Lot claimant says Bernabe maintains armed guards

MANILA, Philippines - A man who claims to own a lot in Parañaque City where the Grand Mosque is set to be transferred alleged that Mayor Florencio Bernabe has been maintaining private armed guards.

Businessman Bernardo de Leon, 56, said at least four members of the Community Security Unit – reportedly under Bernabe’s direct supervision – continue to frighten about 200 families occupying Lot 5155 at the corner of Kabihasnan street and Coastal Road in Barangay San Dionisio. Bernabe has denied the allegations.

De Leon said they even filed charges of grave threat, coercion and violation of the election-related gun ban against Jaime Denamarca, 53; Federico Serido, 52; Leonardo Casipe, 41; and Antonio Magpoot, 34, after they allegedly poked a shotgun at resident Jonelyn Deluyas during a confrontation on the morning of Jan. 14.

Deluyas, 36, claimed that there was a water repair activity scheduled in the area but because Denamarca’s group was allegedly harassing the driver of the National Water and Sewerage Authority truck, the Nawasa workers were not able to enter the compound.

Deluyas said she tried to intervene but Denamarca pointed a gun at her and even demanded that she removed her pants. Frightened, she immediately turned away.

De Leon, who was around when the incident happened, said he reported the incident to the police, who arrested the four suspects and confiscated six shotguns from them.

De Leon earlier claimed that his family owns the lot and they allowed close to 200 families to live there.

No private army

Bernabe denied he has been maintaining a private army. He said the group De Leon referred to is composed of civilian security guards from the City Hall assigned to monitor activities in the compound, which is classified as government property.

He added they have every right to guard the lot since the city government owns it. Bernabe also denied that the group has been carrying guns with them. “They are not armed,” he said.

Bernabe described De Leon as an “adverse claimant” and said the property in question “is owned by the Philippine Reclamation Authority (or PRA, formerly known as the Philippine Estates Authority) and was donated to the city government as payment to the real property taxes they should have paid us long, long time ago.”

He said the PRA has issued a “deed of donation” to the city government, and this proves the city government is the rightful owner of the property.