Government v. Cabangis

53 Phil. 112

FACTS: In 1986, A owned a parcel of land, but because of the action of the waves of  Manila Bay, part of said land was gradually submerged in the sea. It remained submerged until 1912 when the government decided to make the necessary dredging to reclaim the land from the sea. As soon as the land had been recovered A took possession of it.


ISSUE: To which does the ownership of the reclaimed land belong to?

HELD: The government owns the reclaimed land in the sense that it has become property of public dominion, because in letting it remained submerged, A may be said to have abandoned the same. Having become part of the sea or the seashore, it became property for public use. When the government took steps to make it land again, its status as public dominion remained unchanged; therefore, A is not entitled to the land.