Genaro Navera v. The Honorable Court of Appeals

Summary

This case involves a property dispute between first cousins over Lot 1460 titled to 'Elena Navera, et al.' Eduarda Navera sold her share twice - first to respondent Arsenio Nares in 1947, then to Mariano Navera in 1948. The property eventually passed to petitioner Genaro Navera through successive sales. The Supreme Court applied Article 1544 of the Civil Code on double sales, ruling that since neither sale was registered, ownership belongs to the first possessor in good faith. The Court found that Arsenio Nares had prior valid possession through the 1947 sale before being evicted by petitioners in 1957. Petitioners' claims of acquisitive prescription were rejected due to bad faith possession and improper pleading. The Court declared respondents as rightful owners except for 5,726 square meters belonging to petitioner Genaro Navera.