37 Basiana v Luna.doc

7/23/2019 37 Basiana v Luna.doc

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Today is Monday, June 30, 2014

Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BN!

G.R. No. L-34135-36 February 24, 191

!NTON"O #!S"!N!, SR., ROS! NO$"N! #!S"!N!, %"L&ERM"N! #!S"!N!'ELL(, !NTON"O #!S"!N!, )R., a*+ ROMEO #!S"!N!, petitione"s#appellants,$s%C"PR"!NO LUN!, FEL" LUN!, T&E &ONOR!#LE "RECTOR OR M"NES, a*+ T&E&ONOR!#LE SECRET!R( OF !GR"CULTURE !N N!TUR!LRESOURCES, "espondents#appellees%

FERN!NE, J.:

This is a petition fo" "e$ie& pu"suant to !o''on&ealth ct No% 13(, Minin) ct, asa'ended of the decision of the *ec"eta"y of )"icultu"al and Natu"al Resou"ces in+NR !ase No% 314 and +NR !ase No% 314# in$ol$in) conflictin) o" o$e"lappin)'inin) clai's, the dispositi$e pa"t of &hich "eads-

.N /.E TE RE5.N5, the o"de" of the +i"ecto" ofMines, dated No$e'be" 16, 17(0, should be, as he"eby it is,

.RME+ &ith the 'odification that the 'inin) clai' 8Ro'eo 18and the lease a)"ee'ent co$e"in) the sa'e should be, as he"eby itis, decla"ed $alid, 'inin) clai's 8Este" 18 and 8Este" 28 to)ethe"

&ith the lease a)"ee'ent co$e"in) the sa'e, should be, as he"ebythey a"e, decla"ed null and $oid%

* R+ERE+%

9ue:on !ity, Philippines, u)ust 3, 17(1% 1

Both cases o"i)inated f"o' the Bu"eau of Mines as p"otests filed by petitione"s#


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appellants a)ainst the p"i$ate "espondents#appellees, The fi"st case &as doc;eted inthe Bu"eau of Mines as d'inist"ati$e !ase No% /#4

2% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in holdin) that Ro'eo l, "e)iste"ed onMa"ch 7, 17 is the Mothe" !lai' o" sole tie point of all thead=acent o" the "est of appellant?s 'inin) clai's>

3% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in holdin) that Ro'eo 1 &hich is tiedto a !liff @EAhibit ! and "e)iste"ed on Ma"ch 7, 17 is not a $alidtie point>

4% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in holdin) that appellant?s 'inin)clai's a"e &ithout tie points conside"in) that they a"e tied to the

.nitial Post No% 1 of he ad=acent o" ad=oinin) o" nei)hbo"in) clai's&ith p"ope" bea"in)s and distances, and that th"ee @3 of theseclai's out of the ninety#fi$e @7


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and not by a'end'ents>

% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in not app"eciatin) in fa$o" ofappellants the follo&in) eAhibits and testi'onies of &itness, to &it-

AAA AAA AAA

(% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in holdin) that appellant ntonio J%Basiana, *"%, needed a special po&e" of atto"ney to p"ospect andlocate 'inin) clai's fo" appellees>

6% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in decidin) M!#/#4(( &ithoutallo&in) appellants the chance to p"esent thei" e$idence in suppo"tof the sa'e conside"in) that "ese"$ation to that effect &as 'ade>

7% The Bu"eau of Mines e""ed in not conside"in) the lease a"eas ofRo'eo 1 @EAhibit #1 and 1, Este" 1 and Este" 2 @EAhibit #2 andJ and l'an:o" 1 @EAhibit D, D#1 to D#2 as p"ope" "efe"ence pointso" the tie points fo" the othe" ad=acent o" nei)hbo"in) 'inin)clai's% 2

n u)ust 3, 17(1, the *ec"eta"y of )"icultu"e and Natu"al Resou"ces "ende"ed adecision affi"'in) the o"de" of the +i"ecto" of Mines &ith the only 'odification that the'inin) clai' 8Ro'eo 18 and the lease a)"ee'ent co$e"in) the sa'e should bedecla"ed $alid and 'inin) clai's 8Este" 18 and 8Este" 28 to)ethe" &ith the leasea)"ee'ent co$e"in) the sa'e should be decla"ed null and $oid on the follo&in) factual

findin)s and le)al conclusions-

.t appea"s that appellant ntonio Basiana, *"%, p"ospected in the$icinity of Dppe" si)a, *antia)o @Paypay, !abadba"an, )usanso'eti'e in the ea"ly pa"t of eb"ua"y, 17, fo" possible 'inin)clai's% n eb"ua"y 21, 17, said appellant ente"ed into ana)"ee'ent &ith appellee !ip"iano una, the te"'s and conditions of&hich &e"e contained in a p"i$ate docu'ent% .n a nutshell, thea)"ee'ent p"o$ides that of all the 'inin) clai's that could bep"ospected and "e)iste"ed in the na'e of si)a !oppe" Mines,una &ould "ecei$e a sha"e of 0 the"eof in conside"ation of his

assu'ption of all eApenses fo" p"ospectin) and "e)iste"in) theclai's, and the balance the"eof &ould )o to Basiana%

.t also appea"s that Basiana p"ospected 163 clai's o&e$e", ofthese 163 clai's, 73 &e"e "eco"ded in the ffice of the Minin)Reco"de" in the na'e of appellant Basiana and 'e'be"s of hisfa'ily, "especti$ely> and the "est, in the na'e of appellees and the


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othe" 'e'be"s of the latte"?s fa'ily,

E$idently "eali:in) that the"e &as so'ethin) &"on) in thedecla"ations of location "eco"ds, appellee !ip"iano una, &ith the

;no&led)e and consent of Basiana, filed on +ece'be" 16, 17(,a'ended decla"ations &ith the end in $ie& of co""ectin) clai'na'es and the points% o&e$e", appellant Basiana disclai'ed;no&led)e of an consent to the a'ended clai's in his lette" dated

u)ust 14, 176, add"essed to the Minin) Reco"de", &hich "eads inpa"t as follo&s-

. a' the"efo"e )i$in) notice that any a'end'ents to'y o"i)inal decla"ations of locations filed in you" officeis &ithout 'y ;no&led)e and consent and that thesa'e be not )i$en due cou"se o" any decla"ation of

location filed in you" office that 'ay o" in any 'anne"o$e"lap 'y clai's, . a' "eFuestin) you" )ood fficethat . be notified of the sa'e so that . can 'a;e 'yp"otest% @EAhibit 8!!8

!onseFuently, appellee !ip"iano una eAecuted an affida$it ofcancellation of the "e)ist"ation of 'inin) clai's and filed the sa'e&ith the Minin) Repo"te"% @EAh% 8558

.n July, 176, and the"eabouts, appellees located the a"ea co$e"edby the o"i)inal 163 clai's, to the eAclusion of appellants% These

clai's of appellees a"e &hat is no& ;no&n as the !icafe? and the8Mi"ado"8 )"oups of clai's% n lea"nin) of these locations byappellees, appellants filed a p"otest &ith the +i"ecto" of Minesa)ainst appellees? clai's &hich alle)edly o$e"lapped his and hisfa'ily?s clai's, o" the Basiana po"tion of the o"i)inal 163 clai's%"o' this p"otest, filed on +ece'be" 2, 176 and a'ended on+ece'be" 23, 176, a"ose Mines d'inist"ati$e !ase @M! No%/#4


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acco"dance &ith *ection 6 of the Minin) ct, as a'ended% .t &asfu"the" alle)ed that appellees? 8!icafe8 and 8Mi"ado"8 clai's a"e nulland $oid in acco"dance &ith *ections 0 and 6 of the Minin) ct,as a'ended% This p"otest, p"ayin) that the 8B8 clai's be )i$en

p"efe"ence o$e" the ?!icafe? and ?Mi"ado"? clai's, )a$e "ise to M!No% /#4((%

The t&o cases &e"e =ointly hea"d% fte" the p"otestants#appellantsclosed thei" e$idence, p"otestees#appellees 'o$ed to dis'iss thep"otests%

The +i"ecto" of Mines, in dis'issin) the p"otests in the o"de"appealed f"o', "elied on his findin) that the 163 clai's p"ospectedby appellant ntonio J% Basiana, *"%, and "eco"ded in the na'es ofdiffe"ent pe"sons includin) hi'self, &e"e null and $oid because- @1

ppellant Basiana did not ha$e a po&e" of atto"ney fo" &ho' hep"ospected the said clai's> and @2 these clai's did not ha$e suchtie points as autho"i:ed unde" *ection 4( of the Minin) ct%

5oin) into the 1st, 2nd, 3"d, 4th,


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thi"ty#day pe"iod p"esc"ibed by the abo$e#Fuoted p"o$ision of la&%

The second decla"ation &as an a'ended one% cco"din) to thispa"ticula" decla"ation, the a'end'ent of the clai' too; place f"o'

p"il 1#30, 17, &ith a tie point desc"ibed as 8BM No% 2, Ja)upit,!abadba"an, )usan%8 The "eason )i$en fo" the a'end'ent &as8to o"ient the Bu"eau of Mines, Manila, &ith the actual location ofthe abo$e 'ine"al clai' in connection &ith the application fo" o"de"of su"$ey this clai'%8 This decla"ation &as "eco"ded &ith the 'inin)"eco"de" on July 27, 17, e find the 'inin) clai' unde" thisdecla"ation to be null and $oid%

n a'end'ent p"esupposes a $alid clai'% *ince the a'end'entpu"po"ts to effect a co""ection of a null and $oid clai' necessa"ilythe a'ended clai' 'ust also be null and $oid% u"the"'o"e, this

&as filed beyond the thi"ty#day pe"iod p"esc"ibed fo" the "eco"din)of the sa'e> its ille)ality &as e$en ad'itted by appellant Basianahi'self%

The thi"d decla"ation &as in fact a decla"ation of "elocation%cco"din) to this pa"ticula" decla"ation, the clai' &as disco$e"edon ctobe" hence, the 'inin) clai' is li;e&ise $alid, cont"a"y tothe findin)s of the Bu"eau of Mines, because it &as "eco"ded &ithin

the p"esc"ibed pe"iod and &ith a pe"'anent o" p"o'inent tie point,BM No% 2, &ithin the definition of the te"' as stated in *ection 4(of the Minin) ct% o&e$e", the $alidity and the le)al eAistence ofthe 'inin) clai' co''enced only upon the "eco"din) of the sa'e,o" on ctobe" 20, 17 %

The "est of the 'inin) clai's, o" the 162 othe"s, &hen they &e"e"eco"ded o"i)inally, did not ha$e thei" indi$idual tie points such asautho"i:ed by *ection 4( of the Minin) ct, because 8Ro'eo 18then did not still eAist% s ad'itted by appellant Basiana hi'self, ,8Ro'eo 18 &as the 'othe" clai' to &hich the othe" clai's &e"e

di"ectly o" indi"ectly tied% ?These 162 clai's &e"e not a'ended o""elocated s "eco"ded, those &e"e null and $oid%

.t is a fact that a'ended decla"ations of locations &e"e filed &ith theend in $ie& of typin) the clai's to so'e autho"i:ed tie points%?these &e"e filed by appellee !ip"iano una on +ece'be" 16, 17(>but due to the lette" dated u)ust 14, 176 of appellant Basiana tothe Minin) Reco"de", disclai'in) ;no&led)e of, o" consent to, said


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a'end'ents, said appellee filed &ith the sa'e Minin) Reco"de" anaffida$it cancellin) the "e)ist"ation of the a'ended clai's% *o, theo"i)inal decla"ations of the 162 clai's @discountin) 8Ro'eo 18afte" the filin) of the affida$it of cancellation of the a'ended

decla"ations, stood as they &e"e at the ti'e they &e"e o"i)inally"e)iste"ed% .ncluded in these clai's a"e the thi"ty#se$en clai's ofthe appellants &hich appellee !ip"iano una sou)ht to ha$ea'ended but disclai'ed by appellant Basiana as ea"lie" stated%

u" attention is also called to the fact that the 'inin) clai's inFuestion, th"ee @3 a"e )"anted lease a)"ee'ents, na'ely-

Ro'eo 1 C ode !ont"act No% /#(3(

Este" 1 C ode ease !ont"act No% /#(37

Este" 2 C ode ease !ont"act No% /#(37

so that the +i"ecto" of Mines &as in e""o" in findin) that the clai'sha$e no the points%

The cont"act co$e"in) 8Ro'eo 18 &as issued on the basis of thedecla"ation of location "eco"ded on ctobe" 20, 17 and not ofthat as o"i)inally "e)iste"ed on Ma"ch 11, 17, The basicdecla"ation, o" the one "eco"ded on ctobe" 20, 17, &as a $aliddecla"ation> but this fact has no "ele$ance &hatsoe$e" to the

decla"ation filed p"io" the"eto, o" to be $alidity o" in$alidity of theclai's co$e"ed the"eby%

The cont"act co$e"in) 8Este" 18 and 8Este" 28 &as based on thedecla"ations of locations filed on Ma"ch 7, 17, in the na'e ofEste" % una, &ho assi)ned those clai's in fa$o" of appellantBasiana in a deed of assi)n'ent eAecuted on ctobe" 1, 17(% sea"lie" stated, all the clai's co$e"ed by the o"i)inal decla"ations oflocations &e"e null and $oid% The issuance of the lease cont"acto$e" 8Este" 18 and 8Este" 28 &hich a"e null and $oid 'inin) clai's,a"e necessa"ily null and $oid also% e)ally, the"e has ne$e" been

such 'inin) clai's as 8Este" 18 and 8Este" 28 so the lease cont"actco$e"s nothin)%

.t also appea"s that appellants "ely on the e$aluation "epo"ts andthe antecedents to its sub'ission% This "epo"t, it should be bo"ne in'ind, &as 'e"ely fo" the pu"pose of asce"tainin) the p"obable'ine"al contents of the a"ea, but does not in any &ay establish &ithce"tainty the 'etes and bounds of the a"ea% These clai's &e"e not


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"eached by the 'inin) en)inee"s of the Bu"eau of Mines, &ho &e"eto ta;e the e$aluation su"$ey, by conductin) a "elocation su"$ey ofthe tie line leadin) f"o' the cliff &hich &as the tie point to thelocation post No% 1 of 8Ro'eo 18, and thence to the othe" clai's%

En)inee" Ja:a"eno, one of those &ho conducted the e$aluationsu"$ey, stated in the hea"in)s that he did not ;no& the "elati$epositions of the 'inin) clai's%

.n $ie& of the fo"e)oin), &e find that the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 7thalle)ed e""o"s a"e &ithout 'e"it> and the 3"d, &ell ta;en but onlyinsofa" as 8Ro'eo 18 as "elocated, is conce"ned%

as to the


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void. ... @*ection 24, !%% No% 13(, as a'ended%E'phasis supplied%

.t is an ad'itted fact that appellant ntonio Basiana, *"%,

p"ospected not only fo" hi'self, but also fo" the 'e'be"s of hisfa'ily and fo" the appellees and othe" 'e'be"s of the latte"?sfa'ily% !e"tainly, in p"ospectin) fo" clai's &hich &e"e to be"eco"ded in so'ebody else?s na'e, he &as actin) as an a)ent ofthe "e)iste"ed locato"s othe" than hi'self% The "elationship as co#locato"s alle)ed by appellants to be eAistin) bet&een Basiana andthe appellees is ne)ated by the fact that out of the 163 clai'sp"ospected and disco$e"ed by hi', only (< of the' &e"e "e)iste"edin his o&n na'e, &hile 16 &e"e in the na'e of the 'e'be"s of hisfa'ily, and the "e'ainin) &e"e in the na'e of !ip"iano una andso'e of the 'e'be"s of his fa'ily% Each one, the"efo"e, appea"s to

be the sole and eAclusi$e locato" of his indi$idual clai's% Dnde"these ci"cu'stances, a &"itten po&e" of atto"ney duly "eco"ded &iththe office of the 'inin) "eco"de" conce"ned du"in) the p"esc"ibedpe"iod, &as necessa"y fo" the $alidity of the clai's appea"in) to belocated by the pe"sons othe" than hi'self% .nas'uch as the"e &asno such po&e" of atto"ney, these clai's @"e)iste"ed as located byothe"s a"e null and $oid, unde" the p"o$ision of the la& abo$e#Fuoted%

.t is a")ued, ho&e$e", that the autho"ity to p"ospect fo" appellee is'ade so'eho& &ith the eAecution of the a)"ee'ents by and

bet&een appellant ntonio Basiana, *"%, and !ip"iano una butthen these a)"ee'ents &e"e not in the natu"e of a &"itten po&e" ofatto"ney> and e$en )"antin) fo" the sa;e of a")u'ent that they a"e,the fact that those &e"e not "e)iste"ed &ith the ffice of the Minin)Reco"de" conce"ned on o" befo"e the "e)ist"ation of thedecla"ations, Made the clai's null and $oid, also unde" thep"o$isions of the abo$eFuoted la&%

u"the"'o"e, not one of the 163 o"i)inal clai's &as in the na'e ofsi)a !oppe" Mines> and less than 0 of the said 163 clai's&e"e "eco"ded in the na'e of !ip"iano una and of the 'e'be"s ofhis fa'ily, &hile 'o"e than 47 the"eof &e"e "eco"ded in the na'eof ntonio Basiana, *"%, and of the 'e'be"s of the fa'ily, all inutte" dis"e)a"d of the te"'s and conditions set fo"th in thea)"ee'ent &hich appellant Basiana alle)ed to be his sou"ce ofautho"ity to p"ospect fo" the appellees% e a"e at a loss as to ho&this a)"ee'ent, &hich the pa"ties ha$e chosen to co'pletelydis"e)a"d could be a sou"ce of anythin) C 'uch less, of anautho"ity to p"ospect fo" 'inin) clai's, To ou" 'ind, the pa"ties


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the"eto, by thei" subseFuent acts, conside"ed the a)"ee'ent a'e"e sc"ap of pape"> it &ould not 'a;e sense at all the"efo"e, fo" usto )i$e 'o"e conside"ation to this a)"ee'ent than &hat the pa"tiesthe'sel$es had )i$en it%

e find, the"efo"e, that the (th alle)ed e""o" is &ithout 'e"it%

ith "espect to the 6th assi)ned e""o" C that the Bu"eau of Minese""ed in decidin) M!#/#4(( &ithout allo&in) appellants thechance to p"esent thei" e$idence in suppo"t of the sa'econside"in) that a "ese"$ation to that effect &as 'ade # &e find thesa'e to be also &ithout 'e"it%

M!#/#4((, it is to be "ecalled, "elates to the locations byappellants ntonio Basiana, *"%, and his &ife, Rosa Basiana, of the

a"ea "e)iste"ed in the na'e of the appellees and the othe"'e'be"s of the latte"?s fa'ily, out of the 163 clai's p"ospected byappellant Basiana% .t could be the belief of the appellees that the163 o"i)inal clai' in the na'e of appellants and the 'e'be"s of hisfa'ily, and appellees and the 'e'be"s of his fa'ily, &e"e null and$oid, so 'uch so that appellee !ip"iano una &anted to a'end thedecla"ations of locations> but ha$in) failed to achie$e this fo""eason of appellants? ob=ection, he and appellee eliA una locatedand "eco"ded the 'inin) clai's in thei" "especti$e na'es unde" the8!icafe8 and 8Mi"ado"8 )"oups of clai's% *ubseFuently, appellantslocated the sa'e a"ea unde" thei" 8B8 )"oup of clai's%

n the basis of the p"otest filed by appellants in M!#/#4((, itappea"s that thei" alle)ed p"efe"ential "i)ht to the a"ea is based onthei" contention that the o"i)inal clai's @as p"ospected by Basianain 17 &e"e $alid> but by appellees? failu"e to pay theco""espondin) occupation fees the"efo", as "eFui"ed by the National.nte"nal Re$enue !ode, and also by thei" failu"e to file theco""espondin) applications fo" lease andGo" su"$ey &ithin thep"esc"ibed pe"iod, these clai's a"e dee'ed abandoned and =unio"location can be le)ally 'ade on the a"ea by Fualified pa"ties othe"than the o"i)inal locato"s, thei" hei"s o" assi)ns, di"ectly o" indi"ectly,

pu"suant to *ection 6 of the Minin) ct% Dnde" this contention ofappellants, the 8!icafe8 and 8Mi"ado"8 clai's a"e null and $oid,bein) in $iolation of not only *ection 6, but also *ection 0 of theMinin) ct%

.t is the"efo"e appa"ent that the 'ain basis of the p"otest in M!#/#4(( and the 'ain basis of the p"otest in M!#/#4


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Basiana fo" hi'self, the 'e'be"s of his fa'ily, the appellees andthe 'e'be"s of the latte"?s fa'ily C p"e'ised on the sa'e and.dentical act of facts% u"the" p"oceedin)s as that conte'plated byappellants, &ould ce"tainly be an eAe"cise in futility fo" &ant of

basis, as it &as found and held that the o"i)inal 163 clai's a"e nulland $oid%

s the said clai's a"e null and $oid, the "e)iste"ed locato"s the"eofa"e not and cannot be "eFui"ed to pay the occupation fees, o" to filethe co""espondin) applications fo" lease andGo" su"$ey% s &e ha$eea"lie" stated, a null and $oid clai' is no clai' at all, so thep"o$isions of *ection 6 of the Minin) ct, as a'ended, and*ection 241 of the National .nte"nal Re$enue !ode, do not apply%The"e could be no abando'ent &he"e the"e is nothin) to abandon%

lso, as the said clai's &e"e null and $oid, they &e"e open toinspection by any pa"ty &ho &e"e Fualified% *ection 6 of theMinin) ct, &hich decla"es as null and $oid the =unio" locations bythe o"i)inal locato"s, thei" hei"s o" assi)ns, of the abandonedclai's, does not also apply he"e, because the"e &as noabandon'ent such as that conte'plated by the la&% *ection 0 ofthe Minin) ct, &hich p"ohibits locations by othe"s on eAistin)clai's &hen the fi"st locato"s $alid clai' eAisted on the a"ea%

.n the li)ht of the fo"e)oin), &e also find the 6th alle)ed e""o"&ithout 'e"it% 3

The petitione"s#appellants ha$e appealed to this !ou"t by filin) a petition fo" "e$ie&% 4

n May 1(, 17(4, al'ost t&o yea"s afte" tile b"iefs of the pa"ties had been filed, theP"esident of the Philippines p"o'ul)ated P"esidential +ec"ee No% 43, othe"&ise ;no&nas The Mine"al Resou"ces +e$elop'ent +ec"ee of 17(4% The p"i$ate "espondents#appellee, then filed a Manifestation and Motion dated No$e'be" 24, 17( alle)in) thatunde" *ections 100 and 101 of said +ec"ee and *ections 1( and 160 of the.'ple'entin) Re)ulations the"eof, it is 'andato"y that holde"s of $alid and subsistin)'inin) locations and othe" "i)hts unde" othe" 'inin) la&s should file o" 'a;e thenecessa"y application the"efo" p"ayin) app"o$al the"eof by the +i"ecto" of Mines &ithin a

pe"iod of t&o @2 yea"s f"o' the date of app"o$al of said +ec"ee, o" on o" befo"e May1(, 17(> that in case of failu"e to file the application to a$ail of the "i)hts and p"i$ile)esunde" said +ec"ee, said 'inin) )"ants, patents, locations, etc% &ould be conside"ed toha$e lapsed, and the a"ea co$e"ed the"eby &ould be open to "elocation- that p"i$ateRespondents#appellees ha$e duly co'plied &ith the "eFui"e'ents p"o$ided in *ection100 of the said +ec"ee and *ection 1( of the .'ple'entin) Re)ulations the"eof> that,as disclosed by the "eco"ds of the Bu"eau of Mines, the petitione"#appellants ha$e failedto file &ith the said Bu"eau the "eFui"ed application on o" befo"e May 1(, 17(> and that


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)"antin) &ithout ad'ittin) that the petitione"s#appellants ha$e any "i)hts on the 'inin)clai's unde" cont"o$e"sy, the sa'e &e"e conside"ed to ha$e lapsed% 5

.n thei" !o''ent dated Janua"y 16, 17((% the petitione"s#appellants contend that

*ection 160 of the .'ple'entin) Re)ulations of P+ No% 43 is null and $oid insofa" as itpu"po"ts to dest"oy $ested o" acFui"ed substanti$e "i)hts unde" 'inin) la&s p"e$iouslyin fo"ce> and that, assu'in) arguendothat *ection 160 of said .'ple'entin)Re)ulations is a $alid i'ple'entation of P%+% No% 43, the sa'e does not apply to?Tinnin) clai's sub=ect 'atte" of a pendin) liti)ation% 6

*ubseFuently, ho&e$e", P%+% No% 1214 &as p"o'ul)ated effecti$e on ctobe" 14, 17((%The petitione"s#appellants thus filed a *upple'ental Manifestation dated +ece'be" 21,17(( &he"ein they contend that P%+% No% 1214 clea"ly and un'ista;ably indicates thatthe application unde" *ection 100 of P%+% No% 43 to a$ail of the "i)hts and p"i$ile)es)"anted unde" P%+% No% 43 is optional and not 'andato"y> hence, e$en afte" the lapse

of the 2#yea" pe"iod on May 1(, 17( unde" *ection 100 of P%+% No% 43 &ithout anyapplication ha$in) been filed the"eunde", the clai's a"e still $alid and not fo"feited% /

.n behalf of the public "espondents#appellees, the *olicito" 5ene"al sub'itted aco''ent statin), a'on) othe"s-

%%% fo" pu"poses of the "esolution of these appealed cases, that theFuestions as to &hethe" the filin) of application unde" *ection 100of P%+% No% 43 in "elation to P%+% No% 1214 is 'andato"y o" not isnot i'po"tant, no" is it i'pe"ati$e that said issue be "esol$ed by thisono"able !ou"t in these appealed cases, fo" the follo&in)

"easons-

@a The 'inin) clai's in these cases ha$e not yet "ipened intoo&ne"ship "i)hts, in $ie& of the pendency of the appealed casesbefo"e this ono"able !ou"t% The"efo"e, eithe" pa"ties cannotconside" the'sel$es le)al holde"s of $alid and subsistin) 'inin)locations and othe" "i)hts &hethe" conside"ed as 'inin) patentsunde" the ct of D%*% !on)"ess of July 1, 1702 o" as leasehold'inin) clai's unde" !o''on&ealth ct No% 13#1% !onseFuently,insofa" as the 'inin) clai's, sub=ect of the appealed cases, a"econce"ned, they cannot be conside"ed old $alid 'inin) "i)hts &hich

a"e "eFui"ed to be the sub=ect of application the"efo" and app"o$althe"eof by the +i"ecto" of Mines &ithin a pe"iod of t&o @2 yea"s&hich eApi"ed on May 1(, 17(%

@b *ince the decision of the "espondent *ec"eta"y of Natu"alResou"ces o$e" the said 'inin) clai's cont"o$e"sy has not beco'efinal, &hich is no& the sub=ect of the appealed cases, thisono"able !ou"t 'ay eithe" affi"'% 'odify o" "e$e"se the said


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decision% cco"din)ly, eithe" pa"ties cannot clai' any $ested "i)htso$e" said 'inin) clai's &hich cannot be i'pai"ed by the"eFui"e'ent of application unde" *ection 100 of P%+% No% 43> and

@c !onside"in) that the 'inin) clai's unde" cont"o$e"sy &e"einitially decided unde" the old 'inin) la&s, &hich decision is no&sub=ect of these appealed cases, and still pendin) "esolution by thisono"able !ou"t, then, bein) the sub=ect of a pendin) liti)ation o"appeal, only the p"e$ailin) pa"ty 'ay ta;e ad$anta)e of *ection100 of P%+% No% 43 afte" the decision a&a"din) hi' the 'inin)clai's in Fuestion shall ha$e beco'e final% Dntil these appealedcases shall ha$e been decided finally by this ono"able !ou"t, anyapplication by eithe" pa"ties o$e" the 'inin) clai's unde" liti)ationo" appeal &ith the Bu"eau of Mines pu"suant to *ection 100 of P%+%No% 43 'ay se"$e only as notices, but 'ay ha$e no le)al effect%

ERERE, p"e'ises conside"ed, it is "espectfully sub'ittedthat the"e is no i''ediate and i'po"tant "eason fo" this hono"able!ou"t to pass upon the issues "aised by eithe" pa"ties in connection&ith the application of P%+% No% 43 and P%+% No% 1214 to the 'inin)clai's, sub=ect of these appealed cases, and that these cases be"esol$ed by this ono"able !ou"t on the 'e"its%

The fo"e)oin) co''ent of the *olicito" 5ene"al appea"s to be &ell founded%

The cases sub=ect to the instant petition ha$in) a"isen unde" !o''on&ealth ct No%

13(, othe"&ise ;no&n as the Minin) ct, as a'ended, the sa'e ha$e to be decided inacco"dance the"e&ith% Dnde" that la&, findin)s of fact in the decision o" o"de" of the+i"ecto" of Mines, &hen affi"'ed by the *ec"eta"y of )"icultu"e and Natu"al Resou"ces,&e"e final and conclusi$e, the pa"ty appealin) the"ef"o' bein) allo&ed to "aise onlyFuestions of la& in a petition fo" "e$ie& filed &ith the *up"e'e !ou"t% ! No% 13(, *ec%1, as a'ended by R%% No% 4366, app"o$ed June 17, 17


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1% TE *E!RETR 5R.!DTDRE N+ NTDRRE*DR!E* ERRE+ .N +.N5 TT TE M.N.N5 !.M* PET.T.NER#PPENT* RE .TDT T.E P.NT* *RE9D.RE+ B TE M.N.N5 * MEN+E+%

2% TE *E!RETR 5R.!DTDRE N+ NTDRRE*DR!E* ERRE+ .N +.N5 TT TE ..N5 TE?.+/.T !N!ET.N PPEEE !.PR.N DN.N TE M.N.N5 RE!R+ER 5D*N +E NRTE E!T

N+GR !N!E TE M.N.N5 !.M* PET.T.NER#PPENT*%

3% TE *E!RETR 5R.!DTDRE N+ NTDRRE*DR!E* ERRE+ .N NT +ETERM.N.N5 TE /.+.T TE .N+./.+D +E!RT.N* !T.N TE

M.N.N5 !.M* .N//E+ * TE EH.*T .N TE .5T TE 5/ERN.N5 +.*!/ER, TK.N5 N+ !T.N%

4% TE *E!RETR# 5R.!DTDRE N+ NTDRRE*DR!E* ERRE+ .N T +.N5 TT TE E*E!NTR!T @/#(37 !/ER.N5 E*TER 1 N+ E*TER 2 M.N.N5!.M* .* ND N+ /.+%


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the na'e of each locato", the date of location, the na'es of thesition, ba""io, 'unicipality, p"o$ince and island, in &hich the clai' issituated, the &o"ds &"itten on the nu'be" one and nu'be" t&oposts place" clai' ad shall "ecite all the facts necessa"y to the

.dentification of the lode o" place" clai', as &ell as a desc"iption ofthe clai's as sta;ed and 'onu'ented, sho&in) the len)th andapp"oAi'ate co'pass bea"in), as nea" as 'ay be, of each side o"cou"se the"eof, and statin) in &hat 'anne" the "especti$e co"ne"sa"e 'a";ed, &hethe" by standin) t"ee, "oc; in place, post, o" stone,and )i$in) in detail the distin)uishin) 'a";es that a"e &"itten o" cuton each, and also statin) as accu"ately as possible the bea"in) anddistance of co"ne" post nu'be" one to the tie point, &hich shall be ape"'anent and p"o'inent ob=ect- Provided, That in the location ofconti)uous clai's by the sa'e locato", the tyin) of co"ne" postnu'be" one of nay of the said clai's &ill constitute substantial

co'pliance &ith this p"o$ision% The decla"ation of location that hasno bea"in) and distance to a tie point as he"ein desc"ibed shall benull and $oid%

o" the pu"pose of this section, a pe"'anent and p"o'inent ob=ectused as a tie point 'ay be an inte"section of ;no&n "oads> a

=unction of ;no&n "i$e"s o" c"ee;s, a ;no&n public o" p"i$atest"uctu"e> a co"ne" of app"o$ed public> p"i$ate o" 'ine"al landsu"$ey> a ;ilo'ete" post of public "oad> o" location 'onu'ent o"t"ian)ulation station established by the Bu"eau of ands, Bu"eau ofMines, "'y !o"ps of En)inee"s, Bu"eau of !ost and 5eodetic

*u"$ey, o" othe" )o$e"n'ent a)encies%

Relyin) on the fact that the second pa"a)"aph of this section uses the &o"d 8'ay8 inenu'e"atin) &hat 'ay be used as a tie point, they a")ue that such enu'e"ation is noteAclusi$e and ad'its of othe" ob=ects as tie points p"o$ided these a"e pe"'anent andp"o'inent ob=ects% They then p"oceed to a")ue that *ections 40 and 43 of the Minin)

ct 'a;e the initial post No% 1 of a sta;ed clai' pe"'anent because the fo"'e" "eFui"es8.nitial lost8 to be &"itten the"eon and the latte" 'a;es it 8unla&ful to 'o$e nu'be" onepost of a lode 'ine"al clai'8, &hile *ection 42 'a;es it p"o'inent because it p"o$idesthat-

hen a post is used, it 'ust be at least fifteen centi'ete"s india'ete" o" t&el$e centi'ete"s on each side by one hund"ed fo"tycenti'ete"s in len)th, &he"e p"acticable, set fo"ty centi'ete"s in the)"ound and su""ounded by a 'ound of ea"th o" stone one hund"edt&enty#fi$e centi'ete"s in dia'ete" by siAty#fi$e centi'ete"s inhei)ht %%%

This a")u'ent is not tenable% Both the pu"pose and lan)ua)e of *ection 4( as


16/22

a'ended by Republic ct No% 4-366 indicate that the enu'e"ation of pe"'anent andp"o'inent ob=ects that 'ay be used as tie points is eAclusi$e% cco"din) to theeAplanato"y note of 11% No% 2


17/22

E$en on the assu'ption that such an initial post 'ay be utili:ed as a tie point, the onesutili:ed in the o"i)inal clai's in Fuestion a"e in$alid because of the in$alidity of 8Ro'eo1 8, the clai' to &hose initial post nu'be" 1 all these othe" 162 clai's &e"e di"ectly o"indi"ectly tied% s co""ectly held by both the +i"ecto" of Mines and the *ec"eta"y of

)"icultu"e and Natu"al Resou"ces, this clai', as o"i)inally beyond the 30 day pe"iodp"esc"ibed by *ection 34% The p"o$ision of this section as to effect of non#co'pliancethe"e&ith is 'andato"y% This is a featu"e that &as also int"oduced by P No% 4,366% .nthis "e)a"d, the eAplanato"y note of the bill &hich beca'e R%% No% 4366 states-

nd to cla"ify the effect of failu"e to co'ply &ith this "eFui"e'ent,'inin) clai's shall be null and $oid, not 'e"ely abandoned, &hichis inte"p"eted so'eti'es as a 'atte" of intention% and not a penalty%@!on)% Rec%, R May 13, 173, pp% 134


18/22

affi"'ed, &ithout p"onounce'ent as to costs%

* R+ERE+%

Barredo, Makasiar, Concepcion, Jr., uerrero, Abad !antos, "e Castro and Melencio#$errera, JJ., concur.

%ernando, C.J. and A&uino, JJ., took no part.

Searae O*o*

TEE&!N'EE, J., dissentin)-

. dissent f"o' the 'a=o"ity =ud)'ent affi"'in) the decision of the then *ec"eta"y of)"icultu"e and Natu"al Resou"ces &hich affi"'ed the +i"ecto" of Mines ?dis'issal ofpetitione"s#appellants? p"otests althou)h )"antin) the' the 8booby p"i:e8 of 'odifyin)the sa'e by "eco)ni:in) the $alidity and lease on one sin)le 'inin) clai', na'ely,8Ro'eo 18%

The "eco"d a'ply suppo"ts petitione"s? sub'ittal that they ha$e substantially co'plied

&ith the la&?s "eFui"e'ents on the 162 clai's located by the'% The "eco"d a'ply sho&sfu"the" that the 162 othe" clai's &e"e p"ope"ly tied to initial post No% 1 of petitione"s?8Ro'eo 18 clai' and could the"efo"e all be p"ope"ly .dentified on the )"ound as a)ainst'e"e 8table clai's8, &ith the added 'e"it that Petitione"s? said 8Ro'eo 18 clai' to)ethe"&ith the lease a)"ee'ent co$e"in) the sa'e ha$e been eAp"essly "eco)ni:ed by"espondent sec"eta"y as $alid @see pa)e 1, decision%

et, the 'a=o"ity decision @at pa)e 16 has "e=ected the $alid clai's of petitione"s on thepu"e technicality that 8@E$en on the assu'ption that such an initial post 'ay be utili:edas a tie point, the ones utili:ed in the o"i)inal clai's in Fuestion a"e in$alid because ofthe in$alidity of 8Ro'eo 18, the clai' to &hose initial post nu'be" 1 all these othe" 162

clai's &e"e di"ectly o" indi"ectly tied% s co""ectly held by both the +i"ecto" of Mines andthe *ec"eta"y of )"icultu"e and Natu"al Resou"ces, this clai', as o"i)inally located isnull and $oid because it &as "e)iste"ed beyond the 30#day pe"iod p"esc"ibed by *ection34% The p"o$ision of this section as to effect of non#co'pliance the"e&ith is 'andato"y%8

The 'a=o"ity decision @at pa)e 17 fu"the" su''a"ily "e=ects petitione"s? subseFuenta'end'ents of thei" clai's decla"ations &ith the ba"e state'ent that 8.t is settled that a


19/22

$oid locution of a 'inin) clai' is not a'endable%8 This dictu' is post open to Fuestion%

.n 'ecar ( !ons, )nc. vs. *anco, Jr.,0 *!R


20/22

)"anted and that the appealed decision be set aside and . so $ote acco"din)ly% .t shouldalso be 'ade clea" that petitione"s? "i)ht of "ecou"se befo"e the "e)ula" ci$il cou"ts fo"specific pe"fo"'ance o" da'a)es, as the case 'ay be, fo" b"each of the o"i)inala)"ee'ents bet&een the' "e)a"din) the location and eAploitation of the clai's and the

p"ofits the"ef"o' is not fo"eclosed by the 'a=o"ity decision, since this 'atte" is totallybeyond the ad'inist"ati$e =u"isdiction and autho"ity of "espondents public officials butp"ope"ly "ep"esents a =udicial cont"o$e"sy &ithin the eAclusi$e po&e" of the cou"ts to"esol$e and ad=udicate @Pio $s% Ma"cos,


21/22

sa'e point that the the"ein Fuestioned clai's &e"e null and $oid and beyond $alidationby a'end'ent since they &e"e 'e"e 8table clai's8 and a plottin) the"eof &ould "eadilysho& that all fifty clai's in$ol$ed &e"e 8not conti)uous o" ad=oinin) each othe" but fallone on top of the othe", li;e a dec; of ca"ds,8 the !ou"t on the cont"a"y sustained the

a'end'ents%

The !ou"t in the abo$e#cited case of eca" in$o;ed in suppo"t of the a'endability of thethe"ein "espondents? Fuestioned clai's the p"o$isions of P"esidential +ec"ee No% 77#effecti$e Janua"y 1


22/22

a)"ee'ents bet&een the' "e)a"din) the location and eAploitation of the clai's and thep"ofits the"ef"o' is not fo"eclosed by the 'a=o"ity decision, since this 'atte" is totallybeyond the ad'inist"ati$e =u"isdiction and autho"ity of "espondents public officials butp"ope"ly "ep"esents a =udicial cont"o$e"sy &ithin the eAclusi$e po&e" of the cou"ts to

"esol$e and ad=udicate @Pio $s% Ma"cos,

Documents

37 Basiana v Luna.doc