SOME unscrupulous persons are of the wrong notion that possession ripens into ownership.
This false notion, therefore, encourage them to squat on someone else’s property and claim it over the years.
Let it be said that mere possession of the property does not give the holder thereof full ownership over it.
Some people have been deprived of their properties by illegal squatters and professional land grabbers who may be members of a syndicate preying on unsuspecting landowners.
The Mabalacat City government headed by Mayor Crisostomo C. Garbo is faced with the big problem of eradicating the members of the syndicate preying on unsuspecting victims including teachers and uniformed personnel who part with hard-earned money believing that they are dealing with legal individuals at Northville 16 Resettlement, Atlu Bola.
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Even Barangay Atlu Bola barangay chairman Benjie S. Pangan is exerting efforts to stop the illegal transactions. A letter has been prepared addressed to the PNP (Philippine National Police) and DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) asking the latter to help in the apprehension of the illegal-dealing individuals.
Reportedly, the raiders take advantage of darkness and the night to bring in construction materials to the NHA (National Housing Authority) property and surreptitiously carry on construction activities.
Officer-In-Charge Roger Pineda of the NHA has been apprised of the illegal activities of these bad elements and is assisting the authorities to identify them.
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I was given a copy of the certification letter of Grace A. Kekenusa, officer-in-charge, Pampanga/Bataan/Zambales District of the National Housing Authority. In it, she stated that the Northville 16 Resettlement site located in Barangay Atlu Bola is a project of the NHA and is intended for families affected by the government infrastructure projects within the City of Mabalacat. She stated further that selling of lots is not allowed in any NHA project, except in cases stipulated in the Loan Agreement signed by the respective awardee-beneficiary. So, there is the explanation of the NHA.
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In an excellent gesture of involvement in community service, SM City Clark has offered the site of its six cinemas as vaccination centers for residents of Mabalacat and Angeles cities. This way, the vaccines will have a comfortable site for their vaccinations. This I learned from Jerwin Jalandoni, mall manager of SM City Clark.