G.R. No. L-14257; October 10, 1919
THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, petitioner-appellee, vs. THE MUNICIPALITY OF DINGRAS, EDUARDO SUGO, ET AL., opponents. EDUARDO SUGO, ET AL., opponents-appellants.

FACTS:
The Director of Lands initiated a cadastral proceeding in the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte to register a parcel of land under Act No. 2259 . Oppositions were filed, including one by Eduardo Sugo and his companions claiming ownership of Lot No. 6418. The lower court denied the registration in favor of Sugo et al. in a decision dated April 19, 1916. The appellants filed a motion for new trial almost a year later on April 11, 1917, which was denied on April 16, 1917. They were granted 30 days from April 25, 1917, to file a bill of exceptions but filed it three days late on May 28, 1917. The bill was approved on January 14, 1918, but was only received by the Supreme Court on May 16, 1918112 days after approval, exceeding the 60-day period then required by Supreme Court rules.

ISSUE:
Whether the appeal should be dismissed due to the appellants’ failure to comply with procedural timelines for perfecting the appeal.

RULING:
Yes, the appeal is dismissed. The Supreme Court held that the appellants failed to adhere to mandatory procedural periods: (1) the bill of exceptions was not filed within 30 days after notice of the decision as required by Section 26 of Act No. 2347 for land registration cases; (2) the approved bill of exceptions was not transmitted to the Supreme Court within 60 days as per then Rule 14. These delays rendered the lower court’s decision final and non-appealable. The Court emphasized that strict compliance with such timelines is essential to terminate litigation and ensure the enforceability of judgments. Consequently, the Court lacked jurisdiction to review the appeal.