G.R. No. 43094 ; August 31, 1936
MATEO C. SANCHEZ, applicant-appellee, vs. THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, THE DIRECTOR OF FORESTRY, MARTINA ARIZALETA, ET AL., oppositors. THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, appellant.

FACTS

Mateo C. Sanchez applied for the registration of three parcels of land in Masbate. The Director of Lands opposed, claiming the lands were public. The trial court granted registration in favor of Sanchez. The Director of Lands appealed, but the appeal was procedurally defective because the bill of exceptions was filed while a motion for new trial was still pending, which was deemed a withdrawal of that motion. Consequently, the Supreme Court was constrained to accept the trial court’s findings of fact. The facts established that Sanchez derived his title from a Spanish-era grant (an “expediente”) issued in 1894 to Juan Perez de Tagle, which covered a specific area of 131 hectares, 13 ares. However, Sanchez’s application sought registration of a vastly larger area of 1,107 hectares.

ISSUE

Whether the applicant is entitled to registration of the entire 1,107 hectares claimed, or only the area specified in the original Spanish grant.

RULING

The Supreme Court modified the trial court’s decision. Sanchez is entitled to registration only of the area specified in the original Spanish grant, which is 131 hectares and 13 ares. The Court applied the doctrine from Rosado v. Director of Lands and related cases, holding that where a Spanish grant was sold by the government at a fixed price per hectare for a stated area, the grantee cannot claim a significantly larger area. The grant’s price was based on the specific area, and any excess would constitute a gratuitous gift from the State. The Court ordered the submission of an amended plan conforming to this area for the issuance of the corresponding decree.

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