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Republic of the Philippines, Petitioner , vs. Hanover Worldwide Trading Corporation, Corporation, Respondent  G.R. No. 172102 | July 2, 2010 | Peralta, J . SUMMR! : On October 15, 1993, Hanover orl!"#!e orl!"#!e $ra!#n% &or'orat#on (#le! an a''l#cat#on )or Re%#*trat#on Re%#*trat#on o) $#tle over t+e lot *#tuate! #n arr#o -ac*ac, &on*olac#on, &ebu, 'ur*uant to t+e Pro'erty Re%#*trat#on Re%#*trat#on ecree. $+e a''l#cat#on *tate! t+at Hanover #* t+e o"ner #n )ee *#/'le o) ot No. , #t* t#tle t+ereto +av#n% been obta#ne! t+rou%+ 'urc+a*e ev#!ence! by a ee! o) b*olute -ale. 4ce't )or t+e Re'ubl#c, t+ere "ere no ot+er o''o*#tor* to t+e a''l#cat#on. $+e Re'ubl#c ar%ue* t+at ne#t+er Hanover nor #t* 're!ece**or*6#n6#ntere*t are #n o'en, cont#nuou*, eclu*#ve eclu*#ve an! notor#ou* 'o**e**#on an! occu'at#on o) t+e lan! #n ue*t#on *#nce June 12, 195 or 'r#or t+ereto an! t+at Hanover #* a 'r#vate cor'orat#on !#*ual#(#e! un!er t+e &on*t#tut#on &on*t#tut#on to +ol! al#enable lan!* o) t+e 'ubl#c !o/a#n. On u%u*t 7, 1997, t+e R$& ren!ere! ren!ere! #t* ec#*#on a''rov#n% Hanover8* a''l#cat#on )or re%#*trat#on o) t+e *ubect lot. $+e u!%/ent o) t+e R$& "a* later a)(#r/e! by t+e &. "#CTR$%&'   (ere showing of possession and and occupation for )* +ears or (ore (ore is not suficient. $+ere)ore, suficient. $+ere)ore, *#nce t+e e))ect#v#ty o) P.. P.. 1073 on January 25, 1977, #t /u*t no" be *+o"n t+at ' o**e**#on an! occu'at#on o) t+e '#ece o) lan! by t+e a''l#cant, by +#/*el) or t+rou%+ +#* 're!ece**or*6#n6#ntere*t, 're!ece**or*6#n6#ntere*t, *tarte! on June 12, 195 or earl#er. earl#er. $+#* 'rov#*#on ' rov#*#on #* #n total con)or/#ty "#t+ -ect#on 1 1; o) P.. 1529 .$+u*, pursuant to the provisions of law, law, applicants for registration of title (ust prove' 1; t+at t+e *ubect lan! )or/* 'art o) t+e !#*'o*able an! al#enable lan!* o) t+e 'ubl#c !o/a#n, an! 2; t+at t+ey +ave been #n o'en, cont#nuou*, eclu*#ve eclu*#ve an! notor#ou* 'o**e**#on an! occu'at#on o) t+e *a/e un!er a bona (#!e cla#/ o) o"ner*+#' *#nce June 12, 195, or earl#er. While ta- declarations are not conclusive evidence of ownership, the+ constitute proof of clai( of ownership. ownership. $+e '#ece* o) !ocu/entary ev#!ence *ub/#tte! by re*'on!ent ne#t+er *+o" t+at #t* 're!ece**or8* 'o**e**#on an! occu'at#on o) t+e *ubect lan! #* )or t+e 'er#o! or !urat#on reu#re! by la". la". $+e earl#e*t !ate o) t+e $a eclarat#on* 're*ente! #n ev#!ence by re*'on!ent #* 19<5, t+e ot+er* be#n% 1973, 190, 1992 an! 1993. Re*'on!ent )a#le! to 're*ent any cre!#ble e'lanat#on "+y t+e realty tae* !ue on t+e *ubect 'ro'erty "ere only 'a#! *tart#n% #n 19<5. $+e 'ay/ent o) realty tae* *tart#n% 19<5 %#ve* %#ve* r#*e to t+e 're*u/'t#on t+at re*'on!ent8* 're!ece**or*6#n6#ntere*t 're!ece**or*6#n6#ntere*t cla#/e! o"ner*+#' or 'o**e**#on o) t+e *ubect lot only #n t+at year.