Hinoba-an Mayor Francisco Bilbao has requested Negros Occidental Gov. Joseph Marañon to ask the Provincial Legal Office to come up soon with its legal opinion on the purchase of a property by the municipal government for its Socialized Housing Project.

Bilbao's request came after the Sangguniang Bayan sought the opinion of the PLO on the matter last month amid allegations that the title of the five-hectare property being sold by Letecia Chua was fake. The municipal government had already paid P6.8 million as of August 2005 for the P8-million property.

It was Councilor Annabelle Oyco who had alleged in a radio interview that the title was fake.

Bilbao said in his March 6 letter to Marañon that the PLO may conduct the necessary investigation if there is a need, in order that the municipality can complete the payment and implement the Socialized Housing Project immediately.

He said that the project was delayed due to questions raised by some members of the SB and the vice mayor (Mary Jane Cubid) which, he thinks tend to destabilize the programs and projects of his administration.

In Resolution No. 2006-021 adopted on January 30, the SB said that they want the PLO to intervene to safeguard the interest of the local government of Hinobaan.

The SB said that they are praying for legal assistance for the annotation of the purchases made by the municipality on the parcel of land and for any other appropriate legal action which is deemed just and equitable.

In his letter to Marañon, Bilbao denied that Chua's title was fake and said he has a certified true copy of TCT No. 229243 for Lot No. 3920-C-8-C-3-B in the name of Chua.

He said that the title is certified by the Office of the Register of Deeds which, he added, means it is existing and there was no cancellation. He also said that the original owner's copy is very clean, and has no encumbrance.

He added that Chua will pay the capital gains tax, based on her undertaking dated March 2004, and that there is no reason to deny the transaction.

The municipality failed to fulfill its obligation to pay by end of 2004 yet the property owner patiently waited, but despite written demands, SB found reasons to delay payment, Bilbao said in his letter.

He also said that all transactions passed the audit of the Commission on Audit in December 2005 and everything is proper and in order.*NLG

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