Congress urged to pass anti-squatting measures

The Senate and the House of Representatives have been urged to legislate harsher penalties for squatting and to allot more funds for the government’s anti-squatting drive.

Housing czar Mike Defensor made the appeal in a letter to leaders of the two chambers of Congress.

Defensor said heavier punishment for squatters and more funds for the anti-squatting campaign should enable the concerned government agencies to stop professional squatters from occupying state and private lands.

He said many squatting syndicates are now backed by armed guards and use fake land titles in grabbing lands.

"If a syndicate had the gall to occupy a 38-hectare piece of prime land, which is just a stone’s throw away from City Hall and located along a road used by thousands of people daily, then one can just imagine how vulnerable lots hidden in obscure places can be to the evil designs of land grabbers," he said.

Defensor was referring to the University of the Philippines Arboretum, which was squatted on last month on the strength of a Spanish-era title.

Last week, police evicted the occupants of the UP Arboretum. However, some people are still seen roaming the area.

Defensor warned the public to be wary of professional squatting syndicates offering lots in government and private lands.

He said among these syndicates are the Prince Julian Tallano group and the Henry Rodriguez group.

"They hamper the effective implementation of the government’s mass housing programs by preying on and victimizing rightful beneficiaries through disinformation, harassment and collection of fees," he said. — Jess Diaz