Antonio Tiu can’t prove ownership of Batangas property

By: Maila Ager - 10 years ago

MANILA, Philippines – Businessman Antonio Tiu failed to present documents during a Senate hearing on Wednesday to prove that he owned the controversial 350-hectare property in Batangas, saying what he only bought so far was the ‘usufruct” or the right to use the land.

Testifying for the first time before the Senate blue ribbon subcommittee, Tiu explained his businesses and how his Greenergy Holdings Inc. bought the majority shares of the Sunchamp Real Estate Development Corp., operating the Batangas property.

Tiu was tagged as the alleged dummy of Vice President Jejomar Binay, who was allegedly the real owner of the property.

After Tiu’s presentation, subcommittee chairman, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III asked the businessman if he was done with his explanation to which he said “yes”.

“Yan na yun? Yun ang explanation mo? Yun na yun?” Pimentel asked again.

“Simple lang po ako Mr. Chairman. Ako po ay negosyante, pag-aari ko yung Greenergy, pag aari ng Greenergy ang Sunchamp, pag-aari ng Sunchamp ang Rosario (property),” Tiu, said referring to the Batangas property.

“Walang mga TCT? Wala kang pinapakita na TCT o kahit ano?,” Pimentel said. TCT is transfer of certificate of title.

“Mr. Chairman, ang nabili ko yung usufruct of the land. Yung TCT upon the completion after nai-turn over sa akin, saka nila matatangap yugn next tranche na payment,” Tiu explained.

“So you’re not the owner sa ngayon?” Pimentel asked to which the businessman answered: “I’m the owner over the rights.”

And when Pimentel insisted that he was not yet the owner of the property, Tiu said: “Magiging owner din po tayo …”

Senator Antonio Trillanes IV then asked the businessman why he was claiming in various media interviews that he was owner of the property.

Tiu said it was because he owned the farm, explaining that ownership of the land was different from ownership of the farm.

But Pimentel said, “Well sa mata namin, hindi ikaw ang may- ari sa ngayon. So why are you here Mr. Tiu? Why are you here?”