Mariano Torio v. The Court of Appeals

Summary

This Supreme Court case involves the ejectment of tenant-members from a residential compound after their tenants association acquired the property. The Medel Compound Tenants Association successfully purchased the land through government assistance, but petitioners failed to pay their share of dues and assessments. All courts consistently ruled in favor of the Association, holding that regular courts, not the SEC, have jurisdiction over landlord-tenant disputes even when a corporation is involved. The Supreme Court affirmed that petitioners could be lawfully evicted for non-payment under Article 1687 of the Civil Code, rejecting their defenses under various rent control and urban land reform laws. The case demonstrates that tenant associations acquiring property can enforce payment obligations against defaulting members through regular ejectment proceedings.