Boracay Businesswoman Denies Fraud Allegations

MANILA, Philippines - A businesswoman, who claims to own real estate properties in the island resort of Boracay in Aklan, has recently came out with a statement on Tuesday clearing her involvement in an alleged fraud involving four foreign expatriates and a Filipino lawyer.

In a statement provided to the Manila Bulletin on November 23, 2010, Dolora "Dolly" Khanna, through her legal counsels, denied accusations thrown against her by Canadians Peter Eckart and Peter Tayler, American couple Spencer and Evelyn Anderson, and Filipino lawyer Lucas Licerio, linking her to an alleged fraudulent transaction involving real estate properties at the Boracay Luxury Homes.

"Mrs. Khanna owns thousands of square meters of Lot 593 by virtue of a series of Deeds and Absolute Sale executed between Atty. Licerio, in his capacity as her and attorney-in-fact of the other remaining heirs, as seller and Mrs. Khanna as buyer," said the statement provided by Khanna's legal counsel.

"As owner thereof, Mrs. Khanna has the right to dispose them."

In a previous story, it was reported that an estafa case was filed by the foreign expatriates and Licerio, alleging Khanna to have sold the properties to the foreigners after claiming ownership of the lots, which were allegedly owned by Licerio.

"After buying the Boracay properties from Atty. Licerio in 2007, Mrs. Khanna, developed the properties, designed and constructed homes and other improvements therein, and marketed them at her sole expense," Khanna's cam said.

"The project was referred to as the 'Cliff Project,' where the Anderson spouses, Spencer and Evelyn, having fully paid for their homes, was issued a Deed of Absolute Sale. Since then, possession of their homes has been entirely turned over to them."

The said statement also shed light on the allegations against Khanna concerning her status as a businesswoman in the Philippines and in the United States.

"Mrs. Khanna is a reputable business woman with multiple successful businesses in the United States. She recently returned to the country... and decided to acquire dual citizenship and invest in Boracay as a sign of her confidence to the Philippines," the statement clarified.