Macawiwili Gold Mining and Dev. Co., et al v. Court of
Appeals
G.R. No. 115104 October 12, 1998
FACTS:
The Supreme Court recognized the possessory right of
Macawiwili and Omico over mining claims in Benguet as against Philex Mining
Corp. On the surface of these mining claims,Philex owned improvements
consisting of roads, facilities, and bunkhouses that were used byPhilex in its
other mining claims. Philex sought to expropriate the surface of the area
wherethese improvements were located pursuant to Section 59 of PD 463.
HELD:
The land cannot be expropriated. Expropriation demands that
the land be private land.When the Supreme Court awarded the possessory rights
over the land to Macawiwili andOmico, it stripped the land of its private
character and gave it its public character – to be utilizedfor mining
operations. Property already devoted to public use may be expropriated only if
donedirectly by the national legislature or under a specific grant of authority
to the delegate. Theauthority granted by PD 463 is merely general and will not
suffice.
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