Case Digest (G.R. No. 122947)
Facts:
In Timoteo Baluyot, et al. v. Court of Appeals, petitioners, residents of Barangay Cruz-na-Ligas, Diliman, Quezon City, and members of the Cruz-na-Ligas Homesite Association, filed on March 13, 1992 a complaint for specific performance and damages against private respondents University of the Philippines (UP) and the Quezon City Government before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Civil Case No. Q-92-11663. They alleged open, peaceful, adverse and continuous possession in the concept of owner over at least forty-two hectares of land (“Sitio Libis” and Barrio Cruz-na-Ligas) since time immemorial. Quasi-judicial proceedings beginning in 1972 resulted in Bureau of Lands and Presidential indorsements confirming their rights. In 1979, UP’s Board of Regents approved donating 9.2 hectares later increased to 15.8379 hectares, but execution failed over area disputes. In 1986, Branch 100 issued and later lifted a preliminary injunction after petitioners’ consent, prompting UP to execute a DeCase Digest (G.R. No. 122947)
Facts:
- Parties and Subject Land
- Petitioners: Timoteo Baluyot, Jaime Benito, Benigno Eugenio, Rolando Gonzales, Fortunato Fulgencio, and Cruz-na-Ligas Homesite Association, Inc., residents of Barangay Cruz-na-Ligas, Diliman, Quezon City.
- Respondents: University of the Philippines (UP) and Quezon City Government (QCG).
- Land: Registered UP title covering Sitio Libis and adjacent areas in Barrio Cruz-na-Ligas (≈42 hectares).
- Administrative and Quasi-Judicial Proceedings
- 1972–1985 Indorsements: Bureau of Lands (May 7, 1975) and Office of the President (February 12, 1985) confirmed residents’ rights.
- UP Reply Indorsement (September 19, 1984) offered donation of 9.2 ha, later 15.8 ha. Residents demanded larger area; UP agreed to donate 15.8379 ha.
- Negotiations, Injunctions, and Revocation:
- Plaintiffs sought injunctive relief (January 24, 1986) to restrain UP’s donation to QCG.
- Lifting of injunction (April 2, 1986) upon assurance donation would benefit residents.
- Dismissal of case (June 13, 1986) conditioned on UP’s execution of deed.
- Deed of Donation executed (August 5, 1986) in favor of QCG with conditions for infrastructure and eventual transfer to qualified residents.
- UP failed to deliver title to QCG; issued Administrative Order No. 21 revoking the donation and reverting land to UP.
- Procedural History in the RTC and CA
- Civil Case No. Q-92-11663 filed March 13, 1992 for specific performance and damages; amended to implead QCG.
- RTC denied preliminary injunction (May 15, 1992) and later denied respondents’ joint motion to dismiss (April 26, 1995) but held petitioners had no cause of action for specific performance.
- QCG withdrew cross-claim (1993); UP and QCG filed joint motion to dismiss (December 1994).
- CA granted certiorari (November 24, 1995), set aside RTC order, and dismissed petitioners’ complaint as collateral attack on UP’s title and lacking cause of action.
Issues:
- Whether petitioners’ amended complaint states a cause of action for specific performance as intended beneficiaries of UP’s deed of donation.
- Whether petitioners’ claim to 42 ha by laches/prescription and their demand for enforcement of the donation are inconsistent or barred as a collateral attack on UP’s registered title.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)