Facts:

• The case involves several parcels of land in Masantol, Pampanga, initially part of Lot No. 733, Cad-305-D, under TCT 141-RP in the name of Ellen P. Mendoza.
• On April 28, 1986, Geodetic Engineer Abdon G. Fajardo created a plan to subdivide Lot 733 into six parcels.
• On April 29, 1986, Mendoza executed two deeds of absolute sale: Lot 733-F to Jesus Carlo Gerard Viray and Lot 733-A to spouses Avelino Viray and Margarita Masangcay, but these deeds were not annotated on TCT 141-RP.
• Ruperta Cano Vda. de Viray, the surviving spouse of Jesus Viray, became involved after his death in April 1992.
• On August 20, 1990, Mendoza, Emerenciana M. Vda. de Mallari, and spouses Jose and Amelita Usi executed a Subdivision Agreement (1st SA) using the Galang Plan, subdividing Lot 733 into three lots, resulting in new titles: TCT 1584-RP (Mallari), TCT 1585-RP (Usis), and TCT 1586-RP (Mendoza).
• Another Subdivision Agreement (2nd SA) on April 5, 1991, further subdivided Lot 733-C into 13 smaller lots, resulting in titles TCT Nos. 1585-RP, 2092-RP, and 2101-RP for the Usis.
• Legal actions followed, including suits for annulment of deeds of sale, forcible entry, and petitions for accion publiciana/reivindicatoria.
• The RTC in Macabebe, Pampanga, dismissed the Usis' petition for accion publiciana/reivindicatoria, but the CA reversed this decision, declaring the Usis' ownership over the disputed lots.
• The Supreme Court was petitioned to review the CA's decision.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court reversed and set aside the CA's decision.
• Reinstated the RTC's dismissal of the Usis' petition for accion publiciana/reivindicatoria.
• Ruled in favor of the petitioners.
• Affirmed the validity of the April 29, 19...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The subdivision agreements were not genuine partitions among co-owners but were conveyances disguised as partitions.
• The prior sale of Lot 733-A and Lot 733-...continue reading