DENR probes 31 Boracay land claimants issued homestead patents

ILOILO CITY, Philippines—The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will file criminal charges against the land claimants found liable in the irregular issuance of land titles on Boracay Island in Aklan, possibly depriving the government of P1 billion in revenues.

DENR Western Visayas Executive Director Julian Amador said on Monday that the DENR’s legal department was studying the possible liabilities of 31 property claimants, who were issued homestead patents between Nov. 13, 2009 and Dec. 8, 2010.

The initial investigation of the DENR has shown that the homestead patents, which are intended for agricultural lands, were issued irregularly by DENR personnel because most of the properties have been used for commercial and residential purposes.

The questionable titles cover a total area of 9.75 hectares to 31 land title applicants on the 1,032-hectare resort island.

The miscategorization and misdeclaration of the land and the issuance of homestead patents could have deprived the government of nearly P1 billion in revenues if the properties were purchased by the claimants.

Amador said that there were clear indications that at least 21 of the 31 patents issued were irregular. But he said all the 31 patents are being reviewed and investigated.

He said the DENR has relieved six of its personnel, including the provincial environment and resources officers (Penro) of Aklan and the community environment and resources officer (Cenro) of Boracay, who were all facing investigation.

The DENR will also file administrative and criminal complaints against its officials found liable for the irregularities.

Amador said the DENR has to file petitions before courts in Aklan for the cancellation of the spurious titles because these have been registered before the provincial registry of deeds.

The homestead patents were issued to lots ranging from 58 square meters to 14,748 sqm located in Barangays Balabag and Manoc-Manoc, two of Boracay’s three villages.