Facts:

• Itogon-Suyoc Mines, Inc. (ISMI) is the petitioner.
• Respondents include the Office of the President, Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Director of Mines and Geosciences Bureau, and private individuals James Brett, Edgar Kapawen, Lily Camara, and Jaime Paul B. Panganiban.
• ISMI filed protests against the mining claims of private respondents, claiming overlap with its valid mining claims in Suyoc, Mankayan, Benguet.
• The Bureau of Mines and Geosciences initially ruled in favor of the private respondents, granting them exclusive rights while recognizing ISMI's rights to certain claims.
• ISMI's appeal to the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) was dismissed due to procedural issues, including late filing.
• After several decisions and motions for reconsideration, MNR reinstated its original order favoring the private respondents.
• ISMI's appeal to the Office of the President was also dismissed.
• ISMI subsequently filed a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court to annul the Office of the President's decisions dated January 12, 1993, and June 15, 1993.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court dismissed ISMI's petition for certiorari for lack of merit.
• The Court affirmed the decisions and resolutions of the Office of the President.
• It held that the Office of the President did not commit grave abuse of discretion regarding the timeliness of ISMI's motion ...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Court noted that Presidential Decree No. 309 mandates a strict five-day period for appeals, which ISMI failed to follow.
• The requirement for valid tie points in mining claims is mandatory, as stated in Section 28 of the Philippin...continue reading