THE group of Xavier University Almuni and concerned citizens welcome the swift and decisive move of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) which has ordered Xavier University (XU) and Cebu LandMasters Inc. (CLI) to appear for a formal hearing on May 26, 2026, as investigations intensify into the potential return of the Manresa Campus to government ownership.
This latest action follows an earlier directive issued on May 11, 2026, requiring both entities to explain their plans for commercial development on the property. The investigation centers on whether XU has violated the terms attached to the land grant it received decades ago.
Also required to attend is Atty. Ralph Metrillo, the individual who first raised concerns about possible violations. Since July 2024, he has formally written to both the Office of the Solicitor General and DENR Central Office, highlighting that XU’s land was acquired under specific conditions set by law.
KEY DEVELOPMENTS IN THE INVESTIGATION
On May 4, 2026, Atty. Metrillo announced during a press conference that DENR Central Office had directed Regional Office X to conduct a full inquiry into the Manresa property. The investigation includes assessing whether the land should be reverted to the government if violations are proven.
Records show that XU obtained the Manresa property in 1958 through a government concession under Section 70 of the Public Land Act – a legal provision that has remained unchanged to this day. Critically, this grant came with strict limitations on how the land could be used.
The DENR’s May 11 order confirms that Manresa is in fact a government grant with limitations on use, validating the concerns that have been raised.
CITIZEN PRAISES AGENCY’S ACTIONS
Atty. Metrillo expressed strong support for the DENR’s prompt and fair approach:
“As citizens, there is nothing more encouraging than seeing public officials act with urgency and fairness to protect the public interest and uphold the rule of law.”
He emphasized that the DENR has every legal right to enforce the terms of the 1958 land grant. “This is a matter for the courts to decide. The law must take its proper course,” he stated.
THE LEGAL ISSUE AT STAKE
A central point of contention: XU received the land without undergoing public auction – a process normally required for land sales – precisely because it qualified under Section 70 of the Public Land Act.
“XU benefited from this special provision to make the process easier, but it cannot now choose to ignore the conditions that came with it,” Atty. Metrillo explained. “That is not how the law works.”
He added that no subsequent amendments to the Public Land Act apply here. Even regulations allowing corporations to use land for commercial purposes – such as PD 763 – do not override the original terms.
“These later provisions apply only to transactions after the initial grant. Section 70 is a special provision that takes precedence over a general one. Since XU is the original grantee, the rules that applied in 1958 remain fully in force today.” .
