"x x x.
Torrens system; certificate of title; a certificate of title serves as evidence of an indefeasible and incontrovertible title to the property in favor of the person whose name appears therein. “[A] certificate of title serves as evidence of an indefeasible and incontrovertible title to the property in favor of the person whose name appears therein.” Having no certificate of title issued in their names, spouses Vilbar have no indefeasible and incontrovertible title over Lot 20 to support their claim. Further, it is an established rule that “registration is the operative act which gives validity to the transfer or creates a lien upon the land.” “Any buyer or mortgagee of realty covered by a Torrens certificate of title x x x is charged with notice only of such burdens and claims as are annotated on the title.” Failing to annotate the deed for the eventual transfer of title over Lot 20 in their names, the spouses Vilbar cannot claim a greater right over Opinion, who acquired the property with clean title in good faith and registered the same in his name by going through the legally required procedure. Sps. Bernadette and Rodulfo Vilbar v. Angelito L. Opinion, G.R. No. 176043. January 15, 2014.
Torrens system; Torrens title; a person dealing with a registered land has a right to rely upon the face of the Torrens certificate of title; exceptions. The well-known rule in this jurisdiction is that a person dealing with a registered land has a right to rely upon the face of the torrens certificate of title and to dispense with the need of inquiring further, except when the party concerned has actual knowledge of facts and circumstances that would impel a reasonably cautious man to make such inquiry.
A torrens title concludes all controversy over ownership of the land covered by a final decree of registration. Once the title is registered the owner may rest assured without the necessity of stepping into the portals of the court or sitting in the mirador de su casa to avoid the possibility of losing his land. Francisco Lim v. Equitable PCI Bank, now known as Banco De Oro Unibank, Inc., G.R. No. 183918. January 15, 2014.
Torrens title; a person dealing with a registered land has a right to rely upon the face of the Torrens certificate of title; exception in the case of a person who buys from a person who is not the registered owner.The general rule is that every person dealing with registered land may safely rely on the correctness of the certificate of title issued therefor and the law will in no way oblige him to go beyond the certificate to determine the condition of the property. Where there is nothing in the certificate of title to indicate any cloud or vice in the ownership of the property, or any encumbrance thereon, the purchaser is not required to explore further than what the Torrens Title upon its face indicates in quest for any hidden defects or inchoate right that may subsequently defeat his right thereto.
However, a higher degree of prudence is required from one who buys from a person who is not the registered owner, although the land object of the transaction is registered. In such a case, the buyer is expected to examine not only the certificate of title but all factual circumstances necessary for him to determine if there are any flaws in the title of the transferor. The buyer also has the duty to ascertain the identity of the person with whom he is dealing with and the latter’s legal authority to convey the property. The Heirs of Victorino Sarili, namely, Isabel A. Sarili, et al. v. Pedro F. Lagrosa, represented in this act by his Attorney-in-Fact, Lourdes Labios Mojica, G.R. No. 193517, January 15, 2014.
Torrens system;even if the procurement of a certificate of title was tainted with fraud and misrepresentation, such defective title may be the source of a completely legal and valid title in the hands of an innocent purchaser for value. It is well-settled that even if the procurement of a certificate of title was tainted with fraud and misrepresentation, such defective title may be the source of a completely legal and valid title in the hands of an innocent purchaser for value. Where innocent third persons, relying on the correctness of the certificate of title thus issued, acquire rights over the property, the court cannot disregard such rights and order the total cancellation of the certificate. The effect of such an outright cancellation would be to impair public confidence in the certificate of title, for everyone dealing with property registered under the Torrens system would have to inquire in every instance whether the title has been regularly or irregularly issued. This is contrary to the evident purpose of the law. The Heirs of Victorino Sarili, namely, Isabel A. Sarili, et al. v. Pedro F. Lagrosa, represented in this act by his Attorney-in-Fact, Lourdes Labios Mojica, G.R. No. 193517, January 15, 2014.
Torrens system; levy on attachment, duly registered, takes preference over a prior unregistered sale.”[T]he settled rule that levy on attachment, duly registered, takes preference over a prior unregistered sale. This result is a necessary consequence of the fact that the [properties] involved [were] duly covered by the Torrens system which works under the fundamental principle that registration is the operative act which gives validity to the transfer or creates a lien upon the land.” Sps. Bernadette and Rodulfo Vilbar v. Angelito L. Opinion, G.R. No. 176043. January 15, 2014.
x x x."
