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Friday, January 11, 2008
Heir denies hand in land scam
By Ben O. Tesiorna
DAVAO CITY -- A Filipina based in the US and is presently here in Davao City on vacation has claimed to be the real heir of Damian Corpuz Domingo who established the Davao Penal Colony (Dapecol) and the Tanglaw Community in what is now Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte.
Rosa Jasmine "Jazz" Domingo-Malolot Aguilar said Damian is her grandfather who has an only son, Hernando Agbulos Domingo, who has 10 siblings, including Rosa.
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Rosa said she has no sister by the name of Merlyn Domingo-Ramirez, who claimed to be the "absolute representative to the clan of the late Damian Domingo."
Ramirez earlier informed Dapecol officer-in-charge Superintendent Venancio Tesoro concerning the Domingo clan's ownership of the 1,675.0025 hectares situated in the district "of Tanglaw, Municipality of Sto. Tomas and Panabo in the province of Davao del Norte."
In a letter dated October 5 addressed to Tesoro, Ramirez recounted how her "grandfather" settled in Davao in 1937 and developed a land.
"In 1951, Antonio Floirendo Sr. also arrived. My grandfather and him became good friends. In 1957, the year of his death, Domingo's claim to 1,675.0025 hectares was given due course via a survey for this purpose. Then in August 5, 1960 results were given to the Bureau of Lands and approved in November that year (Approved Plan Sgs 1296-D), was segregated in the name of Damian Domingo," Ramirez narrated in her letter.
Though not denying that her grandfather was the one who opened up Dapecol and some neighboring areas, Rosa said they are not claiming ownership of such property.
She recalled having resided inside the Dapecol when she was still very young. "I remember we have visitors like President Diosdado Macapagal and other dignitaries. My grandfather was even featured in Time magazine back in 1958 for his Tanglaw community," she said.
Rosa added that she learned of Ramirez claiming ownership of a 1,600-hectare property inside Dapecol when she was informed by a relative in Davao City.
From then on, Rosa kept track of the series of stories published in Sun.Star Davao and posted in its website, www.sunstar.com.ph/davao
She said that when she decided to have a vacation in Davao City for the holidays, she planned to discuss the matter with Sun.Star Davao so that the public would be aware of the scam that is being made in the name of the Domingo clan.
"I wanna know who is this Merlyn Domingo. Kasi wala talaga kaming kilalang Merlyn (I want to know who this Merlyn Domingo is because we don't know any Merlyn)," Rosa said.
She identified her brothers and sisters as Rosalinda Domingo Pastoriza, Rosemary Domingo Jimenez, Roseller Domingo, Roswel Domingo, Rosevelt Domingo, Roseminda Domingo Ozoa, Rosalie Domingo Baraquias, Rosellini Domingo, and Rosejean Domingo Halasan.
Several individuals have been duped by this land scam syndicate, who is asking from their victims a huge amount of money in exchange for a promise that they would become one of the beneficiaries of the said Dapecol land once it is covered by the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (Carp).
A group also has reportedly attempted to offer the same land to a bank in Davao City as collateral for a loan.
An official of a bank who requested anonymity confirmed to Sun.Star Davao that a group tried to offer a 1,600-hectare land in Sto. Tomas as collateral for a loan.
The official said the group however failed to file all the requirements needed for a loan application, thus the rejection.
Also, the same bank official said that the suspects did not return to the bank anymore when they demanded for a land title from them.
"They did not have land title yet. I remember the area is inside Dapecol and they have other documents supporting their claims. We asked for the title, they did not show up," said the bank official.
Lawyer John Paul Devilleres, Davao del Norte Register of Deeds chief, said the provincial office of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) already identified the suspects in the said land scam.
No suspect has yet been arrested and charged in court for lack of sufficient evidence and complainants.
National Bureau of Investigation-Tagum special investigator Elly Leaño earlier said they have not yet received any formal complaint, thus they could not yet conduct a formal investigation about the matter.
Leaño said though that this is not stopping them from gathering information about the suspects, which have already been identified.
The investigator also said that since they have not yet established their (suspects) involvement on the alleged scam they are not yet in liberty to divulge their identities.
Lawyer Devilleres said the syndicate has at least victimized eight persons, including a prominent businessman. Each victim, he said, have shelled out at least P100,000. (Sun.Star Davao/Sunnex)
For more Philippine news, visit Sun.Star Davao. (January 11, 2008 issue)
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