The Sandiganbayan ordered Northstar Shipping and Marine Services Inc. to immediately vacate a Manila port property and pay P17.7 million in back rentals and unpaid obligations to the Bataan Shipyard & Engineering Co. Inc.

In a 17 August ruling, the anti-graft court’s Special Second Division found Northstar guilty of unlawful detainer for violating its lease agreement over property located at Engineer Island in Manila’s Port Area.

The complaint was brought by BASECO through the Presidential Commission on Good Governance. The court ruled that although Northstar originally occupied the land under a valid 2006 lease, its continued occupation became illegal after breaching monetary and non-monetary provisions.

The Sandiganbayan stated that in light of the material violations of both the monetary and non-monetary provisions of the lease, the defendant’s right of possession became illegal upon due notice of the termination of the lease.

Under the ruling, Northstar must immediately vacate and surrender the premises. The court ordered the firm to pay P10.82 million in unpaid monthly amortizations under a previous compromise agreement covering July 2024 to August 2026, alongside P6.89 million in back rentals accumulated from March 2025 to August 2026.

The court also mandated that Northstar remit 5 percent of the total monetary award to the Office of the Solicitor General.