Wednesday, October 08, 2008 Mayor warns anew vs land syndicate By Carlo P. Mallo
DAVAO City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, back in his form as “the punisher”, warned various personalities linked to a syndicate who are victimizing landowners into buying land they claimed they owned.
Among the personalities being warned by Duterte are some unnamed judges whom, he said, are helping the syndicate.
In a press conference Monday afternoon at the Grand Men Seng Hotel, Duterte said a syndicate has been preying on landowners and even squatters in the area by extorting money from the people occupying the land.
Some of the reported victims of the syndicate group included several commercial establishments in the areas of poblacion and in Barangay Ma-a. Also not spared are the squatters who have long dreamed of owning the lands where their houses stand.
"The syndicate group is even claiming the whole of Matina, even the area where our family house stands," the city mayor said.
Based on gathered reports, the syndicate group was able to obtain copies of the security paper being used in the issuance of land titles, which is being manufactured solely by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
"If anyone approaches you, trying to extort money from you, immediately call the police or the military," Duterte said.
As for the judges who are reportedly giving a hand to the syndicate group, Duterte said they should stop doing so lest he pays them a visit in their offices.
"Hihiyain ko sila (I will embarrass them)," Duterte added.
He added that all sectors of the government in Davao City are already closely monitoring some personalities believed to be behind the syndicate group.
