REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES)

City of Panabo ) S.S.

X-------------------X

JUDICIAL AFFIDAVIT OF
ROMEO S. BALON

I, ROMEO S. BALON, Filipino, of legal age and with residence

address at Brgy. New Malitbog, Panabo City, Philippines, after being duly
sworn in accordance with law, I hereby depose, state and testify, that:

Atty. Chervin C. Paculanang (Atty. Paculanang) of the Panabo City

Legal Office, with address at 2nd Floor, New City Hall Building, Brgy. JP
Laurel, Panabo City, conducted and/or supervised my examination, as the
Defendant in the case of Dante A. Taylaran v. Local Government Unit
(LGU) of Panabo City represented by Hon. Jose E. Relampagos and the
Barangay of New Malitbog/Barangay Council of New Malitbog, Panabo
City represented by the Punong Barangay Romeo S. Balon, docketed as
Civil Case No. 1614 before the Municipal Trial Court in Cities, 11 th Judicial
Region, Panabo City, Philippines, Cancellation of Deed of Donation,
Recovery of Possession, Damages and Judicial Accounting.

As such, I hereby declare that I am freely and voluntarily executing

this testimony as I am fully aware and conscious that all my declarations
hereunder are the true and correct facts related to the above-cited case, and I
know that should I make a false declaration or testimony, I can be held liable
for false testimony or perjury.

OFFER OF TESTIMONY
AND PURPOSES

The testimony of Romeo S. Balon (hereinafter referred to as “Mr.

Balon”) is offered to prove the following:

A. To establish the existence of a Deed of Donation executed by the

plaintiff's predecessor-in-interest, Alejandro Arcena, in favor of the
Municipality of Panabo.

The purpose of this testimony is to establish the veracity of the

transfer of ownership of the subject property from the late
Alejandro Arcena to the Municipality of Panabo. This transfer was
acknowledged by the Municipality, notarized, and duly recorded in
the Notarial Book of Atty. Crispulo Soriano under Doc. No. 898;
Page No. 82; Book No. XII; Series of 1974.

B. To establish that the Deed of Donation is perfected and valid and

was not contested by Alejandro Arcena during his lifetime.

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 The purpose of this testimony is to assert that Dante Taylaran's
claim lacks merit, as even his predecessor-in-interest did not
challenge its validity during his lifetime. "The spring cannot rise
higher than its source" is invoked to emphasize the idea that
subsequent claims cannot surpass the actions or decisions of those
who came before.

C. The construction of a Barangay Hall and Barangay Gym by

Barangay New Malitbog on the donated lot is justified as it serves
public functions for the benefit of Panabo City residents.

The purpose of this testimony is to establish that the Municipality

of Panabo, by permitting Barangay New Malitbog to build the
Barangay Hall and Barangay Gym on the donated property, is
acting in accordance with its governmental functions. This action
is not driven by proprietary gains but is intended for the benefit
and development of the residents of Barangay New Malitbog and
the Municipality of Panabo (now City Government of Panabo).

D. Barangay New Malitbog, having constructed the Barangay Hall

and Barangay Gym with the acquiescence of Alejandro Arcena and
relying on the Deed of Donation, is deemed a builder in good faith.

The purpose of this testimony is to emphasize that Dante Taylaran

cannot arbitrarily evict or order the demolition of the Barangay
Hall and Barangay Gym without adhering to the legal requirements
stipulated by the law.

E. The plaintiff's claim for reimbursement against the City

Government of Panabo is not in accordance with the law.

The purpose of this testimony is to assert that there is no legal

basis for the City Government of Panabo and Barangay New
Malitbog to compensate Dante Taylaran for rent and damages
regarding his land. Their actions were based on the reliance on a
valid Deed of Donation.

F. The plaintiff's claim is already barred by prescription and laches.

The purpose of this testimony is to establish that Dante Taylaran's

claim is barred by prescription and laches. Neither he nor his
predecessor-in-interest contested the Deed of Donation within the
legally stipulated time frames. The passage of forty-eight (48)
years since the donation's execution on June 24, 1974, indicates a
prolonged inaction on their part, potentially resulting in the loss of
crucial witnesses and pertinent documents.

G. To identify the documentary evidences attached.

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 The purpose of this testimony is to affirm the validity of the Deed
of Donation and to establish that it was executed in accordance
with the law.

TESTIMONY

In the conduct of my testimonial examination, Atty. Paculanang

propounded several questions (Q.) that I personally answered (A.) in the
Visayan language, as follows:

1) Q: Paki ingon saimong pangalan ug personal nga mga kahimtang.

(Please state your name and other personal circumstances.)

A: Ako si Romeo S. Balon, naa sa tamang edad, minyo ug

residente sa Barangay New Malitbog, Panabo City.

(I am Romeo S. Balon, of legal age, married, and a resident of

Barangay New Malitbog, Panabo City.)

2) Q: Pagka unsa nimo nahimong konektado sa Brgy. New

Malitbog?

(How are you connected to Brgy. New Malitbog?)

A: Ako karon ang Brgy. Kapitan sa Brgy. New Malitbog.

(I am the incumbent Brgy. Captain of Brgy. New Malitbog.)

3) Q: Kaila ka ba kay Alejandro Arcena ?

(Do you know Alejandro Arcena?)

A: Oo, kaila ko kay Alejandro Arcena.

(Yes, I know Alejandro Arcena (hereinafter referred to as

“Alejandro”).

4) Q: Ngano kaila man ka kay Alejandro?

(Why do you know Alejandro?)

A: Kaila ko kay Alejandro kay adtong nabuhi pa na cya, silingan

na nako na cya sa Brgy. New Malitbog sugod pa niadtong 1978.

(I am acquainted with Alejandro as he was my neighbor in Brgy. New

Malitbog since 1978, while he was still alive.)

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5) Q: Kinsa man ang Kapitan sa Brgy. New Malitbog atong
panahon na gi-donate ni Alejandro ning yutaa na ginalalisan
karon?

(Can you identify the Barangay Captain who held office at the time
when Alejandro donated the contested property?)

A: Ang Brgy. Kapitan atung panahona kay si Kap. Danilo

Montalban.

(At that time, the Barangay Captain was Danilo Montalban.)

6) Q: Ngano nakabalo man ka na naay Deed of Donation na gibuhat

si Alejandro pabor sa Municipalidad sa Panabo?

(How did you become aware of the existence of a Deed of Donation

executed by Alejandro in favor of the Municipality of Panabo?)

A: I became aware of the existence of a Deed of Donation executed

by Alejandro in favor of the Municipality of Panabo because,
during the time when the heirs of Alejandro were disputing its
legality, ________, the wife of Danilo Montalban, provided me
with a copy of the Deed of Donation executed by Alejandro on
June 24, 1974, during his lifetime. The document indicated that it
was received by the Municipality of Panabo, represented by then-
Mayor Gregorio Dujali, and was duly notarized by Atty. Crispulo
V. Soriano.

(Nakabalo ko na anaay Deed of Donation na gibuhat si Alejandro na

pabor sa Municipalidad sa Panabo kay katong tungura na nagsamok
na ang mga apuhan ni Alejandro batok sa legalidad sa Deed of
Donation, ang asawa ni Danilo Montalban na si _________ kay
gihatag saako ang kopya sa Deed of Donation na gibuhat ni
Alejandro niadtong June 24, 1974 ug kani kay gidawat sa Mayor
atong un ana si Mayor Gregorio Dujali, ug ginotaryohan ni Atty.
Crispulo V. Soriano.)

“Marking of copy of the Deed of Donation as Exhibit “1” and forms an

integral part of the testimony herein.”

7) Q: Unsa may estado sa yuta na gi-donate ni Alejandro diha sa

Brgy. New Malitbog?

(What is the current status of the property that was donated by

Alejandro to Brgy. New Malitbog?)

A: Karon, diha giconstruct and Barangay Hall and Barangay

Gym.
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 (As of today, the Barangay Hall and Barangay Gym have been
constructed on the property donated by Alejandro.)

8) Q: Kaila ba ka kay Dante Taylaran?

(Do you know Dante Taylaran?)

A: Oo, nakaila ko kay Dante Taylaran.

(Yes, I know Dante Taylaran , (hereinafter referred to as "Dante.")

9) Q: Ngano man ka nakaila kay Dante?

(Why did you know Dante?)

A: Kay cya man ang apo ni Alejandro na mao ang donor. Silingan
pud mi sa Purok 1-C, Barangay New Malitbog, Panabo City.

(He is the grandson of Alejandro, the donor in this case. He is also

my neighbor at Purok 1-C, Barangay New Malitbog, Panabo City.)

10) Q: Kanus-a man si Dante nagreklamo sa illegalidad sa Deed

of Donation?

(When did Dante complained about the illegality of the Deed of

Donation?)

A: Atong 2022, nagsugod ug reklamo si Dante mahitungod sa

illegalidad sa Deed of Donation.

(In 2022, Dante raised objections to the purported Deed of Donation,

citing its illegality.)

11) Q: Ngano nahimo man kini na issue sa parte ni Dante?

(Why did this became an issue in Dante’s part?)

A: Nahimo kini na issue atong pagtukod sa Barangay Hall ug

Gym sa parte na gi-apod kaniya tungod kay cya kay isa sa mga
apuhan ni Alejandro.

(This concern arose after the construction of the Barangay Hall and
Gym on the donated property, specifically on the portion designated
for him as an heir.)

12) Q: Unsa may mga illegalidad sa Deed of Donation na

gireklamo ni Dante?

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 (What were the illegalities in the purported Deed of Donation that
Dante complained about?)

A: Kay di daw dapat Two Thousand (2,000) hectares ang gidonate

kundi dapat Two (2.000) hecatares lang daw.

(The donated part is not Two Thousand (2,000) hectares but only Two
(2.000) hectares.)

13) Q: Unsa pa ang uban na illegalidad na gipasangil ni Dante?

(What were the other illegalities that were averred by Dante?)

A: Ang ubang illegalidad na gipansangil ni Dante kay gitugutan

daw sa Municipalidad sa Panabo (karon kay Syudad sa Panabo)
na gamiton ang gi donate na yuta sa Barangay New Malitbog
bisag kani kay walay pagtugot ni Alejandro ug saiyang mga
manununod.

(Dante's additional claim of illegality is that the Municipality of

Panabo (now City Government of Panabo) permitted Barangay New
Malitbog to utilize the subject property without the consent of
Alejandro and his heirs.)

14) Q: Unsa may gusto ni Dante na mahitabo human adunay

mga illegalidad nga iyang gipasangil?

(What is Dante seeking following his claims of irregularities in the

Deed of Donation?)

A: Gusto ni Dante na bayran cya sa syudad sa Panabo sa dili

awtorisado na pag gamit sa yuta na gi donate ug tanggalon ug
gubaon ang tanang mga gipangtukod diadto.

(Dante requested that the City Government of Panabo compensate for

the unauthorized use of the land and dismantle the structures erected
there.)

15) Q: Ngano gusto man ni Dante tanggalon ug gubaon ang

tanang mga gipangtukod diadto sa yuta na gi donate ni
Alejandro?

(Why did Dante desire to dismantle the structures built on the lot
donated by Alejandro?)

A: Kay ana si Dante na di man daw dato si Alejandro mao na

impossible kaayo na maka donate cyag parte saiyang yuta sa
Municipalidad sa Panabo.

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 (He argued that since Alejandro was not wealthy, it was implausible
for him to donate a portion of his property to the Municipality of
Panabo.)

16) Q: Unsa may espesipiko na gamit sa gidonate na yuta sa

Municipalidad sa Panabo (karon kay Syudad sa Panabo)?

(What is the specific use of the subject property that was being
donated to the Municipality of Panabo (now the City Government of
Panabo?))

A: Ang yuta na gidonate kay gigamit para sa publiko nga

katuyoan ug eksklusibo kini na gigamit para sa mga
panginahanglan sa Barangay New Malitbog para sa pagserbisyo
sa publiko nga mga gimbuhaton ug dili sa pribadong interes.

(The property is utilized for public purposes and is exclusively

dedicated to the needs of Barangay New Malitbog, serving community
functions rather than private interests.)

17) Q: Na rehistro naba sa Syudad sa Panabo ning gi donate sa

yuta sa Register of Deeds?

(Has the lot donated to the Municipality (now City Government of

Panabo) been officially recorded in the Register of Deeds?

A: Wala pa kani ma rehistro kay ang praktis saunang panahon

kay di man kani gina register pagkahuman ma donate.

(It had not been registered as it was the customary practice at that
time for donated properties not to be recorded in the Register of
Deeds.)

18) Q: Naa pa ba kay gusto inngon aning Judicial Affidavit?

(Do you have anything else to say related to the execution of this
Judicial Affidavit?)

A: Wala nakoy gusto iingon. Mao lang to.

(No more, that would be all.)

19) Q: Imo bang gikumpirma na tanan saimong mga tubag

aning Judicial Affidavit kay base saimong personal nga kahibalo?

(Do you confirm and affirm that all your answer in this Judicial
Affidavit was based on your own personal knowledge?)

A: Oo.
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 (Yes.)

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I hereunto set my hand this ___ day of

___________________, at __________________ , Philippines.

ROMEO S. BALON
Testifying Affiant
ID No. __________

Subscribed and sworn to before me on this ____ day of

__________________, in the City of Davao, Philippines. Affiant exhibiting
to me his competent proof of identity as provided above.

Doc No ____
Page No ___
Book No ___
Series of 2023.

EXAMINING COUNSEL’S ATTESTATION

I, CHERVIN C. PACULANANG, of legal age, Filipino, with office

address at 2nd Floor, New City Hall Building, Brgy. JP Laurel, Panabo City,
hereby depose and state:

1. I personally conducted the above-examination of ROMEO S. BALON

on _____________________ in my office at Panabo City, Philippines;

2. During the examination, I faithfully recorded and/or caused to be

recorded the questions asked and his corresponding answers thereto are in
the English language; and

4. Neither I, nor any person present or assisting me at the time of the

examination, coached him regarding his answers to the questions
propounded.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this

_______________________, in Panabo City City, Philippines.

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 CHERVIN C. PACULANANG
ID No. ______________

SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this

__________________________ at Panabo City, Philippines. Affiant
exhibited his competent proof of identity as stated above.

Doc No. ___;

Page No.___;
Book No.___;
Series of 2023.