by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - After receiving complaints from neighbors the Department of Public Works and the Department of Revenue & Taxation, the Chamorro Land Trust Commission has issued an order to cease and desist for one resident who has spent a year developing nearly nine acres of land in Dededo.

After planting 500 coconut trees, 250 calamansi peppers trees and raising 120 roosters and hens, one northern resident is being evicted from the land he developed for nearly a year after the CLTC received several complaints from neighbors and different government agencies. CLTC Administrator Monte Mafnas says Frank Onedera needs to vacate the nine-acre property that sits on Ysengsong Road in Dededo 60 days following a cease and desist order issued on June 15.

Mafnas says they've determined Onedera has been occupying CLTC land with no lease or license, has been operating a business with out a business license and under Rev & Tax scrutiny and has no written authorization from the Commission to occupy CLTC property. "Reasonably we have given him time to remove all his improvements and vacate and the final notice to be served to Mr. Onedera in the event he continues to stay on this property will be served by the Guam Police Department and he will be escorted off the property," he explained.

The property showcases a sign that reads "Sunset Valley Game Farm Specializing in Fighting Game Birds" - however, the land is not designated to conduct any sort of business, according to Mafnas. Complaints have been made that Onedera was selling roosters. "He says he has planted over 100 seedlings, but basically the nature of the use of the property is for raising game fouls or roosters to that effect…if he is selling, it is an illegal activity because that lease is an agricultural lease for those lessees that were given a lease," he explained.

Mafnas contends that Onedera was not given a license or a lease to use the property. Mafnas adds that he has been civil and amicable but has exhausted all possible remedies.

Today, KUAM News caught Onedera on the property, which featured numerous roosters and hens, coconut trees and a shrine for his recently deceased wife.

"I'm not a operating a business," he responded when asked about possibly operating without a license. "That was the complaint, but I don't have business...I'm a retired fire chief, I worked 31 years for the government and I know what's law."

Onedera, who did not want to be shown on camera, claims the complaints were made by people trying to ruin his reputation and want the land for themselves. He attests that he spent nearly $40,000 into improving the property and at first believed the land belonged to his brother-in-law.

However, Mafnas says that Onedera is at fault for the confusion and failed to address the lease and the actual owners of the property. Mafnas adds that whatever improvements were made belong to the land and in this case the land belongs to the Chamorro Land Trust Commission.

Onedera said, "All I want is my reimbursement of the money I spent, if they want me out, I don't have anything against it, pay me back for what I spent. Monte at the beginning told me to go ahead and develop the land, keep planting and planting, nobody is going to chase you out. So that's what I did."

Mafnas wasn't at the Commission a year ago and defends he never made those statements and that CLTC has no plans to reimburse Onedera for his improvements. He says that Onedera can remove all his developments and should they remain on the property after 60 days from the order, it will belong to the CLTC.