DIRECTOR OF LANDS, vs. INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT and ANGELINA SARMIENTO.
- G.R. Number: G.R. No. 68946
- Promulgated: 1992-05-22
- Ponente: Davide, Jr., J.
Doctrine
Land registration courts must exercise extreme caution and prudent care in confirming imperfect titles over lands of the public domain to prevent abuse by land speculators.
Priority in acquisition of idle public lands should favor deserving citizens (e.g., urban poor, landless farm workers) to advance social justice.
Facts
Private respondent obtained registration of a 376,397 sq. m. parcel in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan; the Intermediate Appellate Court affirmed the trial court's grant of registration in Land Registration Case No. (SM) N-167.
After pleadings and motions, this Court gave due course to the petition and required memoranda; private respondent filed her memorandum late after counsel were held in contempt and fined.
Evidence showed predecessors-in-interest occupied the land in 1928 and 1948 in concept of owners, introduced improvements, and possession continued in concept of owner by applicant; the land was surveyed as Lot 1005 and certified as alienable and disposable.
Issues
Whether the registration of the subject land in favor of private respondent should be upheld.
Whether this Court should overturn the Intermediate Appellate Court and trial court decisions and dismiss the land registration case.
Ruling
The petition is GRANTED; the Court REVERSED the Intermediate Appellate Court decision of 12 October 1984 and the trial court decision of 2 June 1982, and ORDERED the case dismissed.
Costs were imposed against private respondent.
Keywords
G.R. No. 68946, Land Registration Case No. (SM) N-167, application for registration of title, special default, Opposition, contract of services, rescission of agreement, registration of lot, real property taxes, Tax Declaration No. 8388, deed of absolute sale, Bilihang Lampasan at Patuluyan, Confirmatory Deed of Sale, possession, ownership, unmolested, openly, continuously, and in the concept of owners, improvements, fencing, planting crops, military, naval, civil or government reservation