Duterte-issued land titles in Boracay invalid – DAR

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) has invalidated the certificate of land and ownership awards (CLOAs) distributed by former president Rodrigo Duterte to members of the Ati community in Boracay.

In an interview with The STAR, Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrella III said the CLOAs covering 1,300 square meters were awarded to members of the Ati in June 2019 while the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law or Republic Act 6657 ended on June 30, 2014.

“Nothing was revoked. First, the CLOA that was awarded has no legal leg to stand (on), no legal basis,” Estrella said.

Estrella added that the lands cannot be covered under CARP unless a notice of coverage was issued after the June 30, 2014 deadline.

Members of the Asosasyon sang Boracay Ati Tribal Organization have accused the DAR of revoking the CLOAs awarded to them during the Duterte administration.

Estrella said the Bureau of Soils and Water Management declared the property as not suitable for farming.

He added that the 1,300-square meter lot cannot be covered by Executive Order 75 issued by Duterte, as it is a private land.

“You can only invoke EO 75 if the lands are owned by the government. Those who are priority of EO 75 are graduates of four-year agriculture courses, retired PNP and AFP personnel and rebel returnees,” he said, referring to retirees from the uniformed services.

According to Estrella, the CLOAs were issued in 2018 while EO 75 was issued in 2019.

EO 75 issued by Duterte requires all unclassified public lands and government-owned lands held by government instrumentalities that are suitable for agriculture or no longer needed to achieve their original purpose to be turned over to the DAR for distribution.

Estrella said President Marcos has already directed DAR to find alternative areas where the Ati community can be relocated.

“I already met with Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro and he cited a former military reservation where we can transfer the members of Ati,” he said.