Legal Advice
Landowner may not forcibly eject a usurper

Dear PAO,

My father, after a few years of working abroad as an OFW, was able to buy a property in Metro Manila. The property's title was registered under my father's name. Consequently, upon his return to the Philippines, he was surprised to learn that said property was occupied by tenants. Following a peaceful talk with the alleged landlord-owner, the latter voluntarily surrendered the property to my father. My father, then, allowed the tenants to continue occupying the property. However, upon my father's return abroad, the landlord forcibly evicted our tenants, and changed the padlocks. He argued that he has all the rights to forcibly enter our property and lock it because he is the owner. Is he correct?