Title
Heirs of Bayot vs. Baterbonia
Case
G.R. No. 142345
Decision Date
Aug 13, 2004
Dispute over lot ownership due to resurvey errors; final court ruling ordered title correction to reflect accurate lot numbers, prioritizing substantial justice over technicalities.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 142345)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

# Ownership and Survey of the Property

  • The Buayan Townsite Subdivision in General Santos, Cotabato, was owned by the Board of Liquidators.
  • Between August 6, 1948, and August 6, 1951, the Board of Liquidators had the property surveyed by Simplicio Cagampang. Lots No. 4116, 4117, and 4118 were located along Magsaysay Avenue.

# Acquisition of Lots

  • In 1954, Estrella Baterbonia acquired Lot No. 4118 and occupied the property.
  • In 1962, Ferry Bayot acquired Lot No. 4117 (550 square meters) from her aunt and took possession of the property.

# Resurvey and Alteration of Lot Numbers

  • Between 1963 and 1964, the Board of Liquidators had the property resurveyed by the Calina Survey Office. The numbering of the lots was altered:
    • Lot No. 4116 (Cagampang survey) became Lot No. 4115 (Calina survey).
    • Lot No. 4118 (Cagampang survey) became Lot No. 4117 (Calina survey).
  • The Calina resurvey plan was not approved by the Bureau of Lands.

# Miscellaneous Sales Patent and Title Issuance

  • On July 6, 1966, Baterbonia filed an Application for a Miscellaneous Sales Patent over her property, mistakenly indicating it as Lot No. 4117 (Calina survey) based on the unapproved resurvey.
  • Her application was approved, and on October 17, 1966, a Miscellaneous Sales Patent was issued for Lot No. 4117 (Calina survey). Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. (P-28221), (P-10766), (P-1702) was issued in her name, but the technical description corresponded to Lot No. 4118 (Cagampang survey).

# Legal Dispute

  • On October 30, 1989, Ferry Bayot filed a Complaint for reconveyance of Lot No. 4117, claiming she owned Lot No. 4117 (Cagampang survey) but Baterbonia had it titled in her name.
  • The trial court dismissed Bayot’s complaint on March 22, 1993, but directed Baterbonia to file a petition to correct or amend her title to reflect the correct lot number.
  • Bayot appealed, but the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision on November 8, 1995. The Supreme Court denied Bayot’s petition for review, and the decision became final on September 12, 1997.

# Post-Decision Events

  • Bayot died intestate, and her heirs filed a "Notice and Claim of Implied Trust" with the Register of Deeds, which was annotated on Baterbonia’s title.
  • Baterbonia moved to cancel the annotation, and the RTC granted the motion.
  • The heirs of Bayot filed a motion for clarification with the Court of Appeals, which was denied on September 10, 1999, and their motion for reconsideration was also denied on January 24, 2000.

Issues:

  • Whether a decision that has become final and executory precludes the filing of a motion for clarification.
  • Whether the decision of the Court of Appeals is ambiguous.
  • Whether the respondents may be compelled to file a petition for alteration or amendment of their title to reflect the correct lot number.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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