Get sued or sign waiver: Garcia to 14 lot owners

Sunday, February 5, 2012

STA FE, BANTAYAN—Some 14 families who sold lots to the Cebu Provincial Government so these can be turned into a runway for the island’s airport may be liable for estafa.

Apparently, after receiving full payment from the Capitol, the families resold the lots.

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Yesterday, Gov. Gwen Garcia met with more than 60 heirs of owners of Lots A and B inside the Sta. Fe Sports Complex.

The runway was supposed to be built on Lot A. But when the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines discovered that the area is low-lying, it recommended using the adjacent lot (B) instead.

The purpose of the meeting was to inform the heirs of Capitol’s plan to swap lots. The governor also revealed that 14 of the 34 owners of Lot A had resold the lots.

Options

Provincial Legal Officer Marino Martinquilla said these families may be charged with estafa.

The governor, though, gave them two options: face estafa or sign a waiver relinquishing their rights to the property the Capitol already owns.

Meanwhile, 10 of the 25 owners of Lot B, which covers 23.2 hectares, have already sold their lots to the Capitol.

Capitol is negotiating with the rest.

The governor assured owners of Lot B that the Capitol will facilitate the transfer of ownership, pay the capital gains tax and build an access road to Lot A.

If everything runs smoothly, Garcia said the Capitol will start work on the runway by the middle of the year.

The Bantayan airport stopped operations last Aug. 7.