Capitol withdraws from CPSU-Moises Padilla land purchase

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD CITY – Negros Occidental Provincial Administrator Atty. Rayfrando Diaz confirmed that the provincial government is backing out of buying the property occupied by the Central Philippine State University (CPSU)-Moises Padilla Campus.

“Yes, we already sent a letter to the owner that we are backing out,” Diaz said in a phone interview with Capitol reporters on Friday.

He said the owner, Francisco Nazareno Jr., failed to cooperate in correcting discrepancies in the property documents.

“So we backed out because he said he no longer wants to continue,” Diaz said. “He also wants a higher price.”

He added that Nazareno’s wife did not sign, and his Tax Identification Number does not match Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records.

Diaz said he recommended to the governor that if that’s the case, they would look for another property for CPSU.

When asked what would happen to the more than 1,000 college students of the university, Diaz said, “Well, there’s nothing we can do — it’s a legal issue that we can’t resolve if the other party doesn’t cooperate.”

“But the money is already available — PHP25 million,” he said.

Diaz added it might be better to build a new campus altogether.

He also said Nazareno initially wanted to rush the sale, to the point of what seemed like harassment.

“Then suddenly he says he doesn’t want to proceed,” Diaz added. “He also told our lawyers not to talk to him directly anymore.”

To make the decision official, Diaz said the governor sent a letter to Nazareno stating that “the proposed Deed of Sale between the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and yourself involving a 20,000-square-meter parcel of land located in Barangay 7, Poblacion, Municipality of Moises Padilla, appraised at Twenty-Five Million Pesos (PHP25,000,000), is terminated.”

The letter, dated July 28, 2025, was also furnished to reporters.

In his letter, Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson emphasized that “upon the recommendation of the Provincial Legal Office and following a comprehensive review of the circumstances surrounding the transaction, the Provincial Government has decided to formally withdraw from all further dealings and to discontinue any intent to proceed with the said sale.”

The decision was based on the following considerations:

1. Failure to comply with legal and documentary requirements.

Despite numerous follow-ups and efforts to facilitate the transaction, Nazareno’s continued failure to submit the required legal and supporting documents prevented the provincial government from moving the process forward.

The lack of cooperation and responsiveness significantly hindered due diligence.

Discrepancies between his declared Tax Identification Number and his date of birth also raised concerns about the accuracy of his personal and tax records.

2. Legal deficiencies in the executed Deed of Sale.

The Deed of Sale was executed without the written consent of Nazareno’s spouse, despite being legally married.

Under the Family Code of the Philippines, transactions involving conjugal or community property require spousal consent.

As a result, the Deed of Sale is rendered void and without legal effect.

3. Adversarial and uncooperative conduct.

The provincial government observed that the overall conduct of negotiations had become increasingly adversarial and unproductive.

Lacson noted that despite efforts to extend assistance, including document preparation, property appraisal, coordination with CPSU, and preliminary BIR processing, there was no corresponding or sincere engagement from Nazareno’s side.

“In view of the foregoing, and taking into consideration your recent verbal manifestation that you no longer wish to pursue the sale, the Provincial Government finds no legal or practical basis to move forward with the transaction,” Lacson stated.

It may be recalled that Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Garcia-Yulo sought Lacson’s help after Nazareno reportedly asked CPSU officials to buy the property currently occupied by the university.

The property was previously the subject of a usufruct agreement entered into in 2007 for 10 years between CPSU and the local government, then led by original owner and former Mayor Francisco Nazareno.

After the usufruct agreement expired, the owner allowed CPSU to continue occupying the property, which sits beside a two-hectare lot donated by the former mayor during the same period.