ISAGUIRRE VS. DE LARA, GR NO. 138053, 31 MAY 2000, 332 SCRA 803
ISAGUIRRE VS. DE LARA,
GR NO. 138053, 31 MAY 2000, 332 SCRA 803
TOPIC/DOCTRINE
As a general rule, a mortgagor retains possession of the
mort-gaged property since a mortgage is merely a lien and title to the property
does not pass to the mortgagee.
FACTS
Basically, petitioner claims that he is entitled to retain
possession of the subject property until payment of the loan and the value of
the necessary and useful improvements he made upon such property.10 According
to petitioner, neither the Court of Appeals’ decision in G.R. CV No. 42065 nor
this Court’s decision in G.R. No. 120832 ordered immediate delivery of
possession of the subject property to respondent.
ISSUE
Whether or not the mortgagee in an equitable mortgage has
the right to retain possession of the property pending actual payment to him of
the amount of indebtedness by the mortgagor.
RULING
No.
The court held that a mortgage is a contract entered into
in order to secure the fulfilment of a principal obligation, and constituted
by recording the document in which it appears with the proper Registry of
Property, although, even if it is not recorded, the mortgage is nevertheless
binding between the parties; As a general rule, a mortgagor retains possession
of the mort-gaged property since a mortgage is merely a lien and title to the property does not pass to the mortgagee. The court held that a simple mortgage
does not give the mortgagee a right to the possession of the property unless
the mortgage should contain some special provision to that effect.
Here, regrettably, for petitioner, he has not presented any
evidence, other than his own gratuitous statements, to prove that the real the intention of the parties was to allow him to enjoy possession of the mortgaged
property until full payment of the loan.