Bacolod mayor, 17 others face graft complaints over P971-million land deal

NEGROS OCCIDENTAL, Philippines – A local radio blocktimer has filed graft and administrative complaints against Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez and 17 others over an alleged anomalous land banking project worth more than P971 million.

Roger Ledesma, a blocktimer at DYRL-Bacolod, lodged the complaint on March 13 at the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas in Cebu City, targeting city officials, land vendors, and the acting head of the registry of deeds in Negros Occidental. 

The 14-page affidavit complaint alleged violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the conflict of interest rule, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program law, and land use conversion regulations.

The complaint stemmed from the Bacolod government’s purchase of 74.76 hectares in Hacienda Conchita, Barangay Granada, for P971.86 million – about P13 million per hectare – from the Ledesma-Lizares family. The transaction was part of a P4.4-billion loan secured from the Development Bank of the Philippines in July 2023.

Ledesma included the following Bacolod councilors in his complaint: Al Victor Espino, Jude Thaddeus Sayson, Isarel Salanga, Cindy Rojas, Em Ang, Vladimir Gonzales, Psyche Marie Sy, Jayson Isidro Villarosa, Celia Matea Flor, Ayesha Joy Villaflor, and Lady Gles Gonzales-Pallen

Also named as respondents in the complaint are the following: acting register of deeds Raymond Danico, and land vendors Jose Marie Ledesma, Sebastian Antonio Ledesma, Leonardo Ledesma, Antonio Ma. Ledesma, and Ma. Eugenia Ledesma.

Roger said he is unrelated to the respondents even as he asserted that the land deal was unlawful as the property remained classified as agricultural and is covered by the CARP law. 

He cited Bureau of Internal Revenue regulations, which place the zonal value of Bacolod sugarlands at just P415,000 per hectare, significantly lower than the purchase price. 

He also noted that 34 agrarian reform beneficiaries still hold certificates of land ownership for the area.

The sale, approved by the city council and signed by Benitez on October 11, 2023, was executed through an absolute deed of sale. 

Despite that, Roger said the land area, covered by CARP, lacked a Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) conversion clearance. 

The complainant also questioned potential conflicts of interest, pointing out that members of the city government’s land banking committee, appointed under Benitez’s Executive Order No. 031, also served in the appraisal committee.

“Where are the checks and balances here?” he asked.

In the complaint, Roger alleged that the acting register of deeds facilitated the immediate transfer and issuance of a new land title on November 20, 2023 – just 40 days after the city council’s ratification of the sale.

Danico declined to comment until he had reviewed the official complaint. 

Benitez dismissed the allegations, saying the complaint was expected ahead of the elections, and politically motivated. He is running for Bacolod’s lone congressional seat against former mayor Evelio Leonardia.

Teresita Mabunay, head of DAR’s Provincial Agrarian Reform Office, said they would conduct an investigation. – Rappler.com