G.R. No. 161211, July 17, 2013 - SPOUSES CELSO DICO, SR. AND ANGELES DICO, Petitioners, v. VIZCAYA MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, Respondent.
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 161211, July 17, 2013
SPOUSES CELSO DICO, SR. AND ANGELES DICO, Petitioners, v. VIZCAYA MANAGEMENT CORPORATION, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
BERSAMIN, J.:
WHEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, judgement is rendered in favor of the plaintiffs and against the defendants in this wise:cralawlibrarySO ORDERED.7
- The plaintiffs are hereby declared absolute owners of the 111,959 square meter portion of Lot 486 and the defendant Vizcaya Management Corporation, its agent, representatives and any persons acting in its behalf are hereby ordered to peacefully vacate the said premises and to turn over the possession of the 111, 959 square meters, a portion of Lot 486 Cadiz Cadastre, in favor of the plaintiffs;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- The Certificate of Titles from RT-9933 (16739) and all other titles derived therefrom are all hereby declared spurious and ordered cancelled;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- That defendant Vizcaya Management Corporation is hereby ordered to pay plaintiffs P3,000.00 as monthly rental on the 111, 959 square meters, portion of Lot 486, Cadiz Cadastre, which the defendant Vizcaya Management Corporation had occupied from May 12, 1986 until the plaintiff’s property is fully restored to the latter;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- That defendant Vizcaya Management Corporation is hereby ordered to pay the plaintiffs the sum of P100,000.00 by way of attorney’s fees and P100,000.00 by way of moral damages and P50,000.00 for exemplary damages;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- That defendant National Land Titles and Deeds Administration is hereby ordered to make the necessary rectification on the titles of the defendants;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- The Solicitor General is hereby directed to look into the possibility of reversion of Lots 29-A, 29-B and 1412, Cadiz Cadastre in favor of the Government and initiate the Escheat proceedings thereon;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- The counterclaims of the defendants are ordered dismissed; and
- Defendants to pay the costs.
I
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT DISMISSING PLAINTIFFS’ COMPLAINT FOR BEING BARRED BY PRESCRIPTION AND/OR LACHES AND FOR LACK OF CAUSE OF ACTION.II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CAPRICIOUSLY DISREGARDING THE CONCLUSIVENESS AND INDEFEASIBILITY OF THE SUBJECT CERTIFICATES OF TITLE AND IN IGNORING WELL-ENTRENCHED DOCTRINES, PRINCIPLES AND PRESUMPTIONS OF REGULARITY AND VALIDITY ATTENDANT TO THEIR ISSUANCES.III
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT IN THE CONSOLIDATION AND SUBDIVISION OF THE LOTS COMPRISING THE EUSEBIO AND CRISTINA SUBDIVISIONS, VMC UNJUSTIFIABLY INCREASED THE AREA OF LOT NO. 29-B AND ENCROACHED ON LOT 486.IV
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN HOLDING THAT LOT NOS. 29-B AND 1412 REVERTED BACK (sic) TO THE GOVERNMENT AND IN DIRECTING THE SOLICITOR GENERAL TO INITIATE ESCHEAT PROCEEDINGS THEREON.V
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN DECLARING THAT TRANSFER CERTIFICATE OF TITLE (“TCT”) NO. RT-9933 (EXHIBIT “K”) IS A SPURIOUS TITLE AND IN ORDERING SAID TITLE, AND ALL TITLES DERIVED THEREFROM, CANCELLED.VI
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN RULING THAT THERE WAS FRAUD IN VMC’S ACQUISITION OF LOT NOS. 29-B AND 1412.VII
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN NOT FINDING THAT THE DESIGNATION OF LOT NO. 1246-B AND 1246-C IN THE TECHNICAL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE TITLES OF LOT NOS. 1 TO 4 IS MERELY TYPROGRAPHICAL ERROR.VIII
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ORDERING VMC TO PAY RENTALS, DAMAGES AND COSTS TO PLAINTIFFS AND IN DISMISSING THE COUNTERCLAIMS PLEADED BY VMC.8
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, and finding the appeal impressed with merit, the same is hereby GRANTED. The Decision dated January 8, 1998 of Branch 60 of the Regional Trial Court of Negros Occidental in Civil Case No. 180-C is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE, and a new judgment is hereby rendered as follows:SO ORDERED.10cralaw virtualaw library
- Civil Case No. 180-C is DISMISSED for lack of merit.
- Defendant-appellant Vizcaya Management Corporation is declared the absolute owner of Lot No. 29-B under TCT No. T-41835.
- Defendant-appellant Vizcaya Management Corporation is declared the absolute owner of Lot No. 1412 under TCT No. T-41834.
- Original Certificate of Title No. 21331 and Transfer Certificate of Title No. RT-9933 (16739) are declared valid and genuine;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- Plaintiffs-appellees Angeles Dico, et al. are declared the absolute owners of Lot No. 486 under TCT No. T-22922;chanr0blesvirtualawlibrary
- The Decision dated April 24, 1981 of the City Court of Cadiz in Civil Case No. 649 is hereby declared VALID and UPHELD; and
- No cost.
Granting arguendo that fraud intervened in the procurement of the Certificates of Title to Lot No. 29-B and plaintiffs-appellees had the personality to seek the reconveyance thereof on the basis of implied or constructive trust, their complaint filed on May 12, 1986, or about 29 years after the issuance of the certificate of title to defendant-appellant, indeed came too late. They were deemed to have discovered the fraud as early as September 20, 1934 when TCT No. RT-9933 (16739) of the Lopezes was recorded or on November 10, 1956 when TCT No. T-41835 of defendant-appellant was registered. Their right to seek reconveyance of a portion of Lot No. 29-B, if it existed at all, had already prescribed.
Plaintiffs-appellees also contend that defendant-appellant secured its Certificate of Title to Lot No. 1412 through fraud. They contend that Celso Dico had filed with the Bureau of Lands his Free Patent Application (Exh. “D”, pp. 733-735, Records Vol. 3) with respect to Lot No. 1412. On the other hand, the evidence on record shows that Lot No. 1412, formerly Lot No. 1118-B, appears to have been already registered in the name of defendant-appellant under TCT No. T-41834 (Exh. “11”).
We fail to see the fraud allegedly committed by defendant-appellant in securing its Certificate of Title to Lot No. 1412. In their vain effort to show that Celso Dico filed a Free Patent Application for Lot No. 1412, plaintiffs-appellees presented his alleged Free Patent Application, Exhibit “D”. Said Exhibit “D”, however, is without evidentiary weight since while the name of plaintiff-appellee Angeles Dico, as applicant therein, appears in the Application for Free Patent, the Joint Affidavit in support thereof, and Notice of Application for Free Patent, the signature of one Celso Dico was only clearly super-imposed thereon to make it appear he was the applicant. Exhibit “D” is, in fact, a forged document.
Thus, the court a quo erred when it concluded that defendant-appellant’s title to Lot No. 1412 came from a doubtful source. There is no evidence on record that clearly showed the fraud allegedly employed by defendant-appellant when it secured its title to Lot No. 1412. Moreover, plaintiffs-appellees have not established their personality to seek the reconveyance of Lot No. 1412 as they are not the registered owners thereof.
In fine, Lots Nos. 29-B and 1412 did not revert to the government, as they are already the private properties of defendant-appellant corporation.
Anent the issue of encroachment on Lot No. 486 by defendant-appellant, the court a quo found that defendant-appellant encroached on Lot 486 when it consolidated and subdivided the contested lots.
The court a quo ruled, thus:“From the evidence presented as revealed by the records of the case, this Court is of the judicious finding that defendant Viscaya (sic) had encroached on lot 486 considering that even if it claims it has a title over lot 29-B, still it had exceeded its area of possession over lot 29-B. Exhibits “J”, “K” and “L” reveal that lot 29-B only contains an area of 369,606 square meters, however, when defendant Vizcaya caused the consolidation of their lots the total area which is supposed to be 369,606 square meters was increased. Basing on defendants’ exhibits “3” to “6” this Court finds that TCT No. 1735 (lot 1) has an area of 238,518 square meters, TCT No. 1736 (Lot 2), 216,176 square meters, TCT No. 1737 (Lot 3) 11,496 square meters and TCT No. 1738, 15,392 square meters which when added together will sum up to a total of 481,582 square meters, clearly exceeding the original area of 369,606 square meters appearing and described in Exhibits “J”:, “K” and “L”.We do not agree with the above findings of the court a quo. The documentary evidence found in the records reveals that defendant-appellant had two lots titled in its name, namely: Lot No. 29-B comprising an area of 369,606 square meters, containing identical technical description as appearing in plaintiffs-appellees’ Exhs. “J”, “K” and “L” and Lot No. 1412, formerly 1118-B, comprising an area of 85,239 square meters covered by TCT No. T-41834 (Exh. “11”). Further, Eduardo and Cesar Lopez were the registered owners of Lot No. 1426-B comprising an area of 6,635 square meters, covered by TCT No. T-21435 (Exh. “9”) and Lot No. 1426-C comprising an area of 6,107 square meters, covered by TCT No. T-21436 (Exh. “10”). As contended by defendant-appellant, it caused the consolidation and subdivision of these four lots following the approved consolidation-subdivision plan (Exh. “7”, p. 958, Records Vol. 4) it submitted to the then Land Registration Commission. The said approved consolidation-subdivision plan was assigned the number (LRC) PCS-6611. Hence, adding the land area of the four consolidated lots, the total landholding of defendant-appellant after the approved consolidation-subdivision plan would be 467,587 square meters only, thus:
“Likewise, this Court further finds after an exhausted (sic) examination of the records, that defendant Vizcaya increased the area on the plan of Cristina Village Subdivision which is Lot 2 contrary to what is contained in TCT No. 1736 (Exhibits “P-1” and “4”) containing an area of only 216,176 square meters.
“The increase in area in the title of defendant Vizcaya is 111,976 square meters. This area was taken from the portion of Lot 486 of the plaintiffs covered by TCT No. T-22922 (Exh. “E”) and which was derived from OCT No. 0-3146 (21337) adjacent to Lot 29-B (Exh. “J”) and later became Lot 2 covered by TCT No. (T-47855) 1736, Lot 1 covered by TCT No. (T-47854) 1735 (Exh. “P”) Lot 3 covered by TCT No. (T-47856) 1737 (Exh. “P-2”) and Lot 4 covered by TCT No. (T-47857) 1738 (Exh. “P-3”). To the mind of this Court, the intrustion (sic) of the defendants over the area of Lot 486 is a clear and willful manipulation hatched between defendant Vizcaya and its surveyor without regard to the existing technical and (sic) descriptions of the adjacent lot, particularly the lot belonging to the plaintiffs. Upon close examination of all the evidence on record, it appears that the method and scheme employed in order to hide and confuse the increase in the area was to consolidate lots 29-B, 1246-B, 1246-C and 1412 and then subdivide these lots into several parts to become lots 1, 2, 3 and 4 with its corresponding titles, technical descriptions and already containing variable but increased areas can no longer be ascertained or if ascertained the same can be done with greater difficulty as the one tasked to unravel these confusing mazes (sic) of lots will have to dig deep into the history of the original titles. What this Court finds amusing, however, is the fact that Lots 1246-B and 1246-C were consolidated with Lots 29-B and 1412 which former lots are located in Barangay Tinampa-an, Cadiz City while Lots 29-B and 1412 are located in the City Proper and are non adjacent or contigeous (sic) lots.
“The claim of the defendants that the plaintiffs cannot establish a better right or title to real properties over and above a valid and existing title, cannot be given credence by this Court considering that a torrens title cannot cover fraud, and more particularly so, because Lot 486 is also titled property registered in the name of the plaintiff Dico.” (pp. 30-31, Decision; pp. 79-80, Rollo)
Lot No. Area in Square MetersLot No. 29-B 369,606 square metersLot No. 1412 85,239 square metersLot No. 1426-B 6,635 square metersLot No. 1426-C 6,107 square metersTotal 467,587 square meters
Defendant-appellant’s approved consolidation-subdivision plan (Exh. “7”) reveals that it was a consolidation-subdivision of Lots Nos. 29-B (Exh. “L”; Exh. “8”), PSD-5573; 1426-B (Exh. “9”) & 1426-C (Exh. “10”), PSD-44080, and 1412 (Exh. “11”), all of Cadiz Cadastre, which contained a total area of 481,583 square meters. However, the total land area of the four consolidated lots as added above is only 467,587 square meters. Clearly, there exists an excess of 13,996 square meters, which was included in the approved consolidation-subdivision plan of defendant-appellant. Worth noting is the fact that defendant-appellant’s approved consolidation-subdivision plan contained a handwritten entry which stated that the “x x x area is increased by 13996 sq.m” (Exh. “7”, p. 958, Records Vol. 4).
Thus, the court a quo erred when it concluded that there was an excess of 111,959 square meters in defendant-appellant’s landholdings. We agree with the contention of defendant-appellant that the basis for computing its total landholding should not be limited to the land area of Lot No. 29-B since three (3) other individual lots were included in the consolidation-subdivision survey. The evidence on record reveals that Lots Nos. 1412, 1426-B and 1426-C were included in the approved consolidation-subdivision plan (Exh. “7”).
Further, the Trial Court’s finding that defendant-appellant encroached by 111,959 square meters on Lot 486 belonging to plaintiffs-appellees finds no justifiable support from the evidence on record. Lot No. 486 under TCT No. T-22922 (Exh. “E”, p. 736, Records Vol. 3) in the name of Celso Dico contained an area of 67,300 square meters only. Following the Trial Court’s reasoning, defendant-appellant shall return to plaintiffs-appellees 111,959 square meters it allegedly land grabbed from Lot No. 486. Thus, Lot No. 486 would now contain an area of 179,259 square meters, substantially increased by 111,959 square meters which is clearly beyond what is stated in TCT No. T-22922.
As We have found earlier, the excess in defendant-appellant’s landholding is only 13,996 square meters.
It is likewise the contention of plaintiffs-appellees that PCS-6611 does not exist in the records of the then Land Registration Commission, as evidenced by the Certifications (Exhs. “Q” and “R”, pp. 758-758A, Records Vol. 3) issued by the Subdivision and Consolidation Division, Vault Section I, Land Registration Authority.
The court a quo ruled:“x x x. Thus, the defendants failed to overcome the preponderance of evidence presented by the plaintiffs, particularly on Certifications (Exhs. “Q” and “R”) certifying to the effect that Pcs-6611 is not existing x x x” (p. 34, Decision).We cannot agree with conclusion of the court a quo. The evidence on record clearly reveals that defendant-appellant presented a copy of the approved consolidation-subdivision plan (Exh. “7”) prominently showing the number (LRC) PCS-6611 assigned by the Land Registration Commission, which is located at the bottom-right portion of the document. The Certifications (Exhs. “Q” and “R”) issued by the then Land Registration Authority are not conclusive proof of the non-existence of the original of the consolidation-subdivision plan (LRC) PCS-6611 together with all the survey records pertaining thereto. As correctly pointed out by defendant-appellant, the person who issued said certifications was not presented in court to identify and affirm the veracity of their contents. Thus, as between the approved consolidation-subdivision plan (Exh. “7”) and the certifications (Exhs. “Q” and “R”), the former carries greater evidentiary weight.
Granting arguendo that no records pertaining to (LRC) PCS-6611 could be found in the Vault Section of the then Land Registration Commission, the existence of (LRC) PCS-6611 was already established with the presentation in evidence of a copy of the said approved consolidation-subdivision plan (Exh. “’7”) prominently reflecting therein the number (LRC) PCS-6611 assigned by the Land Registration Commission. The authenticity and existence of (LRC) PCS-6611 within the records of the Land Registration Commission (now Land Registration Authority) was established by the fact that it was used as a basis for the approval of the consolidation-subdivision plan for the Don Eusebio Subdivision under (LRC) PSD-102560 (Exh. “14”, “14-A”, “14-B”, pp. 983-985, Records, Vol. 4) and Cristina Village Subdivision under (LRC) PCS-12746 (Exh. “16”, p. 982, Records, Vol. 4). In Exhibits “14” and “16”, (LRC) PCS-6611 was clearly reflected as the source of the consolidated lots.
Lastly, defendant-appellant contends that the court a quo erred in finding that there was no typographical error committed in designating Lots Nos. 1246-B and 1246-C instead of 1426-B and 1426-C, respectively, in its approved consolidation-subdivision plan.
The court a quo ruled:“x x x. What this Court finds amusing, however, is the fact that Lots 1246-B and 1246-C were consolidated with Lots 29-B and 1412 which former lots are located in Barangay Tinampa-an, Cadiz City while Lots 29-B and 1412 are located in the City Proper and are non adjacent or contigeous (sic) lots.Defendant-appellant contends that it failed to correct this typographical error as such fact came to its knowledge only during the trial and two years after issuance of TCT No. T-47854-57 (Exhs. “P”, “P-1” to “P-3”; Exhs. “3” to “6”, pp. 750-756 Records Vol. 3), these Certificates of Title were subsequently cancelled and new TCTs were issued. On the other hand, plaintiffs-appellees contend that Lots Nos. 1246-B and 1246-C could not be possibly consolidated with Lot No. 29-B because the former lots were situated some 4 kilometers away from defendant-appellant’s subdivision area, besides being owned by other persons.
“x x x x
“Granting arguendo, that the denomination of Lots 1246-B and 1246-C are merely typographical errors of Lots 1426-B and 1426-C as claimed by defendant Vizcaya, this Court, upon judicious evaluation of the records cannot accept the argument relied upon by the defendants since it is obvious from the evidence that defendant Vizcaya employs a retained surveyor for purposes of their subdivision, and despite the technical knowledge of its surveyor it did not bother to correct the error if indeed it is one, on the lots subject matter of the case, but had invoked the said ground only during the litigation proper” (pp. 30-35, Decision; pp. 179-184, Rollo).
We agree with defendant-appellant.
While we agree with plaintiffs-appellees’ assertion that consolidation of non-contiguous and non-adjacent lots are not possible especially so when the lots are situated considerably far from each other, the case at hand does not fall under this scenario. As correctly explained by defendant-appellant there was a typographical error in the technical description of its consolidated lots in that what was stated therein as included in the consolidation plan were Lots Nos. 1246-B and 1246-C, Psd-44080, instead of Lots Nos. 1426-B and 1426-C, Psd-44080.
Worth noting are the technical description of the subject lots before and after their consolidation. –
Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-24135 (Exh. “9”) covering Lot No. 1426-B reads:“A parcel of land (Lot No. 1426-B of the subdivision plan Psd-44080, being a portion of Lot 1426 of the Cadastral Survey of Cadiz, G.L.R.O. Cad. Record No. 196), situated in the Poblacion, Municipality of Cadiz, Province of Negros Occidental, Bounded on the NE., by Lot 1426-A of the subdivision plan; on the SE., by Lot No. 1423 of Cadiz, Cad.; and on the SW., by Lot 1426-C of the subdivision plan. x x x”Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-24136 (Exh. “10”) covering Lot No. 1426-C reads.“A parcel of land (Lot No. 1426-C of the subdivision plan Psd-44080, being a portion of Lot 1426 of the Cadastral Survey of Cadiz, G.L.R.O. Cad. Record No. 196), situated in the Poblacion, Municipality of Cadiz, Province of Negros Occidental, Bounded on the NE., by Lot 1426-B of the subdivision plan; on the SE., by Lot 1423 of Cadiz Cad., and on the SW., by Calle Cabahug. x x x.”On the other hand, the technical descriptions of the properties covered by Transfer Certificates of Title Nos. T-47854 to T-47857 pertaining to Lot Nos. 1 to 4 (Exhs. “P”, “P-1” to “P-3) read:cralawlibrary
Transfer Certification of Title No. T-14754:“A parcel of land (Lot 1 of the consolidation-subdivision plan (LRC) Pcs-6611, being a portion of the consolidation of Lots 29-B, Psd-5573, 1246-B, & 1246-C, Psd-44080 & 1412, Cadiz Cad., LRC (GLRO) Cad. Rec. No. 196), situated in the City of Cadiz, Island of Negros x x x containing an area of two hundred thirty-eight thousand five hundred eighteen (238, 518) square meters, more or less. x x x.”Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-14755:“A parcel of land (Lot 2 of the consolidation-subdivision plan (LRC) Pcs-6611, being a portion of the consolidation of Lots 29-B, Psd-5573, 1246-B, & 1246-C, Psd-44080 & 1412, Cadiz Cad., LRC (GLRO) Cad. Rec. No. 196, situated in the City of Cadiz, Island of Negros x x x containing an area of TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-SIX (216,176) Square Meters, more or less. x x x.”Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-14756:“A parcel of land (Lot 3 of the consolidation-subdivision plan (LRC) Pcs-6611, being a portion of the consolidation of Lots 29B, Psd-5573, 1246-B, & 1246-C, Psd-44080 & 1412, Cadiz Cad., LRC (GLRO) Cad. Rec. No. 196), situated in the City of Cadiz, Island of Negros x x x containing an area of eleven thousand four hundred ninety-six (11,496) square meters, more or less. x x x.”Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-14757:“A parcel of land (Lot 4 of the consolidation-subdivision plan (LRC) Pcs-6611, being a portion of the consolidation of Lots 29-B, Psd-5573, 1246-B, & 1246-C, Psd-44080 & 1412, Cadiz Cad., LRC (GLRO) Cad. Rec. No. 196), situated in the City of Cadiz, Island of Negros. Bounded on the NE., points 31 to 1 and 1 to 6 by Lot 1426-A, Psd-44080 x x x containing an area of fifteen thousand three hundred ninety-two (15,932) square meters, more or less. x x x.”As can be gleaned clearly from the foregoing, Lots Nos. 1426-B and 1426-C came from Psd-44080. In the same way that Lots Nos. 1246-B and 1246-C came from Psd-44080. Defendant-appellant submitted a certified copy of the Cadastral Map of Cadiz (Exh. “12”, p. 986, Records Vol. 4) showing that adjacent to Lot No. 29-B was Lot No. 1426 and being continguous, these lots could be consolidated. Even plaintiffs-appellees’ witness Engr. Luvimin Canoy testified on the possibility that a typographical error might have been committed in listing the lot numbers in the title (pp. 39-41, TSN, September 9, 1992).
There was no evidence to the effect that defendant-appellant caused the erroneous designation of Lots Nos. 1426-B and 1426-C as Lots Nos. 1246-B and 1246-C, respectively, when it consolidated these lots. The error indeed was only typographical as the subject lots all came from Psd-44080. In the absence of evidence that defendant-appellant employed fraud in consolidating these lots, a typographical error in the designation of lot numbers in the Certificates of Title would not warrant their cancellation. An amendment may cure the error. It has been aptly ruled in one case that in the interest of justice and equity, the title-holder may not be made to bear the unfavorable effect of the mistake or negligence of the State’s agents, in the absence of proof of his complicity in a fraud or of manifest damage to third persons (Republic vs. Court of Appeals, 301 SCRA 366).18
Section 1. Defenses and objections not pleaded.- Defenses and objections not pleaded either in a motion to dismiss or in the answer are deemed waived. However, when it appears from the pleadings or the evidence on record that the court has no jurisdiction over the subject matter, that there is another action pending between the same parties for the same cause, or that the action is barred by a prior judgment or by statute of limitations, the court shall dismiss the claim. (2a)
Endnotes:
1Rollo, p. 46-75; penned by Associate Justice Sergio L. Pestaño (retired/deceased), with Associate Justice Teodoro P. Regino (retired) and Associate Justice Eloy R. Bello, Jr. (retired) concurring.
2 Id. at 48.
3 Id. at 48 and 78.
4 Id. at 49.
5 Id. at 50.
6 Id. at 51-52.
7 Id. at 139.
8 Id. at 52-53.nadcralawlibrary
9 Id. at 46-75.redcralaw
10 Id. at 73-74.
11 Id. at 76.
12 Id. at 26.
13 Id. at 30-31.
14 Id. at 32.
15 Id. at 34.
16 Id. at 301-329.
17 Id. at 335-351.
18 Id. at 61-72.
19Lopez v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 157784, December 16, 2008, 574 SCRA 26, 39.
20 See Tijam v. Sibonghanoy, No. L-21450, April 15, 1968, 23 SCRA 29, 34-35.