G.R. NO. 166281 - JESUS ANGELES, GLORIA MALANA, ANSELMO NAVALES, FELICIANO VILLAMAYOR, DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF LAGUNA, VS. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS.D E C I S I O N - Supreme Court E-Library

Ruling

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of the plaintiffs and the defendants and any and all persons acting under them and in their behalf are hereby ordered to vacate the parcel of land described as: "A parcel of land located at Mayondon, Los Baños, Laguna, bounded on the North by Damaso Sanga (or his heirs), on the East by the Municipality of Los Baños (now University of the Philippines) on the Southeast by the Municipality of Los Baños (now University of the Philippines) and on the West by the Laguna Lake; consisting of an area of 2,913 square meters, more or less, assessed at P70.00 under Tax Declaration No. 5841 in the name of Juan C. Sanga." and surrender the possession of the same to the plaintiffs. [10] The decision became final and executory as the defendants and the Director of Lands failed to appeal. [11] When Sanga sought to have defendants evicted from the property based on the trial court's decision, the latter claimed that they had titles over the property based on the free (sales) patents granted to them by the State, hence, had the right to possess such lots. The court rejected their claims. They sought relief from the CA, but the appellate court dismissed their petition. [12] On October 12, 1983, Sanga filed a protest with the Bureau of Lands, claiming that, as early as May 25, 1982, the RTC of Laguna had rendered judgment in his favor in Civil Case No. B-541, and that such decision was already final and executory. He prayed that the free patents as well as the titles based thereon, issued by the Registry of Deeds be cancelled, thus: WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed that after due hearing and investigation, the following Free Patents issued with their respective names of patentee-respondents be revoked and/or cancelled: Jesus Angeles - Free Patent No. (IV-3) 16637 or OCT P-1944 Gloria Malana - Free Patent No. (IV-3) 16644 or OCT P-1946 Anselmo Navales - Free Patent No. (IV-3) 16684 or OCT P-1964 Feliciano Villamayor - Free Patent No. (IV-3) 16685 or OCT P-1965 and after cancellation thereof has been effected, that proper title be issued to herein claimant-protestant. [13] When apprised of the protest, [14] the Chief of the Legal Division of the Bureau of Lands issued a letter [15] dated November 18, 1983 requesting the District Lands Officer to conduct an immediate investigation of the matter and to submit a report thereon as soon as possible. The matter was referred to Atty. Nicasio M. Rino, Jr., who then issued the following report: That the lots in question is situated in Brgy. Mayondon, Los Baños, Laguna, and found to be within the Psu-232665 of Juan Sanga, et al., which has been the subject of a civil case filed before the Court of First Instance of Laguna, Branch 1, Biñan, Laguna and docketed as Civil Case No. B-541 wherein a decision rendered is favorable to the herein protestants; That during the first hearing which was held in this Office on January 5, 1984, counsels for the respond