Spouses Virginia Junson v. Spouses Benedicta B. Martinez

Summary

This case involves the termination of month-to-month lease agreements and subsequent ejectment proceedings. Respondent Martinez spouses, as registered landowners, leased portions of their Kalookan City property to petitioners Junson spouses and Cirila Tan under written agreements allowing termination with three months' notice. When respondents needed the property for their own use in 1988, they properly served termination notices and stopped collecting rent. Despite this, petitioners remained on the premises and attempted to continue paying rent through consignation. The Supreme Court upheld the lower courts' decisions ordering ejectment, ruling that month-to-month leases constitute definite period contracts that validly expire upon proper notice. The Court emphasized that lease termination for lessor's own use is valid grounds for ejectment under BP 877, and awarded attorney's fees for respondents' necessary litigation expenses. The case establishes important precedent on lease termination procedures and ejectment remedies.