Ariston Estrada v. Cirila T. Reyes

Summary

This case involves competing claims for the right of redemption between two parties who acquired shares in common property. Estrada purchased a one-sixth share from Luisa del Rosario in 1912, while Reyes acquired shares from Juan N. Aragon and Agustin del Rosario in 1913 pursuant to a court-ordered sale. Both parties simultaneously claimed redemption rights against each other under Article 1522 of the Civil Code. The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's decision, ruling that neither party could exercise redemption rights against the other because both were cotenants of the same property. Article 1522 only permits redemption against third parties, not against fellow cotenants. The case establishes that the right of redemption is designed to facilitate termination of tenancy in common by allowing cotenants to redeem from third parties, but cannot be used between cotenants themselves.