GR 30930; (January, 1931) (Digest)
G.R. No. 30930 ; January 26, 1931
Jose O. Henson, plaintiff-appellant, vs. The Director of Lands, defendant-appellee.
FACTS
In 1920, cadastral cases were initiated to settle titles to lands in Concepcion, Tarlac. Jose P. Henson claimed several lots, and the Court of First Instance adjudicated them to him on June 29, 1922. Notices of the decisions were sent to relevant government offices on August 10, 1922. The General Land Registration Office sent notices of adjudication to the litigants on January 10, 1923. The provincial fiscal, representing the Director of Lands, appealed the decisions, perfecting the appeals on February 6, 1923. The Supreme Court, in G.R. Nos. 20462 and 20463, reversed the lower court’s decision on October 16, 1923, declaring the lots public lands, which were subsequently distributed to homesteaders. In 1927, Henson filed an action to annul the Supreme Court’s decisions, arguing that the appeals were filed out of time (beyond 30 days from August 10, 1922) and thus the Supreme Court lacked jurisdiction. The trial court ruled in favor of the Director of Lands, holding it had no jurisdiction to set aside the Supreme Court’s decision.
ISSUE
Whether Henson is estopped from challenging the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction over the appeals in the cadastral cases, despite his claim that the appeals were filed out of time.
RULING
Yes, Henson is estopped. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment. While the timeliness of the appeals was questionable, Henson, by his actions and omissions, acquiesced to the appellate proceedings. He did not object to the appeals at any stage, participated by filing a brief, and waited over four years before challenging the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. During this period, the Director of Lands, relying on the Supreme Court’s decision, granted the lands to homesteaders in good faith. Applying equitable principles, the Court held that Henson, having slept on his rights, was estopped from denying the Supreme Court’s jurisdiction. The maxim “equity aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights” barred his claim.
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