Land grubbers

Spybiz received information about cases of land grabbing in the province of Marinduque, which is reportedly carried out in connivance with unscrupulous government employees who issue and release tax declaration receipts of the same property to different persons. One such case involves former employees in a certain municipality in the province who were able to transfer portions of a private residential lot under their name when in fact, this property is owned by another family. This was allegedly done by "chopping up" the 280 sq. m. residential lot into smaller portions and issuing different tax declaration numbers for each "chopped up" property. The informants disclosed that a supposed Affidavit of Transfer of Real Property by Inheritance and other tax declarations were issued by the said municipality, with a certificate of original title allegedly issued by the DENR, and using the president’s name to boot. The DENR regional office is reportedly "awarding" titles to persons (such as minors) who are not in actual possession of a particular property, and who could not possibly own such property by birth. It looks like "land grubbing" is being winked at in this Marinduque municipality, the informants said.

San Lorenzo’s water woes

Residents in Las Piñas, Parañaque and Muntinlupa are resorting to the use of deep wells just to address the lack of water in their areas, but this practice could contaminate ground water supply and dry up Metro Manila aquifers. National Water Resources Board executive director Ramon Alikpala admitted his office can’t do anything about this problem because Maynilad Water Services could not offer an alternative water source. However, this perennial water crisis (not only in the three cities but in other areas in Quezon City serviced by Maynilad like Novaliches) could be adequately addressed if the San Lorenzo Ruiz Builders and Developers Group (SLRBDG) were allowed to extract, supply and deliver the water from Wawa River, said SLRBDG president Oscar Violago. In 1968, the MWSS abandoned Wawa River when Angat dam was built. MWSS even claimed a decade ago that the water in the river was polluted, Violago pointed out. Since then, the water has just been flowing uselessly into Manila Bay and has even aggravated flooding in areas like Marikina especially during the rainy season. SLRBDG claims it is willing and able to supply upwards of 1.5 million cubic meters of potable water per day through its proposed project, enough to solve perennial water woes and stave off an impending crisis expected in 2007. Strangely though, the NWRB has consistently dilly-dallied in granting the approval for the project. SLRBDG first applied for a permit in 1993, but it seems nothing has been done about it for 13 long years. Meanwhile, Metro Manila residents continue to spend buckets to dig up deep wells or buy motorized water pumps just so they could get a drop in their faucets.

Victorious pirates

DVD and VCD pirates are victorious again in this mall in a premier city in Southern Philippines, the Spy-ring reported. Two stalls are allegedly selling these fakes even in front of Odyssey, a legit music CD and VCD store. What’s odd is that an NBI satellite office is said to be located within the mall, and the mall itself is right in front of the NBI office in the city, yet these pirates are doing their business blatantly. A couple going by the initials J and D are rumored to be the owners of these stalls, and the woman is said to be well connected that’s why the couple merrily go about their business without fear of apprehension. The business savvy couple allegedly leased the space but are making more money by subdividing the space into six smaller stalls and releasing them to sellers of counterfeit goods – to the detriment of tax paying, legit business owners.

The best of both worlds

Spybiz informants reported that this businessman, who reportedly loves being addressed by a military title, has perfected the art of having the best of both worlds. This he has done by being adept at changing colors like the chameleon, and ingratiating himself with the powers that be. During the early ’80s, his company brochures named a Marcos relative as one of the top executives, but after the 1986 EDSA Revolution, the brochures disappeared and new ones were circulated with him at the helm. Yet afraid that he PCGG would be hot on his trail, the businessman made sure that his executives’ cars were always equipped with typewriters and filled with business contracts so business would continue as usual even if PCGG agents raided his office. The man is such an eternal scoundrel that he even has jumpers allegedly installed in his business establishments to lower electricity costs, informants disclosed.

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