"One who buys something with knowledge of defect or lack of title in his vendor cannot claim that he acquired it in good faith "

G.R. No. L-31271 April 29, 1974

ROMEO MARTINEZ and LEONOR SUAREZ, spouses, petitioners-appellants, vs. HON. COURT OF APPEALS, SECRETARY and UNDERSECRETARY OF PUBLIC WORKS & COMMUNICATIONS,Respondents-Appellees.

“x x x.

Before purchasing a parcel of land, it cannot be contended that the appellants who were the vendees did not know exactly the condition of the land that they were buying and the obstacles or restrictions thereon that may be put up by the government in connection with their project of converting Lot No. 2 in question into a fishpond. Nevertheless, they willfully and voluntarily assumed the risks attendant to the sale of said lot. One who buys something with knowledge of defect or lack of title in his vendor cannot claim that he acquired it in good faith (Leung Lee v. Strong Machinery Co., et al., 37 Phil. 664).

The ruling that a purchaser of a registered property cannot go beyond the record to make inquiries as to the legality of the title of the registered owner, but may rely on the registry to determine if there is no lien or encumbrances over the same, cannot be availed of as against the law and the accepted principle that rivers are parts of the public domain for public use and not capable of private appropriation or acquisition by prescription. 

X x x.”