The local government of Pasig reported on Monday two recent incidents involving an empty lot in Nagpayong, Barangay Pinagbuhatan, purchased by the city government for a planned medical facility.

During a weekly flag-raising ceremony, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto said that one incident involved a dispute over ownership, raising questions about the government’s right to the land.

He stated that land-grabbing syndicates have long been operating, presenting fake documents as supposed proof of ownership.

Sotto said that some of the presented documents are Supreme Court rulings. However, upon closer inspection by lawyers or those well-versed in such documents, it is clear that the documents do not grant the syndicates rightful claim to the contested land. These claimants exploit citizens who may be unfamiliar with the contents of these documents.

Apart from Supreme Court rulings, Sotto also cited that these groups use old and outdated maps of the Philippines to deceive people.

He stressed that such cases are not limited to Pasig and according to him, these syndicates demand payments of up to P15,000 from citizens, falsely promising them rights to the property upon payment.

They use fraudulent documents and create fake homeowners’ associations to mislead owners and generate illicit profits.

Sotto pointed out that these land grabbers are not from the area and yet attempt to wrest control of or extort money from others using the vacant lots.

He also clarified that the local government would not have purchased the lot if it had been occupied by residents.

To address the issue, Sotto explained that the Action Line Division of the Peace and Order Department was sent to the site to dismantle outposts set up by these groups in an attempt to claim the vacant lot.

He urged citizens to be cautious when purchasing real estate. He advised against making down payments or membership fee commitments without conducting thorough research. He also recommended that individuals uncertain about the legitimacy of documents seek help from a trusted third party knowledgeable in Philippine real estate law.