G.R. No. L-16084 - Yu vs. De Lara

The disputed property is Lot No. 14, Block No. 51-C of the Grace Park subdivision with an area of 682.5 square meters.
Originally registered in 1916 under O.C.T. No. 868 at the Registry of Deeds of Rizal.
Subsequently acquired by the Philippine Realty Corporation (registered under T.C.T. No. 22104).
On November 28, 1956, Philippine Realty Corporation sold the property to plaintiff-appellee John O. Yu, a Filipino citizen, who obtained T.C.T. No. 11267 in his name.

In 1945, several persons settled on the property and constructed houses without permission or any contract with the Philippine Realty Corporation, then the registered owner.
Between 1947 and 1952, the appellants purchased the houses from these settlers and continued residing therein without paying rent to the owner.

In February 1957, plaintiff-appellee John O. Yu sent written notice demanding the appellants to vacate the premises within 30 days.
Defendants refused to vacate; an unlawful detainer complaint was filed within the statutory one-year period.

The Justice of the Peace Court of Caloocan ruled in favor of the plaintiff.
The Court of First Instance of Rizal, Pasig branch, affirmed the ejectment, ordering defendants to vacate the premises, pay monthly rental of P15.00 from the filing of the complaint until vacation of the premises, and costs.

Whether the Philippine Realty Corporation lost possession of the property by abandonment under Article 555, paragraph 1, of the Civil Code due to non-action and lack of interest.
Whether the appellants could be considered unlawfully detaining the property despite the absence of an express or implied promise to return possession to the plaintiff-appellee.
Whether the Court of First Instance had jurisdiction to decide the ejectment case given the existence of pending prejudicial questions arising from separate cases involving the same property.