SC orders DepEd to vacate Cagayan land, return to owner

The Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Education (DepEd) to vacate a 10,637-square-meter parcel of land in Cagayan and return it to its rightful owner, Princess Joama Marcosa Caleda.

The high court ruled that DepEd does not have the permission of the owner, who possesses a stronger legal claim on the land.

Caleda acquired the land through a legal settlement and sale, and discovered DepEd's occupation when she went to survey her property.

After DepEd failed to respond to her demand letters, Caleda filed a case to recover possession of the land.

Previous courts had ruled in favor of Caleda, affirming her superior right to the property.

The Supreme Court's Second Division denied DepEd's petition for review in a decision penned by Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen.

The high tribunal clarified that its findings were provisional and only referred to the recovery of the property's possession.