Title
Alvano vs. Batoon
Case
G.R. No. 7728
Decision Date
Sep 1, 1913
Plaintiff Isidoro Alvano successfully proved ownership of five parcels of land purchased from co-owners; defendants failed to substantiate their mortgage claim, as Juan Alvano could only mortgage his one-fourth share. Supreme Court ruled in favor of plaintiff.
A

Case Summary (G.R. No. 7728)

Action Commenced

On January 14, 1911, Isidoro Alvano initiated legal proceedings to recover possession of the aforementioned five parcels of land, asserting his ownership over the property. The initial trial was presided over by Honorable Dionisio Chanco, who concluded that Isidoro Alvano was not entitled to recover the parcels, thereby prompting him to appeal the decision.

Claims of Ownership

The plaintiff contended that he had purchased the parcels of land from co-owners Eusebio Alvano, Juan Alvano, and Apolonia Alvano, submitting Exhibits A, B, and C to support his claim. In contrast, the defendants attempted to assert that the land they occupied was distinct from that which the plaintiff was seeking. However, testimonies from both Isidoro Alvano and certain defendants indicated that the lands in question were indeed the same.

Defendants' Lack of Evidence

While the defendants claimed they acquired the land from Juan Alvano, they failed to present evidence supporting this assertion. Notably, Leocadio Batoon, one of the defendants, testified for the plaintiff, acknowledging that Juan Alvano had mortgaged the lands to the defendants. However, no documentary proof was submitted to validate this mortgage claim, and during the trial, there was a lack of evidence substantiating the existence or terms of such a mortgage.

Legal Standing on Mortgages

The court addressed the defendants' claim based on their assertion of holding a mortgage on the property. It was clarified that a simple mortgage does not grant the mortgagee a right to possess the property unless expressly stated in the mortgage agreement. Additionally, the evidence revealed that Juan Alvano owned only one-fourth of the property and therefo

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