Case Digest (G.R. No. 182908)
Facts:
Heirs of Francisco I. Narvasa, Sr., and Heirs of Petra Imbornal and Pedro Ferrer, represented by their Attorney-in-Fact, Mrs. Remedios B. Narvasa-Regacho v. Emiliana, Victoriano, Felipe, Mateo, Raymundo, Maria, and Eduardo Imbornal, G.R. No. 182908, March 16, 2015, Supreme Court Second Division, Perlas-Bernabe, J., writing for the Court.Petitioners are the heirs and successors-in-interest of Francisco I. Narvasa, Sr., Pedro Ferrer, and Petra Imbornal (collectively, Francisco, et al.), while respondents are descendants of Pablo Imbornal (Emiliana, Victoriano, Felipe, Mateo, Raymundo, Maria, Eduardo). Their dispute concerns a riparian parcel called the “Motherland” originally patented to Ciriaco Abrio (homestead patent no. 24991; OCT No. 1462 issued December 5, 1933) and two successive accretions that formed south of it: the First Accretion (issued as OCT No. P-318 to respondent Victoriano on August 15, 1952) and the Second Accretion (issued as OCT No. 21481 to respondents on November 10, 1978).
The factual core: petitioners’ predecessors (the Imbornal sisters) sold a family parcel (Sabangan property) in the 1920s and allege the proceeds were used by Ciriaco to perfect his homestead application; petitioners claim Ciriaco agreed to hold the Motherland in trust for the Imbornal sisters. Decades later petitioners discovered respondents (occupying the southern portions since the 1920s) had registered the accretions in their names. On February 27, 1984 Francisco, et al. filed an Amended Complaint for reconveyance, partition, and damages (Civil Case No. D-6978), alleging an implied trust over the Motherland and fraud in the registration of the accretions.
At trial the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 44, Dagupan City, rendered a Decision dated August 20, 1996 in favor of Francisco, et al., finding an implied trust and ordering reconveyance (or pecuniary equivalent) and damages (actual and moral) and attorney’s fees. Respondents appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA).
The CA, in a Decision dated November 28, 2006 (CA-G.R. CV No. 57618), reversed the RTC and declared (a) Ciriaco’s descendants the exclusive owners of the Motherland; (b) Victoriano’s descendants owners of the First Accretion; and (c) Pablo’s descendants owners of the Second Accretion. The CA held petitioners’ reconveyance action as to the accretions was barred by prescription and that petitioners failed to prove the alleged implied trust, while upholding respondents’ titles and possession. A motion for reconsideration was denied by CA Resolution dated Ma...(Subscriber-Only)
Issues:
- Are the causes of action for reconveyance relating to the Motherland and the First Accretion barred by prescription?
- Did petitioners prove the existence of an implied trust that would render Ciriaco a trustee for the Imbornal sisters and their heirs over the Motherland?
- Were petitioners entitled to reconveyance or ownership of the First and Second Accretions either by accretion righ...(Subscriber-Only)
Ruling:
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Ratio:
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Doctrine:
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