Roxas v. Valencia

Summary

This property dispute involved Carmen Ayala de Roxas claiming ownership of land occupied by Juana Valencia since 1858. Valencia claimed to have acquired title through adverse possession based on a contract with German Bate. The Supreme Court examined whether Valencia's occupation was as owner or by mere tolerance. The Court found that the 1858 contract conveyed only the house and improvements, not the land itself, despite the gobernadorcillo putting Valencia in possession of the ground. Since Valencia occupied by tolerance rather than as owner, she could not acquire title through prescription/adverse possession. The Court affirmed the lower court's judgment favoring the plaintiff, establishing that adverse possession requires occupation as owner, not by permission or tolerance of the true owner.