HLURB struggles for control of BF Homes group

Tension between elected officials of United BF Homeowners Association Inc. (UBFHAI) and members of the management committee (Mancom) created by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board (HLURB) is again building up.

Both sides claim that they are in control of the association’s operations and affairs.

Former UBFHAI president Rolando Navarro is complaining that incumbent president Celso Reyes has erected a field office and is discharging his duties and responsibilities.

He said the HLURB’s orders are clear — that the committee it created to audit the organization’s financial records has been authorized to run the day-to-day operations and affairs.

Navarro claims that Reyes is violating the HLURB’s orders because he has started issuing UBFHAI stickers to vehicles entering and exiting the subdivision’s roads.

“He set up a field office beside his house. They have no authority, no personality. This is in violation of the HLURB’s order,” he told The Star in an interview.

Reyes, however, disputed Navarro’s argument that he and his board members are not supposed to take control of UBFHAI’s affairs.

He explained that aside from the issuance of stickers not being covered by day-to-day affairs, the management committee’s mandate has already expired.

Reyes said HLURB’s Nov. 8, 2007 order clearly stated that the management committee’s mandate covers a non-extendible period of 60 days.

Navarro, in response to this, said the management committee has asked for an extension because it has not completed the audit due to still unavailable bank records.

“It also clear that the HLURB ordered that after the auditing, there will be an election. They are not to assume their posts,” he said, referring to Reyes.

More than two months ago, the Mancom, composed of lawyer Aristotle Sarmiento as chairman and Lorenzo Cinco, Antonio Antonio, Santiago de la Cruz Jr., and Roberto Alfonso as members, took control of UBFHAI’s facilities and operations with the task of looking into the organization’s financial records based on allegations that Reyes misused funds amounting to millions.

Congress is currently conducting an inquiry based on claims that the HLURB abused its authority and is harassing the UBFHAI’s elected officials.

Both camps believe that the probe being conducted by the House committee on housing and urban development will actually work in their favor.