The Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) claimed on Friday that it will build a new headquarters at the land of Masungi Georeserve in Tanay Rizal.
In a statement, BuCor officer-in-charge Gregorio Catapang said the 270 hectares of land "are not the relocation site" of the New Bilibid Prison.
"Pursuant to the five-year development plan of BuCor, the subject property in Tanay, Rizal, will be used as the site of the BuCor headquarters," he said.
Catapang said the land would also be used for the "residential uses" of BuCor personnel and employees and for the "development and implementation of BuCor's land use development plans and policies for the sustainment of its basic institutional food requirements."
The statement was issued a day after Masungi Georeserve Group reported that 20 BuCor officials arrived at their area to conduct an "ocular inspection" for the alleged "relocation site of the NBP."
According to the group, the BuCor officials handed them a "newly minted title over 270 hectares of the Lot 10 property in the name of BuCor."
"The remaining 30 hectares of Lot 10 were reportedly titled in the name of the DENR [Department of Environment and Natural Resources]. Lot 10 and the 300 hectares in question comprise the Masungi Georeserve," it added.
LOOK: Video of BuCor's "ocular inspection" today as they presented their mission order and alleged title over Masungi Georeserve to Masungi Georeserve Foundation trustees. #SaveMasungi
— Masungi Georeserve (@MasungiGeo) February 16, 2023
Read full statement here: https://t.co/VpaV0ix8yw pic.twitter.com/7IcNCkUk0A
But the Georeserve group argued that Lot 10 is "home to the fragile limestone formations of Masungi Georeserve," and since 2002, it "has already been equitized in a joint venture project between the DENR and Blue Star."
It also pointed out that in 2009, former DENR Secretary Lito Atienza had already ordered the DENR regional director to submit an alternative area for NBP.
Catapang, on the other hand, maintained that the BuCor is the registered owner of the said property.
"BuCor has all the right to conduct any activity in the area, including the questioned ocular inspection that was conducted by our personnel. BuCor is the registered owner of the subject property by virtue of the transfer certificate of title issued in favor of BuCor," he said.
It cited that the site is under BuCor's jurisprudence until and unless the certificate is "nullified by a court of competent jurisdiction in a direct proceeding for the cancellation of title."
