Rebecca Fullido v. Gino Grilli

Summary

This case involved a property possession dispute between former common-law spouses - Italian national Gino Grilli and Filipino citizen Rebecca Fullido. After their 16-year relationship ended, Grilli filed unlawful detainer to eject Fullido from property he claimed rights over through a 100-year lease agreement and memorandum of agreement. The Supreme Court declared these contracts null and void for violating constitutional prohibition against foreign land ownership, as they effectively transferred all ownership rights to a foreigner through an excessive lease term and restrictive provisions. The Court dismissed Grilli's complaint, ruling that void contracts cannot establish possessory rights necessary for unlawful detainer actions. The decision reinforced constitutional protection of national patrimony and prevented circumvention of foreign land ownership restrictions through purported lease arrangements.