Manila: Senator Panfilo Lacson announced that the Land Registration Authority (LRA) is investigating the origin and history of land titles for approximately 38.83 hectares of allegedly illegally reclaimed areas on the Taguig City side of Laguna Lake. Lacson stated that he has requested the LRA to trace the history of the original certificates of title (OCTs) and other titling methods to determine any manipulation, aiming to pursue criminal charges against those responsible.
According to Philippines News Agency, the OCTs were issued through judicial or ordinary land registration, with some granted through homestead patents. Lacson noted that these titles could be declared "void ab initio" once the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) begins forfeiture proceedings in line with legal requirements. Earlier this week, the LRA reviewed documents from the PRA to ascertain if land titles had been granted over reclaimed segments of Laguna Lake.
Lacson also mentioned that several crates of documents from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) concerning projects in Taguig City are set to be delivered to the Office of the Ombudsman. These documents supplement evidence previously provided by Lacson's team to the Ombudsman as part of an investigation into alleged irregularities in infrastructure and reclamation projects in Taguig City.
The Ombudsman has been conducting a fact-finding inquiry into the Taguig projects and has issued subpoenas to the DPWH, PRA, LRA, and the Taguig Registry of Deeds for pertinent records. Lacson's office earlier submitted evidence from at least five case studies involving alleged anomalies in Taguig infrastructure projects. These include alleged ghost projects, double appropriations, misuse of recycled photographs for billing, and the alleged diversion of appropriations for slope protection projects to fund "unabated and illegal" reclamation activities.
Lacson emphasized that these cases should be scrutinized by the Ombudsman and other relevant government agencies responsible for ensuring accountability and safeguarding government property and resources.
