Poro mayor faces charges over 'illegal' development of cemetery

Local

THE mayor of Poro, Camotes Island, Cebu and other municipal officials are facing multiple lawsuits for allegedly converting private land into a public cemetery without the owner's consent.

The disputed property in Barangay Paz, Poro, Camotes, belongs to RMD Agricultural Development Inc., led by Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III.

The municipal government reportedly used the land for mass burials during the Covid-19 pandemic, later expanding it into the town’s public cemetery.

On January 31, 2025, Durano formally filed complaints against Poro Mayor Edgar Rama and other officials. The charges include property recovery, injunction, inventory, and damages.

RMD Agricultural Development Inc. discovered the unauthorized use of their property in December 2024. A survey revealed that burials occupied 6,767 square meters of the 13,008-square-meter lot.

According to the complaint, the municipal government collected over P5 million in burial fees but did not compensate the landowners.

The complaint alleges that Rama signed burial permits while Municipal Cemetery Administrator Val Ryan Rosauro III and Cemetery Coordinator Pablito Garciano facilitated transactions, which required payments through the treasurer’s office.

Durano and Shem Lucero, a resident whose late wife was buried in the disputed land, asked the court to stop the municipality from collecting burial fees without legal authority.

They also claimed that families had been misled into believing the local government had the right to use the property.

“Naguol, nahadlok ug nabalaka mi para sa among mga mahal sa kinabuhi nga posibleng ma-displace tungod gilubong sa maong luna. Pero mapasalamaton mi nga naay katin-awan ang tanan (We were worried, scared, and anxious for our loved ones who might be displaced because they were buried on that land. But we are grateful that the truth has come to light) ," Lucero said.

On February 5, 2025, Ramon “Red” Durano IV addressed public concerns in a Facebook video, denying claims that RMD Agricultural Development Inc. planned to reclaim the land where the deceased were buried.

“This situation has put RMD Corp. in a difficult position. RMD was established by my grandfather, Ramon Mercado Durano Sr., to manage our landholdings in Camotes,” he said.

After learning about the issue, he informed the company’s board and sent a formal letter to Rama requesting legal documents proving the land’s authorization as a public cemetery.

However, he found the mayor’s response unsatisfactory.

He said that their property in Santa Rosa (Paz) covered about 1.3 hectares, with nearly 7,000 square meters already used for burials, meaning almost half of the land had been taken.

Red also questioned whether Rama had legal authorization to convert the property into a cemetery.

According to Red, Rama initially claimed he was unaware of the cemetery’s use but promised to investigate and cooperate. However, Red alleged that Rama discouraged residents from attending a public hearing on the matter.

Despite this, many families attended the consultation. Instead of reclaiming the land, RMD Agricultural Development Inc. decided to donate the 6,767-square-meter portion directly to the affected families rather than to the barangay or municipality.

Red also clarified that the legal case includes a claim for damages. If the municipality compensates RMD Corp., they plan to either return the money to the families or use it to improve the cemetery.

He emphasized that the issue is about legal procedures and property rights, not financial gain.

With the case now in court, the Durano family continues to seek accountability from Rama and other municipal officials. The municipal government has yet to release an official statement regarding the allegations.(MyTVCebu)