- Petitioner
- Heirs of Pedro Laurora
- Respondent
- Sterling Technopark Iii
- Citation
- G.R. No. 146815
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Panganiban, J.
- Decided
- April 9, 2003
Summary
This Supreme Court case involves a forcible entry dispute over Lot 1315-G in Carmona, Cavite. Petitioners Heirs of Pedro and Leonora Laurora claimed prior possession of the 39,771 square meter property where Pedro had planted trees. On September 15, 1997, respondent companies Sterling Technopark III and S.P. Properties, Inc. allegedly used armed men and bulldozers to forcibly eject petitioners, claiming ownership through a chain of sales starting from Juan Manaig in 1976. The MCTC dismissed the forcible entry complaint, the RTC reversed in favor of petitioners, and the CA reinstated the dismissal. The Supreme Court ultimately ruled for petitioners, emphasizing that forcible entry cases focus solely on prior physical possession, not ownership. Even if respondents were the rightful owners, they had no right to use force and violence to eject occupants. The Court stressed that property disputes must be resolved through legal proceedings, not self-help remedies, to prevent breaches of peace and criminal disorder.