Sitia Teco v. The Heirs of Balbino Ventura Hocorma

Summary

This 1902 Supreme Court case involved a lease dispute between tenant Sitia Teco and the heirs of landlord Balbino Ventura Hocorma over land in Manila. Teco claimed a rental contract for building purposes, but after the landlord's death, his heirs terminated the month-to-month lease citing Article 1581 of the Civil Code. The Court of First Instance ruled against Teco and dissolved his preliminary injunction. The Supreme Court affirmed, holding that Article 1581 properly applied to allow lease termination at month's end. The Court found no basis for the injunction since Teco failed to demonstrate right to possession, and noted that any building-related equities were moot due to municipal demolition of the structure.