- Petitioner
- Spouses Magdalino
- Respondent
- Fe Bragat
- Citation
- G.R. No. 187013
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Peralta, J.
- Decided
- April 22, 2015
Summary
This case involves a complex property ownership dispute over Lot No. 19986 in Cagayan de Oro City. The Supreme Court resolved competing claims by tracing the chain of ownership from the original owners Spouses Pastrano, who sold to Ledesma in 1968. Ledesma then sold portions to both Spouses Badilla (1970) and Spouses Bragat (1978). The Court found that Spouses Badilla acquired valid ownership of their 152 sq.m. portion through the 1970 sale with delivery of possession, applying Civil Code principles on transfer of ownership through traditio. Subsequent sales by Pastrano to Bragat were declared void as simulated transactions since Pastrano no longer owned the property. The decision demonstrates the application of the nemo dat quod non habet principle and Article 1544 on double sales, ultimately protecting the rights of the party with prior possession in good faith.