Title
Maquiling vs. Umadhay
Case
G.R. No. L-25147
Decision Date
May 29, 1970
A dispute over the ownership of a parcel of land in the Philippines leads to a ruling that mortgagees cannot claim protection under the theory of indefeasibility of torrens title, while a purchaser in good faith and for value acquires an indefeasible title to the property.
Font Size

Case Digest (G.R. No. L-25147)

Facts:

  • The case Maquiling v. Umadhay (G.R. No. L-25147) was decided by the Supreme Court of the Philippines on May 29, 1970.
  • Angelina Maquiling, through her guardian ad litem Carlos Maquiling, contested ownership of Lot 3092 in the Cadastral Survey of Jaro, Iloilo.
  • The land was co-owned by seven individuals, including Paz Maquiling, who obtained her share from Maria Maquiling.
  • After Paz's death in 1928, her children, including Enrique Gumban, inherited her share.
  • On February 28, 1947, Enrique sold his one-third share to Angelina Maquiling for P400, but this transaction was not registered.
  • Eriberto Gumban, Jr. claimed to be the sole heir and executed a deed of mortgage over the entire 2/7 share in favor of Monserrat Umadhay.
  • The mortgage was registered, and after non-redemption, the property was sold at public auction to Umadhay, who later sold it to Crisanta S. Gumban.
  • The trial court initially ruled in favor of Angelina Maquiling, but the Court of Appeals reversed this decision, validating the mortgage and sale.

Issue:

  • (Unlock)

Ruling:

  • The Supreme Court ruled that the Umadhay spouses could not claim protection under the theory of indefeasibility of Torrens title due to reliance on a mortgage executed by a non-registered owner.
  • The Court affirmed that Crisanta S. Gumban w...(Unlock)

Ratio:

  • The Court stated that the Umadhay spouses could not invoke the indefeasibility of Torrens title because the registered owner at the time of the mortgage was still Paz Maquiling.
  • They relied on a self-serving affidavit from Eriberto Gumban, Jr., which did not establish ownership.
  • Good faith protection is reserved for purchasers from the registered owner; since the Umadhays' transferor was ...continue reading

Jur is an AI-powered legal research platform in the Philippines for case digests, summaries, and jurisprudence. AI-generated content may contain inaccuracies; please verify independently.

© 2024 Jur.ph. All rights reserved.