YAP v REPUBLIC

Beverley Anne Yap vs. Republic 

G.R. No. 199810

March 15, 2017

Facts:

The case was about a disputed land, which the petitioner was able to buy from an allegedly patent holder. During trial, it was found out that, the patent holder, which Yap was able to buy her title from, have acquired its patent through fraud. The real owners represented by the Republic filed for the cancellation of the patent, and that the patent be awarded to them instead, because they were the ones who have been in adverse, exclusive, and continuous possession of the disputed land since 1945.

However, Yap, in her defense, stated that; she was a buyer in good faith, even though there was a notice of litigation attached to the title of the patent.

Issue:

WON Yap can be considered a buyer in good faith, and that she is the rightful owner of the property.

Held:

SC held that, yap cannot be considered a buyer in good faith, because of her failure to notice or acknowledge the notice of litigation attached to the original title of the patent.