Luzon Expressway (NLEx) here are not tainted with anomalies.
This, amid reports that its former owner, the Lazatin family, had initially donated the land to the defunct Philippine Tourism Authority (PTA), now TIEZA, on condition that the land be used only for the purpose of the theme park.
This report fuelled controversies among local leaders, including Pampanga 1st District Rep. Joseller “Yeng" Guiao who vowed to investigate the case, following the bidding held by TIEZA to privatize 13 of its properties nationwide, including Paskuhan, also known as Hilaga theme park.
The SM Development Corp. reportedly won the bidding for the Paskuhan property for P939 million.
Some sectors said that if the deed of donation existed, TIEZA’s sale of the Paskuhan property would be illegal.
But in a “Briefer on the privatization” of the Paskuhan, TIEZA said that as PTA then, it had purchased the property
owned by the Lazatin family, represented by Jesus Lazatin, although the land was covered by
more than one land titles.
TIEZA noted that on Jan. 12, 1989, PTA executed two separate Memoranda of Understanding with Jesus Lazatin for its purchase of “different parcels of land with the PTA conveying P100,000 to Lazatin as earnest money.”
“On Nov. 27, 1989, two Deeds of Absolute Sale were executed between the same parties over the same subject containing areas of 50,000 square meters and 43,146 square meters for P80 per square meter. On April 30, 1992, a Deed of Exchange was executed over Lot 3208- G-4 owned by PTA and Lot 3623-B owned by Lazatin,” it said.
TIEZA said that “subsequently, Transfer of Certificate of Title Nos. 297231-R covering an area of 43,146 square meters and 376323- R covering an area of 50,000 square meters were issued in favor of PTA.”
The agency, headed by Sen. Lito Lapid’s son Mark Lapid, also attached to its briefer photo copies of the land titles covering the properties. One was dated March 23, 1990 and the other, July 15, 1994.
Another document dated Jan. 12, 1989 and signed by then PTA general manager Ramon Binamira, Jesus Lazatin, and one Roberto David, who was identified as attorney- in-fact and “owner, farmer beneficiaries,” showed that Lazatin declared himself owner of 8.74 hectares of the property that was then to become Paskuhan Village and that the land was “free of squatters or any other unauthorized occupants.”
The same document also said Lazatin was selling the property for P80 per square meter.
The document, however, noted that the area was agricultural and thus provided that “this agreement to buy and sell shall be subject to approval by the Department of Agrarian Reform…”
No other conditions were imposed by either party in the agreement.
Another document also showed that part of the property had already been distributed to tenants represented by David who thus was a signatory to the agreement.
