The following story was tied up to a disclaimer published for two consecutive Sundays courtesy of the LimKitKai Group based in Cagayan Oro City. In that disclaimer published in two of Bohol’s leading newspapers (the Bohol Sunday Post included), the Cagayan de Oro conglomerate denied as having to do with any investment in any part of Bohol. The advisory was aimed to dispel any insinuation that the company is buying lands in some parts of Bohol for investment purposes. Now comes this news story that bore the semblance of having a connection with the recent disclaimer of the LimkitKai Group.

The story is told that the Catholic parish church of Anda may lose some lands it is presently occupying as heirs of the supposed original donors are reclaiming it and applying for titles of the lots unto their own names. Father Jesus Frederick Camacho, parish priest of the Holy Child Catholic Parish of the town said, these claimants are representing themselves as legal heirs of Esteban Escobal, the land donor who was married to his first wife Adriana Deloso in 1930. Both Esteban and Adriana are long dead and the present claimants are grandchildren of one of Esteban’s sons to his first wife Adriana, named Conrado. The heirs-claimants have executed a Special Power of Attorney in favor to a certain Grace Balo Dohig, a granddaughter of Conrado as the authorized representative in the claim. She is presently managing a Limkitkai Group owned bingo business operating at the Island City Mall in Tagbilaran City.

The priest said parishioners have jointly condemned this move of the supposed Escobal heirs considering that these claimed lands were long been occupied by the church since the establishment of the parish in March 18, 1885. “The present and actual possession of the property by the parish proves that the church owns it,” Fr. Camacho said. “Why only now? What are their motives in reclaiming these lands that have long- been considered as church properties?” he asked. He added that Bishop Christian Vincent Noel, D.D. of the Diocese of Talibon is fully supporting the Anda parish in resisting these claims now posed by a new generation of heirs of the original donor. The contested lots have a total land area of 10,283 square meters (1.2830 has.) entered in the Municipal Assessor records as Lot No. 246, 267 and 271 all with Tax Declaration in the name of Heirs of Esteban Escobal. The assessor’s records, however, contained annotations such as Roman Catholic Church vs. Esteban Escobal; meaning these lots are under dispute. The tax declarations are based on the 1980 Land Cadastral Survey and verified in a local tax mapping conducted in 1984.

CHURCH SIDE

Parish Priest Fr. Camacho admitted that the contested lots are not yet titled in the name of the Roman Catholic Church. He also revealed that there is no document available that will tend to prove or show that the lands were donated to the church by the original declared owner Esteban Escobal. Parishioners held a prayer rally last February 27, 2012 chanting for enlightenment on the Escobal heirs who allegedly have disturbed the quite and peace of the parish in this attempt to repossess the church lands for their own personal use. “After all these years that have gone by through many generations, here come people saying they are taking back the land now used by the church. I won’t ascribe ill motives on these claimants but what they are doing have dealt a lot of anxiety to the parishioners,” Fr. Camacho said. He added that what he is saying is personal and “not the official stand of the church”. The dispute is now being heard in the office of the Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer Nestor Canda.

SENTIMENTS

Random interviews conducted on some local Catholic parishioners revealed a mounting condemnation against the Escobal heirs. A church lay minister who requested not to mention his name said the recent acts of the Escobal heirs are motivated by the present tourism boom of the town. The contested lots are right in the middle of the town plaza and stretches up to the sandy white beaches where resorts have sprouted along adjoining beach front lots. While before, Anda was a sleeping, obscure town, today it is one of the country’s booming, most-sought tourism destination. The 2012 TIMEX Triathlon Event was held here last month, participated by renowned international athletes and enjoying a worldwide media exposure. The church minister added that one of the grandchildren of Conrado Escobal is married to a scion of the Lim Kit Kai business conglomerate based in Cagayan de Oro City. The more than a hectare-wide prime lots are reportedly to be converted into a five-star hotel resort extending into the beach.

The Lim Kit Kai Group of Companies, however, have denied the reports of having any business interest in Bohol through a full page, paid-ad disclaimer printed in two local newspaper last Feb 12, 2012. The local government of Anda is also reported supporting the church on this recent conflict. Most local officials were seen joining the church-organized rally last Feb 27. Two public buildings constructed by the municipal government are within the contested area; the municipal health center and the New Beach Bar, a tourism enterprise owned and operated by LGU-Anda. If the Escobal heirs succeed in reclaiming the area, these structures will have to be demolished to give way for the proposed new resort. Mayor Angelina Simacio was not available for her comments as she was out of the town when this report was gathered.

HEIRS’ VERSION

The Escobal heirs-claimants of the three lots now occupied by the church said they are sad on how the issues are publicly presented, depicting them as allegedly motivated by greed and selfish interest. Jun Balo, residing in Anda (brother of Grace Balo Dohig, the designated legal Escobal heirs’ representative) said their family have been bombarded by wrongful accusations from parishioners. They are now being branded as wealthy people, but yet, have only acquired such status after being attached to the Lim Kit Kai business empire. He confirmed that indeed one of their first cousins, named Mitchie now residing in Cagayan de Oro City, is married to a Lim Kit Kai sibling. “But she has nothing to do with our claim, neither the Lim Kit Kai company. We are just legally applying titles to these lands that rightfully belong to the Escobal family. In fact, we are only reclaiming three lots not utilized by the church while the other lands where the church, convent and a school now stand are also owned by our great grandfather but we have left them undisturbed for the parish’ use. Truth of the matter, the same lots where these church structures are standing have also no deed of donation from our great grandfather Esteban Escobal,” he added. Grace Balo Dohig, when contacted by phone shared the same sentiments confided by her brother Jun. “A lawyer is handling our claim now pending with the PENRO Office but I have all the documents to prove our position. What I am just appealing is for a fair understanding regarding our claim. What is being circulated now in Anda is a negative picture of our family, legal Escobal heirs, as allegedly selfish and greedy, disrespectful to the church; which is not true. In due time, we will prove them wrong,” Grace Dohig said.