Public warned on buying lots covred by CALTs at Valllejo, Pacdal, Lualhati

By Aileen P. Refuerzo

BAGUIO CITY -- Mayor Benjamin Magalong warned the public against buying or transacting on lots at Casa Vallejo along Upper Session Road, Pacdal Circle, Wright Park and the city government’s titled property in Lualhati barangay saying these prime lots were covered by Certificates of Ancestral Land Titles (CALTs) O-CALT No. 129 and O-CALT No. 130 which had already been voided by the Supreme Court.
    The mayor was informed by Baguio City Registrar of Deeds lawyer John Felix that the SC’s final decision annulling the CALTs had been annotated on the derivative titles that emanated from the said cancelled CALTs.
    The SC decision dated Sept. 25, 2019 on the case docketed as G.R. 208480 entitled “Republic of the Philippines vs. National Commission on Indigenous Peoples, Register of Deeds Baguio City, Land Registration Authority, Heirs of Cosen Piraso represented by Richard Acop, Heirs of Josephine Molintas Abanag represented by Isaias M. Abanag, Marion T. Pool, Joan L. Gorio and Virginia C. Gao-an” was finalized on Feb. 24, 2020.
    There were 40 immediate derivative transfer certificate of titles (TCTs) issued: eight from O-CALT 129 and 32 from O-CALT 130.  These are TCT2010002858 to 61; TCT2011001061 to 64; TCT2010002801, TCT2010002802, TCT2010002806, TCT2010002808, TCT2010002809, TCT2010002810 to 12,  TCT2010002814 to 15; TCT2011001432 to 33; TCT2010002797 to 98; TCT2013000102; TCT2013000839 to 840; TCT2015002110; TCT2015002178; TCT2013001334; TCT2010000841; TCT2010002818 to 19; TCT2012002678; TCT2010002821 to 22; TCT2011001346 to 47; TCT2012002405 to 06; TCT2013000842; and TCT20100022828.
Felix said they issued the report in a letter dated March 8, 2023 addressed to Land Registration Authority Administrator Atty. Gerardo Sirios in compliance with LRA’s Memorandum dated January 20. 2023 on the cancellation of all TCTs derived from the subject CALTs.
    Mayor Magalong said this latest development serves as a victory not only for the local government of Baguio which is tasked to oversee forest and other government reservations within its territory but also a triumph for the people of Baguio who are fast losing open spaces and greenbelts to spurious sale of properties.
    “It also forewarns people not to transact on these titles anymore,” he said.
    Lawyer IV Isagani Liporada of the City Legal Office said the development is an affirmation that there is no more need for writ of execution to effect the SC decision.
    The CLO had actively worked in tandem with the Office of the Solicitor General in building the case for the Republic under case.