BSU files cases against ‘squatters’ to reclaim lots

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The Benguet State University has already filed scores of cases to reclaim its land reservations taken over by unscrupulous individuals, squatters and even former BSU workers.

BSU president Ben Ladilad bared this here saying the cases have already been filed against respondents with courts and the Solicitor General   

He said this was needed for expansion of the university to cater to growing influx of students coming from all over the country and even abroad.

Then President Ferdinand Marcos signed Presidential Decree 2010 converting the then Mountain State Agricultural College (MSAC) to Benguet State University. The Decree appropriated funds to BSU for its development, stipulating lands reserved for the MSAC and for other educational institutions will be integrated into the University including property provided under various executive orders or proclamations.

PD 2010 stipulated all such parcels, registered or unregistered, shall be titled in the name of the University and BSU shall be exempt from paying taxes.

Real estate property of the University shall also be exempt from taxes that are ordinarily or usually levied on private properties.

Dubbed a municipality within a municipality because of its wide landholdings for its school reservation, BSU became susceptible to encroachments from almost all sides of its reservation the past years.

Cases were then filed to reclaim and to stop any further encroachments over BSU land.

As of May 2015, according to the Office for Legal Affairs and Land Reservation Office of BSU, through site inspections of the university’s land holdings, they filed 22 land cases before courts and administrative bodies to recover BSU-owned land occupied under names of private individuals.

From the 22 land cases, one was dismissed in favor of BSU while the other was dismissed due to execution of compromise agreement between BSU and defendants.

Five suits were dismissed due to non-service of summons to defendants but can be refiled when subsequent circumstances warrant it.

Another five land cases were endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General covering court cases, claims, proclamations and executive orders releasing part of BSU reservation to some private individuals.

Final demand or notices were also served to at least six private individuals, some previous BSU employees occupying or have encroached portions of BSU lots.

To date, cases involving the land holdings of the University, aside from those cases endorsed to the Office of the Solicitor General, have already advanced to formal court proceedings.

 “Finding a way out of these more than a half century old problem may prove riddled with intricacies but creating a good story for our next generations in the university to remember is definitely a better reason to keep going. We are moving and we are firm in implementing the law” said the Legal Affairs Office of BSU.

Lands that were encroached within BSU were 1,503 square meters in swamp area, five sites in Balili adding up to 2,095 square meters, and in Barangay Buyagan totaling 3,294 square meters.