18. DAR vs. Samson, et. al., (G.R. No.

161910, June 17, 2008)

Facts: Durn! "s l#etme, $nr%ue &. Samson
'
a((le) #or e*em(ton #rom t"e
+overa!e o# t"e ,om(re"ensve A!raran Re#orm -ro!ram (,AR-) over nne (9)
(ar+els o# lan). .n an un)ate) /r)er ssue) sometme n 1995, t"e su01e+t lots 2ere
)e+lare) e*em(t #rom ,AR- +overa!e 03 DAR Re!onal Dre+tor
Dalu!)u!. -ettoners4#armers 5le) an /((oston6-etton alle!n! t"at t"e3
re+eve) t"e un)ate) /r)er o# DAR onl3 on Januar3 27, 1997. &"e3 (ra3e) t"at t"e
same 0e set as)e an) null5e) 0e+ause alt"ou!" t"e lan)s +overe) 03 t"e /r)er
"ave a slo(e o# more t"an 187, t"e same 2ere #ull3 )evelo(e) an) (lante) 2t"
varet3 o# (lants, an) to 2"+" some o# t"em "ave t"er #arm "ouses 0ult.
DAR #oun) #avor 2t" t"e (ettoner4#armers, .t also note) t"at t"e o+ular
ns(e+ton re(ort su0mtte) 03 t"er team +on5rms t"e (resen+e o# a!r+ulturall3
)evelo(e) (ortons n t"e area. 8en+e, (ortons o# t"e su01e+t lan)"ol)n! even 2t"
a slo(e o# more t"an 187 ma3 stll 0e +overe) 03 ,AR- )ue to t"e (resen+e o#
a!r+ulturall3 )evelo(e) areas.
Samson learne) t"at a !rou( o# surve3ors ns(e+te) t"e su01e+t (ro(ertes
#or t"e (ur(ose o# )etermnn! 2"+" (ortons s"oul) 0e )str0ute) to "s tenants,
2"eren "e 2as n#orme) o# t"e a((eal o# t"e (ettoner4#armers 2"+" DAR !rante).
Samson a((eale) 0e#ore t"e /9+e o# t"e -res)ent, "o2ever, t"e latter sustane)
DAR:s ruln! t"at t"e su01e+t (ro(ertes 2ere 2t"n t"e +overa!e o# ,AR- a#ter
5n)n! t"at alt"ou!" t"e lan) "as a slo(e o# more t"an 187, t"ere are (ortons
2"+" are a!r+ulturall3 )evelo(e). &"e ,A reverse) t"e (ror )e+sons an) rule)
t"at DAR +ommtte) !rave a0use o# )s+reton.
Issue: ;"et"er or not DAR +ommtte) !rave a0use o# )s+reton 2"en t
entertane) t"e a((eal o# t"e (ettoner4#armers, t"us, +ausn! )e(rvaton o# )ue
(ro+ess.
Held: &"ere no error on t"e (art o# (ettoner DAR 2"en t entertane) t"e a((eal o#
#armers4(ettoners a#ter 5n)n! t"e same mertorous, +onsstent 2t" t"e )e+lare)
(ol+es o# RA 66<7 n !vn! t"e 2el#are o# t"e lan)less #armers an) #arm 2or=ers
t"e "!"est +ons)eraton. .n several nstan+es, even t"e ,ourt entertane) an)
allo2e) la(se) a((eals n t"e "!"er nterest o# 1ust+e.

>oreover, (ro+ee)n!s
0e#ore t"e DAR are summar3 an) (ursuant to Se+ton <0 o# RA 66<7, t"e
)e(artment s not 0oun) 03 te+"n+al rules o# (ro+e)ure an) ev)en+e, to t"e en)
t"at a!raran re#orm )s(utes an) ot"er ssues 2ll 0e a)1u)+ate) n a 1ust,
e*(e)tous an) ne*(ensve a+ton or (ro+ee)n!.

.t s m(ortant to reterate t"at a)mnstratve a!en+es are not 0oun) 03 t"e
te+"n+al n+etes o# la2 an) (ro+e)ure an) t"e rules o0tann! n t"e +ourts o# la2.
.t s 2ell4settle) t"at rules o# (ro+e)ure are +onstrue) l0erall3 n (ro+ee)n!s 0e#ore
a)mnstratve 0o)es an) are not to 0e a((le) n a ver3 r!) an) te+"n+al
manner, as t"ese are use) onl3 to "el( se+ure an) not to overr)e su0stantal
1ust+e.

?es)es, 2e 5n) t"at res(on)ents 2ere not )ene) )ue (ro+ess. .n a)mnstratve
(ro+ee)n!s, a #ar an) reasona0le o((ortunt3 to e*(lan one:s s)e su9+es to meet
t"e re%urements o# )ue (ro+ess.
20. Asso+aton o# Small @an)o2ners, et.al., vs. DAR Se+retar3 (G.R. No. 787'2, Jul3
1', 1989)
Facts: &"ese +onsol)ate) +ases %ueston t"e +onsttutonalt3 o# t"e A!raran
Re#orm A+t. Art+le A... on So+al Just+e an) 8uman R!"ts n+lu)es a +all #or t"e
a)o(ton 03 t"e State o# an a!raran re#orm (ro!ram #or t"e 0ene5t o# #armers an)
#arm2or=ers. RA B8'', A!r+ultural @an) Re#orm ,o)e, "a) alrea)3 0een ena+te) 03
,on!ress. &"s 2as su0stantall3 su(erse)e) almost a )e+a)e later 03 -D 27, to
(rov)e #or t"e +om(ulsor3 a+%uston o# (rvate lan)s #or )str0uton amon!
tenant4#armers an) to s(e+#3 ma*mum retenton lmts #or lan)o2ners. ,or3 ssue)
$/ 228, )e+larn! #ull lan) o2ners"( n #avor o# t"e 0ene5+ares o# -D 27 an)
(rov)n! #or t"e valuaton o# stll unvalue) lan)s +overe) 03 t"e )e+ree as 2ell as
t"e manner o# t"er (a3ment. &"s 2as #ollo2e) 03 -- 1B1, nsttutn! ,AR-, an) $/
229, (rov)n! t"e me+"an+s #or ts m(lementaton. A#ter 2"+" s t"e ena+tment
o# RA 66<7, ,om(re"ensve A!raran Re#orm @a2 o# 1988. &"s la2, 2"le
+ons)era0l3 +"an!n! t"e earler mentone) ena+tments, nevert"eless !ves t"em
su((letor3 eCe+t nso#ar as t"e3 are not n+onsstent 2t" ts (rovsons.
.n +ons)ern! t"e rentals as a)van+e (a3ment on t"e lan), t"e e*e+utve or)er also
)e(rves t"e (ettoners o# t"er (ro(ert3 r!"ts as (rote+te) 03 )ue (ro+ess. &"e
e%ual (rote+ton +lause s also volate) 0e+ause t"e or)er (la+es t"e 0ur)en o#
solvn! t"e a!raran (ro0lems on t"e o2ners onl3 o# a!r+ultural lan)s. No smlar
o0l!aton s m(ose) on t"e o2ners o# ot"er (ro(ertes.
&"e (ettoners mantan t"at n )e+larn! t"e 0ene5+ares un)er -D 27 to 0e t"e
o2ners o# t"e lan)s o++u(e) 03 t"em, $/ 228 !nore) 1u)+al (rero!atves an) so
volate) )ue (ro+ess. ;orse, t"e measure 2oul) not solve t"e a!raran (ro0lem
0e+ause even t"e small #armers are )e(rve) o# t"er lan)s an) t"e retenton r!"ts
!uarantee) 03 t"e ,onsttuton.
.n "s +omment t"e Sol4Gen asserte) t"at t"e alle!e) volaton o# t"e e%ual
(rote+ton +lause, t"e su!ar (lanters "ave #ale) to s"o2 t"at t"e3 0elon! to a
)Cerent +lass an) s"oul) 0e )Cerentl3 treate). &"e ,omment also su!!ests t"e
(oss0lt3 o# ,on!ress 5rst )str0utn! (u0l+ a!r+ultural lan)s an) s+"e)uln! t"e
e*(ro(raton o# (rvate a!r+ultural lan)s later. Drom t"s ve2(ont, t"e (etton #or
(ro"0ton 2oul) 0e (remature.
ISSUE: ;"et"er or not t"ere 2as a volaton o# t"e e%ual (rote+ton +lause.
HELD: &"e S, rule) a9rmn! t"e Sol4Gen. &"e ar!ument o# t"e small #armers t"at
t"e3 "ave 0een )ene) e%ual (rote+ton 0e+ause o# t"e a0sen+e o# retenton lmts
"as also 0e+ome a+a)em+ un)er Se+ 6 o# RA 66<7. S!n5+antl3, t"e3 too "ave not
%uestone) t"e area o# su+" lmts. &"ere s also t"e +om(lant t"at t"e3 s"oul) not
0e ma)e to s"are t"e 0ur)en o# a!raran re#orm, an o01e+ton also ma)e 03 t"e
su!ar (lanters on t"e !roun) t"at t"e3 0elon! to a (art+ular +lass 2t" (art+ular
nterests o# t"er o2n. 8o2ever, no ev)en+e "as 0een su0mtte) to t"e ,ourt t"at
t"e re%ustes o# a val) +lass5+aton "ave 0een volate).
,lass5+aton "as 0een )e5ne) as t"e !rou(n! o# (ersons or t"n!s smlar to ea+"
ot"er n +ertan (art+ulars an) )Cerent #rom ea+" ot"er n t"ese same (art+ulars.
&o 0e val), t must +on#orm to t"e #ollo2n! re%urements:
(1) t must 0e 0ase) on su0stantal )stn+tonsE
(2) t must 0e !ermane to t"e (ur(oses o# t"e la2E
(B) t must not 0e lmte) to e*stn! +on)tons onl3E an)
(') t must a((l3 e%uall3 to all t"e mem0ers o# t"e +lass.
&"e ,ourt 5n)s t"at all t"ese re%ustes "ave 0een met 03 t"e measures "ere
+"allen!e) as ar0trar3 an) )s+rmnator3. $%ual (rote+ton sm(l3 means t"at all
(ersons or t"n!s smlarl3 stuate) must 0e treate) al=e 0ot" as to t"e r!"ts
+on#erre) an) t"e la0ltes m(ose). &"e (ettoners "ave not s"o2n t"at t"e3
0elon! to a )Cerent +lass an) enttle) to a )Cerent treatment. &"e ar!ument t"at
not onl3 lan)o2ners 0ut also o2ners o# ot"er (ro(ertes must 0e ma)e to s"are t"e
0ur)en o# m(lementn! lan) re#orm must 0e re1e+te). &"ere s a su0stantal
)stn+ton 0et2een t"ese t2o +lasses o# o2ners t"at s +learl3 vs0le e*+e(t to
t"ose 2"o 2ll not see. &"ere s no nee) to ela0orate on t"s matter. .n an3 event,
t"e ,on!ress s allo2e) a 2)e lee2a3 n (rov)n! #or a val) +lass5+aton. .ts
)e+son s a++or)e) re+o!nton an) res(e+t 03 t"e +ourts o# 1ust+e e*+e(t onl3
2"ere ts )s+reton s a0use) to t"e )etrment o# t"e ?ll o# R!"ts.
&"us
21. @an) ?an= vs. ,ourt o# A((eals (G.R. No. 118712, /+to0er 6, 199<)
Da+ts: -rvate res(on)ents are lan)o2ners 2"ose lan)"ol)n!s 2ere a+%ure) 03 t"e
DAR an) su01e+te) to trans#er s+"emes to %ual5e) 0ene5+ares un)er t"e ,AR@,
Re(u0l+ A+t No. 66<7. A!!reve) 03 t"e alle!e) la(ses o# t"e DAR an) t"e
@an)0an= 2t" res(e+t to t"e valuaton an) (a3ment o# +om(ensaton #or t"er lan)
(ursuant to t"e (rovsons o# RA 66<7, (rvate res(on)ents 5le) a+om(lant 2t"
t"s ,ourt. -rvate res(on)ents %uestone) t"e val)t3 o# DAR A)mnstratve /r)er
No. 6, Seres o# 1992
6
an) DAR A)mnstratve /r)er No. 9, Seres o# 1990,
7
an)
sou!"t to +om(el t"e DAR to e*(e)te t"e (en)n! summar3 a)mnstratve
(ro+ee)n!s to 5nall3 )etermne t"e 1ust +om(ensaton o# t"er (ro(ertes, an) t"e
@an)0an= to )e(ost n +as" an) 0on)s t"e amounts res(e+tvel3 Fearmar=e)F,
Freserve)F an) F)e(oste) n trust a++ountsF #or (rvate res(on)ents, an) to allo2
t"em to 2t")ra2 t"e same. &"e res(on)ent +ourt ren)ere) t"e assale) )e+son n
#avor o# (rvate res(on)ents. -rvate res(on)ents ar!ue) t"at A)mnstratve /r)er
No. 9. Seres o# 1990 2as ssue) 2t"out 1urs)+ton an) 2t" !rave a0use o#
)s+reton 0e+ause t (ermts t"e o(enn! o# trust a++ounts 03 t"e @an)0an=, n leu
o# )e(ostn! n +as" or 0on)s n an a++ess0le 0an= )es!nate) 03 t"e DAR, t"e
+om(ensaton #or t"e lan) 0e#ore t s ta=en an) t"e ttles are +an+elle) as (rov)e)
un)er Se+ton 16(e) o# RA 66<7.
9
-rvate res(on)ents also assal t"e #a+t t"at t"e
DAR an) t"e @an)0an= merel3 Fearmar=e)F, F)e(oste) n trustF or Freserve)F t"e
+om(ensaton n t"er names as lan)o2ners )es(te t"e +lear man)ate t"at 0e#ore
ta=n! (ossesson o# t"e (ro(ert3, t"e +om(ensaton must 0e )e(oste) n +as" or n
0on)s.
.ssue6s: ;"et"er DAR A)mnstratve /r)er No. 9, Seres o# 1990, nso#ar as t
(rov)es #or t"e o(enn! o# trust a++ounts n leu o# )e(ost n +as" or n 0on)s s
null an) vo),
;"et"er (rvate res(on)ents are enttle) as a matter o# r!"t to t"e
mme)ate an) (rovsonal release o# t"e amounts )e(oste) n trust (en)n! t"e
5nal resoluton o# t"e +ases t "as 5le) #or 1ust +om(ensaton
8el): G$S. .t s ver3 e*(l+t t"at Se+ton 16(+) o# RA 66<7 (rov)es t"at t"e )e(ost
must 0e ma)e onl3 n F+as"F or n F@?- 0on)s.F No2"ere )oes t a((ear nor +an t
0e n#erre) t"at t"e )e(ost +an 0e ma)e n an3 ot"er #orm. &"ere s no am0!ut3 n
Se+ton 16(e) o# RA 66<7 to 2arrant an e*(an)e) +onstru+ton o# t"e term
F)e(ost.F &"ere s no 0ass n allo2n! t"e o(enn! o# a trust a++ount n 0e"al# o#
t"e lan)o2ner as +om(ensaton #or "s (ro(ert3 0e+ause, as "ereto#ore )s+usse),
Se+ton 16(e) o# RA 66<7 s ver3 s(e+5+ t"at t"e )e(ost must 0e ma)e onl3 n
F+as"F or n F@?- 0on)s.
Ges. &"e ,ourt 5n)s t unne+essar3 to )stn!us" 0et2een (rovsonal
+om(ensaton un)er Se+ton 16(e) an) 5nal +om(ensaton un)er Se+ton 18 o#
(ur(oses o# e*er+sn! t"e lan)o2ner:s r!"t to a((ro(rate t"e same. &"e
mme)ate eCe+t n 0ot" stuatons s t"e same, t"e lan)o2ner s )e(rve) o# t"e
use an) (ossesson o# "s (ro(ert3 #or 2"+" "e s"oul) 0e #arl3 an) mme)atel3
+om(ensate). Dttn!l3, 2e reterate t"e +ar)nal rule t"at: F. . . 2t"n t"e +onte*t o#
t"e State:s n"erent (o2er o# emnent )oman, just compensation means not only
the correct determination of the amount to be paid to the owner of the land but also
the payment of the land within a reasonable time from its taking. Without prompt
payment, compensation cannot be considered 'just' for the property owner is made
to sufer the consequence of being immediately deprived of his land while being
made to wait for a decade or more before actually receiving the amount necessary
to cope with his loss.F
22. D?- vs. &eston, (G.R. No. 17'966, De0ruar3 1', 2008)
Facts: ?3 a Dee) o# ,on)tonal Sale, res(on)ent (ur+"ase) on nstallment 0ass
#rom (ettoner, Develo(ment ?an= o# t"e -"l((nes (D?-), t2o (2) (ar+els o# @an)s
n >as0ate. Res(on)ent )e#aulte) n t"e (a3ment o# "s amortHatons, t"e D?- t"us
res+n)e) t"er +ontra+t 03 letter )ate) Se(tem0er 2', 1990 a))resse) to
res(on)ent. D?- soon trans#erre) t"e t2o (2) (ar+els o# lan) to t"e !overnment n
+om(lan+e 2t" Re(u0l+ A+t No. 66<7 (,/>-R$8$NS.I$ AGRAR.AN R$D/R> @A;
/D 1988) an) $*e+utve /r)er '07 )ate) June 1', 1990 (A,,$@$RA&.NG &8$
A,JK.S.&./N AND D.S&R.?K&./N /D AGR.,K@&KRA@ @ANDS, -AS&KR$ @ANDS,
D.S8-/NDS, AGR/4D/R$S&RG @ANDS AND /&8$R @ANDS /D &8$ -K?@., D/>A.N
SK.&A?@$ D/R AGR.,K@&KR$).
8o2ever, on De+em0er 1, 1988, res(on)ent "a) voluntarl3 oCere) t"e t2o (ar+els
o# lan) #or n+luson n t"e ,AR-res(on)ent 5le) 0e#ore t"e De(artment o# A!raran
Re#orm A)1u)+aton ?oar) (DARA?) Re!onal /9+e n @e!aH( ,t3 a
-etton
2
a!anst D?- an) @an) ?an=, alle!n! t"at un)er Re(u0l+ A+t No. 66<7, "s
o0l!aton to D?- 2as assume) 03 t"e !overnment t"rou!" t"e @an) ?an= a#ter t"e
t2o (ar+els o# lan) 0e+ame +overe) 03 t"e ,AR-, an) t"at t"e o(eraton o# sa) la2
e*tn!us"e) D?-:s r!"t to res+n) t"e sale @a2 an) (ra3n! t"at @an) ?an= 0e
or)ere) to (a3 t"e 1ust +om(ensaton o# t"e (ro(ert3 2"+" t"e S(e+al A!raran
,ourt ma3 )etermne to 0e (a) to t"e (ettoner a#ter )e)u+tn! t"e 0alan+e o# t"e
(ettoner to t"e D?-. DARA? Re!onal A)1u)+ator )smsse) res(on)ent:s (etton
an) "el) t"at "e "a) not val)l3 a+%ure) t"e lan)s, t"us, "e +oul) not "ave val)l3
oCere) t"e (ro(ert3 un)er t"e LIoluntar3 /Cer to SellM s+"eme. /n a((eal,
t"e DARAB a9rme) t"e Re!onal A)1u)+ator:s )e+son. Nevert"eless, t"e
a((ellate +ourt mo)5e) t"e tral +ourt:s )e+son 03 or)ern! D?- to return to
res(on)ent Ft"e -1,000,000 2"+" Lres(on)entM (a) as )o2n(a3ment,F #ollo2n!
t"e la2 on res+sson
Issue: ;"et"er D?- "as 0een )ene) )ue (ro+ess.
Held: Ges. Due (ro+ess +ons)eratons 1ust#3 t"s re%urement. .t s m(ro(er to
enter an or)er 2"+" e*+ee)s t"e s+o(e o# rele# sou!"t 03 t"e (lea)n!s, a0sent
not+e 2"+" aCor)s t"e o((osn! (art3 an o((ortunt3 to 0e "ear) 2t" res(e+t to
t"e (ro(ose) rele#.
18
&"e #un)amental (ur(ose o# t"e re%urement t"at alle!atons
o# a +om(lant must (rov)e t"e measure o# re+over3 s to (revent sur(rse to t"e
)e#en)ant. .$D8A&
&"at res+sson o# a sale +reates t"e o0l!aton to return t"e t"n!s 2"+" 2ere
t"e o01e+t o# t"e +ontra+t, to!et"er 2t" t"er #ruts, an) t"e (r+e 2t" ts nterests
s un)s(ute). 8o2ever, to re%ure D?- to return t"e alle!e) -1,000,000 2t"out
5rst !vn! t an o((ortunt3 to (resent ev)en+e 2oul) volate t"e ,onsttutonal
(rovson t"at FLnMo (erson s"all 0e )e(rve) o# l#e, l0ert3, or property without
due process o law . . ..F &"e essen+e o# )ue (ro+ess s to 0e #oun) n t"e
reasona0le o((ortunt3 to 0e "ear) an) su0mt an3 ev)en+e one ma3 "ave n
su((ort o# one:s )e#ense.
.n t"e +ase at 0ar, D?- "a) no o((ortunt3 to (resent ev)en+e on ts 0e"al#. As
t +onten)s,
8a) Lt"eM ssue 0een rase) n t"e lo2er +ourt, (ettoner D?- +oul) "ave +onteste)
an) (resente) ev)en+e a!anst t"e returnn! o# t"e alle!e) )e(ost to (rvate
res(on)ent. D?- +oul) "ave s"o2n t"at (rvate res(on)ent did !ot "a#e a
deposit i! the a"ou!t o $1%&&&%&&&'&& 0ut o!ly $(&&%&&&'&& as t"e +"e+=
#or -B00,000.00 2as returne) to "m. Durt"ermore, t"e amount o# -700,000.00, as
(revousl3 )s+usse), 2as a((le) to re!tal(ursuant to t"e Dee) o# ,on)tonal Sale
)ate) Jul3 1<, 1987. Sn+e t"s 2as not rase) as an ssue, D?- "as 0een )ene) t"e
o((ortunt3 to re0ut t"e 0elate) +lam o# t"e (rvate res(on)ent. >an#estl3, t"e
De+son o# t"e A((ellate ,ourt #or t"e return o# t"e alle!e) )e(ost ma)e 03 t"e
(rvate res(on)ent s 0aseless an) 2as +learl3 n +ontraventon o# t"e 0as+ rules o#
#ar (la3, 1ust+e an) )ue (ro+ess.