Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/149477009/Heirs-of-Reyes-v-Cocco-beltran
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 20:13:12+00:00

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This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, assailing the Decision1 dated 31 January 2006 rendered by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 87066, which affirmed the Decision2 dated 30 June 2003 of the Office of the President, in O.P. Case No. 02-A-007, approving the application of respondent Elena Socco-Beltran to purchase the subject property.
Penned by Associate Justice Bienvenido L. Reyes with Associate Justices Arturo D. Brion (now an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court) and Mariflor Punzalan Castillo, concurring. Rollo, pp. 32-40. Penned by Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Waldo Q. Flores. Rollo, pp. 81-82.
Lot No. Lot No.‖ executed by Constancia’s heirs sometime in 1965. Socco. Dinalupihan. with her heirs – her siblings.4 The subject property. Miguel R. 6-B before the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). measuring 1. Records. Socco. Bataan. Miguel R. 6-B.5 Petitioners herein. alleging that it was adjudicated in her favor in the extra-judicial settlement of Constancia Socco’s estate. the heirs of the late Arturo Reyes. the property was left to his wife Constancia.3 Pursuant to an unnotarized document entitled ―Extrajudicial Settlement of the Estate of the Deceased Constancia R. 6-C. with a total area of 360 square meters. the parcel of land was partitioned into three lots—Lot No. along with her other property. allocated to the Spouses Marcelo Laquian and Constancia Socco (Spouses Laquian). p. in favor of their father. and Lot No.The subject property in this case is a parcel of land originally identified as Lot No. 6-B. On 25 June 1998. pp. 26. 6-B. namely: Filomena Eliza Socco. Rollo. Upon Constancia’s subsequent death. situated in Zamora Street.022 square meters. and Elena Socco-Beltran. 55-58. respondent Elena Socco-Beltran filed an application for the purchase of Lot No. filed their protest to respondent’s petition before the DAR on the ground that the subject property was sold by respondent’s brother. 113. p. It was originally part of a larger parcel of land. was adjudicated to respondent. Socco. but no title had been issued in her name. Arturo 3 4 5 Records. she left the original parcel of land. When Marcelo died. . who paid for the same with Japanese money. Isabel Socco de Hipolito. 6-A.
Records. as evidenced by the Contract to Sell. administrator and assigns x x x. his heirs. more or less unto Atty. hereby sell. Arturo C. . Other than recounting the aforementioned facts. (Emphasis supplied. this was constructed since the year (sic) 70’s at their expense. the results of which were contained in her Report/ Recommendation dated 15 April 1999. pp.. the following facts were gathered: that the house of [the] Reyes family is adjacent to the landholding in question and portion of the subject property consisting of about 15 meters [were] occupied by the heirs of Arturo Reyes were a kitchen and bathroom [were] constructed therein. Legal Officer Brigida Pinlac of the DAR Bataan Provincial Agrarian Reform Office conducted an investigation. stipulating that:6 That I am one of the co-heirs of the Estate of the deceased Constancia Socco. bounded as follows: xxxx That for or in consideration of the sum of FIVE PESOS (P5. Legal Officer Pinlac also made the following findings in her Report/Recommendation:7 Further investigation was conducted by the undersigned and based on the documentary evidence presented by both parties. that construction of the said skeletal building was not continued and left unfinished which according to the affidavit of Patricia Hipolito the Reyes family where (sic) prevented by Elena 6 7 Rollo. Reyes.) Petitioners averred that they took physical possession of the subject property in 1954 and had been uninterrupted in their possession of the said property since then. 54. Province of Bataan. dated 5 September 1954. convey and transfer by way of this conditional sale the said 400 sq. on the remaining portion a skeletal form made of hollow block[s] is erected and according to the heirs of late Arturo Reyes. p. 112-113.Reyes.00) per square meter. Municipality of Dinalupihan. and that I am to inherit as such a portion of her lot consisting of Four Hundred Square Meters (400) more or less located on the (sic) Zamora St.m.
hence. DAR Regional Director Nestor R. she had already renounced her right to recover the same. DISMISSING the claims of Elena Socco-Beltran. . in favor of the heirs of Arturo Reyes. Rollo. ALLOCATING Lot No.9 In an Order dated 15 September 1999. that the Reyes family included the subject property to the sworn statement of value of real properties filed before the municipality of Dinalupihan. ruling that respondent was qualified to own the subject property pursuant to Article 1091 of the New Civil Code. pp. Art.8 Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer (PARO) Raynor Taroy concurred in the said recommendation in his Indorsement dated 22 April 1999. copies of the documents are hereto attached as Annexes ―G‖ and ―H‖. 1091 of the Civil Code provides that: Art.10 The dispositive part of the Order reads: 1. [she] is willing to waive her right on the portion where [the] kitchen and bathroom is (sic) constructed but not the whole of Lot [No. that likewise Elena Socco has been continuously and religiously paying the realty tax due on the said property. however. Dinalupihan. 6-B under Psd-003-008565 with an area of 360 square meters. at 112. dismissed respondent’s petition for issuance of title over the subject property on the ground that respondent was not an actual tiller and had abandoned the said property for 40 years. 59-61. Id. (affidavit of Patricia Hipolito is hereto attached as Annex ―F‖). Bataan. Bataan. 2. duly represented by Myrna Socco for lack of merit. A partition legally made confers upon each heir the exclusive ownership of the property adjudicated to him. that according to Elena Socco. at 114. situated Zamora Street. In the end. that Elena Socco cannot physically and personally occupy the subject property because of the skeletal building made by the Reyes family who have been requesting that they be paid for the cost of the construction and the same be demolished at the expense of Elena Socco.] 6-B adjudicated to her. more or less. Legal Officer Pinlac recommended the approval of respondent’s petition for issuance of title over the subject property. 8 9 10 Id. Acosta.Socco in their attempt of occupancy of the subject landholding. 1091.
pp. However.11 Respondent filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the foregoing Order. In an Order. the DAR Secretary reversed the Decision of DAR Regional Director Acosta after finding that neither petitioners’ predecessor -ininterest. at 60-61. she was better qualified to own said property as opposed to petitioners. nor respondent was an actual occupant of the subject property. Petitioners were further disqualified from purchasing the subject property because they were not landless. which was denied by DAR Regional Director Acosta in another Order dated 15 September 1999. Finally. since it was respondent who applied to purchase the subject property.12 Respondent then appealed to the Office of the DAR Secretary. who did not at all apply to purchase the same.3. Id.13 In the said Order. petitioners requested that respondent pay them the cost of the construction of the skeletal house they built on the subject property. . Arturo Reyes. the DAR Secretary ordered that: 11 12 13 Id. CA rollo. ORDERING the complainant to refrain from any act tending to disturb the peaceful possession of herein respondents. 42-46. This was construed by the DAR Secretary as a waiver by petitioners of their right over the subject property. during the investigation of Legal Officer Pinlac. 4. at 65-66. Bataan to process the pertinent documents for the issuance of CLOA in favor of the heirs of Arturo Reyes. dated 9 November 2001. DIRECTING the MARO of Dinalupihan.
the DAR already issued on 8 July 2005 a Certificate of Land Ownership Award (CLOA) 14 15 16 17 Id. 1999 Order is hereby SET ASIDE and a new Order is hereby issued APPROVING the application to purchase Lot [No. 87066.] 6-B of Elena Socco-Beltran. Thus. judgment appealed from is 16 AFFIRMED and the instant appeal DISMISSED. Such date was material considering that the petitioners’ Motion for Reconsideration was filed only on 14 April 2004. Case No. premises considered. docketed as CA-G. at 86-88. filed beyond fifteen days from receipt of the decision to be reconsidered. 81-82. On 30 June 2003. the Office of the President noted that petitioners failed to allege in their motion the date when they received the Decision dated 30 June 2003. at 82.15 The fallo of the Decision reads: WHEREFORE. the Office of the President rendered its Decision denying petitioners’ appeal and affirming the DAR Secretary’s Decision. it ruled that petitioners’ Moti on for Reconsideration. Petitioners’ Motion for Reconsideration was likewise denied by the Office of the President in a Resolution dated 30 September 2004. premises considered.17 In the said Resolution. Id. rendered the said decision final and executory. pp. or almost nine months after the promulgation of the decision sought to be reconsidered.14 Petitioners sought remedy from the Office of the President by appealing the 9 November 2001 Decision of the DAR Secretary.R. SP No. Consequently.P.WHEREFORE. Pending the resolution of this case. 02-A-007. the September 15. Their appeal was docketed as O. at 46. petitioners filed an appeal before the Court of Appeals. Id. . Rollo.
The Contract to Sell on which petitioners based their claim over the subject property was executed by Miguel Socco. . Id. since actual occupancy requires the positive act of occupying and tilling the land. 36-38. Id. Myrna Socco-Beltran. pp. Accordingly. wherein petitioners raise the following issues: 18 19 20 21 22 CA rollo. Id. It held that petitioners could not have been actual occupants of the subject property. the Court of Appeals subsequently promulgated its Decision. at 41-43. 153. SP No.21 The Court of Appeals denied petitioners’ Motion for Reconsideration of its Decision in a Resolution dated 16 August 2006.over the subject property in favor of the respondent’s niece and representative. Rollo.20 The fallo of the said Decision reads: WHEREFORE. the Decision dated 30 June 2003 and the Resolution dated 30 December 2004 both issued by the Office of the President are hereby AFFIRMED in toto. at 64. not just the introduction of an unfinished skeletal structure thereon. 160-161. dated 31 January 2006. 87066. Acting on CA-G. therefore. who was not the owner of the said property and.22 Hence. at 40. affirming the Decision dated 30 June 2003 of the Office of the President. pp. the Court of Appeals affirmed respondent’s right over the subject property.18 Respondent passed away on 21 March 2001. had no right to transfer the same. Accordingly. which was derived form the original allocatees thereof.R. the present Petition. the instant PETITION FOR REVIEW is DISMISSED.19 but the records do not ascertain the identity of her legal heirs and her legatees. premises considered.
SOCCO-ARIZO GROSSLY MISREPRESENTED IN HER INFORMATION SHEET OF BENEFICIARIES AND APPLICATION TO PURCHASE LOT IN LANDED ESTATES THAT SHE IS A FILIPINO CITIZEN. WHEN IN TRUTH AND IN FACT. at 16. Petitioner’s claim over the subject property is anchored on the Contract to Sell executed between Miguel Socco and 23 Id. NOTORIOUS AND AVDERSE POSSESSION THEREOF SINCE 1954 OR FOR MORE THAN THIRTY (30) YEARS. II WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT HELD THAT PETITIONERS ―CANNOT LEGALLY ACQUIRE THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AS THEY ARE NOT CONSIDERED LANDLESS AS EVIDENCED BY A TAX DECLARATION.‖ III WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN HOLDING THAT ―…WHATEVER RESERVATION WE HAVE OVER THE RIGHT OF MYRNA SOCCO TO SUCCEED WAS ALREADY SETTLED WHEN NO LESS THAN MIGUEL SOCCO (PREDECESSOR-IN INTEREST OF HEREIN PETITIONERS) EXECUTED HIS WAIVER OF RIGHT DATED APRIL 19. EXCLUSIVE. . SHE IS 23 ALREADY AN AMERICAN NATIONAL. The main issue in this case is whether or not petitioners have a better right to the subject property over the respondent. CONTINUOUS. IV WHETHER OR NOT THE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT DENIED PETITIONERS MOTION FOR NEW TRIAL THEREBY BRUSHING ASIDE THE FACT THAT MYRNA V.I WHETHER OR NOT THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN AFFIRMING THE FINDINGS OF THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT THAT THE SUBJECT LOT IS VACANT AND THAT PETITIONERS ARE NOT ACTUAL OCCUPANTS THEREOF BY DENYING THE LATTER’S CLAIM THAT THEY HAVE BEEN IN OPEN. 2005 OVER THE SUBJECT PROPERTY IN FAVOR OF MYRNA SOCCO.
―That I am one of the co-heirs of the Estate of the deceased Constancia Socco. it was explicit in the Contract itself 24 In the Contract To Sell. Miguel R. Arturo Reyes. Socco states that. as already pointed out by this Court. Municipality of Dinalupihan. It is. therefore. 54. Socco.Arturo Reyes on 5 September 1954. Miguel R. Absent such occurrence. was not yet the owner of the subject property and was merely expecting to inherit the same as his share as a coheir of Constancia’s estate.24 It was also declared in the Contract itself that Miguel R. and that I am to inherit as such a portion of her lot consisting of Four Hundred Square Meters (400) more or less located on the (sic) Zamora St. Miguel R. Petitioners additionally allege that they and their predecessor-in-interest. The Court is unconvinced. Under Article 1459 of the Civil Code on contracts of sale.) . Petitioners claim that the property was constructively delivered to them in 1954 by virtue of the Contract to Sell.. have been in possession of the subject lot since 1954 for an uninterrupted period of more than 40 years. It was unmistakably stated in the Contract and made clear to both parties thereto that the vendor. Petitioners cannot derive title to the subject property by virtue of the Contract to Sell.‖ The law specifically requires that the vendor must have ownership of the property at the time it is delivered. apparent that the sale of the subject property in favor of Arturo Reyes was conditioned upon the event that Miguel Socco would actually inherit and become the owner of the said property. However.‖ (Rollo. Socco’s conveyance of the subject to the buyer. p. Arturo Reyes. Socco never acquired ownership of the subject property which he could validly transfer to Arturo Reyes. Province of Bataan. ―The thing must be licit and the vendor must have a right to transfer ownership thereof at the time it is delivered. was a conditional sale.
. 648 (1909). 27 25 26 27 12 Phil. 28 May 1990. insist that they physically occupied the subject lot for more than 30 years and. 926. continuous. Without acquiring ownership of the subject property. citing Sandoval v. otherwise known as the Land Registration Act. petitioners therein sought the enforcement of Section 54. thus. herein petitioners.for the issuance of a certificate of title to agricultural public lands -. Miguel R. there was no valid sale from which ownership of the subject property could have transferred from Miguel Socco to Arturo Reyes. at the time it was executed.that. 57667. No. Sandoval v. 185 SCRA 722. Petitioners. they gained ownership of the property through acquisitive prescription. G. and notorious possession and occupation of the same in good faith and under claim of ownership for more than ten years. Court of Appeals. and peaceful possession of the whole land. continuous. Socco was not yet the owner of the property and was only expecting to inherit it. 26 25 and San In Sandoval. Arturo Reyes also could not have conveyed the same to his heirs. Insular Government Miguel Corporation v. exclusive. the Court in the afore-stated case denied the petition on the ground that petitioners failed to prove that they exercised acts of ownership or were in open. It further decreed that whoever claims such possession shall exercise acts of dominion and ownership which cannot be mistaken for the momentary and accidental enjoyment of the property.R. nevertheless. and had caused it to be enclosed to the exclusion of other persons. Hence. After evaluating the evidence presented. Insular Government. supra note 25 at 654-656. which required -.the open. paragraph 6 of Act No. consisting of the testimonies of several witnesses and proof that fences were constructed around the property.
‖ The statement is rendered doubtful by 28 29 30 San Miguel Corporation v. Apart from their self-serving statement that they took possession of the subject property. therefore. the evidence presented by the petitioners falls short of being conclusive. the evidence offered by petitioner therein – tax declarations. petitioner’s predecessor-in-interest who claimed to have occupied the land before selling it to the petitioner – were considered insufficient to satisfy the quantum of proof required to establish the claim of possession required for acquiring alienable public land. that the occupation of the land for 30 years must be conclusively established. certifying that Arturo Reyes was the occupant of the subject property ―since peace time and at present. such quantum of proof being necessary to avoid the erroneous validation of actual fictitious claims of possession over the property that is being claimed. Id. supra note 26 at 724-726. and the sole testimony of the applicant for registration. private property. 117. continuous. however. the Court reiterated the rule that the open. exclusive. . petitioners herein were unable to prove actual possession of the subject property for the period required by law. It stressed. and notorious occupation of property for more than 30 years must be no less than conclusive. and undisputed possession of alienable public land for the period prescribed by law creates the legal fiction whereby land ceases to be public land and is.29 In the present case. Court of Appeals. the only proof offered to support their claim was a general statement made in the letter30 dated 4 February 2002 of Barangay Captain Carlos Gapero. Rollo.28 As in the two aforecited cases. It was underscored in San Miguel Corporation that the open.In San Miguel Corporation. receipts. p. exclusive. Thus.
have been identified as the original allocatees who have fully paid for the subject property. The subject property was allocated to respondent in the extrajudicial settlement by 31 32 Records.the fact that as early as 1997. Junio. i. Court of Appeals. 162403. when respondent filed her petition for issuance of title before the DAR. respondent’s claim over the subject property is backed by sufficient evidence. Such findings disprove petitioners’ claims that their predecessor in-interest. Moreover. 422 Phil. 458 SCRA 696. 292. and the Court of Appeals.R. and continuous possession of the property since 1954. The factual findings of such administrative officer. 939. if supported by evidence. had been in open. cannot prevail over Legal Officer Pinlac’s more particular findings in her Report/Recommendation. the Office of the President. Spouses Calvo v. 947 (2001). No. Legal Officer Pinlac reported that petitioners admitted that it was only in the 1970s that they built the skeletal structure found on the subject property. Arturo Reyes had already died and was already represented by his heirs. Balbastro v. that the structure was left unfinished because respondent prevented petitioners from occupying the subject property. 154678. Dulos Realty and Development Corporation v. 527 SCRA 680. petitioners herein. 17 July 2007. 105. 693. of matters within her expertise which were later affirmed by the DAR Secretary. p. the spouses Laquian. The adverted findings were the result of Legal Officer Pinlac’s investigation in the course of her official duties. Advincula v.. 16 May 2005. since peace time until the present. 712. are entitled to great respect. She also referred to the averments made by Patricia Hipolito in an Affidavit. No. 304 (2001). 423 Phil.R. exclusive. Spouses Vergara. G. the certification given by Barangay Captain Gapero that Arturo Reyes occupied the premises for an unspecified period of time. Her predecessors-in-interest. .e.31 dated 26 February 1999. Dicen. Arturo Reyes. G.32 In contrast.
and has thus acquired knowledge of the handwriting of such person. nor was its legality impugned. The document entitled ―Extra -judicial Settlement of the Estate of the Deceased Constancia Socco‖ was not notarized and. 452 Phil. note that the Order of the DAR Secretary. – The handwriting of a person may be proved by any witness who believes it to be the handwriting of such person because he has seen the person write. 862. having been identified as the original allocatee. can only bind the parties thereto. By the nature of a contract or agreement to sell. a fact which.the heirs of Constancia’s estate. Moreover.) Records. Records show that the DAR affirmed that respondent’s predecessors -in-interest.34 From the foregoing. Evidence respecting the handwriting may also be given by a comparison. or proved to be genuine to the satisfaction of the judge. However. Upon the full payment of the purchase price. as a private document. is flawed and may be assailed in the proper proceedings. This Court must. the title over the subject property is transferred to the vendee upon the full payment of the stipulated consideration. executed in 1965 by the heirs of Constancia Socco. 878 . it is only proper that respondent’s claim over the subject property be upheld. have fully paid for the subject property as provided under an agreement to sell. though not conclusive. with writings admitted or treated as genuine by the party against whom the evidence is offered.33 Respondent has continuously paid for the realty tax due on the subject property. or has seen writing purporting to be his upon which the witness has acted or been charged. 22. 112. ownership of the subject land 33 34 Sec. however. it is an ancient document which appears to be genuine on its face and therefore its authenticity must be upheld. which granted the peti tioner’s right to purchase the property. its authenticity was never put into question. Marcelo Laquian and Constancia Socco. How genuineness of handwriting proved. Rule 132 of the Revised Rules of Court states that: SEC. or more than 30 years ago. Estimio. made by the witness or the court. 22. . dated 9 November 2001. p. and absent any showing that the allocatee violated the conditions of the agreement. served to strengthen her claim over the property. (Manongsong v.
a nd Myrna SoccoArizo’s brother. 35 36 37 Spouses Tuazon v. Myrna Socco-Arizo. does not automatically mean that the subject property will go to Myrna Socco-Arizo. CA rollo. 69 and 72 (2001).should be conferred upon the allocatee. it is not clear to this Court why the DAR issued on 8 July 2005 a CLOA36 over the subject property in favor of Myrna Socco-Arizo. Respondent’s death does not automatically transmit her rights to the property to Myrna Socco-Beltran. Socco. p. through a Special Power of Attorney37 dated 10 March 1999. Garilao. Respondent only authorized Myrna Socco-Arizo. despite the application for the purchase of the property erroneously filed by respondent. 100. absent any proof that there is no other qualified heir to respondent’s estate. That Miguel V. 415 Phil. this Decision does not in any way confirm the issuance of the CLOA in favor of Myrna Socco-Arizo. to represent her in the present case and to administer the subject property for her benefit. over the subject property. Thus. There is nothing in the Special Power of Attorney to the effect that Myrna Socco-Arizo can take over the subject property as owner thereof upon respondent’s death. there is clearly no need for the respondent to purchase the subject property. now that she is deceased. The only act which remains to be performed is the issuance of a title in the name of her legal heirs. pp. the Court notes that the records have not clearly established the right of respondent’s representative.35 Since the extrajudicial partition transferring Constancia Socco’s interest in the subject land to the respondent is valid. which may be assailed in appropriate proceedings. 62. . Moreover. Thus. executed a waiver of his right to inherit from respondent. Records. 160-161. the son of the late Miguel R. Hon. respondent’s only nephew. Socco.
ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ Associate Justice Acting Chairperson ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA Associate Justice RUBEN T. SO ORDERED. MINITA V. CHICO-NAZARIO Associate Justice WE CONCUR: CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO Associate Justice MA. 87066.R. REYES Associate Justice ATTESTATION . the instant Petition is DENIED. is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION. promulgated on 31 January 2006. SP No. The assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G. This Court withholds the confirmation of the validity of title over the subject property in the name of Myrna Socco-Arizo pending determination of respondent’s legal heirs in appropriate proceedings.IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING. No costs.
REYNATO S. PUNO Chief Justice . Article VIII of the Constitution. it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division. and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation. Third Division CERTIFICATION Pursuant to Section 13. CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO Associate Justice Chairperson.

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