Facts:

• The case Minister of Natural Resources v. Hughes (G.R. No. L-62664) centers on a dispute regarding agricultural land in Malalag, Davao.
• Orval Hughes leased approximately 856 hectares of land in 1924, with the lease set to expire on May 25, 1953.
• Following Hughes's death during the Japanese Occupation, his heirs applied to purchase 716 hectares of the leased property.
• In 1949, 133 individuals sought to annul the Hughes lease, alleging abandonment and lack of cultivation, but their petition was denied.
• An appeal confirmed the rights of the Hughes Heirs to acquire the land.
• The same group later challenged the sales applications, claiming they had cultivated the land.
• An amended decision in 1957 awarded 399 hectares to the opposing group and 317 hectares to the Hughes Heirs, which became final.
• From 1967 to 1979, the Hughes Heirs engaged in various legal actions to annul the decision and delay its enforcement.
• In 1979, the Hughes Heirs filed a case to compel the government to process their sales applications and prevent the Tocao Group from harvesting coconuts.
• The trial court dismissed this case due to the absence of the plaintiffs' lawyer, but the Court of Appeals reversed this decision, leading to the current appeal.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners, reversing the Court of Appeals' decision and reinstating the trial court's dismissal of the Hughes Heirs' complaint.
• The Court instructed the Hughes Heirs and their counsel t...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court observed that the Court of Appeals overlooked procedural deficiencies in the Hughes Heirs' motion for reconsideration, which lacked necessary affidavits and evidence.
• The Court noted the Hughes Heirs' ongoing forum shopping, as they filed repetitive lawsuits o...continue reading