PCGG loses case against Payanig ‘squatters’

The government has lost its case against 10 commercial establishments that it is trying to eject from the sequestered  “Payanig sa Pasig property” in the Ortigas area.

The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) said it would appeal the decision of the Pasig Metropolitan Trial Court, which denied the government’s claim to the disputed prime lot.

According to PCGG Chairman Andres Bautista, they were also considering filing an administrative case against the judge for ignoring the evidence presented in court, including a decision in 2011 by the high tribunal that upheld the government’s ownership of the 18.5-hectare commercial lot.

Bautista said their case was bolstered by the Land Registration Authority’s recent findings authenticating the government’s title to the contested prime piece of land.

The PCGG had filed an ejection case against 10 private business entities that were leasing portions of the sequestered  property and paying rent to Blemp Commercial led by former Ilocos Sur Gov. Luis “Chavit” Singson.

The PCGG said the LRA report dated April 30 strengthened the government’s claim against that of Singson’s camp which has taken possession of nearly the entire lot.

According to the LRA, the original owner’s copy of Transfer Certificate Title No. 469702 issued by the Pasig Registry of Deeds and held by the PCGG is genuine based on examination of the document and the handwriting analysis conducted by the National Bureau of Investigation.

Singson’s group also claims to have a copy of the land title, which covers 2.48 hectares of the disputed property.

The larger part of the lot, which constitutes 16 hectares, is covered by a reconstituted title now held by the PCGG since the original title was not turned over to the government when the late Jose Campos surrendered ill-gotten Marcos assets in 1986.

The main case on the government’s claim to the sequestered property has been pending in the Sandiganbayan for over two decades. It has yet to go to trial.