TodayisSunday,April12,2015

RepublicActNo.26September25,1946
ANACTPROVIDINGASPECIALPROCEDUREFORTHERECONSTITUTIONOFTORRENSCERTIFICATES
OFTITLELOSTORDESTROYED
Section1.CertificatesoftitlelostordestroyedshallbereconstitutedinaccordancewiththeprovisionsofthisAct.
Section2.Originalcertificatesoftitleshallbereconstitutedfromsuchofthesourceshereunderenumeratedasmay
beavailable,inthefollowingorder:
(a)Theowner'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle
(b)Thecoowner's,mortgagee's,orlessee'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle
(c)Acertifiedcopyofthecertificateoftitle,previouslyissuedbytheregisterofdeedsorbyalegalcustodian
thereof
(d)Anauthenticatedcopyofthedecreeofregistrationorpatent,asthecasemaybe,pursuanttowhichthe
originalcertificateoftitlewasissued
(e)Adocument,onfileintheregistryofdeeds,bywhichtheproperty,thedescriptionofwhichisgiveninsaid
document,ismortgaged,leasedorencumbered,oranauthenticatedcopyofsaiddocumentshowingthatits
originalhadbeenregisteredand
(f)Anyotherdocumentwhich,inthejudgmentofthecourt,issufficientandproperbasisforreconstitutingthe
lostordestroyedcertificateoftitle.
Section3. Transfer certificates of title shall be reconstituted from such of the sources hereunder enumerated as
maybeavailable,inthefollowingorder:
(a)Theowner'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle
(b)Thecoowner's,mortgagee's,orlessee'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitle
(c)Acertifiedcopyofthecertificateoftitle,previouslyissuedbytheregisterofdeedsorbyalegalcustodian
thereof
(d)Thedeedoftransferorotherdocument,onfileintheregistryofdeeds,containingthedescriptionofthe
property, or an authenticated copy thereof, showing that its original had been registered, and pursuant to
whichthelostordestroyedtransfercertificateoftitlewasissued
(e)Adocument,onfileintheregistryofdeeds,bywhichtheproperty,thedescriptionofwhichisgiveninsaid
document,ismortgaged,leasedorencumbered,oranauthenticatedcopyofsaiddocumentshowingthatits
originalhadbeenregisteredand
(f)Anyotherdocumentwhich,inthejudgmentofthecourt,issufficientandproperbasisforreconstitutingthe
lostordestroyedcertificateoftitle.
Section4.Liensandotherencumbrancesaffectingadestroyedorlostcertificateoftitleshallbereconstitutedfrom
suchofthesourceshereunderenumeratedasmaybeavailable,inthefollowingorder:
(a)Annotationsormemorandaappearingontheowner'scoowner'smortgagee'sorlessee'sduplicate
(b) Registered documents on file in the registry of deeds, or authenticated copies thereof showing that the
originalsthereofhadbeenregisteredand
(c)Anyotherdocumentwhich,inthejudgmentofthecourt,issufficientandproperbasisforreconstitutingthe
liensorencumbrancesaffectingthepropertycoveredbythelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle.
Section5.Petitionsforreconstitutionfromsourcesenumeratedinsections2(a),2(b),3(a),3(b),and/or4(a)ofthis
Actmaybefiledwiththeregisterofdeedsconcernedbytheregisteredowner,hisassigns,orotherpersonhaving
aninterestintheproperty.Thepetitionshallbeaccompaniedwiththenecessarysourcesforreconstitutionandwith
an affidavit of the registered owner stating, among other things, that no deed or other instrument affecting the
propertyhadbeenpresentedforregistration,or,iftherebeany,thenaturethereof,thedateofitspresentation,as
well as the names of the parties, and whatever the registration of such deed or instrument is still pending
accomplishment.Ifthereconstitutionistobemadefromanyofthesourcesenumeratedinsection2(b)or3(b),the
affidavit should further state that the owner's duplicate has been lost or destroyed and the circumstances under
which it was lost or destroyed. Thereupon, the register of deeds shall, no valid reason to the contrary existing,
reconstitutethecertificateoftitleasprovidedinthisAct.
Section6.Theregisterofdeedsmaymotupropioreconstituteacertificateoftitlefromitscorrespondingowner's
duplicate,and,forthispurpose,maycompeltheregisteredowner,oranypersonholdingsuchowner'sduplicate,to
surrenderthesametotheregistryofdeeds.Afterthereconstitutionsaidowner'sduplicateshallbereturnedtothe
personconcerned.
Section7. Reconstituted certificates of title shall have the same validity and legal effect as the originals thereof:
Provided,however,Thatcertificatesoftitlereconstitutedextrajudicially,inthemannerstatedinsectionsfiveandsix
hereof,shallbewithoutprejudicetoanypartywhoserightorinterestinthepropertywasdulynotedintheoriginal,
atthetimeitwaslostordestroyed,butentryornotationofwhichhasnotbeenmadeonthereconstitutedcertificate
oftitle.Thisreservationshallbenotedasanencumbranceonthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle.

Section8.Anypersonwhoserightorinterestwasdulynotedintheoriginalofacertificateoftitle,atthetimeitwas
lost or destroyed, but does not appear so noted on the reconstituted certificate of title, which is subject to the
reservation provided in the preceding section, may, while such reservation subsists, file a petition with the proper
Court of First Instance for the annotation of such right or interest on said reconstituted certificate of title, and the
court,afternoticeandhearing,shalldeterminethemeritsofthepetitionandrendersuchjudgmentasjusticeand
equitymayrequire.Thepetitionshallstatethenumberofthereconstitutedcertificateoftitleandthenature,aswell
asadescription,oftherightorinterestclaimed.
Section 9. A registered owner desiring to have his reconstituted certificate of title freed from the encumbrance
mentionedinsectionsevenofthisAct,mayfileapetitiontothatendwiththeproperCourtofFirstInstance,giving
hisreasonorreasonstherefor.Asimilarpetitionmay,likewise,befiledbyamortgagee,lesseesorotherlienholder
whoseinterestisannotatedinthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle.Thereupon,thecourtshallcauseanoticeofthe
petitiontobepublished,attheexpenseofthepetitioner,twiceinsuccessiveissuesoftheOfficialGazette,andtobe
posted on the main entrance of the provincial building and of the municipal building of the municipality or city in
whichthelandlies,atleastthirtydayspriortothedateofhearing,andafterhearing,shalldeterminethepetitionand
rendersuchjudgmentasjusticeandequitymayrequire.Thenoticeshallspecify,amongotherthings,thenumberof
the certificate of title, the name of the registered owner, the names of the interested parties appearing in the
reconstitutedcertificateoftitle,thelocationoftheproperty,andthedateonwhichallpersonshavinganinterestin
thepropertymustappearandfilesuchclaimastheymayhave.Thepetitionershall,atthehearing,submitproofof
thepublicationandpostingofthenotice:Provided,however,Thataftertheexpirationoftwoyearsfromthedateof
thereconstitutionofacertificateoftitle,ifnopetitionhasbeenfiledwithinthatperiodundertheprecedingsection,
the court shall, on motion ex parte by the registered owner or other person having registered interest in the
reconstitutedcertificateoftitle,ordertheregisterofdeedstocancel,properannotation,theencumbrancementioned
insectionsevenhereof.
Section10.Nothinghereinbeforeprovidedshallpreventanyregisteredownerorpersonininterestfromfilingthe
petition mentioned in section five of this Act directly with the proper Court of First Instance, based on sources
enumeratedinsections2(a),2(b),3(a),3(b),and/or4(a)ofthisAct:Provided,however,Thatthecourtshallcausea
noticeofthepetition,beforehearingandgrantingthesame,tobepublishedinthemannerstatedinsectionnine
hereof:Andprovided,further,Thatcertificatesoftitlereconstitutedpursuanttothissectionshallnotbesubjectto
theencumbrancereferredtoinsectionsevenofthisAct.
Section 11. Petitions for reconstitution of registered interests, liens and other encumbrances, based on sources
enumeratedinsections4(b)and/or4(c)ofthisAct,shallbefiled,bytheinterestedparty,withtheproperCourtof
First Instance. The petition shall be accompanied with the necessary documents and shall state, among other
things, the number of the certificate of title and the nature as well as a description of the interest, lien or
encumbrancewhichistobereconstituted,andthecourt,afterpublication,inthemannerstatedinsectionnineof
thisAct,andhearingshalldeterminethemeritsofthepetitionandrendersuchjudgmentasjusticeandequitymay
require.
Section12. Petitions for reconstitution from sources enumerated in sections 2(c), 2(d), 2(e), 2(f), 3(c), 3(d), 3(e)
and/or3(f)ofthisAct,shallbefiledwiththeproperCourtofFirstInstance,bytheregisteredowner,hisassigns,or
anypersonhavinganinterestintheproperty.Thepetitionshallstateorcontain,amongotherthings,thefollowing:
(a)thattheowner'sduplicateofthecertificateoftitlehadbeenlostordestroyed(b)thatnocoowner'smortgagee's
or lessee's duplicate had been issued, or, if any had been issued, the same had been lost or destroyed (c) the
location, area and boundaries of the property (d) the nature and description of the buildings or improvements, if
any,whichdonotbelongtotheowneroftheland,andthenamesandaddressesoftheownersofsuchbuildingsor
improvements (e) the names and addresses of the occupants or persons in possession of the property, of the
owners of the adjoining properties and all persons who may have any interest in the property (f) a detailed
description of the encumbrances, if any, affecting the property and (g) a statement that no deeds or other
instrumentsaffectingthepropertyhavebeenpresentedforregistration,or,iftherebeany,theregistrationthereof
hasnotbeenaccomplished,asyet.Allthedocuments,orauthenticatedcopiesthereof,tobeintroducedinevidence
insupportofthepetitionforreconstitutionshallbeattachedtheretoandfiledwiththesame:Provided,Thatincase
thereconstitutionistobemadeexclusivelyfromsourcesenumeratedinsection2(f)of3(f)ofthisAct,thepetition
shallbefurtherbeaccompaniedwithaplanandtechnicaldescriptionofthepropertydulyapprovedbytheChiefof
theGeneralLandRegistrationOffice,orwithacertifiedcopyofthedescriptiontakenfromapriorcertificateoftitle
coveringthesameproperty.
Section13.Thecourtshallcauseanoticeofthepetition,filedundertheprecedingsection,tobepublished,atthe
expenseofthepetitioner,twiceinsuccessiveissuesoftheOfficialGazette,andtobepostedonthemainentrance
oftheprovincialbuildingandofthemunicipalbuildingofthemunicipalityorcityinwhichthelandissituated,atleast
thirtydayspriortothedateofhearing.Thecourtshalllikewisecauseacopyofthenoticetobesent,byregistered
mailorotherwise,attheexpenseofthepetitioner,toeverypersonnamedthereinwhoseaddressisknown,atleast
thirty days prior to the date of hearing. Said notice shall state, among other things, the number of the lost or
destroyedcertificateoftitle,ifknown,thenameoftheregisteredowner,thenamesoftheoccupantsorpersonsin
possessionoftheproperty,theownersoftheadjoiningpropertiesandallotherinterestedparties,thelocation,area
andboundariesoftheproperty,andthedateonwhichallpersonshavinganyinterestthereinmustappearandfile
theirclaimorobjectionstothepetition.Thepetitionershall,atthehearing,submitproofofthepublication,posting
andserviceofthenoticeasdirectedbythecourt.
Section14.Ifanypersonwithholds,refusesorfailswithinareasonabletimeafterrequest,toproduceadocument
orpaperwithoutwhichthereconstitutionofacertificateoftitle,oranylienorannotationaffectingthesame,cannot
befullyaccomplished,thecourtmay,onmotionandafternoticeandhearingordersuchpersontoproduceand/or
surrendersuchdocumentorpaperatthetimeandplacenamedintheorderandmayenforcethesamebysuitable
process.
Section 15. If the court, after hearing, finds that the documents presented, as supported by parole evidence or
otherwise,aresufficientandpropertowarrantthereconstitutionofthelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle,andthat
thepetitioneristheregisteredownerofthepropertyorhasaninteresttherein,thatthesaidcertificateoftitlewasin
force at the time it was lost or destroyed, and that the description, area and boundaries of the property are
substantiallythesameasthosecontainedinthelostordestroyedcertificateoftitle,anorderofreconstitutionshall
be issued. The clerk of court shall forward to the register of deeds a certified copy of said order and all the
documents which, pursuant to said order, are to be used as the basis of the reconstitution. If the court finds that
thereisnosufficientevidenceorbasistojustifythereconstitution,thepetitionshallbedismissed,butsuchdismissal
shallnotprecludetherightofthepartyorpartiesentitledtheretotofileanapplicationforconfirmationofhisortheir
titleundertheprovisionsoftheLandRegistrationAct.

Section16.AfterthereconstitutionofacertificateoftitleundertheprovisionsofthisAct,theregisterofdeedsshall
issue the corresponding owner's duplicate and the additional copies of said certificates of title, if any had been
previously issued, where such owner's duplicate and/or additional copies have been destroyed or lost. This fact
shallbenotedonthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle.
Section17.Theregisterofdeedsshallcertifyoneachcertificateoftitlereconstitutedthedateofthereconstitution,
thesourceorsourcesfromwhichreconstitutionhasbeenaccomplished,andwhetheradministrativelyorjudicially.
Section18.Incaseacertificateoftitle,consideredlostordestroyed,befoundorrecovered,thesameshallprevail
over the reconstituted certificate of title, and, if both titles appear in the name of the same registered owner, all
memoranda of new liens or encumbrances, if any, made on the latter, after its reconstitution, except the
memorandum of the reservation referred to in section seven of this Act, shall be transferred to the recovered
certificateoftitle.Thereupon,theregisterofdeedsshallcancelthereconstitutedcertificateoftitleandspreadupon
theowner'sduplicate,aswellasonthecoowner's,mortgagee'sorlessee'sduplicate,ifanyhasbeenissued,such
annotationsofsubsistingliensorencumbrancesasmayappearontherecoveredcertificateoftitle,cancellingatthe
sametimethememorandumofthereservationreferredtoinsectionsevenhereof:Provided,however,Thatifthe
reconstituted certificate of title has been cancelled by virtue of any deed or instrument, whether voluntary or
involuntary,orbyanorderofthecourt,andanewcertificateoftitlehasbeenissued,therecoveredcertificateoftitle
shallbelikewisecancelled,butallsubsistingliensorencumbrances,ifany,appearingthereonshallbetransferred
to the new certificate of title and to its owner's duplicate, as well as to any coowner's, mortgagee's or lessee's
duplicatethatmayhavebeenissued,thememorandumofthereservationreferredtoinsectionsevenofthisAct,if
any,beingtherebyipsofactocancelled.
Section19.Ifthecertificateoftitleconsideredlostordestroyed,andsubsequentlyfoundorrecovered,isnotinthe
nameofthesamepersoninwhosefavorthereconstitutedcertificateoftitlehasbeenissued,theregisterofdeeds
shouldbringthemattertotheattentionoftheproperCourtofFirstInstance,which,afterduenoticeandhearing,
shallorderthecancellationofthereconstitutedcertificateoftitleandrender,withrespecttothememorandaofnew
liensorencumbrances,ifany,madeinthereconstitutedcertificateoftitle,afteritsreconstitution,suchjudgmentas
justiceandequitymayrequire:Provided,however,That,ifthereconstitutedcertificateoftitlehasbeencancelledby
virtueofanydeedorinstrument,whethervoluntaryorinvoluntary,orbyanorderofthecourt,andanewcertificate
oftitlehasbeenissued,theprocedureprescribedabove,withrespecttomemorandaofnewliensorencumbrances
made on the reconstituted certificate of title, after its reconstitution, shall be followed with respect to the new
certificateoftitle,andtosuchnewliensorencumbrances,ifany,asmayhavebeenmadeonthelatterafterthe
issuancethereof.
Section20. If the registered owner or any other person withholds, refuses or fails, within a reasonable time after
request,toproducetheowner'sduplicateoranyotherduplicateofacertificateoftitle,forcancellationorannotation
as provided in sectionseighteen andnineteen of this Act, theregisterofdeedsshall report the fact to theproper
Court of First Instance and the court, after notice and hearing, may order the person concerned to produce the
duplicate in his possession at the time and place named in the order, and may enforce the same by suitable
process.
Section21.Inallcaseswherethereconstitutedcertificateoftitledoesnotcontainthefulltechnicaldescriptionof
the land, except where such technical description is contained, in a prior certificate of title which is available, the
registeredownershall,withintwoyearsfromthedateofthereconstitution,fileaplanofsuchlandwiththeChiefof
theGeneralLandRegistrationOffice,who,afterapprovingthesame,shallfurnishtheregisterofdeedswithacopy
ofthetechnicaldescriptionofsaidlandforannotationonthepropercertificateoftitleandfile.Aftertheexpirationof
theperiodaboveprescribed,notransfercertificateoftitleshallbeissuedinpursuanceofanyvoluntaryinstrument
untilsuchplanandtechnicaldescriptionshallhavebeenfiledandnotedasprovidedabove.
Section22.EverypetitionfiledwiththecourtunderthisActshallbesworntobythepetitionerorthepersonacting
inhisbehalfandfiledandentitledinthelandregistrationorcadastralcaseinwhichthedecreeofregistrationwas
entered. If the petition relates to a certificate of title originally issued under the provisions of section one hundred
twentytwoofActNumberedFourhundredandninetysixandthepropertyhasbeenincludedinacadastralsurvey,
thepetitionshallbefiledinthecorrespondingcadastralcase:Provided,however,Thatwherethepropertyhasnot
been included in a cadastral survey, or where the land registration or cadastral case has been lost or destroyed
and/or the number thereof cannot be identified, the petition shall be filed in a special case to be entitled "Special
proceedingsforreconstitutionoflostcertificateoftitle."
Section23.NofeesshallbechargedforthefilingofanypetitionunderthisAct,norforanyservicerendered,in
connectiontherewithorincompliancewithanyprovisionofthisAct,bytheChiefoftheGeneralLandRegistration
Office,clerksofCourtofFirstInstance,sheriffs,and/orregisterofdeeds.Anycertifiedcopyofdocumentorpaper
that may be necessary in the reconstitution of a certificate of title under this Act shall, upon request of the court,
register of deeds, or Chief of the General Land Registration Office, be furnished free of charge, by any office or
branchoftheGovernment,includingGovernmentcontrolledcorporations,institutionsorinstrumentalities.
Section24.TheChiefoftheGeneralLandRegistrationOffice,withtheapprovaloftheSecretaryofJustice,shall
issuerules,regulations,circularsandinstructions,andprescribesuchbooksandblankform,asmaybenecessary
tocarryintoeffecttheprovisionsofthisAct.
Section25.Sectionsseventysix,seventysevenandeightynineofActNumberedThirtyonehundredandtenare
herebydeclaredinoperative,insofarastheyprovideforthereconstitutionofcertificatesoftitle.
Section26.ThisActshalltakeeffectonitsapproval.
Approved:September25,1946
TheLawphilProjectArellanoLawFoundation