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Prescription in Civil Cases: Key Ruling

This case involved a petition filed by Marciana de Morales against the Court of First Instance of Misamis Occidental. The petitioner had previously filed a similar civil case in 1978 that was dismissed without prejudice. The private respondents argued that the petitioner's cause of action was barred by prescription. The Supreme Court granted the petition and ordered the case reinstated, finding that less than 30 years had elapsed since the cause of action arose in 1963, so prescription had not yet occurred under the Civil Code. The lower court incorrectly applied acquisitive prescription of 10 years, but the defendants had not claimed this and did not prove the elements required, such as good faith and just title.

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379 views1 page

Prescription in Civil Cases: Key Ruling

This case involved a petition filed by Marciana de Morales against the Court of First Instance of Misamis Occidental. The petitioner had previously filed a similar civil case in 1978 that was dismissed without prejudice. The private respondents argued that the petitioner's cause of action was barred by prescription. The Supreme Court granted the petition and ordered the case reinstated, finding that less than 30 years had elapsed since the cause of action arose in 1963, so prescription had not yet occurred under the Civil Code. The lower court incorrectly applied acquisitive prescription of 10 years, but the defendants had not claimed this and did not prove the elements required, such as good faith and just title.

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marvin
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MARCIANA DE MORALES vs.

COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF MISAMIS OCCIDENTAL

G.R. No. L-52278 May 29, 1980

FACTS:

On May 7, 1978, petitioner filed Civil Case No. OZ-704 against private respondent with allegations and
reliefs substantially similar to those stated in Civil Case No. 2031 which had been previously dismiss
without prejudice. Private respondents denied the allegations and set up the affirmative defense that
plaintiff's cause of action was barred by prescription. On October 10, 1979 the complaint was
dismissed on the ground of prescription.

ISSUE: whether or not the action by petitioners is barred by prescription.

RULING:
Petition Granted. Case ordered reinstated.

There are two kinds of prescription provided in the Civil Code. One is acquisitive, i.e. the acquisition of
a right by the lapse of time. (Art. 1106, par. 1) Other names for acquisitive prescription are adverse
possession and usucapcion. The other kind is extinctive prescription whereby rights and actions are
lost by the lapse of time. (Arts, 11 06, par. 2 and 1139.) Another name for extinctive prescription is
limitation of action.

The differences between acquisitive and extinctive prescriptions are well-stated as follows:

Prescription was a statute of limitations. Whereas usucaption expressly 'vests the property' and raised
a new title in the occupant, prescription did nothing more than bar the right of action. The concept
most fundamental to a system of title by possession is that the relationship between the occupant and
he land in terms of possession is capable of producing legal consequences.

Indubitably, from August 12, 1963, to May 7, 1978, less than thirty (30) years had elapsed. Hence
the action had not yet prescribed. However, the respondent judge apparently relying on paragraph 2
of the above-quoted article has ruled in effect that the action is barred because the defendants have
acquired the subject matter of the action by acquisitive prescription of ten (10) years (See Art. 1136,
Civil Code.) This is manifest error for the defendants have not claimed acquisitive prescription in their
answer and even if they did, it cannot be given judicial sanction on mere allegations. The law requires
one who asserts ownership by adverse possession to prove the presence of the essential elements
which in ordinary acquisitive prescription of real estate are good faith, a just title (which according to
Art. 1131 is, never presumed but must be proved), and the lapse of time fixed by law. (Art. 1117,
par. 2, Civil Code.) This was not done by the defendants before the respondent judge dismissed the
complaint against them.

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