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Esquivias vs. Court of Appeals: VOL. 272, MAY 29, 1997 803
Esquivias vs. Court of Appeals: VOL. 272, MAY 29, 1997 803
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proceedings against lawyers are sui generis. Neither purely civil nor involving questions of genuineness and due execution of documents
purely criminal, they do not involve a trial of an action or a suit, but purporting to convey properties of considerable value, no less than
are rather investigations by the Court into the conduct of one of its an action instituted for that purpose before a court of competent
officers . Not being intended to inflict punishment, it is in no sense a jurisdiction is necessary, rather than a mere administrative
criminal prosecution. Accordingly, there is neither a plaintiff nor a proceeding, like a disbarment case, where the procedure followed is,
pros ecutor therein. It may be initiated by the Court motu proprio. more often than not, summary, and where the ques tion on validity of
Public interest is its primary objective, and the real question for the instrument is merely a collateral and not the main issue.
determination is whether or not the attorney is still a fit person to be Consequently, the judgment on the disbarment proceedings, which
allowed the privileges as such. Hence, in the exercise of its incidentally touched on the issue of the validity of the deed of sale,
disciplinary powers, the Court merely calls upon a member of the cannot be considered conclusive in another action where the validity
Bar to account for his actuations as an officer of the Court with the of the s ame deed of sale is merely one of the main issues. At best,
end in view of preserving the purity of the legal profession and the such judgment may only be given weight when introduced as
proper and hones t administration of justice by purging the evidence, but in no case does it bind the court in the second action.
profession of members who by their misconduct have proved Contracts; Sales; Trusts; Fraud; The bare existence of
themselves no longer worthy to be entrusted with the duties and confidential relation between grantor and grantee does not, standing
responsibilities pertaining to the office of an attorney. In such alone, raise the presumption of fraud.—It must be emphasized that
posture, there can thus be no occasion to speak of a com-plainant or the bare existence of confidential relation between grantor and
a prosecutor. For this reas on, whatever has been decided in the grantee does not, standing alone, raise the presum ption of fraud. A
disbarment case cannot be a source of right that may be enforced in deed will not be set aside merely because the grantor and grantee
another action, like this case before us. sustained a confidential relationship where the evidence shows no
805 fraud or abuse of confidence. Besides, if Julia really had a cause of
VOL. 272, 805 action against Atty. Esquivias, why did she file only a disbarment
MAY 29, 1997 case instead of the more appropriate action for annulment of
contract?
Esquivias vs. Court of
Same; Same; Double Sales; To merit protection under Art.
Appeals 1544, second paragraph, the second buyer must act in good faith in
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; The judgment on the registering his deed.—Logically, while the deed of sale in favor of
disbarment proceedings, which incidentally touched on the issue of Jose G. Domalaon was registered earlier, the same cannot prevail
the validity of the deed of sale, cannot be considered conclusive in over the deed of sale in favor of Atty. Esquivias because private
another action where the validity of the same deed of sale is one of respondent knew of the prior sale to petitioners, and such knowledge
the main issues.—Moreover, what was decided in the disbarment tainted his registration with bad faith. To merit protection under
proceedings was the issue of whether Atty. Esquivias violated his 806
oath by defrauding and deceiving the complainant into conveying to 80 SUPREME
him the properties in question, and not the issue of the validity of the
6 COURT REPORTS
deed of sale. When the Solicitor General made a declaration that the
deed was valid, it was only because the same was incidentally ANNOTATED
necessary for the prompt resolution of the case. I ndeed, in matters Esquivias vs. Court of
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Appeals —Although a review of the decree of registration is no longer
Art. 1544, second par., the second buyer must act in good faith available on account of the expiration of the one-year period from
in registering his deed. entry thereof, an equitable remedy is still available to the Esquiviases
Ownership; Land Titles; Tax Declarations; The fact that the who were wrongfully deprived of their property, i.e., to compel Jose
property was declared in the names of certain parties for taxation G. Domalaon in whose name the hous e and lot in question had been
purposes does not, by itself, constitute evidence of ownership.— wrongfully registered, to reconvey the property to the Esquiviases ,
While we are s ustaining petitioners’ rights over the hous e and lot provided
807
subject of the 11 March 1974 deed of sale, we cannot find any
justification to likewise award to them the res t of the property. They VOL. 272, 807
presented no evidence other than their self-serving ass ertion that the MAY 29, 1997
entire property was prom ised to them by the late Silvestre Esquivias vs. Court of
Domalaon. The fact that such promise was not contradicted by Appeals
private respondents does not prove that their claim over the entire that the same has not yet been transferred to innocent persons
property is valid and subsisting. Furthermore, although the entire for value. The registered property is deemed to be held in trust for
property was declared by petitioners in their names for taxation the real owners by the person in whose name it has been registered.
purposes, it does not by itself constitute conclusive evidence of In this action for reconveyance, the decree of registration is respected
ownership. as incontrovertible. What is sought instead is the transfer of the
Same; Same; Land Registration; Certificates of titles merely property, in this case, the title thereof, which has been wrongfully or
confirm or record title already existing and vested—they cannot be erroneously registered in another person’s name, to its rightful and
used to protect a usurper from the true owner, nor can they be used legal owners.
as a shield for the commission of fraud, nor to permit one to enrich
himself at the expense of others.—Finally, while the certificates of PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the Court
title in the names of Jose G. Domalaon and Elena G. Domalaon are
of Appeals.
indefeasible, unassailable and binding against the whole world,
including the government itself, they do not create or vest title. They
merely confirm or record title already existing and vested. They The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
cannot be used to protect a usurper from the true owner, nor can they Salvador S. Esquivias for petitioners.
be used as a shield for the commission of fraud; neither do they Isidoro F. Molina for private respondents.
permit one to enrich himself at the expense of others.
Same; Same; Same; Prescription; Equity; Reconveyance; Alt BELLOSILLO, J.:
hough a review of the decree of registration is no longer available
after the expiration of the one -yea r p eriod from entry thereof, an A 6,270-SQUARE METER PARCEL OF LAND in
equitable remedy is still available to those who were wrongfully the poblacion of Gubat, Sorsogon, is the subject of this action
1
deprived of their property, i.e., to compel reconveyance of the for reconveyance and damages.
property—the registered property is deemed to be held in trust for Julia Galpo de Domalaon was the owner of a piece of land
the real owners by the person in whose name it has been registered. with an area of 1,260 square meters and the two-storey house
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standing thereon. In 1950 she extrajudicially constituted this which once constituted the family home. The deed indicated
property into a family home. Alicia Domalaon-Esquivias, that the property being sold was the entire 1,260 square
Elena G. Domalaon and Jose G. Domalaon, among other meters. However, in the Affidavit of Confirmatory Waiver of
4
On 11 March 1974 a Deed of Absolute Sale was executed the sale of the property to him, or on 21 October 1976, Jose
by Julia Galpo de Domalaon in favor of her son-in-law, Atty. already filed two (2) applications for Free Patent in his name
Salvador Esquivias, husband of Alicia Domalaon. Subject covering the entire property. When his first application was
matter of the deed was the property constituting the family approved, a certificate of title was issued on 11 February 1981.
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home—the tw o-storey house and the residential lot on w hich His rights over the other application covering the rest of the
it stood, more particularly described in the deed as— property were relinquished by him in favor of his sister
Elena. It turned out later that Elena G. Domalaon also
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remaining 3,814 square meters as Lot No. 453. Alleging that it was only in 1981 that she came to know that
Sworn Declaration of Extrajudicial Creation of a Family Home, Exh. “1.”
2
the document she signed in favor of Atty. Salvador S.
808
80 SUPREME COURT ______________
8 REPORTS 3
Annex “A.”
ANNOTATED 4
Exh. “4.”
Esquivias vs. Court of 5
In the Affidavit of Confirmatory Waiver of Rights, whi ch was executed
after the dissolution of the family home, the heirs of Julia (with the exception of
Appeals Alicia) renounced their rights over the land in favor of their brother Jose G.
x x x containing an area corresponding to the ground floor area of the Domalaon. (See Exh. “5”).
house (136 sq. m.) plus and including its outside surrounding area of 6
OCT No. P-19184 covering Lot No. 464; Exh. “G.”
land measuring three (3) meters from the outside walls on all sides of 7
See Affidavit dated 29 December 1981; Exh. “10.”
said house, and including the whole width and length of the
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OCT No. P-22729 covering Lot No. 453; Exh. “H.”
driveway leading from the house to Manook Street. This is likewise 809
part and parcel of the family home declared in the name of Julia VOL. 272, MAY 29, 809
Galpo de Domalaon under Tax Declaration No. 9021 containing an 1997
original area of 1,260 square meters, more or less, and assessed at Esquivias vs. Court of
P1,070.” 3
Appeals
On 30 March 1977 the family home was dissolved by Julia Esquivias in 1974 was actually a deed of sale, Julia Galpo de
Galpo de Domalaon with the conformity of all her children. Domalaon filed a disbarment case against Atty. Esquivias.
Afterwards, another deed of sale was executed by her dated 12 According to her, being a son-in-law and lawyer of the
April 1977 transferring to Jose G. Domalaon the house and lot
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Domalaons, Atty. Esquivias took advantage of her trust and Adm. Case No. 2313; Rollo, pp. 43-60; Annex “C.”
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Annex “C-1.”
10
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the Register of Deeds of Sorsogon is ordered to cancel family should exert efforts to bring about a compromise before
OCT No. P-22729 in the name of Elena Domalaon and the commencement of a litigation.
issue the corresponding titles to the portions owned by each We agree with petitioners. Article 222 of the Civil Code
heir; provides that no suit shall be filed or maintained between
4. 4.That defendants Jose Domalaon and Elena Domalaon members of the same family unless it should appear that
should pay to the plaintiffs, jointly and severally, the sum
earnest efforts towards a compromise have been made but the
of P5,000 as moral damages, and P5,000 as attorney’s fees;
5. 5.That defendants, likewise, jointly and severally, should pay same have failed. The reason for the law is that a lawsuit
the costs of this suit. between family members generates deeper bitterness than one
between strangers. Hence, it is necessary that every effort
Not satisfied with the decision, respondent Jose G . Domalaon should be made towards a compromise before a litigation is
and Elena G. Domalaon elevated the case to the Court of allow ed to breed hate and passion in the family. 11
Appeals which reversed the decision of the trial court and But this requirement in Art. 222 of the Civil Code applies
dismissed the case on the basis of its finding that there was no only to suits between or among members of the same family.
compliance with the mandatory requirements of Art. 222 of the The phrase “between members of the same family” should be
New Civil Code; hence, the instant petition. construed in the light of Art. 217 of the Civil Code under 12
Report/Recommendation of the Solicitor General in the No. L-28394, 26 November 1970, 36 SCRA 104.
disbarment case, which was adopted by the Supreme Court, 812
rule on the validity of the sale executed by Julia Domalaon? (c) 81 SUPREME COURT
Who has a better right over the subject property, the 2 REPORTS
Esquiviases or the D omalaons?
ANNOTATED
Petitioners contend that Atty. Esquivias is only a brother-in-
law of Jose and Elena Domalaon. Atty. Esquivias is not a Esquivias vs. Court of
member of the family of his wife and is outside the scope and Appeals
coverage of the law requiring that the same members of a
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members of the same family, as he is only a brother-in-law of there is neither a plaintiff nor a prosecutor therein. It may be initiated
respondents Jose and Elena by virtue of his marriage to their by the Court motu proprio. Public interest is its primary objec-
sister Alicia. His relationship with respondents is based on
_______________
affinity and not on consanguinity. Consequently, insofar as he
is concerned, he is a stranger with respect to the family of his 13
No. L-44903, 22 April 1977, 76 SCRA 511.
wife and, as such, the mandatory requirement of “earnest effort 14
No. L-27654, 18 February 1970, 31 SCRA 562.
toward a compromise” does not apply to him. In Magbaleta v. 813
Gonong we ruled that “efforts to compromise” are not a
13 VOL. 272, MAY 29, 813
jurisdictional prerequisite for the maintenance of an action 1997
whenever a stranger to the family is a party thereto, whether as Esquivias vs. Court of
necessary or indispensable one. An alien to the family may not Appeals
be willing to suffer the inconvenience of, much less relish, the tive, and the real question for determination is whether or not the
delay and the complications that wranglings between and attorney is still a fit person to be allowed the privileges as such.
among relatives more often than not entail. Besides, it is Hence, in the exercise of its disciplinary powers, the Court merely
neither practical nor fair that the rights of a family be made to calls upon a member of the Bar to account for his actuations as an
depend on a stranger who just happens to have innocently officer of the Court with the end in view of preserving the purity of
acquired some interest in a property by virtue of his affinity to the legal profession and the proper and hones t administration of
justice by purging the profession of members who by their
the parties. Contrary to the ruling of the Court of Appeals, we
misconduct have proved themselves no longer worthy to be entrusted
find no reason to give Art. 222 a broader scope than its literal with the duties and responsibilities pertaining to the office of an
import. attorney. In such posture, there can thus be no occasion to speak of a
On the second issue, petitioner Salvador S. Esquivias complainant or a prosecutor.
postulates that the validity of the deed of sale in his favor had For this reason, whatever has been decided in the disbarment
already been sustained in the disbarment proceedings against case cannot be a source of right that may be enforced in
him. As a consequence, the facts established therein have another action, like this case before us.
become the law of the case and can no longer be disturbed by Moreover, what was decided in the disbarment proceedings
the Court of Appeals. was the issue of whether Atty. Esquivias violated his oath by
The argument is flawed. In the case of In re Almacen we 14
defrauding and deceiving the complainant into conveying to
ruled— him the properties in question, and not the issue of the validity
x x x x Disciplinary proceedings against lawyers are sui generis. of the deed of sale. When the Solicitor General made a
Neither purely civil nor purely criminal, they do not involve a trial of declaration that the deed was valid, it was only because the
an action or a suit, but are rather investigations by the Court into the
same was incidentally necessary for the prompt resolution of
conduct of one of its officers. Not being intended to inflict
punishment, it is in no sense a criminal prosecution. Accordingly,
the case. Indeed, in matters involving questions of genuineness
and due execution of documents purporting to convey
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properties of considerable value, no less than an action As regards the third issue, this Court notes the glaring
instituted for that purpose before a court of competent irregularities that attended the transfer of the land in question to
jurisdiction is necessary, rather than a mere administrative Jose G. Domalaon and Elena G. Domalaon: First, the land was
proceeding, like a disbarment case, where the procedure sold by Julia to Jose on 12 April 1977. But even prior to that
16
followed is, more often than not, summary, and where the date, or on 21 October 1976, Jose already applied for Free
question on validity of the instrument is merely a collateral and Patent in his name covering the land; Second, during the
17
not the main issue. disbarment proceedings against Atty. Esquivias, Elena
Consequently, the judgment on the disbarment proceedings, admitted on cross-examination that she went to the Register of
which incidentally touched on the issue of the validity of the Deeds of Sorsogon to register another deed of sale—one
deed of sale, cannot be considered conclusive in another action executed by her mother in favor of her brother Jose over the
where the validity of the same deed of sale is merely one of the same house and lot—ahead of the deed of sale executed in
main issues. At best, such judgment may only be given weight favor of Atty. Esquivias. She succeeded in doing so by using
w hen introduced as evidence, but in no case does it bind the the tax receipt paid by Atty. Esquivias himself; Third, in the
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court in the second action. deed of sale of Jose, what was sold to him was 1,260 square
814 meters. However, in the Affidavit of Confirmatory Waiver of
81 SUPREME COURT Rights the area was increased to 2,456 square meters; Fourth,
4 REPORTS Jose relinquished to Elena Lot No. 453 with an area of 3,814
ANNOTATED square meters. Surprisingly, the records contain no deed or
Esquivias vs. Court of evidence showing that Julia likewise sold to Jose Lot No. 453.
Appeals What was sold was 1,260 square meters if we go by the deed
We are convinced, however, that the sale in favor of Atty. ______________
Esquivias w as made by Julia with full knowledge of the facts
and there appears nothing on record to warrant a declaration of 26 C.J.S. 58.
15
nullity of the deed from the standpoint of fraud. Rollo, pp. 127-128; Annex “B.”
16
Exh. “8-A.”
17
It must be emphasized that the bare existence of See Report/Recommendation of the Solicitor General, p. 9.
18
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court, how could Jose relinquish to Elena something which he Should there be no inscription, the ownership shall pertain to the person
who in good faith was first in the possession; and, in the absence thereof, to the
did not own? Fifth, Julia executed an affidavit dated 17 July
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person who presents the oldest title, provided there is good faith.
1986 wherein she ceded her rights and interests over Lot No. 816
453 in favor of Jose. But it will be observed that such affidavit 81 SUPREME COURT
was not sufficient to transfer ownership of the subject lot. Even 6 REPORTS
if it did, it was executed only after more than four (4) years
ANNOTATED
from the date Jose relinquished to Elena his alleged rights over
Lot No. 453. Esquivias vs. Court of
These circumstances confirm the belief that there indeed Appeals
was collusion among the Domalaons to defeat the valid and While we are sustaining petitioners’ rights over the house and
legitimate claim of the Esquiviases by consolidating the lot subject of the 11 March 1974 deed of sale, we cannot find
ownership of the entire property in the names of Jose G. any justification to likewise award to them the rest of the
Domalaon and Elena G. Domalaon. They likewise belie the property. They presented no evidence other than their self-
Domalaons’ profession of ignorance with respect to the serving assertion that the entire property was promised to them
existence of the first sale. by the late Silvestre Domalaon. The fact that such promise was
Logically, while the deed of sale in favor of Jose G. not contradicted by private respondents does not prove that
Domalaon was registered earlier, the same cannot prevail over their claim over the entire property is valid and subsisting.
the deed of sale in favor of Atty. Esquivias because private Furthermore, although the entire property was declared by
respondent knew of the prior sale to petitioners, and such petitioners in their nam es for taxation purposes, it does not by
knowledge tainted his registration with bad faith. To merit 20 itself constitute conclusive evidence of ownership. 22
protection under Art. 1544, second par., the second buyer must
21 Finally, while the certificates of title in the names of Jose G.
act in good faith in registering his deed. Domalaon and Elena G. Domalaon are indefeasible,
unassailable and binding against the whole world, including the
______________ government itself, they do not create or vest title. They merely
confirm or record title already existing and vested. They cannot
19
Exh. “18.”
20
Astorga v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 58530, 26 December 1984, 133
be used to protect a usurper from the true owner, nor can they
SCRA 748. be used as a shield for the commission of fraud; neither do they
21
Art. 1544, which lays down the rules on double sales, provides: If the permit one to enrich himself at the expense of others. 23
same thing should have been sold to different vendees, the ownership shall be Although a review of the decree of registration is no longer
transferred to the person who may have taken possession thereof in good faith,
if it should be movable property.
available on account of the expiration of the one-year period
Should it be immovable property, the ownership shall belong to the person from entry thereof, an equitable remedy is still available to the
acquiring it who in good faith first recorded it in the Registry of Property. Esquiviases who were wrongfully deprived of their property,
i.e., to compel Jose G. Domalaon in whose name the house and
lot in question had been wrongfully registered, to reconvey the
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property to the Esquiviases, provided that the same has not yet the capital and business standing takes into his fold the young,
been transferred to innocent persons for value. 24
upcoming, inexperienced but brilliant and brashly ambitious
The reg i st ered p roperty is deemed to be held in trust for son, nephew or godchild who, in turn, becomes to his father,
the real owners by the p erson in wh ose name it has been uncle, or godparent, the jack of all trades, trouble shooter and
registered. In this action for reconveyance, the decree of regis- most trusted liaison officer cum adviser, wittingly serving his
patron without the security of a formal contract and without
______________ clarifying the matter of compensation. (Suntay vs. Court of
22
Rivera v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 107903, 22 May 1995, 244 SCRA
Appeals, 251 SCRA 430 [1995])
218. Close family ties is a common Filipino trait. (Son vs.
Angeles v. Samia, 66 Phil. 444 (1938).
23
Son, 251 SCRA 556 [1995])
Azurin v. Quintoriano, 45 O.G. 1, p. 44, Supp., January 1950.
24
817 ——o0o——
VOL. 272, MAY 29, 817
1997 ______________
Esquivias vs. Court of 25
Amerol v. Bagumbaran, No. L-33261, 30 September 1987, 154 SCRA
Appeals 396.
tration is respected as incontrovertible. What is sought instead 818
is the transfer of the property, in this case, the title thereof, © Copyright 2020 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved
which has been wrongfully or erroneously registered in another
person’s name, to its rightful and legal owners. 25
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