[ manilastandardtoday.com ] September 9, 2009
Environment Secretary Joselito Atienza yesterday led the repossession of a government-owned property on Mckinley Road in Forbes Park, Makati City, after a realty firm leasing the 2,333-square-meter lot failed to pay P5.6 million in rent for the past six years.
“We are just getting what is due to the government which the realty firm has refused to take heed despite repeated notices served them as early as in 2005,” Atienza said.
A complaint against NGO Realty Development Corp. has already been lodged with the Metropolitan Trial Court of Makati City through the Office of Solicitor General Agnes Devanadera, Atienza said. “We will definitely spare no one in our law enforcement campaign, not even the rich and the powerful.”
Records show that the premise, with an address at 12 (formerly 13) Mckinley Road, is covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 17810 issued by the Registry of Deeds of Makati City to the government “as owner thereof” described as Lot 2, Block 2, Psd-26554.
On Aug. 31, 1994 the Land Management Bureau signed a 20-year lease contract with a certain Angelina Go, allowing the government through the bureau, to increase the rent due every five years based on the reappraisal of the value of the land and improvements.
Go, in January 2001, entered into a contract with NGO Realty Development Corp., assigning her leasehold rights to the realty firm through its president identified as Patrick Tong with business address at 420 Urbiztondo St., San Nicolas, Binondo, Manila.
The assignment of Go’s lease over the premises to Tong’s company was in turn approved by then Environment Department-LMB director Ernesto Adobo, with a provision that the same terms and conditions of the lease contract between Go and the DENR-LMB was enforced.
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