City to probe illegal selling of lots

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Legal Office is set to conduct an investigation following reports on the unauthorized sale of government lots by several socialized housing beneficiaries under free patent program in Tierra Dulce, Barangay Inayawan.

Lawyer Mary Rose Salvatierra of CLO said they received a request from the City Council to check on the legality of the alleged selling of lots in the identified socialized housing site of the city.

“Rampant ni ngadto. We will determine if it’s true or is it really happening. We will take action on this. If proven guilty, the patent will be forfeited,” she told The FREEMAN.

In a letter-complaint, Vergie Gimenez, president of the homeowners association, asked the council to investigate the rampant selling of socialized housing lots.

“Adding more insult to injury is the fact that the original beneficiaries were already removed paving the way to the entry of private persons,” she said.

Gimenez further alleged that a certain Marineth Palacio is facilitating the lot assignments and awarding it to new “unqualified” beneficiaries.

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor and the City Local Housing Board reportedly failed to act on the complaint.

“The concerned offices are until now in deaf ears, making us believe that such illegal activities were executed in collusion of some government officials and employees,” added Gimenez.

Salvatierra said that disposal of lots under free patent is not allowed and valid only within five years from the grant of patent. The sale, she said, will be considered “null and void.”

“Clear-cut sa balaod. It will defeat the purpose of giving you the lot for your benefit because you qualified for it, aiming to elevate your property conditions. Ibaligya nimo for commercial use and it’s inconsistent with the purpose,” the lawyer explained.

Republic Act No. 10023 otherwise known as the “act authorizing the issuance of free patents to residential lands or Free Patent Act.” This was enacted after then President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo signed the Free Patent Act last March 9, 2010.

Salvatierra said the law permits the selling of the free patent compared to the Public Land Act, which prohibits the selling of land title within five years.

Free patent on residential land covers untitled residential lands in public alienable and disposable lands that are zoned by local government units as residential areas, including town sites, public schools, municipal halls, public plazas or parks, and delisted and abandoned military camps or reservations.

Any Filipino citizen who is an actual occupant of a residential land for at least 10 years may apply for a free patent title.

Also, the applicant must not exceed a total accumulated property of 12 hectares landholding including agricultural lands and the area shall not exceed 200 square meters for highly urbanized cities.  (FREEMAN)