Advice on property taxation avoidance and consequences

Hi,

I have a property in Mabalacat. The property was owned by my parents, my mum has since passed away and my father has desserted us. I purchased the house last year.

The City of Malabacat have now sent me a letter from Public Notary saying that my parents never paid tax on the property for 25 years.

They are now claiming that I need to pay P189k in back dated tax, by 25th Feb or there are going to be serious consequences.

Can anyone please advise me on what options I have. They say that they can split the debt across two payments though money is tight at the moment. Can they really do this in such short notice ?

i have a similar case. Only my parents are not dead yet.

It's like that even when the seller and buyer aren't related.
Property related Depts follow the PROPERTY UNDEPENDING of who is owner.
For instance electric too !!!

Earlier it was common Registrators let it pass/didn't though of it,
but now they are suppoused to NOT approve the owning transfer before depts are paid. (I'm sure about taxes. I don't believe it's like that for electric and such, but the new owner will be responcible for depts for electric anyway.)

There is provision under the local government code limiting the unpaid real property tax collection to only 5 years (not sure about the period) back taxes, so your taxes might get lower.