LAND BANK OF PHILIPPINES v. ORLANDO R. BALDOZA

FACTS:

Orlando Baldoza is the owner of one-half undivided portions of Lot No. 42 and Lot No. 49 in Manjuyod, Negros Oriental. The undivided portions of the lots are owned in common by the heirs of Spouses Jaime Baldoza and Violeta Baldoza. Baldoza and the Heirs of Baldoza offered their lots to be placed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), which was accepted by the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR). The Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) fixed the initial valuation of the lots, but the respondents refused to accept the offer as they believed the valuation was below the just compensation. The respondents filed a petition for determination of just compensation before the Regional Trial Court - Special Agrarian Court (RTC-SAC). The RTC-SAC appointed Commissioners to ascertain the valuation factors, and the Commissioners determined the valuation of the lots based on the average selling price for sugar and molasses. The RTC-SAC ruled in favor of the respondents and directed LBP to pay the remaining balance of just compensation with 12% interest. LBP filed a petition for review before the Court of Appeals (CA), which granted the petition and affirmed the ruling of the DAR Adjudication Board (DARAB). The CA deleted the interest on just compensation but retained the liability of the respondents to pay commissioners' fees. Petitioner filed a Petition for Review on Certiorari before the Supreme Court, questioning its liability to pay commissioners' fees.

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