Salvador A. Fernandez v. Cristina D. Amagna

Summary

This unlawful detainer case involved a month-to-month lease dispute where petitioner Salvador Fernandez failed to pay monthly rent from July 1995, prompting respondent Cristina Amagna to demand payment and vacation in April 1996. All four court levels consistently ruled for respondent, finding the verbal lease properly terminated due to non-payment. The Supreme Court rejected petitioner's arguments regarding Manila's land-for-the-landless ordinance (no retroactive effect) and Urban Land Reform Act benefits (property not in designated zone, petitioner not legitimate tenant due to unlawful possession under litigation). The case demonstrates application of Civil Code Article 1687 on lease periods and Rent Control Law provisions on ejectment grounds, establishing that subsequent consignation payments cannot cure prior defaults that validly terminate lease agreements.