Cheesman

vs
Intermediate Appellate Court
(193 SCRA 93 )
 Cheesman vs IAC
The fundamental law prohibits the sale to
aliens of residential land. Sec. 14, Art XIV of
the 1987 Constitution ordains that: “Save
in cases of hereditary succession, no
private land shall be transferred or
conveyed except to individuals,
corporations, or associations qualified to
acquire or hold lands of the public domain”
 Llantino
vs
Co Liong Chong
188 SCRA 592
 Llantino vs Co Liong Chong
Under the circumstances, a lease to an
alien for a reasonable period is valid. So is
an option giving an alien the right to buy
real property on condition that he is
granted Philippine citizenship. Aliens are
not completely excluded ivy the
Constitution from use of lands for
residential purposes.
Since their residence in the Philippines is
temporary, they may be granted temporary
rights such as lease contract which is not
forbidden by the Constitution. Should they
desire to remain here forever and share
our fortune and misfortune, Filipino
citizenship is not impossible to acquire.
The only instance where a contract of lease may
be considered invalid is, if there are
circumstances attendant to its execution, which
are used as a scheme to circumvent the
constitutional prohibition.