The Municipality of Cavite… · G.R. 9069

Petitioner: The Municipality of Cavite
Respondent: Hilaria Rojas
Citation: G.R. No. 9069
Court: Supreme Court En Banc
Division: En Banc
Ponente: Torres, J.
Decided: March 31, 1915

Summary

The Municipality of Cavite sought to evict defendants Hilaria Rojas and Tiung Siuko from a 93-square-meter portion of Plaza Soledad which they leased from the municipality in 1907. The Supreme Court En Banc reversed the lower court's dismissal, ruling that the municipal council exceeded its authority (ultra vires) by leasing public plaza land for private use. Under Civil Code Article 344, public plazas are for public use and outside commerce, making such contracts null and void. The Court ordered defendants to vacate within 30 days while requiring the municipality to restore rental payments collected. This case established important precedent regarding municipal authority limits over public domain property and the inalienability of public spaces for private use.

Statutes applied

Civil Code, Art. 1271

Related cases

Other Philippine cases on the same provisions and issues.

In Re Intestate Estate of the Deceased Francisco Tordilla v. Moises Tordilla G.R. No. 39547
Valeriana Velayo Bernardo v. Miguel Siojo G.R. No. 36078
Trans-Pacific Industrial Supplies v. The Court of Appeals G.R. No. 109172
In Re Intestate Estate of the Deceased Concepcion Gerona. Ignacio Arroyo v. Jacoba Gerona G.R. No. 36059

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By the Intellegal Editorial Board · March 31, 1915

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