BAR QUESTION:
Maria Enriquez failed to pay the realty taxes on her unregistered agricultural land located in Magdugo, Toledo City. In 1989, to satisfy the taxes due, the City sold it at public auction to Juan Miranda, an employee at the Treasurer’s Office of said City, whose bid at P10,000.00 was the highest. In due time, a final bill of sale was executed in his favor. Maria refused to turn-over the possession of the property to Juan alleging that (1) she had been, in the meantime, granted a free patent and on the basis thereof an Original Certificate of Title was issued to her, and (2) the sale in favor of Juan is void from the beginning in view of the provision in the employees of the government from purchasing directly or indirectly any property sold by the government for nonpayment of any tax, fee or other public charge.
(a) Is the sale to Juan valid? If so, what is the effect of the Issuance of the Certificate of Title to Maria?
(b) If the sale is void, may Juan recover the P10,000.00? If not, why not?
(c) If the sale is void, did it not nevertheless, operate to divert Maria of her ownership? If it did, who then is the owner of the property?
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
A. The sale of the land to Juan is not valid, being contrary to law. Therefore, no transfer of ownership of the land was effected from the delinquent taxpayer to him. The original certificates of title obtained by Maria thru a free patent grant from the Bureau of Lands under Chapter VII, CA 141 is valid but in view of her delinquency, the said title is subject to the right of the City Government to sell the land at public auction. The issuance of the OCT did not exempt the land from the tax sales. Section 44 of P.O. No. 1529 provides that every registered owner receiving a Certificate of Title shall hold the same free from an encumbrances, subject to certain exemptions.
B. Juan may recover because he was not a party to the violation of the law.
C. No, the sale did not divest Maria of her title precisely because the sale is void. It is as good as if no sale ever took place. In tax sales, the owner is divested of his land initially upon award and issuance of a Certificate of Sale, and finally after the lapse of the 1 year period from date of registration, to redeem, upon execution by the treasurer of an instrument sufficient in form and effects to convey the property. Maria remained owner of the land until another tax sale is to be performed in favor of a qualified buyer.