Sps. Gil Torrecampo v. Dennis Alindogan, Sr.

Summary

This case involves competing claims over the same property. Petitioners Torrecampo spouses claimed ownership based on a Contract to Buy and Sell with original owners Belmes, while respondents Alindogan spouses purchased the same property through an actual deed of sale. The Supreme Court affirmed lower courts' rulings that petitioners only had a contract to sell, not a contract of sale, meaning ownership never transferred to them since they failed to complete payment under the suspensive condition requiring full payment before title transfer. The Court distinguished that in contracts to sell, ownership remains with the vendor until the buyer fulfills the suspensive condition of full payment. Since Article 1544 on double sales requires actual sales to both parties, it did not apply. Respondents were declared the rightful owners entitled to possession.