TAN SIOK KUAN vs. HO, G.R. No.

175085

FACTS: Tan Siu Kuan and Pute Ching claim they are the owners of a property, and they have been
leasing portions of said property to Felicisimo Ho et al since 1972.
They notified defendants of their failure to pay rentals which defendants allegedly ignored warranting
the filing of the complaints. Defendants claim they have been in possession of the premises for 35-37
years without any rentals and lease contracts.
MeTC ruled in favor of petitioners. RTC affirmed MeTC. CA reversed the RTC
ISSUES: 1. WON the consolidated decision of the RTC had become final and executory for failure of
respondents to file their joint motion for reconsideration within the reglementary period of 15 days from
receipt of the decision. 2. WON the tenancy relationship between petitioners and respondents was
properly established.
RULING: 1. A close review of the records shows that the Joint Motion for Reconsideration was timely
filed. Respondents merely committed an error in the date of receipt stipulated in their pleading.
2. The Court sustains that a lessor-lessee relationship between the parties was not properly
established. They have not shown any evidence of a lease between them and respondents. There was
no mention of how and when the alleged contract of lease started, there was no proof of prior payment
of rentals or any prior demand for such payment.