Shocking findings about CARP

Shocking. That's my initial description of the findings by the provincial audit of Certificate of Land Ownership Award holders in the province where some beneficiaries ended up owning as much as 10 CLOAs. In effect, that shows that, as soon as terminated, the number of CLOA holders, as reported by Department of Agrarian Reform may actually be 50 percent less than reported.

This is one reason why President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo should give her nod to the demand of Negros Occidental Governor Joseph Marañon and local government officials to temporarily suspend land distribution until completion of the review the provincial governor had ordered.

No, I'm not talking through my hat. Take the case of the survey of Calatrava beneficiaries. There was one Narciso A. Emundo of Barangay Marcelo. Narciso who reportedly had 10 CLOAs issued to him.

A certain Rowena Bugto had five registered CLOAs in her name. And another one also in her name.

From Barangay Hilubang, Dyna S. Racoter has three CLOAS. And Vicente L. Racoter had two more CLOAs.

We had Eddie G. Monteverde from Brgy. Marcelo, but he had only one CLOA issued to him. Suddenly, the name was transformed to Eldie with the same middle initial G. Each Monteverde received three and two CLOAS.

Eustaquio G. Seguarate had four CLOAs. Another Eustaquio Seguarate with the middle initial "S" received another CLOAs.

Can you imagine such disparities? There was not even an attempt to mask the identity of the person except for the change in the middle initial.

Other major beneficiaries from the same barangay are Danilo O. Sombreado who had four CLOAs issued in his name and two more to Juanillo O. Sombrador.

Armila S. Traje and Roberto S. Traje each received four CLOAs.

Almost all the CLOA holders from Marcelo and neighboring barangays had two CLOAs registered, although Anacleto U. Baynosa of Telim had three CLOAs registered in his name.

Carlos A. Libutdan and Eduardo M. Alibutdan of Winaswasan had each 4 and three CLOAs, respectively. From the same barangay, Romulo D. Balaod had three CLOAs. As with Carlowen Camarine who had three in his name.

Ramon E. Alegares, both with middle initial "E" received a total three of CLOAs. Both are from Barangay Apangi.

Aurelio A. Ombria and Roberto A. Ombria received respectively four and three CLOAs.

There was the more obvious mistake which was never masked. Ricardo P. Sevilla received one CLOA, but Ricardo P. Sevilla also received three.

The same with Dionisio H. Yorpo who was awarded two CLOAs, while Dionisio H. Yorpo recived another one.

Zaldy L. Gipulan was awarded two CLOAs, while Zaldy et al L. Gipulan received only one.

Regato L. Abebas of Hilub-ang received one CLOA but another Regato L. Abebas was awarded two more.

There were some amateurish efforts at masking the identities of the recipients of CLOAs. For example, Jacinto A. Gentica received four CLOAs while another Jacinto A. "Getiza" received one more.

But that did not diminish the five CLOAs that went to Eddie F. Gelig In Macasilao, Rodrigo A. Sodicta and another by the same name and middle initial also received three CLOAs, although separately one for the first and for the second.

Rowena S. Bigto who was transformed into Rowena S. Bugto received a CLOA and the next one received five CLOAs. Lucky Marcelo resident.

Ronie R. Cadelena received four CLOAs, but Ronie R. Caldena received only one. How lucky can one get?

But the one that cut the cake was Edmundo Narciso. He got 10 CLOAs registered in his name.

Antonio C. Grande was just as lucky with four CLOAs. So with Paulo L. Guanzon, the holder of five CLOAs.

Pedrito H. Intenado who became Pedrito H. Intinido received three CLOAs.

Another lucky CLOA holder was Rosalito S. Cantila.

A more humorous finding is that there were two Modesto Gutual, one with the middle initial "M" and the other "P." They received a total of three CLOAs.

The same with Carlito "D" Manacaytay who became Carlito T. Manacaytay had received one more CLOA after the three for Carlito D. Managaytay.

Romeo B. Sambilad became Romeo B. Sambilad and each receive one and three CLOAs.

These are just among the initial findings covering only a few barangays of Calatrava town.

And they show that somehow, there is a game going on.

Now, I think President Arroyo should act on the request of Marañon for a thorough review of the how DAR has been implementing CARP in the province. These are indications that something was really wrong.*

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