that and respond within 10 days after receiving the order,” Suson said.

“After they issue a response, the Court of Appeals will then convene to decide on the TRO (Temporary Restraining Order) that we have requested.”

Ludo Dev, one of the early real estate developers in Cebu, has stopped setting up more projects because of the dispute, which Suson described as a “loss of opportunity.”

Suson said they want the ownership dispute resolved as soon as possible so that they can move forward and perhaps take part in the real estate boom.

“So far this is the property (Mango Square Mall) that they are targeting. Again, we assure everyone that it’s business as usual for us,” Suson said.

Cebu City police were earlier ordered to secure Mango Square Mall after power was cut off in the mall.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama offered to provide a venue for family members to sort out their differences. Reporter Ador Vincent Mayol