Register of Deeds official dismissed

CEBU, Philippines - The Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas has ordered the dismissal from service of the officer-in-charge of the Register of Deeds in Toledo City after being found guilty of the administrative complaint for grave misconduct.

Rizalina Rafols-Dulfo was proven guilty of grave misconduct for acting as witness in an illegal transaction involving a piece of land.

Dulfo certified that a property is not yet registered when it was already issued a certificate of title.

“The bad faith of respondent is even made evident when she directly participated in the execution of the deed of absolute sale of the prohibited transaction by acting as witness,” said graft investigation and prosecution officer Eleanor Tayad-de Mira in her resolution.

De Mira recommended for the cancellation of Dulfo’s eligibility, forfeiture of retirement benefits, and disqualification from working in the government.

The case stemmed from the complaint filed by Licito Tuico, one of the heirs of the late spouses Daniel Apurado and Visitacion Bahema, who owned the 3.6 hectare lot in Barangay Carmen, Toledo City.

Tuico alleged the title of the lot was transferred in favor of the children of Elpedio Apurado, one of the heirs. A portion of lot was sold to spouses Anthony John Milsop and Shirley Managaytay.

A deed of absolute sale was then executed in favor of Milsop and it was Dulfo who acted as one of the witnesses in the transaction.

Tuico questioned the transaction and even asked for a copy of the deed of absolute sale but the respondent gave him a different document. He added that the lot cannot be sold because under the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) it is prohibited to sell it within 10 years period from the date of award.

“Land covered by CLOA cannot be sold, encumbered nor alienated to private or third persons within 10 years,” Tuico said.

In his counter-affidavit, respondent denied the allegation and insisted that there was no “irregularity in the process of registering lot documents in her office.”

But the anti-graft office found her guilty of the administrative complaint. (FREEMAN)