Land grab exposure continues
A lawyer representing businesses seeking possessory rights of prime coastal land, and went on to become a government functionary who approved the transactions, is the focus of intensive media scrutiny.
In less than six months, 12 corporations and two individuals achieved an unprecedented event in the history of land titling in Panama: the recognition of their rights of possession, in Juan Hombrón, Cocle, says a La Prensa investigative team.
The rapid process brought together about 50 locals who claimed to be the rightful owners of rights of possession of plots of different sizes convinced them to sell, agreed on a price for their alleged rights, made the choice of lawyers to represent them, and to do the paperwork.
Th rights covered adjacent lots of land to complete an unbroken balloon of 54.3 hectares.
The process had a particularly striking fact: no land had an area greater than five acres, which, under current legislation, allowed the lots to obtain at no cost.
Heading the whole process was Anabelle Villamonte, first as a lawyer for the company and then as director of the National Qualifications Authority of Land Management (Anati), approving the 14 requests.
Four months after obtaining the land for free, nine companies sold it. His true owners are unknown.
On the day the above story was being written, Sunday October 16 as a follow up to publication of an earlier detailed investigation Villamonte, carrying documents and accompanied by an unidentified man, appeared at La Prensa receptionpromising court, action, but the exposure continued on Tuesday.
The newspaper visited Juan Hombrón and other communities in the area on three occasions during this investigation, identifying conflicts an participants in the “singular titling process.”
Government spokesmenincluding the administrator of the Tourism Authority Salomon Shamah, have defended the legality of Villamonte’s actions
However, says La Prensa Law 38 of 2000, which regulates the administrative procedure establishes among the impediments to an official decision on a case, having "participated in the formation of the act or transaction," having been "attorney or advisor" or having "kinship"with people involved in the request. “Villamonte not only intervened in the application for recognition of possessory rights and then gave free land, but was also legal representative of 12 corporations benefiting from her decision. In addition, relatives of Villamonte-form, or formed part of the directors of these companies or were involved in the process as ‘special agents’ or managers.
“That is, Villamonte ignored at least three grounds of disability established by law.”
A subsequent attempted land grab in Paitilla, which Villamonte approved, led to her resignation and the break up of the ruling government coalition as Juan Carlos Varela, then Foreign Minister and Vice President, and Finance Minister Alberto Vallarino battled with other cabinet ministers over the Paitilla affair.
