b1.Guido v. Borja

7/25/2019 b1.Guido v. Borja

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Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-!"# $eb%ua%& ' "(!(

)USTO GU*+O' ET AL.' plaintiffs-appellees'

,s.

AGUST*N +E BOR)A' ET AL.' efenants-appellants.

.A. /incai' fo% appellants.

Pe%o Concepcion' fo% appellees.

ARELLANO' C.).0

This action 1as institute b& the hei%s an successo%s of $%ancisco Guio an +o2in3a Santa Ana' to %eco,e% the

o1ne%ship an possession of the haciena of An3ono' a3ainst the efenant' 1ho' bein3 tenants of the sai haciena until

the &ea% "(!#' enie the o1ne%ship of the plaintiffs an the2sel,es p%etene to be the o1ne%s of the haciena. The

Cou%t of $i%st *nstance of the P%o,ince of Ri4al %ene%e final 5u32ent' the finin3s of 1hich' i2pu3ne upon appeal b&

the efenants' a%e the follo1in30

". That the o1ne%ship an possession of the haciena of An3ono' as it appea%s esc%ibe in the ecision of sai cou%t'

in acco%ance 1ith the a2ene co2plaint' pe%tains to )usto Guio' )uliana Guio' Buena,entu%a Guio an othe%

pa%ticipants 1ith the2 in sai haciena6 b& ,i%tue the%eof the cou%t belo1 o%e%e the efenants to %esto%e sai

possession to the plaintiffs.

7. That the f%uits o% c%ops an plantin3s of the efenants on the sai haciena of An3ono o not belon3 to the

plaintiffs' an in lieu the%eof the cou%t belo1 sentences each one of the efenants %especti,el& to pa& the plaintiffs an

thei% pa%ticipants such su2s in 2one& an pa& as the& 2a& o1e the2' as ite2i4e in the state2ents attache to the

co2plaint une% nu2be%s "' 7' #' an . A list of the na2es of the efenants 1ith the state2ent of the %especti,e

a2ounts to the pa&2ent of 1hich the& 1e%e sentence' follo1s.

#. That the costs of this suit shoul be pai b& the efenants. B& ,i%tue of thei% appeal to this cou%t the efenants anappellants p%esente in thei% b%ief the follo1in3 assi3n2ent of e%%o%s0

*. The lo1e% cou%t e%%e in consie%in3 that all the efenant appellants a%e p%ope%l& 5oine in the co2plaint of the

plaintiff appellees.

**. The lo1e% cou%t e%%e in holin3 that it ha 5u%isiction of the clai2 b%ou3ht b& the plaintiff appellees.

***. The lo1e% cou%t e%%e in ecla%in3 that the o1ne%ship an possession of the lan in 8uestion b& the plaintiff

appellees ha been p%o,en.

*9. The lo1e% cou%t e%%e in ecla%in3 that it ha been p%o,en that all the efenant appellants 1e%e tenants an lessees

on sha%es of the haciena on An3ono.


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9. The lo1e% cou%t e%%e in consie%in3 as p%o,en that the efenant appellants o1e the plaintiff appellees fo% 3%oun

%ent' o% fo% lease on sha%es' the a2ounts in 2one& an in p%oucts 1hich a%e ite2i4e in the state2ents Nos. "' 7' #' an

attache at the co2plaint.

The t1o fi%st e%%o%s a%e of fo%2 o% p%oceu%e' an the th%ee follo1in3 eal 1ith the 2e%its of the case6 be3innin3 1ith the

last th%ee' let us iscuss the thi% e%%o%0

T:*R+ ERROR.

The o1ne%ship of the appellees' 1ith %espect to the haciena of An3ono' is iscusse in this point6 the appellants p%ouce

the ocu2enta%& e,ience' E;hibits A' B' C' ' (' an +' 1hich constitute p%incipall& the titles of o1ne%ship of the

appellees6 an in b%ief' the& sa1 that it is necessa%& to consie% the :aciena as i,ie in t1o pa%ts ? one half

co%%esponin3 to $%ancisco Guio an the othe% half to +o2in3a Santa Ana' the p%incipals' as has been sai' of the

appellees.

ith %e3a% to the 1hole of the :aciena an of the o%i3inal titles of ac8uisition the%eto' 1hich a%e in no 1a& i2pu3ne'

it is no1 alle3e b& the appellants0 ". That o%i3inall& the estancia o% s2all fa%2 of An3ono 1as 3%ante to Gene%al +on

+o2in3o Antonio e Ote%o Be%2ue4' 1ho 1as a Spania%' to the p%e5uice of the inhabitants of An3ono' 1ho 1e%e

*nios' in ,iolation of la1s = an >' title "7' boo@ # ' of the Recopilacion e las Le&es e *nias6 an that 1hen the

title 1as issue' 1ith %o&al app%o,al' in fa,o% of the Alfe%e4 Real +on An%es Blanco Be%2ue4' as successo% to +on

+o2in3o Antonio e Ote%o Be%2ue4' it 1as one 1ithout p%e5uice to thi% pe%sons 1ho 2i3ht sho1 a bette% %i3ht'

1hich inicates that the o1ne%ship an possession of +on An%es Blanco Be%2ue4 1e%e not absolute.

ith %efe%ence to the half of the :aciena e%i,e f%o2 $%ancisco Guio' the appellants alle3e that the sai half is not

ente%e in the %e3ist%& of p%ope%t&' an that' acco%in3 to a%ticle 7# of the Mo%t3a3e La1' the titles can not p%e5uice thi%

pe%sons. The sai a%ticle p%o,ies that0

The inst%u2ents 2entione in a%ticle 7 an 1hich a%e not ul& %eco%e o% ente%e in the %e3ist%& can not p%e5uice

thi% pe%sons.

The %eco% of %eal p%ope%t& an p%ope%t& of %i3hts' ac8ui%e th%ou3h an inhe%itance o% le3ac&' shall not p%e5uice thi%

pe%sons until fi,e &ea%s ha,e elapse since the ate the%eof' e;ceptin3 in cases of testate o% intestate inhe%itances' le3acies

an aitions the%eto D2e5o%as' 1hen left to le3al hei%s.

The%efo%e' the efenants bein3 thi% pa%ties 1ith %espect to the plaintiff' the titles of p%ope%t& p%esente b& the latte% can

not p%e5uice the fo%2e%.

ith %espect to the othe% half e%i,e f%o2 the succession of +o2in3a Santa Ana' it is alle3e that' althou3h the

possession is %eco%e in the %e3ist%& of p%ope%t&' as such %e3ist%ation ates onl& f%o2 the "th of )ul&' ">((' it can not

con,e%t the title of possession into a title of o1ne%ship e;cept at the e;pi%ation of t1ent&-&ea%s' acco%in3 to the

p%o,isions of a%ticle #(# of the Mo%t3a3e La1' an conse8uentl& the p%esent title is not one of o1ne%ship.

The o%i3inal title to the 1hole haciena of An3ono is b& co2posicion an %o&al app%o,al issue on the "


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of the 2onth of +ece2be% in the &ea% "=(' the SeFo% Licenciao +on Pe%o Cale%on En%i8ue4' of :is Ma5est&s

council' oio% Dassociate 5ustice of the Real Auiencia of these *slans an special 5u3e of the Co22ission fo% the sale

an co2position of lans in the 1hole ist%ict the%eof. :a,in3 seen the inst%u2ents of title that Gene%al +on +o2in3o

Antonio e Ote%o Be%2ue4 has p%ouce fo% the pu%pose of substantiatin3 the le3iti2ate o1ne%ship an possession an

that he has of the so-calle haciena of An3ono' to3ethe% 1ith the othe% lans an estancia of Binan3onan an the li2e

8ua%%ies of San Guille%2o' all of the2 consoliate une% the na2e of haciena an estancia of An3ono' 1ith the

ac@no1le32ent an ecla%ation 1hich' in ,ie1 of the sai o%i3inal ocu2ents' 1as 2ae b& SeFo% +on )uan e O4aeta

& O%o' 1ho 1as a 2e2be% of :is Ma5est&s council' oio% of the Real Auiencia of these *slans' an special 5u3e of the

sai lan co22ission fo% the &ea% "


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$%o2 the fo%e3oin3 it appea%s that the absolute o1ne%ships 3%ante b& the State to the fi%st pe%sons to ac8ui%e the

p%ope%t&' Ote%o an Blanco' is full& p%o,en6 thei% titles of o1ne%ship a%e 2ae final b& ,i%tue of the p%o,ision of the %eal

ceula of Octobe% "' "=' a%ticle of 1hich %eas as follo1s0

Neithe% shall possesso%s of lans sol o% a5uste b& the ,a%ious subele3ates f%o2 the &ea% "=!! to the p%esent ti2e be

2oleste' istu%be' o% enounce' no1 o% at an& othe% ti2e' 1ith %espect to such possession' if such sales o% a5ust2ents

shall ha,e been confi%2e b& 2e' o% b& the ,ice%o& o% the p%esient of the cou%t of the ist%ict in 1hich the lans a%e

locate' 1hile autho%i4e to e;e%cise this po1e%. *n cases 1he%e the sales of a5ust2ents shall not ha,e been so

confi%2e' the possesso%s 1ill p%esent to the cou%ts of thei% %especti,e ist%icts an to the othe% officials he%eb&

e2po1e%e to %ecei,e the sa2e' a petition as@in3 fo% the confi%2ation of sai sales an a5ust2ents. Afte% the

p%oceein3s outline b& the subele3ates in thei% o%e% 1ith %espect to the 2easu%e2ent an ,aluation of the sai lans'

an 1ith %efe%ence to the title issue officials 1ill 2a@e an e;a2ination of the sa2e fo% the pu%pose of asce%tainin3

1hethe% the sale o% a5ust2ent has been 2ae 1ithout f%au o% collusion' an fo% an ae8uate an e8uitable p%ice' an a

si2ila% e;a2ination shall be 2ae b& the p%osecutin3 atto%ne& of the ist%ict' to the en that' in ,ie1 of all the

p%oceein3s' etc.' the%e 1ill be issue to the possesso%' in 2& %o&al na2e' a confi%2ation of his title' b& autho%it& of

1hich his possession an o1ne%ship of lans an 1ate%s %ep%esente 1ill be full& le3ali4e' to the en that at no ti2e 1illbe o% his hei%s o% assi3ns be ist%ibute o% 2oleste the%ein. DCite in the case of An%es 9alenton ,s. Manual Mu%ciano'

# Phil. Rep.' #=' of the %o&al ec%ee of the 7


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The la1 al1a&s tens to p%otect %e3iste%e %i3hts' to fa,o% hi2 1ho %e3iste%s' an the%efo%e' that the %e3ist%ation 2ae

shall p%e5uice those 1ho ha,e not %e3iste%e. As a 3ene%al %ule it 2a& be affi%2e that 1he%e the la1 spea@s of p%e5uice

to a thi% pe%son' sai thi% pe%son is the one efine b& a%ticle 7=' as he 1ho has not %e3iste%e' no% pa%ticipate in the

act o% cont%act that 1as %e3iste%e6 an 1hene,e% it sa&s that a thi% pe%son can not be p%e5uice such thi% pe%son is he

1ho bases his %i3ht on a %e3iste%e title. D Ci,il Coe' #!7.

The iffe%ent pe%sons 1ho 2a& 3ene%all& be consie%e as thi% pa%ties 1ith %espect to each act o% cont%act' a%e i,ie

b& the Mo%t3a3e La1 into t1o 3%oups6 thi% pa%ties of the effects of the ci,il la1' an thi% pa%ties fo% the effects of the

Mo%t3a3e La1. hile no %e3iste%e title e;ist the ci,il la1 3o,e%ns6 %eal %i3hts a%ise o% not inepenentl& of the

%e3ist%ation' an the thi% pa%ties 2a& o% 2a& not be p%e5uice 1ithout the inte%,ention of the Mo%t3a3e La1. $%o2 the

ti2e that a 1%itten act o% cont%act e;ists' the%e a%e thi% pa%ties fo% the effects of sai la1' an %e3ist%ation' ete%2ines

p%efe%ence an ac8uisition of %i3hts to thei% p%e5uice. D*bi.' #!7.

The p%o,isions of the Mo%t3a3e La1 a%e absolutel& inapplicable to the p%esent contention because the 2atte% at issue

oes not fall 1ithin the pu%pose of sai la16 no one of the %i3hts that a%e conteste is %e3iste%e6 the& a%e %i3hts 1hich canonl& be iscusse an ecie une% the p%ecepts of the ci,il la1 o% of the Ci,il Coe no1 in fo%ce6 an in the fo%ce of

the Ci,il Coe in fo%ce' a3ainst the titles of o1ne%ship put fo%1a% b& the appellees' fo% the pu%pose of effectin3 the

%eco,e%& of possession of the haciena of An3ono' the %esients of sai to1n' the appellants he%ein' set up no title

1hate,e%' eithe% of o1ne%ship o% of possession6 the& onl& oppose the 2e%e fact of the 2ate%ial possession of ce%tain

pa%cels of lan of the sai haciena' 1hich the& hel on lease o% lease on sha%es until the &ea% 1hen' as one of the

appellees states' the& %ose a3ainst the o1ne%ship of the haciena.

$OURT: AN+ $*$T: ERRORS.

The cou%t belo1 has no e%%e in consie%in3 as p%o,en that all the appellants a%e tenants o% lessees on sha%es of the

haciena of An3ono.

Neithe% has it e%%e in consie%in3 as p%o,en that the& o1n the appellees fo% 3%oun %ent' tenanc&' o% lease on sha%es' the

a2ounts in 2one& o% in p%oucts ite2i4e in the state2ents Nos. "' 7' #' an file 1ith the co2plaint.

These alle3ations of e%%o% a%e base on the lac@ of ientit& of the efenants he%ein as such tenants o% lessees on sha%es of

the haciena of An3ono. *t is a2itte in the b%ief that out of " efenants " a%e sho1n to be tenants acco%in3 to the

ocu2enta%& e,ience offe%e an a2itte at the t%ial6 it appea%s the%ein that the& subsc%ibe to p%oceein3s se%,e in

$eb%ua%&' ">(>' on the2 pe%sonall& as such tenants of the sai haciena' to co2pel the2 to eposit 1hat the&%especti,el& ha to pa& fo% 3%oun %ent' tenanc&' o% lease on sha%es6 but that it has not been p%o,en that the othe%s a%e

such tenants' e;cept b& the testi2on& of one 1itness an the fou% state2ents 1hich acco2pan& the co2plaint.

$o% the pu%pose of eciin3 this 8uestion' the %eason alle3e b& the appellees in thei% ans1e% is conclusi,e.

The ientit& sai in the b%ief of the a,e%se pa%t& to be lac@in3 1ith %espect to so2e of the efenant appellants is

alto3ethe% unnecessa%& an i22ate%ial f%o2 the 2o2ent that the efenants' all of the2' ha,e appea%e befo%e the lo1e%

cou%t an ans1e%e the co2plaint b& thei% o1n na2es' as the& a%e na2e in the co2plaint. No 8uestion has been %aise

in the cou%t belo1 1ith %espect to an& of the na2es of the efenant appellants6 on the cont%a%&' as has been sai the& all

appea%e' an all of the2 ans1e%e the co2plaint b& the sa2e na2es that appea% the%ein' 1hich fact sho1 thei%

a2ission of an confo%2it& to this pa%t of the co2plaint. DB%ief' "=.


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$*RST ERROR.

The cou%t belo1 i not e%% in consie%in3 that all the efenants a%e p%ope%l& 5oine in the co2plaint of the plaintiff

appellees.

The appellants alle3e that the& a%e not unite in one sole cont%act so that b& %eason the%eof' the& 2a& be sue 5ointl&' an

that the pa%cels of lan 1hich the& %especti,el& hol constitute 2atte% fo% sepa%ate an istinct causes of action.

The accu2ulation of pa%ties in this case is a %esult of the unit& of action' unit& of ob5ect' an unit& of efense. Unit& of

action inas2uch as' in ,ie1 of the attitue of the efenants' 1ho see@ to obtain the o1ne%ship of the haciena' the

co2plaint has fo% its ob5ect the %eco,e%& of possession of the la1ful o1ne%s 1ho' until "(!#' allo1e the efenants to

%e2ain in possession of ce%tain pa%cels the%eof une% cont%act of lease o% lease on sha%es6 unit& of ob5ect' 1hich can not

be less than the enti%e haciena' because it is etaine in its enti%et& b& the efenants' unite to3ethe% 1ith the 2anifest

intent fo% the pu%pose6 an unit& of efense' because the p%etension of the efenants is one' to 1it' that of bein3

the2sel,es the o1ne%s of the haciena. )oine% coul not ha,e been 2o%e i2pe%ati,e e,en if' afte% consie%able e;pense

an ela&' a sepa%ate action ha been b%ou3ht a3ainst each one of the tenants 1ho no1 etain the haciena. Section ""of the Coe of Ci,il P%oceu%e' 1hich the cou%t belo1 too@ into consie%ation' is applicable he%ein0

An& pe%son shoul be 2ae a efenant 1ho has o% clai2s an inte%est in the cont%o,e%s& o% the sub5ect-2atte% the%eof

a,e%se to the plaintiff' o% 1ho is necessa%& pa%t& to a co2plete ete%2ination o% settle2ent of the 8uestions in,ol,e

the%ein.

E;hibit P' offe%e in e,ience b& the plaintiffs an a2itte b& the lo1e% cou%t o,e% the e;ception of the efenants'

1hich e;ception ho1e,e%' has not been b%ou3ht befo%e this cou%t' is a nota%ial act %a1n up at the instance of one of the

plaintiffs' )usto Guio' fo% the pu%pose of obtainin3 a cop& of the %esolution a3%ee upon b& the tenants' an 1hich Guio

testifie 1as eli,e%e to hi2 b& +o2inao% Go2e4' to 1ho2 the o%i3inal 1as %etu%ne. *t %eas thus0

. . . all the %esients of this to1n DAn3ono attene a 2eetin3' an' bein3 asse2ble' Councilo% )anua%io 9illa2a&o%' as

p%esient' too@ the floo% an info%2e those p%esent at the 2eetin3 that in conse8uence of the opp%esse conition of this

to1n' the inhabite po%tion of 1hich is su%%oune b& an haciena possesse b& the hei%s of +oFa +o2in3a Santa Ana'

an in,esti3ation an sea%ch fo% ocu2enta%& p%oofs to pe%2it those 1ho clai2 to be the o1ne%s to e;e%cise acts of

o1ne%ship 1as conte2plate ... 6 hence' in o%e% to a,oi' as 2uch as possible' istu%bin3 the peace of the inhabitants as

al1a&s happens in liti3ious 8uestions of this @in' it is the opinion of the 2a5o%it& of the %esients that an a3%ee2ent

shoul be ente%e into bet1een the latte% an the o1ne%s of the fo%2e%' 1ith the inte%,ention of the :ono%able . /incai

an +octo% Go2e4' 1ho p%o2ise to settle this 2atte% peacefull& upon an offe% to pa& the2 1ith one-half of the le,ellans of the :aciena 1ithin a %easonable pe%io of ti2e. The%eupon all pa%ties p%esent' afte% an e;tensi,e iscussion of

the 2atte%' assente to sai a3%ee2ent bein3 ca%%ie out an that ae8uate an clea% cont%acts shoul be %a1n up an

sub5ecte to soun an inul3ent c%iticis2 . . . .

*t is e,ient that the& unani2ousl& p%o2ise to ispose of one-half of the haciena in pa&2ent fo% thei% efense as

thou3h the& 1e%e co-o1ne%s' @no1in3 that the& ispose of one-half of the haciena 1hich as the& sa&' Hsu%%ouns the

inhabite po%tion of the to1n'H Hthe haciena that is possesse b& the hei%s of +oFa +o2in3a Santa Ana'H 1ho2 H1ithin

a %easonable pe%io of ti2e'H the& pu%pose to spoliate of the 1hole of it' an i22eiatel& the%eafte% to ispose of one-

half of its le,el lans in o%e% to pa& thei% la1&e% an the abo,e-na2e +octo% Go2e4.

SECON+ ERROR.


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Neithe% has the cou%t belo1 e%%e in holin3 that it ha 5u%isiction to hea% the clai2 b%ou3ht b& the plaintiff appellees ?

that is to sa&' the secon cause of action 1ith %efe%ence to the p%a&e% that the efenants' no1 the appellants' be sentence

to pa& the plaintiffs the a2ounts o1in3 fo% 3%oun %ent' tenanc&' o% lease on sha%es' as ite2i4e in the state2ents file

1ith the co2plaint as a pa%t the%eof.

The a%3u2ent on appeal consists of the citation of pa%a3%aph #' section < of Act No. "#

b1.Guido v. Borja

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