- Petitioner
- Sps. Col. Pedro L. Lumbres
- Respondent
- Sps. Pedro B. Tablada, Jr.
- Citation
- G.R. No. 165831
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- First Division
- Ponente
- Garcia, J.
- Decided
- February 23, 2007
Summary
This case involves a double sale of Lot 8, Block 3 of Spring Homes Subdivision in Calamba City. Spring Homes sold the same 105 square meter lot to respondent spouses in 1996 and later to petitioner spouses in 2000. When petitioners, who registered their title, filed an ejectment case against respondents who were in actual possession, the Supreme Court applied Article 1544 of the Civil Code on double sale. The Court ruled that respondents, as first buyers who paid the full purchase price of P157,500.00 and took possession in good faith, have superior right over petitioners who acquired their rights in bad faith knowing of the prior sale. The Court clarified that ejectment judgments affect possession only, not ownership, and that knowledge of a first sale defeats a second buyer's rights even if the second buyer registers first.