Group 1 Final Complaint
Group 1 Final Complaint
PERCIVAL CHAN,
Plaintiff
Civil Case No. B-1234
-versus- FOR: Annulment of Deed of
Sale, Cancel Transfer Certificate
of Title, Reconveyance and Damages
X—---------------------------------X
COMPLAINT
ULTIMATE FACTS
The grounds for this action are as follows:
I. The plaintiff asserts that the defendant, Eva Tan, unlawfully and
illegally sold a parcel of land (Lot 143143) situated in BLK 1, LOT
12, Pinya Street, Brgy. Diliman, Quezon City, which was originally
and lawfully owned by the plaintiff. The sale was purportedly
facilitated with fraud through a falsified Notarized Special Power
of Attorney (SPA) and other fraudulent documents, without the
plaintiff's knowledge or consent, to the damage and injury of the
latter.
II. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant, Jose Dy, acted in bad faith
by participating in the fraudulent transaction by purchasing the
property from Eva Tan, well-aware of the fraudulent means
employed, the illegitimacy of the sale, and the plaintiff's rightful
ownership, which constitutes a grave misconduct on his part as a
lawyer.
III. The plaintiff emphasizes that the sale was impossible to execute as
he was residing in Hawaii, USA, during the purported sale period
and did not authorize Eva Tan to sell the property. Furthermore,
the plaintiff asserts that Eva Tan falsely declared his death due to
COVID-19 in 2020, which has caused injury and damage to the
plaintiff.
IV. The plaintiff seeks the annulment of the Deed of Sale, cancellation
of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 12345, reconveyance of the
subject property, and pray for appropriate damages as may be
determined by the court.
THE PARTIES
2. For purposes of this action, the plaintiff may be served with orders,
issuances, and other court processes through its counsel, ATTY.
JOHAN ANDRE B. ACUBA with address at #143 Paseo Street,
Alabang, Muntinlupa City.
JURISDICTIONAL FACTS
ALLEGATIONS COMMON TO
ALL CAUSES OF ACTION
6. That on the said lot is situated the Ancestral Shrine of the Chan
Family, where heirlooms are secretly kept and maintained, with an
immeasurable sentimental value, which was entrusted to his land
caretaker, herein defendant, Eva Tan;
7. That herein defendant, Jose Dy, illegally purchased said lot from
Eva Tan on March 2, 2020 through a Falsified Notarized Special
Power of Attorney (SPA) (Annex “C”) as per the records of the
Absolute Deed of Sale (Annex “D”) with knowledge on the
illegalities employed by Eva Tan because he is a lawyer and he lives
in the same street and barangay as the plaintiff;
10. That the sale of the land is unlawful and invalid, thus void ab
initio, because it was maliciously obtained by Eva Tan, through the
said Falsified Notarized SPA (Annex “C”) which is attested to by
Ali Chan-Rio (Annex “F”) and that Jose Dy bought in in bad faith,
with knowledge of the injustice and damage that will be acquired
by herein plaintiff;
11. That petitioner was at Hawaii, USA during the date of said sale
between Jose Dy and Eva Tan as attested by Dr. Mario Maurer
(Annex “G”) and the sale was impossible because:
12. On January 19, 2023, the plaintiff went home to the Philippines with
his niece and nephews and was excited to show them the heirlooms,
but to his dismay, said shrine was gone and his beloved land was
occupied;
13. That to their surprise, a law firm, ABC Law, owned by Jose Dy, was
put up on the said lot, to the damage and prejudice of the plaintiff;
14. That through the terrible news coming from his neighbors, he was
informed that Eva Tan announced sometime in 2020 that he already
passed away due to COVID in 2020 and ever since, the latter has
long vanished from Brgy. Diliman, and that his lot is already owned
by Jose Dy, a lawyer by profession;
15. That said news made his relatives from Hawaii look disappointed
through their stares and remarks: “What the fuck uncle!? Ang
tanga naman! Wala na pala tayong mababalikan sa Pinas! The
hell!” for having lost said ancestral property which had worsened
his health condition resulting in his hospitalization for one month at
St. Benedict Medical Center (Annex “I”);
16. Thus, on January 30, 2023, through herein counsel, the plaintiff
referred the matter to Iskolar Moreno (Capt. Isko), the Barangay
Captain of Brgy. Diliman;
19. Art. 449 and Art. 450 of the New Civil Code provide:
Article 449. He who builds, plants or sows in bad faith on the
and of another, loses what is built, planted or sown without
right to indemnity. (362)1
20. Plaintiff repleads and adopts by way of reference all of the foregoing
allegations in so far as they are material hereto.
1
Article 449 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines
2
Article 450 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines
21. In Sps. Claro and Nida Bautista vs. Berlinda F. Silva, represented by
Hermes J. Dorado, G.R. No. 157434, 19 September 2006,3 the Court
ruled that a purchaser in good faith cannot rely merely on the face
of the title when one or two of the following conditions are not
present: (1) the seller is the registered owner of the parcel of land;
(2) the latter is in possession thereof; and (3) the buyer has no
knowledge as to any claim or interest of third persons in the
property, or of any restriction or defect in the title of the seller or
in the latter’s capacity to convey title to the property. The Court
further stated that in the absence of any of the above-said
conditions, a higher degree of diligence must have been exercised
by the buyer through scrutiny of the certificate of title and of all
other factual circumstances to determine the capacity of the seller to
dispose of the property. In fact, the Court further ruled:
xxx
3
G.R. No. 157434, 19 September 2006
22.1.1. He personally knows that Eva Tan is not the registered
owner of the lot;
22.1.2. That Eva Tan is in possession thereof while he
personally knows that it is registered under Percy Chan;
22.1.3. That he has knowledge as to any claim or interest of
third persons in the property, or of any restriction or
defect in the title of the seller or in the latter’s capacity
to convey title to the property.
23. Jose Dy, being a lawyer and a neighbor of the plaintiff, had a
heightened duty of diligence to ensure the validity of the
transaction. His failure to exercise due diligence in verifying the
capacity of Eva Tan to sell the property renders him liable under
Articles 449 and 450 of the New Civil Code, as interpreted by
relevant jurisprudence;
25. The Court ruled in Gatmaytan v. Misibis Land, Inc.5 that the law thus
creates the obligation of the trustee to reconvey the property and
its title in favor of the true owner. An action for reconveyance of
property based on an implied constructive trust prescribes in ten
(10) years, in accordance with Article 1144(2) of the Civil Code,
which states that that an action involving an obligation created by
law must be brought within ten (10) years from the time the right of
action accrues.
26. Jose Dy, being a buyer in bad faith, should return the said property
to its rightful owner, Percy Chan, through the canceling of TCT
12345 and the annulment of Absolute Deed of Sale between her
and Eva Tan, reconveyance of TCT 12345 and to give moral and
exemplary damages that the Court would rightfully determine to
give the justice the plaintiff lawfully and rightfully deserves on the
basis of justice, equity and fair play.
4
Article 1456 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines
5
G.R. No. 222166, June 10, 2020
28. To take care of the averred property was an obligation that should
be fulfilled by Eva Tan. However, in the tenor of her fulfillment of
performance of the latter, she is guilty of fraud. Wherefore, the law
is clear on giving damages to Percy Chan for the fraud she has done.
30. The facts of this case are clear and all the necessary requisites for
the issuance annulment of the Absolute Deed of Sale, cancel the
Transfer Certificate of Title, as well as the reconveyance of the
subject property to the plaintiff are present as per the requisites
provided in Sps. Claro and Nida Bautista vs. Berlinda F. Silva.6
31. Currently, the market value of the lot is continuously changing due
to its strategic location.
WITNESSES
I. ALI CHAN-RIO
1. That I am the NIECE of PERCIVAL CHAN;
2. That on February 2, 2018, my uncle has been living with me
until January 18, 2023 since his visit in Hawaii to attend my
wedding on March 10, 2018;
3. That the accused, Eva Tan of BLK 1, LOT 2, Apple St., , Brgy.
Sunshine, Quezon City, is known to me personally since she is
the trusted caretaker of my uncle’s lot now registered as TCT
12345;
4. That on January 19, 2023, with other relatives, we went home
to the Philippines together with my uncle, Percy Chan, where
we were informed by a neighbor that Eva Tan, sometime in
2020, spreaded the news that my uncle is already dead due to
COVID in 2020;
5. That after having been entrusted by the said lot of my uncle,
Percival Tan, Eva Tan took that opportunity to sell said land
using a falsified Notarized Special Power of Attorney (SPA)
to Jose Dy on March 2, 2020 by using a Falsified
Authorization Letter;
6. That she sold said property to Jose Dy, a famous lawyer in our
place and our neighbor as well since I was a child;
7. That said lot contained our Ancestral Shrine where heirlooms
of immeasurable sentimental quantity and value are kept;
8. That I executed this affidavit to attest the truthfulness of the
foregoing facts and to support the filing of a civil case against
Jose Dy and Eva Tan for the annulment of Deed of Sale,
cancellation of TCT 12345 and its reconveyance of the said lot
registered under TCT 12345 and not to harass, cause
unnecessary delay or increase the cost of litigation.
9. registered under TCT 12345 without an intention to cause
6
Ibid
32. In order to support his causes of action, the plaintiff hereby submits
the following documentary and object evidence marked herein as
Annexes A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I, J, K and L of this complaint.
RESERVATION
PRAYER
6. That other such remedies are consistent with law and equity
be granted.
2. The facts stated in the above complaint are true and correct to
the best of my knowledge and authentic records;
___________________
Percival Chan
Affiant
JURAT
SUBSCRIBED and sworn to before me, this 16th day of February 2024, in
Quezon City by Percival Chan with Passport No. PH135790, issued on
January 3, 2018, at DFA NCR North, Novaliches, Quezon City.
Doc No. 28
Page No. 5
Book No. III
Series of 2024
Annex “A”
Transfer Certificate of Title No. 12345
ANNEX “B”
Tax Declaration No. 246810
Annex “C”
SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY
To sell, offer for sale, and come to an agreement as to the purchase price
and thereafter to sign for us and in our name and receive payment from
the sale of our property more particularly described as follows: Parcel
of land with Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 12345, with a lot
area of Two Hundred Twenty Five (225) square meters.
WITNESS MY HAND AND SEAL, on the date and place first above
written.
This Deed of Sale is made and executed this March 2, 2020 by and
between:
and -
JOSE DY, of legal age, Filipino, and a resident of BLK 1, LOT 13,
Pinya Street, Brgy. Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines, hereinafter
referred to as the "BUYER";
WITNESSETH:
1. The SELLER hereby sells, transfers, and conveys to the BUYER, his
heirs, successors, and assigns, the property covered by Tax
Declaration No. 246810 situated in Quezon City, Philippines,
together with all the improvements thereon, free from all liens and
encumbrances;
5. This Deed of Sale shall be binding upon the parties, their heirs,
successors, and assigns;
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto set their
hands on the day and year first above written in Quezon City, Philippines.
SELLER BUYER
WITNESS WITNESS
AUTHORIZATION TO SELL
LOCATION: BLK 1, LOT 12, Pinya Street, Brgy. Diliman, Quezon City;
That all expenses related to this sale will be shouldered on whatever gains
received beyond the fixed price agreed to both parties.
OWNER/ SELLER:
PERCIVAL CHAN
CONFORME:
______________________________
WITNESSED:
AFFIDAVIT OF UNDERTAKING
3. That the accused, Eva Tan of BLK 1, LOT 2, Apple St., , Brgy.
Sunshine, Quezon City, is known to me personally since she is the
trusted caretaker of my uncle’s lot now registered as TCT 12345;
6. That she sold said property to Jose Dy, a famous lawyer in our
place and our neighbor as well whonis known to me personally;
_________Ali Chan-Rio______
Affiant
SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN TO before me this 3rd day of January, 2024
in Quezon, City, Philippines, affiant exhibiting to me his/her competent
evidence of identity by way of _Permanent Residency Card__with ID
Number USCIS# 563-928-005 issued at Quezon, City on January 3, 2024.
Doc. No. 1;
Page No.2;
Book No. 123;
Series of 2024
TRAVEL HISTORY
Annex “I”
CERTIFICATE OF CONFINEMENT