NBI agents arrest 2 women for selling gov't lots

CEBU - The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) yesterday arrested two female officials of a homeowners association in Cogon Pardo for selling public lots without authority from the government.

Teresita Rota and Milagros Tinga were allegedly enticing urban poor to fill up membership forms with the Cebu Millennium 2 Home Owners Association, Incorporated with a promise to own a residential lot in sitio Sapsapan, Bato, Cogon Pardo for a minimal cost.

Those who sign up are made to pay a membership fee of P11,475.

Rota and Tinga were arrested during an entrapment operation in barangay Banilad shortly before noon yesterday.

An undercover agent of the NBI posed as applicant and paid P11,500 as membership fee after signing the forms.

Tinga, as secretary of the organization, received the marked-money and turned over it to Rota who is the vice president.

The two were immediately placed under arrest. Rota allegedly assured her members of a lot ready to be occupied as soon as they have paid the membership.

In fact, two NBI employees also became victims of her scheme. They were however given a refund of their payment.

Unfortunately for couple Leah and Lord John Genise, they were not given a refund of their payment prompting them to file a complaint.

The couple said that sometime in June a certain Linsley Patoc referred them to Rota for affordable lots intended for the urban poor. They were allegedly required to pay the membership fee and awarded a 96-square meter lot in Cogon Pardo with a supposed monthly amortization of only P200.

However, when the couple visited the supposed lot, they found out that it was a pond. The Genise couple said they immediately informed Rota that they will withdraw the money, because it is impossible for them to construct a house in the pond.

They were allegedly told to wait until somebody will assume the rights awarded to them before they could get their money back. However, until now Rota failed to return the money.

According to the complainants, they have already filed a complaint at barangay Cogon-Pardo, but Rota only made several promises.

The complainants said they found out from the Cebu City Hall that the suspects are not authorized to dispose of public lands in favor of the landless and marginal residents of the city.

Although, Rota was able to show the registration of their organization with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Housing Land Use Regulatory Board, but these are still subject to verification. — /NLQ (THE FREEMAN)