Realtors seek government crackdown on land grabbers, informal settlers

MANILA, Philippines – A group of realtors urged the government yesterday to launch a crackdown against squatting and land-grabbing operators in Caloocan, Bulacan, Tagaytay, Cavite and Quezon City where records of land titles were destroyed by fire several years ago.

“Squatting and land-grabbing syndicates are still very much alive and they continue to operate, especially in areas like Quezon City where land records were destroyed by fire,” said George Pimentel, president of the Quezon City Realtors Board, the local chapter of the Philippine Association of Realtors Board.

Pimentel said he himself had encountered a squatting syndicate when he was commissioned to negotiate the sale of a vacant property in North Fairview. He said the property was subsequently occupied by informal settlers who vowed not to leave until monetary package was offered to them.

Pimentel said he later learned that the illegal settlers were led by two people identified only as “Dulfo” and “Mata” and that they were backed by retired law enforcers.

“They even had a transfer certificate of title, but we know that it was spurious because it emanated from the infamous Original Certificate of Title No. T-01-4, which is supposedly under the name of a certain Julian Tallano who claims ownership of the whole Philippine archipelago,” he said.

An official of the Land Registration Authority, who asked not to be identified for fear of reprisal, confirmed that land grabbing syndicates thrive in Quezon City, Tagaytay, Cavite, Caloocan and Bulacan because it is easier to make fake titles on properties in these areas.

The LRA official admitted that the favorite target of syndicates are properties that used to be part of friar lands because they have allies in the Land Management Bureau, which is in charge of these assets.