Go v. Looyuko, GR No. 196529
Go v. Looyuko, GR No. 196529
Go v. Looyuko, GR No. 196529
196529
The Court has consistently upheld the registered owners’ superior right to
possess the property in unlawful detainer cases. It is an age-old rule that the person
who has a Torrens Title over a land is entitled to its possession. It has repeatedly been
emphasized that when the property is registered under the Torrens system, the
registered owner’s title to the property is presumed legal and cannot be collaterally
attacked, especially in a mere action for unlawful detainer. It has even been held that it
does not even matter if the party’s title to the property is questionable.
It has been also held that prior physical possession by the plaintiff is not an
indispensable requirement in an unlawful detainer case brought by a vendee or other
person against whom the possession of any land is unlawfully withheld after the
expiration or termination of a right to hold possession.
A final and executory judgment can no longer be attacked by any of the parties or
be modified, directly or indirectly, even by the highest court of the land. However, this
Court has relaxed this rule in order to serve substantial justice considering (a) matters of
life, liberty, honor or property, (b) the existence of special or compelling circumstances,
(c) the merits of the case, (d) a cause not entirely attributable to the fault or negligence
of the party favored by the suspension of the rules, (e) a lack of any showing that the
review sought is merely frivolous and dilatory, and (f) the other party will not be unjustly
prejudiced thereby.
67. AFULUGENCIA, VS. METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST CO G.R. NO. 185145
The calling the adverse party to the witness stand is not allowed, unless written interrogatories
are first served upon the latter, by way of an exception, the court may order an adverse party not
served with written interrogatories to give testimony in open court or to give a deposition pending
appeal for good cause shown and to prevent a failure of justice.