- Petitioner
- Gaudencio Pacete
- Respondent
- Inocencio Asotigue
- Citation
- G.R. No. 188575
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- Third Division
- Ponente
- Mendoza, J.
- Decided
- December 10, 2012
Summary
This case involves a land ownership dispute over a 22,240 square meter agricultural lot. Respondent Asotigue claimed ownership based on a 1979 purchase from Umpad, supported by continuous possession and tax declarations. Petitioner Pacete claimed ownership through OCT No. V-16654 issued in 1961. The Supreme Court affirmed lower courts' rulings favoring Asotigue, applying the doctrine of tacking of possession and finding that Asotigue had better right to the property. The Court ruled that Pacete obtained his title in bad faith, being aware of prior conveyances but never objecting. The case establishes that the Torrens system protects only good faith holders and reconveyance is available when property is erroneously registered. Damages were awarded under Civil Code human relations provisions for Pacete's bad faith conduct.