De Los Santos vs. Iac
De Los Santos vs. Iac
Emiliano R. De Los Santos, Spouses Norma A. Padilla and Isidoro L. Padilla and
the Heirs of Francisco Dayrit, petitioners, vs. The Hon. Intermediate Appellate
Court, Hon. Judge Cicerro C. Jurado and Edilberto Cadiente, respondents.
Third Division
Facts:
Aside from the road, an artificial creek 23.20 meters wide and 128.69
meters long was also constructed, occupying an area of 2,906 sq m of their
property
The lower court dismissed the petition; petitioners elevated the case to the
SC on certiorari, which referred the cases back to the IAC
IAC ruled: the two actions cannot be maintained because they are suits
against the State without consent
Issue:
Whether or not the consolidated actions, as suits against the State, can be
maintained
Holding:
Yes.
Ratio:
Damages may be awarded the petitioners in the form of legal interest on the
price of the land to be reckoned from the time of the unlawful taking
Petition granted. Civil Cases remanded to the lower court for trial on the merits after the
Republic of the Philippines shall have been impleaded as defendant in both cases.