SENATOR Idol Raffy Tulfo has urged the Philippines’ Land Registration Authority (LRA) to investigate the rampant land grabbing in Palawan and other provinces by powerful personalities victimizing farmers and indigeneous peoples (IPs).
Tulfo, during the Finance Subcommittee hearing on Sept. 20, also urged LRA to address the widespread corruption in the agency.
“Marami po akong natatanggap na reklamo mula sa mga farmers na sila po ay nagsasangla ng titulo ng kanilang lupa sa mga maimpluwensiyang tao para matugunan ang kanilang pangangailangan, but when the time comes na tutubusin na nila ang titulo, ay hindi na nila ito matubos dahil ito ay nailipat na sa ibang pangalan,” he said.
“Kailangan po talagang maproteksyunan natin ang mga lupain ng mga magsasaka at mga katutubo kaya ang una niyo po sigurong gawin, ay linisin niyo po ang inyong ahensya at tanggalin ang mga korap na tao diyan,” he added.
During the hearing, Tulfo told LRA Administrator Atty. Gerardo Sirios that he received reports of rampant corruption in the agency, which Sirios confirmed himself.
According to Sirios, who is with LRA for less than a month, he received a marching order from Justice Secretary Boying Remulla to make sure to clean the ranks of LRA.
Tulfo shared that powerful people are taking advantage of the vulnerability of farmers and IPs who would mortgage their land title to a loan shark in exchange for a small amount of money to finance their needs, such as medicines for a sick family member.
Without giving them any grace period to pay for the money they owe, Tulfo shared that the loan sharks would immediately transfer the ownership of their land titles.
Tulfo also cited cases wherein IPs were forcibly displaced by powerful people claiming they have legitimate land titles to the ancestral lands.
The Senator from Isabela said LRA should strengthen measures that would protect farmers and IPs against land grabbing and other forms of abuses.
“Dapat may mga safeguards po kayo dito to make sure na mabibigyan ng proteksyon ang mga lupa ng mga maliliit nating kababayan, at masiguro na talagang lehitimo ang anumang transakyong gagawin nila para hindi sila naii-scam at naiisahan ng mga mapangabusong tao,” he said.
