PERFECTION OF A CONTRACT OF SALE
Lim vs. San and Lo G.R. No. 159723. September 9, 2004 Ynares-Santiao, J.
FACTS:
!etitioner Lim "i#ed a $omp#aint see%in t&e ann'#ment o" a (eed o" )bso#'te Sa#e invo invo#v #vin in a par$e par$e## o" #and #and e*e$' e*e$'te ted d b+ &is &is mot& mot&er er in "avo "avorr o" t&e t&e #att #atter ers s brot& brot&er er,, respondent San. !etitioner as t&e oner o" t&e #and $overed b+ a $erti"i$ate o" tit#e. e a##eed t&at respondent too% 'nd'e advantae o" t&e depressed menta# state o" &is mot&er, bro'&t abo't b+ t&e demise o" &er #ate &'sband, b+ $a'sin some papers to sin &i$& #ater t'rned o't to be a (eed o" )bso#'te Sa#e. )$$ordin to &im, no $onsideration as ever paid and t&e sinat're as obtained t&ro'& "ra'd and tri$%er+. e ar'ed t&at t&e said do$'ment as void ab initio "or #a$% o" $onsideration and "or #a$% o" va#id $onsent. /n response, t&e respondent respondent $#aimed t&at t&ere as "'## pa+ment o" t&e $onsideration "or t&e s'be$t propert+ and t&e tit#e reistered in &is name as va#id#+ and re'#ar#+ iss'ed be$a'se petitioners mot&er "ree#+ and vo#'ntari#+ ave &er $onsent to t&e sa#e. ISSUE:
/s t&e (eed o" )bso#'te Sa#e va#id HELD:
Yes, t&e (eed o" )bso#'te Sa#e is va#id. ) $ontra$t &as t&ree essentia# e#ements, or t&ose t&ose it&o' it&o'tt &i$& &i$& t&ere t&ere $an be no $ontra $ontra$t $t $onsent, $onsent, s'be$ s'be$tt matter matter and $a'se. $a'se. no#ede o" t&ese essentia# e#ements is materia# be$a'se t&e per"e$tion stae or t&e birt& o" t&e $ontra$t on#+ o$$'rs &en t&e parties to a $ontra$t aree 'pon t&e essentia# e#ements o" t&e same. ) $ontra$t o" sa#e is $onsens'a#, as s'$& it is per"e$ted b+ mere $onsent. onsent is essentia# "or t&e e*isten$e o" a $ontra$t, and &ere it is antin, t&e $ontra$t is non-e*istent. onsent in $ontra$ts pres'pposes t&e "o##oin re'isites 61 it s&o'#d be inte##ient or it& an e*a$t notion o" t&e matter to &i$& it re"ers8 62 it s&o'#d be "ree8 and 63 it s&o'#d be spontaneo's. /nte##ien$e in $onsent is vitiated b+ error8 "reedom b+ vio#en$e, intimidation or 'nd'e in"#'en$e8 and spontaneit+ b+ "ra'd. &'s, a $ontra$t &ere $onsent is iven t&ro'& mista%e, vio#en$e, intimidation, 'nd'e in"#'en$e or "ra'd is voidab#e. ontrar+ to t&e a##eations o" t&e petitioner t&at t&e $onsent o" &is mot&er to t&e deed o" sa#e as vitiated, a per'sa# o" t&e re$ords o" t&is $ase s&oed t&at t&e petitioner "ai#ed to estab#is& t&at vio#en$e, intimidation and 'nd'e in"#'en$e vitiated t&e $onsent o" &is mot&er to t&e deed o" sa#e pertainin to t&e s'be$t propert+. /n determinin &et&er
$onsent is vitiated b+ t&e $ir$'mstan$es provided "or in )rti$#e 1330 o" t&e ivi# ode o" t&e !&i#ippines, $o'rts are iven a ide #atit'de in ei&in t&e "a$ts or $ir$'mstan$es in a iven $ase and in de$idin in "avor o" &at t&e+ be#ieve to &ave a$t'a##+ o$$'rred, $onsiderin t&e ae, p&+si$a# in"irmit+, inte##ien$e, re#ations&ip and t&e $ond'$t o" t&e parties at t&e time o" ma%in t&e $ontra$t and s'bse'ent t&ereto. :&i#e it is tr'e t&at 'pon t&e deat& o" &is "at&er, &is mot&er ret'rned to t&e !&i#ippines and s'bse'ent#+ sta+ed at t&e &o'se o" t&e respondent, s'$& "a$t per se is not s'""i$ient to estab#is& t&at t&e #atter emp#o+ed intimidation, vio#en$e or 'nd'e in"#'en$e 'pon t&e "ormer. (e"e$t or #a$% o" va#id $onsent, in order to ma%e t&e $ontra$t voidab#e, m'st be estab#is&ed b+ "'##, $#ear and $onvin$in eviden$e, and not mere#+ b+ a preponderan$e t&ereo". !etitioners mere a##eations t&at respondent t&reatened &is mot&er it& &arm i" s&e i## not sin t&e $ontra$t "ai#ed to meas're 'p to t&e +ardsti$% o" eviden$e re'ired, not on#+ to prove vitiation o" $onsent, b't a#so to overt'rn t&e pres'mption t&at private transa$tions &ave been "air and re'#ar.
