G.R. No. 66807 - Republic vs. Alagad

On or about October 11, 1951, the private respondents (Melitona Alagad, spouses Carmen Alagad and Espiridion Kolimlim, Justo Alagad, Carlos Alagad, spouses Librada Alagad and Emerson Abano, Demetrio Alagad, Antonio Alagad) filed an application for registration of a parcel of land situated at Linga, Pila, Laguna with an area of 8.1263 hectares, reflected in survey plan Psu-116971.
The land was later divided into two parcels: Lot 1 with 5.2476 hectares and Lot 2 with 2.8421 hectares, reflected in amended survey plan Psu-116971, Amd. 2.
The Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Director of Lands, opposed the application on the ground that the applicants and their predecessors had not been in open, continuous, public, adverse possession under a bona fide claim since July 26, 1894, and that the land was part of the public domain. Barrio folk also opposed the application.
The Court of First Instance of Laguna, in a final judgment promulgated January 16, 1956 (LRC Case No. 189, G.L.R.O. Rec. No. 4922), declared defendants owners of Lot 1 and declared Lot 2 as public land.
Decree No. N-51479 and Original Certificate of Title No. O-401, dated October 18, 1956, were issued in favor of the defendants.

In August 1966, defendants filed Civil Case No. 52 before the Municipal Court of Pila, Laguna, to evict barrio folk occupying portions of Lot 1.
On August 8, 1968, judgment was rendered ordering defendants therein to return possession to the private respondents. The defendants in that case did not appeal.

On October 6, 1970, the Republic filed the present case praying for annulment of title and reversion of the disputed 1.42-hectare northwestern portion of Lot 1, and a writ of preliminary injunction was issued enjoining enforcement of the earlier eviction writ and disposition of the land.
The case was set for pre-trial on July 16, 1971, but the Republic’s counsel failed to appear, leading the trial court to dismiss the complaint for failure to appear.
Motion for reconsideration by the Republic was denied, prompting an appeal to the Court of Appeals, which affirmed the dismissal based on the trial court’s ruling and the doctrine of res judicata.
The Supreme Court initially dismissed the appeal for failure to show timely perfection but later reinstated it on November 19, 1982, ordering further proceedings.

The Republic argued that the decree and title over the 1.42-hectare portion were void ab initio because:

The area, like adjoining Lot 2, had been foreshore land covered by Laguna de Bay waters since time immemorial.
The 1.42 hectares was the site of Barrio Aplaya, occupied by barrio folk since the American occupation, with houses built thereon.
The barrio folk had elevated and filled the land to be some feet above adjoining land, making it no longer submerged.
Defendants and predecessors never had actual possession as the barrio folk were the actual occupants.

The Republic posited that these facts invalidated the registration and title of the defendants.

Whether the dismissal of the Republic’s petition for failure to appear at pre-trial was proper.
Whether the doctrine of res judicata bars the Republic’s claim for reversion and annulment of title over the disputed parcel.
Whether the disputed 1.42-hectare portion of Lot 1 is foreshore land belonging to the public domain and thus not subject to private registration.
The nature and classification of the disputed land under Philippine property and water laws.