Torrens system

Torrens system — the Philippines’ state-guaranteed land registration regime (from Act 496 of 1902, now governed by PD 1529), administered by the LRA through the Registries of Deeds: registration itself creates indefeasible title, so the certificate is the ownership. The critical limit: “first in time, stronger in right” protects good-faith registration on a valid root title only — a fake root title is void from the start and voids every downstream transfer regardless of buyers’ innocence. Hence 3.8’s rule: verify against the government’s records, never just the seller’s paper.

First used in: 3.8 · Titles, diligence, and friction