Spouses Florentino L. Fernandez v. Hon. Court of Appeals

Summary

This case involves a property co-ownership dispute where two couples purchased land in common in 1966. Despite petitioners advancing the downpayment and executing a conditional sale agreement, the absolute deed and title were issued only to respondent and her husband. When confronted, they executed an affidavit acknowledging petitioners' ownership of 110 square meters. After marital problems led to dissolution proceedings awarding the entire property to respondent, she demanded petitioners vacate. The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeals, finding petitioners had established ownership rights through the original agreement and affidavit, and that respondent was estopped from denying the acknowledgment. The Court emphasized that the Torrens system cannot be used to shield fraud, and declared petitioners owners of one-third of the property.