E-Library - Information At Your Fingertips: Printer Friendly 14 of 18 http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocsfriendly/1/65663 Moreover, Annex I of the petition for certiorari shows that the previous attempts of some applicants and their predecessors to reopen Case No. 211 were dismissed as shown below: Name Date Filed Date Dismissed 1) Samuel Baliwan Dec. 27, 1968 Aug. 15, 1970 2) Tommy Banguillas, predecessor of Pablo Ramos, Jr. May 6, 1965 June 19, 1967 3) Josephine Abanag Jan. 9, 1961 July 9, 1963 4) Sergio Molintas, predecessor of Josephine Abanag Dec. 26, 1968 Oct. 31, 1974 5) Josephine Abanag April 26, 1966 Nov. 12, 1974 6) Lagya Paris Oct. 15, 1965 Nov. 13, 1974 In the case of Abanag, she succeeded to two lots claimed by Sumay and Molintas for which Torrens titles were issued in Case No. 211 on October 21, 1919 (Annexes J and K of Petition). The lots, which Abanag now seeks to register, were not previously claimed by her predecessors in Case No. 211 (p. 33, Sol. Gen.'s Memo). We hold that the trial court erred in requiring the presentation of evidence as to the notice required under Act No. 627. Such evidence cannot be produced at this time because the court record of Case No. 211 was completely destroyed during the last war. Anyway, the applicants have the burden of proving that their predecessors were living upon or in visible possession of the lands in 1915 and were not served any notice. If they have such evidence, apart from unreliable oral testimony, they should have produced it during the hearing on the motions to dismiss. To support his motions to dismiss, the Solicitor General introduced evidence proving that after Case No. 211 it has always been necessary to issue Presidential proclamations for the disposition of portions of the Baguio Townsite Reservation (Annex E of Petition). The period of more than fifty years completely bars the applicants from securing relief due to the alleged lack of personal notice to their predecessors. The law helps the vigilant but not those who sleep on their rights. "For time is a means of destroying obligations and actions, 4/23/2020, 8:53 AM