The Baguio City Council, during its regular session on February 12, 2024, passed a resolution calling on the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to conduct a thorough investigation into the alleged issuance of fake land titles by the Bagong Lahing Pilipino (BLP) Cooperative.
The resolution urges the NBI to uncover the extent of the issue and pursue legal actions against all individuals involved in the fraudulent activity.
During the council session a man who introduced himself as Jovito Salonga (not his real name) and as the vice president of BLP claimed that the issuance of land titles by their cooperative is within their authority under Presidential Decree 1529 and the Land Registration Act. He explained that they had acquired this authority through the implementation of the Torrens System under the American regime and that their actions fall under the private domain as outlined in the constitution. He referred to legal provisions and historical context to justify the cooperative’s issuance of land titles.
He further said that their cooperative’s focus is on ancestral domain, aiming to support the proper acquisition of land titles for marginalized members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs).
However, members of the city council questioned the authenticity and jurisdiction of the titles the cooperative is distributing in Baguio City. They cast doubt on the legal basis and authenticity of the documents, questioning whether these documents meet the legal standards required for land ownership and registration.
Councilor Jose Molintas expressed concerns about the distribution of these land titles, particularly those issued by the Registry of Deeds of Bulacan which are being distributed in Baguio by the cooperative. He said such practices are possibly fraudulent and asserted the need for transparency and verification of the documents that Salonga was citing during the discussion.
Molintas and other city council members contested Salonga’s assertion that one can acquire a land title in Baguio City through judicial procedures, stressing that judicial titling in the city is no longer valid or applicable due to the declaration that all portions of Baguio City, except private lands, are part of the Baguio Townsite Reservation.
Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan and Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda said acquiring land titles within the city are limited to three specific procedures. These are through the Miscellaneous Sales Application (MSA), Townsite Sales Application (TSA), free patent application, and, in the case of ancestral lands, certification through the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Tabanda urged the members of the cooperative and the general public to seek the help of legitimate government agencies in their application for land titling rather than joining an organization that demands payment in exchange for purported assistance.
Councilor Benny Bomogao questioned the involvement of BLP, a private entity, in issuing proof of ownership. He said such practice may not be in accordance with the established legal frameworks.
IPMR Maximo Edwin Jr. criticized the issuance of fake titles by the cooperative and described this act as a form of exploitation targeting vulnerable IP members. He also challenged the authenticity of Salonga’s claim of IP membership, accusing him of false representation and condemning his actions.
Along with the request for an investigation by the NBI, the city council also referred the matter to the NCIP and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) for necessary measures to safeguard the welfare of the citizens of Baguio.
Earlier, the city council issued an advisory warning the public to be vigilant and urging them to condemn the alleged illicit activities of Bagong Lahing Pilipino. **Jordan G. Habbiling
