DELA CRUZ V.

DELA CRUZ

Facts:
Pacencia dela Cruz is the original owner of the land in Bulacan. According to her, some
years ago, Fortunato dela Cruz askerd her to sign a deed of sale. But Fortunato assured
her that she will remain the owner of the land will remain the owner of the land and he
will hold it in trust for her.

Issue:
WON the Deed of Absolute Sale excecuted is simulated and must be declared void?

Ruling:

No. The contract was valid.

The Supreme Court considered that there was a valid deed of absolute sale bet
Fortunato and paciencia
Considering that Paciencia signed it and did not react when the subject property was
previoisly mortgaged to another person
The allegation of Paciencia that she could not understand, read and write in English was
not considered to be valid.
Contrary to Paciencia's position, the Court held that the instrument actually reflect the
intentions of both parties.

Equal protection requires that all persons or things similarly situated should be treated
alike, both as to rights conferred and responsibilities imposed. It requires public bodies
and institutions to treat similarly situated individuals in a similar manner. The purpose of
the equal protection clause is to secure every person within a states jurisdiction against
intentional and arbitrary discrimination, whether occasioned by the express terms of a
statue or by its improper execution through the states duly constituted authorities.
There must be equality among equals as determined according to a valid classification.
Equal protection clause permits classification. Such classification, however, to be valid
must pass the test of reasonableness. The test has four requisites: (1) The classification
rests on substantial distinctions; (2) It is germane to the purpose of the law; (3) It is not
limited to existing conditions only; and (4) It applies equally to all members of the same
class. The classification will be regarded as invalid if all the members of the class are
not similarly treated, both as to rights conferred and obligations imposed. Executive
Order No. 1 should be struck down as violative of the equal protection clause. The clear
mandate of truth commission is to investigate and find out the truth concerning the
reported cases of graft and corruption during the previous administration only. The
intent to single out the previous administration is plain, patent and manifest. Arroyo
administration is but just a member of a class, that is, a class of past administrations. It
is not a class of its own. Not to include past administrations similarly situated
constitutes arbitrariness which the equal protection clause cannot sanction. Such
discriminating differentiation clearly reverberates to label the commission as a vehicle
for vindictiveness and selective retribution. Superficial differences do not make for a
valid classification. The PTC must not exclude the other past administrations. The PTC
must, at least, have the authority to investigate all past administrations. The
Constitution is the fundamental and paramount law of the nation to which all other laws
must conform and in accordance with which all private rights determined and all public
authority administered. Laws that do not conform to the Constitution should be stricken
down for being unconstitutional.