HEIRS OF VENCILAO, SR. V.

COURT OF APPEALS

288 SCRA 574

FACTS:

Petitioners sought the quieting of title, recovery of possession and ownership over
a parcel of land. They allege that they are the rightful owners, having
inherited the land from their father. The private respondents contend on the other
hand that they are the rightful owners, getting rightful ownership from buying the land through a
public auction by PNB. The trial court held in favor of the petitioners while the CA reversed the
decision.

HELD:

1. The rule is settled that prescription doesnt run against registered landa title, once
registered, cannot be defeated even by adverse, open and notorious possession.

2. In order that an action for recovery of ownership of real property may prosper, the person who
claims that he has a better right to it must prove not only his ownership of the same
but also satisfactorily prove the identity thereof.

3. As a general rule, where the certificate of title is in the name of the vendor when the
land is sold, the vendee for value has the right to rely on what appears on the face of
the title though, by way of exception, the vendee is required to make the necessary inquiries if
there is anything in the certificate of title which indicate any cloud or vice in the ownership of the
property.

4. Identity of the land doctrine