Title
Pamittan vs. Lasam
Case
G.R. No. 41056
Decision Date
Nov 14, 1934
The case of Pamittan v. Lasam involves a civil action for the partition of fourteen tracts of land, where the court ruled that donations made without a public instrument are invalid and the surviving husband cannot acquire ownership of conjugal property through prescription without liquidating the conjugal estate.
Font Size

Case Digest (G.R. No. 41056)

Facts:

  • The case of Pamittan v. Lasam (G.R. No. 41056) was decided on November 14, 1934, by the Supreme Court of the Philippines.
  • Plaintiffs-appellants, Sofia Pamittan and others, filed a civil action for the partition of fourteen tracts of land in Cagayan.
  • Defendants were Gabriel Lasam and Quirino Mallonga, with Lasam also appealing the decision.
  • Plaintiffs were the sole surviving heirs of Bernarda Pamittan, who married Gabriel Lasam on June 10, 1880.
  • Bernarda died intestate in September 1908, leaving no descendants or ascendants.
  • During their marriage, Bernarda and Gabriel acquired the fourteen parcels of land, except for parcels 7 and 8.
  • On January 24, 1930, Gabriel Lasam filed for the registration of title to several parcels, claiming absolute ownership.
  • A decree was issued in his favor on March 30, 1932, for all parcels except parcel No. 7.
  • Certificates were issued by the General Land Registration Office on April 12, 1933.
  • Gabriel Lasam paid various taxes on these lots since 1908, totaling P13,506.22.
  • The trial court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, ordering the partition of most parcels but recognizing parcels 7 and 8 as Gabriel Lasam's exclusive property.
  • Both parties appealed the decision.

Issue:

  • (Unlock)

Ruling:

  1. The trial court did not err in declaring the donations invalid due to the lack of a public instrument.
  2. The trial court did not err in rejecting Gabriel Lasam...(Unlock)

Ratio:

  1. Invalid Donations:

    • The court upheld the trial court's application of Article 633 of the Civil Code, which requires a public instrument for the donation of real property.
    • The small tracts of land were given without such an instrument, making the donations invalid.
    • The donees were not parties to the suit, so their potential rights by prescription were not considered.
  2. Ownership by Prescription:

    • The court found no merit in Gabriel Lasam's claim of ownership by prescription.
    • Upon Bernarda's death, the lands remained conjugal property.
    • Article 1418 of the Civil Code requires an immediate inventory and liquidation of the conjugal partnership upon its dissolution.
    • The surviving husband...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.