Atienza probes possible land-grabbing case in Laguna

MANILA, Philippines - Secretary Lito Atienza of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources is looking into the possible involvement of some DENR field officials in issuing questionable free land patents in Lumban town, Laguna. Atienza said the case involved a two-hectare land classified as agricultural land and already being occupied by 46 farmer families. The DENR chief has directed Regional Executive Director Nilo Tamoria to “sort out the complaints" of affected families as the case had already reached the regional trial court in Laguna. He said that apart from being victims of “bureaucratic arrogance and abuse" of DENR field officers, the Lumban families also suffered an “unjust decision" on their land, which could have resulted from collusion among corrupt officials in the DENR, Land Management Bureau and Land Registration Authority. Atienza said that he had looked at the documents brought by affected Lumban families living in a two-hectare area and he found some irregularities. “One parcel of land had two certificates of free patent coming from our field officers. The families also said that when DENR inspectors came, it was as if they were not there at all," Atienza said. He said the government had classified the land as rice field, but “over the supposed rice field stood numerous houses, some of them big, who evidently have been there for quite some time." “I have asked Regional Director Tamoria that the DENR make an appearance in court on September 12 to signify our interest in the case of the Lumban families. I have also warned Director Tamoria that this would be a test case for his own designation in that region," Atienza said. - GMANews.TV