FIRST DIVISION
[G.R. No. 238946. July 4, 2018.]
LEAD EXPORT AND AGRO-DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, petitioner, vs. LEONISA VALENZUELA-PASCUAL, HERMILINA VALENZUELA-ORILLA, ET AL., respondents.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, First Division, issued a Resolution datedJuly 4, 2018which reads as follows:
"G.R. No. 238946 (Lead Export and Agro-Development Corporation v. Leonisa Valenzuela-Pascual, Hermilina Valenzuela-Orilla, et al.). — After review, the Court resolves to DENY the petition for failure to sufficiently show that the Court of Appeals committed any reversible error in its assailed Decision, which affirmed that between a registered Transfer Certificate of Title and a series of deeds of sale that are void, the respondents, as registered owners of the subject land, had a better right of possession, and that neither prescription nor laches ran against such a right. HTcADC
This Court is not a trier of facts, and it is not our function to review factual issues and reexamine the probative value of the evidence presented by the parties. Nevertheless, we reiterate the settled rule that prescription and laches do not run against a registered owner of a property covered by the Torrens system, pursuant to the Property Registration Decree which provides that no title to registered land in derogation to that of the registered owner shall be acquired by prescription or adverse possession. 1 The award of temperate damages to represent the amount of back rentals is also proper, given that although the respondents failed to substantiate their claim to the exact amount of back rentals and interests, they are nevertheless entitled to the award of reasonable compensation for the use of their land. Finally, the interest rate imposed by the Court of Appeals is likewise proper and in accordance with Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Circular No. 799, and its guidelines in Nacar v. Gallery Frames. 2
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition is DENIED. The assailed Decision dated July 28, 2017 and Resolution dated March 7, 2018 issued by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 04052-MIN are hereby AFFIRMED. CAIHTE
SO ORDERED." Leonardo-de Castro, J., on official leave; Del Castillo, J., designated as Acting Chairperson per Special Order No. 2562 dated June 20, 2018; Gesmundo, J., designated as acting member per Special Order No. 2560 dated May 11, 2018.
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) LIBRADA C. BUENAActing Division Clerk of Court
Footnotes
1. See Ocampo v. Heirs of Bernardino U. Dionisio, G.R. No. 191101, October 1, 2014, 737 SCRA 381, 394.
2. G.R. No. 189871, August 13, 2013, 703 SCRA 439.