Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sarona)
Compiled by: Wigmore #wigmoreforever
PART I: CONCEPT OF SALE
1. BASIC CONCEPTS
ISSUE:
Issue:
1. Whether or not there is a valid sale between NDC and PUP.
Ruling
A contract of sale, as defined in the Civil Code, is a contract
where one of the parties obligates himself to transfer the
ownership of and to deliver a determinate thing to the other or
others who shall pay therefore a sum certain in money or its
equivalent. It is therefore a general requisite for the existence of
a valid and enforceable contract of sale that it be mutually
obligatory, i.e., there should be a concurrence of the promise of
the vendor to sell a determinate thing and the promise of the
vendee to receive and pay for the property so delivered and
transferred. The Civil Code provision is, in effect, a "catch-all"
provision which effectively brings within its grasp a whole gamut
of transfers whereby ownership of a thing is ceded for a
consideration.
All three (3) essential elements of a valid sale, without which
there can be no sale, were attendant in the "disposition" and
"transfer" of the property from NDC to PUP - consent of the
parties, determinate subject matter, and consideration therefor.
Consent to the sale is obvious from the prefatory clauses of
Memorandum Order No. 214 which explicitly states the
acquiescence of the parties to the sale of the property.
Furthermore, the cancellation of NDC's liabilities in favor of the
National Government constituted the "consideration" for the sale.
1.
2.
3.
Ruling:
The SC affirmed the ruling of the appellate court that there
was no perfected contact of sale between the parties.
A contract is meeting of minds between two persons
whereby one binds himself, with respect to the other, to give
something or to render some service. Under 1818 of the Civil
Code, there is no contract unless the following requisites concur:
Consent of the contracting parties;
Objection certain which is the subject matter of the contract;
Cause of the obligation which is established.
Contract is perfected by mere consent which is manifested
by the meeting of the offer and the acceptance upon the thing
and causes which are to constitute the contract. Once perfected,
the bind between other contracting parties and the obligations
arising therefrom have the form of law between the parties and
should be complied in good faith. The absence of any essential
element will negate the existence of a perfected contract of sale.
The court ruled in Boston Bank of the Philippines vs
Manalo:
A definite agreement as to the price is an essential
element of a binding agreement to sell personal or real property
because it seriously affects the rights and obligations of the
parties. Price is an essential element in the formation of a
binding and enforceable contract of sale. The fixing of the price
can never be left to the decision of one of the contracting parties.
But a price fixed by one of the contracting parties, if accepted by
the other, gives rise to a perfected sale.
In the case at bar, the parties to the contract is between
Manila Metal Container Corporation and Philippine National Bank
and not to Special Asset Management Department. Since the
price offered by PNB was not accepted, there is no contract.
Hence it cannot serve as a binding juridical relation between the
parties.
Velarde vs CA
Facts: David Raymundo (private respondent) is the absolute and
registered owner of a parcel of land, located at 1918 Kamias St.,
Dasmarias Village Makati, together with the house and other
improvements, which was under lease. It was negotiated by
Davids father with plaintiffs Avelina and Mariano Velarde
(petitioners). A Deed of Sale with Assumption of Mortgage was
executed in favor of the plaintiffs. Part of the consideration of the
sale was the vendees assumption to pay the mortgage
obligations of the property sold in the amount of P 1,800,000.00
in favor of the Bank of the Philippine Islands. And while
their application for the assumption of the mortgage obligations is
not yet approved by the mortgagee bank, they have agreed to
pay the mortgage obligations on the property with the bank in the
name of Mr. David Raymundo. It was further stated that in the
event Velardes violate any of the terms and conditions of the said
Deed of Real Estate Mortgage, they agree that the down
payment P800,000.00, plus all the payments made with the BPI
on the mortgage loan, shall be forfeited in Favor of Mr.
Raymundo, as and by way of liquidated damages, w/out
necessity of notice or any judicial declaration to that effect, and
Mr. Raymundo shall resume total and complete ownership and
possession of the property, and the same shall be deemed
automatically cancelled, signed by the Velardes.
Pursuant to said agreements, plaintiffs paid BPI the monthly
interest loan for three months but stopped in paying the
mortgage when informed that their application for the assumption
of mortgage was not approved. The defendants through a
counsel, wrote plaintiffs informing the latter that their nonpayment to the mortgagee bank constituted non-performance of
their obligation and the cancellation and rescission of the
intended sale. And after two days, the plaintiffs responded and
advised the vendor that he is willing to pay provided that Mr.
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 3
FACTS: Cleopas Ape died in 1950 and left a parcel of land (Lot
2319) to his 11 children. The children never formally divided the
property amongst themselves except through hantal-hantal
whereby each just occupied a certain portion and developed
each.
On the other hand, the spouses Lumayno were interested in the
land so they started buying the portion of land that each of the
heirs occupied. On 11 Apr 1973, one of the children, Fortunato,
entered into a contract of sale with Lumayno. In exchange of his
lot, Lumayno agreed to pay P5,000.00. She paid in advance
P30.00. Fortunato was given a receipt prepared by Lumaynos
son in law (Andres Flores). Flores also acted as witness.
Lumayno also executed sales transactions with Fortunatos
siblings separately.
In 1973, Lumayno compelled Fortunato to make the the delivery
to her of the registrable deed of sale over Fortunatos portion of
the Lot No. 2319. Fortunato assailed the validity of the contract
of sale. He also invoked his right to redeem (as a co-owner) the
portions of land sold by his siblings to Lumayno. Fortunato died
during the pendency of the case.
ISSUE: Whether or not there was a valid contract of sale?
HELD: No. Fortunato was a no read no write person. It was
incumbent for the the other party to prove that details of the
contract was fully explained to Fortunato before Fortunato signed
the receipt.
A contract of sale is a consensual contract, thus, it is perfected
by mere consent of the parties. It is born from the moment there
is a meeting of minds upon the thing which is the object of the
sale and upon the price. Upon its perfection, the parties may
reciprocally demand performance, that is, the vendee may
compel the transfer of the ownership and to deliver the object of
the sale while the vendor may demand the vendee to pay the
thing sold. For there to be a perfected contract of sale, however,
the following elements must be present: consent, object, and
price in money or its equivalent.
For consent to be valid, it must meet the following requisites:
(a) it should be intelligent, or with an exact notion of the matter to
which it refers;
(b) it should be free and
(c) it should be spontaneous. Intelligence in consent is vitiated
by error; freedom by violence, intimidation or undue influence;
spontaneity by fraud.
Lumayno claimed that she explained fully the receipt to
Fortunato, but Flores testimony belies it. Flores said there was
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 7
sale did not occur within a period of one year did not extinguish
the obligation of Fonacier to pay Gaite the balance of P65,000
because it does not seem to be the intention of the parties to the
contract.
We do not agree.
4. Onerous
GAITE VS. FONACIER
2 SCRA 831
G.R. NO. L-11827
JULY 31, 1961
FACTS:
Isabelo Fonacier executed a Deed of Assignment in favor of
Fernando Gaite as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact so that the
latter may enter into a contract for the exploration and
development of the mining claims owned by Fonacier. Gaite
executed a general assignment conveying the development and
exploitation of said mining claims to Larap Iron Mines owned by
him.
Fonacier decided to revoke the Deed of Assignment to which
Gaite assented on the condition that Fonacier is to pay him
P75,000 for the 24,000 metric tons of iron lodes already
extracted and to retain the company name Larap Iron MInes.
Fonacier already paid P10,000 leaving a balance of P65,000
which, as agreed by them, is to be derived from the local sale of
Iron ore made by Larap Iron Mines. On December 8, 1954,
Fonacier issued a security bond to secure payment of balance
with Far Eastern Surety and Insurance Co. but the surety
provided that liability to the company will only attach when there
had been actual sale of iron ore by Larap Iron Mines for an
amount of not less than P65,000 and that the bond will
automatically expire on December 8, 1955.
No sale of the iron ore was made thereafter. Gaite failed to pay
Fonacier the balance and the surety company refused to pay
contending that the bond expired automatically.
11
3.
4.
14
FACTS:
Theodoro Santos advertised in the newspapers the sale of his
Ford Fairlane 500. After the advertisement, a certain de Dios,
claiming to be the nephew of Marella, went to the residence of
Santos and expressing his uncles intent to purchase the car.
Since Santos wasn't around, it was Irineo who talked with de
Dios. On being informed, Santos advised his son to see Marella,
which the son did. Marella expressed his intention to purchase
the car. A deed of sale was prepared and Irineo was instructed
by his father not to part with the deed and the car without
receiving the purchase price from Marella. When irineo and de
Dios arrived at the residence of Marella, the latter averred that
his money was short and had to borrow from his sister. He then
instructed de Dios and Irineo to go the supposed house of the
sister to obtain the money with an unidentified person. He also
asked Irineo to leave the deed to have his lawyer see it. Relying
on the good faith of Marella, Irineo did as requested. Upon
arriving at thehouse of Marellas supposed to be sister, de Dios
and the unidentified person then disappeared together with the
car. This prompted Santos to report the incident to the
authorities.
Thereafter, Marella was able to sell the car to Aznar. And while in
possession of the car, police authorities confiscated the same.
This prompted Aznar to file an action for replevin.
ISSUE: W Aznar has the better title to the car. No
HELD: Vicente Marella did not have any title to the property
under litigation because the same was never delivered to him.
He sought ownership or acquisition of it by virtue of the
contract. Vicente Marella could have acquired ownership or title
to the subject matter thereof only by the delivery or tradition of
the car to him.
Under Article 712 of the Civil Code, "ownership and other real
rights over property are acquired and transmitted by law, by
donation, by testate and intestate succession, and
in consequence of certain contracts, by tradition." As interpreted
by this Court in a host of cases, by this provision, ownership is
not transferred by contract merely but by tradition or delivery.
Contracts only constitute titles or rights to the transfer
or acquisition of ownership, while delivery or tradition is the mode
of accomplishing the same.
For the legal acquisition and transfer of ownership and other
property rights, the thing transferred must be delivered,
inasmuch as, according to settled jurisprudence, the tradition of
the thing is a necessary and indispensable requisite in the
acquisition of said ownership by virtue of contract. So long as
property is not delivered, the ownership over it is not
transferred by contract merely but by delivery. Contracts only
constitute titles or rights to the transfer or acquisition of
ownership, while delivery or tradition is the method of
accomplishing the same, the title and the method of acquiring
it being different in our law. In the case on hand, the car in
question was never delivered to the vendee by the vendor as to
complete or consummate the transfer of ownership by virtue of
the contract. It should be recalled that while there was indeed a
contract of sale between Vicente Marella and Teodoro Santos,
the former, as vendee, took possession of the subject matter
The lower court was correct in applying Article 559 of the Civil
Code to the case at bar, for under it, the rule is to the effect that if
the owner has lost a thing, or if he has been unlawfully deprived
of it, he has a right to recover it, not only from the finder, thief
or robber, but also from third persons who may have acquired it
in good faith from such finder, thief or robber.
The said article establishes 2 exceptions to the general rule of
irrevindicabiltyto wit, the owner has lost the thing or has been
unlawfully deprived thereof. In these cases, the possessor
cannot retain the thing as against the owner who may recover it
without paying any indemnity, except when the possessor
acquired it in a public sale. Furthermore, the common law
principle that where one of two innocent persons must suffer a
fraud perpetrated by another, the law imposes the loss upon the
party who, by his misplaced confidence, has enable the fraud to
be committed, cannot be applied in this case, which is covered
by an express provision of law.
15
the part of the vendor, and the assumption of the same by the
vendee."
It
is
clear
that
petitioner
never
took actual
control and possession of the property sold, in view of
respondent's timely objection to the sale and the continued
actual possession of the property. The objection took the form of
a court action impugning the sale which, as we know, was
rescinded by a judgment rendered by this Court in the mother
case. It has been held that the execution of a contract of sale as
a form of constructive delivery is a legal fiction. It holds true only
when there is no impediment that may prevent the passing of the
property from the hands of the vendor into those of the
vendee. When there is such impediment, "fiction yields to reality
the delivery has not been effected."
1.
2.
3.
16
special
17
HELD: No. The Supreme Court holds that the private respondent
is a manufacturer as defined in the Tax Code and not a
contractor under Section 205(e) of the Tax Code.
Petitioner CIR wants to impress upon this Court that under Article
1467, the true test of whether or not the contract is a piece of
work (and thus classifying private respondent as a contractor) or
a contract of sale (which would classify private respondent as a
manufacturer) is the mere existence of the product at the time of
the perfection of the contract such that if the thing already exists,
the contract is of sale, if not, it is work. This is not the test
followed in this jurisdiction. Based on Art. 1467, what determines
whether the contract is one of work or of sale is whether the thing
has been manufactured specially for the customer and upon his
special order. Thus, if the thing is specially done at the order of
another, this is a contract for a piece of work. If, on the other
hand, the thing is manufactured or procured for the general
market in the ordinary course of ones business, it is a contract of
sale.
The distinction between a contract of sale and one for work,
labor and materials is tested by the inquiry whether the thing
transferred is one not in existence and which never would have
existed but for the order of the party desiring to acquire it, or a
thing which would have existed and has been the subject of sale
to some other persons even if the order had not been given. The
one who has ready for the sale to the general public finished
furniture is a manufacturer, and the mere fact that he did not
have on hand a particular piece or pieces of furniture ordered
does not make him a contractor only.
A contract for the delivery at a certain price of an article which
the vendor in the ordinary course of his business manufactures
or procures for the general market, whether the same is on
hand at the time or not, is a contract of sale, but if the goods are
to be manufactured specially for the customer and upon his
special order, and not for the general market, it is a contract for a
piece of work. The facts show that the company had a ready
stock of its shop products for sale to its foreign and local buyers.
As a matter of fact, the purchase orders from its foreign buyers
showed that they ordered by referring to the models designated
by petitioner. Even purchases by local buyers for television
cabinets were by orders for existing models except only for some
adjustments in sizes and accessories utilized.
The Court finds itself in agreement with CTA and as the CTA did
not err in holding that private respondent is a manufacturer,
then private respondent is entitled to the tax exemption under
See. 202 (d) and (e) now Sec. 167 (d) and (e)] of the Tax Code.
ENGINEERING & MACHINERY CORPORATION, petitioner,
vs. COURT OF APPEALS and PONCIANO L.
ALMEDA, respondents.
FACTS:
Almeda and Engineering signed a contract, wherein Engineering
undertook to fabricate, furnish and install the air-conditioning
system in the latters building along Buendia Avenue, Makati in
consideration of P210,000.00. Petitioner was to furnish the
materials, labor, tools and all services required in order to so
fabricate and install said system. The system was completed in
1963 and accepted by private respondent, who paid in full the
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 18
the complaint was filed on May 8, 1971, it is clear that the action
has not prescribed.
INOCENCIA YU DINO and her HUSBAND doing business
under the trade name "CANDY CLAIRE FASHION
GARMENTS", petitioners, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and
ROMAN SIO, doing business under the name "UNIVERSAL
TOY MASTER MANUFACTURING", respondents.
FACTS:
Petitioners spouses Dino, doing business under the trade name
"Candy Claire Fashion Garment" are engaged in the business of
manufacturing and selling shirts. Respondent Sio is part owner
and general manager of a manufacturing corporation doing
business under the trade name "Universal Toy Master
Manufacturing." Petitioners and respondent Sio entered into a
contract whereby the latter would manufacture for the petitioners
20,000 pieces of vinyl frogs and 20,000 pieces of vinyl
mooseheads with the sample approved by the petitioners.
Respondent Sio delivered the 40,000 pieces of frogs and
mooseheads. Subsequently, petitioners returned to respondent
29,772 pieces of frogs and mooseheads for failing to comply with
the approved sample. Petitioners then demanded from the
respondent a refund of the purchase price of the returned goods
in the amount of P208,404.00. As respondent Sio refused to pay,
petitioners filed on July 24, 1989 an action for collection of a sum
of money in the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch 38.The
trial court ruled in favor of the petitioners. Respondent Sio sought
recourse in the Court of Appeals. On January 24, 1994, the
respondent court reversed its decision and dismissed petitioners'
Complaint for having been filed beyond the prescriptive period.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the contract between the petitioner and the
respondent was a contract for a piece of work.
RULING:
CONTRACT OF PIECE OF WORK
Art. 1467. A contract for the delivery at a certain price of an
article which the vendor in the ordinary course of his business
manufactures or procures for the general market, whether the
same is on hand at the time or not, is a contract of sale, but if the
goods are to be manufactured specially for the customer and
upon his special order, and not for the general market, it is a
contract for a piece of work.
"Art. 1713. By the contract for a piece of work the contractor
binds himself to execute a piece of work for the employer, in
consideration of a certain price or compensation. The contractor
may either employ only his labor or skill, or also furnish the
material."
It was stipulated in the contract that respondent would
manufacture upon order of the petitioners 20,000 pieces of vinyl
frogs and 20,000 pieces of vinyl mooseheads according to the
samples specified and approved by the petitioners. Respondent
Sio did not ordinarily manufacture these products, but only upon
order of the petitioners and at the price agreed upon. Clearly, the
contract executed by and between the petitioners and the
respondent was a contract for a piece of work. At any rate,
whether the agreement between the parties was one of a
contract of sale or a piece of work, the provisions on warranty of
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 19
20
mere indentor, it avers that is not liable for the sellers implied
warranty against hidden defects, Schmid not having personally
assumed any such warranty.
ISSUE:
1) WON the second transaction between the parties was a sale
or an indent transaction? INDENT TRANSACTION
2) Even is Schmid is merely an indentor, may it still be liable for
the warranty? YES, under its contractual obligations it may be
liable. But in this case, Schmid did not warrant the products.
HELD:
An indentor is a middlemen in the same class as commercial
brokers and commission merchants. A broker is generally
defined as one who is engaged, for others, on a commission,
negotiating contracts relative to property with the custody of
which he has no concern; the negotiator between other parties,
never acting in his own name but in the name of those who
employed him; he is strictly a middleman and for some purpose
the agent of both parties. There are 3 parties to an indent
transaction, (1) buyer, (2) indentor, and (3) supplier who is
usually a non-resident manufacturer residing in the country
where the goods are to be bought. The chief feature of a
commercial broker and a commercial merchant is that in effecting
a sale, they are merely intermediaries or middle-men, and act in
a certain sense as the agent of both parties to the transaction.
RJL MARTINEZ admitted that the generators were purchased
through indent order. RJL admitted in its demand letter
previously sent to SCHMID that 12 of 15 generators were
purchased through your company, by indent order and three (3)
by direct purchase. The evidence also show that RJL
MARTINEZ paid directly NAGATA CO, for the generators, and
that the latter company itself invoiced the sale and shipped the
generators directly to the former. The only participation of
Schmid was to act as an intermediary or middleman between
Nagata and RJL, by procuring an order from RJL and forwarding
the same to Nagata for which the company received a
commission from Nagata.
Sale vs. Indent Transaction:
The essence of the contract of sale is transfer of title or
agreement to transfer it for a price paid or promised. If such
transfer puts the transferee in the attitude or position of an owner
and makes him liable to the transferor as a debtor for the agreed
price, and not merely as an agent who must account for the
proceeds of a resale, the transaction is, a sale.
3 evidences pointing to fact that Schmid is merely an indentor:
a. the Quotation and the General Conditions of Sale on the
dorsal side thereof do not necessarily lead to the conclusion that
NAGATA CO., was the real seller of the 12 generators.
b. When RJL complained to SCHMID, it immediately asked RJL
to send the defective generators to its shop to determine what
was wrong. SCHMID informed NAGATA about the complaint of
RJL. After the generators were found to have factory defects,
SCHMID facilitated the shipment of three (3) generators to Japan
and, after their repair, back to the Philippines.
c. the letter from NAGATA CO. to SCHMID regarding the repair
of the generators indicated that the latter was within the purview
of a seller.
2) Even as SCHMID was merely an indentor, there was nothing
to prevent it from voluntarily warranting that twelve (12)
generators subject of the second transaction are free from any
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 22
5.
the
an
the
the
23
LO VS. KJS
G.R. No. 149420, October 8, 2003
FACTS: Respondent KJS ECO-FORMWORK System Phil., Inc.
is a corporation engaged in the sale of steel scaffoldings, while
petitioner Sonny L. Lo, doing business under Sans Enterprises,
is a building contractor. Lo ordered scaffolding equipment from
KJS worth P540,425.80. He paid a down payment in the amount
of P150,000.00. The balance was made payable in ten monthly
instalments.
KJS delivered the scaffoldings to Lo. Lo was able to pay the first
two monthly instalments. His business, however, encountered
financial difficulties and he was unable to settle his obligation to
KJS despite oral and written demands made against him.
Lo and KJS executed a Deed of Assignment whereby Lo
assigned to KJS his receivables in the amount of P335,462.14
from Jomero Realty Corporation.
However, when KJS tried to collect the said credit from Jomero
Realty Corporation, the latter refused to honor the Deed of
Assignment because it claimed that Lo was also indebted to it.
Subsequently, KJS sent a letter to Lo demanding payment of his
obligation, but he refused to pay claiming that his obligation had
been extinguished when they executed the Deed of Assignment.
Consequently, KJS filed an action for recovery of a sum of
money against Lo before the RTC. Lo argued that his obligation
was extinguished with the execution of the Deed of Assignment
of credit. KJS, for its part, presented the testimony of its
employee, Almeda Baaga, who testified that Jomero Realty
refused to honor the assignment of credit because it claimed that
Lo had an outstanding indebtedness to it.
RTC dismissed the complaint on the ground that the assignment
of credit extinguished the obligation. CA reversed the decision. In
finding that the Deed of Assignment did not extinguish the
obligation of the petitioner to the respondent, the CA held that (1)
petitioner failed to comply with his warranty under the Deed; (2)
the object of the Deed did not exist at the time of the transaction,
rendering it void pursuant to Article 1409 of the Civil Code; and
(3) petitioner violated the terms of the Deed of Assignment when
he failed to execute and do all acts and deeds as shall be
necessary to effectually enable the respondent to recover the
collectibles.
ISSUE: Whether or not the deed of assignment extinguished
Los obligations.
HELD: No. An assignment of credit is an agreement by virtue of
which the owner of a credit, known as the assignor, by a legal
cause, such as sale, dacion en pago, exchange or donation, and
without the consent of the debtor, transfers his credit and
accessory rights to another, known as the assignee, who
acquires the power to enforce it to the same extent as the
assignor could enforce it against the debtor.
Corollary thereto, in dacion en pago, as a special mode of
payment, the debtor offers another thing to the creditor who
accepts it as equivalent of payment of an outstanding debt. In
order that there be a valid dation in payment, the following are
the requisites:
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER
24
the
the
the
be
the
25
However, the records reveal that he did not really intend to sell
and relinquish ownership over his property in Sta. Maria,
Bulacan, notwithstanding the execution of a Deed of Absolute
Sale in favor of Yuson. The second Deed of Absolute Sale, which
reconveyed the property to respondent, is proof that he had no
such intention. This second Deed, which he referred to as his
"safety net," betrays his intention to counteract the effects of the
first one.
Ergo, Atty. Vitan was taking back with his right hand what he had
given with his left. The second Deed of Absolute Sale returned
the parties right back where they started, as if there were no sale
in favor of complainant to begin with. In effect, on the basis of the
second Deed of Sale, respondent took back and asserted his
ownership over the property despite having allegedly sold it.
Thus, he fails to convince us that there was a bona fide dation in
payment or sale that took place between the parties; that is, that
there was an extinguishment of obligation.
It appears that the true intention of the parties was to use the
Bulacan property to facilitate payment. They only made it appear
that the title had been transferred to complainant to authorize
him to sell or mortgage the property.Atty. Vitan himself admitted
in his letter dated July 30, 2004, that their intention was to
convert the property into cash, so that payment could be
obtained by complainant and the excess returned to respondent.
The records, however, do not show that the proceeds derived
were sufficient to discharge the obligation of the lawyer fully;
thus, he is still liable to the extent of the deficiency.
FILINVEST CREDIT CORPORATION VS. PHILIPPINE
ACETYLENE, CO., INC.
G.R. No. L-50449, January 30, 1982
FACTS: On October 30, 1971, the Philippine Acetylene Co., Inc.,
purchased from Alexander Lim, as evidenced by a Deed of Sale,
a Chevrolet 1969 model motor vehicle payable under the terms
and conditions of the promissory note provided by PhilAcetylene.
As security for the payment, PhilAcetylene executed a chattel
mortgage over the same vehicle in favor of Lim. Subsequently,
Lim assigned to Filinvest Finance all his rights, title, and interests
in the promissory note and the chattel mortgage which
subsequently assigned it to Filinvest Credit.
PhilAcetylene failed to comply with the terms in the promissory
note and chattel mortgage. With the choice of paying the full
amount plus interest and charges or returning the mortgaged
property, PhilAcetylene informed Filinvest Credit that it was
returning the mortgaged property in full satisfaction of its
indebtedness pursuant to Art. 1484 of the New Civil Code. When
it was returned to Filinvest, it had with it a document
denominated as Voluntary Surrender with Special Power of
Attorney to Sell.
Filinvest could not however sell the vehicle since there were
unpaid taxes on said vehicle. Upon Filinvests offer to return the
vehicle to PhilAcetylene, the latter refused to accept it.
PhilAectylene contends that Filinvest has no cause of action
since its obligation was extinguished when it returned the
mortgaged property to Filinvest and assuming however that the
return of the property did not extinguish its obligation, it was
6.
7.
8.
ISSUE:
1) W/N the nature of the contract is one of a contract
of sale.
2) W/N the remedies of the seller provided for in
Article 1484 are cumulative.
HELD:
1.) YES.
It is apparent here that the intent of the parties to the subject
contract is for the so-called rentals to be the installment
payments. Upon the completion of the payments, then the rock
crusher, subject matter of the contract, would become the
for
In this case, the Receipt of Partial Payment shows that the true
agreement between the parties is a contract to sell.
The RTC and the CA both ruled in favor of the Pacsons and
ordered the execution of a Deed of Absolute Sale in favor of the
Pacsons, upon their payment of the full purchase price.
2.
30
REYES VS.TUPARAN
G.R. NO. 188064
JUNE 1, 2011
31
Art 1471: If the price is simulated, the sale is void, but the act
may be shown to have been in reality a donation, or some other
act or contract.
The Court also ruled that petitioner is not the child of Jose
Santiago, and cannot inherit from him through succession. No
birth certificate was shown, only a baptismal certificate, which is
not conclusive proof of filiation.
Respondents contentions:
The deed of sale was a forgery. The deed showed that Jose
affixed his thumb mark, but respondents averred that, having
been able to graduate from college, Jose never put his thumb
mark on documents and always signed his name in full.
Respondents also pointed out that it is highly improbable for
petitioner to have paid the supposed consideration of P150,000
for the sale of the property because petitioner was unemployed
and without any visible means of livelihood at the time of the
alleged sale.
It was quite unusual and questionable that petitioner registered
the deed of sale almost 8 years after the execution of the sale.
Petitioner claimed to be the daughter of Jose, and thus entitled to
his share in the property.
She argued that the sale was in fact a donation to her, and that
nothing could have precluded Jose from putting his thumb mark
on the deed of sale instead of his signature.
ISSUE: WON there was a valid sale. NO
HELD: The Court agreed with CA that:
This deed is shot through and through with so many intrinsic
defects that a reasonable mind is inevitably led to the conclusion
that it is fake. Why hide the nature of the contract in the faade of
a sale? Why did Santiago (fully aware that he owned only 1/3)
sell or donate the whole property to Ida? Why did Santiago affix
only his thumb mark to a deed that falsely stated that xxx Ida
was of legal age when she was then only 15 years old? Etc
Clearly, there is no valid sale in this case. Jose did not have the
right to transfer ownership of the entire property to petitioner
33
GUIANG VS CA
FACTS: Plaintiff Gilda Corpuz and defendant Judie Corpuz are
legally married spouses. The couple have three children, namely:
Junie 18 years old, Harriet 17 years of age, and Jodie or Joji, the
youngest, who was 15 years of age at the time their mother
testified in court.
Over the objection of private respondent and while she was in
Manila seeking employment, her husband sold to the petitionersspouses one half of their conjugal property, consisting of their
residence and the lot on which it stood.
Sometime on February 14, 1983, the couple Gilda and Judie
Corpuz, with plaintiff-wife Gilda Corpuz as vendee, bought a 421
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER
34
Pending the appeal, Ignacia died and she was substituted by her
compulsory heirs. Petitioners contended that they are entitled to
reimbursement of the rentals collected on the apartment built on
Lot No. 4349-B-2, while respondent spouses claimed that they
are buyers in good faith.
Court of Appeals reversed and set aside the decision of the trial
court. It ruled that notwithstanding the absence of Ignacias
consent to the sale, the same must be held valid in favor of
respondents because they were innocent purchasers for value.
ISSUE:
(1) What is the status of the sale of Lot No. 4349-B-2 to
respondent spouses?
(2) Assuming that the sale is annullable, should it be annulled in
its entirety or only with respect to the share of Ignacia?
(3) Are respondent spouses purchasers in good faith?
RULING:
(1) The sale was voidable.
Under the regime of the Civil Code, the alienation or
encumbrance of a conjugal real property requires the consent of
the wife. The absence of such consent renders the entire
transaction merely voidable and not void. The wife may, during
the marriage and within ten years from the transaction
questioned, bring an action for the annulment of the contract
entered into by her husband without her consent.
Articles 166 and 173 of the Civil Code, the governing laws at the
time the assailed sale was contracted, provide:
Art.166. Unless the wife has been declared a non
compos mentis or a spendthrift, or is under civil
interdiction or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband
cannot alienate or encumber any real property of the
conjugal partnership without the wifes consent. If she
refuses unreasonably to give her consent, the court
may compel her to grant the same
Art. 173. The wife may, during the marriage and within
ten years from the transaction questioned, ask the
courts for the annulment of any contract of the husband
entered into without her consent, when such consent is
required, or any act or contract of the husband which
tends to defraud her or impair her interest in the
conjugal partnership property. Should the wife fail to
exercise this right, she or her heirs after the dissolution
of the marriage, may demand the value of property
fraudulently alienated by the husband.
Pursuant to the foregoing provisions, the husband could not
alienate or encumber any conjugal real property without the
consent, express or implied, of the wife otherwise, the contract is
voidable. This is consistent with Article 173 of the Civil Code
pursuant to which the wife could, during the marriage and within
10 years from the questioned transaction, seek its annulment.
In the case at bar, there is no dispute that Lot No. 4349-B-2, is a
conjugal property having been purchased using the conjugal
funds of the spouses during the subsistence of their marriage. It
is beyond cavil therefore that the sale of said lot to respondent
spouses without the knowledge and consent of Ignacia is
voidable. Her action to annul the March 1, 1983 sale which was
filed on June 4, 1986, before her demise is perfectly within the 10
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 36
HELD: No. The sale would is not valid. Granting for the sake of
argument that the RMOA is a contract of sale, the same would
still be void. Quite glaring is the absence of the signature of
Esther in the RMOA, which proves that she did not give her
consent to the transaction initiated by Arturo. The husband
cannot alienate any real property of the conjugal partnership
without the wifes consent.
However, it was the Contract to Sell executed by Esther through
her attorney-in-fact which the Court of Appeals made full use of.
Holding that the contract is valid, the appellate court explained
that while Esther did not authorize Arturo to sell the property, her
execution of the SPA authorizing her sister to sell the land to
respondent clearly shows her intention to convey her interest in
favor of respondent. In effect, the court declared that the lack of
Esthers consent to the sale made by Arturo was cured by her
subsequent conveyance of her interest in the property through
her attorney-in-fact.
This ruling is erroneous.
The nullity of the RMOA as a contract of sale emanates not only
from lack of Esthers consent thereto but also from want of
consideration and absence of respondents signature thereon.
Such nullity cannot be obliterated by Esthers subsequent
confirmation of the putative transaction as expressed in the
Contract to Sell. Under the law, a void contract cannot be
ratified and the action or defense for the declaration of the
inexistence of a contract does not prescribe. A void contract
produces no effect either against or in favor of anyoneit cannot
create, modify or extinguish the juridical relation to which it
refers.
True, in the Contract to Sell, Esther made reference to the earlier
RMOA executed by Arturo in favor of respondent. However, the
RMOA which Arturo signed is different from the deed which
Esther executed through her attorney-in-fact. For one, the first is
sought to be enforced as a contract of sale while the second is
purportedly a contract to sell only. For another, the terms and
conditions as to the issuance of title and delivery of possession
are divergent.
The congruence of the wills of the spouses is essential for the
valid disposition of conjugal property. Where the conveyance is
contained in the same document which bears the conformity of
both husband and wife, there could be no question on the validity
of the transaction. But when there are two (2) documents on
which the signatures of the spouses separately appear, textual
concordance of the documents is indispensable. Hence, in this
case where the wifes putative consent to the sale of conjugal
property appears in a separate document which does not,
however, contain the same terms and conditions as in the first
document signed by the husband, a valid transaction could not
have arisen.
Even on the supposition that the parties only disposed of their
respective shares in the property, the sale, assuming that it
exists, is still void for as previously stated, the right of the
40
41
HELD: YES. While under article 1459 of the old Civil Code an
agent or administrator is disqualified from purchasing property in
his hands for sale or management, and, in this case, the property
in question was sold to Antonio Cui while he was already the
agent or administrator of the properties of Don Mariano Cui, we
however believe that this question cannot now be raised
or invoked.
42
43
45
2. SUBJECT MATTER
4. Existing, Future and Contingent
48
st
4. Licit
49
Quezon City Trial Court decided in favor of Alfred but the Davao
Trial Court is in favor of Ederlina. The trial court ruled that based
on documentary evidence, the purchaser of the three parcels of
land subject of the complaint was Ederlina. The court further
stated that even if Alfred was the buyer of the properties, he had
no cause of action against Ederlina for the recovery of the same
because as an alien, he was disqualified from acquiring and
owning lands in the Philippines. The sale of the three parcels of
land to the petitioner was null and void ab initio. Applying the pari
delicto doctrine, the petitioner was precluded from recovering the
properties from the respondent.
CA affirmed the decision of Davao City Court.
ISSUE: W/n the lower court erred in applying the in pari delicto
rule in the case at bar.
HELD: No. Section 14, Article XIV of the 1973 Constitution
provides, as follows:
Save in cases of hereditary succession, no private land shall be
transferred or conveyed except to individuals, corporations, or
associations qualified to acquire or hold lands in the public
domain.
FRENZEL V. CATITO
FACTS: Petitioner Alfred Fritz Frenzel is an Australian citizen of
German descent. He arrived in the Philippines and engaged in
businesses. After two years, he married Teresita Santos, a
Filipino citizen. In 1981, Alfred and Teresita separated from bed
and board without obtaining a divorce.
Sometime in 1983 he arrived in Sydney and met Ederlina Catito,
a Filipina and a native of Bajada, Davao City. Unknown to Alfred,
she was married to Klaus Muller when she was in Germany.
Alfred was so enamored with Ederlina that he persuaded her to
stop working, move to the Philippines and get married.
They bought several properties in Manila and Davao using the
money of Alfred. He also sold all his properties in Australia
before moving in the country. They also opened an HSBC
Savings Account in Hong Kong in the name of Ederlina.
ATILANO V. ATILANO
FACTS: In 1916, Eulogio Atilano I acquired lot No. 535 by
purchase. In 1920, he had the land subdivided into five parts,
identified as lots Nos. 535-A, 535-B, 535-C, 535-D and 535-E,
respectively. After the subdivision had been effected, Eulogio I
executed a deed of sale covering lot No. 535-E in favor of his
brother Eulogio II. Three other portions, namely, lots Nos. 535-B,
535-C, and 535-D, were likewise sold to other persons. Eulogio I
retained for himself the remaining portions of the land,
presumably covered by the title to lot No. 535-A. upon his death,
the title to this lot passed to Ladislao, in whose name the
corresponding certificate was issued.
deed of sale was lot No. 353-A and not lot 535-E, while the land
which remained in the possession of Eulogio I, and which was
passed to Ladislao was lot No. 353-E and not lot No. 535-A.
On 1960, the heirs of Eulogio II alleging, inter alia, that they
offered to surrender to the possession of lot No. 535-A and
demanded in return the possession of lot No. 535-E, but the
defendants refused to accept the exchange. The plaintiffs'
insistence is quite understandable, since lot No. 535-E has an
area of 2,612 square meters as compared to the 1,808 squaremeter area of lot No. 535-A.
In their answer to the complaint, the defendants alleged that the
reference to lot No. 535-E in the deed of sale was an involuntary
error; that the intention of the parties to that sale was to convey
the lot correctly identified as lot No. 535-A. On the basis of the
foregoing allegations the defendants interposed a counterclaim,
praying that the plaintiffs be ordered to execute in their favor the
corresponding deed of transfer with respect to Lot No. 535-E.
The trial court rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiffs.
ISSUE: Whether or not there has been a valid sale in view of the
real intention of the parties.
HELD: YES. When one sells or buys real property a piece of
land, for example one sells or buys the property as he sees it,
in its actual setting and by its physical metes and bounds, and
not by the mere lot number assigned to it in the certificate of title.
In the instant case, the portion correctly referred to as lot No.
535-A was already in the possession of the vendee, Eulogio
Atilano II, who had constructed his residence therein, even
before the sale in his favor even before the subdivision of the
entire lot No. 535 at the instance of its owner, Eulogio Atillano I.
In like manner the latter had his house on the portion correctly
identified, after the subdivision, as lot No. 535-E, even adding to
the area thereof by purchasing a portion of an adjoining property
belonging to a different owner. The two brothers continued in
possession of the respective portions the rest of their lives,
obviously ignorant of the initial mistake in the designation of the
lot subject of the 1920 until 1959, when the mistake was
discovered for the first time.
From the facts and circumstances, the object is lot No. 535-A
and its designation as lot No. 535-E in the deed of sale was a
simple mistake in the drafting of the document. The mistake did
not vitiate the consent of the parties, or affect the validity and
binding effect of the contract between them. The new Civil Code
provides a remedy by means of reformation of the instrument.
This remedy is available when, there having been a meeting of
the minds of the parties to a contract, their true intention is not
expressed in the instrument purporting to embody the agreement
by reason of mistake, fraud, inequitable conduct or accident
In this case, the deed of sale executed in 1920 need no longer
be reformed. The parties have retained possession of their
respective properties conformably to the real intention of the
parties to that sale, and all they should do is to execute mutual
deed of conveyance.
54
56
HELD: Nono dat quod non habet, No one can give what he does
not have; Contract of repurchase inoperative thus void.
Article 1505 of the Civil Code provides that where goods are
sold by a person who is not the owner thereof, and who does not
sell them under authority or with consent of the owner, the buyer
acquires no better title to the goods than the seller had, unless
the owner of the goods is by his conduct precluded from denying
the sellers authority to sell.
Jurisprudence, on the other hand, teaches us that a person can
sell only what he owns or is authorized to sell; the buyer can as a
consequence acquire no more than what the seller can legally
transfer. No one can give what he does not have nono dat
quod non habet. In the present case, there is no allegation at all
that petitioners were authorized by DBP to sell the property to
the private respondents.
Further, the contract of repurchase that the parties entered into
presupposes that petitioners could repurchase the property that
they sold to private respondents. As petitioners sold nothing, it
follows that they can also repurchase nothing. In this light, the
contract of repurchase is also inoperative and by the same
analogy, void.
HEIRS OF SEVERINA SAN MIGUEL VS. CA
FACTS: This case involves a parcel of land originally claimed by
Severina San Miguel (petitioners predecessor-in-interest,
hereafter, Severina). The land is situated in Panapan, Bacoor,
Cavite with an area of 632 sq. m., more or less. Without
Severina's knowledge, Dominador managed to cause the
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 57
58
Price Simulated
RTC ruled in favor of the wife Merlinda declaring the two sales in
August 1979 as void and inexistent. Upon appeal, the CA
affirmed in toto the RTC ruling.
ISSUES:
1. Whether or not the sale of subject lots should be nullified. YES
2. Whether or not petitioner Modina was a purchaser in good
faith. NO
HELD:
1.)The sale of the subject lots should be nullified.
Prohibition of sale between spouses
Art. 1490. The husband and the wife cannot sell property to
each other, except:
(1) when a separation of property was agreed upon in the
marriage settlements; or
(2) when there has been a judicial separation of property under
Art. 191.
The sale between Chiang spouses was null and void. The
ownership of the lot did not transfer to Ramon Chiang. Hence,
the sale to Modina was null and void. The exception to the rule
laid down in Art. 1490 of the New Civil Code not having existed
with respect to the property relations of Ramon Chiang and
Merlinda Plana Chiang, the sale by the latter in favor of the
former of the properties in question is invalid for being prohibited
by law. Not being the owner of subject properties, Ramon
Chiang could not have validly sold the same to plaintiff Serafin
Modina. The sale by Ramon Chiang in favor of Serafin Modina
is, likewise, void and inexistent. Serafin Modina is, likewise, void
and inexistent.
A contract of sale without consideration is a void contract
Under Article 1409 of the New Civil Code, enumerating void
contracts, a contract without consideration is one such void
contract. One of the characteristics of a void or inexistent
contract is that it produces no effect. So also, inexistent
contracts can be invoked by any person whenever juridical
effects founded thereon are asserted against him. A transferor
can recover the object of such contract by accion reivindicatoria
and any possessor may refuse to deliver it to the transferee, who
cannot enforce the transfer.
Thus, Modinas insistence that Merlinda cannot attack subject
contract of sale as she was a guilty party thereto is equally
unavailing.
Merlinda can recover the property
RTC ruled in favor of the respondents saying that the sale to the
spouses Intac was null and void. The CA also ruled that there
was no consideration in the sale to the spouses Intac and that
the contract was one for equitable mortgage.
ISSUES:
WON the Deed of Absolute Sale was a simulated contract or a
valid agreement.
WON the Deed of Absolute Sale, dated October 25, 1977,
involving the subject real property in Pagasa, Quezon City, was a
simulated contract or a valid agreement.
HELD:
The deed of sale executed by Ireneo and Salvacion was
absolutely simulated for lack of consideration and cause and,
therefore, void.
Articles 1345 and 1346 of the Civil Code provide:
Art. 1345. Simulation of a contract may be absolute or relative.
The former takes place when the parties do not intend to be
bound at all; the latter, when the parties conceal their true
agreement.
Art. 1346. An absolutely simulated or fictitious contract is void. A
relative simulation, when it does not prejudice a third person and
is not intended for any purpose contrary to law, morals, good
customs, public order or public policy binds the parties to their
real agreement.
Relatively simulated agreement vs. Absolute simulation
If the parties state a false cause in the contract to conceal their
real agreement, the contract is only relatively simulated and the
parties are still bound by their real agreement. Hence, where the
essential requisites of a contract are present and the simulation
refers only to the content or terms of the contract, the agreement
is absolutely binding and enforceable between the parties and
their successors in interest
In absolute simulation, there is a colorable contract but it has no
substance as the parties have no intention to be bound by it.
"The main characteristic of an absolute simulation is that the
apparent contract is not really desired or intended to produce
legal effect or in any way alter the juridical situation of the
parties." "As a result, an absolutely simulated or fictitious
contract is void, and the parties may recover from each other
what they may have given under the contract."
No valid sale took place between Ireneo and Spouses Intac
In the case at bench, the Court is one with the courts below that
no valid sale of the subject property actually took place between
the alleged vendors, Ireneo and Salvacion; and the alleged
Aside from their plain denial, the heirs of Intac failed to present
any concrete evidence to disprove Mariettos testimony. They
claimed that they actually paid P150,000.00 for the subject
property. They, however, failed to adduce proof, even by
circumstantial evidence, that they did, in fact, pay it. Even for the
consideration of P60,000.00 as stated in the contract, petitioners
could not show any tangible evidence of any payment therefor.
Their failure to prove their payment only strengthened Mariettos
story that there was no payment made because Ireneo had no
intention to sell the subject property.
Angelinas story, except on the consideration, was consistent
with that of Marietto. Angelina testified that she and her husband
mortgaged the subject property sometime in July 1978 to finance
the construction of a small hospital in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
Angelina claimed that Ireneo offered the property as he was in
deep financial need.
The contract of sale was only for the purpose of lending the title
of the property to Spouses Intac to enable them to secure a
loan.
Their arrangement was only temporary and could not give rise to
a valid sale. Where there is no consideration, the sale is null and
void ab initio. The case of Lequin vs. VIzconde was cited in this
case.
The fact that Ireneo was still in physical possession of the
subject property after the sale is a strong evidence to prove that
there was no valid sale between the parties.
More importantly, Ireneo and his family continued to be in
physical possession of the subject property after the sale in 1977
and up to the present. They even went as far as leasing the
same and collecting rentals. If Spouses Intac really purchased
the subject property and claimed to be its true owners, why did
they not assert their ownership immediately after the alleged sale
took place? Why did they have to assert their ownership of it only
after the death of Ireneo and Salvacion? One of the most striking
badges of absolute simulation is the complete absence of any
attempt on the part of a vendee to assert his right of dominion
over the property.
As heretofore shown, the contemporaneous and subsequent
acts of both parties in this case, point to the fact that the intention
of Ireneo was just to lend the title to the Spouses Intac to enable
them to borrow money and put up a hospital in Sta. Cruz,
Laguna. Clearly, the subject contract was absolutely simulated
and, therefore, void.
The Spouses Intac never became the owners of the property
despite its registration in their names.
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 63
Price is False
MACAPAGAL vs. CATALINA O. REMORIN, CORAZON
CALUZA BAMRUNGCHEEP, and LAURELIA CALUZAVALENCIANO
65
Non-Payment of Price
deed of sale and declared that the Sale dated April 1, 1980, as
valid and enforceable. No appeal having been made, the
decision became final and executory.
Examining the terms and conditions of the "Deed of Sale" dated
April 1, 1980, the P45,000.00 balance is payable only "after the
property covered by T.C.T. No. 135671 has been partitioned and
subdivided, and title issued in the name of the BUYER" hence,
vendor Roque cannot demand payment of the balance unless
and until the property has been subdivided and titled in the name
of private respondents. Devoid of any stipulation that ownership
in the thing shall not pass to the purchaser until he has fully paid
the price, ownership of the thing shall pass from the vendor to
the vendee upon actual or constructive delivery of the thing sold
even if the purchase price has not yet been fully paid. The failure
of the buyer to make good the price does not, in law, cause
ownership to evert to the seller unless the bilateral contract of
sale is first rescinded or resolved pursuant to Article 1191 of the
New Civil Code.
Non-payment only creates a right to demand the fulfillment of the
obligation or to rescind the contract.
With respect to the non-delivery of the possession of the subject
property to the private respondent, suffice it to say that
ownership of the thing sold is acquired only from the time of
delivery thereof, actual or constructive.
A contract of sale being consensual, it is perfected by the mere
consent of the parties. Delivery of the thing bought or payment of
the price is not necessary for the perfection of the contract; and
failure of the vendee to pay to price after the execution of the
contract does not make the sale null and void for lack of
consideration but results at most in default on the part of the
vendee, for which the vendor may exercise his legal remedies.
HELD:
No. The sale was consummated, hence, valid and enforceable.
66
The trial court ruled in favor of Maruzzo and held that the
Quitclaim Deed is equivalent to a Deed of Sale and, hence, there
was a valid conveyance in favor of the latter.
Appealing to the IAC, petitioners additionally contends that the
One (1.00) Peso consideration is not a consideration at all to
sustain the ruling that the Quitclaim Deed is equivalent to a sale.
The IAC however affirmed the TC.
ISSUE: W/N the quitclaim is equivalent to a deed of sale or
to a deed of donation
HELD: The Quitclaim Deed is equivalent to a deed of sale. A
careful perusal of the subject deed reveals that the conveyance
of the one- half () undivided portion of the above-described
property was for and in consideration of the One (P 1.00) Peso
and the other valuable considerations (emphasis supplied) paid
by private respondent Sandra Maruzzo through her
representative, Alfredo Ong, to petitioner Imelda Ong. Stated
differently, the cause or consideration is not the One (P1.00)
Peso alone but also the other valuable considerations.
Although the cause is not stated in the contract it is presumed
that it is existing unless the debtor proves the contrary (Article
1354 of the Civil Code). One of the disputable presumptions is
that there is a sufficient cause of the contract. It is a legal
presumption of sufficient cause or consideration supporting a
contract even if such cause is not stated therein (Article 1354,
New Civil Code of the Philippines.) This presumption cannot be
overcome by a simple assertion of lack of consideration
especially when the contract itself states that consideration was
given, and the same has been reduced into a public instrument
with all due formalities and solemnities. To overcome the
presumption of consideration the alleged lack of consideration
must be shown by preponderance of evidence in a proper action.
The execution of a deed purporting to convey ownership of a
realty is in itself prima facie evidence of the existence of a
valuable consideration, the party alleging lack of consideration
has the burden of proving such allegation.
Even granting that the Quitclaim deed in question is a donation,
Article 741 of the Civil Code provides that the requirement of the
acceptance of the donation in favor of minor by parents of legal
representatives applies only to onerous and conditional
donations where the donation may have to assume certain
charges or burdens. Donation to an incapacitated donee does
not need the acceptance by the lawful representative if said
donation does not contain any condition. In simple and pure
donation, the formal acceptance is not important for the donor
requires no right to be protected and the donee neither
undertakes to do anything nor assumes any obligation. The
Quitclaim now in question does not impose any condition.
ISAAC BAGNAS ET AL. vs. CA
G.R. No. L-38498, August 10, 1989
FACTS: Hilario Mateum died without a will and was survived only
by collateral relatives. Bagnas et al., the petitioners, were his
nearest kin. The respondents Retonil et al. on the other hand
were relatives to a farther extent.
Retonil et al. claims ownership of 10 parcels of land from the
3)
FACTS: Petitioner Gamaliel Villanueva has been a tenantoccupant of a unit in an apartment building erected on a parcel of
land owned by private respondents dela Cruz. In 1986, Jose dela
Cruz offered said land with the apartment building for sale and
petitioners (Gamaliel and Irene) showed interest in the property.
As initial step, Jose gave Irene a letter of authority for her to
inspect the property. Since the property was in arrears for
payment of realty taxes, Jose approached Irene and asked for a
certain amount to pay for the taxes so that the property would be
cleared of any encumbrance. Irene gave 10k (5k on 2
occasions). It was agreed by them that the 10k would form part
of the sale price of 550k.
Thereafter, Jose went to Irene, bringing with him Mr. Sabio,
requesting her to allow Sabio to purchase of the property, to
which they consented, so they would just purchase the other half
(265k, having paid the 10k). Dela Cruz executed in favor of their
co-defendants (Guido and Felicitas Pile) a Deed of Assignment
of the other portion of the land, wherein Gamaliels apartment
unit is situated. This was purportedly as full payment and
satisfaction of an indebtedness obtained from the Piles. TCT was
later issued in the name of the Piles.
Soon, Gamaliel learned about the assignment and issuance of
new TCT. Petitioners elevated their complaint to the Court
(specific performance). They contend that a contract of sale has
been perfected and that the 10k formed part of the purchase
price (necessarily then, there must have been an agreement as
to the price). They cite Art 1482: Whenever earnest money is
given in a contract of sale, it shall be considered as part of the
price and proof of perfection of the contract. On the other hand,
private respondents claim that what was agreed upon was that
the 10k be primarily intended as payment for realty tax, and was
going to for part of the consideration of the sale if the transaction
would finally be consummated. They insist that there was no
clear agreement as to the true amount of consideration.
ISSUE: Was there a perfected contract of sale? NO
HELD: After a review of the evidence, SC found that there was
no agreement as to the price (based on the testimonies). To
68
69
ISSUES:
WON there was a perfected contract to repurchase the
foreclosed properties between the petitioners and the
private respondent Planters Development Bank. NO
WON the parties never got past the negotiation stage. YES
HELD:
In general, contracts undergo three distinct stages: negotiation,
perfection or birth, and consummation. Negotiation begins from
the time the prospective contracting parties manifest their
interest in the contract and ends at the moment of their
agreement. Perfection or birth of the contract takes place when
the parties agree upon the essential elements of the contract,
i.e., consent, object and price. Consummation occurs when
the parties fulfill or perform the terms agreed upon in the
contract, culminating in the extinguishment thereof.
A negotiation is formally initiated by an offer which should
be certain with respect to both the object and the cause or
consideration of the envisioned contract. In order to produce a
contract, here must be acceptance, which may be express or
implied, but it must not qualify the terms of the offer. In other
words, it must be identical in all respects with that of the offer so
as to produce consent or meeting of the minds.
Here, the Navarras assert that the following exchange of
correspondence between them and Planters Bank constitutes
the offer and acceptance, thus:
Letter dated July 18, 1985 of Jorge Navarra:
This will formalize my request for your kind consideration
in allowing my brother and me to buy back my house and
lot and my restaurant building and lot together with the
adjacent road lot. Since my brother, who is working in
Saudi Arabia, has accepted this arrangement only
recently as a result of my urgent offer to him, perhaps it will
be safe for us to set August 31, 1985 as the last day for
the payment of a P300,000.00 down payment. I hope you
will grant us the opportunity to raise the funds within this
period, which includes an allowance for delays.
The purchase price, I understand, will be based on the
redemption value plus accrued interest at the prevailing
rate up to the date of our sales contract.
Maybe you can give us a long term payment scheme on the
basis of my brothers annual savings of roughly
US$30,000.00 everytime he comes home for his home
leave. I realize that this is not a regular transaction but I
am seeking your favor to give me a chance to reserve
whatever values I can still recover from the properties and
to avoid any legal complications that may arise as a
consequence of the total loss of the Balangay lot. I hope that
you will extend to me your favorable action on this grave
matter.
Letter dated August 16, 1985 of Planters Bank:
Regarding your letter dated July 18, 1985, requesting that
we give up to August 31, 1985 to buy back your house and
lot and restaurant and building subject to a P300,000.00
downpayment on the purchase price, please be advised that
the Collection Committee has agreed to your request.
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 70
may be formalized.
Such statement in the Banks letter clearly manifests lack of
agreement between the parties as to the terms of the purported
contract of sale/repurchase, particularly the mode of payment of
the purchase price and the period for its payment. The law
requires acceptance to be absolute and unqualified.
As it is, the Banks letter is not the kind which would constitute
acceptance as contemplated by law for it does not evince any
categorical and unequivocal undertaking on the part of the Bank
to sell the subject properties to the Navarras.
The Navarras attempt to prove the existence of a perfected
contract of sale all the more becomes futile in the light of the
evidence that there was in the first place no acceptance of their
offer. It should be noted that aside from their first letter dated
July 18, 1985, the Navarras wrote another letter dated August
20, 1985, this time requesting the Bank that the down payment of
P300,000.00 be instead taken from the excess payment made by
the RRRC in redeeming its own foreclosed properties.
The very circumstance that the Navarras had to make this new
request is a clear indication that no definite agreement has yet
been reached at that point. As we see it, this request constitutes
a new offer on the part of the Navarras, which offer was again
conditionally accepted by the Bank as in fact it even required the
Navarras to submit a board resolution of RRRC before it could
proceed with the proposed sale/repurchase.
The eventual failure of the spouses to submit the required board
resolution precludes the perfection of a contract of
sale/repurchase between the parties.
Evidently, what transpired between the parties was only a
prolonged negotiation to buy and to sell, and, at the most, an
offer and a counter offer with no definite agreement having been
reached by them. With the hard reality that no perfected
contract of sale/repurchase exists in this case, any
independent transaction between the Planters Bank and a thirdparty, like the one involving the Gatchalian Realty, cannot be
affected.
AMADO VS. SALVADOR
G.R. NO. 171401 DECEMBER 13, 2007
FACTS: Judge Amado is the owner of a lot, a portion of which is
the subject of the present litigation. It was alleged that sometime
in 1979, Judge Amado and Salvador agreed that the latter
would sell the lot in favor of Salvador at P60/sqm. The
payment was to be made in cash or construction material,
whichever the Judge preferred and to whomever the latter
wished during his lifetime. The terms of payment, though, were
not stipulated.
Thereafter, Salvador undertook and the location of the squatters
in said land and eventually built several structures thereon for his
business. Salvador claims that by October 1980, he had already
given Judge Amado total cash advances of P30,310.93 and
delivered construction materials amounting to P36,904.45, the
total of which exceeded the agreed price for the subject
property.
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER
71
I. POLICITATION
1. Option Contract
75
i.
ii.
No Separate Consideration
79
80
two slipways within the first 10 years of the lease with a total
value of not less than 450 T.
On March 14, 1973 the property was mortgaged to China
Banking Corporation (CBC) as a security for a loan availed by
two of Carmens children, Mariano and Gabriel. The owners
duplicate copy was now with CBC.
On December 31, 1974 Carmen executed a Deed of Absolute
Sale with Assumption of Mortgage in which she as the vendor
conveyed the property to her children Serafin, Mariano, Rogelio,
Carmencita and Mary Carmela for the purchase price of 350 T.
Mariano wrote a letter to CBC requesting them to conform to the
sale however CBC refused.
On June 27, 1977 Mariano presented the deed to the ROD for
registration purposes. They requested the ROD to compel CBC
to transmit the owners duplicate copy of the title for annotation.
CBC informed them that they were just following the instruction
of Carmen not to surrender the owners duplicate.
In the meantime the balance of the loan was fully paid and on
June 29, 1977 CBC executed a Cancellation of Real Estate
Mortgage however the deed was not presented to the ROD for
registration. On the same date Mariano, on behalf of his siblings,
executed an Affidavit of Adverse claim asserting their rights as
vendees of the property.
On June 30, 1977 Carmen and NIC executed a Supplementary
Lease Agreement extending the lease period to October 2005.
NIC was also granted the option to buy the property for 1.6
M.
Mariano et. al. was able to have the sale registered and a new
title was issued in their name. Thereafter, they have informed
NIC to vacate the property, as they are now its new owners,
however, NIC refused.
Meanwhile, Carmen filed a case against NIC anent the
Supplementary Lease Agreement purportedly executed by her as
lessor and NIC as lessee. She averred that NIC took advantage
of the animosity between her and her children by inserting
therein blatantly unfair provisions.
On June 30, 1990 Mariano et. al informed NIC that they will be
no longer renew the contract and that as far as they were
concerned the Supplementary Lease Agreement was null and
void.
ISSUE: Whether or not there is a perfected option contract.
On September 21, 1964, the spouses Vallejera sold the lot the
spouses Vasquez for the amount of 9 T. On the same day and
along with the execution of the Deed of Sale, a separate
instrument, denominated as Right to Repurchase was executed
by the parties granting the Vallejeras the right to repurchase the
lot for 12 T.
By virtue of the Deed of Sale the spouses Vasquez secured a
title in their name. However, on January 2, 1969, the Vallejeras
sold the lot to Benito Derrama after securing the spouse
Vasquez title for 12 T. Upon the protestation of the spouses
Vasquez the sale was cancelled after payment of 12 T to
Derrama.
The spouses Vasquez resisted the action for redemption on the
premise that the deed of Right to Repurchase is just an option
to buy since it is not embodied in the same document of sale but
in a separate document and since such option is not supported
by a consideration distinct from the price, said deed is not
binding upon them.
The spouses Vazquez insist that they can not be compelled to
resell the subject property for the nature of the sale over the said
lot between them and the Vallejeras can only be either an option
to buy or a mere promise on their part to resell the property.
Spouses Vasquez opined that since the Right to Repurchase
was not supported by any consideration distinct from the
purchase price it is not valid and binding upon the spouses
Vasquez pursuant to Article 1479.
ISSUE: Whether or not the spouse Vallejera has a right to
repurchase under the contract.
HELD: No. The Court made reference to the earlier case of
Sanchez vs. Rigos (Sanchez doctrine), stating that an option
contract without a separate consideration from the purchase
price is void, as a contract, but would still constitute as a valid
offer; so that if the option is exercised prior to its withdrawal, that
is equivalent to an offer being accepted prior to withdrawal and
would give rise to a valid and binding sale.
The Sanchez doctrine also dictates that the burden of proof to
show that the option contract was supported by a separate
consideration is with the party seeking to show it. No reliance
can be placed upon the provisions of Article 1354 which
presumes the existence of a consideration in every contract,
since in the case of an option contract, Article 1479 being the
specific provision, requires such separate consideration for an
option to be valid.
In an option contract, the offeree has the burden of proving that
the option is supported by a separate consideration, it also held
that the Sanchez doctrine (That upon the option contract not
supported by a separate consideration; is void as contract, but
valid as an offer), can only apply if the option has been accepted
and such acceptance is communicated to the offeror. It held that
not even the annotation of the option contract on the title of the
property can be considered a proper acceptance of the option.
Neither can the signature of the spouses Vasquez in the
document called "right to repurchase" signify acceptance of the
right to repurchase. The Vallejeras did not sign the offer.
Acceptance should be made by the promisee, in this case, the
Vallejeras and not the promises, spouses Vasquez herein. It
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 82
2.
83
84
85
86
87
HELD: No. Sale was valid. Under Article 1311 of the Civil Code,
the heirs are bound by the contracts entered into by their
predecessors-in-interest except when the rights and obligations
therein are not transmissible by their nature, by stipulation or by
provision of law. A contract of lease is generally transmissible to
the heirs of the lessor or lessee. It involves a property right and
the death of a party does not excuse non-performance of the
contract. The rights and obligations pass to the heirs of the
deceased and the heir is bound to respect the period of the
lease.
The parties expressly stipulated in the March 31, 1978
Agreement that Romeo, as lessee, shall transfer all his rights
and interests under the lease contract with option to renew in
favor of the party of Orlando, the latters heirs, successors and
assigns indicating the clear intent to allow the transmissibility of
all the rights and interests of Orlando under the lease contract
unto his heirs, successors or assigns. The rights and obligations
under the lease contract with option to renew were transmitted
from Orlando to his heirs upon his death. It does not follow,
however, that the lease subsisted at the time of the sale of the
subject.
The election of the option to renew the lease in this case cannot
be inferred from petitioner Wenifredas continued possession of
the subject lot. It was incumbent upon Wenifreda with the burden
of proof during the trial below to establish by some positive act
that Orlando or his heirs exercised the option to renew the lease.
SC held that there was no evidence presented before the trial
court to prove that Orlando or his heirs exercised the option to
renew prior to or at the time of the expiration of the lease. As a
result, there was no obstacle to the sale of the subject lot by
Cornelio to respondents Eduardo and Jorge as the prohibitory
clause under the lease contract was no longer in force.
On the issue on the right of first refusal of Orlando and his heirs,
SC held that no testimonial evidence was presented to prove the
existence of said right. The claims based on this alleged right of
first refusal cannot be sustained for its existence has not been
duly established.
II.
PERFECTION STAGE
1.
89
3. Sale by Auction
4. Earnest Money
90
NARANJA VS. CA
FACTS: Roque Naranja was the registered owner of a parcel of
land, Bacolod. Roque was also a co-owner of an adjacent lot (Lot
No. 2) which he co-owned with his brothers, Gabino and Placido
Naranja.
When Placido died, his one-third share was inherited by his
children, Nenita, Nazareto, Nilda, Naida and Neolanda, all
surnamed Naranja, herein petitioners. The adjacent lot is
covered by TCT No. T-18762 in the names of Roque, Gabino
and the said children of Placido. TCT No. T-18762 remained
even after Gabino died. The other petitioners Serafin Naranja,
Raul Naranja, and Amelia Naranja-Rubinos are the children of
Gabino.
The two lots were being leased by Esso Standard Eastern, Inc.
for 30 years from 1962-1992. For his properties, Roque was
being paid P200.00 per month by the company.
Roque had no other source of income except for the P200.00
monthly rental of his two properties. To show his gratitude to
Belardo, Roque sold Lot No. 4 and his one-third share in Lot No.
2 to Belardo on August 21, 1981, through a Deed of Sale of Real
Property which was duly notarized by Atty. Eugenio Sanicas.
Roques copies of TCT No. T-18764 and TCT No. T-18762 were
entrusted to Atty. Sanicas for registration of the deed of sale and
transfer of the titles to Belardo. But the deed of sale could not be
registered because Belardo did not have the money to pay for
the registration fees.
Belardos only source of income was her store and coffee shop.
Sometimes, her children would give her money to help with the
household expenses, including the expenses incurred for
Roques support. At times, she would also borrow money from
Margarita Dema-ala, a neighbor. When the amount of her loan
reached P15,000.00, Dema-ala required a security.
Roque executed a deed of sale in favor of Dema-ala, covering
his two properties in consideration of the P15,000.00 outstanding
loan and an additional P15,000.00, for a total ofP30,000.00.
Dema-ala explained that she wanted Roque to execute the deed
of sale himself since the properties were still in his name.
Belardo merely acted as a witness. The titles to the properties
were given to Dema-ala for safekeeping.
Three days later, Roque died of influenza. The proceeds of the
loan were used for his treatment while the rest was spent for his
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER
91
In 1985, Belardo fully paid the loan secured by the second deed
of sale. Dema-ala returned the certificates of title to Belardo,
who, in turn, gave them back to Atty. Sanicas.
DALION VS. CA
FACTS: This is a petition to annul and set aside the decision of
the Court of Appeals rendered on May 26, 1987, upholding the
validity of the sale of a parcel of land by petitioner Segundo
Dalion (hereafter, "Dalion") in favor of private respondent
Ruperto Sabesaje, Jr. (hereafter, "Sabesaje").
On May 28, 1973, Sabesaje sued to recover ownership of a
parcel of land, based on a private document of absolute sale,
dated July 1, 1965, allegedly executed by Dalion, who, however
denied the fact of sale, contending that the document sued upon
is fictitious, his signature thereon, a forgery, and that subject land
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 92
HELD:
1st issue: There was no perfected contract of sale yet because
both parties are still under negotiation and hence, no meeting of
the minds. Mr. Gamboa even went to the private respondents to
negotiate for the sale. Even though there was an agreement on
the terms of payment, there was no absolute acceptance
because respondents still insisted on further details.
nd
contracts
are
95
III. CONSUMMATION
A.
Obligations of Seller
96
B.
xxx
xxx
Pursuant to these two (2) articles, if the thing sold has hidden
faults or defects as the conveyors are claimed to have the
vendor in the case at bar, the plaintiff shall be responsible
therefor and the vendee or La Fuerza, in the present case
"may elect between withdrawing from the contract and
demanding a proportional reduction of the price, with damages in
either case."
Delivery/Special Rules
DAVID VS MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL
100
the purchase. Then, when the loan that MOELCI was relying
upon to finance the purchase was not forthcoming, MOELCI,
through Engr. Rada, convinced David to do away with the 50%
downpayment and deliver the unit so that it could already
address its acute power shortage predicament, to which David
acceded when it made the delivery, through the carrier William
Lines, as evidenced by a bill of lading.
Second, the document specified a determinate subject matter
which was one (1) Unit of 10 MVA Power Transformer with
corresponding KV Line Accessories. And third, the document
stated categorically the price certain in money which was
P5,200,000.00 for one (1) unit of 10 MVA Power Transformer and
P2,169,500.00 for the KV Line Accessories.
In sum, since there was a meeting of the minds, there was
consent on the part of David to transfer ownership of the power
transformer to MOELCI in exchange for the price, thereby
complying with the first element. Thus, the said document cannot
just be considered a contract to sell but rather a perfected
contract of sale.
Second issue: MOELCI, in denying that the power transformer
was delivered to it, argued that the Bill of Lading which David
was relying upon was not conclusive. It argued that although the
bill of lading was stamped "Released," there was nothing in it
that indicated that said power transformer was indeed released
to it or delivered to its possession. For this reason, it is its
position that it is not liable to pay the purchase price of the 10
MVA power transformer.
On the other hand, if the seller is to pay the freight, the inference
is equally so strong that the duty of the seller is to have the
goods transported to their ultimate destination and that title to
property does not pass until the goods have reached their
destination.
c.i.f. means Cost, Insurance and Freight = CFI is paid by the
seller.
The letters "c.i.f." found in British contracts stand for cost,
insurance, and freight. They signify that the price fixed covers not
only the cost of the goods, but the expense of freight and
insurance to be paid by the seller.
F.O.B. stands for Free on Board = seller bear all expenses
until goods are delivered.
In this case, in addition to the letters "c.i.f.," has the word
following, "Manila." In mercantile contracts of American origin the
letters "F.O.B." standing for the words "Free on Board," are
frequently used. The meaning is that the seller shall bear all
expenses until the goods are delivered where they are to be
"F.O.B."
According as to whether the goods are to be delivered "F.O.B." at
the point of shipment or at the point of destination determines the
time when property passes. However, both the terms "c.i.f." and
"F.O.B." merely make rules of presumption which yield to proof of
contrary intention.
Delivery was to be made at Manila.
Hence, we believe that the word Manila in conjunction with the
letters "c.i.f." must mean that the contract price, covering costs,
insurance, and freight, signifies that delivery was to made at
Manila. If petitioner Behn Meyer has seriously thought that the
place of delivery was New York and Not Manila, it would not have
gone to the trouble of making fruitless attempts to substitute
goods for the merchandise named in the contract, but would
have permitted the entire loss of the shipment to fall upon the
defendant.
Behn Meyer failed to prove that it performed its part in the
contract.
In this case, the place of delivery was Manila and plaintiff (Behn
Meyer) has not legally excused default in delivery of the specified
merchandise at that place. In resume, we find that the plaintiff
has not proved the performance on its part of the conditions
precedent in the contract.
For breach of warranty, the buyer (Yanco) may demand
rescission of the contract of sale.
The warranty the material promise of the seller to the buyer
has not been complied with. The buyer may therefore rescind the
contract of sale because of a breach in substantial particulars
going to the essence of the contract. As contemplated by article
1451 of the Civil Code, the vendee can demand fulfillment of the
contract, and this being shown to be impossible, is relieved of his
obligation. There thus being sufficient ground for rescission, the
defendant is not liable.
102
Double Sales
CORONEL vs CA
Petitioner point out that the notice of lis pendens in the case at
bar was annoted on the title of the subject property only on
February 22, 1985, whereas, the second sale between
petitioners Coronels and petitioner Mabanag was supposedly
perfected prior thereto or on February 18, 1985. The idea
conveyed is that at the time petitioner Mabanag, the second
buyer, bought the property under a clean title, she was unaware
of any adverse claim or previous sale, for which reason she is
buyer in good faith.
104
deed of sale where she sold the northern portion with an area of
32,325 square meters to respondents for P1,500.00 and the
southern portion consisting of 8,754 square meters to Agaton
Pagaduan for P500.00. (FIRST SALE)
Later, on June 5, 1962, Eugenia executed another deed of sale,
this time conveying the entire parcel of land, including the
southern portion, in respondents favor (SECOND SALE). Thus,
TCT No. T-1221 was cancelled and in lieu thereof TCT No. T5425 was issued in the name of respondents. On June 27, 1989,
respondents subdivided the land into two lots.
On July 26, 1989, petitioners instituted a complaint for
reconveyance of the southern portion with an area of 8,754
square meters, with damages, against respondents before the
RTC of Olongapo City.
RTC decided in petitioners favor; a constructive trust over the
property was created in petitioners favor.
CA reversed decision; while the registration of the southern
portion in the name of respondents had created an implied trust
in favor of Agaton Pagaduan, petitioners, however, failed to show
that they had taken possession of the said portion.
ISSUE: Whether or not there was a double sale.
HELD: In this case, there was a double sale. Article 1544 should
apply.
ART. 1544. If the same thing should have been sold to different
vendees, the ownership shall be transferred to the person who
may have first possession thereof in good faith, if it should be
movable property.
Should it be immovable property, the ownership shall belong to
the person acquiring it who in good faith first recorded it in the
Registry of Property.
Should there be no inscription, the ownership shall pertain to the
person who in good faith was first in possession; and, in the
absence thereof; to the person who presents the oldest title,
provided there is good faith.
Where it is an immovable property that is the subject of a double
sale, ownership shall be transferred: (1) to the person acquiring it
who in good faith first recorded it in the Registry of Property; (2)
in default thereof, to the person who in good faith was first in
possession; and (3) in default thereof, to the person who
presents the oldest title, provided there is good faith. The
requirement of the law then is two-fold: acquisition in good faith
and registration in good faith.
DOUBLE SALE: first sale by Eugenia Reyes to Agaton
Pagaduan and a second sale by Eugenia Reyes to the
respondents.
For a second buyer like the respondents to successfully invoke
the second paragraph, Article 1544 of the Civil Code, it must
possess goodvfaith from the time of the sale in its favor until the
registration of the same. Respondents sorely failed to meet this
requirement of good faith since they had actual knowledge of
Eugenias prior sale of the southern portion property to the
petitioners, a fact antithetical to good faith. This cannot be denied
by respondents since in the same deed of sale that Eugenia sold
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 105
CARBONELL VS. CA
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2014
FACTS: Respondent Jose Poncio was the owner of the parcel of
land located in Rizal. (Area more or less 195 sq. m.) The said
lot was subject to mortgage in favor of the Republic Savings
Bank for the sum of P1,500.00.
Carbonell and respondent Emma Infante offered to buy the said
lot from Poncio. Poncio offered to sell his lot to Carbonell
excluding the house on which he and his family stayed.
Carbonell accepted the offer and proposed the price of P9.50/sq.
m.. Poncio accepted the price on the condition that from the
purchase pric would come the money to be paid to the bank.
January 27, 1995: The parties executed a document in the
Batanes dialect which is translated as: CONTRACT FOR ONE
HALF LOT WHICH I (Poncio) BOUGHT FROM.
Carbonell asked a lawyer to prepare the deed of sale and
delivered the document, together with the balance of P400, to
Jose Poncio. (Note: Carbonell already paid P200 for the
mortgage debt of Poncio + obligated herself to pay the remaining
installments.) However, when she went to Poncio, the latter
informed her that he could no longer proceed with the sale as the
lot was already sold to Emma Infante and that he could not
withdraw with the sale. Poncio admitted that on January 30,
1995, Mrs. Infante improved her offer and he agreed to sell the
land and its improvements to her for P3,535.00.
In a private memorandum agreement, Poncio bound to sell to
Infante the lot for the sum of P2,357.52, with Infante still
assuming the mortgage debt of P1,177.48. (Note: The full
amount of mortgage debt was already paid by the Infantes)
February 2, 1995: A deed of sale was executed between Poncio
and Infante.
February 8, 1995: Knowing that the sale to Infante has not been
registered, Carbonell filed an adverse claim.
February 12, 1995: The deed of sale was registered but it has an
annotation of the adverse claim of Carbonell.
Thereafter, Emma Infante took possession of the lot, built a
house and introduced some improvements.
In June 1995, Carbonell filed a complaint praying that she be
declared the lawful owner of the land, that the subsequent sale to
spouses Infante be declared null and void, and that Jose Poncio
be ordered to execute the corresponding deed of conveyance of
said land in her favor.
RTC ruled that the sale to spouses Infante was null and void.
After re-trial, it reversed its ruling. CA ruled in favor of Carbonell
but after a MfR, it reversed its ruling and ruled in favor of the
Infantes.
ISSUE: WON Carbonell has a superior right over Emma Infante.
YES
HELD: Article 1544 provides that for double sale of an
immovable property, the ownership shall belong to the person
who first acquired it in good faith and recorded it in the Registry
of Property
Article 1544, New Civil Code, which is decisive of this case,
recites:
If the same thing should have been sold to different vendees, the
ownership shall be transferred to the person who may have first
taken possession thereof in good faith, if it should movable
property.
Should it be immovable property, the ownership shall belong to
the person acquiring it who in good faith first recorded it in the
Registry of Property.
Should there be no inscription, the ownership shall pertain to the
person who in good faith was first in the possession; and, in the
absence thereof, to the person who presents the oldest title,
provided there is good faith.
The buyer must act in good faith in registering the deed of sale
It is essential that the buyer of realty must act in good faith in
registering his deed of sale to merit the protection of the second
paragraph of said Article 1544.
Unlike the first and third paragraphs of said Article 1544, which
accord preference to the one who first takes possession in good
faith of personal or real property, the second paragraph directs
that ownership of immovable property should be recognized in
favor of one "who in good faith first recorded" his right. Under the
first and third paragraph, good faith must characterize the act of
anterior registration.
Rule when there is inscription or not
If there is no inscription, what is decisive is prior possession in
good faith. If there is inscription, as in the case at bar, prior
registration in good faith is a pre-condition to superior title.
Carbonell was in good faith when she bought the lot
When Carbonell bought the lot from Poncio on January 27, 1955,
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 106
D. Obligations of Buyer
A.
B.
TAGATAC VS JIMENEZ
53 OG 3792
FACTS: Trinidad Tagatac bought a car for $4,500 in the US. After
7 months, she brought the car to the Philippines. Warner Feist,
who pretended to be a wealthy man, offered to buy Trinidads car
for P15,000, and Tagatac was amenable to the idea. Hnece, a
deed of sale was exceuted.
Feist paid by means of a postdated check, and the car was
delivered to Feist. However, PNB refused to honor the checks
and told her that Feist had no account in said bank.
Tagatac notified the law enforcement agencies of the estafa
committed by Feist, but the latter was not apprehended and the
car disappeared.
Meanwhile, Feist managed succeeded in having the cars
registration certificate (RC) transferred in his name. He sold the
car to Sanchez, who was able to transfer the registration
certificate to his name.
Sanchez then offered to sell the car to defendant Liberato
Jimenez, who bought the car for P10,000 after investigating in
the Motor Vehicles Office.
Tagatac discovered that the car was in California Car Exchanges
(place where Jimenez displayed the car for sale), so she
demanded from the manager for the delivery of the car, but the
latter refused.
Tagatac filed a suit for the recovery of the cars possession, and
the sheriff, pursuant to a warrant of seizure that Tagatac
of it, he has a right to recover it, not only from the finder,
thief or robber, but also from third persons who may have
acquired it in good faith from such finder, thief or robber.
The said article establishes two exceptions to the general rule
of IRREVINDICABILITY: when the owner (1) has lost the thing,
or (2) has been unlawfully deprived thereof. In these cases, the
possessor cannot retain the thing as against the owner, who may
recover it without paying any indemnity, except when the
possessor acquired it in a public sale.
Aznar claims ownership over the vehicle. Trial court awarded the
vehicle to Santos.
CHRYSLER VS. CA
133 SCRA 567
G.R. No. 55684
December 19, 1984
ISSUE: Between Santos and Aznar, who has a better right to the
possession of the disputed automobile? - SANTOS
HELD: Aznar accepts that the car in question originally belonged
to and was owned by Santos, and that the latter was unlawfully
deprived of the same by Marella. However, Aznar contends that
upon the facts of this case, the applicable provision of the CC is
Article 1506 and not Article 559 as was held by the decision
under review. Article 1506 provides:
ART. 1506. Where the seller of goods has a voidable title
thereto, but his, title has not been voided at the time of the
sale, the buyer acquires a good title to the goods, provided
he buys them in good faith, for value, and without notice of
the seller's defect of title.
The contention is clearly unmeritorious. Under the aforequoted
provision, it is essential that the seller should have a
voidable title at least. It is very clearly inapplicable where, as in
this case, the seller had no title at all.
Ownership is not transferred by contract merely but by tradition
or delivery. Contracts only constitute titles or rights to the
transfer or acquisition of ownership, while delivery or tradition
is the mode of accomplishing the same. For the legal acquisition
and transfer of ownership and other property rights, the thing
transferred must be delivered, inasmuch as, according to settled
jurisprudence, the tradition of the thing is a necessary and
indispensable requisite in the acquisition of said ownership by
virtue of contract. So long as property is not delivered, the
ownership over it is not transferred by contract merely but by
delivery. Contracts only constitute titles or rights to the transfer or
acquisition of ownership, while delivery or tradition is the method
of accomplishing the same, the title and the method of acquiring
it being different in our law.
Vicente Marella did not have any title to the property under
litigation because the same was never delivered to him. He
sought ownership or acquisition of it by virtue of the contract.
Vicente Marella could have acquired ownership or title to the
subject matter thereof only by the delivery or tradition of the car
to him.
The lower court was correct in applying Article 559 of the CC to
the case at bar, for under it, the rule is to the effect that if the
owner has lost a thing, or if he has been unlawfully deprived
111
In the midnight of the same date, however, a big fire broke out in
that locality which destroyed and burned all the buildings
standing on one whole block including at the law office and
library of Tabora As a result, the books bought from the company
as above stated, together with Tabora's important documents
and papers, were burned during the conflagration.
This unfortunate event was immediately reported by Tabora to
the company by sending a letter. The company replied and as a
112
2) Stoppage in Transitu
C. Remedies of Buyer
DELTA MOTOR SALES CORP. v NIU KIM DUAN
D. Sale of Movable on Installments Article 1484 (Recto La)
(also 1485, 1486)
that
the
contractual
stipulations
are
114
spouses accepted the payment, she would have paid all three
monthly installments. In other words, there was no deliberate
failure on Arellanos part to meet her responsibility to pay.
2. Yes. Sec. 3, RA 6552 provides:
Sec. 3. In all transactions or contracts involving the sale or
financing of real estate on installment payments, including
residential condominium apartments but excluding
industrial lots, commercial buildings and sales to tenants
under Republic Act. Numbered Thirty-eight hundred Forty-four as
amended by Republic Act Numbered Sixty-three hundred eightynine, where the buyer has paid at least two years of
installments, the buyer is entitled to the following rights in case
he defaults in the payment of succeeding installments:
(a) To pay, without additional interest, the unpaid
installments due within the total grace period earned by him,
which is hereby fixed at the rate of one month grace period
for every year of installment payments made: Provided, That
this right shall be exercised by the buyer only once in every five
years of the life of the contract and its extensions, if any.
(b) If the contract is cancelled, the seller shall refund to the
buyer the cash surrender value on the payments on the
property equivalent to fifty percent of the total payments
made and, after five years of installments, an additional five
percent every year but not to exceed ninety percent of the
total payments made: Provided, That the actual cancellation of
the contract shall take place after thirty days from receipt by the
buyer of the notice of cancellation or the demand for rescission
of the contract by a notarial act and upon full payment of the
cash surrender value to the buyer.
Down payments, deposits or options on the contract shall be
included in the computation of the total number of installments
made.
Therefore, Arellano is entitled to a one-month grace period for
every year of installment paid, which means that she had a total
grace period of three months from December 31, 1990. Indeed,
to rule in favor of the spouses would result in patent injustice and
unjust enrichment.
PAGTALUNAN vs. VDA. DE MANZANO
G.R. No. 147695 September 13, 2007
FACTS: On July 19, 1974, Patricio Pagtalunan (Patricio),
petitioners stepfather and predecessor-in-interest, entered into a
Contract to Sell with respondent Rufina dela Cruz Vda. De
Manzano, whereby the former agreed to sell, and the latter to
buy, a house and lot which formed half of a parcel of land for a
consideration of P17,800. The parties agreed that it shall be paid
in the following manner: P1,500 as downpayment upon
execution of the Contract to Sell, and the balance to be paid in
equal monthly installments of P150 on or before the last day of
each month until fully paid.
It was also stipulated in the contract that respondent could
immediately occupy the house and lot; that in case of default in
the payment of any of the installments for 90 days after its due
date, the contract would be automatically rescinded without need
of judicial declaration, and that all payments made and all
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 115
117
for they certainly had free rein over Nicolass interest in the
Diego Building. Rodolfo put off payment of the balance of the
price, yet, with the aid of Eduardo, collected and appropriated for
himself the rents which belonged to Nicolas.
Eduardo is solidarily liable with Rodolfo as regards the
share of Nicolas in the rents.
For his complicity, bad faith and abuse of authority as the Diego
Building administrator, Eduardo must be held solidarily liable with
Rodolfo for all that Nicolas should be entitled to from 1993 up to
the present, or in respect of actual damages suffered in relation
to his interest in the Diego Building. Eduardo was the primary
cause of Nicolass loss, being directly responsible for making and
causing the wrongful payments to Rodolfo, who received them
under obligation to return them to Nicolas, the true recipient.
As such, Eduardo should be principally responsible to Nicolas as
well. Suffice it to state that every person must, in the exercise of
his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice,
give everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith; and
every person who, contrary to law, wilfully or negligently causes
damage to another, shall indemnify the latter for the same.
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Petition is GRANTED.
Conditions
CATUNGAL VS. RODRIGUEZ
First check shall be for P4, 500, 000 while the remaining balance
to be paid in four checks in the amount of P5 million each will be
payable only after Rodriguez (Vendee) has successfully
negotiated, secured, and provided a Road Right of Way. If
however the Road Right of Way could not be negotiated,
Rodriguez shall notify the Catungals for them to reassess and
solve the problem by taking other options and should the
situation ultimately prove futile, he shall take steps to rescind or
cancel the herein Conditional Deed of Sale.
It was also stipulated that the access road or Road Right of Way
leading to the lot shall be the responsibility of the VENDEE to
secure and any or all cost relative to the acquisition thereof shall
be borne solely by the VENDEE. He shall, however, be accorded
with enough time necessary for the success of his endeavor,
granting him a free hand in negotiating for the passage.
Spouses Catungal requested an advance of P5 million on the
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 121
B.
Warranties
1. Express Warranties
The MOA provided that prior to registration with the LTO of any
assembled motor vehicle using imported component parts, a
Certificate of Payment should first be secured from the BIR or
the BOC which should then be duly forwarded to LTO. The
Certificate would serve as proof that all taxes and customs duties
required under existing laws, rules and regulations had already
been settled.
ISSUE: Who should pay the BIR taxes and customs duties which
the administrative regulations sought to enforce?
MOLES vs IAC
FACTS: In 1977, petitioner needed a linotype printing machine
for his printing business, The LM Press at Bacolod City, and
applied for an industrial loan with the Development Bank of the
Philippines. (DBP) for the purchase thereof. An agent of Smith,
Bell and Co. who is a friend of petitioner introduced the latter to
private respondent, owner of the Diolosa Publishing House in
Iloilo City, who had two available machines. Thereafter, petitioner
went to Iloilo City to inspect the two machines offered for sale
and was informed that the same were secondhand but
functional.
Sometime between April and May, 1977, the machine was
delivered to petitioner's publishing house where it was installed
by an employee of Diolosa. Prior to the release of the loan, a
representative from the DBP, Bacolod, supposedly inspected the
machine but he merely looked at it to see that it was there . The
inspector's recommendation was favorable and, thereafter,
petitioner's loan of P50,000.00 was granted and released.
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER 123
Since there are lessees occupying the subject land, part of the
deed of sale is a warranty of respondents that will defend its title
COMPILED BY: WIGMORE #WIGMOREFOREVER
126
ALUDOS VS SUERTE
Considering that sa oras na silay makinabang, the period of
redemption stated in the Kasulatan ng Biling Mabibiling Muli,
signified that no definite period had been stated, the period to
redeem should be ten years from the execution of the contract,
pursuant to Articles 1142 and 1144 of the Civil Code. Thus, the
full redemption price should have been paid by July 9, 1955; and
upon the expiration of said 10-year period, mortgagees Spouses
Francia or their heirs should have foreclosed the mortgage, but
they did not do so. Instead, they accepted Alejandros payments,
until the debt was fully satisfied by August 11, 1970.
The acceptance of the payments even beyond the 10-year
period of redemption estopped the mortgagees heirs from
insisting that the period to redeem the property had already
expired. Their actions impliedly recognized the continued
existence of the equitable mortgage. The conduct of the original
parties as well as of their successors-in-interest manifested that
the parties to the Kasulatan ng Biling Mabibiling Muli really
intended their transaction to be an equitable mortgage, not a
pacto de retro sale.
Both the trial court and the CA declared that the Magkasanib na
Salaysay, which extended the redemption period of the
mortgaged property, was inefficacious, because the period to
redeem could no longer be extended after the original
redemption period had already expired.
The provisions of the Civil Code governing equitable mortgages
disguised as sale contracts, like the one herein, are primarily
designed to curtail the evils brought about by contracts of sale
with right to repurchase, particularly the circumvention of the
usury law and pactum commissorium.[29] Courts have taken
judicial notice of the well-known fact that contracts of sale with
right to repurchase have been frequently resorted to in order to
130
C. Legal Redemption
131
END
134