GENERAL SANTOS CITY — Another alleged land scam has surfaced in this city long hounded by controversies involving land grabbing and fraudulent property transactions, raising renewed concerns over the public’s vulnerability to such schemes despite repeated warnings.
A complaint has been lodged against the LMV Mindanao Lumad Association, based along Macopa Street, following accusations that it duped a buyer into paying over ₱100,000 for a questionable land deal.
The complainant, identified as Jean Yambot, a resident of Lambayong, Sultan Kudarat, reported that she paid a total of ₱108,500 to a certain Mila Ruelo, who allegedly represented the association. In exchange, Yambot was promised ownership of a parcel of land in General Santos City.
However, what was presented as a legitimate transaction soon unraveled.
According to Yambot, she later discovered that the property being offered had no valid legal documentation, was not properly registered, and that the association itself had no legitimate ownership over the land. The transaction, she said, bore clear signs of a fraudulent scheme.
The case has once again cast a spotlight on General Santos City, which has long been associated with recurring issues of land-related scams and illegal property sales. Despite years of similar incidents and repeated advisories from authorities, many individuals continue to fall victim to such deceptive practices.
Observers note that the persistence of these cases underscores both the boldness of perpetrators and the continuing gaps in public awareness and due diligence when it comes to land acquisition.
Authorities and concerned groups are now urging other possible victims of the same association to come forward and formally file complaints to strengthen the case against those involved.
At the same time, the public is being strongly reminded to exercise extreme caution when entering into property transactions. Buyers are advised to verify land titles and ownership through the appropriate government offices, such as the Register of Deeds and the City Planning Office, before releasing any payment.
As investigations continue, the incident serves as yet another cautionary tale in a city where land scams have become an all-too-familiar story—one that, unfortunately, many still fail to learn from.