The local government of Nasugbu in Batangas is seeking payment for alleged unpaid real property taxes it claims exceeding P1 billion from Roxas and Co. Inc.
The delinquent properties, according to the Nasugbu LGU, relate to Haciendas Palico, Banilad and Kaylaway.
This develops in the wake of rising tension between RCI on one hand and an estimated 50,000 residents and agrarian reform beneficiaries on the other over ownership issues.
Early this week, Nasugbu mayor Antonio Jose A. Barcelon served RCI notice on the revocation of its business permit should the business continue to fail to settle its real property tax obligations due and demandable to date.
A final assessment on its tax due was still being computed.
“This serves as a formal notice to your company of the possible revocation of your business permit by this office should you continue to fail to settle your RPT which have become due and demandable,” Barcelon said in the letter.
To protect Nasugbu LGU interest, Mayor Barcelon also sent a letter to the Bank of the Philippine Islands as part of the need to exert all measures and means to settle the outstanding tax obligation and the longstanding land dispute over eight of its barangays with a total population of 38,523.
The barangays were all of Aga, Banilad, Bilaran and portions of Tumalim, Reparo, Cogunan, Lumbangan and Catandaan.
Barcelon asked BPI in whatever legal and appropriate action it choses to help resolve the issues.
“Please be informed that Roxas y Cia has not been paying the RPT on the properties mortgaged with your bank,” Barcelon told the bank.
In a resolution dated 6 May 2024, the municipal council of Nasugbu, Batangas also asked the national government to help protect the interests of Nasugbu residents.
The resolution called on the Department of Agrarian Reform to uphold the Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) granted Nasugbu farmers as part of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), and to resist efforts by RCI to retake the Roxas Haciendas through CARP exemption, land conversion and CLOA cancellation.
Nasugbu vice mayor Mildred Sanchez cited the necessity of helping the Nasugbu agrarian reform beneficiaries who demand a more equitable settlement of its dispute with the Roxas Haciendas and boost LGU tax collection for the benefit of Nasugbu.
RCI owes lenders approximately P4.2 billion in loans outstanding and unpaid interest, with approximately half of this owed to the BPI.
Approximately P1 billion of RCI loans have been classified as past due, the bulk of which are also with BPI.
Properties forming part of the Roxas Haciendas were mortgaged and used as collateral to secure loans with local lenders.
