Case Digest (G.R. No. 154988)
Facts:
- The case involves a land dispute over an 83,931 square meter parcel in Cawag, Subic, Zambales.
- Felisa M. Jaravata filed for reconveyance, nullification of titles, and damages on September 10, 1996, at the RTC of Olongapo City.
- Jaravata claimed continuous possession of the land since 1950.
- The land was subdivided into three lots; Lot 3 was titled under Jaravata's name in 1993.
- In 1992, Jaravata discovered that her relatives, Ma. Diana Karolus and Grace V. Kuhail, had fraudulently secured titles for Lots 1 and 2 through Free Patents in 1988.
- Jaravata alleged the respondents had never possessed the lots and had obtained titles through fraud.
- The RTC declared the respondents in default and ruled in favor of Jaravata on December 18, 1997.
- The CA reversed the RTC's decision on January 31, 2002.
- The CA also dismissed the complaint, counterclaim, and third-party complaints.
- Jaravata's motion for reconsideration was denied on August 30, 2002, leading to the petition for review before the Supreme Court.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court granted the petition, modified the CA's decision, and remanded the case to the RTC...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court agreed with the CA that the RTC erred by defaulting the respondents without compelling them to answer interrogatories as requi...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 154988)
Facts:
The case of Jaravata v. Karolus involves a land dispute over a parcel of land in Cawag, Subic, Zambales, with an area of 83,931 square meters. The petitioner, Felisa M. Jaravata, filed an action for reconveyance, declaration of nullity of titles, and damages on September 10, 1996, before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Olongapo City. Jaravata claimed that she and her predecessors-in-interest had been in actual, continuous, open, and public possession of the land since 1950. The land was subdivided into three lots, with Lot 3 titled under Jaravata's name in Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. P-11781 issued on March 3, 1993. Jaravata discovered in 1992 that her relatives, respondents Ma. Diana Karolus and Grace V. Kuhail, had fraudulently secured titles over Lots 1 and 2 through Free Patents issued in 1988. Jaravata alleged that the respondents had never been in possession of the lots and had obtained the titles through fraud and misrepresentation. The RTC declared the respondents in default for failing to fully answer written interrogatories and rendered a judgment in favor of Jaravata on December 18, 1997. The Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the RTC's decision on January 31, 2002, and dismissed the complaint, counterclaim, third-par...