Rufina Orata v. Hon. Intermediate Appellate Court

Summary

This case involves an ejectment suit where judicial administratrix Gertrudes Reyes sought to eject tenant Rufina Orata for non-payment of rent. Orata had been paying rent to Celso Teodoro, the registered owner and grandson of deceased Florencio dela Cruz, rather than to Reyes as administratrix. The lower courts ruled in favor of Reyes, but Orata's petition for review was dismissed by the Intermediate Appellate Court for late filing. The Supreme Court granted certiorari, emphasizing substantial justice over procedural technicalities. The Court found that Orata's payments to Teodoro were made in good faith to the registered owner, making them valid under the Civil Code. Since Orata had not defaulted in her rental obligations, the ejectment complaint was dismissed, establishing the principle that good faith payments to registered owners discharge rental obligations even when made to persons other than court-appointed administrators.