Case Digest (G.R. No. L-54760)
Facts:
- Micaela C. Aggabao is the petitioner against Leticia U. Gamboa, Pedro U. Gamboa, the Office of the President of the Philippines, the Director of Lands, Arturo Tanco, Jr., and the Court of Appeals.
- The dispute involves Lots Nos. 2687 and 2688 in Escalante, Negros Occidental, totaling thirty-two hectares.
- Leticia and Pedro Gamboa claimed the lots under their homestead applications (Nos. 199050 and 199051).
- Micaela Aggabao contended that the lots were covered by her parents' prewar sales applications.
- On November 8, 1956, the Director of Lands ruled that the lots were adjudicated to the Gamboas in 1938, dismissing Aggabao's claims.
- Aggabao's appeal was affirmed by various authorities, including the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Court of Appeals.
- Aggabao argued that the Appellate Court erred in valuing the Gamboas' secondary evidence and disregarding her preferential right to purchase the lots.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court dismissed Micaela Aggabao's petition for review, upholding the decisions of the lower courts and administrative agencies.
- The Court affirmed that the Director of Lands' factual conclusions regarding the Gamboas' priority were conclusive and binding.
- Aggabao'...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court's decision was based on the principle that the factual findings of the Director of Lands are conclusive unless there is clear evidence of excess jurisdiction, which was not demonstrated.
- The Court noted that decisions by the Director of Lands, affirmed b...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-54760)
Facts:
The case involves Micaela C. Aggabao as the petitioner and Leticia U. Gamboa, Pedro U. Gamboa, the Office of the President of the Philippines (formerly Acting Executive Secretary Alejandro Melchor), the Director of Lands (formerly Vicente Valdellon), Arturo Tanco, Jr. as Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Court of Appeals as respondents. The controversy centers around Lots Nos. 2687 and 2688 located in Escalante, Negros Occidental, which have a combined area of thirty-two hectares. Leticia and Pedro Gamboa claimed these lots were covered by their respective homestead applications, Nos. 199050 and 199051. In contrast, Micaela Aggabao asserted that the lots were covered by her parents' prewar sales applications.
On November 8, 1956, the Director of Lands issued a decision stating that his prewar predecessor had adjudicated the lots to the Gamboas in two decisions dated February 13, 1938, and dismissed the claims of the heirs of Bartolome Celestial and Micaela Aggabao. Aggabao appealed this decision, which was subsequently affirmed by the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Acting Executive Secretary, the Court of First Instance of Manila (Judge Alikpala), and the Court of Appeals (Judges Asuncion, Escolin, and Cuevas). Despite the unfavorable outcomes, Aggabao continued to pursue her appeal to the Supreme Court, arguing that the Appellate Court erred in giving probative value to the Gamboas' secon...