SolGen to act on ‘Chinese – owned’ real estate properties

Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra Menardo Guevarra

MANILA, Philippines – Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra on Tuesday said they will start coordinating with other government agencies for further investigation after the House of Representatives Quad Committee turned over to his office documents related to properties of Chinese citizens that violate the Constitution.

“We’ll review immediately the documents turned over to us by the Quad Committee. Then, we will engage with other government agencies for further evidence gathering and case build-up,” Guevarra said.

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said there are around 300 to 400 titles covering thousands of hectares of land that were transferred to a Chinese citizen or corporation.

The committee believed that the Chinese citizens have been buying properties in the Philippines using fake Filipino identities.

“Once we have gathered sufficient evidence, we will commence the appropriate legal actions,” Guevarra said.

Guevarra said these actions may include “civil forfeiture, reversion, escheat, cancellation of birth certificates, deportation and criminal and administrative complaints.”

The Quad Comm said  Chinese nationals –  Aedy Tai Yang and a certain Willie Ong – are suspected of falsifying documents to obtain Philippine citizenship to purchase land and set up businesses illegally.