Saturday, January 24, 2004

I went to the Barangay, voted The Cleanest Barangay in Parañaque in 2003 by MMDA, this morning and attended a meeting in response to my complaint against the broker/buyer who filed for Adverse Claim against my property title before LRA - Parañaque Branch.

At exactly 9:00 o'clock in the morning, I arrived on time, but lots of complainants/respondents came before me. I was asked to sign the complaint sheet and advised me to wait until my name is called. Monoblock chairs were provided outside the Lupon Tagapamayapa Hearing Room. I could feel the heat of the sun but I patiently waited.

Fifteen minutes before ten, the culprit arrived and someone shouted, "Oh, she's a hustler!" As soon as she saw me, she tagged me many names infront of other people, defended herself as the innocent party... and I told her to calm down, have a seat and save all those words as I'd like to deal with the dispute professionally and very briefly. Guilt did not silenced her and she kept talking to her seatmate but, I kept my cool and didn't bother to reply back.

At last, we were called in... we're asked to have a seat and asked to wait awhile. Before our turn, my bestfriend came in. The arbiter called our attention to come forward and before saying anything, I brought the Bible and my favorite rosary out of my paper bag and placed it on the table in between the respondent and me. My message was clear: if you can lie to the arbiter, you cannot lie to God.

When documents were presented, the arbiter questioned the broker for insinuating a new term of payment without following what's written in the receipt which I acknowledged in September, and that she should not blamed me if her acts prompted me to cancel the deal and forfeit the earnest money given to me in September 20 last year (as part of it were forfeited when we took a 3 BR 3 T & B 3-storey townhouse based on her request to move out of my property before end of September). Discussion went farther but, I could feel that justice is on my side. Stiffed enough on her stand that I must return the earnest money, we signed the complaint sheet (which I earlier signed when I arrived) THAT we both didn't like to make amicable settlement and the case will be elevated to court for further argument.

My bestfriend attended the hearing with us and she's the key witness to all the transaction I made with the said broker. We walked home and continued the discussion. There is one problem though, whether to get a lawyer or not, and how much money, time and effort the case will cost me as the court proceeding in this country takes years and the inconvenience it will brought me should someone would like to buy my property, I cannot sell it until Adverse Claim is lifted null and void. Although I didn't like to end up seeking for a lawyer's assistance, sometimes, it's not about the money we are fighting for here but the principle, who is doing the right thing and who is taking advantage of the aggrieved party.

At home, an hour later, my bestfriend called, and told me that the broker admitted that she's on the losing side and that she's willing to sell my property AGAIN and be given another chance so that she can offset the amount from the total sale. Surprised with her change of heart, I shrugged my shoulders - that's the earlier agreement when the broker asked for another chance and yet, she maliciously made adverse claim on my property to harass me!

I reminded my bestfriend that once I file the case to court, the broker cannot enter into any agreement with us again as long as my property is concerned. Also, as long as she didn't cancel her Adverse Claim on my title, I will continue with the case and let the court decide how much she should pay me for the damages, defamatory remarks and inconveniences for the much delayed sale of my house and lot. And, whoever in the LRA office assisted the broker to facilitate Adverse Claim stamping on my title without my due consent, will be mentioned in this case too... (I still have to check LRA the validity of this claim)

In God's guidance, I know the light will shed on my path and so be it....