Case Digest (G.R. No. 253305)
Facts:
Petitioners Benito Chua, substituted by his wife Edita Lim Ong Chua and his children Evelyn Chua Go, Bernard Ong, Eleonor Ong Ngu, and Eliza Ong Chua, filed a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 after the Court of Appeals reversed the Regional Trial Court; the Respondent was the Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Director of the Lands Management Bureau. The Republic originally filed a Complaint for Annulment of Title and Reversion on October 13, 2004, alleging that the parcel known as Lot No. 23-C-9, covered by TCT No. 23810 and formerly owned by Eulogio Dimaranan, had been constituted as a property bail bond and forfeited and sold in favor of the Government, and praying for cancellation of Dimaranan’s TCT and issuance of a new title in the Republic’s name; the RTC of Quezon City issued an order on October 3, 1986 directing cancellation of TCT No. 23810 and issuance of title to the Republic but no new title was issued. The factual history showed that on ...Case Digest (G.R. No. 253305)
Facts:
Petitioners are Benito Chua, substituted by his wife Edita Lim Ong Chua and his children; Respondent, the Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Director of Lands Management Bureau, filed on October 13, 2004 a Complaint for Annulment of Title and Reversion concerning Lot No. 23-C-9 (originally under TCT No. 23810), alleging prior forfeiture to the Republic, a reconstituted title issued in the name of Valentina Rivera, and successive transfers to Norma Bernardo and then Chua. The RTC dismissed the Complaint against Chua on December 11, 2017; the Court of Appeals reversed on October 17, 2019, declared Chua a buyer in bad faith, nullified TCT No. RT-95848 and derivative titles, and ordered cancellation, prompting this Rule 45 petition to the Supreme Court.Issues:
- May the Court of Appeals consider for the first time on appeal the Republic’s contention that this Court’s decision in Heirs of Francisco Redor v. Court of Appeals (Redor) established the Republic’s right over the subject property?
- Was Benito Chua an innocent purchaser for value in good faith when he acquired the property from Norma Bernardo?
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)