FACTS:

The petitioners are challenging the Court of Appeals' decision which dismissed their petition for annulment of judgment. The case originated from respondent Francisco Viloria's petition for a new owner's duplicate copy of Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. T-16156, which he claimed was lost. Viloria asserted that he was the registered owner of a parcel of land covered by TCT No. T-16156 and that the duplicate copy was irretrievably lost due to termite infestation. Viloria sought a declaration of the nullity of the lost duplicate copy and requested the issuance of a new one. The trial court granted Viloria's petition and instructed the Register of Deeds to provide a new owner's duplicate copy of TCT No. T-16156. The order became final and executory, and a new owner's duplicate copy was subsequently issued. Afterward, Viloria sold the property to Ruben Marty. The petitioners, who asserted to be the true possessors and owners of the land, filed a petition for the annulment of judgment, alleging lack of jurisdiction and extrinsic fraud. The Court of Appeals dismissed the petition for lacking merit.

ISSUES:

1. Whether the trial court had jurisdiction to issue the Order directing the issuance of a new owner's duplicate copy of TCT No. T-16156.

RULING:

1. The Court of Appeals ruled that the trial court had jurisdiction to issue the Order directing the issuance of a new owner's duplicate copy of TCT No. T-16156. This ruling was based on Section 109 of Presidential Decree No. 1529, which provides that the Register of Deeds has the authority to issue another owner's duplicate copy of a lost title upon payment of the corresponding fees. The CA held that the trial court correctly applied this provision and thereby had jurisdiction over the petition for the issuance of a new owner's duplicate copy of TCT No. T-16156.

PRINCIPLES:

• A trial court has jurisdiction to issue an order directing the issuance of a new owner's duplicate copy of a lost title under Section 109 of Presidential Decree No. 1529.