Felix de Los Santos v. Agustina Jarra

Summary

Felix de los Santos sued Agustina Jarra, administratrix of Magdaleno Jimenea's estate, for return of ten carabaos loaned in 1901 for hacienda mill operations. Defendant claimed only three were loaned and subsequently sold. The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's finding that ten carabaos were loaned under commodatum based on Jimenea's written requests and witness testimony. Four carabaos died of rinderpest. The Court rejected the sale defense due to absence of required legal transfer documents for large cattle. Applying Civil Code provisions on commodatum, the Court ruled that the six surviving carabaos remained plaintiff's property and ordered their return or compensation of P720. The decision established that proper documentation is essential for large cattle transfers and that commodatum contracts create binding obligations on heirs of the bailee.