Reservation Fee

Good day! I am a college student. I just have a question regarding fees paid to reserve a unit for rent. In April 2011, I paid a reservation fee of P5000.00 for a one-year contract to rent a certain unit starting June 2011. The people who are in-charge issued a receipt that proves my reservation. No contract was signed. In May 2011, I went back to inform them that if there is anyone willing to take the unit, they can give it to them but they have to get my permission first by giving back my P5000.00. In the first week of June, I dialled their landline number to follow up. The woman who answered said that no one was willing to take it. Yesterday (June 15), I called again. A woman (not the same woman) told me that no one wants the unit. Today, I visited the building and found out that somebody is already occupying the unit I reserved. They do not want to give my P5000.00 back. What could be the legal remedy?

I know someone out there is knowledgeable enough to answer my question. Pls. do help. Thank you.

send a demand letter for return of the P5000, then you can file a complaint at the bgy. after which a small claims case at the MTC