CAGAYAN de Oro City — Striking a tone of resolute vigilance, the Concerned Parents, Teachers, Alumni, and Community (COPTAC) of Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan declared they will continue closely monitoring all developments surrounding the disputed Manresa property following a pivotal preliminary hearing conducted Tuesday, May 26, by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region 10.
The high-stakes confrontation followed significant developments previously tracked by the Mindanao Gold Star Daily.
Earlier this month, the DENR Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO), led by Officer Jerome Pioquinto, formally ordered XU and its partner, Cebu Landmasters Inc. (CLI), to justify and explain the legality of converting portions of the 64.7-hectare property into a mixed-use commercial and residential hub.
The agency’s active probe, initiated after directives from the DENR Central Office, is investigating a potential state reversion bid—a process that could strip the university of the estate and forfeit the land back to the public domain if a violation is proven.
Read also: Legal row ignites ahead of DENR hearing
Represented by legal counsel Atty. Ralph Metrillo, the COPTAC coalition expressed strong satisfaction with Tuesday's proceedings after presenting a formidable array of historical state records and legal arguments outlined in their primary and supplemental position papers.
According to Metrillo, the atmosphere during the hearing indicated that the regulatory agency recognized the serious merits of their complaint, which centers on strict land-use restrictions bound to the original 1958 government land grant.
While the regional office of the DENR takes the matter under deliberation, COPTAC assured the public that they are not stepping back.
“Our focus now is to be vigilant with the paperwork and the ongoing progress. For sure, the DENR will act on this (Ang ato is to be vigilant sa mga papel, sa progress. For sure, ang DENR will act on this),” Metrillo emphasized, underscoring the group's long-term commitment to guarding the property's historical and legal designation.
The multi-sectoral group’s optimism was visibly bolstered by their ability to formally introduce what they described as authentic, verified historical records during the confrontation.
The legal battle hinges on whether the land—originally granted specifically for educational, charitable, and philanthropic purposes under Section 70 of the Public Land Act—can legally be reconfigured for speculative commercial expansion.
As both sides await the DENR’s critical next move regarding the forfeiture and reversion case, the COPTAC camp has made it clear that their watchful eye will remain fixed on the case, promising total scrutiny over every step of the legal process.
