Case Digest (G.R. No. 200558)
Facts:
In Consuelo V. Pangasinan and Annabella V. Borromeo v. Cristina Disonglo-Almazora et al., petitioners are the substituted heirs of Aurora Morales-Vivar, sole heir of Aquilina Martinez, original registered owner of a 572-sqm parcel in Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Biñan, Laguna (TCT No. T-18729, July 29, 1939). After World War II, Aquilina and her grandmother entrusted the owner’s duplicate title to their relative, Conrado Almazora, to rebuild their home in Tondo, Manila. Conrado’s family occupied the Laguna land. Aquilina died in 1949 and Aurora inherited the property (TCT No. T-35280). Conrado died in 1972. In 1994 Aurora learned from Conrado’s widow that the land had been fraudulently transferred to Conrado and sold to Fullway Development Corp. for ₱4,000,000. She demanded the proceeds in 1995 but was ignored. On May 9, 1996, Aurora sued Conrado’s heirs for damages, alleging breach of trust, fraud and seeking restitution of the sale proceeds. The Regional Trial Court dismissed the complCase Digest (G.R. No. 200558)
Facts:
- Subject Property and Initial Registration
- A 572-sqm parcel in Brgy. Sto. Domingo, Biñan, Laguna was registered to Aquilina Martinez under TCT No. T-18729 on July 29, 1939.
- After WWII, Aquilina and her grandmother Leoncia Almendral learned their Manila house was ruined. They borrowed money from relative Conrado Almazora to rebuild, entrusting him the owner’s duplicate of TCT No. T-18729 for safekeeping.
- Transfer to Aurora Morales-Vivar
- Aquilina died on July 19, 1949. As her sole heir, Aurora Morales-Vivar had TCT No. T-18729 canceled and TCT No. T-35280 issued in her name.
- Conrado remained in possession of the property with his family and died on February 7, 1972.
- Discovery of Transfer and Sale
- In 1994 Aurora learned from Cristina Almazora that the title had been transferred to Conrado and sold to Fullway Development Corp. for ₱4,000,000.
- Aurora sent letters (Oct. 30, 1995 and Mar. 5, 1996) demanding delivery of the sale proceeds; when unheeded, she filed a complaint for damages on May 9, 1996 against Cristina and Conrado’s heirs, alleging breach of trust and seeking moral and exemplary damages.
- Proceedings Below
- RTC Branch 259, Parañaque City: held Aurora failed to prove ownership, found laches, upheld the validity of the 1949 “Adjudication and Absolute Sale” signed by Aurora, and dismissed the complaint in its June 29, 2004 Decision.
- CA (CA-G.R. CV 84529): in a July 28, 2011 Decision and Feb. 3, 2012 Resolution, denied petitioners’ appeal and found the suit barred by laches and by the 10-year extinctive prescription under Art. 1144, Civil Code, running from the June 17, 1965 issuance of TCT No. 35282 to Conrado.
- Petitioners (Aurora’s heirs) elevated the case via Rule 45 petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.
Issues:
- Did the Court of Appeals gravely err in affirming the dismissal of Aurora’s complaint for damages?
- Did the Court of Appeals err in not declaring the acquisition of the subject property by Conrado invalid for lack of laches?
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Doctrine:
- (Subscriber-Only)