PHILIPPINE CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY
COLLEGE OF LAW
PROPERTY
A.Y. 2019-2020
First Semester
Prof. Marian M. Cloma, LLM (Arb&DR)
I. PROPERTY
Definition; Right to Property (Art. 414)
Property and Thing, distinguished
Requisites of Thing or Property
A. Classification of Things
Art. 415 (Immovables)
(a) Immovables by nature
(b) Immovables by destination
(c) Immovables by analogy or by law
(d) Immovable by incorporation
Art. 416-418 (Movables)
See also: Art. 419
CASES:
DAVAO SAWMILL v. CASTILLO (G.R. No. L-40411, Aug 7, 1935)
BERKENKOTTER v. CU UNJIENG (G.R. No. L-41643, July 31, 1935)
LOPEZ v. OROSA (G.R. Nos. L-10817-18, February 28, 1958)
TUMALAD v. VICENCIO (G.R. No. L-30173, September 30, 1971)
ASSOCIATED INSURANCE v. IYA (G.R. Nos. L-10837-38, May 30, 1958)
MAKATI LEASING v. WEAREVER (G.R. No. L-58469, May 16, 1983)
BD. OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS v. MERALCO (G.R. No. L-15334, January 31, 1964)
MERALCO v. BD. OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (G.R. No. L-46245, May 31, 1982)
MERALCO v. BD. OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (G.R. No. L-47943, May 31, 1982)
CALTEX v. BD. OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (G.R. No. L-50466, May 31, 1982)
BENGUET CORP. v. BD. OF ASSESSMENT APPEALS (G.R. No. 106041, January 29, 1993)
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Importance and significance of classification
(a) Criminal Law
(b) Form of Contracts involving movables or immovables
(c) Prescription
(d) Venue
(e) Taxation
(f) Double Sales
(g) Preference of Credits
(h) Causes of Action to Recover
Differences between Real rights and Personal rights
(a) Elements of real rights
(b) Characteristics of personal rights
B. Ownership (Arts. 419-426)
(1) Res Nullius
(2) Public Dominion
cf: Patrimonial Property of State
(See: Arts. 419-422, 424)
(a) Property of State
(See: Arts. 420-422)
Res communes- common things not capable of appropriation may be
appropriated under certain circumstances
Res nullius - no owner
Res alicuius- already own by man
CASES:
LA BUGAL B’LAAN TRIBAL ASSN. v RAMOS (G.R. No. 127882, January 27, 2004)
ON RECONSIDERATION (G.R. No. 127882, December 1, 2004)
USERO v CA (G.R. No. 152115, January 26, 2005)
(b) Property of Municipal corporations (Art. 424)
(3) Private Property (Arts. 425-426)
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CASES:
GOVERNMENT v CABANGIS (G.R. No. L-28379, March 27, 1929)
CEBU ACETYLENE v BERCILLES (G.R. No. L40474, August 29, 1975)
Vda De TANTOCO v MUNICIPAL COUNCIL (G.R. No. L-24950, March 25, 1926)
SALAS v JARENCIO (G.R. No. L-29788, August 30, 1972)
MUNICIPALITY OF SAN MIGUEL v FERNANDEZ (G.R. No. L-61744, June 25, 1984)
ZAMBOANGA DEL NORTE v CITY OF ZAMBOANGA (G.R. No. L-24440, March 28, 1968)
CHAVEZ v PEA AMARI (G.R. No. 133250, July 9, 2002)
ON MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION (G.R. No. 133250, May 6, 2003)
1. Effect and Significance of Classification of Property as Property of Public Dominion
a. Property is outside the commerce of man
b. Property cannot be the subject of acquisitive prescription
c. Property cannot be attached or levied upon in execution
d. Property cannot be burdened with a voluntary easement
A. Other Classifications
1. By their physical existence
a. Corporeal
b. Incorporeal
2. By their autonomy or dependence
a. Principal
b. Accessory
3. By their subsistence after use
a. Consumable
Art 418 (1)
b. Non-consumable
Art 418
Differentiated from Fungible or Non-fungible
c. Deteriorable or non-deteriorable
4. By reason of their susceptibility to division
a. Divisible
b. Indivisible
5. By reason of designation
a. Generic
b. Specific
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6. Existence in point of time
a. Present
b. Future
7. Contents and constitution
a. Singular
i. Simple
ii. Compound
b. Universal
8. Susceptibility to appropriation
a. Non-appropriable
b. Appropriable
i. Already appropriated
ii. Not yet appropriated
9. Susceptibility to commerce
a. Within the commerce of man
b. Outside the commerce of man
II. Ownership
A. Definition
OWNERSHIP
J. B. L. Reyes: It is independent right of exclusive enjoyment and control of a thing for the
purpose of deriving therefrom all the advantages required by the:
o Reasonable needs of the owner (or holder of the right) and
o Promotion of the general welfare
But subject to the restrictions imposed by:
o Law
o Rights of others
Scialoja: It is a relation in private law by virtue of which is a thing (or property right)
pertaining to one person is completely subjected to his will in everything not prohibited
by public law or the concurrence with the rights of another
B. Bundle of Rights included in Ownership (Art. 429)
Jus Utendi
Jus Fruendi
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Jus Abutendi
Jus Disponendi
Jus Vindicandi
C. Other Specific Rights found in the Civil Code
1. Right to exclude; self-help; Doctrine of Self-help
Art 429
2. Right to enclose or fence
Art 430
3. Right to receive just compensation in case of expropriation
Art 435
4. Right to hidden treasure
Art 438
Art 439
5. Right to accession
Art 440
6. Right to recover possession and/or ownership (Jus Vindicandi)
a. Available actions to Recover Possession/Ownership
i. Immovable property
1) Accion reividicatoria
2) Accion publiciana
3) Forcible entry
4) Unlawful detainer
ii. Movable replevin
CASES:
HILARIO v SALVADOR (G.R. No. 160384, April 29, 2005)
SAMPAYANG v CA (G.R. No. 156360, January 14, 2005)
SANTOS v AYON (G.R. No. 137013, May 6, 2005)
GANILA v CA (G.R. No. 150755, June 28, 2005)
ROSS RICA SALES CENTER v SPS. ONG (G.R. No. 132197, August 16, 2005)
PERALTA-LABRADOR v BUARIN (G.R. No. 165177, August 25, 2005)
iii. Movable property
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1) Replevin
b. Requisites for recovery
Art 434
i. Identify the property
SERINA v CABALLERO (G.R. No. 127382, August 17, 2004)
ii. Prove his right of ownership – rely on the strength of his evidence not on
the weakness of defendant
PEREZ v MENDOZA (G.R. No. L-22006, July 28, 1975)
DIZON v CA (G.R. No. 101929, January 6, 1993)
D. Limitations of Real Right of Ownership
1. General Limitation
a. Police power
b. Taxation
c. Eminent domain
2. Specific Limitation
3. Limitation from Scattered provisions of CC
Art 431
Art 432
Art 2191
Art 670
Art 677
Art 678
Art 679
Art 649
Art 652
Art 637
Art 676
Art 644
Art 684
Art 685
Art 686
Art 687
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CASES:
US v CAUSBY (328 US 256, 1946) (to be emailed)
LUNOD v MENESES (G.R. No. 4223, August 19, 1908)
a. Latin Maxim: Sic Utere Tuo Ut Alienum Non Laedas
Art 431
b. Act in State of Necessity
Art 432
