Timeline (G.R. No. 243296)
Parties Involved: Ceferino Bautista (substituted by Philip de Vera Bautista), Felisa Bautista, and Nehemias Bautista are the petitioners against Spouses Francis and Minda Balolong, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company (Metrobank), and the Register of Deeds of Lingayen, Pangasinan.
Case Origin: The case originated from a Complaint for cancellation of title, declaration of nullity of title, declaration of nullity of mortgage, and damages filed by the Bautista family against the Balolong spouses and Metrobank.
Property Ownership: The Bautistas were the registered owners of two parcels of land in Lingayen, Pangasinan, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) Nos. 139362 and 163938.
Migration: In the 1980s, the Bautista family migrated to Canada, leaving the properties in the care of their daughter, Minda.
Marriage and Residence: Minda married Francis Balolong, and they built their home on the Bautista properties.
Foreclosure Notification: On June 17, 2003, Philip Bautista received a call from a Metrobank branch manager about the impending foreclosure of the property mortgaged by Minda.
Investigation Findings: Upon investigation, the Bautistas discovered that their titles were cancelled and the properties subdivided into new titles under the names of Minda and Francis, William Bautista, and Nehemias.
Loan Acquisition: Minda and Francis obtained a loan of P1,500,000.00 from Metrobank, secured by a mortgage on Lot 1.
Allegations of Fraud: The Bautist...continue reading