Title
Spouses Yu Hwa Ping vs. Ayala Land, Inc.
Case
G.R. No. 173120
Decision Date
Jul 26, 2017
Land dispute over overlapping titles in Las Piñas; Supreme Court voids ALI’s titles due to fraudulent surveys, upholds Spouses Diaz and Yu’s claims.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 167798)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Survey Plans and Titles
    • March 17, 1921 – Psu-25909 by A.N. Feliciano for Spouses Andres Diaz and Josefa Mia (Lot 1, 460,626 m²) approved May 26, 1921.
    • October 21, 1925 – Psu-47035 by A.N. Feliciano for Dominador Mayuga (Lot 3, 171,309 m²).
    • July 28, 1930 – Psu-80886 by A.N. Feliciano for Eduardo C. Guico (Lot 2, 158,494 m²).
    • March 6, 1931 – Psu-80886/SWO-20609 by A.N. Feliciano for Alberto Yaptinchay (subsequent work order).
    • May 1950–May 1958 – Issuance of OCTs Nos. 242, 244, and 1609 covering Lots 2 and 3.
  • Transfers and Registrations
    • February 16, 1968 – Spouses Diaz apply for original registration of Lot 1 (Psu-25909); OCT No. 8510 issued May 19, 1970.
    • May 1970 – Spouses Diaz subdivide OCT 8510 into Lots 1-A to 1-J and convey to third parties.
    • 1976 – Sales to Librado Cabautan; new TCTs Nos. 287411–287416.
    • 1993–1994 – Spouses Yu acquire half of Lot 1-A (TCT 39408) and Lot 1-B (TCT 64549).
    • 1980–1992 – CPJ Corporation and successors convey Lots 2–3 to Ayala Land, Inc. (TCTs 41261–41263, 41325).
  • Proceedings Below
    • Diaz Case (RTC Pasig, 1995) – RTC cancels OCT 8510 for alleged fraud; CA initially affirms, then grants reconsideration, then reinstates cancellation in 2006.
    • Yu Case (RTC Las Piñas, 2001) – RTC orders verification survey, finds Psu-47035, Psu-80886, Psu-80886/SWO-20609 spurious, voids ALI’s TCTs and upholds Spouses Yu’s TCTs; CA reverses, then amends to set aside ALI titles, then reinstates ALI titles in 2006.

Issues:

  • Whether Spouses Yu’s complaint is barred by prescription.
  • Whether the validity of OCTs 242, 244, and 1609 (ALI) as against OCT 8510 (Spouses Diaz/Yu) can be assailed.
  • Whether Guico v. San Pedro is applicable to Psu-80886.
  • Whether errors in Psu-80886 and Psu-47035 invalidate OCTs 242, 244, and 1609.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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