East Asia Traders v. Republic… · G.R. 152947

Petitioner: East Asia Traders
Respondent: Republic of the Philippines
Citation: G.R. No. 152947
Court: Supreme Court
Division: Third Division
Ponente: Sandoval-Gutierrez, J.
Decided: July 7, 2004

Summary

East Asia Traders, Inc. acquired land through chain of title originating from Galileo Landicho's 1987 free patent. The Republic sought reversion, claiming the land was inalienable being intended for national road construction and that the patent was fraudulently obtained. East Asia Traders moved to dismiss on grounds of prescription, litis pendentia, and failure to state cause of action. The RTC denied the motion, CA affirmed, and Supreme Court affirmed but modified the reasoning. The Court held that prescription does not run against the State in reversion actions, the complaint sufficiently stated a cause of action, and certiorari was improper for challenging denial of motion to dismiss. However, the Court criticized the CA for prematurely determining the land's inalienability, noting such factual issues should be resolved at trial on the merits rather than in a motion to dismiss.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 1108

Related cases

Other Philippine cases on the same provisions and issues.

Francisco Gonzalez Quiros v. Carlos Palanca Tan-Guinlay G.R. No. 1904
Jose S. Ramiscal, Jr. v. Commission On Audit G.R. No. 213716
Froilan Lopez v. Salvador V. del Rosario G.R. No. 19189
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce v. Pua Te Ching G.R. No. 5194
Santiago Tin Fian v. Pablo Tan G.R. No. 4235
Pomposa Bonjoc v. Candelario Cuison G.R. No. 3413
Salvador Sapugay v. Natividad Capus Bobis G.R. No. 59981
Remedios Tiongson de Lugay v. Domingo C. Basilio G.R. No. 48870

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By the Intellegal Editorial Board · July 7, 2004

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