Rule on agents who are OFWs

QUESTION: Sir John, there are Filipino OFWs who are selling real estate development projects abroad. Some of them use the internet to capture buyers. How do we make a ruling on them with respect to RA 9646 (Real Estate Service Act of 2009)?


ANSWER: There are two factors to consider in determining violations: (1) where is the location of the living body of the person who performs real estate service defined by Sec 3 of RA 9646, AND (2) where is the PROPERTY.

Even if the person is an OFW or a foreign citizen, he he/she is selling development projects in the Philippines, he is still covered by Article III of PD 957 of HLURB, and therefore also automatically covered by RA 9646.

Basta ang Devt Project ay nasa Pinas, covered yan ng PD957 and RA 9646. Pag violation ng PD 957 ang mag police nyan HLURB. Pag violation ng RA 9646 ang mag police nyan PRC. Nasa Item #9 sa AIPORESP Platform natin eh magiging deputized apprehension officers ang mga RESPs na nakakuha ng CEP on Anti-Colorum Law Enforcement Procedure.

Aware naman ang Developers sa batas. Pag maka-apprehend ng colorum na nasa labas ng bansa, iimbistigahan naman yan, and kung sabihin niya na wala siyang alam sa registration requirement ehh ang Developer ang accountable nyan. Pag magpakita ang Developer ng accreditation certificate na conforme pirmado ni colorum na merong klaro na provision na si agent ay required na magpa-register eh dalawa sila ni Developer maging accountable. Pareho sila magbayad ng fine. At the very least P200,000 fine ni Developer, and P200,000 fine ni Colorum Agent.