CH urged: Waive tax of cemetery lot in A. Lopez

CEBU, Philippines - One of the heirs of the property used as cemetery in Labangon is asking tax exemption from the Cebu City government claiming that they are not earning out of it.

Belinda Cabalda has asked Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña’s help to waive the P1,114,968 tax payable and penalties imposed upon them by the City Treasurer’s Office last year.

The property which is now known as “Menteryo sa A. Lopez” has already been levied by the city government for nonpayment of taxes.

In fact, it was already included in the public auction but nobody was interested to buy the property. Then city treasurer Ofelia Oliva auctioned the property registered under the name of Eulogia Cabalda after she failed to pay her real property taxes.

Cabalda has a tax payable amounting to P691,436 as of September 2010 and a penalty of P421,281. Since it has been levied, the property is already owned by the city government after Cabalda’s heirs failed to redeem the property within one year.

Belinda said that the property of her mother was covered with a torens title until they secured an original certificate of title in 1997 issued by the Land Registration Authority and attested by Register of Deeds Felixberto Aliño.

She said they should not be taxed by the city government of the property because aside from it is being used as public cemetery they are not also earning from it. Dulce Arellano, a resident of Barangay Labangon, confirmed that the Cabaldas are not receiving any income out of the cemetery.

“Nganong pabayron man intawon kami og buhis nga wala man g’yud kami magdawat og bayad sa mga maglubong. Hain na man diay ang bayad nga tag P500 nga tua gibayad sa paryente sa mamatay ngadto sa Barangay Labangon?” Belinda said.

According to her, she will meet with Mayor Michael Rama on Monday to ask his help.

“Bahala na og gigamit na nga menteryo basta nga dili lang kami pabayron og buhis sa City Hall,” she added.  (FREEMAN)