Case Digest (G.R. No. 206404)
Facts:
Concepcion Chua Gaw v. Suy Ben Chua and Felisa Chua, G.R. No. 206404, February 14, 2022, Supreme Court Second Division, Hernando, J., writing for the Court.
The dispute concerns three parcels in Hagonoy, Bulacan: Lot No. 5370-A (2,319 sq.m.), Lot No. 5662 (61 sq.m.), and Lot No. 5663 (379 sq.m.). In a November 22, 1969 notarized Deed of Absolute Sale the Santoses purportedly sold these lots to Lu Pieng for P19,000; Lu thereafter rented the lots to spouses Chua Chin and Chan Chi for a lumber business. Chua Chin and Chan Chi were Chinese nationals and parents of seven children including petitioner Concepcion and respondent Suy Ben Chua (Ben).
Subsequent transfers occurred: Lu sold the lots to Lucio in 1976; Lucio sold them to Juanita in 1980, who received TCT No. T‑263881 for Lots 5662 and 5663. Juanita later donated Lot 5370‑A to Ben (1988) and sold Lots 5662 and 5663 to Ben (1989); Ben was later issued TCT No. T‑112477 (May 25, 1998) covering Lots 5662 and 5663 while Lot 5370‑A remained unregistered. Chua Chin and Chan Chi died as Chinese nationals and their estates were never judicially or extrajudicially settled.
On June 16, 1995 Ben filed LRC Case No. 25‑M‑95 to register Lot 5370‑A in his name. On October 25, 1996 Concepcion (joined by her husband) filed Civil Case No. 804‑M‑96 for reconveyance of her undivided hereditary share in Lots 5662 and 5663 and for damages, alleging the Santoses in fact sold to Chua Chin who had used Lu Pieng as a trustee/tagapag‑ingat until the heirs became Filipino citizens. The two actions were consolidated before the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 83, Malolos, Bulacan, and tried; key witnesses included Herminia Santos Salamat, Manuel Torres, Ben (as hostile witness), and Concepcion. Concepcion testified that their family lawyer advised using Lu Pieng’s name because her parents were then Chinese and that Lu was to hold the lots in trust pending the heirs’ acquisition of Filipino citizenship.
In an April 28, 2008 Decision the RTC denied Ben’s application for registration (LRC No. 25‑M‑95) but granted Concepcion’s complaint for reconveyance and damages (Civil No. 804‑M‑96), declaring Concepcion entitled to her undivided share in all three lots. The RTC found Ben failed to prove continuous adverse possession and found Chua Chin to be the true buyer. Reconsideration was denied (RTC Sept. 1, 2008).
Ben appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA‑G.R. CV No. 94669. In an August 17, 2012 Decision the CA affirmed the RTC’s denial of Ben’s registration application but reversed and dismissed Concepcion’s complaint, holding the notarized sale to Lu Pieng enjoyed the presumption of regular...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Was an implied trust established in fact and in law over Lots Nos. 5370‑A, 5662, and 5663? ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)