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Sama and Masanglay vs. People [SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION, LEONEN, J.]

DIOSDADO SAMA Y HINUPAS AND BANDY MASANGLAY Y ACEVEDA, PETITIONERS, VS. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, RESPONDENT.

G.R. No. 224469 | 2021-01-05

SEPARATE CONCURRING OPINION
 
"Such arrogance to say that you own
the land, when you are owned by it!
How can you own that which outlive
s you? Only the people own the land
because only the people live forever.
To claim a place is the birthright of
everyone. Even the lowly animals
have their own place...how much
more when we talk of human
beings?"

Macli-ing Dulag, Pangat, Butbut
Tribe, Bugnay, Kalinga[1]

LEONEN, J.:

I concur that petitioners should be acquitted of the crime charged. I contribute to the discussion of the erudite ponente, Associate Justice Amy C. Lazaro-Javier, a disquisition on the pre-colonial experience and...