Transfer of ‘Boracay Mansion’ to govt sought

THE Office of the Special Prosecutor has asked the Sandiganbayan to officially transfer to the Philippine government ownership of the “ill- gotten” “Boracay Mansion,” considered one of the assets of former president Joseph Estrada, 12 years after he was convicted of plunder.

The multimillion-peso mansion at 108 11th Street in New Manila, Quezon City was one of the properties declared forfeited in favor of the government by the Sandiganbayan Special Division on Oct. 26, 2007.

Estrada was found guilty on Sept. 12, 2007.

“Wherefore, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that an Order be issued directing the Register of Deeds of Quezon City to cancel TCT No. N-208116 registered in the name of St. Peter Holding and to issue a new Transfer Certificate of Title covering the same lot in the name of the Republic of the Philippines,” the prosecution said in a motion on Friday before the anti- graft court 4th Division to

“transfer the Certificate of Title to the Republic of the Philippines.”

The prosecution, which is under the Office of the Ombudsman, said it was only asking for the transfer of the title of one of the two lots that make up the Boracay Mansion. The other lot, with TCT N-305262, now called the Quezon City Reception House, is under the Quezon City government, which leased the building to the Office of the Vice President.

In an order dated Feb. 5, 2010, the court, through its Chief of

Security and Sheriff’s Division, turned over the Boracay Mansion to the Bureau of Treasury to “prevent the further deterioration of the same and avoid entailing additional expenses by the court in maintaining and securing the subject property.”

On March 16, 2010, the property was placed under the custody of the Bureau of Treasury.

The motion was signed by Prosecution Bureau 4 Acting Director Agnes Autencio-Daquis, concurrent assistant special prosecutor 3; Prosecution

Bureau 9 Acting Director Paz Judith Antonina Boco-Mate, Assistant Special Prosecutor 2 Jonathan Paragua, and Assistant Special Prosecutor 1 Alvin Lobo. A hearing was set on March 6. Estrada was granted “executive clemency” by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Oct. 26, 2007. Other assets that were forfeited were P500.3 million deposited in the name and account of the Erap Muslim Youth Foundation and P189 million deposited in an account under the name of Jose Velarde, Estrada’s alias.