Title
Aquino vs. Municipality of Bayambang
Case
G.R. No. 34336
Decision Date
Dec 31, 1931
Dispute over Bayambang property: Bernabe Aquino's continuous possession since 1887 upheld; municipality's claim rejected due to insufficient evidence. No damages awarded.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. 34336)

Facts:

Background of the Case:

  • These two consolidated cases involve disputes over the ownership of certain real property in Bayambang, Pangasinan. The first case (G.R. No. 34336) was filed by Bernabe B. Aquino to recover the property from the Municipality of Bayambang. The second case (G.R. No. 34337) was initiated by the Government of the Philippine Islands for the registration of the same property under Act No. 496.

Claim of Bernabe B. Aquino:

  • Bernabe B. Aquino claimed ownership of the property, asserting that he purchased it from Agustin V. Gomez, as evidenced by a deed (Exhibit L-Aquino). Gomez, in turn, had acquired the property from Getulio Pitco (Exhibit K1-Aquino), who had purchased it from Juan Fajardo. Juan Fajardo had obtained a possessory information for the property in 1892.
  • Witnesses testified that Juan Fajardo and his successors had been in continuous possession of the property, cultivating it since 1887.

Claim of the Municipality of Bayambang:

  • The Municipality of Bayambang argued that the property in question was part of its fisheries, which it had owned from time immemorial. However, the municipality failed to provide sufficient evidence of possession prior to 1928 or any proof that the Insular Government had transferred the property to it.

Evidence Presented:

  • The possessory information (Exhibit K-Aquino) was registered in 1920, and the boundaries of the property were identified through testimonies, including that of Marciano Fajardo, who clarified that a 1911 survey was conducted to resolve boundary disputes between municipalities, not to assert ownership.
  • The municipality presented an ordinance (Exhibit 1-Bayambang), but it was not proven that the property mentioned in the ordinance was the same as the land in question.

Issue:

  1. Ownership of the Property:

    • Whether Bernabe B. Aquino or the Municipality of Bayambang has a valid claim to the property in question.
  2. Validity of the Possessory Information:

    • Whether the possessory information obtained by Juan Fajardo in 1892, and subsequently registered in 1920, is sufficient evidence of ownership.
  3. Municipality’s Claim of Ownership:

    • Whether the Municipality of Bayambang has proven its ownership of the property as part of its fisheries.
  4. Damages:

    • Whether the Municipality of Bayambang is liable for damages claimed by Bernabe B. Aquino, and vice versa.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Conclusion:

  • The Supreme Court modified the lower court’s judgment, declaring Bernabe B. Aquino as the rightful owner of the property and ordering the issuance of a title in his name. The injunction against the Municipality of Bayambang was reinstated, and the municipality’s claim to the property was denied. No damages were awarded to either party.


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