Gov’t peace negotiator replaced due to pending case

DAVAO CITY—A member of the government peace panel in the talks with the National Democratic Front (NDF) has been replaced because of a pending case against him, Presidential Peace Adviser Jesus Dureza said Thursday.

Dureza said lawyer Noel Felongco was replaced by lawyer Tony Arellano.

Asked what pending case Felongco has been facing, Dureza said he had “no idea.”

In 2015, the Ombudsman filed before the Sandiganbayan three counts for violation of Republic Act No. 9649 or the General Santos City charter against Felongco and seven other officials of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) for the alleged illegal titling of public lands in General Santos City between 2009 and 2010.

READ: Ombudsman files charges vs NCIP officials

The case was based on the complaint filed by former South Cotabato representative Darlene Antonino-Custodio, which alleged that Felongco and the seven other NCIP officials had worked for the issuance of land titles to several individuals, which cover at least 4,040 hectares in barangays (villages) Fatima and Bawing – even if these areas had been declared as reservation for an international airport under Presidential Decree No. 219. There had been no consultation with the city government prior to the issuance of the titles, according to the complaint.

Under the said law, only the General Santos City government has the right and prerogative over all public domain in the city. It shall also be consulted and informed at all times of any disposition, administration and management of all public domain there./rga