BY DAVE SUAN ALBARADO
Bohol First District Board Member Benjie Arcamo has sounded alarm over a potentially defective special power of attorney (SPA) used in the controversial P88-million sale of a Panglao lot to the Bohol provincial government, suggesting the transaction could be annulled and Ombudsman cases could be filed if irregularities are confirmed.
Speaking during an interview over DYTR’s Newsmakers ug Uban Pa program hosted by Ardy Batoy-Araneta on Thursday, Arcamo, a lawyer by profession, said the SPA’s validity hinges on whether both alleged sellers, Noel and Nathaniel Arbolente, authorized the deal.
The lot, a 29,335-square-meter property in Barangay Danao, Panglao, was reportedly sold to the provincial government through attorney-in-fact James Carpo Yu for P88,005,000, according to a Deed of Absolute Sale obtained by The Bohol Tribune..
Arcamo pointed out that if one of the Arbolentes did not sign the SPA, the document could be deemed defective, potentially voiding the sale.
Adding to the controversy, Nathaniel Arbolente has publicly disputed the transaction, denying any involvement in the sale in a letter to The Bohol Tribune published last week.
He expressed shock at being named a seller in the deal, which was reportedly finalized on December 23, 2024, under Governor Aris Aumentado and witnessed by Junin Caberte.
Reports said Caberte was not supposed to stand as witness to the P88-million sale as he is not a provincial assessor.
Further complicating matters, reports alleged that Noel Arbolente, the other named seller, died years ago, though a different individual named Noel Arbolente, unrelated to the property, is currently alive.
Ownership change of the land took place in less than a month, sources said.
A potential double-sale scenario is also being looked into by investigators.
Nathaniel, the sole surviving alleged owner, has challenged the sale’s legitimacy, prompting questions about the transaction’s authenticity.
Arcamo noted that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) approved the budget for the lot purchase—intended for a planned convention center—but had no further involvement after authorizing the funds.
“The SP’s role was to approve the plan to buy a lot for the convention center. Beyond that, it was out of our hands,” he said.
He stressed, however, that the provincial government should have conducted thorough due diligence before proceeding, given that taxpayers’ money was at stake.
“This issue has not been discussed at the SP,” Arcamo added, noting that no formal case has been filed yet.
His comments were in response to Provincial Legal Officer Handel Lagunay, who previously stated there were no issues with the purchase.
The Bohol Tribune’s investigative report, which first exposed the deal, claimed the transaction bypassed standard procurement protocols, including mandatory appraisals and due diligence.
The report also flagged an estimated P5 million in unpaid capital gains taxes, raising further questions about oversight.
In a separate development, Arcamo noted that an investigation into alleged irregularities surrounding the P10 Million Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) scam at Capitol has yet to gain traction at the SP.
“There’s no clear directive to push it forward,” he said, suggesting the issue has been sidelined for months. With sessions expected to become less intense, board members may shift focus to other priorities, he added.
Nathaniel Arbolente, meanwhile, has requested direct communication with The Bohol Tribune to clarify the land sale dispute, revealing the growing uncertainty surrounding the provincial government’s acquisition.