Jose Maria College of Law

THE LAW ON NATURAL RESOURCES

Atty. Kristine Mae M. Quibod

Instructor

COURSE SYLLABUS

I. THE PUBLIC LAND ACT (COMMONWEALTH ACT 141)

Preliminaries:

A. Governing Law
B. Historical Background
C. Policy Considerations
D. Regalian Doctrine

Cases:
1. Sunbeam Convenience Food vs Court of Appeals (181 SCRA 443)
2. Republic vs Sayo (191 SCRA 71)
3. Seville vs National Development Company (GR No. 129401,
February 2, 2001)
4. Director of Lands vs Intermediate Appellate Court (219 SCRA 108)
5. United Paracale vs Dela Rosa (221 SCRA 108)
6. Republic vs Register of Deeds of Quezon (224 SCRA 537)
7. Ituralde vs Falcasantos (GR No. 128017, January 20, 1999)
8. Republic vs. Court of Appeals and dela Rosa (GR No. L-43938,
04/15/1988)
9. Heirs of Gozo v. Philippine Union Mission Corp. of the Seventh Day
Adventist Church, G.R. No. 195990, [August 5, 2015])

a. Imperium and Dominium

Cases:
1. Lee Hong Kok vs. David (GR No.G.R. No. L-3038 12/27/1972)

b. IPRA Law
1. Ancestral Lands and Ancestral Domains
2. Constitutionality of the IPRA LAW
3. Native Title: Exception to Jura Regalia
Cases:
1. Cruz vs Secretary of DENR (GR No. 135385, 12/6/2000)
2. Cariño vs Insular Government 41 Phil. 935 (1909)

c. Reservations of lands of the public domain are valid assertions

of Regalian Right

1
 Cases:
1. Acting Registrars of Land Titles and Deeds of Pasay City vs.
Regional Trial Court Branch 57 Makati (GR No. 81564,
4/26/1990)

Classification of Lands:

A. Constitution (Section 3-5, Article XII)

Cases:
1. Palomo v. Court of Appeals, 266 SCRA 392
2. Republic vs Candy Maker Inc (GR No. 163766, June 22, 2006)
3. Chavez vs Public Estates Authority [G.R. No. 133250. July 9,
2002]

B. Public Land Act

C. Classification of Public lands open to disposition
Cases:
1. Alba vs Court of Appeals (GR No. 120066, 9/9/1999)

D. Classification of Lands an Executive Privilege

Cases:
1. Republic vs Imperial (GR No. 130906, 2/11/1990)
2. Director of Lands vs Court of Appeals and Bisnar (GR No. 83609,
10/26/1989)

E. Public Land vs Government land

Cases:
1. Montano vs Insular Government (GR No. 3714, 1//26/1909)

Modes of Disposition

Cases:
1. Lee Hong Kok vs David (GR No.G.R. No. L-30389, 12/27/1972)
2. Director of Lands vs CA and Valeriano (GR No. 58867, 6/22/1984)
3. Menguito vs Republic (GR No. 134308, 12/14/2000)

A. Homestead Settlement
Cases:
1. Mesina vs Sonza (GR No. L-14722, 5/25/1960)
2. Susi vs Razon (G.R. No. L-24066 December 9, 1925)

B. Sale of Public Agricultural Land

C. Lease
D. Confirmation of imperfect or incomplete title (Judicial Legalization)
Cases:
1. Alba vs Court of Appeals (GR No. 120066, 9/9/1999)
2. Republic vs Court of Appeals and Naguit (GR No. 1/17/2005)
3. Heirs of Malabanan v. Republic, G.R. No. 179987, [April 29, 2009],
605 PHIL 244-326)
2
4. Heirs of Malabanan v. Republic, G.R. No. 179987, [September 3,
2013
5. Palomo vs CA (GR No. 95608, 1/21/1997)
6. Republic vs Bracewell [G.R. No. 107427. January 25, 2000]
7. Republic vs Court of Appeals and Bernabe (GR No. L-40402,
3/16/1987)
8. Republic v. Bautista, Jr., G.R. No. 166890, [June 28, 2016])

E. Non-Registrable Properties
Cases:
1. MIAA vs Court of Appeals (GR No. 155650, 7/20/2006)
2. Roman Catholic Bishop of Kalibo vs Municipality of Buruanga (GR
No. 149145, 3/31/2006)
3. Amunategui vs. Director of Forestry (GR No. L-27873, 11/29/1983)
4. Ankron vs Government of the Philippines (GR No. 14213,
8/23/1919)
5. Sta. Rosa Development Corporation vs CA (GR No. 112526,
10/12/2001)
6. Collado vs Court of Appeals (GR No. 107764, 10/4/2002)
7. Director of Forestry vs. Villareal (GR No. L-32266, 2/27/1989)
8. Atok-Big Wedge Mining Corporation vs Court of Appeals, GR No.
88883, 1/18/1991)
9. Palomo vs Court of Appeals [G.R. No. 95608. January 21, 1997]
10. Republic vs Southside Homeowners (GR No. 156951,
9/22/2006)
11. Republic vs Alagad (G.R. No. L-66807 January 26, 1989)
12. SIAN Enterprise vs. FF Cruz (GR no. 146616, 8/31/2006)

F. Administrative Legalization (Free Patent)

a. New RA 10023
G. Special Patents

Cadastral Registration Proceedings

A. Section 53 of CA 141
B. Section 35-38 of PD 1529
Cases:
1. Director of Lands vs. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila (GR No.
14869)
2. Abellera vs Farol (GR No. 48480, 7/30/1943)

Prohibited Alienations and Transfer of Private Lands

A. SECTIONS 118-124 of CA 141

Cases:
1. Gayapanao vs. IAC (GR No. 68109, 7/17/1991)
2. Republic vs Garcia (GR No. L-11597, 5/27/1959)

3
 3. Lee Chuy Realty Corp vs Court of Appeals (GR No. 104114,
12/4/1995)

B. SECTION 7, ARTICLE XII, 1987 Constitution

Cases:
1. Ong Ching Po vs. Court of Appeals (239 SCRA 341)
2. Frenzel vs Catito (GR No. 143958, July 11, 2003)
3. Muller vs. Muller (GR no. 149615, August 29, 2006)
4. Lee vs. Director of Lands (GR No. 128195, October 3, 2001)
5. Ramirez vs. Vda de Ramirez (111 SCRA 704)
6. Republic vs Court of Appeals (235 SCRA 567)

Remedies to recover private land from disqualified Alien: Action

for Reversion

A. Who can initiate

Cases:
1. Republic vs Animas (GR No. L-37682, 3/29/1974)

B. When Proper/improper
Cases:
1. Republic vs Umali (GR No. 80687, 4/10/1989)
2. Piñero vs Director of Lands (GR No. L-36507, 12/14/1974)

C. Reversion vs Action for Nullity of land titles

Cases:
1. Kionisala vs. Dacut (GR No. 147379, 2/27/2002)
2. Evangelista vs. Santiago (GR No. 157447, 4/29/2005)
3. Roco vs. Gimeda (GR No. L-11651, 12/27/1958)
4. Republic v. Hachero, G.R. No. 200973, [May 30, 2016])
5. Republic v. Espinosa, G.R. No. 186603, [April 5, 2017])

II. SALIENT PROVISION OF VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL AND

NATURAL RESOURCES LAWS

A. REVISED FORESTRY CODE (PD 705)

Cases:
1. Ysmael vs Deputy Executive Secretary (October 18, 1990)
2. Oposa vs. Factoran (July 30, 1993)
3. Mustang Lumber vs Court of Appeals (June 18, 1996)
4. Paat vs Court of Appeals (January 10, 1997)
5. Crescencio v. People, G.R. No. 205015, [November 19, 2014])
6. Ruzon vs Sandiganbayan GR 186739, April 17, 2013
7. Aquino vs Municipality of Malay Aklan (GR NO. 211356, Sept 29,
2014)
8. Republic vs CA and Carantes GR No. L-56984, September 30,
1987)

4
 9. Yngson vs Secretary of Agriculture GR No. L-36847, July 20,
1983)
10. Director of Forestry vs VIllareal GR No. L-46048 November 29,
1988
11. International Hardwood vs UP Gr No. 521518 Aug 13, 1991
12. People vs Que GR No. 120365, December 17, 1996

B. PHILIPPINE MINING ACT OF 1995 and PEOPLE’S SMALL

SCALE MINING ACT
Cases:
1. Miners Association of the Philippines vs Factoran (240 SCRA 100)
2. La Bugal-B’laan Tribal Association vs Ramos (12/1/2004)
3. Loney vs People (February 10, 2006)
4. Didipio Earthsavers Multipurpose Association vs. Gozun (GR No.
157882, 3/30/2006)
5. (Southeast Mindanao Gold Mining Corp. v. Balite Portal Mining
Cooperative, G.R. No. 135190, [April 3, 2002], 429 PHIL 668-685)
6. YINLU BICOL MINING CORPORATION vs. Trans-asia Oil and
energy Development Corporation, GR NO. 207942, January 12,
2015)
7. Atok Big-Wedge Mining Co. vs IAC (GR No. 63528, September 9,
1996)
8. Apex Mining Corporation vs Southeast Mindanao Gold Mining
Corporation (GR NO 152613, June 13, 2006)
9. PNOC Energy Development vs Veneracion (GR NO. 129820,
November 30, 2006)
10. Benguet Corporation vs Leviste (GR NO. 65021, November 21,
1991)
11. Industrial Enterprises Inc vs Court of Appeals, GR NO. 88550,
April 18, 1990)

C. WATERCODE OF THE PHILIPPINES (PD 1067) and CLEAN

WATER ACT (RA 9275)
Cases:
1. Sta. Rosa Realty Development Corp. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No.
112526, [October 12, 2001], 419 PHIL 457-480)
2. (National Water Resources Board v. A. L. Ang Network, Inc., G.R.
No. 186450, [April 8, 2010], 632 PHIL 22-32)
3. (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority v. Concerned Residents
of Manila Bay, G.R. Nos. 171947-48, [December 18, 2008], 595 PHIL
305-352)

D. PHILIPPINE CLEAN AIR ACT (RA 8749) and POLLUTION

CONTROL LAW (PD 984)
Cases:
1. MMDA vs Jancom ([G.R. No. 147465. January 30, 2002]
2. Mead vs Argel (G.R. No. L-41958, [July 20, 1982], 115 SCRA 256)

5
 3. PAB vs. Court of Appeals (G.R. No. 93891March 11, 1991195
SCRA 112)
4. Technology Developers, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 94759,
[January 21, 1991], 271 PHIL 148-154)
5. Rodriguez, Jr. v. Intermediate Appellate Court, G.R. No. 74816,
[March 17, 1987], 232 PHIL 562-575)
6. Henares, Jr. v. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board, G.R. No. 158290, [October 23, 2006], 535 PHIL 835-849)

III. OTHER TOPICS

A. RULES OF PROCEDURE ON ENVIRONMENTAL CASES

1. People vs Que GR No. 120365, December 17, 1996

 A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC; Rules of Court

 Criminal Procedure in Environmental Cases vis-à-vis Criminal
Procedure under the Rules of Court
 RULE 9
PROSECUTION OF OFFENSES
Cases:
1. Cudia vs. Court of Appeals 284 SCRA 173 (1998)
2. Pp. vs. Rosalindo Cutamora, Et. Al G.R. Nos. 133448-53.
October 6, 2000
3. People vs. Robert P. Balao, Et Al G.R. No. 176819, Jan 26,
2011

 RULE 10
PROSECUTION OF CIVIL ACTIONS
Cases:
1. Casupanan vs. Laroya, August 26, 2002

 RULE 11
ARREST
Cases:
1. Pp. vs. Sucro March 18, 1991, 195 SCRA 388
2. People vs. Evaristo 216 S 431
3. Pp. vs. Joselito del Rosario April 14, 1999
4. People vs Del Rosario GR 182601
5. People vs Gerente G.R. No. 95847-48.
6. People vs Tonog G.R. No. 94533
7. People vs. Manlulu April 22, 1994

 RULE 12
CUSTODY AND DISPOSITION OF SEIZED ITEMS, EQUIPMENT,
PARAPHERNALIA, CONVEYANCES AND INSTRUMENTS

 RULE 13
PROVISIONAL REMEDIES

6
 RULE 14
BAIL

Cases:
1. Paderanga v. Court of Appeals 247 SCRA 741 (1995)
2. Enrile vs Sandiganbayan G.R. No. 213847 August 18, 2015
3. Borinaga v. Tamin 26 SCRA 206 (1993);
4. Cardines v. Rozete, 242 SCRA 557 (1995).

 RULE 15
ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA
Cases:
1. Pp. vs. Martin Villarama June 23, 1992

 RULE 16
PRE-TRIAL
Cases:
1. Abubakar vs. Abubakar Oct 22, 1999

 RULE 17
TRIAL
Cases:
1. Abay, Sr. vs. Garcia 162 SCRA 665; Marcelino Rivera, Jr. vs.
Pp August 30, 1990
2. Pp vs. Marcelino A. Bugarin (June 13, 1997)
3. Pp. vs. Elegio Nadera (Feb. 2, 2000)
4. Eligio Madrid vs. CA (May 31, 2000)
5. Myla Paredes Et. Al. vs. Judge Jacinto Manalo May 10, 1995
6. Abraham Ramirez vs. Antonia Corpuz- Macandong Sept. 26,
1986
7. Pp. vs. Omar Mapalao May 14, 1991
8. People vs. Joven De Grano G.R. No. 167710, June 5, 2009

 RULE 19
STRATEGIC LAWSUIT AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
CRIMINAL CASES

 RULE 7
WRIT OF KALIKASAN

 RULE 8
WRIT OF CONTINUING MANDAMUS
Cases:
1. Pilar Cañeda Braga v. Hon. Joseph Emilio A. Abaya (GR No.
223076, september 13, 2016

7
2. Hon. Ramon Jesus P. Paje, v. Hon. Teodoro a. Casiño (G.r. No.
207257, February 03, 2015)
3. Lnl Archipelago Minerals, Inc. vs. Agham party list (G.r. No.
209165)
4. Segovia v. Climate Change Commission, G.R. No. 211010, [March
7, 2017])
5. Arigo v. Swift, G.R. No. 206510, [September 16, 2014])
6. (Resident Marine Mammals of the Protected Seascape Tañon Strait
v. Reyes, G.R. Nos. 180771 & 181527, [April 21, 2015])

----------------------------------end-----------------------------------------------------------

GRADING SYSTEM
Examinations (Prelim, Midterm, Finals) 70%
Recitation 15%
Quizzes, Attendance 15%
(Maximum Allowable Absences – 7 hours
or 3 1/2 Saturdays)
FINAL GRADE 100%