OPRRA case: Deed of absolute sale granted by government questioned

CEBU, Philippines - The Actual Occupants and Residents OPRRA Kalunasan, Inc. (AOROK, Inc.) has questioned the Capitol’s granting of deed of absolute sale to 12 beneficiaries of the Old Philippines Railways Residents Association Inc. (OPRRA, Inc.), saying the sales agreement with the Province of Cebu was already terminated.

The beneficiaries reportedly paid for the province-owned lot in Barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City at P10 per square meter.

Two days after Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III signed a deed of absolute sale of a total of 1,464 sq. m. of land to the 12 beneficiaries on November 16, 2015, AOROK, Inc. sent a joint letter/manifestation, but got no reply. 

Capitol consultant, former real estate section chief Paul Entera told The FREEMAN that the lot had already been fully paid by the beneficiaries long before the Sales Agreement in 1971 was terminated in 2012.

On January 31, AOROK, Inc. president Ernesto Dacay and legal consultant, former City Prosecutor Sinforoso Buenviaje, asked for an official reply from Davide and the Provincial Board. 

They also requested that the grant of deed of absolute sale to the 12 beneficiaries shall be considered null and void.

“We believed that the Legal Wrong committed in the legal history of the Province of Cebu in selling or disposing its real properties to unworthy and disqualified vendees at unrealistic price of ten pesos per square meter pursuant to a terminated or revoked Sales Agreement of 1971 between the Province of Cebu and OPRRA, Inc. was erroneous and without legal basis,” read the letter. 

The letter dated January 31 is addressed to Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale and all PB members. 

The association members said they impleaded Tolentino believing that as an alter ego of the governor, he is responsible for studying any letters, communications, and documents, such as deed of absolute sale, to be signed by the Governor.

“Taken into consideration the importance and gravity of selling and disposing residential lands of the Province of Cebu which is part of the patrimony of the nation under an erroneous Absolute Deed of Sale and without legal basis is unconstitutional,” they said.

They added that since they were not entertained, they invoked their rights to a reply pursuant to the Norms and Conduct of Public Officials and Employees as provided for under Republic Act No. 6713, also known as the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees. — (FREEMAN)