Datu Bagumbayan, along with Datu Guiaplos Limba, a former assessor of Buluan, filed the application for Free Patents for Lots 351 and Lot 352 at the DENR-Cotabato office. They admitted however that they could no longer find records of these applications because the old DENR XII office located at the Provincial Capitol Hill in Cotabato City was burned down sometime in 2000.
government of Tulunan. He and other members of their family tried to invite the Rajahbuayan heirs to discuss their differences, but they (the heirs) never came. He wonders why the Rajahbuayan heirs are claiming that Lot 352 measures 400 hectares when the land actually measures 296 hectares only. They also wondered why the Rajahbuayans laid claims over the land only now when their elders Datu Bagumbayan Abpet and Datu Conte Mangelen have already passed away. Although they respect the agreement signed by their elders, they are sad that the heirs disregarded their invitations for a dialogue.
He says that some portions of the lands were eventually titled in the name of Abdul Maguid Limba, Aliben Limba and Teng Bagumbayan. They explained that the lots allocated to Abdul and Maguid were covered by one title and registered in the name of Abdul Maguid Limba, while those allocated to Ali and Ben was titled in the name of Aliben Limba.
Datu Mohammadali Mangelen’s Accounts Datu Mohamadali Mangelen described their first encounter with the heirs of Rajahbuayan Pasicaman as full of tension. However, after a series of mediation conferences facilitated by Land Management Director Brahim Andamen and Legal Officer Nasser Talipasan of DENR-ARMM, the discussion proceeded smoothly and was conducted professionally until they reached an agreement.
In 2006, while they were processing their papers for the titling of Lot 352 and adjacent Lot 351, DENR XII, CENRO Kidapawan informed them that a certain Mohammad Rajahbuayan came to their office and claimed that he and the other heirs of Pasicaman Rajahbuayan are the owners of Lot 352. DENR XII, CENRO Kidapawan invited them to their office regarding the claim of the Rajahbuayan heirs over Lot 352. They were also informed by the said office of the mediation conferences held at DENR-ARMM. Ultimately, they decided to set aside their application over Lot 352 and instead focus on processing the titling of Lot 351.
The respondents admitted that they were informed by Datu Guiaplos Ali that a complaint was filed against them by the heirs at the DENR-ARMM. They were likewise told that as their representative, the son of Datu Conte, Datu Ali Mangelen, had caused the signing of a Compromise Agreement in November 6, 2006 after a series of mediation conferences facilitated by the DENR-ARMM in order to settle amicably the land dispute.
When DENR XII informed them in 2006 about the claim of the Rajahbuayan heirs over Lot 352, Salem Bagumbayan went to validate the claims and the records presented by Bai Sarifa at the various offices of DENR XII (PENRO and CENRO) and the local
Datu Conte (now deceased) was said to have greatly influenced the respondents’ and their representative’s decision to 139
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Land Tenure Stories in Central Mindanao
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