G.R. No. 147359. March 28, 2008.: - Third Division

2/10/2019 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 550
G.R. No. 147359. March 28, 2008.*
IN RE: APPLICATION FOR LAND REGISTRATION OF

TITLE FIELDMAN AGRICULTURAL TRADING
CORPORATION, represented by KAM BIAK Y. CHAN,
JR., petitioner, vs. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES,
respondent.
Land Registration; In land registration case, publication of

the notice of initial hearing is a jurisdictional requirement and
non-compliance therewith affects the jurisdiction of the court;
Where there was a resetting of the initial hearing in a land
registration case, there is no more need for the re-publication of
notice of hearing, for clearly, the avowed purpose had already been
accomplished.—The Republic is correct that in land registration
case, publication of the notice of initial hearing is a jurisdictional
requirement and non-compliance therewith affects the
jurisdiction of the court. The purpose of publication of the notice is
to require all persons concerned, who may have any rights or
interests in the property applied for, to appear in court at a
certain date and time to show cause why the application should
not be granted. It is not disputed that there was publication,
mailing, and posting of the notice of the initial hearing set on
February 28, 1995. FATCO, thus, complied with the legal
requirement of serving the entire world with sufficient notice of
the registration proceedings. Accordingly, as of that date, the RTC
acquired jurisdiction over FATCO’s application. Even if, at the
February 28, 1995 hearing, FATCO’s counsel requested a
resetting, and the RTC granted said request, the Republic and all
interested parties were already fully apprised of the pendency of
the application. When the hearing was reset to April 19, 1995,
interested parties, the Republic included, may be deemed to have
been given notice thereof. There was, thus, no need for the re-
publication of notice of hearing, for clearly, the avowed purpose of
Section 23 had already been accomplished. We, therefore, find
that the application for registration was rightfully given due
course by the RTC. The CA, thus, committed reversible error in
holding otherwise.
Same; Requisites prior to registration of one’s title.—Before
one can register his title over a parcel of land, he must show that:
first, he, by himself or through his predecessors-in-interest, has
been
_______________
* THIRD DIVISION.
http://www.central.com.ph/sfsreader/session/00000168d5cec48eb24ce60c003600fb002c009e/t/?o=False 1/14
2/10/2019 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 550
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VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 93
In Re: Application for Land Registration of Title, Fieldman

Agricultural Trading Corporation vs. Republic
in open, continuous, exclusive possession and occupation thereof

under a bona fide claim of ownership since June 12, 1945 or
earlier, and second, the land subject of the application is alienable
and disposable land of the public domain.
Same; As the law now stands, a mere showing of possession for
thirty (30) years or more is not sufficient—it must be shown too
that possession and occupation had started on 12 June 1945 or
earlier.—Basic is the rule that an applicant in a land registration
case must prove the facts and circumstances evidencing the
alleged ownership of the land applied for. General statements
which are mere conclusions of law and not factual proof of
possession are unavailing and cannot suffice. In this case, FATCO
did not present sufficient proof that its predecessors-in-interest
had been in open, continuous and adverse possession of the
subject lots since June 12, 1945. At best, FATCO can only prove
possession of Lots No. 1505 and No. 47030 since 1948, and of Lot
No. 1234 since 1970. But as the law now stands, a mere showing
of possession for thirty (30) years or more is not sufficient. It must
be shown too that possession and occupation had started on June
12, 1945 or earlier. It is clear that FATCO failed to comply with
the prescribed period and occupation not only as required by
Section 14(1) of the Property Registration Decree but also by
Commonwealth Act No. 141 or the Public Land Act.
PETITION for review on certiorari of the decision and

resolution of the Court of Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Juloya-Lopico Law Office for petitioner.
The Solicitor General for respondent.
NACHURA, J.:
Petitioner Fieldman Agricultural Trading Corp.
(FATCO), through Kam Biak Y. Chan, Jr., appeals by
certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, the October
23, 2000 Decision1
_______________
1 Penned by Associate Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando, with

Associate Justices Quirino D. Abad Santos, Jr. (retired) and Salvador J.
Valdez, Jr. (deceased), concurring; Rollo, pp. 15-24.
94
94 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

2/10/2019 In Re: Application for Land Registration
SUPREME of Title,
COURT REPORTS Fieldman
ANNOTATED VOLUME 550
of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 52366, and

the March 7, 2001 Resolution2 denying its reconsideration.
On October 19, 1993, FATCO filed with the Regional
Trial Court (RTC) of La Union an application for
confirmation of title to parcels of land, described as Lots
No. 1505, No. 1234 and No. 47030,3 with an aggregate area
of 8,463 square meters, situated in Barrio Poblacion,
Bacnotan, La Union. The application was docketed as LRA
REC. No. N-63835.
FATCO alleged, among others, that it is the owner of the
subject parcels of land which it openly, exclusively and
notoriously possessed and occupied for more than thirty
(30) years under a bona fide claim of ownership, tacking its
possession with that of its predecessors-in-interest. It
allegedly acquired these lots in the following manner:
“a) Lot No. 1505 covered by Tax Declaration No. 20304
was acquired by a Deed of Exchange executed by and
between the Brgy. Council of Poblacion, Bacnotan, La
Union, represented by its Brgy. Capt. Honesto Alcid and
Brgy. Sec. Teofilo Descargar, and the applicant, at San
Fernando, La Union, on October 19, 1988 appearing as Doc.
No. 415, Page No. 84, Book No. I, Series of 1988 in the
notarial register of Notary Public Roman R. Villalon, Jr.,
and registered with the Registry of Deeds for the Province
of La Union on November 16, 1988;
b) Lot No. 1234 covered by Tax Declaration No. 20305
was acquired by a Deed of Extrajudicial Partition with the
Deed of Absolute Sale executed by and between Ceferino
Bucago, Ildefonso Bucago, Victoria Bucago, Felomina B.
Higoy, Elizabeth B. Espejo, Ernesto B. Dacanay, Maria
Bucago, Reinerio P. Dacanay and the applicant at San
Fernando, La Union, on October 19, 1988 appearing as Doc.
No. 411, Page No. 84, Book No. I, Series of 1988 in the
notarial register of Notary Public Roman R. Villalon, Jr.,
and registered with the Registry of Deeds for the province
of La Union on November 16, 1988;
_______________
2 Rollo, pp. 26-27.

3 Also designated as Lot 1504-A; see Exhibit “P,” Folder of Exhibits.
95
VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 95

c) Lot No. 47030 covered by Tax Declaration No. 21971

was acquired by a Deed of Absolute Sale executed by and
2/10/2019
between Ernesto Adman,SUPREMEAmparo Carino Adman, and the
COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 550
applicant at San Fernando, La Union, on August 27, 1990

appearing as Doc. No. 235, Page No. 47, Book No. II, Series
of 1990, in the notarial register of Notary Public Roman R.
Villalon, Jr., and registered with the Register of Deeds for
the Province of La Union on September 25, 1990.”4
FATCO, thus, prayed for the registration or confirmation of
its title over these parcels of land.
On December 1, 1993, the Office of the Solicitor General
(OSG) entered its appearance, as counsel for the Republic
of the Philippines (Republic), and deputized the Provincial
Prosecutor of San Fernando, La Union to appear in the
case.5
On November 11, 1994, the RTC issued an Order setting
the application for initial hearing on February 28, 1995.
The Order was published in the January 23, 1995 issue of
the Official Gazette,6 and the February 18-24, 1995 issue of
the Guardian.7 The notice of hearing was, likewise, posted
in a conspicuous place in each parcel of land included in the
application, and on the bulletin board of the municipal
building of Bacnotan, La Union.8 The Provincial Prosecutor
of La Union was furnished with a copy of notice of hearing
on November 18, 1994.9
At the scheduled initial hearing on February 28, 1995,
Atty. Marita Balloguing entered her appearance as
collaborating counsel for FATCO, and requested the
resetting of the marking of exhibits.10 The RTC granted the
request and issued an Order resetting the hearing to April
19, 1995, viz.:
_______________
4 Records, pp. 1-2.

5 Id., at p. 39.
6 Id., at p. 59.
7 Id., at pp. 82, 83, 84.
8 Certificate of Posting, id., at p. 68.
9 See Return Receipt, id., at p. 56.
10 Records, p. 80.
96

“As prayed for by Atty. Balloguing, who entered her

appearance in collaboration with Atty. Ungria as counsel for the
applicant, this case is reset to April 19, 1995 at 8:30 a.m. for the
purpose of establishing jurisdictional facts.
SO ORDERED.”11
2/10/2019
The Republic, through the Provincial Prosecutor, was duly
SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 550
12
informed of the resetting.
On March 2, 1995, the OSG again entered its
appearance as counsel for the Republic and once more
deputized the Provincial Fiscal of San Fernando, La Union
to appear in the case.13 On the same date, the Republic
filed its Opposition to FATCO’s application for registration
on the following grounds: (1) neither FATCO nor its
predecessors-in-interest have been in open, continuous,
exclusive, and notorious possession and occupation of the
land in question since June 12, 1945 or prior thereto; (2)
the muniments of title and tax declarations of the applicant
(and its predecessors-in-interest) do not constitute
competent and sufficient evidence of a bona fide acquisition
of the land applied for, and do not appear to be genuine; (3)
applicant (and its predecessors-in-interest) can no longer
claim ownership in fee simple on the basis of Spanish title
or grant, since they failed to file the appropriate
application for registration within the period of six months
from February 16, 1976, as required by Presidential Decree
(P.D.) No. 892; (4) the parcels of land applied for forms part
of the public domain and are not subject to private
appropriation; and (5) the application was belatedly filed as
it was filed beyond December 31, 1987, the period set forth
under Sec. 2, P.D. No. 1073.14
During the hearing on April 19, 1995, Prosecutor Gloria
D. Catbagan appeared for the Republic. FATCO, through
coun-
_______________
11 Id., at p. 81.
12 Id.
13 Id., at p. 89.
14 Id., at pp. 85-87.
97
VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 97

sel, offered in evidence the following documents to establish

jurisdictional facts:
Exhibit “A” — Consolidated Plan Ccn-013303-000129 of Lots

1505, 1234 and 47030
Exhibit “B” — Technical Description
Exhibit “B-1” — Certification in lieu of Lost Surveyor’s
Certificate
Exhibit “C” — Notice of Initial Hearing from LRA
Exhibit “D” — Affidavit of Publication by publisher of The
Guardian
2/10/2019 Exhibit “D-1” — ClippingSUPREME
of Publication
Exhibit “E” — Whole issue of The Guardian for February 18 to

24, 1995;
Exhibit “E-1” — Section A of publication of said issue;
Exhibit “F” — Certificate of Publication from the Official
Gazette/ National Printing Office;
Exhibit “G” — Certificate of Notification sent to Adjoining
Owners (Reserved);
Exhibit “H” — Certificate of Publication from LRA
Exhibit “I” — Sheriff’s Certificate of Posting
Exhibit “J” — Certificate of Assessment15
The RTC then issued an Order16 setting the case for the
reception of evidence on May 25, 1995 at 8:30 in the
morning.
In the ensuing trial, FATCO offered other documents
and testimonial evidence to prove its title to the parcels of
land applied for. The Republic, on the other hand, did not
submit evidence to controvert FATCO’s assertion.
In a Decision dated February 5, 1996, the RTC, upon a
finding that FATCO had sufficiently established its
ownership of the lands in question, ordered the registration
thereof in its name, thus:
_______________
15 Id., at p. 90.
16 Id., at p. 91.
98

“WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, this Court hereby

approves the application and orders that the parcels of land
identified as Lots 1505, 1234 and 47030, Bacnotan Cadastre Pls-
1050-D, containing an area of EIGHT THOUSAND FOUR
HUNDRED SIXTY-THREE (8,463) square meters, more or less,
located at Poblacion, Bacnotan, La Union, covered by
Consolidated Plan Ccn-013303-000129 (Exh. “A”), and more
particularly described in the technical description, Exh. “B” shall
be registered in the name of the applicant Fieldman Agricultural
Trading Corporation, with address at Poblacion, Bacnotan, La
Union, under the provisions of the Property Registration Decree.
The encumbrance/mortgage of the property to the Far East
Bank and Trust Company, San Fernando, La Union Branch in the
amount of Seventeen Million (P17,000,000.00) Pesos, shall
accordingly be annotated at the back of the title to be issued in
the name of the applicant.
Once this decision shall become final, let a decree of
registration be issued.”17
2/10/2019
From the aforesaid decision, the Republic went to the
CA. It faulted the RTC for giving due course to FATCO’s

application arguing that it did not acquire jurisdiction over
the same in view of the non-publication of the notice of
actual initial hearing. It also claimed that FATCO failed to
prove open, continuous and notorious possession of the
subject properties for more than thirty (30) years, as
required by law.
On October 23, 2000, the CA reversed the RTC Decision.
The CA agreed with the Republic that the RTC did not
acquire jurisdiction over FATCO’s application because the
publication of initial hearing was fatally defective. The
notice that was published in the Official Gazette and in the
Guardian was the hearing set on February 28, 1995, but no
hearing was conducted on the said date. The actual initial
hearing was held on April 19, 1995, a date different from
what was stated in the notice, thereby defeating the very
purpose of the publication requirement.
_______________
17 Id., at pp. 137-138.
99
VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 99

The CA disposed, thus:

“WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the appeal is
hereby GRANTED and the Decision dated February 5,
1996 is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE, and the
application for registration is DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.”18
FATCO filed a motion for reconsideration, but the CA
denied it on March 7, 2001.
Hence, this petition for certiorari by FATCO theorizing
that:
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS GRAVELY
ERRED WHEN IT HELD THAT THE COURT A QUO DID
NOT ACQUIRE JURISDICTION OVER THE
PETITIONER’S APPLICATION FOR LAND
19
REGISTRATION.
In its Comment on the petition, the Republic, through
the OSG, argues that:
I
NO ACTUAL HEARING WAS HELD BY THE TRIAL COURT ON
FEBRUARY 28, 1995 WHICH WAS THE PUBLISHED DATE OF
INITIAL HEARING;
II
2/10/2019 SUPREME
THE TRIAL COURT DID NOT COURTJURISDICTION
ACQUIRE REPORTS ANNOTATED
TO VOLUME
HEAR 550
PETITIONER’S APPLICATION FOR REGISTRATION DUE TO
PETITIONER’S FAILURE TO PUBLISH THE NOTICE OF ACTUAL
HEARING SET ON APRIL 19, 1995 AND TO POST SAID NOTICE IN
CONSPICUOUS PLACES AND TO SERVE THE SAME TO ADJOINING
OWNERS.
_______________
18 Rollo, p. 24.
19 Id., at p. 4.
100

In Re: Application for Land Registration of Title, Fieldman Agricultural
Trading Corporation vs. Republic
III
NO TRACING CLOTH PLAN WAS OFFERED IN EVIDENCE IN THE
COURT A QUO.
IV
PETITIONER FAILED TO PROVE ITS OPEN, CONTINUOUS,
ADVERSE AND NOTORIOUS POSSESSION OF THE SUBJECT
PROPERTIES IN THE CONCEPT OF AN OWNER FOR MORE THAN
THIRTY (30) YEARS.20
We will deal first with the jurisdictional issue.

Section 2321 of P.D. No. 1529, or the Property
Registration Decree, explicitly provides that before the
court can act on the
_______________
20 Id., at pp. 68-69.

21 Sec. 23. Notice of initial hearing, publication, etc.—The court shall,
within five days from filing of the application, issue an order setting the
date and hour of the initial hearing which shall not be earlier than forty-
five days nor later than ninety days from the date of the order.
The public shall be given notice of the initial hearing of the application
for land registration by means of (1) publication; (2) mailing; and (3)
posting.
1. By publication.—
Upon receipt of the order of the court setting the time for initial
hearing, the Commissioner of Land Registration shall cause a notice of
initial hearing to be published once in the Official Gazette and once in a
newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines; Provided, however,
that the publication in the Official Gazette shall be sufficient to confer
jurisdiction upon the court. Said notice shall be addressed to all persons
appearing to have an interest in the land involved including the adjoining
owners so far as known, and “to all whom it may concern.” Said notice
shall also require all persons concerned to appear in court at a certain
date and time to show cause why the prayer of said application shall not
be granted.
2. By mailing.—
2/10/2019 (a) Mailing of notice to SUPREME COURT REPORTS
persons named in the ANNOTATED VOLUME 550
application.—The
Commissioner of Land Registration shall also, within seven
101
VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 101

application for land registration, the public shall be given

notice of the initial hearing thereof by means of
publication, mailing, and posting.
FATCO insists that it complied with all the
jurisdictional requirements, specifically the publication of
the notice of initial hearing. It, therefore, faulted the CA for
reversing the
_______________
days after publication of said notice in the Official Gazette, as

hereinbefore provided, cause a copy of the notice of initial hearing to be
mailed to every person named in the notice whose address is known.
(b) Mailing of notice to the Secretary of Public Highways, the

Provincial Governor and the Mayor.—If the applicant requests to have a
line of public way or road determined, the Commissioner of land
Registration shall cause a copy of said notice of initial hearing to be
mailed to the Minister of Public Highways, to the Provincial Governor and
to the Mayor of the municipality or city, as the case may be, in which the
land lies.
(c) Mailing of notice to the Secretary of Agrarian Reform, the Solicitor
General, the Director of Lands, the Minister of Public Works, the Director
of Forest Development, the Director of Mines and the Director of Fisheries
and Aquatic Resources.—If the land borders on a river, navigable stream
or shore, or on arm of the sea where a river or harbor line has been
established, or a lake, or if it otherwise appears from the application, or
the proceedings that a tenant-farmer or the national government may
have a claim adverse to that of the applicant, notice of initial hearing shall
be given in the same manner to the Minister of Agrarian Reform, the
Solicitor General, the Director of Lands, the Minister of Public Works, the
Director of Forest Development, the Director of Mines and the Director of
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, as may be appropriate.
3. By posting.—
The Commissioner of Land Registration shall also cause a duly attested
copy of the notice of initial hearing to be posted by the sheriff of the
province or city, as the case may be, or by his deputy, in a conspicuous
place on each parcel of land included in the application and also in a
conspicuous place on the bulletin board of the municipal building of the
municipality or city in which the land or portion thereof is situated,
fourteen days at least before the date of initial hearing.
102
2/10/2019

RTC and, accordingly, dismissing its application for

registration.
The Republic, on the other hand, asserts that the RTC
never acquired jurisdiction over FATCO’s application
because the publication of initial hearing was fatally
defective. It points out that the initial hearing set on
February 28, 1995 was reset to April 19, 1995. The actual
initial hearing, therefore, took place on a date different
from what was stated in the published notice of initial
hearing. Hence, re-publication of the new notice of hearing
was necessary, but FATCO failed to publish the notice of
hearing set on April 19, 1995, thus, preventing the RTC
from acquiring jurisdiction over the application.
The Republic is correct that in land registration case,
publication of the notice of initial hearing is a jurisdictional
requirement and non-compliance therewith affects the
jurisdiction of the court. The purpose of publication of the
notice is to require all persons concerned, who may have
any rights or interests in the property applied for, to
appear in court at a certain date and time to show cause
why the application should not be granted.22
It is not disputed that there was publication, mailing,
and posting of the notice of the initial hearing set on
February 28, 1995. FATCO, thus, complied with the legal
requirement of serving the entire world with sufficient
notice of the registration proceedings. Accordingly, as of
that date, the RTC acquired jurisdiction over FATCO’s
application.
Even if, at the February 28, 1995 hearing, FATCO’s
counsel requested a resetting, and the RTC granted said
request, the Republic and all interested parties were
already fully apprised of the pendency of the application.
When the hearing was reset to April 19, 1995, interested
parties, the Republic
_______________
22 Republic v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 103047, September 14, 1994,

236 SCRA 257.
103
VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 103

included, may be deemed to have been given notice

thereof.23 There was, thus, no need for the re-publication of
2/10/2019
notice of hearing, for clearly, the avowed purpose of Section
23 had already been accomplished. We, therefore, find that

the application for registration was rightfully given due
course by the RTC. The CA, thus, committed reversible
error in holding otherwise.
Be that as it may, we cannot grant FATCO’s plea for the
reinstatement of the RTC Decision granting its application
for registration or confirmation of its imperfect title.
Section 14 of the Property Registration Decree explicitly
states:
“SEC. 14. Who may apply.—The following persons may file in

the proper Court of First Instance an application for registration
of title to the land, whether personally or through their
authorized representatives.
(a)Those who by themselves or through their predecessors-in-
interest have been in open, continuous, exclusive and notorious
possession and occupation of alienable and disposable lands of the
public domain under a bona fide claim of ownership since June
12, 1945.”
Before one can register his title over a parcel of land, he

must show that: first, he, by himself or through his
predecessors-in-interest, has been in open, continuous,
exclusive possession and occupation thereof under a bona
fide claim of ownership since June 12, 1945 or earlier, and
second, the land subject of the application is alienable and
disposable land of the public domain.24
To prove its length of possession, FATCO offered the
testimonies of Antonio Casugay, its division manager,
Emilio Paz, owner of the adjacent lot, and of Ernesto
Adman and Cifirino
_______________
23 Records, p. 81.
24 Republic v. Carrasco, G.R. No. 143491, December 6, 2006, 510 SCRA
150, 158.
104

Bucago, its predecessors-in-interest. It also presented

deeds of conveyance and several tax declarations covering
the lands in question.
Unfortunately for FATCO, the testimonies of its
witnesses do not serve to prove the validity of its cause.
Antonio Casugay and Emilio Paz merely stated that
FATCO acquired the subject lots and had taken possession
of the same in 1988 or 1989.25 FATCO’s predecessor-in-
interest, Ernesto Adman, on the other hand, testified that
2/10/2019
he acquired ownership and possession of Lot No. 4703, also
described as Lot No. 1504-A, from Victor Dacanay only in

1983 or 1984.26 Similarly, Cifirino Bucago’s testimony27 did
not establish the period of possession required by law over
Lot No. 1234. His testimony consists merely of general
statements with no specifics as to when he began occupying
the land. He did not introduce sufficient evidence to
substantiate his allegation that he possessed Lot No. 1234
for the length of time prescribed by law.
Neither do the tax declarations prove FATCO’s
assertion. The earliest tax declarations presented for Lot
No. 1505 and Lot No. 47030 were issued only in 1948,28
while the earliest tax declaration for Lot No. 1234 was
issued in 1970.29 We have ruled that while a tax
declaration by itself is not sufficient to prove ownership, it
may serve as sufficient basis for inferring possession.30
Basic is the rule that an applicant in a land registration
case must prove the facts and circumstances evidencing the
alleged ownership of the land applied for. General
statements
_______________
25 TSN, July 19, 1995, pp. 4-10.

26 TSN, September 12, 1995, pp. 2-5.
27 TSN, October 24, 1995, pp. 2-4.
28 Exhibits “O-8” and “Q-9,” Folder of Exhibits, pp. 23 and 38.
29 Id., at p. 50.
30 Republic v. Carrasco, supra note 24, at p. 160.
105
VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 105

which are mere conclusions of law and not factual proof of

possession are unavailing and cannot suffice.31
In this case, FATCO did not present sufficient proof that
its predecessors-in-interest had been in open, continuous
and adverse possession of the subject lots since June 12,
1945. At best, FATCO can only prove possession of Lots No.
1505 and No. 47030 since 1948, and of Lot No. 1234 since
1970. But as the law now stands, a mere showing of
possession for thirty (30) years or more is not sufficient. It
must be shown too that possession and occupation had
started on June 12, 1945 or earlier.
It is clear that FATCO failed to comply with the
prescribed period and occupation not only as required by
Section 14(1) of the Property Registration Decree but also
by Commonwealth Act No. 141 or the Public Land Act,
which states:
2/10/2019 “Section 48. The followingSUPREME described citizens
COURT REPORTS of VOLUME
ANNOTATED the 550
Philippines, occupying lands of the public domain or claiming to
own any such lands or an interest therein, but whose titles have
not been perfected or completed, may apply to the Court of First
Instance of the province where the land is located for confirmation
of their claims and the issuance of a certificate of title therefor,
under the Land Registration Act, to wit:
x x x x
(b) Those who by themselves or through their predecessors-
in-interest have been in open, continuous, exclusive, and
notorious possession and occupation of agricultural lands of the
public domain, under a bona fide claim of acquisition of
ownership, since June 12, 1945, or earlier, immediately preceding
the filing of the application for confirmation of title except when
prevented by war or force majeure. These shall be conclusively
presumed to have performed all the conditions essential to a
Government grant and shall be entitled to a certificate of title
under the provisions of this chapter.” (Emphasis supplied.)
106

Thus, even if FATCO’s case is considered as one for

confirmation of imperfect title under the Public land Act
(CA No. 141), as amended, it would still meet the same
fate.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. The petition for
registration of title filed by Fieldman Agricultural Trading
Corporation is DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.
Austria-Martinez (Actg. Chairperson), Tinga,** Chico-

Nazario and Reyes, JJ., concur.
Petition denied, application for registration dismissed.
Notes.—Because of Section 14(2) of Presidential Decree

No. 1529, those who are in possession of alienable and
disposable land, and whose possession has been
characterized as open, continuous and exclusive for 30
years or more, may have the right to register their title to
such land despite the fact that their possession of the land
commenced only after 12 June 1945. (Buenaventura vs.
Republic, 517 SCRA 271 [2007])
The required thirty-year period of occupation by an
applicant for registration has already been amended by
P.D. No. 1073, that took effect on January 25, 1977—the
applicants, by themselves or through their predecessors-in-
interest, must prove that they have been in open, exclusive,
continuous and notorious possession and occupation of
2/10/2019
alienable and disposableSUPREME
lands of the public domain, under
a bona fide claim of acquisition or ownership, since June

12, 1945, or earlier. (Republic vs. Bibonia, 525 SCRA 268
[2007])
——o0o——
_______________
31 Director of Lands Management Bureau v. Court of Appeals, 381 Phil.

761, 770; 324 SCRA 757, 765 (2000).
** In lieu of Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago per Special

Order No. 497, dated March 14, 2008.
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G.R. No. 147359. March 28, 2008.: - Third Division

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2/10/2019 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 550

G.R. No. 147359. March 28, 2008.*

IN RE: APPLICATION FOR LAND REGISTRATION OF

Land Registration; In land registration case, publication of

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 93

In Re: Application for Land Registration of Title, Fieldman

in open, continuous, exclusive possession and occupation thereof

PETITION for review on certiorari of the decision and

1 Penned by Associate Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando, with

94 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Agricultural Trading Corporation vs. Republic

of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 52366, and

2 Rollo, pp. 26-27.

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 95

c) Lot No. 47030 covered by Tax Declaration No. 21971

applicant at San Fernando, La Union, on August 27, 1990

4 Records, pp. 1-2.

96 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

“As prayed for by Atty. Balloguing, who entered her

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 97

sel, offered in evidence the following documents to establish

Exhibit “A” — Consolidated Plan Ccn-013303-000129 of Lots

Exhibit “E” — Whole issue of The Guardian for February 18 to

98 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

“WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, this Court hereby

CA. It faulted the RTC for giving due course to FATCO’s

17 Id., at pp. 137-138.

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 99

The CA disposed, thus:

100 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

We will deal first with the jurisdictional issue.

20 Id., at pp. 68-69.

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 101

application for land registration, the public shall be given

days after publication of said notice in the Official Gazette, as

(b) Mailing of notice to the Secretary of Public Highways, the

In Re: Application for Land Registration of Title, Fieldman

RTC and, accordingly, dismissing its application for

22 Republic v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 103047, September 14, 1994,

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 103

included, may be deemed to have been given notice

23 had already been accomplished. We, therefore, find that

“SEC. 14. Who may apply.—The following persons may file in

Before one can register his title over a parcel of land, he

104 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Bucago, its predecessors-in-interest. It also presented

described as Lot No. 1504-A, from Victor Dacanay only in

25 TSN, July 19, 1995, pp. 4-10.

VOL. 550, MARCH 28, 2008 105

which are mere conclusions of law and not factual proof of

106 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Thus, even if FATCO’s case is considered as one for

Austria-Martinez (Actg. Chairperson), Tinga,** Chico-

Petition denied, application for registration dismissed.

Notes.—Because of Section 14(2) of Presidential Decree

a bona fide claim of acquisition or ownership, since June

31 Director of Lands Management Bureau v. Court of Appeals, 381 Phil.

** In lieu of Associate Justice Consuelo Ynares-Santiago per Special