Balili property in Naga: Geodetic engineer claims most of lots underwater

CEBU, Philippines - A geodetic engineer went to the office of Cebu City Mayor Tomas R. Osmeña yesterday with a sketch confirming that some parts of the controversial Balili property in Naga town that was purchased by Capitol officials for P98 million is underwater.

Fortunato Lazaro, a resident of barangay Pardo, Cebu City, said he has decided to come out after hearing through the media about the controversial issue on the 25 hectare-property of the Balili family that he surveyed about two years ago after he was commissioned by one of the country’s three major oil dealers.

The oil company planned to build a depot in that property.

Osmeña said it is up to the graft investigators of the Ombudsman-Visayas whether they will conduct a probe about the claim of Lazaro, who confirmed the report of whistle blower Crisologo Saavedra that part of the property that was bought by the province is submerged.

In the sketch of the Balili property that was prepared by Lazaro, he claimed that only five hectares of the whole property are dry land, while seven hectares are totally submerged and the remaining 13 hectares are dry during low tide and submerged during high tide.

“If the graft investigators will look into it, it’s good. No need for a congressional inquiry,” Osmeña said.

The geodetic engineer said he is very willing to be summoned by the government investigators to shed light about the issue if they will decide to investigate the case.

The Civil Code provides that underwater properties are belong to the state and cannot be titled to private individuals.

Capitol consultant on information Rory Jon Sepulveda earlier said that they have already ordered land surveyor Paul Carbonillas to survey the 10 parcels of beach lots in barangay Tinaan, Naga that was purchased by Capitol from the Balili family.

According to Sepulveda if the survey will really show that parts purchased lots are submerged, the provincial officials will immediately inquire from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources why the Balili family was able to secure titles for such part of their property.

Capitol officials were convinced to buy the 10 parcels of lots after its owners presented to them the original certificates of titles of the property. Another parcel of land was only covered with a tax declaration that is why the province did not purchase it.

Osmeña earlier criticized the governor and made fun of the proposed Cebu Gwen College to be constructed in that newly-purchased property. The word “Gwen” in the proposed college in Naga is the accronym of Government World-class Education Novelty.

The mayor earlier said he is worried that all the students of the Cebu Gwen College would become fishers after their graduation. — Rene U. Borromeo/NLQ   (THE FREEMAN)