Spouses Samuel Ulep (Deceased) · G.R. 125254

Petitioner: Spouses Samuel Ulep (Deceased)
Respondent: Honorable Court of Appeals
Citation: G.R. No. 125254
Court: Supreme Court
Division: Third Division
Ponente: Garcia, J.
Decided: October 11, 2005

Summary

This property dispute involved multiple parties claiming ownership over portions of Lot 840 in Asingan, Pangasinan. The Supreme Court applied Civil Code Article 1544 governing double sales, ruling that Iglesia ni Cristo had superior ownership rights over 620 square meters as the first buyer who registered in good faith in 1954, prevailing over the Ulep spouses who were second buyers in 1971. The Court rejected petitioners' forgery allegations for lack of expert evidence and upheld the presumption of regularity of notarized documents. The decision demonstrates the principle of primus tempore, potior jure (first in time, stronger in right) in property law and the importance of good faith registration in determining ownership in double sale cases.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 1544

Related cases

Other Philippine cases on the same provisions and issues.

Mr. v. Mr. G.R. No. 222530
Rosita G. Tan v. Tan G.R. No. 125861
Hipolito Agustin v. Romana de Vera G.R. No. 233455
Heirs of Ciriaco Bayog-Ang v. Florence Quinones G.R. No. 205680
Rustico Mcgurk Baldoz v. Marlene D. Pecson G.R. No. 240232
Hospicio D. Rosaroso v. Lucila Laborte Soria G.R. No. 194846
The Roman Catholic Church v. Regino Pante G.R. No. 174118
Anthony Orduña v. Eduardo J. Fuentebella G.R. No. 176841

By the Intellegal Editorial Board · October 11, 2005

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