23 March 2023, from Gems:

We, the Chairmen and Members of the Boards of Directors of AFP Officer Village Association, Inc. (AFPOVAI) and AFPOVAI Phase 678 Chapter; and Chapter Presidents of Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, Phase 4, Phase 5, Phase 6, and Phase 678 Chapters, express our indignation and outrage at the recent incursion by the Philippine Navy into our AFPOVAI property in blatant disregard for and unconscionable violation of the rights of all affected lot owners, and hereby demand that their housing project remain within the bounds and limits of their own grounds.

The 21st of February PN-AFP-DND-BCDA groundbreaking event to launch a 16-billion peso project designed to provide housing to senior officers of the Philippine Navy directly encroaches upon Blocks 99, 100, 101, 102 and 116 of AFPOVAI, which are part of a DENR-approved Subdivision Plan for AFPOVAI in 1985, ordered for expeditious distribution without encumbrances by President Ferdinand Marcos through Presidential Decree No. 2004 on December 30, 1985, and subjected to continuing processing of lot applications which have resulted in the conveyance of private lots through orders of awards, deeds of sale and TCTs to individual lot owners.

The encroachment covers 4.5143 hectares of subdivided land within the metes and bounds of AFPOVAI’s lawfully decreed property by virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 461, signed by President Diosdado Macapagal in 1965, and by the subsequent issuance by the Registry of Deeds of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) Numbers 13633 and 13634 in the name of AFPOVAI.

The encroached area is, in fact, a contiguous part and parcel of AFPOVAI Phase 678 Chapter which was illegally converted by the Philippine Navy into a profitable golf course in 1976, eleven years after the issuance of PP 461 – the same golf course which land has been tried and litigated for over 30 years and ruled with finality by the Supreme Court on June 15, 2022 to be part of the alienable and disposable land of AFPOVAI, and must now finally be returned to its rightful owners through a writ of execution issued by RTC Branch 266 of Taguig last February 15, 2023.

Wrested as it were without due process, courtesy of consultation, or complete factual information to decision makers, this encroached area will dispossess and deprive our lot owners of their constitutional rights to build their homes and enjoy their property. Thus, contrary to its “praiseworthy” value, the PN 9-storey residential building project is bound to further oppress and aggravate the suffering of the helpless, ordinary, aging lot owners of AFPOVAI Phase 678 who have long been desperately waiting to occupy their lots and, on the other hand, swell the abusive head and discretionary authority of the Philippine Navy.

We believe that the AFP, DND and BCDA were misled to endorse and support the project undertaking under the noblest terms when the facts about location and property ownership were not made clear. But no legal obfuscation or noble rationalization can justify any intentional act of wrongdoing. This disguised form of land grabbing by men in uniform deserves no less than the scorn and contempt of the general public and intervention of the highest authority of our country.

We, therefore, rise as one to stand our ground and defend the rights of all affected lot owners within Blocks 99, 100, 101, and 102 to protect their lots for themselves and their families and keep the integrity of our subdivision. Any trespass on our village is a trespass on our whole association.

We collectively condemn the Philippine Navy’s callous transgression and violation of the law with seeming impunity, knowing that the property is not theirs, aware of its private nature, and cognizant of the fact that it is not covered by the exclusionary provision of Presidential Proclamation No. 461.

And we demand that the Philippine Navy and/or its implementing agency immediately cease and desist from their encroachment on AFPOVAI’s private property and, instead, uphold the law of the land and show heart and respect to lot owners who during their time also served our country as soldiers, patriots, and defenders of the land, but are now struggling to find their way in their twilight years.

This land is our immutable legal property, decreed by law, granted by the State and upheld by the highest court of the land, the Supreme Court. It is not the Navy’s.

Unanimously agreed and signed during the Regular Board Meeting of the AFPOVAI Board of Directors on the 27th day of March 2023 at the AFPOVAI Office at 85 Bayani Road, Taguig.
SIGNED:

________________, Chairman, AFPOVAI
________________, President, AFPOVAI
________________, Board Director
________________, Board Director
________________, Board Director
________________, Board Director
________________, Board Director
________________, Board Director
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 1 Chapter
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 2 Chapter
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 3 Chapter
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 4 Chapter
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 5 Chapter
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 6 Chapter
________________, President, AFPOVAI Phase 678 Chapter

In Pres Vic Guerzon’s report, our presented draft manifesto was expanded to include the whole AFPOVAI Board and all the Phase Presidents and “elected-at-large” BOD members would also sign the manifesto. They committed to have the document signed during the regular board meeting this coming Saturday. Once signed, it will be circulated not only in our 678 viber community, but also around the whole AFPOVAI Community to raise their awareness level and gather community support.

In addition, the board showed its heart by approving the disposal of our Ph 678 development fund and our annual dues starting July 2022 for our particular use in order to cover our legal, media, and related financial requirements.

I thanked the board for their solid support and noted that this was probably the first time in a long time that the AFPOVAI Board ever got united and acted as swiftly as it did yesterday.

This is, in fact, the best time as well for every member of Ph 678 Chapter to step up and lend support simply by means of updating his or her annual dues. As of today, our annual dues have reached P700 thousand pesos.

I therefore request everyone to update their accounts and help in other ways, such as contributing to our contingency fund or sending us contact numbers to people you think might provide a difference.

In the case we face a protracted battle, we must all be ready to shore up our funds by way of special assessment dues.

Also, in an effort to beef up our leadership, the Ph 678 BOD conferred upon Ambassador Senga the position of Chairman Emeritus for his eminent leadership and advisory capacities. Ambassador Senga, who recently resigned as AFPOVAI Chair, expressed his willingness to join us. But the AFPOVAI Board wanted him elevated to Chairman Emeritus of the whole AFPOVAI BOD altogether.

I am posting the draft manifesto which may be used to develop a bigger manifesto or even a collective petition from all the members of Phase 678. It’s about time we got the attention of the right audiences.