- Petitioner
- Amelia S. Roberts
- Respondent
- Martin B. Papio
- Citation
- G.R. No. 166714
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Callejo, Sr., J.
- Decided
- February 9, 2007
Summary
This case involves a property dispute between cousins where Amelia Roberts purchased property from Martin Papio to help him avoid foreclosure, with a simultaneous lease agreement. After Papio stopped paying rent but remained in possession for 13 years, Roberts filed unlawful detainer. Papio claimed he had repurchased the property for P250,000 through Roberts' representative, while Roberts denied authorizing any sale. The Supreme Court ruled that Papio's claim of repurchase rights was inconsistent with claiming equitable mortgage, and that he failed to prove any valid contract of sale. The Court found Roberts entitled to possession, emphasizing that unlawful detainer courts can make provisional ownership determinations to resolve possession issues, but such determinations don't bind title definitively.