Title
Gawaran vs. Intermediate Appellate Court
Case
G.R. No. L-72721
Decision Date
Jun 16, 1988
A land registration dispute over Lot 2 in Bacoor, Cavite, culminated in petitioners losing ownership and possession despite occupying the land, as the Supreme Court upheld the writ of possession and demolition order, rejecting their claim of good faith.

Case Summary (A.C. No. 5817)

Appeal and Court Proceedings

This document pertains to an appeal of a decision rendered by the Intermediate Appellate Court on July 17, 1985, which dismissed a special civil action for certiorari and prohibition filed by the petitioners. The petition sought the annulment of a writ of possession along with a demolition order issued by the Regional Trial Court on March 19, 1985. Historically, this dispute began with the filing of an application for land registration concerning Lot 2, PSU-173975, situated in Digman, Bacoor, Cavite, by private respondents in 1959, against which the petitioners raised objections solely regarding this specific lot.

Initial Rulings and Appeals

The trial court initially ruled in favor of the petitioners, awarding them ownership of Lot 2. However, upon appeal by the private respondents to the Court of Appeals, the earlier decision was overturned, and the ownership was confirmed in favor of the private respondents. The petitioners subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court (G.R. No. 56312), but the petition was dismissed, and the judgment was finalized on May 24, 1982. Following this, an order was issued on January 13, 1984, for the issuance of a decree favoring the private respondents, leading to the issuance of Original Certificate of Title No. 0-2123, which included Lot 2.

Writ of Possession and Dismantling Order

Despite the issuance of the title, the petitioners continued to occupy Lot 2. Consequently, the private respondents filed for a writ of possession, resulting in the trial court's order on March 19, 1985, demanding that the petitioners vacate the premises and dismantle their structures within thirty days or face demolition. The petitioners challenged this order through a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the Intermediate Appellate Court, which was dismissed on July 17, 1985, followed by a denial of their motion for reconsideration on October 22, 1985.

Key Legal Issues Raised

In their petition before the Supreme Court, the petitioners contended that the Intermediate Appellate Court erred in two respects: first, in asserting that the adjudication of ownership in a land registration case includes the right to possession; and second, in dismissing the action that permitted private respondents to demolish the petitioners’ improvements without compensation or indemnification, thereby infringing on their substantial rights.

Court's Rationale and Conclusion

The Supreme Court found the petition unmeritorious, concluding that the Intermediate Appellate Court did not make a reversible error in affirming the trial court's issuance of the writ of possession as

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