Republic of the Philippines, petitioner v. Angeles Bellate, and Spouses Jesus Cabanto and Marieta Juanerio, respondents G.R.

No. 175685, August 7, 2013 Nature: Petition for review on certiorari opic: Propert , Pu!"ic "an# an# free patent !acts: Respon#ent Ange"es $e""ate fi"e# a %ree Patent App"ication an# was issue# an &rigina" 'ertificate of (it"e )&'(*, +nri,uita $e""ate-.ui/an fi"e# a protest against Ange"es !efore t0e 1an# 2anage3ent $ureau. 40e pra e# for t0e annu"3ent of t0e %PA in favor of Ange"es. 40e sai# t0at t0e %PA was o!taine# t0roug0 frau# an# 3isrepresentation !ecause Ange"es #i# not state t0e fact t0at t0e "an# 0a# ot0er occupants asi#e fro3 0i3. (0e &ffice of t0e 4o"icitor Genera" fi"e# a case against Ange"es an# spouses 'a!anto an# 2arieta 5uanerio for t0e reversion of "an# to t0e 3ass of pu!"ic #o3ain an# for t0e annu"3ent of t0e grante# free patent an# tit"e. (0e Repu!"ic a""ege# t0at Ange"es co33itte# frau# an# 3isrepresentation in securing 0is free patent w0en 0e state# un#er oat0 t0at 1ot No. 2626 was not occupie# ! an ot0er person, contrar to t0e investigation report. R(' #is3isse# t0e co3p"aint on t0e pre3ise t0at t0e "an# w0ic0 was t0e su!7ect of #ispute was #ifferent fro3 t0e "an# previous" occupie# ! +use!ia. (0e 'A #i# not agree wit0 t0e R('8s fin#ings on t0e i#entit of t0e properties, !ut nonet0e"ess #enie# t0e appea" in its #ecision. "ssue: 90et0er or not t0e respon#ent co33itte# frau# or 3isrepresentation of facts w0ic0 wou"# warrant t0e cance""ation of t0e free patent an# certificate of tit"e of t0e conteste# "an#. Ruling: (0e respon#ent #i# not co33it frau# or 3isrepresentation of facts w0ic0 wou"# warrant t0e cance""ation of t0e free patent an# certificate of tit"e. 9e #o not agree wit0 t0e Repu!"ic t0at Ange"es co33itte# fa"se state3ent or o3ission of facts w0en 0e state# in t0e app"ication t0at t0e "an# is not c"ai3e# or occupie# ! an ot0er person. (0e certificate of tit"e issue# pursuant to an grant or patent invo"ving pu!"ic "an#s is as conc"usive an# in#efeasi!"e as an ot0er certificate of tit"e issue# to private "an#s in t0e or#inar or ca#astra" registration procee#ings. :t is not su!7ect to co""atera" attac;. &nce a patent is registere# an# t0e correspon#ing certificate of tit"e is issue#, t0e "an# covere# ! it ceases to !e part of t0e pu!"ic #o3ain an# !eco3es private propert , an# t0e (orrens (it"e issue# pursuant to t0e patent !eco3es in#efeasi!"e upon t0e e<piration of one ear fro3 t0e #ate of issuance of suc0 patent. =owever, as 0e"# in (0e >irector of 1an#s v. >e 1una, et a"., even after t0e "apse of one ear, t0e 4tate 3a sti"" !ring an action un#er 4ection 101 of 'o33onwea"t0 Act No. 161 for t0e reversion to t0e pu!"ic #o3ain of "an# w0ic0 0as !een frau#u"ent" grante# to private in#ivi#ua"s. (0e !ur#en of proof rests on t0e part w0o, as #eter3ine# ! t0e p"ea#ings or t0e nature of t0e case, asserts t0e affir3ative of an issue. :n ot0er wor#s, t0e Repu!"ic 0as t0e !ur#en to prove t0at Ange"es co33itte# frau# in 0is app"ication for free patent. (0e frau# 3ust consist in an intentiona" o3ission of facts re,uire# ! "aw to !e state# in t0e app"ication or a wi""fu" state3ent of a c"ai3 against t0e trut0. :t 3ust s0ow so3e specific acts inten#e# to #eceive an# #eprive anot0er of 0is rig0t. (0e frau# 3ust !e actua" an# e<trinsic, not 3ere" constructive or intrinsic? t0e evi#ence t0ereof 3ust !e c"ear, convincing an# 3ore t0an 3ere" prepon#erant, !ecause t0e procee#ings w0ic0 are assai"e# as 0aving !een frau#u"ent are 7u#icia" procee#ings w0ic0 ! "aw, are presu3e# to 0ave !een fair an# regu"ar. >ec"aring !ot0 t0e c"ai3ant-protestant an# t0e app"icant-respon#ent as "ega" owner of t0eir respective s0ares over t0e "an# in ,uestion an# eac0 of t0e3 to respect t0e owners0ip of t0e ot0er. Ange"es #i# not co33it frau# in 0is app"ication for free patent. (0e report is c"ear t0at 0e app"ie# for free patent wit0 respect to 1ot No. 2626 on" , not for +use!ia8s entire "an#. :t is t0e sa3e "an# w0ere 0e constructe# a 0ouse in 1@65 or a!out five #eca#es ago. 2oreover, t0e report #i# not enu3erate t0e ot0er occupants of 1ot No. 2626, t0e "an# over w0ic0 Ange"es was grante# a free patent. :n ot0er wor#s, Ange"es answere# trut0fu"" w0en 0e sai# t0at t0ere are no ot0er occupants on 1ot No. 2626.