Drs. Alendry P. Caviles, Jr. v. Evelyn T. Bautista

Summary

The Supreme Court resolved competing claims to real property between the Caviles spouses who obtained an attachment lien through litigation and the Bautista spouses who purchased the same property in good faith. The Caviles obtained a preliminary attachment on October 6, 1982, entered in the day book but not annotated on the title. Twelve days later, the original owner sold the property to the Bautistas who received a clean title. The Court applied Article 1544 of the Civil Code on double sales and Torrens system principles, ruling that entry in the day book constitutes sufficient notice for involuntary registration. Since the attachment was recorded first, and execution sales retroact to the date of levy, the Caviles had superior rights. The decision reinforced that both parties acted in good faith and without negligence, but priority of registration determines ownership in competing claims to registered land.