J.M. TUASON & CO., INC., petitioner-appellee vs.

THE LAND ISSUE/S:

TENURE ADMINISTRATION, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL
and THE AUDITOR GENERAL, respondents-appellants  W/n RA 2616 as amended by RA 3453 was
unconstitutional because it violates the petitioners’
G.R. No. L-21064 February 18, 1970 rights to due process and equal protection of law.

FACTS: HELD:

 August 3, 1959: Republic Act No. 2616 (An Act  No. The court stated there was no clear and palpable
providing for the expropriation of the Tatalon Estate in showing that the petitioner was singled out when the
Quezon City and for the sale, at cost, of the lots therein to expropriation was operated. Thus, the Court ruled that
their present bona fide occupants, and authorizing the the equal protection clause in the Constitution was
appropriation of ten million pesos for the purpose) took properly complied with.
effect without the executive approval. The act allowed the
expropriation of the property jointly owned by the J.M. RULING:
Tuason & Company Inc., Gregorio Araneta & Company,
Inc., and Florencio Deudor et.al.  Decision of the lower court reversed. Writ of prohibition
 November 15, 1960: The Executive Secretary ordered denied. Preliminary injunction issued by the lower court
respondent Land Tenure Administration to institute the set aside.
proceeding for the expropriation of the aforementioned
property.
 November 17, 1960: Petitioner filed before the lower court
a special action for prohibition with preliminary injunction
against the respondents praying that the act be declared
unconstitutional.
 November 18, 1960: the lower court granted writ of
prohibition.
 1970: Supreme Court reversed the decision. The
petitioner then filed an appeal.