Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
DOLORES SALINAS, assisted by her
husband, JUAN CASTILLO,
Petitioner,
- ersus -
SPS! "IEN#ENIDO S! $AUSTINO and
ILUMINADA %! $AUSTINO,
Res&ondents!
%!R! No! '()*++
Present:
QUISUMBIN! J"! Chairperson,
C#RPIO MOR#$ES!
%IN#!
VE$#SCO! &R"! an'
BRION! JJ"
Pro(ul)ate':
Septe(ber *+! ,--.
/ 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 /
D E C I S I O N
CARPIO MORALES, J!,
It appears that respon'ent Bien1eni'o S" 2austino 32austino4! b5 a Dee' of #bsolute Sale 3Dee' of Sale4
*

'ate' &une ,6! *+7,! purchase' fro( his se1eral co0heirs! inclu'in) his first cousins Ben8a(in Salinas an'
herein petitioner Dolores Salinas! their respecti1e shares to a parcel of lan' co1ere' b5 %a/ Declaration No"
*97.6! in the na(e of their )ran'(other Car(en $abitan! locate' in Subic! :a(bales! ;ith a <superficial area
of )**!)+( s-uare .eters /s-! .!0 .ore or 1ess!< an' ;ith boun'aries <in the North: Car(en $abitan= in the
South: Calle! in the East: Calle8on an' in the >est: Ro?ue De(etrio"<
On March *@! *+.,! respon'ent 2austino! 8oine' b5 his ;ife! file' before the then Court of 2irst Instance of
:a(bales a co(plaint for reco1er5 of possession ;ith 'a(a)es a)ainst petitioner! assiste' b5 her husban'!
'ocAete' as Ci1il Case No" BB.,0-! alle)in) that the parcel of lan' he bou)ht 1ia the &une ,6! *+7, Dee' of
Sale fro( his co0heirs consiste' of ',)2' s-! .! an' is (ore particularl5 'escribe' as follo;s:
# resi'ential lan' locate' at Barrio Matain! Subic! :a(bales no; Ano; as $ot B! BlocA @0C! Ps'0.,7. boun'e'
on the NOR%D b5 Roa' $ot *! BlocA @0*! PSD0.,7.= on the SOU%D b5 Roa' $ot ,! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,7.= on
the E#S% b5 Roa' $ot ,! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,.7= an'! on the >ES% b5 the propert5 of Ro?ue De(etrio $ot ,!
BlocA @0A! Ps' .,7.= containin) an area of ONE %DOSU#ND %DREE DUNDRED EID%E0ONE 3',)2'4
SQU#RE ME%ERS! (ore or less" Declare' for ta/ation purposes un'er %a/ Declaration No" *.+7 in the na(e
of Spouses Bien1eni'o S" 2austino an' Ilu(ina'a " 2austino"
,
3E(phasis an' un'erscorin) supplie'4
Respon'ent spouses further alle)e' that the5 allo;e' petitioner an' co0heirs to occup5 an' buil' a house on a
7,6 s?" (" portion of the lan'! particularl5 'escribe' as follo;s:
%he northeastern portion of the lan' of the plaintiffs 'escribe' in Para)raph , of this co(plaint= boun'e' on the
NOR%D b5 Roa' $ot *! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,7.= on the East b5 Roa' $ot ,! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,7.= an' on the
SOU%D an' >ES% b5 the re(ainin) portion of $ot @! BlocA @0*! PSD0.,7. of herein plaintiffs ;hich is the lan'
'escribe' in Para)raph , of this co(plaint o;ne' b5 the plaintiffs an' that this portion in ?uestion has an area
of SIF DUNDRED %>EN%E0SEVEN 356+4 SQU#RE ME%ERS ! (ore or less=
B
3E(phasis an' un'erscorin)
supplie'4!
on the con'ition that the5 ;oul' 1oluntaril5 an' i((e'iatel5 re(o1e the house an' 1acate that portion of the
lan' shoul' the5 3respon'ents4 nee' the lan'= an' that ;hen the5 asAe' petitioner an' her co0heir0occupants
to re(o1e the house an' restore the possession of the i((e'iatel50'escribe' portion of the lan'! the5 refuse'!
hence! the filin) of the co(plaint"
In her #ns;er!
9
petitioner clai(e' that she is the o;ner of a 7,. s?" (" lot co1ere' b5 %a/ Declaration No"
*-*6 in her na(e! particularl5 'escribe' as follo;s:
# resi'ential lot! to)ether ;ith the t;o 3,4 store5 house thereon constructe'! an' all e/istin) i(pro1e(ents
thereon! situate' at Matain! Subic! :a(bales! containin) an area of 7,. s?uare (eters! (ore or less" Boun'e'
on the North! b5 $ot *,B*B GsicH= on the East! b5 $ot *,9*B 3Roa' $ot4= on the South! b5 $ot *,--@0Cecilia
Salinas= an' on the >est! b5 $ot *,--7! $oreto 2ebre" Declare' un'er %a/ No" *-*6! in the na(e of Dolores
Salinas Castillo" 3E(phasis an' un'erscorin) supplie'4=
that if respon'ents refer to the i((e'iatel5 'escribe' lot! then the5 ha1e no ri)ht or interest thereon=
@
an' that
her si)nature in the &une ,6! *+7, Dee' of Sale is for)e'"
#fter trial! Branch 6B of the Re)ional %rial Court 3R%C4 of Olon)apo Cit5! b5 Decision of #u)ust B*! *++B! foun'
petitionerIs clai( of for)er5 unsupporte'" It ne1ertheless 'is(isse' the co(plaint!
7
it hol'in) that! inter alia! the
Dee' of Sale in'icate' that onl5 B--"B6@ s?" (" ;as sol' to petitioner"
" " " GIHn the " " " Dee' of Sale G'ate' &une ,6! *+7,H 3E/hibit <B<4! the area of the lan' sol' ;as onl5 B--"B6@
s?uare (eters ;hile the plaintiffsG0herein respon'entsH in their co(plaint clai( *!B.* s?uare (eters or the
;hole of the lot sho;n b5 e/hibit <#< 3$ot B! BlocA @0#! Ps'0.,7.4" Since the 'ocu(ent is the best e1i'ence!
an' the 'ee' of sale in'icates onl5 B--"B6@ s?uare (eters! so then! onl5 the area as state' in the Dee' of Sale
shoul' be o;ne' b5 the plaintiffs" %he alle)ations GsicH that there (i)ht be a t5po)raphical error is a)ain (ere
con8ecture an' not reall5 supporte' b5 e1i'ence"
%he boun'aries of the lan' in'icate' in the Dee' of Sale 3E/hibit <B<4 GareH 'ifferent fro( that of E/hibit <#<
clai(e' b5 the plaintiffGs0herein respon'entsH to be the plan of the lot ;hich the5 alle)e'l5 bou)ht" %he Dee' of
Sale states Gthat the boun'ar5 of the lot in theH North is the lot of Car(en $abitan ;hile E/hibit <#< in'icate'
that North of the lan' is $ot B! BlocA @0#! Ps'0.,7. 3E/hibit <#<4 is a Roa' $ot 3$ot *! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,7.4"
%his Court belie1es that after e/a(inin) the 'ocu(ents presente'! that the lan' bou)ht b5 the plaintiff is onl5 a
portion of the lan' appearin) in E/hibit <#< an' not the ;hole lot" %he lan' bou)ht bein) situate' at the
southern portion of $ot B! BlocA @0C! Ps'0.,7." %his e/plains ;h5 the northern portion of the lot sol' in'icate'
in the Dee' of Sale is o;ne' b5 Car(en $abitan! the ori)inal o;ner of the ;hole $ot B! BlocA @0C! Ps'0.,7.
3E/hibit <C0*<4"
E1en the ta/ 'eclaration sub(itte' b5 the plaintiff in'icates 'ifferent boun'aries ;ith that of the lan' in'icate'
in the Dee' of Sale" %he la; states in #rt" 9B9 of the Ci1il Co'e:
<#rt" 9B9" In an action to reco1er! the propert5 (ust be i'entifie'! an' the plaintiff (ust rel5 on the ;eaAness of
the 'efen'antIs clai("<
/ / / /
Derein plaintiffsG0respon'entsH onl5 o;n the area of B--"B6@ s?uare (eters of the sai' lot an' not the ;hole
area of *!B.* s?uare (eters as clai(e' b5 the(" %here is no e1i'ence to substantiate the plaintiffsI clai( for
the area of *!B.* s?uare (eters"
/ / / /
6
3E(phasis an' un'erscorin) supplie'4
On respon'entsI appeal!
.
the Court of #ppeals! b5 Decision of Dece(ber ,-! ,--*!
+
(o'ifie' the R%C
'ecision" It hel' that since respon'ents are clai(in) the ;hole lot containin) *!B.* s?" (" but that petitioner is
clai(in) 7,. s?" (" thereof! then respon'ents are <entitle' to the re(ainin) portion " " " of 6@B s?uare (eters"<
%he appellate court e/plaine':
/ / / G%Hhe Court a)rees ;ith the court a quo that onl5 a portion of the ;hole lot ;as in'ee' sol' to the
plaintiffs0appellants b5 the heirs of 'ecease' Isi'ro Salinas an' Car(en $abitan" >hat re(ains to be
'eter(ine' is the particular portion of the area that ;as sol' to the plaintiffs0appellants"
/ / / G>Hhat reall5 'efines a piece of lan' is not the area calculate' ;ith (ore or less certaint5 (entione' in the
'escription but the boun'aries therein lai' 'o;n as enclosin) the lan' an' in'icatin) its li(its" >here the lan'
is sol' for a lu(p su( an' not so (uch per unit of (easure or nu(ber! the boun'aries of the lan' state' in the
contract 'eter(ine the effects an' scope of the sale not the area thereof"
Base' on these rules! plaintiffs0appellants are not strictl5 boun' b5 the area state' in the Dee' of Sale ;hich is
(erel5 B--"B6@ s?uare (eters! but b5 the (etes an' boun's state' therein" #s foun' b5 the court a quo ! the
lan' bou)ht b5 the plaintiffs0appellants is a portion of the lan' appearin) in E/hibit <#<! situate' at the southern
portion of $ot B! BlocA @0C! Ps' .,7. ;here the northern portion of the lan' sol' as in'icate' in the Dee' of
Sale is o;ne' b5 Car(en $abitan! the ori)inal o;ner of the ;hole $ot B! BlocA @0C! Ps'0.,7. 3Exhibit "C-1<"4
None of the other heirs ?uestione' the sale of the propert5 as 'escribe' in the Dee' of Sale"
Consi'erin) the fore)oin)! this Court belie1es that plaintiffs0appellantsG0herein respon'entsH o;n (ore than
B--"B6@ s?uare (eters of the lan' in ?uestion" Do;e1er! sai' o;nership 'oes not e/ten' to the northern
portion of the lan' bein) clai(e' b5 the 'efen'ants0appellees! consistin) of 7,. 3erroneousl5 state' in the
'ecision of the court a quo as ,7.4 s?uare (eters an' co1ere' b5 %a/ Declaration No" *-*6 in the na(e of
'efen'ant0appelleeG0herein petitionerH Dolores Salinas" Plaintiffs0appellants areG!H ho;e1er! entitle' to the
re(ainin) portion of the propert5 consistin) of se1en hun're' fift50three 36@B4 s?uare (eters! (ore or less"
3E(phasis an' un'erscorin) supplie'4
%he appellate court thus 'ispose':
78ERE$ORE, base' on the fore)oin) pre(ises! the 8u')(ent appeale' fro( is hereb5 MODI$IED! as
follo;s:
*" Plaintiffs0appellants Bien1eni'o S" 2austino an' Ilu(ina'a " 2austinGoH are 'eclare' o;ners of se1en
hun're' fift50three 36@B4 s?uare (eters! (ore or less! of the parcel of lan' sub8ect of this case"
," Plaintiffs0appellants an' 'efen'ants0appellees are 'irecte' to cause the se)re)ation of their respecti1e
shares in the propert5 as 'eter(ine' b5 this Court! ;ith costs e?uall5 share' bet;een the("
/ / / /
*-
3Un'erscorin) supplie'4
PetitionerIs (otion for reconsi'eration ha1in) been 'enie'!
**
she file' the present petition
*,
faultin) the Court of
#ppeals
a" / / / IN MODI2EIN %DE DECISION O2 %DE COUR% # QUO DISMISSIN %DE COMP$#IN% 2OR
INSU22ICIENCE O2 EVIDENCE=
b" / / / IN DEC$#RIN %DE PRIV#%E RESPONDEN%S O>NERS O2 6@B SQU#RE ME%ERS! MORE OR
$ESS! O2 %DE P#RCE$ O2 $#ND SUB&EC% O2 %DE C#SEG=H
c" / / / IN NO% #22IRMIN %DE DECISION O2 %DE COUR% # QUO #ND FFF IN NO% DEC$#RIN %DE
PE%I%IONER #S O>NER O2 DER PROPER%E >DICD! SINCE %DEN UP %O %DE PRESEN%! SDE D#D
BEEN OCCUPEIN #ND DESPI%E PREPONDER#NCE O2 EVIDENCE O2 DER O>NERSDIP %DERE%O.
*B

3Un'erscorin) in the ori)inal4
%he petition is (eritorious"
In'ee'! in a contract of sale of lan' in a (ass! the specific boun'aries state' in the contract (ust control o1er
an5 state(ent ;ith respect to the area containe' ;ithin its boun'aries"
*9
%hus! it is the boun'aries in'icate' in
a 'ee' of absolute sale! an' not the area in s?" (" (entione' therein J B--"B6@ s?" (" in the Dee' of Sale in
respon'entsI fa1or J that control in the 'eter(ination of ;hich portion of the lan' a 1en'ee ac?uires"
In conclu'in) that respon'ents ac?uire' 1ia the &une ,6! *+7, Dee' of Sale the total lan' area of 6@B s?" ("!
the Court of #ppeals subtracte' fro( the total lan' area of *!B.* s?" (" reflecte' in E/h" <#!< ;hich is <Plan of
$ot B! BlocA @0A! Ps'0.,7.! as prepare' for Ben8a(in R" Salinas< containin) an area of *!B.* s?" (" an' ;hich
;as prepare' on 2ebruar5 *-! *+7- b5 a pri1ate lan' sur1e5or! the 7,. s?" (" area of the lot clai(e' b5
petitioner as reflecte' in %a/ Declaration No" *-*6 in her na(e" #s ;ill be sho;n shortl5! ho;e1er! the basis of
the appellate courtIs conclusion is erroneous"
#s the i((e'iatel5 prece'in) para)raph reflects! the <Plan of $ot B! BA @0C! Ps'0.,< ;as prepare' for
respon'ent 2austinoIs an' petitionerIs first cousin co0heir Ben8a(in Salinas on 2ebruar5 *-! *+7-"
>h5 the appellate court! after e/clu'in) the 7,. s?" (" lot co1ere' b5 a %a/ Declaration in the na(e of
petitioner fro( the *!B.* s?" (" lot sur1e5e' for Ben8a(in P" Salinas in *+7-! conclu'e' that ;hat ;as sol' 1ia
the *+7, Dee' of Sale to respon'ent 2austino ;as the re(ainin) 6@B s?" ("! 'espite the clear pro1ision of sai'
Dee' of Sale that ;hat ;as con1e5e' ;as B--"B6@ s?" ("! escapes co(prehension" It 'efies lo)ic! )i1en that
respon'ents base their clai( of o;nership of the ?uestione' 7,. s?" (" occupie' b5 petitioner on that &une ,6!
*+7, Dee' of Sale co1erin) a B--"B6@ s?" (" lot"
%he trial court in fact note' in its Pre0trial Or'er that <the parties cannot a)ree as to the i'entit5 of the propert5
sou)ht to be reco1ere' b5 the plaintiff"<
*@
3E(phasis an' un'erscorin) supplie'"4 In'ee'! in her #ns;er to the
Co(plaint! petitioner alle)e' <GtHhat if the plaintiffs refer to Gthe lot co1ere' b5 %a/ Declaration No" *-*6H! then
the5 ha1e no ri)ht or interest or participation ;hatsoe1er o1er the sa(e / / /"<
*7
3E(phasis an' italics
supplie'"4
E1en the boun'aries of the 7,. s?" (" area co1ere' b5 %a/ Declaration No" *-*6 in petitionerIs na(e an'
those alle)e' b5 respon'ents to be occupie' b5 petitioner are 'ifferent" %hus! the boun'aries of the lot co1ere'
b5 %a/ Declaration No" *-*6 are: $ot No" *,B-, on the North= $ot No" *,--@ 3Cecilia Salinas4 on the South= $ot
No" *,9*B 3roa' lot4 on the East= an' $ot No" *,--7 3$oreto 2ebre4 on the >est"
*6
>hereas! follo;in)
respon'entsI clai(! the 7,6 s?" (" area occupie' b5 petitioner has the follo;in) boun'aries! 1iK:
%he northeastern portion of the lan' of the plaintiffs 'escribe' in Para)raph , of this co(plaint= boun'e' on the
NORT8 b5 Roa' $ot *! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,7.= on the EAST b5 Roa' $ot ,! BlocA @0*! Ps'0.,7.= an' on the
SOUT8 an' 7EST b5 the re(ainin) portion of $ot @! BlocA @0*! PSD0.,7. of herein plaintiffs ;hich is the lan'
'escribe' in Para)raph , of this co(plaint o;ne' b5 the plaintiffs an' that this portion in ?uestion has an area
of SIF DUNDRED %>EN%E0SEVEN 37,64 SQU#RE ME%ERS! (ore or less"
*.
3E(phasis an' un'erscorin)
supplie'4
%he Court of #ppeals thus 'oubl5 erre' in conclu'in) that *4 ;hat ;as sol' to respon'ents 1ia the &une ,6!
*+7, Dee' of Sale ;as the *!B.* s?" (" parcel of lan' reflecte' in the Plan0E/h" <#< prepare' in *+7- for
Ben8a(in Salinas! an' ,4 petitioner occupie' 7,. s?" (" portion thereof! hence! respon'ents o;n the re(ainin)
6@B s?" ("
78ERE$ORE, the petition is R#N%ED" %he Decision of the Court of #ppeals 'ate' Dece(ber ,-! ,--* is
REVERSED an' SE% #SIDE! an' the Decision of Branch 6B of the Re)ional %rial Court of Olon)apo Cit5
'ate' #u)ust B*! *++B DISMISSIN Ci1il Case No" BB.,0- is REINS%#%ED"