Felipe Dorado v. Agripino Viriña

Summary

This 1916 Supreme Court case involved a property dispute over three parcels of coconut land sold under pacto de retro in 1902. Vendors Felipe Dorado and Antonia Vista sold to Agripino Viriña and Petra Cuento for P100 with no fixed redemption period, continuing to manage the property for quarterly rent. When vendors failed to pay rent, buyers obtained possession through forcible entry proceedings in 1904. Plaintiffs sued to recover the lands, claiming the justice of the peace lacked jurisdiction. The Supreme Court held that the four-year redemption period under Article 1508 of the Civil Code expired in 1906, consolidating absolute ownership in defendants. The justice of the peace had proper jurisdiction as demand for rent was made within the statutory year. The Court denied restitution and absolved all defendants, emphasizing that vendors could not benefit from violating their own lease obligations while claiming ownership rights that had legally expired.