Mandaue official cleared of raps

The Ombudsman-Visayas has dismissed the complaint against Mandaue City’s acting registrar of deeds over the issuance of an alleged forged document.

The anti-graft office found no sufficient evidence against lawyer Benedicto Taylan, who was charged with misconduct and abuse of authority.

Graft investigation and prosecution officer Alfred Yann Oguis said the complainant Michael Ouano has not sought court intervention in nullifying the Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) he questioned.

“The absence of any court declaration relative to the said title necessarily belies any irregularity in the issuance thereof,” Oguis said.

Ouano claimed that a TCT was issued by the Register of Deeds last Oct. 2, 1979 in relation to the parcel of land situated in barangay Opao, Mandaue City.

The TCT was issued in the name of Provincial Board Member Thadeo Ouano, his wife Linda, the complainant, his wife, and Fidelis Ouano.

However, another TCT was issued for the same property by the respondent.

The new TCT canceled the older one.

The complainant found out that the Deed of Sale in relation to the lot has a forged signature of the Regional Trail Court Clerk of Court.

In his counter-affidavit, the respondent said he has no authority to inquire whether or not the recitals in a public document sought to be registered are true or not./REPORTER ADOR VINCENT S. MAYOL