G.R. No. 225722, April 26, 2023
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, REGION II, PETITIONER, VS. GRELINDA D. ESPEJO, MA. CAROLINA D. ESPEJO, GREGORIO V. ESPEJO, ROGER V. UMIPIG, ALMA V. UMIPIG, HELEN V. UMIPIG, CONSTANCE S. SALES, FAUSTINO LLANES, AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS FOR THE PROVINCE OF ISABELA, RESPONDENTS.

FACTS

The case involves a dispute over three parcels of land in Bantug, Roxas, Isabela. Faustina Rubis was the original registered owner of Lot 1 under TCT No. T-6849. On December 16, 1974, Rubis executed a Deed of Donation in favor of the Roxas Municipal High School (the School) covering a 2,414-square meter portion of Lot 1. The Municipal Council awarded a Certificate of Appreciation to Rubis, signed by respondent Gregorio Espejo as a councilor. Subsequently, Rubis’s daughter, Felisa Vidal vda. De Umipig, inherited the property and sold a portion to respondent Faustino Llanes. A complex series of transactions followed, involving multiple subdivision plans. A First Subdivision Plan designated the donated lot as Lot 1-B (2,419 sqm). A later Second Subdivision Plan, secured by Faustino, designated a 2,419-sqm lot as Lot 1-C and showed Felisa owning Lot 1-A (439.5 sqm) and Faustino owning Lot 1-B (439.5 sqm). Felisa executed a Deed of Donation in 1984 for Lot 1-C (2,419 sqm) to the School. The Municipality filed an adverse claim. Felisa and the Municipality entered into a Compromise Agreement in 1985, leading to the issuance of TCT No. T-163373 in the School’s name for the 2,414-sqm donation. Later, titles were consolidated under the School’s TCT No. T-214109, covering both the donated lot and an adjacent lot purchased from Juancho Pascual. However, in 1995, respondent Constance Sales (the School Principal), Faustino Llanes, and Felisa executed Joint-Affidavits of Conformity and a Deed of Reconveyance and Waiver of Rights, which reconveyed Lots 1-A and 1-B from the Second Subdivision Plan back to Felisa and Faustino. This led to the cancellation of the School’s title and the issuance of separate titles to Felisa (TCT No. T-239833 for Lot 1-A) and Faustino (TCT No. T-239832 for Lot 1-B). Faustino later sold his lot to respondent Ma. Carolina Espejo (TCT No. T-250138). After Felisa’s death, her children (respondents Roger, Alma, and Helen Umipig) inherited Lot 1-A and later sold it to respondent Gregorio Espejo (TCT No. T-241939). Lot 1-C (2,419 sqm) remained under the School’s name (TCT No. T-239834) but was later subdivided, and portions were titled in the names of respondents Grelinda Espejo and Ma. Carolina Espejo (TCT No. 256435). The Republic, representing the Department of Education, filed a complaint for cancellation of titles, reconveyance, and damages, arguing the 1995 reconveyance was void.

ISSUE

Whether the Deed of Reconveyance and Waiver of Rights executed in 1995 by respondent Constance Sales, which reconveyed portions of the school land to private individuals, is valid and binding upon the Roxas National High School.

RULING

No. The Supreme Court GRANTED the petition, REVERSED the Court of Appeals, and declared the subject titles null and void. The Deed of Reconveyance and Waiver of Rights executed by Constance Sales was void. She had no authority to reconvey property owned by the State, as the school land, having been donated for public use (education), became property of the public domain. Such property is outside the commerce of man and cannot be alienated. The Republic, as the representative of the State, has the personality to sue for the reconveyance of the property. The titles derived from the void reconveyance (TCT No. T-241939, TCT No. T-250138, and TCT No. 256435) and their predecessors’ titles are declared null and void. The Register of Deeds was ordered to issue new titles in favor of Roxas National High School.