Question

In a civil case involving a dispute over the ownership of a property, the trial court rendered a decision in favor of the plaintiff, declaring the plaintiff as the rightful owner of the property based on the evidence presented. The defendant appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals.

Upon review, the Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the trial court, citing precedents that established the principle of "first in time, first in right" in determining the ownership of properties. The defendant, dissatisfied with the decision, filed a petition for review before the Supreme Court.

Discuss the effect and application of judicial decisions in the Philippine legal system, specifically with regard to the power and authority of lower courts, the doctrine of stare decisis, and the scope of review by higher courts. Include relevant provisions of the Civil Code, particularly Article 8.