Case Digest (G.R. No. 120267)
Facts:
- Petitioners: Clara Espiritu Borlongan, Dina Borlongan, and Percida Borlongan.
- Private respondent: Consuelo Madrideo.
- Property in question: 3,230.9 square meter parcel of land in Tondo, Manila, including a 100 square meter lot at No. 605 Penalosa St.
- Two houses on the lot: One built by petitioners' grandparents and another by Madrideo.
- Consolacion Sempio, sister of Dominga (petitioner Clara's grandmother), originally leased the lot and lived there until her death in 1974.
- Madrideo, a ward of Consolacion, built her house in 1961 and paid rent to the landowner, Ma. Dalisay Tongko-Camacho.
- On May 6, 1993, Madrideo filed a complaint for unlawful detainer against the Borlongan petitioners, claiming unauthorized occupation.
- Petitioners argued they were tenants of Camacho, supported by her affidavit.
- The Metropolitan Trial Court ruled in favor of the petitioners, stating only the owner could eject them.
- Madrideo's appeal to the Regional Trial Court upheld the lower court's decision.
- Madrideo then petitioned the Court of Appeals, which reversed the lower courts' decisions.
Issue:
- (Unlock)
Ruling:
- The Supreme Court granted the petition, reversing the Court of Appeals' decisions from February 23, 1995, and May 19, 1995.
- The Supreme Court reinstated the decisions of the Regional Trial Court and the Metropolitan Trial Court, affirmin...(Unlock)
Ratio:
- The Supreme Court highlighted that the burden of proof rests with the plaintiff, Madrideo, who failed to prove her claim as the sole lessee.
- Madrideo's reliance on rental receip...continue reading
Case Digest (G.R. No. 120267)
Facts:
The case involves petitioners Clara Espiritu Borlongan, Dina Borlongan, and Percida Borlongan against private respondent Consuelo Madrideo and the Court of Appeals. The events leading to this case began with Ma. Dalisay Tongko-Camacho, the owner of a 3,230.9 square meter parcel of land in Tondo, Manila, which includes a 100 square meter lot at No. 605 Penalosa St. This lot has two houses: one built by Leonardo Borlongan and Dominga Sempio, the grandparents of petitioner Clara and great-grandparents of petitioners Dina and Percida, and another constructed by private respondent Madrideo. Consolacion Sempio, the sister of Dominga, originally leased the lot from Camacho and lived there with her family until her death in 1974. Private respondent Madrideo, who was a ward of Consolacion, built her house on the property in 1961 and paid rent to Camacho.
On May 6, 1993, Madrideo filed a complaint for unlawful detainer against the Borlongan petitioners, claiming that they occupied the land without her consent and failed to vacate upon her demand. The petitioners countered that they were not mere tolerated occupants but tenants of Camacho, supported by an affidavit from Camacho stating that both parties were her tenants. The Metropolitan Trial Court of Manila ruled in favor of the petitioners, stating that only the owner could eject them and that Madrideo was not the real party in interest. Madrideo appealed to the Regional Trial Court, which upheld t...