Republic v. Corazon Sese and Fe Sese G.R. 185092 | June 4, 2014 | Mendoza, J. FACTS Records sho !ha! on Se"!e#$er 1%, 2002, Corazon C. Sese and Fe C. Sese &res"onden!s' ()*ed )!h !he MTC an a""*)c a""*)ca!) a!)on on (or or)+)n or)+)na* a* re+)s! re+)s!ra! ra!)on )on o( *and *and oer oer a "arce* o( *and )!h an area o( 10, %92 s-uare #e!ers, s)!ua!ed )n aran+a/ S!o. Cr)s!o, Mun)c)"a*)!/ o( u*)*an, ro)nce o( u*acan, and #ore "ar!)cu*ar*/ descr)$ed as o! 1124%. Res" Res"on onde den! n!s s a**e a**e+e +ed d !ha! !ha! on Ju*/ Ju*/ 22, 22, 19%2 19%2,, !he/ !he/ ac-u ac-u)r )red ed,, !hro !hrou+ u+h h a dona dona!) !)on on )n!e )n!err )o )os s (ro# (ro# !he) !he)r r #o!her #o!her,, Resurr Resurrecc ecc)on )on . Cas!ro Cas!ro &Resu &Resurre rrecc) cc)on' on',, !he su$ su$ec ec!! a+r) a+r)cu cu*! *!ur ura* a* *and *and33 !ha! !ha! !he/ !he/,, !hro !hrou+ u+h h !he) !he)r r "redecessors)n)n!eres!, had $een )n "ossess)on o( !he su$ec! "ro"er!/3 and !ha! !he "ro"er!/ as no! )!h)n a resera!)on. n su""or! o( !he)r a""*)ca!)on, res"onden!s su$#)!!ed !a6 dec*ara!)ons under !he)r na#e, a Cer!)()ca!e o( Techn)ca* 7escr) 7escr)"!) "!)on, on, a Cer!)( Cer!)()ca )ca!)o !)on n )n *)eu *)eu o( *os! *os! Sure/ Sure/ors ors Cer!)()ca!e, (()c)a* Rece)"!s o( "a/#en! o( rea* "ro"er!/ !a6, a cer!)()ca!)on (ro# !he #un)c)"a* !reasurer, and !he sure/ "*an s!a!)n+ !ha! !he *and su$ec! o( !he sure/ as a*)ena$*e and d)s"osa$*e *and, and as cer!)()ed !o $/ !he ureau o( Fores!r/ on March 1, 192%, as ou!s)de o( an/ c))* or #)*)!ar/ #)*)!ar/ resera!)on. resera!)on. n !he *oer "or!)on o( !he "*an, !here as a no!e s!a!)n+ !ha! a deed o( a$so*u!e sa*e oer !he su$ec! "ro"er!/ as e6ecu!ed $/ a cer!a)n u)s San!os and Fer#)na San!os &!he San!oses' )n (aor o( Resurrecc)on on c!o$er 4, 1950. F)nd)n+ !he a""*)ca!)on su(()c)en! )n (or# and su$s!ance, !he MTC )ssued )ssued !he rder rder,, da!ed da!ed c!o$e c!o$err 10, 2002, 2002, se!!)n se!!)n+ + !he case case (or hear) hear)n+ n+ )!h )!h !he corres corres"on "ond)n d)n+ + "u$*)ca!)on. 7ur)n+ !he !r)a* on June 4, 200:, res"onden! Corazon C. Sese &Corazon' !es!)()ed on !he)r c*a)# oer !he su$ec! *o!. Therea(!er, res"onden!s su$#)!!ed !he)r (or#a* o((er o( e)dence, a(!er h)ch !he e)dence o((ered ere ad#)!!ed $/ !he MTC )n !he rder, da!ed Ju*/ 10, 200:, )!hou! o$ec!)on (ro# !he "u$*)c "rosecu!or. The SG SG d)d d)d no! no! "res "resen en!! an/ e)d e)den ence ce !o o""o o""ose se !he !he a""*)ca!)on. MTC +ran!ed and orderred !he re+)s!ra)!on o( !he su$ec! "ro"er!/ )n !he na#e o( !he res"onden!s. n 7ece#$er 19, 200:, !he SG )n!er"osed an a""ea* )!h !he CA, doc;e!ed as CAGR. C< =o. 814:9. n )!s $r)e(, !he SG ar+ued !ha! !here as no "roo( !ha! !he su$ u$ec! ec! "ro" "ro"er er!/ !/ as a*r a*read/ ead/ se+r se+re+ e+a! a!ed ed (ro# (ro# )na*)ena$*e *ands o( !he "u$*)c do#a)n. =R, a co#"e!en! au!hor)!/. !s con!en!s ere "r)#a (ac)e e)dence o( !he (ac!s s!a!ed
!here)n. Thus, !he e)dence as su(()c)en! !o es!a$*)sh !ha! !ha! !he su$ec su$ec!! "ro"er "ro"er!/ !/ as )ndeed )ndeed a*)ena a*)ena$*e $*e and d)s"osa$*e. ?)!h res"ec! !o !he second )ssue, !he CA as o( !he )e !ha! !ha! !he !he doc!r doc!r)n )ne e o( cons cons!r !ruc uc!) !)e e "oss "osses ess) s)on on as as a""*)ca$*e. Res"onden!s ac-u)red !he su$ec! "ro"er!/ !hrou+h a dona!)on )n!er )os e6ecu!ed on Ju*/ 22, 19%2 (ro# !he)r #o!her. The *a!!er ac-u)red !he sa)d "ro"er!/ (ro# !he San!oses on c!o$er 4, 1950 $/ )r!ue o( a deed deed o( a$so*u a$so*u!e !e sa*e. sa*e. Fur!he Fur!her, r, res"on res"onden den!! Corazo Corazon n !es!)()ed !ha! a s#a** hu! as $u)*! on !he sa)d *and, h)ch as occu")ed $/ !he or;er o( her #o!her. Moreoer, ne)!her !he "u$*)c "rosecu!or nor an/ "r)a!e )nd))dua* a""eared !o o""ose !he a""*)ca!)on (or re+)s!ra!)on o( !he su$ec! "ro"er!/. ?)!h res"ec! !o !he !a6 dec*ara!)ons, !he CA added !ha! a*!h a*!hou+ ou+h h !a6 !a6 dec* dec*ar ara! a!)o )on n or rea* rea*!/ !/ !a6 !a6 "a/# "a/#en en!s !s o( "ro"er!/ "ro"er!/ ere no! conc*us)e conc*us)e e)dence o( onersh)", onersh)", neer!he*ess, !he/ ere +ood )nd)c)a o( "ossess)on )n !he conce"! o( oner. SS@> ?= !he CA erred )n ru*)n+ !ha! !he a""roed sure/ "*an "*an )s "roo "roo(( !ha! !ha! !he !he su$ su$ec ec!! "*an "*an )s a*)e a*)ena na$* $*e e and and d)s"osa$*e. YES. d)s"osa$*e. YES. >7 A""*)can!s (or re+)s!ra!)on re+)s!ra!)on o( *and !)!*e #us! es!a$*)sh and "ro "roeB eB &1' &1' !ha! !ha! !he !he su$ su$ec ec!! *and *and (or# (or#s s "ar! "ar! o( !he !he d)s"osa$*e and a*)ena$*e *ands o( !he "u$*)c do#a)n3 &2' !ha! !he a""*)can! and h)s "redecessors)n)n!eres! hae $een $een )n o"en, o"en, con!)n con!)nuou uous, s, e6c*us e6c*us) )e e and no!or) no!or)ous ous "ossess)on and occu"a!)on o( !he sa#e3 and &:' !ha! )! )s under a $ona ()de c*a)# o( onersh)" s)nce June 12, 1945 1945,, or ear* ear*)e )err. Co#" Co#"*) *)an ance ce )!h )!h !he !he (ore (ore+o +o)n )n+ + re-u)r re-u)re#e e#en!s n!s )s )nd)s" )nd)s"ens ensa$* a$*e e (or an a""*)c a""*)ca!) a!)on on (or re+)s!ra!)on o( *and !)!*e, under Sec!)on 14&1' o( .7. =o. 1529 1529,, !o a*) a*)d* d*/ / "ros "ros"er "er.. The The a$se a$senc nce e o( an/ an/ one one re-u re-u)s )s)! )!e e rend render ers s !he !he a""* a""*)c )ca! a!)o )on n (or (or re+) re+)s! s!ra ra!) !)on on su$s!an!)a**/ de(ec!)e. Anen! !he ()rs! re-u)s)!e, res"onden!s "resen!ed e)den e)dence ce !o es!a$* es!a$*)sh )sh !he d)s"os d)s"osa$* a$*e e and a*)ena a*)ena$*e $*e charac charac!er !er o( !he su$ec! su$ec! *and *and !hrou+ !hrou+h h a sure/ sure/ "*an, here on )!s *oer "or!)on, a no!e s!a!ed, a#on+ o!hers, as (o**o (o**osB sB Th)s Th)s sure/ sure/ )s )ns)de )ns)de !he a*)en a*)ena$* a$*e e and d)s"osa$*e area as "er roec! =o. 20 C Ma" =o. D:% cer!)()ed $/ !he ureau o( Fores!r/ on March 1, 192%. ! )s ou!s)de an/ c))* or #)*)!ar/ resera!)on. The sa)d "*an as a""r a""ro oed ed $/ !he !he 7>=R 7>=R,, and and Mana Mana+e +e#e #en! n! Ser)ces, Re+)ona* (()ce , San Fernando, a#"an+a on 7ece#$er 7ece#$er :, 1998. The annotation in the survey plan, however, fell short of the requireent of the law law in prov provin in! ! its its disp isposab osable le and and alie alien nable able character. n Re"u$*)c . >s")nosa, !he cour! he*d !ha! a no!a!)on #ade $/ a surveyor" surveyor"!eod !eodetic etic en!ineer en!ineer that the property surveyed was alienable and disposable disposable was not the positive !overnent act that would reove
the property fro the inalienable doain and neither was it the evidence accepted as sufficient to controvert the presuption that the property was inalienable. Th)s "roo( )s no! su(()c)en!. Sec!)on 2, Ar!)c*e E o( !he 198% Cons!)!u!)on, "ro)desB A** *ands o( !he "u$*)c do#a)n, a!ers, #)nera*s, coa*, "e!ro*eu#, and o!her #)nera* o)*s, a** (orces o( "o!en!)a* ener+/, ()sher)es, (ores!s or !)#$er, )*d*)(e, (*ora and (auna, and o!her na!ura* resources are oned $/ !he S!a!e... For !he or)+)na* re+)s!ra!)on o( !)!*e, !he a""*)can! &"e!)!)oners )n !h)s case' #us! oerco#e !he "resu#"!)on !ha! !he *and sou+h! !o $e re+)s!ered (or#s "ar! o( !he "u$*)c do#a)n. @n*ess "u$*)c *and )s shon !o hae $een rec*ass)()ed or a*)ena!ed !o a "r)a!e "erson $/ !he S!a!e, )! re#a)ns "ar! o( !he )na*)ena$*e "u$*)c do#a)n. ndeed, occu"a!)on !hereo( )n !he conce"! o( oner, no #a!!er ho *on+, canno! r)"en )n!o onersh)" and $e re+)s!ered as a !)!*e. To oerco#e such "resu#"!)on, )ncon!roer!)$*e e)dence #us! $e shon $/ !he a""*)can!. A$sen! such e)dence, !he *and sou+h! !o $e re+)s!ered re#a)ns )na*)ena$*e. n !he "resen! case, "e!)!)oners c)!e a sure/or +eode!)c en+)neers no!a!)on )n >6h)$)! > )nd)ca!)n+ !ha! !he sure/ as )ns)de a*)ena$*e and d)s"osa$*e *and. Such no!a!)on does no! cons!)!u!e a "os)!)e +oern#en! ac! a*)d*/ chan+)n+ !he c*ass)()ca!)on o( !he *and )n -ues!)on. #erily, a ere surveyor has no authority to reclassify lands of the public doain. $y relyin! solely on the said surveyor%s assertion, petitioners have not sufficiently proven that the land in question has been declared alienable.& The $urden o( "roo( )n oerco#)n+ !he "resu#"!)on o( S!a!e onersh)" o( !he *ands o( !he "u$*)c do#a)n )s on !he "erson a""*/)n+ (or re+)s!ra!)on &or c*a)#)n+ onersh)"', ho #us! "roe !ha! !he *and su$ec! o( !he a""*)ca!)on )s a*)ena$*e or d)s"osa$*e. To oerco#e !h)s "resu#"!)on, )ncon!roer!)$*e e)dence #us! $e es!a$*)shed !ha! !he *and su$ec! o( !he a""*)ca!)on &or c*a)#' )s a*)ena$*e or d)s"osa$*e. The a""*)can! #us! es!a$*)sh !he e6)s!ence o( a "os)!)e ac! o( !he +oern#en! such as a "res)den!)a* "roc*a#a!)on or an e6ecu!)e order3 an ad#)n)s!ra!)e ac!)on3 )nes!)+a!)on re"or!s o( ureau o( ands )nes!)+a!ors3 or a *e+)s*a!)e ac! or a s!a!u!e. The a""*)can! #a/ a*so secure a cer!)()ca!)on (ro# !he +oern#en! !ha! !he *and c*a)#ed !o hae $een "ossessed (or !he re-u)red nu#$er o( /ears )s a*)ena$*e and d)s"osa$*e. The a""*)can! #us! a*so sho su(()c)en! "roo( !ha! !he 7>=R Secre!ar/ a""roed !he *and c*ass)()ca!)on and re*eased !he *and )n -ues!)on as a*)ena$*e and d)s"osa$*e. Thus, !he "resen! ru*e )s !ha! an a""*)ca!)on (or or)+)na* re+)s!ra!)on #us! $e acco#"an)ed $/ &1' a C>=R or >=R Cer!)()ca!)on3 and &2' a co"/ o( !he or)+)na* c*ass)()ca!)on a""roed $/ !he 7>=R Secre!ar/ and
cer!)()ed as a !rue co"/ $/ !he *e+a* cus!od)an o( !he o(()c)a* records. ere, !he on*/ e)dence "resen!ed $/ res"onden!s !o "roe !he d)s"osa$*e and a*)ena$*e charac!er o( !he su$ec! *and as an anno!a!)on $/ a +eode!)c en+)neer )n a sure/ "*an. A*!hou+h !h)s as cer!)()ed $/ !he 7>=R, )! c*ear*/ (a**s shor! o( !he re-u)re#en!s (or or)+)na* re+)s!ra!)on. ?)!h re+ard !o !he !h)rd re-u)s)!e, )! #us! $e shon !ha! !he "ossess)on and occu"a!)on o( a "arce* o( *and $/ !he a""*)can!, $/ h)#se*( or !hrou+h h)s "redecessors)n )n!eres!, s!ar!ed on June 12, 1945 or ear*)er. A #ere sho)n+ o( "ossess)on and occu"a!)on (or :0 /ears or #ore, $/ )!se*(, )s no! su(()c)en!. n !h)s re+ard, res"onden!s *);e)se (a)*ed. As !he records and "*ead)n+s o( !h)s case )** reea*, !he ear*)es! !ha! res"onden!s and !he)r "redecessor)n )n!eres! can !race $ac; "ossess)on and occu"a!)on o( !he su$ec! *and as on*/ )n !he /ear 1950,hen !he)r #o!her, Resurrecc)on, ac-u)red !he su$ec! *and (ro# !he San!oses on c!o$er 4, 1950 $/ )r!ue o( an a$so*u!e sa*e. >)den!*/, !he)r "ossess)on o( !he su$ec! "ro"er!/ co##enced rou+h*/ ()e &5' /ears $e/ond June 12, 1945, !he rec;on)n+ da!e e6"ress*/ "ro)ded under Sec!)on 14&1' o( .7. =o. 1529. Thus, !he)r a""*)ca!)on (or re+)s!ra!)on o( *and !)!*e as *e+a**/ )n()r#. Accord)n+*/, !here #us! $e an e6"ress dec*ara!)on $/ !he S!a!e !ha! !he "u$*)c do#)n)on "ro"er!/ )s no *on+er )n!ended (or "u$*)c ser)ce or !he dee*o"#en! o( !he na!)ona* ea*!h or !ha! !he "ro"er!/ has $een coner!ed )n!o "a!r)#on)a*. ?)!hou! such e6"ress dec*ara!)on, !he "ro"er!/, een )( c*ass)()ed as a*)ena$*e or d)s"osa$*e, re#a)ns "ro"er!/ o( !he "u$*)c do#)n)on, "ursuan! !o Ar!)c*e 420&2', and, !hus, )nca"a$*e o( ac-u)s)!)on $/ "rescr)"!)on. ! )s on*/ hen such a*)ena$*e and d)s"osa$*e *ands are e6"ress*/ dec*ared $/ !he S!a!e !o $e no *on+er )n!ended (or "u$*)c ser)ce or (or !he dee*o"#en! o( !he na!)ona* ea*!h !ha! !he "er)od o( ac-u)s)!)e "rescr)"!)on can $e+)n !o run. Such dec*ara!)on sha** $e )n !he (or# o( a *a du*/ enac!ed $/ Con+ress or a res)den!)a* roc*a#a!)on )n cases here !he res)den! )s du*/ au!hor)zed $/ *a. Thus, under Sec!)on 14&2' o( .7. =o. 1529, (or ac-u)s)!)e "rescr)"!)on !o co##ence and o"era!e a+a)ns! !he S!a!e, !he c*ass)()ca!)on o( *and as a*)ena$*e and d)s"osa$*e a*one )s no! su(()c)en!. The a""*)can! #us! $e a$*e !o sho !ha! !he S!a!e, )n add)!)on !o !he sa)d c*ass)()ca!)on, e6"ress*/ dec*ared !hrou+h e)!her a *a enac!ed $/ Con+ress or a "roc*a#a!)on )ssued $/ !he res)den! !ha! !he su$ec! *and )s no *on+er re!a)ned (or "u$*)c ser)ce or !he dee*o"#en! o( !he na!)ona* ea*!h or !ha! !he "ro"er!/ has $een coner!ed )n!o "a!r)#on)a*.
