- Petitioner
- Filipinas Eslon Manufacturing Corp.
- Respondent
- Heirs of Basilio Llanes
- Citation
- G.R. No. 194114
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Second Division
- Ponente
- Caguioa, J.
- Decided
- March 27, 2019
Summary
FEMCO, a manufacturing corporation, filed a complaint for quieting of title against multiple respondents who claimed portions of FEMCO's plant site based on allegedly fraudulent titles. The RTC ruled in favor of FEMCO, finding that the respondents' titles were derived from a non-existent decree and fraudulent OCT No. 0-1040. The CA reversed, holding the action was a prohibited collateral attack. The Supreme Court granted FEMCO's petition, ruling that challenging the validity of a certificate of title in a quieting of title action is a direct attack when central to removing clouds on complainant's title. The Court found that Decree No. N-182390 was non-existent, making the respondents' derivative titles invalid. The RTC decision was reinstated, confirming FEMCO's ownership and ordering cancellation of the fraudulent titles.