BUSINESSMAN Federico “Piki” Lopez has asked a Mandaluyong court to cite several members of the Lopez Group and their lawyers for indirect contempt over alleged violations of court orders tied to an ongoing dispute within the family’s holding companies.
In a petition filed before Branch 209 of the Regional Trial Court, Piki accused Rafael L. Lopez, Martin L. Lopez, Michael Jack B. Garcia, Salvador G. Tirona, Enrique I. Quiason and Maria Amina O. Amado of defying a temporary restraining order (TRO), and a writ of preliminary injunction previously issued by the court in connection with a separate civil case involving Lopez Inc.
The court, in an order dated April 16, directed the respondents to submit their comments within 30 days from receipt of the order.
The contempt complaint arose from a special board meeting of Lopez Holdings Corp. on March 26, where Piki claimed the respondents approved a resolution that allegedly diluted his authority as president of Lopez Inc.
According to the petition, the board treated Piki’s nominees for First Philippine Holdings Corp. as merely one among several competing lists despite existing court directives intended to preserve the status quo.
Piki said the move impaired Lopez Inc.’s voting rights in Lopez Holdings, where the company owns a controlling 54.74-percent stake.
The petition also questioned the submission of another set of nominees allegedly endorsed through Maria Teresa Lopez, whom Piki said had no authority to act for Lopez Inc.
Apart from seeking contempt citations, Piki Lopez asked the court to impose fines or imprisonment on the respondents, and to order the withdrawal and nullification of any disputed nominations already submitted.
The order was signed by Presiding Judge Monique Quisumbing-Ignacio.
