Government v. Cabangis 53 Phil.

112
FACTS: A certain lots were formerly a part of a large parcel of land belonging
to the predecessor of the herein claimants and appellees. From the year
1896 said land began to wear away, due to the action of the waves of Manila
Bay, until the year 1901 when the said lots became completely submerged in
water in ordinary tides, and remained in such a state until1912 when the
Government undertook the dredging of Vitas Estuary in order to facilitate
navigation, depositing all the sand and silt taken from the bed of the estuary
on the lowlands which were completely covered with water, surrounding that
belonging to the Philippine Manufacturing Company, thereby slowly and
gradually forming the lots, the subject matter of this proceeding.
Issue: Whether or not the lots in question are of property of public dominion.
HELD: Yes. The Supreme Court held that the lots in question having
disappeared on account of the gradual erosion due to the ebb and flow of the
tide, and having remained in such a state until they were reclaimed from the
sea by the filling in done by the Government, they are public land in the
sense that neither the herein claimants-appellees nor their predecessors did
anything to prevent their destruction.