G.R. No. L-11627; June 25, 1958
SERGIO DE GUZMAN, petitioner-appellant, vs. ANASTACIO DE GUZMAN, THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS and THE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, respondents-appellees.

FACTS

In 1941, Sergio de Guzman applied for a homestead patent over Lot No. 763, Pls-119, in Pagadian, Zamboanga. Due to World War II, his application was not acted upon, and in 1947, the Bureau of Lands required him to file a new application for the same parcel, which was approved on February 26, 1949. In December 1951, while the homestead patent was pending, Anastacio de Guzman filed a protest (B.L. Claim No. 364) with the Bureau of Lands, claiming that the lot was already improved and cultivated land under his possession, being an excess area of a homestead he acquired from Mariano Ruber in 1935, and thus not disposable as a new homestead. After a hearing where both parties were represented by counsel, the Director of Lands rendered a decision on May 15, 1953, cancelling Sergio de Guzman’s homestead application. The Director found that the land was part of a tract originally approved in 1929 for Mariano Ruber, Anastacio’s predecessor-in-interest, and that Sergio’s work on the land was only as a helper to his father, who was Anastacio’s overseer. The Director concluded the land was not disposable as a homestead due to Anastacio’s prior possession and preferential right, directing Anastacio to file a sales application. Sergio appealed to the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, who affirmed the decision on May 6, 1954. Sergio then filed a petition for certiorari with the Court of First Instance of Zamboanga del Sur, alleging the Bureau of Lands investigator, in connivance with Anastacio, made gross misrepresentations of fact, resulting in a decision based on fraud and mistake. The respondent officials countered that the investigation followed Bureau rules, both parties were heard, and the decision was based on evidence and law. The lower court, after the parties submitted the case on the pleadings, dismissed the petition on September 28, 1954, finding the allegation of connivance was a mere conclusion, the alleged fraud was never brought to the Director’s attention, and the factual findings of the Director, affirmed by the Secretary, were conclusive absent a showing of fraud or mistake. Sergio’s motion for reconsideration was denied, prompting this appeal.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of First Instance erred in dismissing the petition for certiorari and refusing to review and set aside the decisions of the Director of Lands and the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, which were alleged to be based on fraud, mistake, and gross misrepresentation of facts.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the order of the Court of First Instance dismissing the petition. The Court held that the factual findings of the Director of Lands, when approved by the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, are conclusive and not subject to judicial review in the absence of a clear showing that such decisions were rendered as a consequence of fraud, imposition, or mistake (other than an error of judgment in weighing evidence), provided there is some evidence to support the findings. The Court examined the records and found a dearth of evidence to support Sergio de Guzman’s allegations of irregularities, connivance, or misrepresentation by the Bureau of Lands investigator. His claims were described as vague and isolated instances unsupported by the record. Since the Director’s decision was based on evidence presented at the hearing and there was no sufficient proof of fraud or mistake that would justify judicial intervention, the Supreme Court saw no reason to disturb the lower court’s ruling. The petition for review was dismissed and the order appealed from was affirmed, with costs against petitioner Sergio de Guzman.