DOMINICA CUTANDA V. HEIRS OF ROBERTO CUTANDA 335 SCRA 418

Category: Property, Ownership and Its Modifications

 

FACTS:

PR  brought  an  action  for  recovery  of  possession  of  parcels  of  land  they alleged to have been owned by their grandfather and later on inherited by his  children.    They  intended  to  work  personally  on  the  lands  but  was
frustrated as it was being occupied by the petitioners.  PR then prayed that they  be  declared  owners  of  1/5  of  the  subject  real  properties  and  that petitioners be ordered to return to them said properties.   Trial court held that the petitioners owned the land through prescription.   
 

HELD:

Private respondent’s action is barred by prescription.  An accion publiciana to recover the right to possession and to be declared owners of the subject lands.  Their complaint surely put in issue the ownership of the lands.  It may  thus  be  properly  treated  as  an  accion  reivindicatoria.    These  two remedies must be availed of within 10 years from dispossession.