Gov. Joseph Marañon yesterday appealed to a Pulupandan landowner for humanitarian consideration in dealing with squatters on his property.

Landowner Magdaleno Peña has fenced in some private property in Pulupandan.

The governor acknowledged that the properties concerned are privately owned, and that is why he was only issuing an appeal.

He said residents of Pulupandan have not filed complaints before the office of the governor yet.

Pulupandan Mayor Luis Mondia said barbed wire has been put up to fence in a property at Greenbeach in Zone 1 of Pulupandan.

Peña said the property that was fenced is owned by his family over which he has an existing lease and a special power of attorney.

We have to clear those properties of squatters because we are selling some of it to pay our back taxes, he said.

"Taxes are the lifeblood of government, our governor should help us clean the properties of squatters so I can pay our back taxes as soon as possible," he said in reaction to the appeal of Marañon.

There are ongoing hearings at the Municipal Trial Court in Pulupandan on Peña's petition for the eviction of 2,000 homes on his family's property in Pulupandan.

A hearing was held yesterday against about 120 defendants but only about 30 appeared in court, Peña said.

The judge gave 10 days for both parties to submit position papers after which judgment will be rendered, Peña said.*CPG

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