POSSESSION (Arts.

523 to 561)
A. Definition and concept.
i)
In general (Arts. 523-561 NCC)
ii)
Who exercises (Arts. 524; 532; 535; 538 NCC)
iii)
Status (Arts. 526-29 NCC)
B. Essential requisites of possession.
i)
Holding/control of thing or right.
ii)
Animus possidendi.
C. Degrees of holding of possession.
i)
Mere holder without title
ii)
With juridical title but not ownership.
iii)
With just title or title sufficient to transfer ownership, but not
from the true owner.
iv)
With just title from true owner.
D. Cases of possession.
i)
In ones own name; name of another. (Art. 524 NCC)
ii)
Concept of owner; mere holder. (Art. 525 NCC)
iii)
Good faith; bad faith. (Art. 526 NCC)
E. What things or rights may be possessed. (Art. 530 NCC)
F. What may not be possessed by private persons.
G. Acquisition of possession.
i)
Ways of acquiring possession (Art. 531 NCC)
ii)
By whom possession acquired. (Art. 532 NCC)
iii)
What does not affect possession (Arts. 536; 537; 538 1119)
H. Effects of possession.
i)
Right to be respected, protected and restored of possession.
a) Actions to recover possession:
Accion interdictal
Accion publiciana
Accion reivindicatoria
Replevin
b) Self-help (Art. 429 NCC)
ii)
Entitlement to fruits (Arts. 544 & 549 NCC)
iii)
Reimbursement for expenses (Arts. 552; 553 NCC)
iv)
Possession of movable acquired in good faith (Art. 559 NCC)

I. Effect of possession in concept of owner.

i)
Possession after lapse of time may ripen into full ownership.
ii)
Presumption of just title (Arts. 541; 1131 NCC)
iii)
Possessor may bring actions (except accion reivindicatoria)
iv)
Self-help (Art. 429 NCC)
v)
Register real right in Registry of Property.
vi)
Good faith- right to fruits and reimbursement.
vii) Upon recovery of possession fruits and damages.
viii) Rights over the thing possessed that the law authorizes.
ix)
Good faithbad faith possession.
J. Presumptions in favor of possessor.
i)
Good faith until contrary is proved (Art. 529 NCC)
ii)
Continuity of initial good faith (Art. 528 NCC)
iii)
Same character in which possession was acquired (Art. 529
NCC)
iv)
Non-interruption of possession in favor of present possessor
(Arts. 554; 1120-24 NCC)
v)
Art. 561 NCC.
vi)
Other presumptions (Arts. 426; 533; 1078; 541; 1141 NCC)
K. Possession may be lost by (Arts. 555-557 NCC):
i)
Abandonment
ii)
Assignment
iii)
Destruction; goes out of commerce
iv)
Possession by another (subject to Art. 537 NCC)
Cases:
Pleasantville Devt Corp v CA; G.R. No. 79688. February 1, 1996.
Kasilag v Rodriguez; G.R. No. 46623. December 7, 1939.
Banco Espanol Filipino v Peterson; G.R. No. L-3088. February 6,
1907.
Macasaet v Macasaet; G.R. Nos. 154391-92. September 30, 2004.
Cuaycong v Benedicto; G.R. No. 9989. March 13, 1918.
Astudillo v PHHC; G.R. No. L-28066. September 22, 1976.
Peran v CFI; G.R. No. L-57259. October 13, 1983.
Yu v Honrado; G.R. No. L-50025. August 21, 1980.

Cordero v Cabral; G.R. No. L-36789. July 25, 1983.

Lasam v Director; G.R. No. 42859. March 17, 1938.
People v Estoista; G.R. No. L-5793. August 27, 1953.
Tan Queto v CA; G.R. No. L-35648. February 27, 1987.
Edca Publishing v Santos; G.R. No. 80298. April 26, 1990.
Ledesma v CA; G.R. No. 86051. September 1, 1992.
Suobiron v CA; G.R. No. 109903. November 20, 1995.

(to be continued)