Case Digest (G.R. No. 122256)
Facts:
- The case involves the Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP), as petitioners against the Court of Appeals and Acil Corporation as respondents.
- Acil Corporation owned land in Linoan, Montevista, Davao del Norte, which was taken by the government under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (R.A. No. 6657).
- The government canceled Acil Corporation's land titles and issued new titles to farmer-beneficiaries.
- LBP initially valued the riceland at P19,312.24 per hectare and brushland at P4,267.68 per hectare, totaling P439,105.39.
- Acil Corporation had previously filed a Statement of Agricultural Landholdings ("LISTASAKA") with DAR, indicating a lower "Fair Value Acceptable to Landowner."
- LBP reassessed the valuation to P15,311.79 per hectare, totaling P390,557.84, which Acil Corporation rejected, claiming nearby lands were valued at P24,717.40 per hectare.
- The Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD) upheld LBP's valuation on October 8, 1992.
- Acil Corporation filed a Petition for Just Compensation in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) on December 12, 1992, seeking P24,717.40 per hectare.
- The RTC dismissed the petition, stating Acil Corporation should have appealed to the Department of Agrarian Reform Adjudication Board (DARAB) first and that the petition was filed beyond the allowed fifteen-day period.
- Acil Corporation's motion for reconsideration was denied on October 13, 1994.
- The corporation then filed a petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals, which ruled in favor of Acil Corporation on October 4, 1995.
- The government filed a petition for review on certiorari to the Supreme Court.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court denied the petition for review on certiorari, affirming the Court of Appeals' decision.
- The Court held that the RTC has original and exclusive jurisdiction over petition...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Court's reasoning focused on the interpretation of R.A. No. 6657, particularly Sections 50 and 57.
- Section 50 grants the DAR primary jurisdiction over agrarian reform matters, while Section 57 states that the Special Agrarian Court ...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 122256)
Facts:
The case involves the Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) as petitioners, against the Court of Appeals and Acil Corporation as respondents. The events leading to this case began when Acil Corporation owned several hectares of land located in Linoan, Montevista, Davao del Norte. The government, under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (R.A. No. 6657), took possession of these lands, leading to the cancellation of Acil Corporation's certificates of title and the issuance of new titles to farmer-beneficiaries. The LBP initially valued the riceland at P19,312.24 per hectare and the brushland at P4,267.68 per hectare, totaling P439,105.39. However, Acil Corporation had previously filed a Statement of Agricultural Landholdings ("LISTASAKA") with the DAR, indicating a lower "Fair Value Acceptable to Landowner," which led the LBP to reassess the valuation at P15,311.79 per hectare, amounting to P390,557.84. Acil Corporation rejected this offer, arguing that similar nearby lands were valued at P24,717.40 per hectare. The dispute was brought before the Provincial Agrarian Reform Adjudicator (PARAD), who upheld the LBP's valuation on October 8, 1992. Subsequently, Acil Corporation filed a Petition for Just Compensation in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Tagum, Davao del Norte, on December 12, 1992, seeking P24,717.40 per hectare. The RTC dismissed the petition, stating that Acil Corporation should have appealed...