Case Summary (G.R. No. 182908)
Petitioners
Heirs of Francisco I. Narvasa Sr., heirs of Petra Imbornal and Pedro Ferrer, represented by attorney-in-fact Remedios B. Narvasa-Regacho, asserting co-ownership and seeking reconveyance, partition, or damages for the Motherland and both accretions.
Respondents
Descendants of Pablo Imbornal—Emiliana, Victoriano, Felipe, Mateo, Raymundo, Maria, and Eduardo—holding Torrens titles to the First and Second Accretions and in possession of the southern portion of the Motherland.
Key Dates
• 1920: Basilia conveys Sabangan property to her daughters.
• December 5, 1933: OCT No. 1462 issued to Ciriaco under Homestead Patent No. 24991.
• May 10, 1973: OCT No. 1462 reissued as TCT No. 101495 to Ciriaco’s heirs.
• 1949: First Accretion (59,772 sqm) forms; August 15, 1952: OCT P-318 issued to Victoriano.
• 1971: Second Accretion (32,307 sqm) forms; November 10, 1978: OCT 21481 issued to respondents.
• February 27, 1984: Amended Complaint filed.
• August 20, 1996: RTC Decision in favor of petitioners.
• November 28, 2006: CA Decision reversing RTC.
• May 7, 2008: CA denies reconsideration.
• August 6, 2014: Supreme Court Decision.
Applicable Law
• 1987 Philippine Constitution
• Civil Code (Art. 1456 on implied trusts; Art. 457 on accretion)
• Commonwealth Act No. 141, Public Land Act (homestead requirements)
• Lands Administrative Order No. 7-1 (riparian preference)
• Torrens system principles and prescription rules
Factual Background
Basilia’s daughters funded Ciriaco’s homestead patent application by selling the Sabangan property. Upon approval, OCT No. 1462 was issued in Ciriaco’s name. He and his heirs occupied the northern portion of the Motherland; respondents occupied the southern portion. When the Cayanga River deposited adjoining land, two accretions formed. Respondents registered the First Accretion under OCT P-318 and the Second Accretion under OCT 21481. Petitioners alleged that Ciriaco held the Motherland and the accretions in trust for the Imbornal sisters, having funded his patent with the Sabangan proceeds, and that respondents obtained the accretions through deceit.
Regional Trial Court Decision
The RTC (Branch 44, Dagupan City) on August 20, 1996 recognized an implied trust arising from the sale proceeds of the Sabangan property. It held that petitioners, as successors of Balbina and Alejandra, were co-owners of the Motherland and its accretions. The court ordered reconveyance or payment of pecuniary equivalents and awarded actual (₱100,000), moral (₱100,000) damages, attorney’s fees (₱10,000), and costs.
Court of Appeals Decision
On November 28, 2006, the CA reversed the RTC. It ruled that Ciriaco alone validly acquired the Motherland under an indefeasible homestead patent and Torrens title and that petitioners could not attack it collaterally. Regarding the accretions, the CA held that respondents, though not riparian owners of the original parcel, acquired the First and Second Accretions by acquisitive prescription and Torrens registration, rendering their titles indefeasible. The CA dismissed petitioners’ claims and denied their motion for reconsideration on May 7, 2008.
Issue
Whether the CA erred in (a) declaring Ciriaco’s descendants exclusive owners of the Motherland and (b) declaring respondents exclusive owners of the First and Second Accretions, based on prescription and an alleged implied trust.
Supreme Court Decision
- Prescription: Actions for reconveyance based on implied trust prescribe in ten years from issuance of title if the true owner is not in possession. Petitioners filed suit in 1984, well beyond ten years for the Motherland (1933 → 1943) and the First Accretion (1952 → 1962
Case Syllabus (G.R. No. 182908)
Facts of the Case
- Basilia Imbornal inherited and in 1920 conveyed a 4,144 sq. m. parcel in San Fabian, Pangasinan (Sabangan property) to her three daughters: Balbina, Alejandra, and Catalina.
- Catalina’s husband, Ciriaco Abrio, applied for and was granted Homestead Patent No. 24991 over a 31,367 sq. m. riparian tract (the Motherland); OCT No. 1462 issued in his name on December 5, 1933.
- The Motherland title was cancelled in 1973 and re-issued as TCT No. 101495 in the names of Ciriaco’s heirs.
- In 1949 a 59,772 sq. m. alluvial First Accretion formed adjacent to the Motherland; OCT No. P-318 issued to respondent Victoriano Imbornal on August 15, 1952.
- In 1971 a 32,307 sq. m. Second Accretion formed south of the First Accretion; OCT No. 21481 issued in all respondents’ names on November 10, 1978.
- Petitioners (heirs of Francisco I. Narvasa Sr., Petra Imbornal, and Pedro Ferrer) claimed that proceeds from the Sabangan sale funded Ciriaco’s homestead application, creating an implied trust in favor of their predecessors.
- They alleged fraudulent registration by respondents of both accretions despite not owning the Motherland riparian land, filed an amended complaint on February 27, 1984 seeking reconveyance, partition or damages and moral/actual damages.
Procedural History
- February 27, 1984: Petitioners filed Amended Complaint for reconveyance, partition, damages (Civil Case No. D-6978, RTC Dagupan City, Branch 44).
- March 5, 1984: Respondents filed Amended Answer raising lack of cause, prescription, Torrens indefeasibility.
- August 20, 1996: RTC rendered Decision in favor of petitioners, recognizing implied trust over Motherland and accretions; ordered reconveyance or pecuniary equivalent, awarded damages and attorneys’ fees.
- CA-G.R. CV No. 57618: On November 28, 2006, Court of Appeals reversed RTC; declared exclusive ownership of Motherland to Ciriaco’s descendants, First Accretion to Victoriano’s descendants, Second Accretion to all respondents; denied petitioners’ claims.
- May 7, 2008: CA denied petitioners’ motion for reconsideration.
- August 6, 2014: Supreme Co