Polytechnic University of the Philippines

College of Law, Manila

Syllabus on PROPERTY
Submitted by:
Atty. Maria Lourdes Paredes-Garcia
Professor
1st Meeting --- Orientation & Giving of Syllabus ----
I. Characteristics: 2nd Meeting
A. Concept of Things & Property
B. Requisites/Characteristics of Property
C. Rights as property
1. Distinction between Real Rights and Personal Rights
D. Regalian Doctrine Art. XII, Sec. 2 of the Constitution
Republic vs. Bantigue, GR. No. 162322 March 14, 2012
DENR Sec. v. Yap, GR No. 167707 Oct. 8, 2008
1. Distinction between “Title” and “Certificate of Title
Castillo vs. Escutin GR No. 171056 March 13, 2009
II. Classification (Arts. 415-418) 2nd & 3rd Meetings
Importance of Classification:
1. Real or immovable ----- Art. 415 (Memorize Art. 415) Recitation on Art. 415
2. Personal or movable ----Art. 416, 417, 418
Cases:
01. Associated Insurance v. Iya 103 Phil. 9725
02. Tumalad v. Vicencio 122 SCRA 296
03. Standard Oil Company v. Jaramillo, 44Phil. 631
04. Prudential Bank v. Judge Panis, GR 50008, Aug. 31, 1988)
05. M i n d a n a o B u s . C o . v s . C i t y A s s e s s o r ( G . R N o . L - 1 7 8 7 0 S e p t e m b e r
29, 1962);
06. Sibal v. Valdez, 50 Phil. 512
07. Davao Sawmill Co. vs. Castillo GR No. 40411, August 7, 1935
08. Manila Electric Co. vs. Central Board of assessment Appeals G.R. No. L-47943 May 31,
1982.
09. Caltex Phils. Inc., v. Board of Assessment Appeals GR-L-50466 May 31, 1982
10. Board of Assessment Appeals vs. Meralco 10 SCRA 68
11. Serg’s Products, Inc., et al vs. PCI Leasing AND Finance Inc., 338 SCRA 499
12. Tsai vs. CA, GR No. 120098 October 2, 2001

B. Property classified according to type of ownership 4th Meeting

1. Of public dominion
2. Of private ownership
a) Patrimonial property
1. Public Dominion, Defined:
A. Three kinds of Property of Public Dominion
B. Characteristics of Property of Public Dominion
2. Public Lands:
A. Definition
B. Classification
C. Public Land Act
Cases:
01. Mun. of Cavite v.R o j a s , 3 0 P h i l . 6 0 2 ;
02. Valiao et. al v. Republic G.R. No. 170757 Nov 28, 2011;
03. Maneclang, et al. v. IAC, GR 66575, Sep. 30, 1986;
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04. Salas v. Jarencio GR No. L-29788 August 30, 1972;

05. City of Manila v. Garcia L-26053, Feb. 21, 1967
06. Laurel v. Garcia, G.R. No. 92013 July 25, 1990;
07. Villongco, et al. v. Florencio Moreno, et al. L-17240, Jan. 31, 1962
08. CEBU OXYGEN AND ACETYLENE CO. V. BERCILLES 66 SCRA 431
09. Republic v. CA Morato G.R. No. 100709 November 14, 1997
10. Macasiano v. Diokno GR No. 97764 August 10, 1992.

3. Patrimonial Property
III. Ownership 5th & 6th Meetings
A. Rights in general
1. Bundle of rights
a) Jus utendi, fruendi, abutendi, vindicandi, disponendi (possidendi)
(i) Actions to recover ownership and possession of real property
(a) Distinctions between accion reivindicatoria, accion
publiciana, accion interdictal
(b) Distinction between forcible entry and unlawful
detainer
(ii) Actions for recovery of possession of movable property
2. Distinction between real and personal rights
B. Recovery of Possession:
1. Distinguish bet. Forcible Entry & Unlawful Detainer and when applicable
Cases: Yu v. De Lara, et.al. L16084, November 30, 1964
German Management & Services v. CA, G.R. No. l-76216 September 14, 1989
2. Distinguish bet. Accion Publiciana & Accion Reinvindicatoria and when applicable
Cases: Monasterio_Pe vs. Tong GR No. 151369 March 23, 2011
Sps. ONG vs. SOCORRO PAREL and CA G.R. No. 143173. March 28, 2001
3. Replevin and when applicable
4. What is the difference between Writ of Possession from Writ of Injunction
5. Limitations on Ownership
Cases: Ayala Land v. Ray Burton 29 SCRA 48
Fajardo v. Freedom to Build; 337 SCRA 115 (2000)
6. Distinguish between Doctrine of Self-Help and Acts in State of Necessity
Case: People v. Pletcha, GR.R. No. 19029 June 27, 1977
7. Distinguish between Market Value and Prospective Value
8. Concept of Hidden Treasure

C. Modes of acquiring ownership

1. Original
2. Derivative
D. Limitations
1. General limitations: taxation, eminent domain, police power
2. Specific limitations: those imposed by law (sic uteretuo, nuisance, state of
necessity), easements voluntarily imposed by owner (servitudes, mortgages imposed by
contract)
IV. Accession 7th & 8th meeting
A. Right to hidden treasure
B. General rules
1. For immovables:
a) Accession discreta (natural, industrial, civil fruits) and continua
(over immovables: artificial/industrial and natural)
b) Accession industrial (building, planting, sowing in good faith or bad
faith)
c) Accession natural (accretion, avulsion, rivers, islands)
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2. For movables:
a) Accession continua (conjunction, adjunction, commixtion/ confusion,
specification)
b) Rules for determining the principal and accessory
Cases:
a. PNB v. De Jesus, 411 SCRA 557 (2003) -----Accession Immovable
b. Balucanag vs. Francisco GR No. L-33422, May 30, 1983
c. Pecson vs. CA G.R. No. 115814 May 29, 1995
d. Ignacio vs. Hilario GR No. L-175 April 30, 1946
e. Quemuel v. Olaes GR No. L-11084, April 29, 1961
f. Depra vs. Dumlao GR No. L-57348 May 16, 1985
g. Reynante vs. CA GR No. 95907, April 8, 1992
h. Sulo ng Nayon vs. Nayong Pilipino GR No. 170923; January 20, 2009
i. Floreza v. Evangelista , 96 SCRA 130 (1980)
j. Tan Queto v. CA, et al. GR 35648, Feb. 27, 1987
k. Torbela vs. Sps Rosario and Banco Filipiino GR No. 140553 December 7, 2011

3. Lands adjoining river banks

a) Alluvion (Art. 457)
b) Change of course of river (Arts. 461-462 and P.D. 1067 or the Water
Code)
c) Avulsion (Arts. 459-463)
1st long quiz

V. Quieting of Title to or Interest in and Removal or Prevention of Cloud over Title to

or Interest in Real Property (Arts. 476-481) 9th Meeting
I. Quieting of Title
A. Purpose
B. Distinction between quieting of title and removing/preventing a cloud
C. Requisites for the Existence of Cloud
D. Requisites for an Action to Quiet Title to Prosper
E. Prescriptive Period
F. Cases:
Realty Sales Enterprise vs. IAC (G.R. No. L-67451 September 28, 1987)
Lucasan v. PDIC (GR No. 176926 July 4, 2008)

VI. Co-ownership 10th & 11th Meeting

A. Characteristics of co-ownership
1. In general—Nature of Co-ownership- Dual aspect of co-ownership: The undivided Thing and
the aliquot Portion.
2. Special rules
a) Concept of condominium
(i) Condominium corporation
(ii) Interest in real property
(iii) Concept of common areas, amendment
(iv) Documents to consider (master deed, declaration of
restrictions, articles and by-laws of the condominium corporationor the
association, where applicable)
b) Rights and obligations of condominium owners
(i) Contributions/dues
(ii) P.D. 957, The Subdivision and Condominium Buyers'
Protective Decree and R.A. 6552, Realty Installment Buyer Act
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c) Grounds for partition of common areas, or dissolution of the

condominium
B. Sources of co-ownership
C. Rights of co-owners
1. Distinction between right to property owned in common and full ownership
over his/her ideal share
2. Right to oppose acts of alteration
3. Right to partition
4. Right to contributions for expenses (necessary expenses, taxes)
5. Waiver
6. Right to redemption of co-owners share
1. Heirs of Protacio G., Sr. vs. Servacio and Go GR NO. 157537 Sept. 7, 2011
2. Baloloy v. Hular 438 SCRA 80 (2004)
3. Lacbayan vs. Samoy, Jr. G.R. NO. 65427 March 21, 2011
4. Cruz vs. Catapang 544 SCRA 512 (2008)
5. Sanchez v. CA 404 SCRA 540 (2003)
D. Termination/extinguishment
1. Effect of partition
2. Rights against individual co-owners in case of partition
3. Partition in case co-owners cannot agree
CASES:
(1) Heirs of Salud Dizon Salamat vs. Tamayo, 298 SCRA 313;
(2) Heirs of Restar vs. Heirs of Cichon, 475 SCRA 731;

VII. Possession 12th & 13th Meeting

A. Characteristics
B. How acquired (Art. 531)
C. Effects of possession
1. Possessor in good faith (Arts. 544, 526-527)
a) Right to pending fruits (Art. 545)
b) Right to be reimbursed
(i) Necessary and useful expenses (Arts. 546-547)
(ii) Expenses for pure luxury (Art. 548)
2. Possessor in bad faith (Arts. 449, 549, 552)
D. Loss or unlawful deprivation of a movable (Arts. 559, 1505(3))

1. Period to recover (Arts. 1140, 1134, 1132, 1133)

2. Finder of lost movable (Arts. 719-720)
3. Distinguished from voidable title (Art. 1506)
E. In concept of owner, holder, in one’s own name, in name of another
F. Rights of the possessor
G. Loss/termination
Cases:

(1) Ortiz vs. Kayanan G.R. No. L-32974 July 30, 1979;
(2) Cuaycong vs. Benedecto,37 Phil. 781;
(3) Ledesma v. CA GR. No. 8601 Sept. 1, 1992;
(4) Dizon vs. Suntay,47 SCRA 160;
(5)Wong v. Carpio G.R. No. 50264, October 21, 1991, 203 SCRA 118
(6) Somodio v. Court of Appeals G.R. No. 82680, August 15, 1994,
(7) EDCA Publishing & Distributing Corp. v. Santos, G.R. No. 80298, April 26, 1990, 134 SCRA 614
(8) De Garcia v. Hon. Court of Appeals G.R. No. L-20264, January 30, 1971, 37 SCRA 129
(9) Arenas vs. Raymundo GR No. L-5741 March 13, 1911
End of Midterm Coverage-----
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VIII. Usufruct 14th & 15th meeting

A. Classification
B. Usufruct and Lease Distinguished
C. Rights of the Usufructuary
1. As to the thing and its fruits
2. As to the usufruct itself:
3. At the expiration of the usufruct:
4. Other Rights
Cases:
a) Hemedes vs. CA, GR No. 107132 October 8, 1999
b) Fabie vs. Gutierrez David, GR. No. L-123, December 12, 1945
5. Obligations of the Usufructuary
a) Before exercising the usufructuary:
b) During the Usufruct:
6. Rights of the Owner during the Usufruct:
7. Obligations of the Owner at the Expiration of the Usufruct
8. Extinguishment of Usufruct
1. Case: Moralidad v. Pemes GR. No. 152809, August 3, 2006

IX. Easements (Arts. 613, 615-616) 16th Meeting

A. Characteristics
B. Classification
1. Legal easements
a) Right of way
2. Voluntary easements (Art. 688)
C. Modes of acquiring easements
1. Compulsory easements (Arts. 620-624)
2. Easement of light and view (Arts. 669-673)
D. Rights and obligations of dominant and subservient estate
E. How terminated
CASES:
(1) Quimen vs. C.A, 257 SCRA 163;
(2) Leogario Ronquillo vs. Jose Roco G.R. No. L-10619 February 28, 1958
(3) Crisencia Cristobal vs. CA G.R. No. 125339 June 22, 1998
(4) Sps. Cesar & Sta. Maria vs. CA G.R. no. 127549
(5) Dichoso, Jr. vs. Marcos GR No. 180282 April 11, 2011
(6) MANUEL SORIANO vs. OSCAR STERNBERG G.R. No. L-15628; November 18, 1920
(7) HIDALGO ENTERPRISES. vs. BALANDAN, ET AL.G.R. No. L-3422; June 13, 1952

X. Nuisance (Arts. 694-707)

A. Definition
B. Classification\
C. Remedies
Cases
(1) AC Enterprises, Inc., vs. Frabelle Properties Corp., 506 SCRA 625;
(2) Ongsiaco vs. Ongsiaco, 101 Phil.1196;
(3) Timoner vs. People, 125 SCRA 830;

XI. Modes of Acquiring Ownership (Art. 712) 17th meeting

 A. Occupation (Art. 713)
B. Donation:
1. Definition (Arts. 725-726, 746)
2. Characteristics

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3. Kinds
4. Formalities required
5. Qualifications of donor, donee
6. Effects of donation/limitations
7. Void donations (Arts. 739-740, 1027)
8. Revocation or reduction
a) Grounds for revocation, grounds for reduction
b) How done
c) Effects
d) Prescription
e) Inofficious donations (Arts. 760-761, 771-773)
f) Ingratitude (Arts. 765, 769)

Cases in Donation:
01. Garrido u. CA, 236SCRA 450 (Capacity to sue to annul donation)
02. Puig vs. Penqflorida, 15 SCRA 276 (Donations Mortis Causa)
03. Central Philippine University, G.R. No. 112127, July 17,1995 Revocation Non-Compliance;
Resolutory Condition
04. Republic vs. Silim G.R. No. 149487, April 2,2001
05. Quilala vs. Alcantara, G.R. No. 132681, Dec3ember 3, 2001
06. CJ Yulo & sons v. Bishop of San Pablo 454 SCRA 297
07. Sec. of Education vs,., Heirs if Rufino Dulay, G.R. No. 164748, January 27, 2006
08. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Manila vs. CA, G.R. No. 77425, June 19, 1991.
09. Heirs of Sevilla vs. Sevilla GR No. 150179, April 30, 2003

PRESCRIPTION 18th Meeting

I. Definition (Art. 1106)

A. Acquisitive (Art. 1117)
1. Characteristics
2. Ordinary
a) Good faith (Art. 1127)
b) Just title (Arts. 1129-1130)
3. Extraordinary (Arts. 1137 and 1132, second par.)
4. Requisites (Arts. 1118-1125)
5. Period (Arts. 1132, 1134, 1138)
6. What cannot be required by acquisitive prescription
B. Extinctive
1. Characteristics
2. Requisites
3. Periods

II. No Prescription Applicable

A. By offender (Art. 1133)
B. Registered lands (P.D. 1529)
C. Art. 1143, Civil Code
1. Action legal to demand a right of way (Art. 649)
2. To abate a nuisance
D. Action to quiet title if plaintiff is in possession
 E. Void contracts (Art. 1410)
F. Action to demand partition (Art. 494)
1. Distinguished from laches
G. Property of public dominion

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III. Prescription or limitation of actions

A. To recover movables (Art. 1140)

B. To recover immovables (Art. 1141)
C. Other actions (Arts. 1142-1149)
D. Case: Abalos v. Heirs of Torio GR No. 175444 December 14, 2011

IV. Interruption (Art. 1155)

Finals….

A. Methodology: Combination of Socratic Method & Case Method

Recitations on legal provisions and discussions of cases

Assignments
Quizzes in between Mid-term & Final Exams
Please be conscious of the maximum number of absences
Punctuality is a virtue we all should observe.