Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 931)
The main purpose of Republic Act No. 931 is to authorize the filing, under certain conditions, of claims for title to parcels of land that have been declared public land through judicial decisions rendered within forty years preceding the approval of this Act.
Persons claiming title to parcels of land who were in actual possession of the land at the time of the survey but were unable to file their claim within the legal time limit are entitled to file claims under this Act.
Claims must be filed within five years after the date on which the Act takes effect.
Parcels of land that have been the object of cadastral proceedings and declared public land by judicial decisions within the last forty years, provided these parcels have not been alienated, reserved, leased, granted, or otherwise disposed of by the Government.
The competent Court of First Instance has jurisdiction to receive and decide petitions for the reopening of judicial proceedings under this Act.
The court must find that all conditions established in the Act have been complied with, and that all taxes, interest, and penalties due from the time land tax should have been collected until the filing dates have been paid.
Upon receiving a petition, the court shall notify the Government through the Solicitor General, hear the parties, and if conditions are met, order the reopening of the judicial proceedings as if no action had been taken on the parcels.
The claimant may either withdraw their previous application or exercise the right granted by Republic Act No. 931 to file the claim for title.
Act Numbered Twenty-two hundred and fifty-nine, as amended, provides the procedural basis for reopening judicial proceedings related to land claims under Republic Act No. 931.
The Act took effect upon its approval on June 20, 1953.