A peaceful takeover of a bitterly contested piece of prime property belied what was believed to have been a violent background that led to the brutal murder of Atty. Manuelita “Mia” Mascariñas-Green who paved the way for the eventual return to her client a piece of prime lot in Panglao.  

Police Senior Inspector (PS/Insp.) Edwin Mateo Lacostales told the Chronicle about the successful hushed-up efforts of the alleged rightful owner, Conrada Gubalani Otero Blomqvist to take possession of the 38 room Alona Embrace Hotel located at Purok 6, Barangay Tawala, Panglao.

SHAKY PEACE

Blomqvist, accompanied by his new lawyer Atty. Inocencio dela Cerna of the Dela Cerna & Associates Law Offices in Cebu City negotiated with representatives of her estranged son-in-law, Lloyd Lancer Sylio Gonzaga identified as relatives, according to Lacostales.

Gonzaga, together with his alleged bodyguard, Romarico Benigi-an were tagged by several eyewitnesses as two of the four suspects in the ambush-slaying of Atty. Mia in full view of her three kids and their nanny at 4:30 PM on February 15, 2017 at the corner of Zamora and J.A. Clarin Sts., Barangay Dao.

But according to Lacostales, Blomqvist immediately left for Cebu together with her lawyer after requesting guests to start leaving the hotel to prepare for its temporary closure.

A private security detail is now looking after the safety of the remaining guests and the peace and order of the 1,858 sq. meter property.

VIOLENT PAST

Atty. Mia drew the ire of Gonzaga after she handled the transfer of the tax declaration under the name of Blomqvist involving the lot and hotel.

Blomqvist recalled that on February 14, 2017, a day before Atty. Mia was shot 8 times in the head and neck by the suspects, she received a call from Gonzaga over her cellular phone threatening her “buakon ko nag ulo ang imong Atty. Mga yawa kamong duha hapit napud ang imong katapusan Ma”. (I’m going to break the head of your lawyer. Both of you are devils, Your end will come soon Ma).

A case for Usurpation and Forgery was set to be filed by Atty. Mia on February 20, 2017 against Gonzaga on the strength of the tax declaration transfer.

Atty. dela Cerna is now handling two land cases filed by Blomqvist against Gonzaga for the cancellation of a falsified document transferring ownership of the hotel property to Gonzaga and a request to transfer title and tax declaration under the name of Blomqvist.

The lot and hotel was acquired by Blomqvist from her niece, Jovelyn Acebedo-Forsberg who was the owner of the four parcels of land with a total land area of 1,858 sq, meters with a hotel then known as Alona Studio Hotel allegedly owned by her husband Jan Michael Forsberg.

According to court documents, twenty armed men who claimed to be from Davao City took control of the hotel on June 17 and June 20, 2015 and drove away from the hotel Jovelyn, her husband and son.

After acquiring the lot and hotel from the Forsbergs, a feud erupted between Blomqvist and Gonzaga over the ownership of the property.

According to Lacostales, Provincial Officer of the Bohol Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (BCIDG) the peaceful but grueling negotiation for the possession of Blomqvist was secured by the presence of the Bohol Police Provincial Office, Panglao Police Station and the Panglao Tourist Police. (Chito M. Visarra)