PINDAÑGAN AGRICULTURAL

COMPANY, INC.
vs.
JOSE P. DANS, et al.

G.R. No. 14591

April 25, 1962

Labrador, J.

Ian Jerrick B. Inandan

JD2
FACTS:
Lease Application

-She is no longer a Filipino

citizen

Cristina Gonzales, Inc.

BLAH T
PROT ES
BLAH
BLAH

BLAH
Act 3514

Act 3514
Authorized sale of
Due to
lands her failure
obtained bytothe
pay the
installment, the Director of
Agricultural Bank to
Land cancelled the deed of
their previous owner
repurchase
PINDAÑGAN AGRICULTURAL
COMPANY, INC
Filed motion for Protested against second
reconsideration for deed of repurchase
cancellation of her deed of
repurchase Filed lease application

Applied for second deed of

repurchase
 U L T H E
AN N • Filed motion for
SALE The Company filed sales
The salereconsideration
was annulled but
and was
application but was denied
denied
rescinded on the ground
by• the Director of Lands
Appealed
that Gonzales before
had become
• Few of the occupants
Secretary of Agriculture
Swiss Citizen
are stockholders of the
but dismissed
Company
• Filed amended
complaint alleging
• The Corporation has
been in exclusive
possession of the
land since 1937
• No notice and
arbitrary
• Politically motivated
Issue
• Whether or not the defendants erred in denying
the sales and lease application of the Company
– Contended that there was abuse of discretion
because investigation was made without notice

• Whether or not the Company has a right to be

preferred either as purchaser or lessee
Ruling
FIRST ISSUE
• There is no law or regulation that requires that
investigations made by land administrative
officers be in the presence of all parties
interested.
• The investigation, however, was a fact-finding
investigation. It does not appear that it was made
by question and answer.
• The absence of the plaintiff, therefore, is not fatal
to its validity, as the same was not a trial.
SECOND ISSUE
• Company had no right of preference to be
recognized in the suit, as this matter falls within
administrative discretion
– The disposition of public lands is lodged exclusively in
the Director of Lands, subject only to the control of
the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources
• Mere fact that the company had opposed the
attempts of Cristina Gonzales to get back the
land, thus making said land, available for
occupation by the public, did not create a right in
the company to be preferred over and above the
occupants which it serves