Illegal sale of lots at City Camp lagoon probe on

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY – The fraudulent sale of the lots at the City Camp lagoon is now being investigated, Mayor Mauricio Domogan said.

The mayor said the apparent lot scam surfaced during inspection of the illegal structures in the area the other week. 

The inspection was prompted by reports that some of the lots supposedly reserved for public use have already been issued titles.

Some of the owners of the illegal constructions in the area claimed making regular payments for the lots with a promise that the lots will later be titled in their name.  They also claimed that government men were behind the sale.

The mayor encouraged the victims to come out and issue affidavits to corroborate their allegations and identify the perpetrators so cases can be filed against them.

The mayor said the inventory by the members of the city’s anti-squatting team showed over 100 illegal structures were put up in the area.

He said the city will issue notices of demolition to all of the owners of these structures but they will also be given the chance to show legal proofs and justify their constructions.  He said those who can show building permits will be spared.

Owners of the structures reportedly threatened to oppose the demolition claiming they have proofs to justify their occupancy of the lots and the construction of the structures.

“They will be given the chance to show their proofs.  Even us, we do not want to conduct these demolition activities.  But if their constructions are illegal, then it is our mandate to remove them,” the mayor said.

The mayor ordered an inventory of the constructions at the three-hectare site for identification and investigation to stem the squatting problem in the area identified for public use.

The mayor said the area has for many years been reserved for city needs as it has been declared unsafe for occupancy due to its susceptibility to flooding.

A portion of the lot has earlier been identified as the future site of the expansion of the city’s sewer treatment plant to cater to the barangays not covered by the existing STP at South Sanitary Camp.

Councilor Leandro Yangot Jr., chair of the city council committee on urban planning, lands and housing, earlier reported some lots in the area have been issued titles and this should be stopped.

 In a meeting with the Dept. of Environment and Natural Resources Cordillera and City Environment and Natural Resources Office, it was found out that only six notices of demolition were issued out despite numerous illegal structures.