Paul Manglona
SENATOR Paul A. Manglona is urging the Department of Public Lands to secure and maintain Rota Resort while the appeal of its owner, Hee Kyun Cho, is pending in Superior Court.
DPL terminated Rota Resort LLC’s land lease contract on March 8, 2023, saying its owner had abandoned the property and failed to pay the rent. The resort’s owner appealed the termination on April 6, 2023. In December 2023, DPL hearing officer Ramon Dela Cruz upheld DPL’s decision to terminate the land lease contract.
In his letter to DPL Secretary Teresita Santos last week, Manglona said following Rota Resort’s appeal, the Superior Court will have to schedule a hearing, and a judge will most likely take the matter under advisement and render a written decision at a later time. This process, Manglona added, will take time and “we don’t know how much time the judge will take to render a decision.”
He added, “I am greatly concerned, and DPL should be equally concerned.”
In the meantime, he said the golf resort must be secured and maintained, especially the upkeep of the golf course as well as the hotel facilities, such as generators, the wastewater treatment plant, pumps, and other equipment, “some of which are already in a state of decay or partial ruin and are a hazard to the health, safety and welfare of the general public,” Manglona also said.
The senator said DPL cannot afford to neglect the property.
“It appears that Mr. Cho’s motive is to further delay his eviction from the premises and further delay his obligation to pay what is owed to DPL, which is more than half a million dollars. DPL should request the court to impose punitive damages because Mr. Cho’s conduct and motive are egregious, especially if it prevents DPL from moving forward in marketing the premises.
Manglona also suggested that DPL’s legal counsel ask the court to impose a security bond that will be used to cover the costs of security and maintenance of the premises.
Additionally, he said the request must include punitive damages and an authorization on DPL’s part to issue a request for proposals to lease the property since it is very unlikely that Cho will succeed in his appeal.
Variety was unable to get a comment from Cho.
