Back

Republic of the Phils. Vs. Arsenio M. Gonong, et al.

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, petitioner, vs. THE HONORABLE ARSENIO M. GONONG and IGLESIA NI CRISTO, respondents.

G.R. No. L-56025 | 1982-11-25

D E C I S I O N


MELENCIO-HERRERA, J.:

The issue posed herein again revolves around the prohibition in Section 11, Article XIV of the 1973 Constitution that "no private corporation or association may hold alienable lands of the public domain except by lease not to exceed one thousand hectares in area."

On March 17, 1980, the Iglesia ni Kristo, represented by its Executive Minister Erano G. Manalo, a corporation sole (Iglesia, for short), filed with the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte an application, under Section 48(b) of the Public Land Law, for registration of a parcel of land with an area of 922 square meters, located in Bo....