4 DENR execs suspended for fraudulent Ifugao land titles

ALFONSO LISTA, Ifugao — Four Department of Environment and Natural Resources officials in the Cordillera were suspended over alleged fraudulent award of lands in this town.

This, as the provincial government urged DENR Secretary Joselito Atienza Jr. to cancel the land titles awarded to four DENR officials and their kin.

The municipal government of Alfonso Lista made the request to Atienza after finding merit in the Ombudsman for suspension of the four Cordillera DENR officials involved in the allegedly illegal award of the lands.

Earlier, a certain Johnny Guibong filed a case with the Ombudsman against the four officials who were allegedly involved in the award of lots to their relatives when these were to be used for the housing projects of DENR employees.

The four DENR officials involved in the Ombudsman case have started serving their six-month suspension without pay.

The municipal government had claimed it is proper that the lot titles issued to the DENR officials and personnel, including their children, who were not qualified as beneficiaries of the housing program, be cancelled in favor of the government.

The lots should be awarded to qualified staff and legitimate recipients of the program.
The Office of the Ombudsman issued a suspension order to the four DENR officials, stating they should be held liable for the re-survey of a lot covered by the DENR housing project. – Dexter A. See