A mayoralty candidate in Don Salvador Benedicto town, has requested the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas to immediately investigate and file charges against those responsible for the issuance of a transfer certificate title covering 771 hectares in Don Salvador Benedicto town, Negros Occidental, registered in the name of Jose de la Cruz.

The candidate, Jose Max Ortiz, said Jose de la Cruz is reportedly the father of Board Member Nehemias de la Cruz.

Ortiz said the issuance of TCT No. T-6614 and recording it with the Office of the Municipal Assessor of Don Salvador Benedicto and the Office of the Provincial Assessor of Negros Occidental is possibly anomalous.

He asked the Ombudsman to suspend, dismiss or perpetually disqualify from public service those responsible for the alleged anomaly and also requested that appropriate charges be filed against those responsible for the issuance of TCT No. T-6614.

TCT No. T-6614 appears to be fictitious as the Office of the Provincial Register of Deeds in Bacolod City has up to now not issued the photocopy of the certified true copy of the title despite various requests, Ortiz said.

Further verification with the Provincial Register of Deeds reveals that the lot is situated in the Northern Negros forest reserve so it is strange how it could be titled in the name of a private citizen, Ortiz said.

Board Member de la Cruz could not be reached for comment yesterday, but he had earlier said he is confident that the acquisition of the property is legal.*CPG

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