Tuesday, February 10, 2009 [ manilatimes.net ]
By James Konstantin Galvez, Reporter and Francis Earl A. Cueto, Correspondent
The President’s husband has been dragged into the case by the complainant-landowner
FORMER Commission on Elections Chairman Benjamin Abalos Sr. on Monday denounced what he called as a continued demolition job against him, after a landowner in Antipolo City dragged his name over accusations of landgrabbing against the owner of the National Book Store chain, which even insinuated the involvement of the President’s husband lawyer Mike Arroyo.
In a media briefing, the Samahan ng Nagkakaisang Magkakapitbahay President and Esteban Sierra Foundation Chairman Aurelio Sierra accused bookstore owner Alfredo Cancio Ramos of landgrabbing, which involves some 58, 382-square-meter worth over P116 million.
Alfredo Tiu, lawyer of Sierra, said during the press briefing that Abalos pocketed some P2 million from the incident.
Earlier reports said Abalos acted as a broker in the compromise agreement between the landowner, Aurelio Sierra, and National Book Store owner Alfredo Cancio Ramos.
This was strongly denied by Abalos, as he even called the parties accusing him as “mga sira-ulo.”
Abalos likewise called on media to further investigate the matter.
“Sira-ulo niya. Sana maimbestigahan niyong mabuti para hindi kayo maging kasangkapan sa paninira,” he said.
Earlier Sierra said that the land title acquired by Ramos was defective and fraudulent since it has no serial number, no technical description, and has no record of deed of sale in the Register of Deeds, Land Registration Authority, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the National Archives.
Sierra, who was with his legal counsel Atty. Alfredo Riu, showed to media the complaint filed before the offices of Senators Jamby Madrigal and Panfilo Lacson. He said that on October 24, 2004, the parties entered a compromise agreement where Ramos would pay P10 million as down payment for the sale of the property.
Documents showed that Abalos acted as broker for Ramos. .
Sierra claimed that he owned a parcel of land along Sumulong Highway in Sitio Santa Cruz, Barangay Cruz, Antipolo City and accused Ramos of land grabbing, to the point of dragging the names of the President’s husband, Mike Arroyo and Abalos.
The case involves some 58, 382-square-meter of land worth over P116 million.
Sierra said that the land title acquired by Ramos was defective and fraudulent since it has no serial number, no technical description, and has no record of deed of sale in the Register of Deeds, Land Registration Authority, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Internal Revenue and the National Archives.
According to the complaint filed before the offices of Senators Jamby Madrigal and Panfilo Lacson, Sierra said that on October 24, 2004, a compromise agreement was entered by the parties where Ramos would pay P10 million as down payment for the sale of the property.
The President’s husband influence on the other hand was mentioned as Public Works Director Angelito Macapagal-Tuaño told Sierra that the case would be settled, if they agreed to give half of what they are supposed to earn to the President’s husband.
Pursuant to the agreement, Sierra said that they would withdraw all the cases of landgrabbing they earlier filed against Ramos in various courts.
The compromise agreement was signed because Ramos has claimed ownership over the said property brandishing a title described as TCT No. 411773 in the Register of Deed of Marikina City, against their tax declaration.
Sierra said that after they turned over the property to Ramos, he was obliged to pay them P5 million, with Sierra himself having the exclusive authority to sell the property at the rate of P2,000 per square meter with a period of one year for a total of P105 million out of which, one-third or P35 million would be given to them.
Besides Ramos, President Arroyo, the President’s husband, Abalos and Tuaño, Sierra also wanted the Senate to include in their investigation, the participation of Presentacion Ramos, lawyer Glen Manahan, Cesar Cancio, former Justice Florenz Regalado, Justice Dante Tinga, Benjamin Ramos, Cecilia Licauco, Socorro Ramos, Maximo Licauco, Augusto Sunico, lawyer Rean Mayo Licauco and even former Sen. Joey Lina and incumbent Sen. Edgardo Angara.
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