- Petitioner
- Republic of the Philippines
- Respondent
- Ramon G. Asuncion
- Citation
- G.R. No. 200772
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- First Division
- Ponente
- Gaerlan, J.
- Decided
- February 17, 2021
Summary
The Asuncions sought registration of parcels of land claiming they were formed by accretion on their registered property along Wawang Dapdap River. The Republic opposed, claiming the lands were unclassified forest lands. After 43 years of litigation, the Supreme Court partially granted the application. The Court found that only lands adjacent to the riverbank qualified as alluvial accretions under Civil Code Article 457 and could be privately owned. Lands formed at the river mouth/seashore were ruled as littoral accretions that remain part of the public domain. The decision emphasized the Republic's failure to diligently present evidence despite having decades to prepare, while recognizing the Asuncions' good faith development of the disputed lands.