‘Strange view on law enforcement’ may explain current mess at HLURB

Neal Cruz is to be complimented for beginning to lift the lid on the serious problems at the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board or HLURB (“Something is rotten in the state of HLURB,” Opinion, 12/1/13). Almost two years ago, Vice President Jejomar Binay, who has authority over that regulatory agency, announced that the HLURB rules and regulations would be “strictly enforced.” It seems that we are on our way to being disappointed.

As an owner of a condominium unit in Makati City, my experience—and that of many others I have spoken with about their issues with the HLURB—suggests that there may be a degree of what experts call “regulatory capture.” An HLURB enforcement official I approached in an attempt to get the agency to take action against a developer for selling condos without a license, and for other violations, merely responded: “We don’t want to harass the developers and do harm to the industry.” As a law professor I thought that view on law enforcement rather strange, to say the least.

I have heard so many complaints about the HLURB from condo owners in Metro Manila—so many that my ears have become sore hearing them. I suggest there needs to be a public inquiry to sort out the mess at the HLURB.

—GILL H. BOEHRINGER,

professor of law (retired),

Sydney, Australia