Appraisal clash heats up Talisay council session

CEBU, Philippines – A heated exchange of words ensued between Talisay City Vice Mayor Romeo Villarante and Councilor Doroteo Emit in yesterday's session after the name of the presiding officer was mentioned as allegedly having influenced the city's appraisal committee to increase the value of a lot purchase.

The verbal exchange started when Councilor Socrates Fernandez, chairman of the Committee on Laws, rendered a report authorizing Mayor Johnny De los Reyes to purchase a lot in Barangay Linao for the proposed multi-purpose covered court in the amount of P4 million.

The amount has been negotiated and served as full payment of Lot 4 of the consolidation-subdivision plan LRC PCS-19330 with total area of 1,000 square meters owned by some Alfred Kiamco.

Lot 3816 has been surveyed by licensed geodetic engineer Aquilino Cabanog on October 1, 2014.

The verbal tussle started when Emit opposed for the payment of P4 million accusing Villarante of dictating Alma Abellanosa, head of the city appraisal, to increase the amount of their appraisal from P2,000 to P4,000 per square meter.

"Ako nalisang aning P4,000 per square meter kay para nako dako ra kaayo. Akong nadunggan nga imong (Villarante) gipadali-dali ma-approve ang pag-purchase ug gipausab ang value sa amount sa lote," Emit said as he stood at the podium.

This prompted Villarante to reprimand Emit saying that the councilor should make sure of his statement because he was absent when the matter was presented in the caucus.

Villarante told the councilor that Abellanosa was called during the caucus only to ask for an explanation as to how came at a P4,000 per square meter price instead of P2,000.

"I would like to inform you that I never instructed Alma Abellanosa to change the amount. Do not accuse the vice mayor and you are insinuating something," Villarante said.

It was then that City Councilor Richard Francis Aznar, council majority floor leader, called for a five-minute recess to let both camps cool down.

But the recess even went livelier when Councilor Valeriano Ylanan, the proponent of the resolution asking for the authority of the mayor to purchase the lot in Linao, confronted Emit on the issue.

During the session, the officials of Barangay Linao headed by barangay captain Ofelia Ylanan and council were present. Ofelia is the wife of Councilor Valeriano.

According to Councilor Ylanan, the property was never been expropriated but negotiated after the owner already agreed.

The councilor pointed out that the P2,000 value was appraised by the appraisal committee last year when there was no establishment and improvement in the area.

Only this year, a business establishment was reportedly constructed and the area was developed, which prompted the appraised value of the lot to rise.

Emit went to the visitors' gallery where the officials of Linao were sitting as he explained that he is not against the multi-purpose covered court.

"I have nothing against the multi-purpose court, only the amount kay dako ra kaayo. Sa urban poor, it's less than 2,000," Emit told Ofelia.

But Ofelia shot back at Emit by saying that the councilor is insinuating that there is anomaly in the negotiation of the property.

"If  you have  P2,000 per square meter, councilor, let me know and I will buy. Do you know the word, negotiation, councilor?" Ofelia said.

Ofelia allegedly threatened Emit that he will repay what he's doing to the people of Linao, which is "opposing the construction of their multi-purpose covered court."

"Councilor, we don't need you. You need us," Ofelia added as she walked out the session hall.

In an interview with  reporters, Ofelia said  Emit was not in his right frame of mind for opposing the amount.

"Nganong gidak-an man siya sa P4,000 nga private lot man unya it's along the national road. Naa gani tupad sa maong lot tag-P5,500 unya atong gi-negotiate, nahimo nalang P4,000," Ofelia added.

After a heated discussion and recess, Fernandez decided to refer the matter to the City Council Committees on Laws and Real Properties for study and recommendation.