Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1961 > January 1961 Decisions > G.R. No. L-14697 January 28, 1961 - SILVINO LASTIMOZA, ET AL. v. RAMON BLANCO, ET AL. :




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-14697. January 28, 1961.]

SILVINO LASTIMOZA and HONORATA GONZALES, Petitioners, v. HON. RAMON BLANCO, Judge of the Court of Agrarian Relations Eight Regional District, Iloilo City and NESTOR PAÑADA, Respondents.

Ramon A. Gonzales, for Petitioners.

Nostratis & Josefina S. Sioson for the Court of Agrarian Relations.

Jose L. Castigador for respondent Nestor Pañada.


SYLLABUS


1. LANDLORDS AND TENANTS; SECTION 9 OF TENANCY LAW; PRIVITY OF CONTRACT ASSUMED. — Section 9 of the Tenancy Law assumes the existence of a valid tenancy relationship between the former landholder and his tenants, and contemplates privity of contract or alienation of valid title, be it ownership or possession between the old landholder and the new.

2. ID.; RELATIONSHIP CREATED ONLY WITH CONSENT OF LAWFUL LANDHOLDER. — Tenancy relationship can only be created with the consent of the true and lawful landholder who is either the "owner, lessee, usufructuary or legal possessor of the land" (sec. 5 [b], Rep. Act No. 1199), and not thru the acts of the supposed landholder who has no right to the land subject of the tenancy.

3. ID.; ID.; STATUS OF TENANT OF AN ILLEGAL LANDHOLDER. — Where the alleged former landholder has been ousted by writ of possession issued by a competent court and virtually declared a usurper or intruder, his tenant can have no better right and claim security of tenure, a guarantee afforded only to tenants de jure. To rule otherwise, would be to pave the way for fraudulent collusions among the unscrupulous to the prejudice of the true and lawful landholder, such anomalous and absurd result could not have been the intention of Congress.


D E C I S I O N


GUTIERREZ DAVID, J.:


This is a petition for certiorari and prohibition with preliminary injunction to annul certain orders of Hon. Ramon Blanco, as Judge of the Court of Agrarian Relations and to restrain him from further proceeding with CAR Case No. 724-Iloilo, for lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter in controversy. Giving due course to the petition, this Court issued a writ of preliminary injunction prayed for upon petitioners filing a bond of P200.00.

The facts of the case are not disputed. On September 22, 1956, the Court of First Instance of Iloilo in Land Registration Case No. N- 341 (G.L.R.O. Rec. No. N-10795) adjudicated in favor of Silvino Lastimoza and his wife Honorata Gonzales, herein petitioners, a parcel of land identified as Lot No. 14 of Plan PSU-87977. On April 12, 1957, Original Certificate of Title No. 01204 covering the same was issued by the Register of Deeds of the province in their names. They were, subsequently, or on July 29, 1958, placed in possession of the land by writ of possession, the sheriff of the province ejecting therefrom Perfecto, Rosalina, Encarnacion, Lucila and Lydia, all surnamed Gallego.

On September 13, 1958, herein respondent Nestor Pañada, claiming to be a tenant since the start of the 1956-57, agricultural year of Perfecto Gallego, one of those ousted by the writ of possession, filed against herein petitioners a petition with the Court of Agrarian Relations praying, among other things, that he be maintained as tenant on about 2 hectares of the land in question (Case No. 724-Iloilo. As prayed for in the petition, the Agrarian Court issued an interlocutory order directing the JAGO officer or his authorized representative to supervise the harvest and threshing of the palay crops standing on the landholding, and to deposit, after deducting the expenses therefore, the net produce in a bonded warehouse.

On September 18, 1958, petitioners filed a motion to lift the interlocutory order, and on the following day, moved to dismiss the case on the ground of lack of jurisdiction over the subject matter, it being alleged that there was no tenancy relationship between them and respondent Nestor Pañada. Both motions, however, were denied and reconsideration of the orders of denial having been also denied, the petitioners filed the present petition for certiorari and prohibition.

We find the petition meritorious.

It is not disputed that respondent Nestor Pañada worked on a portion of the land in question by virtue of a so called oral contract of tenancy with Perfecto Gallego who was then in possession of the land. The latter, however, was ejected from the land after the same had been adjudicated in a land registration proceeding to herein petitioners by the Court of First Instance of Iloilo, and title thereto issued in their names. Since that court has, in effect, ruled that Perfecto Gallego, the supposed former landholder, was an unlawful possessor and intruder, respondent Nestor Pañada cannot now invoke the security of tenure guaranteed in section 9 of the Tenancy Law (Republic Act No. 1199) and claim that petitioners, as the prevailing party in the land registration proceeding, are duty bound to maintain him as their tenant. Said section 9 of the Tenancy Law — in providing that "the sale or alienation of the land do not of themselves extinguish the tenancy relationship," for in such cases, "the purchaser or transferee shall assume the rights and obligations of the former landholder in relation to the tenant," — obviously assumes the existence of a valid tenancy relation between the former landholder and his tenants, and contemplates privity of contract or alienation of valid title be it of ownership or possession, between the old landholder and the new. In the instant case, there can be no question that there is no privity of contract or alienation in the sense contemplated by section 9 of the Tenancy Law between Perfecto Gallego, the alleged former landholder and herein petitioners. Neither can it be pretended that there was a valid tenancy relation between said Perfecto Gallego and respondent Pañada. Tenancy relationship can only be created with the consent of the true and lawful landholder who is either the "owner, lessee, usufructuary or legal possessor of the land" (sec. 5 [b], Rep. Act No. 1199), and not thru the acts of the supposed landholder who has no right to the land subject of the tenancy. Perfecto Gallego, the alleged former landholder, having been ousted by writ of possession issued by a competent court and virtually declared a usurper or intruder, respondent Pañada, as his tenant, can have no better right and claim security of tenure, a guarantee afforded only to tenants de jure. To rule otherwise, would be to pave the way for fraudulent collusions among the unscrupulous to the prejudice of the true and lawful landholder. Such anomalous and absurd result certainly could not have been the intention of Congress.

It being evident for the reasons above stated that herein petitioners are not legally bound to assume the former landholder’s rights and obligations in relation to his tenants, it results that there is no tenancy relationship between the parties in this case, and consequently, the Agrarian Court erred in assuming jurisdiction to hear and determine respondent Pañada’s complaint or petition.

WHEREFORE, the petition for a writ of prohibition is granted, the orders complained of are set aside and the petition filed with the Agrarian Court by respondent Pañada is dismissed, with costs against him.

Bengzon, Paredes, Bautista Angelo, Dizon and Reyes, J.B.L., JJ., concur.

Barrera, J., concurs in the result.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






January-1961 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. L-14086 January 20, 1961 - ASARI YOKO CO., LTD. v. KEE BOC, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14116 January 20, 1961 - LAUREANA A. CID v. IRENE P. JAVIER, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15045 January 20, 1961 - In RE: CATHOLIC ARCHBISCHOP OF MANILA v. SOCIAL SECURITY COMMISSION

  • G.R. No. L-15834 January 20, 1961 - NATIONAL FASTENER CORPORATION OF THE PHIL. v. CIR, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15826 January 23, 1961 - ORMOC SUGAR CO., INC., ET AL. v. OSCO WORKERS FRATERNITY LABOR UNION, ET AL.

  • UNAV January 28, 1961 - IN RE: FILOTEO DIANALA JO

  • G.R. No. L-10104 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. SEVERINO CORPUZ, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-10358 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. FAUSTO LINDE, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-10473 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ROSARIO LAO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-10557 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. LEONCIO CURAMBAO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11268 January 28, 1961 - CARLOS M. SISON v. GONZALO D. DAVID

  • G.R. No. L-11494 January 28, 1961 - COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. COURT OF TAX APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11622 and L-11668 January 28, 1961 - COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. DOUGLAS FISHER, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11807 January 28, 1961 - COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. CONVENTION OF PHILIPPINE BAPTIST CHURCHES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11985 January 28, 1961 - MARIANO CONDE v. NATIONAL TOBACCO CORPORATION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-12080 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. MANUEL GALLARDO

  • G.R. No. L-12173 January 28, 1961 - MAMERTO DAILISAN, ET AL. v. SEBASTIAN SO ENG SO, ET AL.

  • G.R. Nos. L-12582 and L-12598 January 28, 1961 - LVN PICTURES, INC. v. PHILIPPINE MUSICIANS GUILD, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-12816 January 28, 1961 - QUIRINO DUMLAO, ET.AL v. PASTOR L. DE GUZMAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-12894 January 28, 1961 - LILIA JUANA BARLES, ET AL. v. DON ALFONSO PONCE ENRILE

  • G.R. No. L-13062 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. DOMINADOR CRISTOBAL

  • G.R. No. L-13186 January 28, 1961 - BISLIG BAY LUMBER COMPANY, INC. v. COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE

  • G.R. No. L-13203 January 28, 1961 - YUTIVO SONS HARDWARE COMPANY v. COURT OF TAX APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-13355 January 28, 1961 - PHILIPPINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY v. COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE

  • G.R. No. L-13541 January 28, 1961 - EDUARDO TUASON v. LUZON STEVEDORING CO., INC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-13780 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ANTONIO YU

  • G.R. No. L-13814 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. FEDERICO D. DESPAVELLADOR

  • G.R. No. L-13982 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ESTANISLAO MANGAHAS

  • G.R. No. L-14333 28 January 28,1961

    OSCAR VENTANILLA v. GREGORIO CENTENO

  • G.R. No. L-14399 January 28, 1961 - FELICIANA EDRALIN v. ANDRES EDRALIN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14634 January 28, 1961 - ARTURO NIETO v. BARTOLOME QUINES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14697 January 28, 1961 - SILVINO LASTIMOZA, ET AL. v. RAMON BLANCO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14732 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JOSEFINO G. SELFAISON, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14747 January 2, 1961 - LEONARDO C. PADILLA v. RIZAL SURETY & INSURANCE CO.

  • G.R. No. L-14761 and L-17981 January 28, 1961 - ARCE SONS AND COMPANY v. SELECTA BISCUIT COMPANY, INC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14787 January 28, 1961 - COLGATE-PALMOLIVE PHILIPPINES, INC. v. PEDRO M. GIMENEZ, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14821 January 28, 1961 - DOMINGO DE JESUS v. RODRIGO COLOSO

  • G.R. No. L-14832 January 28, 1961 - NG CHO CIO, ET AL. v. NG DIONG, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14905 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. MANUEL BANIAGA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14938 January 28, 1961 - MAGDALENA C. DE BARRETTO, ET AL. v. JOSE G. VILLANUEVA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15008 January 28, 1961 - TAN CHIU v. COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE

  • G.R. No. L-15113 January 28, 1961 - ANTONIO MEDINA v. COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15351 January 28, 1961 - MORCOIN CO., LTD. v. CITY OF MANILA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15458 January 28, 1961 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SERVICES LABOR UNION v. COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15480 January 28, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JG BERGUNIO LUNA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15495 January 28, 1961 - MONICA PASTRANA BAMBAO, ET AL. v. VICTOR E. LEDNICKY, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15522 January 28, 1961 - DOLORES EVANGELISTA, ET AL. v. PERPETUO MENDOZA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15751 January 28, 1961 - BUREAU OF PRINTING, ET AL. v. BUREAU OF PRINTING EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-16148 January 28, 1961 - BERNARDINO O. ALMEDA v. PROVINCIAL TREASURER OF SURIGAO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-16377 January 28, 1961 - PURA TOLEDO v. SUPERINTENDENT OF THE CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION FOR WOMEN

  • G.R. No. L-16505 January 28, 1961 - JUAN P. GERENA, ET AL. v. CITY OF MANILA, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-16561 January 28, 1961 - FREEMAN SHIRT MANUFACTURING CO., ET AL. v. COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-16676 January 28, 1961 - EDUARDO GOSIENGFIAO v. NICASIO YATCO

  • G.R. No. L-17080 January 28, 1961 - ROSARIO S. JUAT, ET AL. v. LAND TENURE ADMINISTRATION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11633 January 31, 1961 - JOSE L. SORIANO v. ATANASIA UBAT DE MONTES, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11815 January 31, 1961 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. PAMPILO DE TORRES

  • G.R. No. L-14040 January 33, 1961 - SEGUNDA PORNELLOSA v. LAND TENURE ADMINISTRATION, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-14887 January 31, 1961 - AVELINO NATIVIDAD v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15088 January 31, 1961 - TORIBIA FONTANILLA PACIO, ET AL. v. MANUELA PACIO BILLO, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15388 January 31, 1961 - DORA PERKINS ANDERSON v. IDONAH SLADE PERKINS

  • G.R. No. L-15438 January 31, 1961 - TEOPISTA B. DE BALANGA v. COURT OF APPEALS, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-15742 January 31, 1961 - MIGUEL TOLENTINO v. CIRILO P. BAYLOSIS

  • G.R. No. L-16501 January 31, 1961 - CONCORDIO A. TRAZO v. MANILA PENCIL CO., INC., ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-17043 January 31, 1961 - NATIVIDAD HERRERA, ET AL. v. LUY KIM GUAN, ET AL.

  • G.R. No. L-11807 January 28, 1961 - COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE v. CONVENTION OF PHIL. BAPTIST CHURCHES, ET AL.