DOJ brokers ceasefire between PCGG, Chavit

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Justice (DOJ) has chosen to appease Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson and brokered a ceasefire between him and the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) in their brewing dispute over the government-owned 18.48 hectare Payanig sa Pasig complex.

De Lima allowed Singson to join a meeting at the DOJ last Monday night with PCGG chairman Andres Bautista and officials of the Office of the Solicitor General, the National Bureau of Investigation, and the Land Registration Authority on the Payanig sa Pasig case.

At the meeting, De Lima allowed Singson to present his case in claiming ownership over the property and taken recognition of an “original” certificate of title in his possession.

After Singson’s presentation, De Lima told Singson that she was forming a task force that will examine Singson’s land title and look into the evidence of ownership of the PCGG, particularly its controlled real estate holdings firm, the Independent Realty Corp. (IRC).

De Lima called for a “truce” between Singson and the PCGG for the 30 days it will take the task force to conduct its investigation. The body will jointly report to De Lima and Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo.

Bautista welcomed De Lima’s creation of the task force, saying the investigation could be a venue for both sides to present all their evidence and clarify the ownership issue once and for all. “Sunlight is the best disinfectant,” he said.

He said the PCGG-IRC and Singson’s camp will pull out a “proportionate” number of security guards they had deployed in portions of the property.

De Lima’s move, however, has aroused the concern of officers in the PCGG, who said it will only embolden Singson and make life harder for IRC guards he had reportedly threatened to harm.