Rev. Fr. Vicente Coronel v. Hon. Court of Appeals

Summary

This case involves a property dispute between co-heirs descended from Bernarda David Lim. The Coronel family fraudulently registered community property exclusively in their ancestor's name through false representations in a Torrens application, claiming sole ownership despite knowing the property belonged to multiple co-heirs including the Cuevas family. The Cuevas family, who had been in actual occupation, discovered the fraud when sued for unlawful detainer. The Supreme Court affirmed lower court decisions ordering reconveyance of the Cuevas family's 1/12 share plus damages, applying Article 494 of the Civil Code which prevents prescription from running against co-heirs who recognize co-ownership. The Court rejected arguments about prescription, laches, and collateral attack, emphasizing that fraudulent registration should not be rewarded and that all legitimate heirs deserve their rightful shares.