G.R. No. 2631. October 21, 1905

This is an appeal from the Court of Land Registration. The
appellants made no motion for a new trial in the court below, and we
can not therefore review the evidence. The findings of fact stated in
the decision of the lower court sustain the judgment in favor of the
petitioner. This is not controverted by the appellants.

The only questions presented by them in their brief relate to the
validity of certain deeds presented in evidence by the petitioner as
the basis of his title.

The Augustinian religious order acquired title to a part of the land
in controversy by deed dated March 31, 1629. It is claimed by the
appellants that this deed is invalid because the Augustinians had no
power to acquire real estate in the Philippine Islands. Among all the
laws cited by the appellants in support of this contention, we find
none that prohibits in any way this order from acquiring and holding
real estate in these Islands.

By deed dated October 1, 1898, the petitioner, Warner, bought of the
Augustinians the land in question. It is claimed by the appellants that
this religious order had no power to sell real estate. This contention
is completely answered by the royal order dated December 4, 1890, cited
in the appellee’s brief, which expressly conferred this power upon the
religious orders in the Philippine Islands.

The judgment of the court below is affirmed, without costs in this
court, and after the expiration of twenty days judgment should be
entered in accordance herewith and the case remanded to the court below
for execution of said judgment. So ordered.

Arellano, C. J,, Torres, Mapa, Johnson, and Carson, JJ., concur.