J.M. TUASON & CO., INC., petitioner-appellee vs.

THE LAND TENURE ADMINISTRATION,

THE SOLICITOR GENERAL and THE AUDITOR GENERAL, respondents-appellants

G.R. No. L-21064 February 18, 1970

FACTS:

 August 3, 1959: Republic Act No. 2616 (An Act providing for the expropriation of the
Tatalon Estate in Quezon City and for the sale, at cost, of the lots therein to their present
bona fide occupants, and authorizing the appropriation of ten million pesos for the purpose)
took effect without the executive approval. The act allowed the expropriation of the property
jointly owned by the J.M. Tuason & Company Inc., Gregorio Araneta & Company, Inc., and
Florencio Deudor et.al.
 November 15, 1960: The Executive Secretary ordered respondent Land Tenure
Administration to institute the proceeding for the expropriation of the aforementioned
property.
 November 17, 1960: Petitioner filed before the lower court a special action for prohibition
with preliminary injunction against the respondents praying that the act be declared
unconstitutional.
 November 18, 1960: the lower court granted writ of prohibition.
 1970: Supreme Court reversed the decision. The petitioner then filed an appeal.

ISSUE/S:

 W/n RA 2616 as amended by RA 3453 was unconstitutional because it violates the

petitioners’ rights to due process and equal protection of law.

HELD:

 No. The court stated there was no clear and palpable showing that the petitioner was
singled out when the expropriation was operated. Thus, the Court ruled that the equal
protection clause in the Constitution was properly complied with.

RULING:

 Decision of the lower court reversed. Writ of prohibition denied. Preliminary injunction
issued by the lower court set aside.