Indeed, the appellate court erred in its application of the Best Evidence Rule. The BestEvidence Rule states that when the subject of inquiry is the contents of a document, the best evidence is the original document itself and no other evidence (such as a reproduction, photocopy or oral evidence) is admissible as a general rule. The original is preferred because it reduces the chance of undetected tampering with the document.^[42]

In the instant case, there is no room for the application of the Best Evidence Rule because there is no dispute regarding the contents of the documents.  It is admitted by the parties that the respondents' Deed of Sale referred to TCT No. T-62096 as its subject; while the petitioners' Deeds of Voluntary Land Transfer referred to TCT No. T-62836 as its subject, which is further described as located in Barangay Murong.

The real issue is whether the admitted contents of these documents adequately and correctly express the true intention of the parties.  As to the Deed of Sale, petitioners (and RBBI) maintain that while it refers to TCT No. T-62096, the parties actually intended the sale of the Lantap property (covered by TCT No. T-62836).