Case Digest (G.R. No. 80294-95)
Facts:
- The case involves the Catholic Vicar Apostolic of the Mountain Province (petitioner) and the heirs of Juan Valdez and Egmidio Octaviano (respondents).
- The dispute concerns the ownership and possession of Lots 2 and 3 in Psu-194357, located in Poblacion Central, La Trinidad, Benguet.
- On September 5, 1962, the petitioner filed an application for registration of title over Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- The heirs of Juan Valdez and Egmidio Octaviano opposed the application, claiming ownership of Lots 2 and 3.
- The Court of First Instance of Baguio-Benguet ruled in favor of the petitioner, confirming its title to all four lots.
- The heirs appealed, and the Court of Appeals reversed the decision on May 4, 1977, dismissing the petitioner's application for Lots 2 and 3.
- The Supreme Court affirmed this decision on January 13, 1978.
- In 1979, the heirs filed separate cases for recovery of possession of Lots 2 and 3.
- The Regional Trial Court of Baguio and Benguet ruled in favor of the heirs, ordering the petitioner to return the lots.
- The petitioner appealed, but the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision on August 31, 1987.
- The petitioner then sought relief from the Supreme Court.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court ruled that the decision of the Court of Appeals dated May 4, 1977, constitutes res judicata.
- The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals, which upheld the trial court's ruling that the petitioner did...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court held that the principle of res judicata applies, as the issues of ownership and possession of Lots 2 and 3 were already resolved in the Court of Appeals' decision dated May 4, 1977, which was affirmed by the Supreme Court.
- The Court of Appeals found that the predecessors of the private respondents possessed the lots under a claim of ownership in good faith from 1906 to 1951.
- The petitioner was in possession as a bailee in commodatum until 1951, when it repudiated the trust by declaring the properties in its...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 80294-95)
Facts:
The case involves the Catholic Vicar Apostolic of the Mountain Province (petitioner) and the heirs of Juan Valdez and Egmidio Octaviano (respondents). The dispute centers on the ownership and possession of Lots 2 and 3 in Psu-194357, located in Poblacion Central, La Trinidad, Benguet. On September 5, 1962, the petitioner filed an application for registration of title over Lots 1, 2, 3, and 4. The heirs of Juan Valdez and Egmidio Octaviano opposed the application, asserting ownership of Lots 2 and 3. The Court of First Instance of Baguio-Benguet ruled in favor of the petitioner, confirming its title to all four lots. However, the heirs appealed, and the Court of Appeals reversed the decision on May 4, 1977, dismissing the petitioner's application for Lots 2 and 3. The Supreme Court affirmed this decision on January 13, 1978. Subsequently, in 1979, the heirs filed separate cases for recovery of possession of Lots 2 and 3. The Regional Trial Court of Baguio and Benguet ruled in favor of the heirs, ordering the petitioner to return the lots. The petitioner appealed, but the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision on August 31, 1987. The petitioner then sought relief from the Supreme...