FELIX TING HO, JR., MERLA TING HO BRADEN, JUANA TING HO & LYDIA TING HO BELENZO vs. VICENTE TENG
GUI, G.R. No. 130115, July 16, 2008
“x x x.
With regard to Lot No. 418, Ts-308, Article XIII, Section 1
of the 1935 Constitution states:
Section 1. All
agricultural timber, and mineral lands of the public domain, waters,
minerals, coal, petroleum, and other mineral oils, all forces of potential
energy and other natural resources of the Philippines belong to the State, and their disposition, exploitation,
development, or utilization shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines or
to corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of the capital of
which is owned by such citizens, subject to any existing right,
grant, lease, or concession at the time of the inauguration of the Government
established under this Constitution (Emphasis supplied)
Our fundamental law cannot be any clearer. The right to
acquire lands of the public domain is reserved for Filipino citizens or
corporations at least sixty percent of the capital of which is owned by
Filipinos. Thus, in Krivenko v. Register of Deeds,[14] the
Court enunciated that:
Perhaps the effect of our
construction is to preclude aliens, admitted freely into the Philippines from
owning sites where they may build their homes. But if this is the solemn
mandate of the Constitution, we will not attempt to compromise it even in the
name of amity or equity. We are satisfied, however, that aliens are
not completely excluded by the Constitution from the use of lands for
residential purposes. Since their residence in the Philippines is
temporary, they may be granted temporary rights such as a lease contract which
is not forbidden by the Constitution. Should they desire to remain here forever
and share our fortunes and misfortunes, Filipino citizenship is not impossible
to acquire.[15]
X x x.
