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Republic of the Philippines vs Vicente G. Lim (RESOLUTION)

REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, GENERAL ROMEO ZULUETA, COMMODORE EDGARDO GALEOS, ANTONIO CABALUNA, DOROTEO MANTOS & FLORENCIO BELOTINDOS, Petitioners, versus VICENTE G. LIM, Respondent.

G.R. No. 161656 | 2005-06-29

R E S O L U T I O N

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, J.:

Justice is the first virtue of social institutions.[1] When the state wields its power of eminent domain, there arises a correlative obligation on its part to pay the owner of the expropriated property a 

just compensation. If it fails, there is a clear case of injustice that must be redressed. In the present case, fifty-seven (57) years have lapsed from the time the Decision in the subject expropriation proceedings became final, but still the Republic of the Philippines, herein petitioner, has not compensated the owner of the property. To tolerate such prolonged inaction on its part is to...