Former MPLA board OK’d ex-commissioner’s dad’s land claim

After 38 years, the former Marianas Public Lands board revisited a land issue and moved last week to grant additional land to a deceased claimant who is believed to be the father of former
MPLA commissioner Edward Deleon Guerrero.

MPLA records show that during its meeting on Feb. 21, 2006—a day before the agency was abolished—the board approved the “short conveyance” of 23,403 square meters of land in Obyan to the late Ignacio S. Deleon Guerrero.

Former MPLA insiders said that he was the father of the former commissioner.

The board allegedly made the approval without a prior investigation or formal assessment of the matter.

“Nothing was presented like an investigation to merit the decision,” said an insider.

Further, sources said that the late Deleon Guerrero was not entitled to a “short conveyance” claim since he was not the original permittee of the homestead.

More, the land granted to the original permittee, his sister, was exactly what she deeded to Ignacio.

Short conveyance “is giving the remainder of property that was rightfully owed to a permittee.”

For instance, if a permittee received only 2 hectares rather than 5 hectares, he or she can then ask for the remaining amount.

During the Trust Territory era, the NMI government granted a 26,597-square meter homestead lot to Maria G. Tudela, a sister of Deleon Guerrero.

Tudela was given the permit over the land, which is located near San Vicente church, on Feb. 9, 1963.

She received a certificate of compliance for the entire lot on Jan. 18, 1968.

On April 4, 1968, the TT government gave her a Deed of Property over the same lot.

On July 20, 1969, Tudela signed a Deed of Gift for her brother Ignacio over the same amount of land.

The matter was suddenly listed by the former MPLA board for discussion during its board meeting last month.

On a Feb. 19, 2006, the board published a notice of meeting listing the agenda under “land claim issues” without mentioning any names except to say “Saipan Short Conveyance Issues.”

“The board approved for short conveyance of 23,403 square meters in Obyan to the late Ignacio S. Deleon Guerrero,” a board report said.

The MPLA was dissolved on Feb. 22, 2006, and the agency was placed under the Executive Branch under the new name of Department of Public Lands. Interim Public Lands Secretary John Del Rosario then issued an order voiding or suspending all recent decisions by the board. This would cover the decision by the board on the Deleon Guerrero land issue.