A MAYOR from Cagayan province is facing a graft case before the Office of the Ombudsman for the questionable sale of a beachfront two years ago.
In a six-page complaint, Consuelo Orteza filed a case of violation of Republic Act 3019 or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act against Alcala Mayor Criselda Antonio-Pua for allegedly taking advantage of a grieving family who sold a 12,000-square meter beachfront property in 2016.
Included in the charge sheet were Ofelia Permentier and one Jarl.
Orteza claimed the respondents duped her and her family over Permentier’s failure to settle her balance of P8.35 million for the acquisition of family’s beach cove property in Sta. Ana municipality.
In 2016, Permentier signified her intention to buy Orteza’s 12,000 square meters out of the 16,208-sq.m. lot belonging to Orteza.
Orteza and her children inherited the property when her husband, Jesus, passed away.
The complainant told the Ombudsman the family sold the beachfront property to enable them to pay the P2-million debt left behind by Jesus due to his hospitalization and death.
Orteza agreed to sell the property to Permentier and Jarl at P10.8 million, and that Permentier gave her P1 million to pay the capital gains, documentary stamp taxes, transfer fees, estate taxes, real property taxes and other expenses so that the transaction could push through.
Permentier asked Orteza to sign an “agreement,” a “deed of sale,” so that the buyer could settle her balance of P9.8 million.
Upon signing the deed of sale, Orteza said Permentier told her that the balance would only be settled once the land title was changed and placed her name.
On Nov. 8, 2016, however, Permentier allegedly told the complainant that she could ask for the balance of the amount due from Antonio-Pua, who reduced the remaining balance to P6.75 million after deductions for the real estate agent’s commission in January 2017.
On Feb. 3, 2017, Antonio-Pua issued a promissory note promising to pay the grieving family P8.35 million to make up for her lapses.
According to Orteza, she was taken aback when Permentier told her that the property was already registered in Antonio-Pua’s name.