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ISSUE: Ruling:
G.R. NO. 195670. DECEMBER 3, 2012. Whether or not the Court erred in NOT SUSTAINING THE
WILLEM BEUMER, PETITIONER, VS. AVELINA AMORES
PETITIONERS ATTEMPT AT SUBSEQUENTLY - In In Re: Petition For Separation of Property-Elena
- Petitioner, a Dutch National, and respondent, a Filipina,
ASSERTING OR CLAIMING A RIGHT OF HALF OR Buenaventura Muller v. Helmut Muller the Court had
was married and was later on declared null and void on
WHOLE OF THE PURCHASE PRICE USED IN THE already denied a claim for reimbursement of the value of
the basis of the formers psychological incapacity.
- During dissolution of properties petitioner testified that PURCHASE OF THE REAL PROPERTIES SUBJECT OF purchased parcels of Philippine land instituted by a
THIS CASE? foreigner Helmut Muller, against his former Filipina
Lots 1, 2142, 5845 and 4 were registered in the name of
respondent, these properties were acquired with the spouse, Elena Buenaventura Muller. It held that Helmut
money he received from the Dutch government as his Muller cannot seek reimbursement on the ground of equity
where it is clear that he willingly and knowingly bought the
disability benefit12 since respondent did not have
property despite the prohibition against foreign ownership
sufficient income to pay for their acquisition.
- Petitioner wanted to be reimbursed of the half of the of Philippine land enshrined under Section 7, Article XII of
properties which he paid on the ground of equity. the 1987 Philippine Constitution which reads:
RTC: The parcels of land covered by Transfer Certificate of Section 7. Save in cases of hereditary succession, no
Titles Nos. 22846, 21974, 21306, 21307, 23567 and 23575 private lands shall be transferred or conveyed except to
are hereby declared paraphernal properties of respondent individuals, corporations, or associations qualified to
Avelina Amores due to the fact that while these real acquire or hold lands of the public domain.
properties were acquired by onerous title during their
marital union, Willem Beumer, being a foreigner, is not
- Application: petitioner openly admitted that he is well
allowed by law to acquire any private land in the aware of the [above-cited] constitutional prohibition and
Philippines, except through inheritance. even asseverated that, because of such prohibition, he
- Petitioners plea for reimbursement for the amount he had and respondent registered the subject properties in the
paid to purchase the foregoing properties on the basis of latters name. Clearly, petitioners actuations showed his
equity was likewise denied for not having come to court palpable intent to skirt the constitutional prohibition
with clean hands. (he knew of the prohibition)
EQUITY: Surely, a contract that violates the Constitution
and the law is null and void, vests no rights, creates no
obligations and produces no legal effect at all.
CHAPTER 13 NATIONAL ECONOMY AND PATRIMONY