Title
Agno River Gold Dredging Co., Inc. vs. De Leon
Case
G.R. No. 43027
Decision Date
Feb 19, 1935
Dispute over 520-hectare mining claims; preliminary injunction upheld as respondent's evidence supported peaceful possession claims.

Case Summary (G.R. No. 43027)

Facts of the Case

Agno Placer Mining Co. initiated civil case No. 6886 by claiming ownership of 66 individual mining claims encompassing 520 hectares. The complaint asserts that the petitioner, Agno River Gold Dredging Co., has interferred with the claims, leading the plaintiff to seek a writ of preliminary injunction to prevent any acts that might disrupt their possession of these claims. In defense, the petitioner contended ownership of 26 mining claims covering 64 hectares and asserted that their actions were lawful under the mining laws, claiming that the attempted injunction was based on flawed allegations.

Proceedings in Court

During the proceedings, both parties presented evidence, including documentary and oral testimonies. The respondent judge, following a hearing, granted a writ of preliminary injunction on January 3, 1935, conditioning it upon the filing of a P30,000 bond, which was subsequently filed and approved.

Legal Basis for the Preliminary Injunction

The ruling by the respondent judge was grounded in the principle that the issuance of a preliminary injunction is a discretionary power of the court, as enshrined in Section 164 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The court emphasized that when a reasonable basis for the injunction exists post-hearing, it is within the court's discretion to issue the writ, marking the necessity to protect the rights of a party pending the resolution of the main case.

Court's Analysis of Discretion

The petitioner argued that the respondent judge exceeded his discretion in issuing the injunction. However, the court reaffirmed that since the injunction was granted after a hearing with evidence presented, it would not interfere with the judge's discretion unless clear abuse was demonstrated. The

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