[ Manila Bulletin Online ] November 25, 2008
SUBIC, Zambales — Some 40 foreign retirees and their families are allegedly being harassed in their own homes at the Magdalena Homes subdivision here by the very security guards hired by the real estate developer supposedly to protect them.
The residents said the alleged harassment came after a change in the management of the subdivision and an apparent corporate dispute in the real estate firm, the Goldmine Realty Development Corp.
The residents said two brothers identified as Ruperto and Jose Roque have created their own realty company of the same name and are now enforcing their authority over the subdivision.
Resident Nenita Hurst narrated that last November 7, she and some fellow homeowners were going around the subdivision to call for a homeowners’ meeting when they were accosted and harassed by guards from the Goodman Security Solution who were hired by the new management.
American citizen and homeowner Don Mendro also said that on the same day, the sales office of the original subdivision developer was broken into and destroyed by armed men.
The new company also reportedly called for a meeting of the homeowners and informed the residents that they have already formed the Magdalena Homeowners’ Association Inc.
"It is our understanding that in order to accomplish this, a quorum of homeowners must be in agreement and must have signed their assent. This did not happen. Somehow the Goldmine II group convinced the local HLURB (Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board) to grant an official charter" to the homeowners’ group, a resident said.
The residents were also complaining that their water supply had been cut off in the subdivision because the new management refused to settle the enclave’s water bills, prompting Subic Mayor Jeffrey Khonghun to order the delivery of water to the subdivision through water trucks.(Jonas Reyes)
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