gonzalo puyat rod

8/10/2019 Gonzalo Puyat Rod

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Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT

Manila

THIRD DIVISION

G.R. No. !"#$% &eb'ua'( ) %*%GON+,-O PU,T / SONS) INC.) Petitione')0s.RU1EN ,-C,IDE 23ecease34) substitute3 b( G-ORI, ,-C,IDE)'ep'esentati0e of the &a'5e'61eneficia'ies) Respon3ent.

D E C I S I O N

PER,-T,) J.:

This is a petition fo' 'e0ie7 on ce'tio'a'i see8in9 to 'e0e'se an3 set

asi3e the Decision3ate3 &eb'ua'( ) %**$ of the Cou't of ,ppeals 2C,4in C,6G.R. SP No. :!*!#) an3 the Resolution%3ate3 ,p'il %$) %**$3en(in9 petitione';s 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation.

The p'oce3u'al an3 factual antece3ents a'e as follo7spa'cels of lan3 7ith an a99'e9ate a'ea of >?."%%$ hecta'es locate3 at1a'an9a(s -an98i7a an3 Ti5bao) 1i@an) -a9una) co0e'e3 b( T'ansfe'Ce'tificate of Title Nos. T6#::>) T6#:$$) T6#:$!) T6#:$") T6#:$:) T6#:$#) T6%*$%>) T6%*%%:$) T6%*">"!) T6%*">"") T6%*">":) T6%*">"#) T6%*">:) T6%*:$.?

On ,p'il >) ##:) the Municipal ,9'a'ian Refo'5 Office' 2M,RO4 issue3a Notice of Co0e'a9e o0e' the subAect lan3hol3in9 info'5in9 petitione'that the subAect p'ope'ties 7e'e bein9 consi3e'e3 fo' 3ist'ibution un3e'the 9o0e'n5ent;s a9'a'ian 'efo'5 p'o9'a5.>The'eafte') on No0e5be'$) ##:) the co''espon3in9 Notice of Valuation an3 ,cBuisition$7asissue3 info'5in9 petitione' that a ?"."?$?6hecta'e po'tion of its p'ope't(is subAect to i55e3iate acBuisition an3 3ist'ibution to Bualifie3 a9'a'ian'efo'5 beneficia'ies an3 that the 9o0e'n5ent is offe'in9 P")*")#::.:*as co5pensation fo' the sai3 p'ope't(.

Petitione' then file3 a Petition!befo'e the Depa't5ent of ,9'a'ianRefo'5 2D,R4) 7he'ein it a'9ue3 that the p'ope'ties 7e'e bou9ht f'o5thei' p'e0ious o7ne's in 9oo3 faith that the sa5e 'e5ains unculti0ate3)unoccupie3) an3 untenante3 up to the p'esent an3) that the subAectlan3hol3in9s 7e'e classifie3 as in3ust'ial) thus) ee5pt f'o5 theco0e'a9e of the Co5p'ehensi0e ,9'a'ian Refo'5 P'o9'a5 2C,RP4.Petitione' p'a(e3) a5on9 othe' thin9s) that the Notice of Co0e'a9e an3

Notice of ,cBuisition be lifte3 an3 that the p'ope'ties be 3ecla'e3ee5pt f'o5 the co0e'a9e of C,RP."

Respon3ents:on thei' pa't counte'e3) a5on9 othe' thin9s) that the
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classification of the lan3 as in3ust'ial 3i3 not ee5pt it f'o5 theco0e'a9e of the C,RP consi3e'in9 that it 7as 5a3e onl( in ##" theH-UR1#ce'tification that the Municipalit( of 1i@an) -a9una 3oes notha0e an( app'o0e3 plan=onin9 o'3inance to 3ate that the( a'e nota5on9 those fa'5e'6beneficia'ies 7ho eecute3 the 7ai0e's o'

0olunta'( su''en3e' an3) that the subAect lan3hol3in9s 7e'e plante37ith pala(.*

On Fune :) %**) then D,R Sec'eta'( He'nani ,. 1'a9an=a) issue3 anO'3e'in fa0o' of the 'espon3ent 3ecla'in9 that the subAect p'ope'tiesa'e a9'icultu'al lan3 thus) fallin9 7ithin the co0e'a9e of the C,RP) the3ec'etal po'tion of 7hich 'ea3s) %**) Di'ecto' Delfin 1. Sa5son of the D,R info'5e3petitione';s counsel that the case has been 3eci3e3 an3 an o'3e' offinalit( has al'ea3( been issue3) copies of 7hich 7e'e fo'7a'3e3 to hislast 8no7n a33'ess. Ne0e'theless) Di'ecto' Sa5son attache3 copies of

the O'3e' 3ate3 Fune :) %** an3 the O'3e' of &inalit( 3ate3 ,u9ust !)%** fo' his 'efe'ence.
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3ate3 ,u9ust :) %**? an3 O'3e' 3ate3 Ful( %) %**> of the Office of theP'esi3ent.?*In suppo't of the petition) 'espon3ents 'aise3 the follo7in9e''o's a'e SET,SIDE fo' bein9 null an3 0oi3. The o'3e's 3ate3 Fune : %** an3 ,u9ust!) %** of the D,R Sec'eta'( a'e he'eb( REINST,TED.

SO ORDERED.??

Rulin9 in fa0o' of the 'espon3ents) the C, opine3 that the O'3e' of theD,R Sec'eta'( 3ate3 Fune :) %** has beco5e final an3 eecuto'( b(petitione';s failu'e to ti5el( inte'pose his 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation.ConseBuentl() 7hen petitione' file3 his 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation on

Septe5be' >) %**) the o'3e' sou9ht to be 'econsi3e'e3 has attaine3finalit(. Thus) the Office of the P'esi3ent ha3 no Au'is3iction to 'e6e0aluate) 5o'e so) 'e0e'se the fin3in9s of the D,R Sec'eta'( in its O'3e'3ate3 Fune :) %**.

Hence) the petition assi9nin9 the follo7in9 e''o's6e6*is al'ea3( final an3 eecuto'(.

Petitione' a'9ues that 'espon3ents a0aile3 of the 7'on9 5o3e of'ecou'se to the C,. Petitione' 5aintains that un3e' Section 2b4) Rule> of the ##" Rules on Ci0il P'oce3u'e) no appeal 5a( be ta8en f'o5an o'3e' 3en(in9 a petition fo' 'elief. The onl( 'e5e3( a0ailable to apa't( a99'ie0e3 b( the 3enial of a petition fo' 'elief is a special ci0ilaction fo' certiorariun3e' Rule !$ of the Rules. Thus) 7hen 'espon3ents
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appeale3 the 3enial b( 7a( of a petition fo' 'e0ie7 to the appellatecou't) the C, shoul3 ha0e 3is5isse3 the petition out'i9ht.

Mo'e i5po'tantl() petitione' conten3s that the C, e''e3 7hen it 'e0e'se3the fin3in9s of the Office of the P'esi3ent an3 conclu3e3 that the O'3e'3ate3 Fune :) %** has beco5e final an3 eecuto'( the'eb( 'en3e'in9

the Office of the P'esi3ent 7ithout Au'is3iction to ente'tain the appealfile3 b( the petitione'. Petitione' insists that base3 on the seBuence ofe0ents) the O'3e' 3ate3 Fune :) %** ne0e' attaine3 finalit() since it 7asonl( on Septe5be' ") %** that its counsel 'ecei0e3 a cop( of the sai3o'3e'. Thus) 7hen it file3 its 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation on Septe5be'>) %**) it 7as 7ell 7ithin the 'e9le5enta'( pe'io3 to file the sa5e.Hence) petitione';s conseBuent appeal to the Office of the P'esi3entupon 3enial of its 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation 7as also ti5el( file3.

Mo'eo0e') petitione' posits that it is the Decision of the Office of theP'esi3ent that has beco5e final an3 eecuto'( b( 'eason of'espon3ents; failu'e to file an( 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation o' to pe'fectan appeal afte' 'ecei0in9 a cop( of the Decision.

On thei' pa't) 'espon3ents 5aintain that the O'3e' 3ate3 Fune :) %**has beco5e final an3 eecuto'( the'eb( bin3in9 the petitione') an3 thatthe C, 3i3 not e'' in 'e0e'sin9 the Decision of the Office of theP'esi3ent.

The petition is 5e'ito'ious.

,t the outset) appeals f'o5 Au395ents an3 final o'3e's of Buasi6Au3iciala9encies a'e no7 'eBui'e3 to be b'ou9ht to the C,) un3e' the'eBui'e5ents an3 con3itions set fo'th in Rule >?. Un3e' the 'ule)appeals f'o5 thei' Au395ents an3 final o'3e's a'e no7 b'ou9ht to theC, on a 0e'ifie3 petition fo' 'e0ie7. This Rule 7as a3opte3 p'ecisel( top'o0i3e a unifo'5 'ule of appellate p'oce3u'e f'o5 Buasi6Au3iciala9encies.?>

In the case at ba') the petition fo' 'elief file3 b( the 'espon3ents 7ast'eate3 b( the Office of the P'esi3ent as a 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation.Ho7e0e') the Office of the P'esi3ent 3is5isse3 the petition base3 on thep'e5ise that 'espon3ents faile3 to file a 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation o'an appeal 7ithin the $63a( 'e9le5enta'( pe'io3) the'eb( 'en3e'in9 the,u9ust :) %**? Decision final an3 eecuto'(. Thus) 'espon3ents a0aile3of the p'ope' 'e5e3( 7hen it sou9ht 'ecou'se to the C, 0ia a petitionfo' 'e0ie7.

Ti5e an3 a9ain) it has been hel3 that the 'i9ht to appeal is not a natu'al'i9ht o' a pa't of 3ue p'ocess) but 5e'el( a statuto'( p'i0ile9e an3 5a(be ee'cise3 onl( in the 5anne' an3 in acco'3ance 7ith the p'o0isionsof the la7. The pa't( 7ho see8s to a0ail of the sa5e 5ust co5pl( 7iththe 'eBui'e5ents of the 'ules) failin9 in 7hich the 'i9ht to appeal is
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lost.?$

,nent) the 5ain cont'o0e's(. Si5pl( put) the 'esolution of the issuesa30ance3 b( the pa'ties hin9es on 7hethe' o' not the O'3e' 3ate3 Fune:) %** of the D,R Sec'eta'( has beco5e final an3 eecuto'(. , pe'usalof the pe'tinent plea3in9s an3 3ocu5ents 7oul3 'e0eal that in3ee3)

petitione' 7as not p'ope'l( se'0e3 7ith a cop( of the O'3e' 3ate3 Fune:) %**.

Respon3ents butt'esse3 thei' clai5 that petitione' belate3l( file3 its5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation 7ithin the pe'io3 allo7e3 b( the Rules onthe st'en9th of petitione';s 3ecla'ation in its Motion to -ift O'3e' of&inalit()?!pa'ticula'l( on the follo7in9 a35ission) %**) it 7as 7ell 7ithin the'e9le5enta'( pe'io3 to file the 5otion.

Hence) cont'a'( to the conclusion of the C,) the Fune :) %** O'3e' ofthe D,R Sec'eta'( has not attaine3 finalit(. The Office of the P'esi3ent)the'efo'e) 0ali3l( ente'taine3 petitione';s appeal 7hen the D,RSec'eta'( 3enie3 its 5otion fo' 'econsi3e'ation. ith the fo'e9oin93isBuisition) the C, e''e3 in settin9 asi3e the 3ecision of the Office ofthe P'esi3ent on the 5ista8en conclusion that the D,R Sec'eta'(;sO'3e's ha3 attaine3 finalit(.

ConseBuentl() the 3ete'5ination of 7hethe' o' not petitione';slan3hol3in9s a'e a9'icultu'al lan3 is (et to be 3ete'5ine3. ,s foun3 b(the Office of the P'esi3ent in its ,u9ust :) %**? Decision) befo'e theD,R coul3 place a piece of lan3 un3e' C,RP co0e'a9e) the'e 5ust fi'stbe a sho7in9 that it is an a9'icultu'al lan3) i.e.) 3e0ote3 o' suitable fo'a9'icultu'al pu'poses.

D,R ,35inist'ati0e O'3e' No. *) Se'ies of %**?) o' the %**? RulesGo0e'nin9 Issuance of Notice of Co0e'a9e an3 ,cBuisition of,9'icultu'al -an3s Un3e' R, !!$")>%p'o0i3es>

Co'ola'ill() ,35inist'ati0e O'3e' No. *) Se'ies of ##:)>$7hichoutlines the steps in the acBuisition of lan3s) 3etails that in the ?'3 step)the Depa't5ent of ,9'a'ian Refo'5 Municipal Office 2D,RMO4 shoul3con3uct a p'eli5ina'( ocula' inspection to 3ete'5ine initiall( 7hethe'o' not the p'ope't( 5a(be co0e'e3 un3e' the C,RP) 7hich fin3in9s 7illbe containe3 in C,RP &o'5 No. ?.a) o' the P'eli5ina'( Ocula'Inspection Repo't.

&'o5 the fo'e9oin9) a p'eli5ina'( ocula' inspection is necessa'( to3ete'5ine 7hethe' o' not a subAect lan3hol3in9 5a( be consi3e'e3un3e' the co0e'a9e of the C,RP e0en befo'e a Notice of Co0e'a9e isp'epa'e3 b( the M,RO.

Ho7e0e') a pe'usal of the un3ate3 C,RP &o'5 No. ?.a>!co0e'in9 thesubAect p'ope'ties 7oul3 'e0eal that the app'op'iate chec8 boes fo'-an3 Con3itionSuitabilit( to ,9'icultu'e on 7hethe' the subAect
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p'ope'ties a'e p'esentl( bein9 culti0ate3suitable to a9'icultu'e o' a'ep'esentl( i3le0acant 7e'e not 5a'8e3. ,lso) the M,RO faile3 to 5a'8an( of the chec8 boes fo' -an3 Use to in3icate 7hethe' the subAectp'ope'ties 7e'e su9a'lan3) co'nlan3) un6i''i9ate3 'icelan3) i''i9ate3'icelan3) o' an( othe' classification of a9'icultu'al lan3.

,s aptl( foun3 b( the Office of the P'esi3ent) the i5po'tance ofcon3uctin9 an ocula' inspection cannot be un3e'state3) since it is oneof the steps 3esi9ne3 to co5pl( 7ith the 'eBui'e5ents of a35inist'ati0e3ue p'ocess. The Office of the P'esi3ent st'esse3 this in its Decision) to7it"Thus) the Buestion of 7hethe' o' not petitione';s p'ope'ties coul3 beco0e'e3 b( the C,RP has not (et been 'esol0e3.7phi Until such3ete'5ination) it follo7s that petitione';s lan3hol3in9s cannot be thep'ope' subAect of acBuisition an3 e0entual 3ist'ibution to Bualifie3fa'5e'6beneficia'ies. Ho7e0e') these in0ol0e factual cont'o0e'sies)7hich a'e clea'l( be(on3 the a5bit of this Cou't. Ve'il() the 'e0ie7 offactual 5atte's is not the p'o0ince of this Cou't. The Sup'e5e Cou't isnot a t'ie' of facts) an3 is not the p'ope' fo'u5 fo' the 0entilation an3

substantiation of factual issues.>:

Un3e' the ci'cu5stances) the 3i'ecti0e of the Office of the P'esi3ent fo'the D,R to asce'tain 7hethe' o' not petitione';s lan3hol3in9s 5a( beplace3 un3e' C,RP 7as p'ope'. To be su'e) it is the D,R that isp'oce3u'all( p'epa'e3 to han3le such cont'o0e'sies an3 is bette' suite3to 'esol0e such factual issues in the ee'cise of its 5an3ate toi5ple5ent the C,RP an3 its 0este3 Buasi6Au3icial po7e's to 3ete'5inean3 a3Au3icate a9'a'ian 'efo'5 5atte's.>#

ConseBuentl() the othe' issues 'aise3 b( the pa'ties nee3 not be3iscusse3 fu'the'.

HERE&ORE) p'e5ises consi3e'e3) the petition is GR,NTED. TheDecision an3 the Resolution of the Cou't of ,ppeals in C,6G.R. SP No.:!*!# a'e REVERSED an3 SET ,SIDE. The Decision 3ate3 ,u9ust :)%**? an3 the O'3e' 3ate3 Ful( %) %**> of the Office of the P'esi3ent a'eREINST,TED.

SO ORDERED.
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