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Tuesday, October 11, 2005
Floirendos accused of land grabbing
A FILIPINA balikbayan from the United States accused the Floirendo family of taking interest on her small portion of land adjacent to the Waterfront Insular Hotel and of illegally "grabbing" the foreshore area fronting her property.
In an interview Sunday, Leticia Tecson said she bought a small piece of land at the Lizada Beach in Lanang next to the Waterfront Insular Hotel property sometime in 1989.
Next to her property was that of Mariano Pamintuan Jr., which was bought just this year by Rodolfo G. del Rosario Sr., son of Secretary Rodolfo del Rosario Jr. and brother-in-law of Don Antonio O. Floirendo.
Tecson said the problem started way back in 1990 when she applied for a foreshore lease claim on the 3,000 square meter shore area fronting her property.
Tecson said Pamintuan and a certain Julian Baguio was also claiming rights on the area.
Tecson said when Rodney bought the property from Pamintuan, he paid Baguio a hefty amount of money and took over the claims over the foreshore area.
Reports have it, Tecson said, that the Floirendo paid Baguio P1 million just so he would waive his claim over the contested foreshore area.
It was learned though that in a Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) legal division opinion dated June 9, 2005, Tecson was advised by legal division chief Mario Duaves that she has "the right to apply and be granted a foreshore lease contract" over the foreshore land fronting her property.
Duaves based his opinion on the Lands Administrative Order No. 7-1 dated April 30, 1936 paragraph 32, which provides preference on riparian (or in this case littoral) owner when granting foreshore lease claims.
"The owner of the property adjoining foreshore lands, marshy lands or lands covered with water bordering upon shores or banks of navigable lakes or river (or in this case, sea) shall be given preference to apply for such lands adjoining his property," stated the administrative order.
Tecson said she was also advised to justly compensate Baguio of the improvements he introduced in the contested foreshore land.
But to her surprise, the Floirendos, through Rodney del Rosario, suddenly claimed a huge portion of the contested area and left her with just a small portion of the foreshore area, about 308 square meters.
Tecson said that not satisfied with their "land grabbing" the Floirendos now wanted a road right of way on her property.
"Kalaki-laki na nga ng gi-claim nila na foreshore area ngayon gusto pa nilang dumaan dito sa property ko banda," Tecson said.
Tecson revealed that the Floirendos are pressuring her to forego of her plan to put up condominium units in her property and just sell the property to them.
"May balak kasi silang bilhin ang Insular Hotel and I am situated between the Insular and their (del Rosario/Floirendo) property kaya medyo ginigipit nila ako ngayon," Tecson said.
It was learned that Tecson is building a P40 million condominium in her property, which she aims to finish before the ASEAN Tourism Forum in January 2006.
Tecson said she is also planning to invite her American friends to visit Davao City and invest here.
"Pero sa nangyayari ngayon sa akin, nag-iisip tuloy ako if tama ba yung desisyon ko to invest my hard earned retirement money dito sa Davao," Tecson said.
In a telephone interview, lawyer Roy Lopez, legal counsel of Anflocor, said the Floirendos or even the secretary has nothing to do about the land row. He said the property is that of Rodney alone.
Lopez said the case is now pending before the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (Cenro) and making it subjudice for anyone to discuss the matter in public.
Lopez said the only plausible reason they could find on Tecson going public through the media is that she is trying to influence and put pressure on the Cenro and the DENR to decide in her favor. (BOT)
For Bisaya stories from Davao. Click here. (October 11, 2005 issue)
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