THIRD
DIVISION
DEPARTMENT OF G.R.
No. 169277
AGRARIAN REFORM,[1]
represented by OIC- Present:
Secretary Nasser C.
Pangandaman,
Petitioner, YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.,
Chairperson,
AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ,
- versus
- CALLEJO, SR., and
CHICO-NAZARIO,
JJ.
Promulgated:
VICENTE
K. UY,
Respondent. February 9, 2007
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D E C I S I O N
CALLEJO, SR., J.:
Before the
Court is a Petition for Review on Certiorari
under Rule 45 of the Revised Rules of Court of the Amended Decision[2]
of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 70541 and the Resolution[3]
of the appellate court denying the motion for reconsideration thereof. The CA
reversed and set aside the Decision[4]
of the Office of the President (OP) which had affirmed the Order[5]
of the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) exempting only a portion (219.50
hectares) of respondent Vicente K. Uy’s 349.9996-ha landholding from the coverage
of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP).
On
On
x x x, the Supreme Court held that lands devoted to the raising of livestock, poultry and swine are excluded from the coverage of R.A. No. 6657. Following the said decision, numerous reports have been received that some landowners had taken steps to convert their agricultural lands to livestock, poultry and swine raising.
In order to prevent circumvention of
the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program and to protect the rights of the
[a]grarian reform beneficiaries, specifically against their possible unlawful
ejectment due to the unauthorized change or conversion or fraudulent
declaration of areas actually, directly, and exclusively used for livestock,
poultry and swine raising purposes, the following rules and regulations are
hereby prescribed for the guidance of all concerned.[10]
The DAR also declared that as of
A.
Private Agricultural lands or portions thereof exclusively, directly and
actually used for livestock, poultry and swine raising as of
B. In determining the areas qualified for exclusion under this Administrative Order, the following ratios of land, livestock, poultry and swine raising shall be adopted:
1.0 Grazing
1.1 Cattle, Carabao[11] and Horse Raising
- cattle, carabao and horse (regardless of age) – the maximum ratio is one (1) head to one (1) hectare
x x x x
2.0 Infrastructure
2.1 Cattle, Horses and Carabao Raising – a ratio of 21 heads
for every 1.7815 hectares of infrastructure x x x.[12]
Dr.
Vicente K. Uy, Wellington K. Ong, Jaime Chua, and Daniel Sy, among others, are owners
of a 349.9996-ha parcel of land located in Barangay
Camaflora, Barrio of San Andres,
Sometime in 1993, some 44 farmers who
occupied portions of the property filed petitions in the DAR, seeking to be
declared as owners- beneficiaries. On
Our
private landholding has been devoted and actually used for cattle and/or
livestock raising, together with raising of carabaos, and horses continuously
from the time it was owned by our predecessors-in-interest, Emiterio Florido,
and even when we acquired title over the property in 1979, we continually
devoted and actually used the said landholding for cattle raising from 1979 up
to the present.[14]
On
Registered Owner/s: (If deceased, indicate name of heirs)
OWNER
1. Dr. Vicente K. Uy
2.
3. Jaime Chua, mrd. to Letty Ong Chua
4. Daniel Sy, mrd. to Carolyn T. Ngo
5. Nancy Ong Uy
6. Emily Ong Uy
7. Lucy Ong
8. Wilson Ong
9. John Ong Uy
E. Actual Land Use No. of Actual Area Approximate Topo-
Animal (has.) used Area used graphy
heads/ for grazing for infra-
birds structure
1. Livestock
1.1 cattle 401 ) 346.00 3.00 more Flat to
1.2 horse 20 ) hectares or less undulating
1.3 carabao 8 ) more or less
2. Goat allegedly owned by FBs
Sheep and overseer
3. Swine none
4. Poultry
4.1 layers none
4.2 broilers
F. Other Land Uses
Agriculture
Crops Planted No. of Has. No. of Tenants No. of FWs &
employees
1. Coconut and 346.00 more more than 29
auxillary or less and 44
crops presently
utilized for
pasture and
grazing of
livestock.
Others (specify)
20 hectares more or less are sporadically planted to coconut with “aroma shrubs” also utilized for pasture at sitio Ipil.
G. Improvements and Infrastructures. Describe the kind of improvements and infrastructures whether constructed with strong or light materials and indicate the date constructed.
2 corral made of coco lumber. The old one have constructed in 1980 and the other one constructed sometime on February 1995. Barb wire and fences on the perimeter of the area, wooden primary and secondary gate, feed storage, embankments. Cayab and potot creek are utilized for drinking purposes of the livestock.
H. Finishing.
The landholding are entirely planted to
bearing coconut trees “tenanted by more
or less 44 FBs with sharing arrangement of 60:40 in favor of the landowner. The tenanted coconut land are presently used
as pasture and grazing of the livestock.”
Landowner alleged that they are engaged in livestock raising prior to
The
Task Force made the following declaration:
I. Comments/Remarks/Recommendations:
The density required on commercial
farming as far as the number of livestock is concerned have been met; however,
the necessary infrastructure and facilities like paddocks, dike, water trough
and others were not present much more per information revealed by farmers in
the area majority of the cattles were only brought in the early part of this
year. Therefore, it is recommended that the areas actually cultivated and
occupied by the tenants be covered by CARP and only areas not affected be
excluded from CARP coverage.[16]
Thus,
on the basis of the aforesaid findings, MARO Belen Babalcon made a Final
Report, declaring that 346.000 ha, more or less, is devoted to coconut and
livestock farming; the registered owner is Dr. Vicente K. Uy; 346 ha is used
for grazing and 3 ha for infrastructure. She declared that while a total of 429
livestock heads (401 cows, 20 horses, 8 carabaos)
are being raised in the property, “the
total area for exclusion is undetermined because there are portions occupied by
tenants which should not be excluded from CARP coverage.”[17]
Meanwhile,
PARO Durante L. Ubeda submitted a separate Report[18]
dated
1) THAT the total number of Certificate[s] of Ownership is 434 which is more than the actual headcount of 401;
2) THAT the number of cattle 7 years old and above totaled 134 heads with 13 males and 121 females as of date of certification;
3) THAT 300 cattles were of ages 6 years old and below with 76 males and 234 females, [also as of the date of certification.][19]
Ubeda’s basis for exclusion is the Certificate of Ownership of
Large Cattle issued by the Municipal Treasurer of San Andres on May 12-29,
1995, submitted by the landowner, which, according to Ubeda is “more
conclusive” (although issued fairly
recently). He recommended the exclusion
from CARP coverage a total of 219.50 has: 134 has. for cattle-grazing, 28 has. for
horse and carabao grazing, 12.5
has. for infrastructure and 45 has. for retention of nine landowners.
The
applicants, through Uy, wrote a letter[20]
to DAR Region IV Director Percival C. Dalugdug dated
On
On
On
within the area as of
The DAR
also ruled that additional exemptions include 12.50 ha for infrastructure
(following the ratio 21 heads for every 1.7815 ha) and 45 ha for retention of
nine landowners, for a total of 219.50 ha. The dispositive portion of the Order
reads:
WHEREFORE, premises considered, Order is hereby issued:
1. GRANTING the instant application for exclusion/exemption from CARP coverage pursuant to Administrative Order No. 09 Series [o]f 1993 but only with respect to a total of TWO HUNDRED NINETEEN POINT FIFTY (219.50) hectares. The remainder of ONE HUNDRED THIRTY POINT FOUR NINE NINE SIX (130.4996) hectares are hereby placed under CARP coverage;
2. Directing the MARO/PARO concerned to cause the survey of the entire area for purposes of segregating the areas which are covered from those which are excluded.
SO ORDERED.[26]
On
On
The
language of DAR Administrative Order No. 09 appears to be quite explicit:
“Private agricultural lands or portions thereof exclusively, directly and
actually used for livestock, poultry and swine raising as of
Quezon, it appears that only 134 of the 434 cattles are found to be at least
seven years of age. Accordingly, only
162 hectares (134 for the cattle and 28 for the horses and carabaos) are
exempted from CARP coverage following the one hectare per one head of cattle
ratio provided under the same administrative order. This, of course, does not include the
retention area of the appellants-landowners and the area reserved for the
infrastructures.[27]
Respondent
and his co-owners filed a Motion for Reconsideration dated
However, on
1. For
total exemption:
Administrative
Order No. 9 provides that the maximum ratio in determining areas to be exempted
is one head to one hectare “regardless of age.”
Hence,
if Administrative Order No. 9 does not distinguish, neither should we.
The
use of age as a reference when not so required is arbitrary and very dangerous
because it would then variably depend on the arbitrary decision of the DAR on
when to conduct an inspection, and this is no fault of the landowner. Thus, the more recent the inspection is made,
the higher the age requirement will be just to reckon the animals’ existence
from
The
arbitrary use of age to determine the number of head of livestock as of
Finally,
we would like to inform the following that the dispute is pending resolution
before the Office of the President to which the case was elevated. Hence, the case also merits the opinion of
Hon. Secretary Ronaldo B. Zamora as the final reviewing authority.[29]
On
On
Respondent for himself and in behalf of other owners then
filed a “Petition for Review with Application/Prayer for Status Quo and/or Stay
of Execution”[34]
before the CA, docketed as CA-G.R. SP. No. 70541. They alleged that the OP
committed the following errors:
I
IT UNILATERALLY RE-ASSUMED JURISDICTION OVER THE CASE AND ISSUED THE ORDER OF APRIL 16, 2002, DENYING THE SECOND MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION AND FOR RULING THAT IT WAS NOT “EXCEPTIONALLY MERITORIOUS ENOUGH,” EITHER OF WHICH CONSTITUTES GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AND/OR EXCESS OF JURISDICTION, AND THEREFORE, REVERSIBLE.[35]
II
IT DECLINED TO PASS UPON A JURISDICTIONAL ISSUE RAISED; THAT IS THE ASSUMPTION OF JURISDICTION BY DAR OVER SUBJECT LANDHOLDING/S, POPULARLY KNOWN AND ACCEPTED AS DEVOTED TO LIVESTOCK RAISING DESPITE JURISPRUDENCE EXPLICITLY DECLARING IT, TOGETHER WITH POULTRY AND SWINE RAISING, AS NOT COVERED BY THE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM OF THE GOVERNMENT, THEREFORE, BEYOND THE OFFICIAL COMPETENCE OF DAR.[36]
III
IT UPHELD DAR ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER NO. 9, SERIES OF 1993, BUT, IN EFFECT, ONLY AS TO THE GENERAL RULE PRESCRIBED, FOR IT DISREGARDED THE CONDITIONS AND/OR QUALIFICATIONS ATTACHED THERETO [AND] THEREBY CONSTITU[TING] AN ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY APPLICATION OF THE RULE, A GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION.[37]
The appellate court rendered judgment affirming the decision
of the OP and, consequently, the
The DAR has the power to establish and promulgate operational policies,
rules and regulations and priorities for agrarian reform implementation
(Executive Order 129-A, Section 5(c), July 26, 1987). The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (R.A.
6657) itself mandates that:
“SECTION
49. Rules
and Regulations. – The PARC and the DAR shall have the power to issue rules
and regulations, whether substantive or procedural, to carry out the objects
and purposes of this Act. Said rules
shall take effect ten (10) days after publication in two (2) national
newspapers of general circulation.”
Thus, applying DAR Administrative Order No.
9, Series of 1993, and based on the ocular inspection and Certificate of
Ownership of Large Cattle issued by the Municipal Treasurer, the DAR exempted
219.50 hectares of the subject landholding from CARP coverage. It was found that of the 434 heads of cattle,
only 134 were over seven years of age.
Added to this number of cattle were the 28 heads of horses and carabaos,
totaling 162 heads. Accordingly, pursuant
to the one hectare per one head ratio, 162 hectares were exempted. The retention areas of the landowners
amounting to 45 hectares and the 12.50 hectares allotted for infrastructure was
also exempted.
Such
application by the DAR is in accordance with the spirit of the law and its aim
of preventing unlawful conversion of agricultural lands to escape coverage
under the CARP.
It
is well-settled that factual findings of administrative agencies, which have
acquired expertise in their field, are generally binding and conclusive upon
the Court. (Cagayan Robina Sugar Milling Co. v. Court of Appeals, 342 SCRA 663)[38]
Respondent and his co-owners filed a motion for
reconsideration of the decision, praying that the entire 349.9996 ha be
exempted from CARP coverage.
On
WHEREFORE, based on the
foregoing premises, the instant motion for reconsideration is hereby GRANTED.
The Decision of this Court promulgated on
SO ORDERED.[40]
This time the CA declared that A.O. No. 9, Series of 1993,
requires that the landholding be devoted to cattle-raising when R.A. No. 6657
took effect. It also pointed out that Section
III-B of the A.O. provides that in determining the areas qualified for
exclusion, the ratio shall be one head of livestock to one hectare of land, regardless of age. Neither the law nor the A.O. requires that the
livestock during inspection should be those that already existed on the
landholding on or before
On
landholding should be devoted to cattle-raising as of June 15, 1988” is not
entirely correct, for the law requires that it be exclusively, directly and actually used for livestock as of June 15,
1988. Under A.O. No. 9, Series of 1993, two conditions must be established:
1) It must be shown that the subject landholding was EXCLUSIVELY, DIRECTLY AND ACTUALLY used for
livestock, poultry or swine on or before
2) The farm must satisfy the ratios of land to livestock.[42]
It must be shown that the entire
landholding, and not just portions of it, should be devoted to livestock
raising. The words “regardless of age”
in the order should be interpreted to mean only those heads of cattle existing
as of
It was not proven that the
entire landholding was exclusively used for livestock as of
Moreover, out of the 434
heads of cattle found in the subject landholding as of May 1995, only 134 heads
of cattle and 28 horses and carabaos could have been present in the subject
landholding. This is based on the finding that only 134 heads of cattle were 7
years and older, and, consequently, were the only ones that could have existed
as of
The appellate court was not persuaded and resolved to deny, for
lack of merit, the motion for the reconsideration of its amended decision.[44]
The DAR, now the petitioner, filed the instant petition for
review, alleging that the appellate court erred as follows:
I
IT GAVE DUE COURSE AND GRANTED RESPONDENT’S [DR. UY] PETITION DESPITE BEING FILED OUT OF TIME.[45]
II
IT DECLARED THE ENTIRE 349.9996 HECTARE-PROPERTY OF RESPONDENT AS EXEMPT FROM COVERAGE OF THE COMPREHENSIVE AGRARIAN REFORM PROGRAM.[46]
Thus, the pivotal
issues to be resolved here are (1) whether or not the second motion for
reconsideration filed by respondent tolled the reglementary period to appeal;
and (2) whether or not the phrase “regardless of age” in Section III-B of DAR
A.O. No. 9, Series of 1993 should be reckoned from June 15, 1988, or from the date
of inspection.
On the
first issue, petitioner claims that, under the OP Rules of Procedure,
specifically the second paragraph of Section 7, A.O. No. 18, Series of 1987,
only one motion for reconsideration is allowed except in meritorious cases. Hence, the period to file the petition for
review had already expired 15 days after the denial of the first motion for
reconsideration. Petitioner insists that
the filing of the second motion for reconsideration is of no consequence since
the OP had already concluded that the case was “not exceptionally meritorious
to justify additional motions for reconsiderations.”
On the
second issue, petitioner contends that in the Luz Farms case, the entire
property therein was devoted to livestock and poultry prior to
Petitioner
further avers that it had received reports that A.O. No. 9 was issued to
prescribe the rules for exclusion of the land used for livestock production. Petitioner
posits that the order is curative in nature and retroactive in application; and
the phrase “regardless of age” refers to heads of cattle in the year 1988 and
not during actual inspection. Petitioner
argues that if the phrase were to be given any other meaning, landowners could
easily fill their land with livestock and apply for exemption, defeating the
purpose of agrarian reform. Thus, during
actual inspection, the headcount should be based on the existence of the
animals in 1988 through available records; if there be none, then the
tallying must be done according to the age of the animals alive at that time.
By way of
Comment,[47]
respondent maintains that Section 7 of A.O. No. 18, Series of 1987 does not
totally rule out a second motion for reconsideration; the governing principle
in the resolution of the case is its merits. Citing a plethora of cases, he
avers that substantial justice should overrule rules of procedure. Respondent further
points out that even his predecessor-in-interest was engaged in the business of
livestock raising on the landholding. This livestock business was evident
during the ocular inspection of the Task Force on Exclusion. Contrary to petitioner’s claim, he does have a business permit, and the absence
of the articles of incorporation is irrelevant because no corporate personality
is involved here.
Respondent further
asserts that the 20 ha planted with coconut trees is a minimal part of the
349.9996 ha. The diminutive size of the
area is in keeping with the purpose of providing shade to the animals and the
young leaves used as fodder when grasses are scarce during dry weather. Respondent also asserts that the DAR
interpretation of the phrase “regardless of age” referring to the year 1988 is
an “amendment under the guise of interpretation.” He emphasized that since the law
does not distinguish, petitioner should not distinguish. He argues that the DAR
interpretation falls short of acceptability even on practical considerations,
because in the business of raising livestock, the inventory is never fixed at
any given time especially for long periods, i.e., seven years. It constantly
changes either due to natural causes prevalent in the business or the interplay
of market forces or the peace and order condition within the area.
The petition is partially granted.
In Land
Car, Inc. v. Bachelor Express Inc. and Vallacar Transit, Inc.,[48]
the Court ruled that the doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies
empowers the OP to review any determination or disposition of a department
head. In fact, the doctrine requires an
administrative decision to first be appealed to the administrative superiors up
to the highest level before it may be elevated to a court of justice for
review. Thus, if a remedy within the
administrative machinery can still be had by giving the administrative officer
concerned every opportunity to decide on the matter that comes within his
jurisdiction, then such remedy should be priorly exhausted before the court's
judicial power is invoked.[49]
Appeals to
the OP are governed by A.O. No. 18, Series of 1987. Section 7 thereof, provides the rule on filing
a motion for reconsideration:
Sec. 7 Decisions/resolutions/orders of the Office of the President shall, except as otherwise provided for by special laws, become final after the lapse of fifteen (15) days from receipt of a copy thereof by the parties, unless a motion for reconsideration thereof is filed within such period.
Only one motion for reconsideration by any one party shall be allowed and entertained, save in exceptionally meritorious cases.
It is clear
then that only one motion for reconsideration is allowed to be filed from a
decision, resolution or order of the OP. However, the filing of a second motion for
reconsideration is not absolutely prohibited. A second motion for
reconsideration is allowed in exceptionally meritorious cases.[50]
Furthermore,
the explanation of the OP that the second motion for reconsideration deserves
scant merit because the “grounds therein are not
substantially different from the same ones discussed in the first motion for
reconsideration” is untenable.
A rehash of
arguments may not necessarily be pro forma per se. In Security Bank
and Trust Company, Inc. v. Cuenca,[51]
the Court declared that a motion for reconsideration is not pro forma
just because it reiterated the arguments earlier passed upon and rejected by
the appellate court; a movant may raise the same arguments precisely to
convince the court that its ruling was erroneous.[52]
The Court also held that the pro forma rule will not be applicable if
the arguments were not sufficiently passed upon and answered in the decision
sought to be reconsidered, and elucidated the raison d’ etre of the pro
forma principle as follows:
x x x a pro forma motion had no other purpose than to gain time and to delay or impede the proceedings. Hence, “where the circumstances of a case do not show an intent on the part of the movant merely to delay the proceedings, our Court has refused to characterize the motion as simply pro forma.” x x x
We note finally that because the doctrine relating to pro forma motions for reconsideration impacts upon the reality and substance of the statutory right of appeal, that doctrine should be applied reasonably, rather than literally. The right to appeal, where it exists, is an important and valuable right. Public policy would be better served by according the appellate court an effective opportunity to review the decision of the trial court on the merits, rather than by aborting the right to appeal by a literal application of the procedural rules relating to pro forma motions for reconsideration.
Respondent certainly
did not intend to delay the proceedings here; in fact, it would adversely
affect his cause if he were to delay his appeal to the regular courts because
he would certainly lose vast tracts of land which are integral elements of his trade. In this case, not only was a second motion for
reconsideration allowed by the OP rules, more importantly, the OP decision and
the order denying the first motion for reconsideration failed to provide its
basis in law. The ends of justice would have been served if the OP
decision did more than copy the DAR order and turned toward the important
issues presented before it.
In any event,
even if we considered the second motion for reconsideration as pro forma
or not “exceptionally meritorious,” the argument of petitioner would still be
untenable. It is settled that rules of procedure are, as a matter of course,
construed liberally in proceedings before administrative bodies. Thus,
technical rules of procedure imposed in judicial proceedings are unavailing in
cases before administrative bodies. Administrative
bodies are not bound by the technical niceties of law and procedure and the rules
obtaining in the courts of law. Rules of
procedure are not to be applied in a very rigid and technical manner, as they are
used only to help secure and not to override substantial justice.[53]
It bears stressing that the threshold
substantive issue is the validity and implementation of DAR Administrative
Order No. 9, Series of 1993 on the respondent’s landholding of more or less 472
ha in light of the ruling of this Court in Department
of Agrarian Reform v. Sutton,[54]
where DAR Administrative Order No. 9, Series of 1993 was declared unconstitutional.
The
fundamental rule in administrative law is that, to be valid, administrative rules and regulations must be issued by
authority of law and must not contravene
the provisions of the Constitution. The rule-making power of an
administrative agency may not be used to abridge the authority given to it by
Congress or by the Constitution. Nor can
it be used to enlarge the power of the
administrative agency beyond the scope intended. Constitutional and statutory
provisions control with respect to what rules and regulations may be
promulgated by administrative agencies and the scope of their regulations.
In
the case at bar, we find that the impugned A.O. is invalid as it contravenes
the Constitution. The A.O. sought to regulate livestock farms by including them
in the coverage of agrarian reform and prescribing a maximum retention limit
for their ownership. However, the deliberations of the 1987 Constitutional
Commission show a clear intent to exclude, inter alia, all lands exclusively
devoted to livestock, swine and poultry-raising. The Court clarified in the
Luz Farms case that livestock, swine
and poultry-raising are industrial activities and do not fall within the
definition of ”agriculture” or “agricultural activity.” The raising of
livestock, swine and poultry is different from crop or tree farming. It is an
industrial, not an agricultural, activity. A great portion of the investment in
this enterprise is in the form of industrial fixed assets, such as: animal
housing structures and facilities, drainage, waterers and blowers, feedmill
with grinders, mixers, conveyors, exhausts and generators, extensive
warehousing facilities for feeds and other supplies, anti-pollution equipment
like bio-gas and digester plants augmented by lagoons and concrete ponds,
deepwells, elevated water tanks, pumphouses, sprayers, and other technological
appurtenances.
Clearly,
petitioner DAR has no power to regulate
livestock farms which have been exempted by the Constitution from the coverage
of agrarian reform. It has exceeded its power in issuing the assailed A.O.
The
subsequent case of Natalia Realty, Inc.
v. DAR reiterated our ruling in the Luz
Farms case. In Natalia Realty, the
Court held that industrial, commercial and residential lands are not covered by
the CARL. We stressed anew that while
Section 4 of R.A. No. 6657 provides that the CARL shall cover all public and
private agricultural lands, the term “agricultural land” does not include lands
classified as mineral, forest, residential, commercial or industrial. Thus,
in Natalia Realty, even portions of
the Antipolo Hills Subdivision, which are arable
yet still undeveloped, could not be considered as agricultural lands
subject to agrarian reform as these lots were already classified as residential
lands.
A
similar logical deduction should be followed in the case at bar. Lands devoted
to raising of livestock, poultry and swine have been classified as industrial,
not agricultural, lands and thus exempt from agrarian reform. Petitioner DAR
argues that, in issuing the impugned A.O. it was seeking to address the reports
it has received that some unscrupulous landowners have been converting their
agricultural lands to livestock farms to avoid their coverage by the agrarian
reform. Again, we find neither merit nor logic in this contention. The undesirable scenario which petitioner
seeks to prevent with the issuance of the A.O. clearly does not apply in this
case. Respondents’ family acquired their landholdings as early as 1948. They
have long been in the business of breeding cattle in
Moreover,
it is a fundamental rule of statutory construction that the reenactment of a
statute by Congress without substantial change is an implied legislative
approval and adoption of the previous law. On the other hand, by making a new
law, Congress seeks to supersede an earlier one. In the case at bar, after the
passage of the 1988 CARL, Congress enacted R.A. No. 7881 which amended certain
provisions of the CARL. Specifically, the
new law changed the definition of the terms “agricultural activity” and
“commercial farming” by dropping from its coverage lands that are devoted to
commercial livestock, poultry and swine-raising. With this significant
modification, Congress clearly sought to align the provisions of our agrarian
laws with the intent of the 1987 Constitutional Commission to exclude livestock
farms from the coverage of agrarian reform.
In sum, it is doctrinal that rules of administrative bodies must be in
harmony with the provisions of the Constitution. They cannot amend or extend
the Constitution. To be valid, they must conform to and be consistent with the
Constitution. In case of conflict between an administrative order and the
provisions of the Constitution, the latter prevails. The assailed A.O. of
petitioner DAR was properly stricken down as unconstitutional as it enlarges
the coverage of agrarian reform beyond the scope intended by the 1987
Constitution.[55]
The Report[56]
of MARO Babalcon clearly declared that 346 ha are used for grazing of the 429
heads of livestock; and indicated that the density required on commercial
farming as far as the number of livestock is concerned was satisfied. This was confirmed in the DAR Order stating
that the land has been devoted to livestock-raising since its acquisition in
1979, and that the 20 ha planted with coconut trees are simultaneously used as
pasture land. These facts are borne by the records and undisputed by the
parties. The courts generally accord great respect, if not finality, to factual
findings of administrative agencies because of their special knowledge and
expertise over matters falling under their jurisdiction.[57]
It is not uncommon for an enormous landholding to be
intermittently planted with trees, and this would not necessarily detract it
from the purpose of livestock farming and be immediately considered as an
agricultural land. It would be
surprising if there were no trees on the land. Also, petitioner did not adduce any proof to
show that the coconut trees were planted by respondent and used for
agricultural business or were already existing when the land was purchased in
1979. In the present case, the area planted with coconut trees bears an
insignificant value to the area used for the cattle and other livestock-raising,
including the infrastructure needed for the business. There can be no presumption, other than that
the “coconut area” is indeed used for shade and to augment the supply of fodder
during the warm months; any other use would be only be incidental to livestock
farming. The
substantial quantity of livestock heads could only mean that respondent is
engaged in farming for this purpose. The single conclusion gathered here is that
the land is entirely devoted to livestock farming and exempted from the CARP.
This
Court’s ruling in the Luz Farms case
and Natalia Realty, Inc. v. DAR[58]
was emphatic on the exemption from CARP of land devoted to residential,
commercial and industrial purposes without any other qualifications. Moreover, after the passage of the 1988 CARL,
Congress enacted R.A. No. 7881, amending certain provisions of the CARL. Specifically, the new law changed the
definition of the terms “agricultural activity” and “commercial farming” by
dropping from its coverage lands that are devoted to commercial livestock,
poultry and swine-raising. With this significant modification, Congress clearly
sought to align the provisions of our agrarian laws with the intent of the 1987
Constitutional Commission to exclude livestock farms from the coverage of
agrarian reform.[59]
Notably,
however, a careful review of the records of the case reveal that the Notice of Coverage,
the Investigation Report by MARO Babalcon and Report of PARO Ubeda, the DAR Order,
and the OP Decision referred only to the 349.9996-ha landholding covered by TCT
No. 160988. There is no showing in the
records that the landholding covered by TCT No. 11948 had been included for CARP
coverage; or that any investigation had been conducted by the MARO or PARO on whether
such landholding is exempt from CARP coverage. The Court notes that respondent sought exemption of their
property covered by TCT No. 11948 only in their letter dated August 11, 1995
when they appealed from the Report of the PARO. Absent any evidence showing
that this land was investigated by the DAR, there can be no basis as to whether
the said landholding is exempt from CARP coverage or not.
IN LIGHT OF THE FOREGOING, the
instant petition is PARTIALLY GRANTED. The Amended Decision of the Court of Appeals in
CA-G.R. SP No. 70541 exempting the parcel of land under TCT No. T-160988 with
an area of 349.9996 hectares from coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law is AFFIRMED. However, the Amended
Decision exempting the 22.2639-hectare landholding covered by TCT No. 11948 from
the coverage of the CARP is REVERSED and SET ASIDE.
No
pronouncement as to costs.
SO ORDERED.
ROMEO J.
CALLEJO, SR.
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
CONSUELO
YNARES-SANTIAGO
Associate
Justice
MA. ALICIA AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ MINITA V. CHICO-NAZARIO
Associate Justice
Associate Justice
ATTESTATION
I attest that the conclusions in the
above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to
the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO
Associate
Justice
Chairperson
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the
Constitution and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, it is hereby certified
that the conclusions in the above Decision were reached in consultation before
the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice
[1] On
[2] Penned by Associate Justice Elvi John S.
[3] Rollo, p. 35.
[4] By Renato C. Corona, in his capacity as Chief
Presidential Legal Counsel/Deputy Executive Secretary, id. at 45-50.
[5] By Ernesto D. Garilao, in his capacity as
Secretary; id. at 40-44.
[6] G.R. No. 86889,
[7] Otherwise known as Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law of 1988.
[8] Supra note 6, at 59.
[9]
Entitled “Rules and Regulations Governing the Exclusion of Agricultural Lands
Used for Livestock, Poultry and Swine-Raising From the Coverage of the
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP)”; CA rollo, pp. 141-147.
[10]
[11] Water buffalo.
[12] CA rollo, p.143. (emphasis supplied)
[13]
[14]
[15]
[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
[25] Rollo, pp. 40-44.
[26]
[27] CA rollo, p. 54.
[28]
[29]
[30] Rollo, pp. 54-56.
[31]
G.R. No. 109645,
[32] CA rollo, p. 66.
[33]
[34]
[35] Rollo, p. 68.
[36]
[37]
[38]
[39]
[40]
[41]
[42]
[43] CA rollo, pp. 261-267.
[44] Rollo, p. 35.
[45]
[46]
[47]
[48] G.R.
No. 154377,
[49]
[50] Amadore v. Romulo, G.R. No. 161608,
[51] G.R.
No. 138544,
[52]
[53] Supra note 50, at 412-413.
[54] G.R.
No. 12070,
[55]
[56] Supra
note 17.
[57] Junio v. Garilao, G.R. No. 147146,
[58] G.R.
No. 103302,
[59] Supra note 54, at 401.