DENR orders land titles cancelled

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Environment and Natural Resources ordered to institute appropriate action for the cancellation of land titles under Executive Proclamation 60 dated July 28, 1903 issued by then civil governor of the Philippines William Howard Taft after it was found out that an area in Liloan town is a government reservation.

“The regional executive director, DENR-7, Cebu City is hereby ordered to institute the appropriate action for the cancellation of the titles covering all lots found within the proclamation and its eventual reversion to the mass of the public domain,” DENR Secretary Jose L. Atienza state in his resolution dated last December 2.

Atienza resigned late last year to focus on reviving his political career.

Under the said proclamation is a land title in the name of Coastal High-Point Venture Inc.

Currently, the questioned lot is being developed into a subdivision into a joint venture between CHPVI and Ayala Land Inc. located in barangay Catarman, Liloan.

 Atienza said in his resolution that that the lands titled in favor of CHPVI is a government reservation area known as “Point Bagacay Lighthouse” by virtue of Executive Proclamation 60, dated July 28, 1903.

The reservation has a total land area of 23.4 hectares.

Atienza’s order stemmed from the petition of Rosalina Rivera, an heir of Jacinto Jugalbot, who is one of the original occupants of the area.

 Rivera in his letter-request to DENR requested that a portion of the reservation released to its occupants and a portion of a reservation known as “Point Bagacay Lighthouse” and the amendment of EP 60.

Records showed that on April 8, 1974, occupants of the area filed a petition addressed to former president Ferdinand Marcos, asking the latter to allow them to buy the land at nominal cost.

Rivera contended that while the area for the Bagacay Lighthouse Station is specifically reserved under the said proclamation, still certificates of title were issued and that fraudulent titling of the said lots was reportedly perpetuated by Acoje Mining Company.

Rivera added that a series of transfers from the said mining company was made up to the present holder, the CHPVI. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon/BRP (THE FREEMAN)