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Jose Ma. Ansaldo Vs. Francisco S. Tantuico, Jr., Et Al.

JOSE MA. ANSALDO, for himself and as attorney-in-fact of Maria Angela Ansaldo, petitioners, vs. FRANCISCO S. TANTUICO, JR., Acting Chairman, Commission on Audit, and BALTAZAR AQUINO, Minister of Public Highways, respondents.

G.R. No. 50147 | 1990-08-03

D E C I S I O N


NARVASA, J.:

This expropriation case is quite unique. Two lots of private ownership were taken by the Government and used for the widening of a road more than forty-three years ago, without benefit of an action of eminent domain or agreement with its owners, albeit without protest by the latter.

The lots belong to the petitioners, Jose Ma. Ansaldo and Maria Angela Ansaldo, are covered by title in their names, 1 and have an aggregate area of 1,041 square meters. These lots were taken from the Ansaldos sometime in 1947 by the Department of Public Works, Transportation and Communication and made part of what used to be...