POLITICAL LAW 1 CASE DIGESTS



Case Digest: Macariola vs. Asuncion

A.M. No. 133-J. May 31, 1982. 

Bernadita R. Macariola, Complainant, Vs. Hon. Elias B. Asuncion, Respondent.


Nature: Political law as a branch of public law that deals with the organizations and operations of the governmental organ of the state and defines the relations of the state to its inhabitants.

Facts:

1. Macariola and her step sisters had a dispute over their inheritance concerning a parcel of land left by the deceased father. 

2. Macariola was the only offspring of the first marriage and that others are on the second marriage except one who is an illegitimate child. 

3. There are properties that are belonging to the conjugal partnership of the first marriage and there are in the second marriage, and there is belonging exclusively to the deceased father. 

4. Judge Asuncion determined that the parties are legible for the inheritance. 

5. The parties of the case submitted a project partition reflecting their preference. 

6. Judge Asuncion approved the project partition and the decision became final on October 23, 1963. 

7. Reyes ET. Al. sold some of their shares to Dr. Galapon. Lot. 1184-E 

8. Dr. Galapon and his spouse sold a portion of this lot to Judge Asuncion and to his spouse for taxation purposes in 1965. 

9. Galapon spouse and Asuncion spouse conveyed their shares in the said lot to the incorporation where Asuncion is the president. 

10. Macariola then filed an instant complaint dated 1968 alleging Judge Asuncion violated: 

a. Art. 1491 par. 5 of the new civil code by acquiring the portion of lot 1184-E which was one of the properties involved in a civil case decided by him. 

b. Art. 14 par. I and 5 of the code of commerce, Anti-graft and corrupt practices act by associating himself with the incorporation above mentioned while he is a judge of the court of first instance of Leyte. 

Issue: Whether or not, Judge Asuncion violated these provisions?

Held:

1. No. (Art. 1491 enumerated the list of people who cannot acquire certain properties…that justices, judges…with respect to the property and rights which may be the object of any litigation in which they may take part by virtue of their position.) The prohibition applies only to the sale or assignment of the property which is subject of litigation…it applies if the litigation is under pendency. Judge bought the property 2 years after his final decision. Also the judge did not buy the property directly from any of the parties. It was sold for tax purposes and that not showing that Galapon is served as a dummy of Asuncion. 

2. No. Because there is no showing that respondent participated or intervened in his official capacity in the business or transactions of the incorporation in which his participation is obviously no relation with his judicial office. The code of commerce which is part of commercial laws of the Philippines, partakes of the nature of political law as it regulates the relationship between the government and certain public officers and employees. It may be recalled that political law embraces administrative law and the other four. Article 14 of the code of commerce partakes more on administrative law for it regulates the conduct of certain public officers and employees with respect to engaging in business, hence, political in essence. And to note code of commerce is the Spanish code of commerce of 1885 and as we changed our sovereignty from Spain to U.S and U.S to the republic of the Philippines, and article 14 must be deemed abrogated because when there is a change of sovereignty, the political laws of the former sovereign are automatically abrogated. Political laws principle depends on the system of government of the one that implements it.

Elizabeth Lee and Pacita Lee vs. Director of Lands, Political Law 1, G.R. No. 128195, October 3, 2001



FACTS:


Sometime in 1936, Rafael Dinglasan et.al., sold to a Chinese citizen named Lee Liong, a parcel of land lot 398 covered by an Original Certificate of Title No. 3389 situated in Roxas City. 


In 1948 and 1968 former owners filed with the court an action against the heirs of Lee Liong for annulment of sale and recovery of land. They assailed the validly the validity of the sale because of the constitutional prohibition against alien acquiring ownership of lands either of private or public domain.  In both cases, Supreme Court ruled against Dinglasan. 


In 1993, the herein petitioners who were widows of the heirs of Lee Liong who was then the owner of the subject land, filed with the RTC a petition for reconstruction of title of lot. no. 348 formerly covered by OCT No. 3389.


Elizabeth Lee acquired her share in lot. no. 398 through an extrajudicial settlement and donation executed in her favor by her husband Lee Bing Hoo; on the other hand, Pacita Lee acquired her share in the same lot by succession from her deceased husband Lee Bunting. 


Previously in December 1948, the Registry of Deeds issued a Certification that the Transfer Certificate of Title was issued in the name of Lee Liong, However, their records were burned out during the 2nd world war. Hence this petition for reconstitution of title. 


In 1994, RTC ordered the reconstitution of title. Solicitor General filed with the Court of Appeals a petition for annulment of judgment of the RTC, alleging that petitioners were not the proper party in the reconstitution of title since their predecessor in interest was a Chinese and was not qualified under the constitution to acquire lands. CA declared the order of RTC void. 


ISSUE:


Whether the prohibition applies/extended to the Filipino successors of the land acquired by a foreign national. 


HELD:


NO. If land in invalidly transferred to an alien who subsequently becomes a citizen or transfers it to a citizen of the Philippines, the flaw in the original transaction is considered cured and the title of the transferee is rendered valid. 


The Constitutional prescription on alien ownership of lands of the public prescription on alien ownership of lands of the public or private domain was intended to protect land from fall in the hands of non-Filipinos. In this case, however, there would be no more public policy violated since the land is in the hands of the Filipinos qualified to acquire and own such land. 


Thus, the subsequent transfer of the property to qualified Filipinos may no longer impugned on the basis of the invalidity of the initial transfer. 


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