G.R. No. 104296 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, VS. THE COURT OF APPEALS, HEIRS OF IRENE BULLUNGAN, REPRESENTED BY HER HUSBAND DOMINGO PAGGAO AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF ISABELA.

Ruling

Accordingly, there was indeed a title awarded such that when the same was brought under operation of Land Registration Act in 1957, it became incontrovertible in 1958. [12] This is not so. Where public land is acquired by an applicant through fraud and misrepresentation, as in the case at bar, the State may institute reversion proceedings even after the lapse of the one-year period. Nor is there merit in the claim of private respondents that the action taken by the Republic in this case is "not in keeping with the policy of State to foster families as the factors of society, to give them a sense. of protection and permanency in their homes." [13] Public policy demands that one who obtains title to a public land through fraud should not be allowed to benefit therefrom. Vicente Carabbacan had been in possession of the land even. before Irene Bullungan bought the possessory rights to the land. It was therefore a misrepresentation for her to state in her application for a free patent that she had been in possession of the lot in question when the fact is that Carabbacan had been there ahead of her. WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is REVERSED and the decision dated September 25, 1989 of the Regional Trial Court of Cauayan, Isabela, Branch XIX is REINSTATED. SO ORDERED.