- Petitioner
- Aquilina Tacas
- Respondent
- Evaristo Tobon
- Citation
- G.R. No. 30240
- Court
- Supreme Court
- Division
- First Division
- Ponente
- Villamor, J.
- Decided
- August 23, 1929
Summary
This Supreme Court case involved a property ownership dispute over three parcels of farm land between heirs of Francisco Dumadag and Evaristo Tobon, who claimed to have purchased the land from Dumadag's brother-in-law Gil Tacas in 1905. The Court affirmed the trial court's finding that plaintiffs owned the land based on Dumadag's valid possessory information title from 1895, while Tobon's alleged purchase was invalid since Gil Tacas had no right to sell land already belonging to Dumadag. However, the Court modified the damages award, applying Civil Code provisions on good faith possession. Since Tobon was deemed a possessor in good faith until legal interruption occurred through the filing of his answer in April 1918, he was only liable for fruits collected from that date to 1927, not from 1912 as originally ordered. The case establishes important precedent on when good faith possession ceases and becomes legally interrupted in property disputes, demonstrating the application of Civil Code Articles 433 and 451 regarding possession and fruits in good faith.