Reports of a single buyer in land purchase deals involving nearly 400 hectares worth nearly P1 billion is a stand-out as investors and plain prospectors gobble up prime beachfront properties in the Island Garden City of Samal (Igacos) and its twin Talicud Island.
The two islands in the Davao Gulf between Davao del Norte and Davao City, known for pristine waters, marine attractions and white sand beaches, are being primed by the Department of Tourism (DoT) as a primary tourist destination like Boracay in the Visayas and El Nido in Palawan.
Two of the million-pesos land deals involved the purchase of the 35-hectare Camp Samalan Resort in San Remegio in Igacos bought at P8 million per hectare and a 114-hectare property in Talicud Island at P3 million per hectare.
The deals were alleged to have been consummated in 2017.
The land deals were reported by a Davao City-based online news site, which quoted a property broker, who was not named but alleged to have inside knowledge of the deals. The broker did not name the buyer.
But the broker said that an Edwin Jubahib two years ago inquired about the properties for sale in Igacos and Talicud.
A check with the Department of Trade and Industry reportedly showed a business registration under the name of Edwin Ignacio Jubahib.
The business is registered as Samalenyo-Pearl Resort with address at Barangay San Remigio, Island Garden City of Samal. One of the properties in the deal is Camp Samalan Resort located in San Remegio.
Jubahib, the personal assistant of Davao del Norte First District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, is a candidate for governor in Davao del Norte in the 2019 mid-term election.
Alvarez, former Speaker of the House of Representatives is running for reelection.
The reports said that records at the Siargao Municipal Assessor’s Office (MAO) showed seven properties in the name of Alvarez, two under the name of a certain Anaclito Alvarez and another two under Carlito Alvarez.
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