Oprra homeowners' group sued for estafa

CEBU, Philippines - More than 60 residents of Sitio Oprra in Barangay Kalunasan who live within the province-owned lot occupied by the members of the Old Philippine Railways Residents’ Association Inc. and part of Provincial Ordinance 93-1 complained against the huge membership fee that OPRRA Inc. officers are demanding from them.

Jack Rallos, one of the residents, asked for help from former councilor Jocelyn Pesquera because they were already threatened with eviction if they will not be able to pay P200,000.

Rallos said that they were asked to pay P200,000 within six months starting July until December, otherwise a case for eviction will be filed in court.

In fact, one member has already given a down payment of P50,000. They will use the receipt as evidence for the alleged extortion by OPRRA officials.

“Pag-una ingon sila membership fee lang. Then after pila ka days, ingun sila Developmental Fee na sad. Ilang rason nganong naningil sila ana kay tungod sila daw ang nakapatukod og dalan, sila ang nakapatukod sa eskwelahan ug sila ang nakapasulod sa PLDT and Veco,” he said.

OPRRA officials started sending demand letters to these members who were allegedly found as non-bonafide members of OPRRA Inc. after verification.

The demand for payment of P200,000 was not indicated in the letter but Rallos said they were met by the officers in batches of five and were told about the fee, along with being subjected to questioning.

Rallos said the members of the panel that interrogated them were lawyer Lorenda Estrella-Amion, Kalunasan councilman and OPRRA Inc. President Carlitos Ceniza and member of the board Roberto Nocos Sr.

“We suffered sleepless nights, serious anxieties, untold sorrows, low morale,” the residents said in their formal letter of complaint to the governor.

Rallos said they calmed down a bit when Pesquera assured them that the officers of OPRRA Inc. have no personality to file a case of eviction against the residents because it is the Provincial Government who owns the lot.

OPRRA is part of the 93-1 lots. The residents already offered to purchase the lot from the provincial government.

Rallos said that the officers of OPRRA Inc. have violated several laws for asking them huge membership fees by way of coercion, intimidation and threats.

The residents who formed another group, the Actual Occupants and Residents OPRRA Kalunasan Inc. which is now undergoing registration with the Securities and Exchange Commission, said the officers are liable for estafa under Article 315, paragraph 2 of the Revised Penal Code.

They said that treasurer Joseph Garcia is liable for tax evasion because the receipt of the payment of one member worth P50,000 was not registered at the Bureau of Internal Revenue. They also accused Ceniza of Graft and Corruption and violation of Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials.

The residents accused Amion, Ceniza and Nocos for grave threats and grave coercion. — (FREEMAN)