Professional Documents
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Lielanie Yangyang-Espejo) 1
COMPILATION OF CASES (Page 1 of 9)
SUCCESSION IN GENERAL
RAMIREZ v. RAMIREZ
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. L-27952
substitutions are also invalid because the first heirs are not
related to the second heirs or substitutes within the first
degree, as provided in Article 863 of the Civil Code; (c) that
the grant of a usufruct over real property in the Philippines in
favor of Wanda Wrobleski, who is an alien, violates Section
5, Article III of the Philippine Constitution; and that (d) the
proposed partition of the testator's interest in the Santa Cruz
(Escolta) Building between the widow Marcelle and the
appellants, violates the testator's express win to give this
property to them Nonetheless, the lower court approved the
project of partition in its order dated May 3, 1967. It is this
order which Jorge and Roberto have appealed to this Court.
1. The widow's legitime.
The appellant's do not question the legality of giving Marcelle
one-half of the estate in full ownership. They admit that the
testator's dispositions impaired his widow's legitime. Indeed,
under Art. 900 of the Civil Code "If the only survivor is the
widow or widower, she or he shall be entitled to one-half of
the hereditary estate." And since Marcelle alone survived the
deceased, she is entitled to one-half of his estate over which
he could impose no burden, encumbrance, condition or
substitution of any kind whatsoever. (Art. 904, par. 2, Civil
Code.)
It is the one-third usufruct over the free portion which the
appellants question and justifiably so. It appears that the
court a quo approved the usufruct in favor of Marcelle
because the testament provides for a usufruct in her favor of
one-third of the estate. The court a quo erred for Marcelle
who is entitled to one-half of the estate "en pleno dominio" as
her legitime and which is more than what she is given under
the will is not entitled to have any additional share in the
estate. To give Marcelle more than her legitime will run
counter to the testator's intention for as stated above his
dispositions even impaired her legitime and tended to favor
Wanda.
2. The substitutions.
It may be useful to recall that "Substitution is the appointjudgment of another heir so that he may enter into the
inheritance in default of the heir originally instituted." (Art.
857, Civil Code. And that there are several kinds of
substitutions, namely: simple or common, brief or
compendious, reciprocal, and fideicommissary (Art. 858,
Civil Code.) According to Tolentino, "Although the Code
enumerates four classes, there are really only two principal
classes of substitutions: the simple and the fideicommissary.
The others are merely variations of these two." (111 Civil
Code, p. 185 [1973].)
The simple or vulgar is that provided in Art. 859 of the Civil
Code which reads:
ART. 859. The testator may designate one or more persons
to substitute the heir or heirs instituted in case such heir or
heirs should die before him, or should not wish, or should be
incapacitated to accept the inheritance.
Issues having been joined, and trial had, the Court of First
Instance denied the recovery sought, and Antonina Cuevas
thereupon appealed. The Court of Appeals forwarded the
case to this Court because, the case having been submitted
on a stipulation of facts, the appellant raised only questions
of law.
The first issue tendered converns the true nature of the deed
"Exhibit A"; whether it embodies a donation inter vivos, or a
disposition of property mortis causa revocable freely by the
transferor at any time before death. 1
It has been rules that neither the designation mortis causa,
nor the provision that a donation is "to take effect at the
death of the donor", is a controlling criterion in defining the
true nature of donations (Laureta vs. Mata, 44 Phil., 668;
Concepcion vs. Concepcion, 91 Phil., 823). Hence, the crux
of the controversy revolves around the following provisions
of the deed of donation:
Dapat maalaman ni Crispulo Cuevas na samantalang ako ay
nabubuhay, and lupa na ipinagkakaloob ko sa kaniya ay ako
pa rin and patuloy na mamomosecion, makapagparatrabaho,
makikinabang at ang iba pang karapatan sa pagmamayari
ay sa akin pa rin hanggang hindo ko binabawian ny buhay
ng Maykapal at ito naman ay hindi ko nga iya-alis pagkat
kung ako ay mamatay na ay inilalaan ko sa kaniya.
There is an apparent conflict in the expression above
quoted, in that the donor reserves to herself "the right of
possession, cultivation, harvesting and other rights and
attributes of ownership while I am not deprived of life by the
Almighty"; but right after, the same donor states that she "will
not takle away" (the property) "because I reserve it for him
(the donee) when I die."
We agree with the Court below that the decisive proof that
the present donation is operative inter vivor lies in the final
phrase to the effect that the donor will not dispose or take
away ("hindi ko nga iya-alis" in the original) the land
"because I am reserving it to him upon my death." By these
words the donor expressly renounced the right to freely
dispose of the property in favor of another (a right essential
to full ownership) and manifested the irrevocability of the
conveyance of the naked title to the property in favor of the
donee. As stated in our decision in Bonsato vs. Court of
Appeals, ante, such irrevocability is characteristic of
donations inter vivos, because it is incompatible with the idea
June 5, 2002
AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ, J.:
Posed for resolution before the Court in this petition for
review on certiorari filed under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court
is the sole issue of whether the donations made by the late
Conchita Cabatingan are donations inter vivos or mortis
causa.
The facts of the case are as follows:
On February 17, 1992, Conchita Cabatingan executed in
favor of her brother, petitioner Nicolas Cabatingan, a "Deed
of Conditional of Donation (sic) Inter Vivos for House and
Lot" covering one-half () portion of the former's house and
lot located at Cot-cot, Liloan, Cebu.1 Four (4) other deeds of
donation were subsequently executed by Conchita
Cabatingan on January 14, 1995, bestowing upon: (a)
petitioner Estela C. Maglasang, two (2) parcels of land - one
located in Cogon, Cebu (307 sq. m.) and the other, a portion
of a parcel of land in Masbate (50,232 sq. m.); (b) petitioner
Nicolas Cabatingan, a portion of a parcel of land located in
Masbate (80,000 sq. m.); and (c) petitioner Merly S.
GANUELAS v. CAWED
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 123968
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx.3
SO ORDERED.9
The trial court also held that the absence of a reservation
clause in the deed implied that Celestina retained complete
dominion over her properties, thus supporting the conclusion
that the donation is mortis causa,10 and that while the deed
contained an attestation clause and an acknowledgment
showing the intent of the donor to effect a postmortem
disposition, the acknowledgment was defective as only the
donor and donee appear to have acknowledged the deed
before the notary public, thereby rendering the entire
document void.11
Lastly, the trial court held that the subsequent execution by
Celestina of the Revocation of Donation showed that the
donor intended the revocability of the donation ad nutum,
thus sustaining its finding that the conveyance was mortis
causa.12
On herein petitioners' argument that the Revocation of
Donation was void as the ground mentioned therein is not
one of those allowed by law to be a basis for revocation, the
trial court held that the legal grounds for such revocation as
provided under the Civil Code arise only in cases of
donations inter vivos, but not in donations mortis causa
which are revocable at will during the lifetime of the donor.
The trial court held, in any event, that given the nullity of the
disposition mortis causa in view of a failure to comply with
the formalities required therefor, the Deed of Revocation was
a superfluity.13
Hence, the instant petition for review, petitioners contending
that the trial court erred:
I. . . . WHEN IT DECLARED NULL AND VOID THE
DONATION EXECUTED BY CELESTINA GANUELAS;
II. . . . WHEN IT UPHELD THE REVOCATION OF
DONATION;
III. . . . IN RENDERING ITS DECISION ADVERSE TO
PETITIONER URSULINA GANUELAS.14
Petitioners argue that the donation contained in the deed is
inter vivos as the main consideration for its execution was
the donor's affection for the donee rather than the donor's
death;15 that the provision on the effectivity of the donation
after the donor's death simply meant that absolute
ownership would pertain to the donee on the donor's death;16
and that since the donation is inter vivos, it may be revoked
only for the reasons provided in Articles 760,17 76418 and
76519 of the Civil Code.
In a letter of March 16, 1998,20 private respondent Corazon
Sipalay, reacting to this Court's January 28, 1998 Resolution
requiring private respondents "to SHOW CAUSE why they
should not be disciplinarily dealt with or held in contempt" for
failure to submit the name and address of their new counsel,
explains that they are no longer interested in pursuing the
case and are "willing and ready to waive whatever rights"
DECISION
CARPIO, J.:
The Case
The Facts
Petitioner Gonzalo Villanueva (petitioner), here represented
by his heirs,3 sued respondents, spouses Froilan and Leonila
Branoco (respondents), in the Regional Trial Court of Naval,
Biliran (trial court) to recover a 3,492 square-meter parcel of
land in Amambajag, Culaba, Leyte (Property) and collect
damages. Petitioner claimed ownership over the Property
through purchase in July 1971 from Casimiro Vere (Vere),
who, in turn, bought the Property from Alvegia Rodrigo
(Rodrigo) in August 1970. Petitioner declared the Property in
his name for tax purposes soon after acquiring it.
In their Answer, respondents similarly claimed ownership
over the Property through purchase in July 1983 from
Eufracia Rodriguez (Rodriguez) to whom Rodrigo donated
the Property in May 1965. The two-page deed of donation
(Deed), signed at the bottom by the parties and two
witnesses, reads in full.
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS:
That I, ALVEGIA RODRIGO, Filipino, of legal age, widow of
the late Juan Arcillas, a resident of Barrio Bool, municipality
of Culaba, subprovince of Biliran, Leyte del Norte,
Philippines, hereby depose and say:
ARTICLE 774
CORONEL v. CA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
MELO, J.:p
The petition before us has its roots in a complaint for specific
performance to compel herein petitioners (except the last
named, Catalina Balais Mabanag) to consummate the sale
of a parcel of land with its improvements located along
Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City entered into by the parties
sometime in January 1985 for the price of P1,240,000.00.
The undisputed facts of the case were summarized by
respondent court in this wise:
On January 19, 1985, defendants-appellants Romulo
Coronel, et al. (hereinafter referred to as Coronels) executed
a document entitled "Receipt of Down Payment" (Exh. "A") in
favor of plaintiff Ramona Patricia Alcaraz (hereinafter
referred to as Ramona) which is reproduced hereunder:
RECEIPT OF DOWN PAYMENT
P1,240,000.00 Total amount
50,000 Down payment
P1,190,000.00 Balance
Received from Miss Ramona Patricia Alcaraz of 146 Timog,
Quezon City, the sum of Fifty Thousand Pesos purchase
price of our inherited house and lot, covered by TCT No.
119627 of the Registry of Deeds of Quezon City, in the total
amount of P1,240,000.00.
We bind ourselves to effect the transfer in our names from
our deceased father, Constancio P. Coronel, the transfer
certificate of title immediately upon receipt of the down
payment above-stated.
On our presentation of the TCT already in or name, We will
immediately execute the deed of absolute sale of said
property and Miss Ramona Patricia Alcaraz shall
immediately pay the balance of the P1,190,000.00.
Clearly, the conditions appurtenant to the sale are the
following:
No pronouncement as to costs.
SO ORDERED.
So Ordered.
(Rollo, p. 106)
Thus, the parties did not merely enter into a contract to sell
where the sellers, after compliance by the buyer with certain
terms and conditions, promised to sell the property to the
latter. What may be perceived from the respective
undertakings of the parties to the contract is that petitioners
had already agreed to sell the house and lot they inherited
from their father, completely willing to transfer full ownership
of the subject house and lot to the buyer if the documents
were then in order. It just happened, however, that the
transfer certificate of title was then still in the name of their
father. It was more expedient to first effect the change in the
certificate of title so as to bear their names. That is why they
undertook to cause the issuance of a new transfer of the
certificate of title in their names upon receipt of the down
PERALTA, J.:
Assailed in the present petition for review on certiorari under
Rule 45 of the Rules of Court is the Decision1 of the Court of
Appeals (CA) dated May 31, 2005 in CA-G.R. CV No. 58041
which set aside the February 7, 1997 Decision of the
Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lanao del Norte, Branch 4 in
Civil Case No. 3263.
The facts of the case are as follows:
Herein petitioner and respondents are the children of the
spouses Rufo and Sebastiana Balus. Sebastiana died on
September 6, 1978, while Rufo died on July 6, 1984.
On January 3, 1979, Rufo mortgaged a parcel of land, which
he owns, as security for a loan he obtained from the Rural
Bank of Maigo, Lanao del Norte (Bank). The said property
was originally covered by Original Certificate of Title No. P439(788) and more particularly described as follows:
A parcel of land with all the improvements thereon,
containing an area of 3.0740 hectares, more or less, situated
in the Barrio of Lagundang, Bunawan, Iligan City, and
bounded as follows: Bounded on the NE., along line 1-2, by
Lot 5122, Csd-292; along line 2-12, by Dodiongan River;
along line 12-13 by Lot 4649, Csd-292; and along line 12-1,
by Lot 4661, Csd-292. x x x 2
SO ORDERED.
BALUS v. BALUS
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 168970
DECISION
of
the
said Extrajudicial
In the first place, as earlier discussed, there is no coownership to talk about and no property to partition, as the
disputed lot never formed part of the estate of their deceased
father.
DECISION
PERALTA, J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari 1 of the Court of
Appeals Decision2 dated December 11, 2006 in CA-G.R. CV
No. 85877, and its Resolution dated September 4, 2007,
denying petitioners motion for reconsideration.
The Court of Appeals reversed and set aside the Decision3 of
the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Manila, Branch 1,
dismissing the Complaint for specific performance and
damages. The Court of Appeals reinstated the Complaint
and directed petitioner to execute deeds of absolute sale in
favor of respondent after payment of the purchase price of
the subject lots.
7. That the VENDOR and the VENDEE agree that during the
existence of this Contract and without previous expressed
written permission from the other, they shall not sell, cede,
assign, transfer or mortgage, or in any way encumber unto
another person or party any right, interest or equity that they
may have in and to said parcel of land.
xxxx
The trial court said that both conditional deeds of sale clearly
provided that "ownership x x x shall not pass to the VENDEE
until after full payment of the purchase price." Respondent
admitted that it has not yet fully paid the purchase price. The
trial court held that the conditions in the conditional deeds of
sale being suspensive, that is, its fulfillment gives rise to the
obligation, the reasons for the inability of respondent to fulfill
its own obligations is material, in order that the obligation of
petitioner to execute the final deeds of absolute sale will
arise. The trial court stated that the evidence showed that
petitioner had exercised its right to rescind the contract by a
written notice dated March 17, 1978 and notarial acts both
dated March15, 1978. The trial court noted that respondent
denied having received the notice and disclaimed knowing
the recipient, Wenna Laurenciana. However, on crossexamination, respondent's witness, Gaudencio Juan, who
used to be respondent's Personnel Manager and Forester at
the same time, admitted knowing Laurenciana because she
was the secretary of Mr. Valeriano Bueno, respondent's
president at that time, although Laurenciana was not
employed by respondent, but she was employed by
Mahogany Products Corporation, presumably one of the 14
other companies being controlled by Mr. Bueno.20
The trial court held that the conditional deeds of sale were
executed on November 29, 1973 and were already covered
by Republic Act (R.A.) No. 6552, otherwise known as the
Realty Installment Buyer Act. Under Section 4 of the law, if
the buyer fails to pay the installments due at the expiration of
the grace period, which is not less than 60 days from the
date the installment became due, the seller may cancel the
contract after 30 days from receipt of the buyer of the notice
of cancellation or the demand for rescission of the contracts
by notarial act. The trial court found no lawful ground to grant
the relief prayed for and dismissed the complaint for lack of
merit.
Respondent appealed the decision of the trial court to the
Court of Appeals, and made these assignments of error: (1)
the trial court erred in holding that petitioner did not
unlawfully evade executing a final deed of sale, since
respondent's failure to fulfill its own obligation is material; (2)
the trial court erred in holding that it is unbelievable and a
self-contradiction that respondent was informed of the
mortgage only when it was paying the balance of the
properties; and (3) the trial court erred in holding that as
early as November 19, 1973, petitioner had already taken
necessary steps to evict the squatters/occupants through the
intercession of the agrarian reform officer.
On December 11, 2006, the Court of Appeals rendered a
Decision, reversing and setting aside the Decision of the trial
court. It reinstated the complaint of respondent, and directed
petitioner to execute deeds of absolute sale in favor of
respondent after payment of the balance of the purchase
price of the subject lots. The dispositive portion of the
Decision reads:
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the August 1,
2005Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Manila, Branch
SO ORDERED.21
II
July 3, 2003
CARPIO, J.:
The Case
This is a petition for review on certiorari of the Decision 1
dated 13 June 2000 and the Resolution dated 14 November
2002 of the Court of Appeals which affirmed the Decision 2 of
the Regional Trial Court, Branch 14, Cebu City. The Court of
Appeals agreed with the trial court that the sales by the late
Teodoro Vao to respondents Alfredo Loy, Jr. and Teresita A.
Loy of Lot Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, were valid. The Court
of Appeals also agreed with the trial court that the unilateral
extrajudicial rescission by the late Teodoro Vao of the
contract to sell involving five lots, including Lot Nos. 5 and 6,
between him and Benito Liu (predecessor-in-interest of
Frank Liu) was valid.
The Facts
On 13 January 1950, Teodoro Vao, as attorney-in-fact of
Jose Vao, sold seven lots of the Banilad Estate located in
Cebu City to Benito Liu and Cirilo Pangalo. 3 Teodoro Vao
dealt with Frank Liu, the brother of Benito Liu, in the sale of
the lots to Benito Liu and Cirilo Pangalo. The lots sold to
Benito Liu were Lot Nos. 5, 6, 13, 14, and 15 of Block 12 for
a total price of P4,900. Benito Liu gave a down payment of
P1,000, undertaking to pay the balance of P3,900 in monthly
installments of P100 beginning at the end of January 1950.
The lots sold to Cirilo Pangalo were Lot Nos. 14 and 15 of
Block 11 for a total price of P1,967.50. Cirilo Pangalo gave
P400 as down payment, undertaking to pay the balance of
P1,567.50 in monthly installments of P400 beginning at the
end of January 1950. Meanwhile, Jose Vao passed away.
Benito Liu subsequently paid installments totaling P2,900,
leaving a balance of P1,000.4 Apparently, Benito Liu stopped
further payments because Teodoro Vao admitted his
inability to transfer the lot titles to Benito Liu. Later, in a letter5
dated 16 October 1954, Teodoro Vao informed Frank Liu6
that the Supreme Court had already declared valid the will of
his father Jose Vao. Thus, Teodoro Vao could transfer the
titles to the buyers names upon payment of the balance of
the purchase price.
When Frank Liu failed to reply, Teodoro Vao sent him
another letter,7 dated 1 January 1955, reminding him of his
outstanding balance. It appears that it was only after nine
years that Frank Liu responded through a letter,8 dated 25
January 1964. In the letter, Frank Liu informed Teodoro Vao
that he was ready to pay the balance of the purchase price
of the seven lots. He requested for the execution of a deed
of sale of the lots in his name and the delivery of the titles to
him.
The Court of Appeals held that there is no basis for the claim
of moral damages and attorneys fees. The appellate court
found that Frank Liu failed to prove that he suffered mental
anguish due to the actuations of the Loys. The Court of
Appeals likewise disallowed the award of attorneys fees.
The fact alone that a party was compelled to litigate and
incur expenses to protect his claim does not justify an award
of attorneys fees. Besides, the Court of Appeals held that
where there is no basis to award moral damages, there is
also no basis to award attorneys fees.
The Issues
The trial court held that the contract between Teodoro Vao
and Benito Liu was a contract to sell. Since title to Lot Nos. 5
and 6 never passed to Benito Liu due to non-payment of the
balance of the purchase price, ownership of the lots
remained with the vendor. Therefore, the trial cour ruled that
the subsequent sales to Alfredo Loy, Jr. and Teresita Loy of
Lot Nos. 5 and 6, respectively, were valid.
The trial court viewed the letter of Teodoro Vao dated 1
January 1995 addressed to Frank Liu as a unilateral
extrajudicial rescission of the contract to sell. The trial court
upheld the unilateral rescission subject to refund by the
Estate of Jose Vao of one-half (1/2) of what Frank Liu paid
under the contract.
in the middle of July, also this year, the Supreme Court again
declared that all the sales I have made of the properties of
my Father, were Legal, and that I should be empowered to
have the Titles transferred in the buyers names, should they
have paid in full. A few have already received their Titles.
And yours can be had too in two days time from the time you
have paid in full.
Conclusion
Since the Loys have no contract of sale validly approved by
the probate court, while Frank Liu has a contract of sale
approved by the probate court in accordance with Section 8
of Rule 89, Lot Nos. 5 and 6 belong to Frank Liu. The Estate
of Jose Vao should reimburse the Loys their payments on
Lot Nos. 5 and 6, with annual interest at 6% from 4 June
1976, the date of filing of the complaint, until finality of this
decision, and 12% thereafter until full payment.60
WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Court of Appeals is SET
ASIDE and a new one is RENDERED:
1. Declaring null and void the deeds of sale of Lot Nos. 5 and
6 executed by Teodoro Vao in favor of Alfredo Loy, Jr. and
Teresita Loy, respectively.
2.Ordering the Register of Deeds of Cebu City to cancel TCT
Nos. 64522 and 64523 and to issue a new one in the name
of petitioner Frank N. Liu;
3. Ordering the Estate of Jose Vao to reimburse to
respondent Loys the amounts paid on Lot Nos. 5 and 6, with
interest at 6% per annum from 4 June 1976 until finality of
this decision, and 12% per annum thereafter until full
payment.
SO ORDERED.
CONDE v. ABAYA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-4275
ARELLANO, C.J.:
From the hearing of the appeal interposed by Roman Abaya
in the special proceedings brought in the Court of First
Instance of La Laguna for the settlement of the intestate
estate and the distribution of the property of Casiano Abaya
it appears:
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 113899 October 13, 1999
GREAT PACIFIC LIFE ASSURANCE CORP., petitioner,
vs.
COURT OF APPEALS AND MEDARDA V. LEUTERIO,
respondents.
QUISUMBING, J.:
This petition for review, under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court,
assails the Decision 1 dated May 17, 1993, of the Court of
Appeals and its Resolution 2 dated January 4, 1994 in CAG.R. CV No. 18341. The appellate court affirmed in toto the
judgment of the Misamis Oriental Regional Trial Court,
Branch 18, in an insurance claim filed by private respondent
against Great Pacific Life Assurance Co. The dispositive
portion of the trial court's decision reads:
WHEREFORE, judgment is rendered adjudging the
defendant
GREAT
PACIFIC
LIFE
ASSURANCE
CORPORATION as insurer under its Group policy No. G1907, in relation to Certification B-18558 liable and ordered
to pay to the DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES
as creditor of the insured Dr. Wilfredo Leuterio, the amount
of EIGHTY SIX THOUSAND TWO HUNDRED PESOS
(P86,200.00); dismissing the claims for damages, attorney's
fees and litigation expenses in the complaint and
counterclaim, with costs against the defendant and
dismissing the complaint in respect to the plaintiffs, other
than the widow-beneficiary, for lack of cause of action. 3
The facts, as found by the Court of Appeals, are as follows:
A contract of group life insurance was executed between
petitioner Great Pacific Life Assurance Corporation
(hereinafter Grepalife) and Development Bank of the
Philippines (hereinafter DBP). Grepalife agreed to insure the
lives of eligible housing loan mortgagors of DBP.
On November 11, 1983, Dr. Wilfredo Leuterio, a physician
and a housing debtor of DBP applied for membership in the
group life insurance plan. In an application form, Dr. Leuterio
answered questions concerning his health condition as
follows:
7. Have you ever had, or consulted, a physician for a heart
condition, high blood pressure, cancer, diabetes, lung;
kidney or stomach disorder or any other physical
impairment?
Answer: No. If so give details _____________.
On November 15, 1983, Grepalife issued Certificate No. B18558, as insurance coverage of Dr. Leuterio, to the extent
of his DBP mortgage indebtedness amounting to eighty-six
thousand, two hundred (P86,200.00) pesos.1wphi1.nt
On August 6, 1984, Dr. Leuterio died due to "massive
cerebral hemorrhage." Consequently, DBP submitted a death
claim to Grepalife. Grepalife denied the claim alleging that
Dr. Leuterio was not physically healthy when he applied for
an insurance coverage on November 15, 1983. Grepalife
insisted that Dr. Leuterio did not disclose he had been
suffering from hypertension, which caused his death.
Allegedly, such non-disclosure constituted concealment that
justified the denial of the claim.
On October 20, 1986, the widow of the late Dr. Leuterio,
respondent Medarda V. Leuterio, filed a complaint with the
Regional Trial Court of Misamis Oriental, Branch 18, against
Grepalife for "Specific Performance with Damages." 5 During
the trial, Dr. Hernando Mejia, who issued the death
certificate, was called to testify. Dr. Mejia's findings, based
partly from the information given by the respondent widow,
stated that Dr. Leuterio complained of headaches
presumably due to high blood pressure. The inference was
not conclusive because Dr. Leuterio was not autopsied,
hence, other causes were not ruled out.
On February 22, 1988, the trial court rendered a decision in
favor of respondent widow and against Grepalife. On May
17, 1993, the Court of Appeals sustained the trial court's
decision. Hence, the present petition. Petitioners interposed
the following assigned errors:
1. THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN HOLDING
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT
LIABLE
TO
THE
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES (DBP)
WHICH IS NOT A PARTY TO THE CASE FOR PAYMENT
OF THE PROCEEDS OF A MORTGAGE REDEMPTION
INSURANCE ON THE LIFE OF PLAINTIFF'S HUSBAND
WILFREDO LEUTERIO ONE OF ITS LOAN BORROWERS,
INSTEAD OF DISMISSING THE CASE AGAINST
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT [Petitioner Grepalife] FOR LACK
OF CAUSE OF ACTION.
2. THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN NOT DISMISSING THE
CASE FOR WANT OF JURISDICTION OVER THE
SUBJECT OR NATURE OF THE ACTION AND OVER THE
PERSON OF THE DEFENDANT.
3. THE LOWER COURT ERRED IN ORDERING
DEFENDANT-APPELLANT TO PAY TO DBP THE AMOUNT
OF P86,200.00 IN THE ABSENCE OF ANY EVIDENCE TO
SHOW HOW MUCH WAS THE ACTUAL AMOUNT
PAYABLE TO DBP IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS GROUP
CONTRACT
WITH
DEFENDANT-
therefore
liable to
insurance.1wphi1.nt
pay
the
proceeds
of
the
And that brings us to the last point in the review of the case
at bar. Petitioner claims that there was no evidence as to the
amount of Dr. Leuterio's outstanding indebtedness to DBP at
the time of the mortgagor's death. Hence, for private
respondent's failure to establish the same, the action for
specific performance should be dismissed. Petitioner's claim
is without merit. A life insurance policy is a valued policy. 20
Unless the interest of a person insured is susceptible of
exact pecuniary measurement, the measure of indemnity
under a policy of insurance upon life or health is the sum
fixed in the policy. 21 The mortgagor paid the premium
according to the coverage of his insurance, which states
that:
The policy states that upon receipt of due proof of the
Debtor's death during the terms of this insurance, a death
benefit in the amount of P86,200.00 shall be paid.
In the event of the debtor's death before his indebtedness
with the creditor shall have been fully paid, an amount to pay
the outstanding indebtedness shall first be paid to the
Creditor and the balance of the Sum Assured, if there is any
shall then be paid to the beneficiary/ies designated by the
debtor." 22 (Emphasis omitted)
However, we noted that the Court of Appeals' decision was
promulgated on May 17, 1993. In private respondent's
memorandum, she states that DBP foreclosed in 1995 their
residential lot, in satisfaction of mortgagor's outstanding loan.
Considering this supervening event, the insurance proceeds
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs of the deceased person
or his beneficiaries. Equity dictates that DBP should not
unjustly enrich itself at the expense of another (Nemo cum
alterius detrimenio protest). Hence, it cannot collect the
insurance proceeds, after it already foreclosed on the
mortgage. The proceeds now rightly belong to Dr. Leuterio's
heirs represented by his widow, herein private respondent
Medarda Leuterio.
WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DENIED. The Decision
and Resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV 18341
is AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION that the petitioner is
ORDERED to pay the insurance proceeds amounting to
Eighty-six thousand, two hundred (P86,200.00) pesos to the
heirs of the insured, Dr. Wilfredo Leuterio (deceased), upon
presentation of proof of prior settlement of mortgagor's
indebtedness to Development Bank of the Philippines. Costs
against petitioner.1wphi1.nt
SO ORDERED.
ROBLES v. BATACAN
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
CRUZ, J.:
The central figure in this case is Severino Geronimo, who
worked in the petitioner's land for twenty years until 1969
and died the following year at the age of 86. The central
question in this case is the nature of the work he performed
and the compensation he was supposed to receive.
After his death, an ejectment suit was filed against his two
sons by the petitioner, who claimed they had no right to
remain in his land.1 Benedicto Geronimo did not choose to
answer and so was declared in default. 2 The other
defendant. Atanacio Geronimo, averred that he was entitled
to succeed his father as the petitioner's agricultural tenant in
accordance with R.A. No. 1199 and Section 9 of R.A. No.
3844.
The private respondent's position is that his father was an
agricultural tenant of the petitioner during the twenty years
the former worked in the latter"s land. Hence, in accordance
with the aforementioned laws, he could remain in the
petitioner"s land under the same terms and conditions of the
original tenancy share arrangement entered into between his
father and the petitioner. His share should also be P100.00
more or less per harvest every forty days during the time he
continued discharging his father"s work as his statutory
successor. 3
The petitioner, for his part, insists that Severino Geronimo
was never an agricultural tenant of his but worked merely as
a watcher in his land. He did receive the sum of P100.00
every harvest but not as his share therein for that amount
was given to him as a reward for his past services. The only
work he did was watch over the petitioner"s land and make
brooms out of the fallen coconut leaves he would gather. He
sold these brooms and kept the proceeds for himself without
sharing them with the petitioner. 4
After trial, the Court of Agrarian Relations * rendered
judgment recognizing the defendant as the agricultural
tenant of the plaintiff and ordering the payment to him of the
sum of P12,000.00 as his tenancy share. 5 Not satisfied, the
petitioner went to the Court of Appeals, ** which affirmed the
challenged decision in toto. 6 The petitioner is now before us
and faults the respondent court with grave abuse of
discretion for upholding the trial court.
SO ORDERED.
x x x (emphasis supplied).3
SAN AGUSTIN v. CA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 121940
December 4, 2001
SO ORDERED.10
DECISION
PURISIMA, J.:
This is a petition for review of the decision of the Court of
Appeals,3 dated December 23, 1993, in CA-G.R. No. CV35555, which set aside the decision of Branch 52 of the
Regional Trial Court in Bacolod City, and ordered the
defendants-appellees (including herein petitioner), as heirs
of Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, to reconvey title over Lot No. 1392,
together with its fruits and interests, to the estate of Aleja
Belleza.
The antecedent facts are as follows:
In a Codicil appended to the Last Will and Testament of
testatrix Aleja Belleza, Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, predecessor-ininterest of the herein petitioner, Johnny S. Rabadilla, was
instituted as a devisee of 511, 855 square meters of that
parcel of land surveyed as Lot No. 1392 of the Bacolod
Cadastre. The said Codicil, which was duly probated and
admitted in Special Proceedings No. 4046 before the then
Court of First Instance of Negros Occidental, contained the
following provisions:
"FIRST
I give, leave and bequeath the following property owned by
me to Dr. Jorge Rabadilla resident of 141 P. Villanueva,
Pasay City:
(a) Lot No. 1392 of the Bacolod Cadastre, covered by
Transfer Certificate of Title No. RT-4002 (10942), which is
registered in my name according to the records of the
Register of Deeds of Negros Occidental.
(b) That should Jorge Rabadilla die ahead of me, the
aforementioned property and the rights which I shall set forth
hereinbelow, shall be inherited and acknowledged by the
children and spouse of Jorge Rabadilla.
xxx
SIXTH
I command, in this my addition (Codicil) that the Lot No.
1392, in the event that the one to whom I have left and
bequeathed, and his heir shall later sell, lease, mortgage this
said Lot, the buyer, lessee, mortgagee, shall have also the
obligation to respect and deliver yearly ONE HUNDRED
(100) piculs of sugar to Maria Marlina Coscolluela y Belleza,
on each month of December, SEVENTY FIVE (75) piculs of
Export and TWENTY FIVE (25) piculs of Domestic, until
Maria Marlina shall die, lastly should the buyer, lessee or the
mortgagee of this lot, not have respected my command in
this my addition (Codicil), Maria Marlina Coscolluela y
Belleza, shall immediately seize this Lot No. 1392 from my
heir and the latter's heirs, and shall turn it over to my near
desendants, (sic) and the latter shall then have the obligation
to give the ONE HUNDRED (100) piculs of sugar until Maria
Marlina shall die. I further command in this my addition
(Codicil) that my heir and his heirs of this Lot No. 1392, that
they will obey and follow that should they decide to sell,
lease, mortgage, they cannot negotiate with others than my
near descendants and my sister."4
Pursuant to the same Codicil, Lot No. 1392 was transferred
to the deceased, Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, and Transfer
Certificate of Title No. 44498 thereto issued in his name.
Dr. Jorge Rabadilla died in 1983 and was survived by his
wife Rufina and children Johnny (petitioner), Aurora, Ofelia
and Zenaida, all surnamed Rabadilla.
On August 21, 1989, Maria Marlena Coscolluela y Belleza
Villacarlos brought a complaint, docketed as Civil Case No.
5588, before Branch 52 of the Regional Trial Court in
Bacolod City, against the above-mentioned heirs of Dr. Jorge
property shall pass in case the original heir should die before
him/her, renounce the inheritance or be incapacitated to
inherit, as in a simple substitution, 12 or (2) leave his/her
property to one person with the express charge that it be
transmitted subsequently to another or others, as in a
fideicommissary substitution.13 The Codicil sued upon
contemplates neither of the two.
In simple substitutions, the second heir takes the inheritance
in default of the first heir by reason of incapacity, predecease
or renunciation.14 In the case under consideration, the
provisions of subject Codicil do not provide that should Dr.
Jorge Rabadilla default due to predecease, incapacity or
renunciation, the testatrix's near descendants would
substitute him. What the Codicil provides is that, should Dr.
Jorge Rabadilla or his heirs not fulfill the conditions imposed
in the Codicil, the property referred to shall be seized and
turned over to the testatrix's near descendants.
Neither is there a fideicommissary substitution here and on
this point, petitioner is correct. In a fideicommissary
substitution, the first heir is strictly mandated to preserve the
property and to transmit the same later to the second
heir.15 In the case under consideration, the instituted heir is in
fact allowed under the Codicil to alienate the property
provided the negotiation is with the near descendants or the
sister of the testatrix. Thus, a very important element of a
fideicommissary substitution is lacking; the obligation clearly
imposing upon the first heir the preservation of the property
and its transmission to the second heir. "Without this
obligation to preserve clearly imposed by the testator in his
will, there is no fideicommissary substitution." 16 Also, the
near descendants' right to inherit from the testatrix is not
definite. The property will only pass to them should Dr. Jorge
Rabadilla or his heirs not fulfill the obligation to deliver part of
the usufruct to private respondent.
Another important element of a fideicommissary substitution
is also missing here. Under Article 863, the second heir or
the fideicommissary to whom the property is transmitted
must not be beyond one degree from the first heir or the
fiduciary. A fideicommissary substitution is therefore, void if
the first heir is not related by first degree to the second heir.17
In the case under scrutiny, the near descendants are not at
all related to the instituted heir, Dr. Jorge Rabadilla.
The Court of Appeals erred not in ruling that the institution of
Dr. Jorge Rabadilla under subject Codicil is in the nature of a
modal institution and therefore, Article 882 of the New Civil
Code is the provision of law in point. Articles 882 and 883 of
the New Civil Code provide:
Art. 882. The statement of the object of the institution or the
application of the property left by the testator, or the charge
imposed on him, shall not be considered as a condition
unless it appears that such was his intention.
That which has been left in this manner may be claimed at
once provided that the instituted heir or his heirs give
security for compliance with the wishes of the testator and
as will sustain and uphold the Will in all its parts must be
adopted.24
Subject Codicil provides that the instituted heir is under
obligation to deliver One Hundred (100) piculs of sugar
yearly to Marlena Belleza Coscuella. Such obligation is
imposed on the instituted heir, Dr. Jorge Rabadilla, his heirs,
and their buyer, lessee, or mortgagee should they sell, lease,
mortgage or otherwise negotiate the property involved. The
Codicil further provides that in the event that the obligation to
deliver the sugar is not respected, Marlena Belleza
Coscuella shall seize the property and turn it over to the
testatrix's near descendants. The non-performance of the
said obligation is thus with the sanction of seizure of the
property and reversion thereof to the testatrix's near
descendants. Since the said obligation is clearly imposed by
the testatrix, not only on the instituted heir but also on his
successors-in-interest, the sanction imposed by the testatrix
in case of non-fulfillment of said obligation should equally
apply to the instituted heir and his successors-in-interest.
Similarly unsustainable is petitioner's submission that by
virtue of the amicable settlement, the said obligation
imposed by the Codicil has been assumed by the lessee,
and whatever obligation petitioner had become the obligation
of the lessee; that petitioner is deemed to have made a
substantial and constructive compliance of his obligation
through the consummated settlement between the lessee
and the private respondent, and having consummated a
settlement with the petitioner, the recourse of the private
respondent is the fulfillment of the obligation under the
amicable settlement and not the seizure of subject property.
Suffice it to state that a Will is a personal, solemn, revocable
and free act by which a person disposes of his property, to
take effect after his death.25 Since the Will expresses the
manner in which a person intends how his properties be
disposed, the wishes and desires of the testator must be
strictly followed. Thus, a Will cannot be the subject of a
compromise agreement which would thereby defeat the very
purpose of making a Will.
ALVAREZ v. IAC
SO ORDERED.
May 7, 1990
FERNAN, C.J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari seeking the reversal
of: (a) the decision of the Fourth Civil Cases Division of the
Intermediate Appellate Court dated August 31, 1983 in ACG.R. CV No. 56626 entitled "Jesus Yanes et al. v. Dr.
Rodolfo Siason et al." affirming the decision dated July 8,
1974 of the Court of First Instance of Negros Occidental
insofar as it ordered the petitioners to pay jointly and
severally the private respondents the sum of P20,000.00
representing the actual value of Lots Nos. 773-A and 773-B
of the cadastral survey of Murcia, Negros Occidental and
reversing the subject decision insofar as it awarded the sums
of P2,000.00, P5,000.00 and P2,000.00 as actual damages,
moral damages and attorney's fees, respectively and (b) the
resolution of said appellate court dated May 30, 1984,
denying the motion for reconsideration of its decision.
The real properties involved are two parcels of land identified
as Lot 773-A and Lot 773-B which were originally known as
Lot 773 of the cadastral survey of Murcia, Negros
Occidental. Lot 773, with an area of 156,549 square meters,
was registered in the name of the heirs of Aniceto Yanes
under Original Certificate of Title No. RO-4858 (8804) issued
on October 9, 1917 by the Register of Deeds of Occidental
Negros (Exh. A).
Aniceto Yanes was survived by his children, Rufino, Felipe
and Teodora. Herein private respondents, Estelita, Iluminado
and Jesus, are the children of Rufino who died in 1962 while
the other private respondents, Antonio and Rosario Yanes,
are children of Felipe. Teodora was survived by her child,
Jovita (Jovito) Alib. 1 It is not clear why the latter is not
included as a party in this case.
Aniceto left his children Lots 773 and 823. Teodora cultivated
only three hectares of Lot 823 as she could not attend to the
other portions of the two lots which had a total area of
around twenty-four hectares. The record does not show
whether the children of Felipe also cultivated some portions
of the lots but it is established that Rufino and his children
left the province to settle in other places as a result of the
outbreak of World War II. According to Estelita, from the
"Japanese time up to peace time", they did not visit the
parcels of land in question but "after liberation", when her
brother went there to get their share of the sugar produced
therein, he was informed that Fortunato Santiago,
SO ORDERED. 29
The Alvarez appealed to the then Intermediate Appellate
Court which in its decision of August 31, 1983 30 affirmed the
lower court's decision "insofar as it ordered defendantsappellants to pay jointly and severally the plaintiffs-appellees
the sum of P20,000.00 representing the actual value of Lots
Nos. 773-A and 773-B of the cadastral survey of Murcia,
Negros Occidental, and is reversed insofar as it awarded the
sums of P2,000.00, P5,000.00 and P2,000.00 as actual
damages, moral damages and attorney's fees, respectively."
31
The dispositive portion of said decision reads:
WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is affirmed
insofar as it ordered defendants-appellants to pay jointly and
severally the plaintiffs- appellees the sum of P20,000.00
representing the actual value of Lots Nos. 773-A and 773-B
of the cadastral survey of Murcia, Negros Occidental, and is
reversed insofar as it awarded the sums of P2,000.00,
P5,000.00 and P2,000.00 as actual damages, moral
damages and attorney's fees, respectively. No costs.
SO ORDERED. 32
Finding no cogent reason to grant appellants motion for
reconsideration, said appellate court denied the same.
Hence, the instant petition. ln their memorandum petitioners
raised the following issues:
1. Whethere or not the defense of prescription and estoppel
had been timely and properly invoked and raised by the
petitioners in the lower court.
2. Whether or not the cause and/or causes of action of the
private respondents, if ever there are any, as alleged in their
complaint dated February 21, 1968 which has been
docketed in the trial court as Civil Case No. 8474 supra, are
forever barred by statute of limitation and/or prescription of
action and estoppel.
3. Whether or not the late Rosendo Alvarez, a defendant in
Civil Case No. 5022, supra and father of the petitioners
become a privy and/or party to the waiver (Exhibit 4defendant Siason) in Civil Case No. 8474, supra where the
private respondents had unqualifiedly and absolutely waived,
renounced and quitclaimed all their alleged rights and
interests, if ever there is any, on Lots Nos. 773-A and 773-B
of Murcia Cadastre as appearing in their written
manifestation dated November 6, 1962 (Exhibits "4" Siason)
which had not been controverted or even impliedly or
indirectly denied by them.
GUERRERO, J.:
This is a petition for certiorari by way of appeal from the
decision of the Court of Appeals 1 in CA-G.R. No. 35962-R,
entitled "Vivencio Moreto, et al., Plaintiff-Appellees vs.
Cornelio Pamplona, et al., Defendants-Appellants," affirming
the decision of the Court of First Instance of Laguna, Branch
I at Bian.
The facts, as stated in the decision appealed from, show
that:
Flaviano Moreto and Monica Maniega were husband and
wife. During their marriage, they acquired adjacent lots Nos.
1495, 4545, and 1496 of the Calamba Friar Land Estate,
situated in Calamba, Laguna, containing 781-544 and 1,021
square meters respectively and covered by certificates of
title issued in the name of "Flaviano Moreto, married to
Monica Maniega."
The spouses Flaviano Moreto and Monica Maniega begot
during their marriage six (6) children, namely, Ursulo, Marta,
La Paz, Alipio, Pablo, and Leandro, all surnamed Moreto.
On July 30, 1952, or more than six (6) years after the death
of his wife Monica Maniega, Flaviano Moreto, without the
consent of the heirs of his said deceased wife Monica, and
before any liquidation of the conjugal partnership of Monica
and Flaviano could be effected, executed in favor of
Geminiano Pamplona, married to defendant Apolonia Onte,
the deed of absolute sale (Exh. "1") covering lot No. 1495 for
P900.00. The deed of sale (Exh. "1") contained a description
of lot No. 1495 as having an area of 781 square meters and
covered by transfer certificate of title No. 14570 issued in the
name of Flaviano Moreto, married to Monica Maniega,
although the lot was acquired during their marriage. As a
result of the sale, the said certificate of title was cancelled
and a new transfer certificate of title No. T-5671 was issued
in the name of Geminiano Pamplona married to Apolonia
Onte (Exh. "A").
After the execution of the above-mentioned deed of sale
(Exh. "1"), the spouses Geminiano Pamplona and Apolonia
Onte constructed their house on the eastern part of lot 1496
as Flaviano Moreto, at the time of the sale, pointed to it as
the land which he sold to Geminiano Pamplona. Shortly
thereafter, Rafael Pamplona, son of the spouses Geminiano
Pamplona and Apolonia Onte, also built his house within lot
1496 about one meter from its boundary with the adjoining
lot. The vendor Flaviano Moreto and the vendee Geminiano
Pamplona thought all the time that the portion of 781 square
meters which was the subject matter of their sale transaction
was No. 1495 and so lot No. 1495 appears to be the subject
matter in the deed of sale (Exh. "1") although the fact is that
the said portion sold thought of by the parties to be lot No.
1495 is a part of lot No. 1496.
From 1956 to 1960, the spouses Geminiano Pamplona and
Apolonio Onte enlarged their house and they even
constructed a piggery corral at the back of their said house
about one and one-half meters from the eastern boundary of
lot 1496.
On August 12, 1956, Flaviano Moreto died intestate. In 1961,
the plaintiffs demanded on the defendants to vacate the
premises where they had their house and piggery on the
ground that Flaviano Moreto had no right to sell the lot which
he sold to Geminiano Pamplona as the same belongs to the
conjugal partnership of Flaviano and his deceased wife and
the latter was already dead when the sale was executed
without the consent of the plaintiffs who are the heirs of
Monica. The spouses Geminiano Pamplona and Apolonia
Onte refused to vacate the premises occupied by them and
hence, this suit was instituted by the heirs of Monica
Maniega seeking for the declaration of the nullity of the deed
of sale of July 30, 1952 above-mentioned as regards onehalf of the property subject matter of said deed; to declare
the plaintiffs as the rightful owners of the other half of said
lot; to allow the plaintiffs to redeem the one-half portion
thereof sold to the defendants. "After payment of the other
half of the purchase price"; to order the defendants to vacate
the portions occupied by them; to order the defendants to
pay actual and moral damages and attorney's fees to the
plaintiffs; to order the defendants to pay plaintiffs P120.00 a
VILLA-REAL, J.:
This case is before us by virtue of an appeal taken by the
defendants Conchita McLachlin, Lorenzo Quitco, Jr., Sabina
Quitco, Rafael Quitco and Marcela Quitco, from the decision
of the Court of First Instance of Occidental Negros, the
dispositive part of which reads:
For the foregoing considerations, the court renders judgment
in this case declaring Ana Quitco Ledesma an acknowledged
natural daughter of the deceased Lorenzo M. Quitco, for
legal purposes, but absolving the defendants as to the
prayer in the first cause of action that the said Ana Quitco
Ledesma be declared entitled to share in the properties left
by the deceased Eusebio Quitco.
As to the second cause of action, the said defendants are
ordered to pay to the plaintiff Socorro Ledesma, jointly and
severally, only the sum of one thousand five hundred
pesos(P1,500), with legal interest thereon from the filing of
this complaint until fully paid. No pronouncement is made as
to the costs. So ordered.
In support of their appeal, the appellants assign the following
errors allegedly committed by the trial court in its aforesaid
decision:
1. That the trial court erred in holding, that the action for the
recovery of the sum of P1,500, representing the last
installment of the note Exhibit C has not yet prescribed.
2. That the trial court erred in holding that the property
inherited by the defendants from their deceased grandfather
by the right of representation is subject to the debts and
obligations of their deceased father who died without any
property whatsoever.lawphi1.net
3. That the trial court erred in condemning the defendants to
pay jointly and severally the plaintiff Socorro Ledesma the
sum of P1,500.
The only facts to be considered in the determination of the
legal questions raised in this appeal are those set out in the
appealed decision, which have been established at the trial,
namely:
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-44837
ARTICLE 777
INING, ET. AL v. VEGA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 174727
DECISION
DEL CASTILLO, J.:
SO ORDERED.23
Respondents Arguments
Respondents, on the other hand, argue in their Comment35
that
For purposes of clarity, if [sic] is respectfully submitted that
eighteen (18) legible copies has [sic] not been filed in this
case for consideration in banc [sic] and nine (9) copies in
cases heard before a division in that [sic] all copies of
pleadings served to the offices concern [sic] where said
order [sic] was issued were not furnished two (2) copies
each in violation to [sic] the adverse parties [sic] to the clerk
of court, Regional Trial Court, Branch 8, Kalibo, Aklan,
Philippines; to the Honorable Court of Appeals so that No
[sic] action shall be taken on such pleadings, briefs,
memoranda, motions, and other papers as fail [sic] to comply
with the requisites set out in this paragraph.
The foregoing is confirmed by affidavit of MERIDON F.
OLANDESCA, the law secretary of the Petitioner [sic] who
sent [sic] by Registered mail to Court of Appeals, Twentieth
Division, Cebu City; to Counsel for Respondent [sic] and to
the Clerk of Court Supreme Court Manila [sic].
These will show that Petitioner has [sic] violated all the
requirements of furnishing two (2) copies each concerned
party [sic] under the Rule of Courts [sic].36
Our Ruling
The Court denies the Petition.
34
The finding that Leon did not sell the property to Lucimo Sr.
had long been settled and had become final for failure of
petitioners to appeal. Thus, the property remained part of
Leons estate.
One issue submitted for resolution by the parties to the trial
court is whether Leon sold the property to Lucimo
Sr.1wphi1 The trial court, examining the two deeds of sale
SO ORDERED.
RIOFERA v. CA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 129008
DECISION
TINGA, J.:
Whether the heirs may bring suit to recover property of the
estate pending the appointment of an administrator is the
issue in this case.
This Petition for Review on Certiorari, under Rule 45 of the
Rules of Court, seeks to set aside the Decision1 of the Court
of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 42053 dated January 31,
1997, as well as its Resolution2 dated March 26, 1997,
denying petitioners motion for reconsideration.
On May 13, 1995, Alfonso P. Orfinada, Jr. died without a will
in Angeles City leaving several personal and real properties
located in Angeles City, Dagupan City and Kalookan City.3
DECISION
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:
The property under litigation is the northern half portion of a
residential land consisting of 552.20 square meters, more or
less, situated at 19th Avenue, Murphy, Quezon City and
covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 71344 issued on
August 15, 1963 by the Register of Deeds of Quezon City in
the name of Narcisa Prado and her children by her first
husband, Patricio Prado, Sr., namely, Roberto, Erlinda,
Daniel, Gloria, Patricio, Jr. and Edna, respondents herein.
The pertinent facts are as follows:
On December 19, 1959, Patricio Prado, Sr. died. Narcisa
subsequently married Bonifacio Calpatura. In order to
support her minor children with her first husband, Narcisa
IV
THAT THE DECISION OF THE HON. COURT OF APPEALS
WILL UNDULY ENRICH THE RESPONDENTS AT THE
EXPENSE OF THE HEREIN PETITIONERS.13
At the outset, it must be stressed that only questions of law
may be raised in petitions for review before this Court under
Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.14 It was thus error for
petitioners to ascribe to the Court of Appeals grave abuse of
discretion. This procedural lapse notwithstanding, in the
interest of justice, this Court shall treat the issues as cases
of reversible error.15
The issues for resolution are: (1) Is the subject property
conjugal or paraphernal? (2) Is the transaction a sale or a
mortgage? (3) Assuming that the transaction is a sale, what
was the area of the land subject of the sale?
SO ORDERED.11
Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration which was
denied in a Resolution dated January 14, 2003.12 Hence this
petition for review on the following assigned errors:
I
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS COMMITTED A
GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN MODIFYING THE
DECISION RENDERED BY THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THAT, ASIDE
FROM THE DECLARATION OF THE VALIDITY OF THE
SALE, THE PETITIONERS HEREIN HAVE TAKEN ACTUAL
POSSESSION OF THE SAID ONE-HALF (1/2) TO THE
EXCLUSION OF THE RESPONDENTS AND INTRODUCED
IMPROVEMENTS THEREON.
II
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS COMMITTED A
GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN MODIFYING THE
DECISION RENDERED BY THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
WITHOUT TAKING INTO CONSIDERATION THE CLEAR
AND UNEQUIVOCAL STATEMENT IN THE SALE THAT
THE SAME PERTAINS TO THE CONJUGAL SHARE OF
RESPONDENT NARCISA PRADO AND THE OTHER
RESPONDENTS HAD NO FINANCIAL CAPACITY TO
ACQUIRE THE SAID PROPERTY SINCE THEY WERE
MINORS THEN AT THE ISSUANCE OF THE SAID TCT NO.
71344 ON AUGUST 15, 1963.
III
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS COMMITTED A
GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN NOT DECLARING
THE HEREIN RESPONDENTS GUILTY OF LACHES IN
FILING THE INSTANT CASE ONLY ON APRIL 8, 1991,
THAT IS 18 YEARS AFTER THE SAID SALE WITH THE
PETITIONERS TAKING ACTUAL POSSESSION OF SAID
PORTION OF THE PROPERTY.
Article 160 of the Civil Code, which was in effect at the time
the sale was entered into, provides that all property of the
marriage is presumed to belong to the conjugal partnership
unless it is proved that it pertains exclusively to the husband
or to the wife. Proof of acquisition during the marriage is a
condition sine qua non in order for the presumption in favor
of conjugal ownership to operate.16
In the instant case, while Narcisa testified during crossexamination that she bought the subject property from
Peoples Homesite Housing Corporation with her own
funds,17 she, however admitted in the Agreement of
Purchase and Sale and the Deed of Absolute Sale that the
property was her conjugal share with her first husband,
Patricio, Sr.18 A verbal assertion that she bought the land with
her own funds is inadmissible to qualify the terms of a written
agreement under the parole evidence rule.19 The so-called
parole evidence rule forbids any addition to or contradiction
of the terms of a written instrument by testimony or other
evidence purporting to show that, at or before the execution
of the parties written agreement, other or different terms
were agreed upon by the parties, varying the purport of the
written contract. Whatever is not found in the writing is
understood to have been waived and abandoned.20
Anent the second issue, the Deed of Absolute Sale executed
by Narcisa in favor of Tomas is contained in a notarized 21
document. In Spouses Alfarero, et al. v. Spouses Sevilla, et
al.,22 it was held that a public document executed and
attested through the intervention of a notary public is
evidence of the facts in a clear, unequivocal manner therein
expressed. Otherwise stated, public or notarial documents,
or those instruments duly acknowledged or proved and
certified as provided by law, may be presented in evidence
without further proof, the certificate of acknowledgment being
prima facie evidence of the execution of the instrument or
document involved. In order to contradict the presumption of
regularity of a public document, evidence must be clear,
convincing, and more than merely preponderant.
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. L-60174
EASTERN v. LUCERO
First Message: 1
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
Urgent Eastship Manila
G.R. No. L-60101
ESCOLIN, J.:
Petition for review filed by the Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. to
set aside the decision of the National Labor Relations
Commission, which affirmed the judgment rendered by the
National Seamen Board, the dispositive portion of which
reads as follows:
WHEREFORE, respondent is hereby ordered to pay
complainant her monthly allotments from March, 1980 up to
the amount of P54,562.00 within ten (10) days from receipt
of this decision. Respondent is likewise further ordered to
pay complainant her future monthly allotment up to the
arrival of the M/V EASTERN MINICON in the port of Manila
or after four (4) years when the presumptive death
established by law takes effect.
REGRET
TO
INFORM
YOU
ENCOUNTERED
BOISTEROUS
WEATHER
WITH
STRONG
NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WITH GAIL FORCE CAUSING
THE VESSEL ROLLING AND PITCHING VIOLENTLY
VESSEL NOW INCLINING 15 TO 20 DEGREES PORT
FEARING MIGHT JETTISON CARGO ON DECK IF
EVERYTHING COME TO WORSE SITUATION HOWEVER
TRYING UTMOST BEST TO FACILITATE EVERYTHING IN
ORDER STOP NO FIX POSITIONS FROM NOON 15th UP
TO 0600 HRS TO DATE NEED ASSISTANCE
APPROXIMATE DR POSITIONS AT 0600 HRS 10TH
WITHIN THE VICINITY LATITUDE 20-02, ON LONGTITUDE
110-02, OE COURSE 120 DEGREES REGARDS ...
LUCERO
Second Message: 2
February l6/80 1530 GMT VIA INTERCOM
EMICON
EAST SHIP MANILA
RYC NOTED ACCORDINGLY SINCE WASTE PAPER
CARGO ON PORT SIDE AND HAD BEEN WASH OUT
VESSEL AGAIN LISTING ON STARBOARD SIDE REGRET
WE HAVE TO JETTISON STARBOARD SIDE WASTE
PAPER CARGO IN ORDER TO BALANCE THE VESSEL
LUCERO
Art. 643. If the vessel and her cargo should be totally lost, by
reason of capture or wreck, all rights shall be extinguished,
both as regards the crew to demand any wages whatsoever,
and as regards the ship agent to recover the advances
made.
Third Message: 3
NEED IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE POSITION 19-35 N 11640 E SEAWATER ENTERING INSIDE HATCH VESSEL
INCLINING 15 TO 20 DEGREES PORT IF POSSIBLE
SEND IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE VESSEL IN DANGER
PREPARING TO ABANDON ANYTIME
MASTER
Acting on these radio messages, the Company, respondent
below, took the following steps:
RESPONDENT informed of the grave situation, immediately
reported the matter to the Philippine Coast Guard for search
and rescue operation and the same was coordinated with the
U.S. Air Force based at Clark Air Base. Respondent also
released radio messages to all vessels passing the
Hongkong/Manila route requesting them to be very cautious
and vigilant for possible survivors and to scan the area
whether there are signs of debris from the ill-fated vessel
"EASTERN MINICON" which has foundered In the
meantime, two (2) vessels of the respondent were also
dispatched to the area last reported by the Master for search
and rescue operation, but the collective efforts of all parties
concerned yielded negative results, (p. 79, Rollo)
Subsequently, the Lloyds of London, insurer of the M/V
Eastern Minicon through its surveyors, confirmed the loss of
the vessel. Thereafter, the Company paid the corresponding
death benefits to the heirs of the crew members, except
respondent Josephine Lucero, who refused to accept the
same.
On July 16, 1980, Mrs. Lucerofiled a complaint with -the
National Seamen Board, Board for short, for payment of her
accrued monthly allotment of P3,183.00, which the Company
had stopped since March 1980 and for continued payment of
said allotments until the M/V Minicon shall have returned to
the port of Manila. She contended that the contract of
employment entered into by her husband with the Company
was on a voyage-to-voyage basis, and that the same was to
terminate only upon the vessel's arrival in Manila.
Upon the other hand, the Company maintained that Mrs.
Lucero was no longer entitled to such allotments because:
[a] the Lloyds of London had already confirmed the total loss
of the vessel and had in fact settled the company's insurance
claim and [b] the Company, with the approval of the Board,
had likewise paid the corresponding death benefits to the
EMNACE v. CA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 126334
Thousand
Pesos
YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.:
Petitioner Emilio Emnace, Vicente Tabanao and Jacinto
Divinagracia were partners in a business concern known as
Ma. Nelma Fishing Industry. Sometime in January of 1986,
they decided to dissolve their partnership and executed an
agreement of partition and distribution of the partnership
properties among them, consequent to Jacinto Divinagracia's
withdrawal from the partnership.1 Among the assets to be
distributed were five (5) fishing boats, six (6) vehicles, two
(2) parcels of land located at Sto. Nio and Talisay, Negros
Occidental, and cash deposits in the local branches of the
Bank of the Philippine Islands and Prudential Bank.
II.
Parcel of land subject of the case pending before the
trial court is outside the said court's territorial jurisdiction;
III. Lack of capacity to sue on the part of plaintiff heirs of
Vicente Tabanao; and
IV.
DE CASTRO, J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari of the two (2) orders
of respondent City Court of Lucena, Branch I, one dated
December 5, 1978 dismissing petitioner's petition for
guardianship for lack of jurisdiction and the other, dated
December 27, 1978 denying petitioner's motion for
reconsideration of the order of December 5, 1978.
There is no dispute as to the following facts:
Upon the death of his wife, petitioner Alberto Lavides
instituted on April 5, 1971 before respondent City Court a
guardianship proceeding (Special Proceeding No. 0609) with
respect to the person and property of their seven (7) minor
children named Cecilia, Rebecca, Florida, Raphael, Rodolfo,
Luisito and Teodoro, all surnamed Lavides. Said petition
alleged that the estate left by the deceased wife of herein
petitioner, mother of the above- named minors, has a total
value of thirty-five thousand pesos (P35,000.00) or an
amount of P5,000.00 pertaining to each minor. Although
there had been no previous settlement of the estate of the
deceased, petitioner was appointed and qualified as judicial
guardian on May 10, 1971.
On June 23, 1971, respondent City Court, then presided by
Honorable Judge Filemon Juntereal, upon motion,
authorized petitioner to settle the estate extrajudicially and to
sell a portion thereof consisting of shares of stocks. Pursuant
to said authority, petitioner extrajudicially settled the estate,
and on August 28, 1971, sold the said shares of stocks for
the sum of P64,512.00
On November 22, 1978, petitioner filed a motion for
confirmation and approval of a Deed of Exchange
Agreement dated November 18, 1978. While this latter
motion was still pending consideration, the respondent court,
now presided by Honorable Judge Jose J. Parentela, Jr.,
reviewed the records of the case and finding that the
undivided estate left by the deceased was worth at least
P35,000.00, dismissed the case in an Order dated
December 5, 1978, for lack of jurisdiction, revoked the
appointment of petitioner as guardian and annulled all
proceedings taken prior to the issuance of the said order of
December 5, 1978.
Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration of said order
which was denied by respondent city court in its order dated
December 27, 1978. Hence, this instant petition, petitioner
raising the following issues, namely:
a. Whether or not respondent city court's jurisdiction over a
petition for general guardianship is based on the total value
of the estate or on the value of the individual share of the
minors in the estate of their deceased mother; and
b. Whether or not the promulgation of the Revised Rules of
Court which was made effective on January 1, 1964
overruled the doctrine laid down by this Honorable Tribunal
BONILLA v. BARCENA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. L-41715
MARTIN, J:
Lastly, there is still one aspect of this case which must not be
overlooked. It is not disputed that the respondent City Court
has entertained and granted petitioner's petition for
guardianship in its Order as early as May 10, 1971 and has
exercised its jurisdiction by granting authority to petitioner to
settle the estate extrajudicially and to sell a portion thereof
consisting of shares of stock; that after the lapse of seven (7)
years or on November 22, 1978, respondent City Court
dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction, revoked the
appointment of petitioner as guardian and annulled all
proceedings taken. Would it serve the interest of justice to
dismiss the case at this stage and let a new petition for
guardianship be filed in another court? To draw a tenuous
jurisdictional line is to undermine stability in litigations. The
These cases before us all stem from SP. PROC. NO. 916-R
of the then Court of First Instance of Cebu.
G.R. No. 41171
Vito Borromeo, a widower and permanent resident of Cebu
City, died on March 13, 1952, in Paranaque, Rizal at the age
of 88 years, without forced heirs but leaving extensive
properties in the province of Cebu.
On April 19, 1952, Jose Junquera filed with the Court of First
Instance of Cebu a petition for the probate of a one page
document as the last will and testament left by the said
deceased, devising all his properties to Tomas, Fortunato
and Amelia, all surnamed Borromeo, in equal and undivided
shares, and designating Junquera as executor thereof. The
case was docketed as Special Proceedings No. 916-R. The
document, drafted in Spanish, was allegedly signed and
Vito Borromeo
Anecita Borromeo
Paulo Borromeo
b. Ramon Ocampo
c. Lourdes Ocampo
d. Elena Ocampo, all living, and
6. Asuncion Borromeo
7. Marcial Borromeo
8. Amelinda Borromeo de Talam, and
The court also ordered that the assets of the intestate estate
of Vito Borromeo shall be divided into 4/9 and 5/9 groups
and distributed in equal and equitable shares among the 9
abovenamed declared intestate heirs.
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
xxx
(2) In G.R. No. 55000, the order of the trial court declaring
the waiver document valid is hereby SET ASIDE;
(3) In G.R. No. 63818, the petition is hereby DENIED. The
issue in the decision of the Intermediate Appellate Court
disqualifying and ordering the inhibition of Judge Francisco
P. Burgos from further hearing Special Proceedings No. 916R is declared moot and academic. The judge who has taken
over the sala of retired Judge Francisco P. Burgos shall
immediately conduct hearings with a view to terminating the
proceedings. In the event that the successor-judge is
likewise disqualified, the order of the Intermediate Appellate
Court directing the Executive Judge of the Regional Trial
Court of Cebu to re-raffle the case shall be implemented:
(4) In G.R. No. 65995, the petition is hereby GRANTED. 'The
issue seeking to restrain Judge Francisco P. Burgos from
further acting in G.R. No. 63818 is MOOT and ACADEMIC:
(5) In G.R, No, 62895, the trial court is hereby ordered to
speedily terminate the close Special Proceedings No. 916-R,
PURISIMA, J.:
This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari of the Decision of
the Court of Appeals, dated October 17, 1996, in CA-G.R.
CV No. 41283, which reversed the decision, dated June 10,
1992, of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 67, Pasig City, in
Civil Case No. 59705.
The facts of the case are, as follows:
On March 23, 1987, Evarista M. dela Merced died intestate,
without issue. She left five (5) parcels of land situated in
Orambo, Pasig City.
At the time of her death, Evarista was survived by three sets
of heirs, viz: (1) Francisco M. dela Merced, her legitimate
brother; (2) Teresita P. Rupisan, her niece who is the only
daughter of Rosa dela Merced-Platon (a sister who died in
GAYON v. GAYON
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-28394
CONCEPCION, C.J.:
Petitioners argue that if Joselito desires to assert
successional rights to the intestate estate of his father, the
proper forum should be in the settlement of his own father's
intestate estate, as this Court held in the case of Gutierrez
vs. Macandog (150 SCRA 422 [1987])
Petitioners' reliance on the case of Gutierrez vs. Macandog
(supra) is misplaced. The said case involved a claim for
support filed by one Elpedia Gutierrez against the estate of
the decedent, Agustin Gutierrez, Sr., when she was not even
an heir to the estate in question, at the time, and the
decedent had no obligation whatsoever to give her support.
Thus, this Court ruled that Elpedia should have asked for
support pendente lite before the Juvenile and Domestic
Relations Court in which court her husband (one of the legal
heirs of the decedent) had instituted a case for legal
separation against her on the ground of an attempt against
his life. When Mauricio (her husband) died, she should have
commenced an action for the settlement of the estate of her
PALICTE v. RAMOLETE
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. L-55076
SO ORDERED.
LOCSIN v. CA
FIRST DIVISION
NARVASA, C.J.:
Reversal of the decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
No. CV-11186 affirming with modification the judgment of
the Regional Trial Court of Albay in favor of the plaintiffs in
Civil Case No. 7152 entitled "Jose Jaucian, et al. v. Mariano
B. Locsin, et al.," an action for recovery of real property with
damages is sought. in these proceedings initiated by
petition for review on certiorari in accordance with Rule 45 of
the Rules of Court.
The petition was initially denied due course and dismissed
by this Court. It was however reinstated upon a second
motion for reconsideration filed by the petitioners, and the
respondents were required to comment thereon. The petition
was thereafter given due course and the parties were
directed to submit their memorandums. These, together with
LLENARES v. CA
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
THIRD DIVISION
G.R. No. 98709
GEVERO v. IAC
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 77029
PARAS, J.:
This is a petition for review on certiorari of the March 20,
1988 decision 1 of the then Intermediate Appellate Court
(now Court of Appeals) in AC-GR CV No. 69264, entitled Del
Monte Development Corporation vs. Enrique Ababa, et al.,
etc. affirming the decision 2 of the then Court of First Instance
(now Regional Trial Court) of Misamis Oriental declaring the
plaintiff corporation as the true and absolute owner of that
portion of Lot 476 of the Cagayan Cadastre, particularly Lot
No. 2476-D of the subdivision plan (LRC) Psd-80450,
containing an area of Seven Thousand Eight Hundred
Seventy Eight (7,878) square meters more or less.
As found by the Appellate Court, the facts are as follows:
The parcel of land under litigation is Lot No. 2476 of the
Subdivision Plan Psd-37365 containing an area of 20,119
square meters and situated at Gusa, Cagayan de Oro City.
Said lot was acquired by purchase from the late Luis
Lancero on September 15, 1964 as per Deed of Absolute
Sale executed in favor of plaintiff and by virtue of which
Transfer Certificate of Title No. 4320 was issued to plaintiff
(DELCOR for brevity). Luis Lancero, in turn acquired the
SUAREZ v. CA
SECOND DIVISION
[G.R. No. 94918. September 2, 1992.]
DANILO I. SUAREZ, EUFROCINA SUAREZ-ANDRES,
MARCELO I. SUAREZ, JR., EVELYN SUAREZ-DE LEON
and REGINIO I. SUAREZ, Petitioners, v. THE COURT OF
APPEALS, VALENTE RAYMUNDO, VIOLETA
RAYMUNDO, MA. CONCEPCION VITO and VIRGINIA
BANTA, Respondents.
Villareal Law Offices, for Petitioners.
Nelson Loyola for Private Respondent.
SYLLABUS
DECISION
NOCON, J.:
LORENZO v. POSADAS
Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-43082
The law in point is Article 777 of the Civil Code, the law
applicable at the time of the institution of the case.
"The rights to the succession are transmitted from the
moment of the death of the decedent."
Article 888 further provides:
"The legitime of the legitimate children and descendants
LAUREL, J.:
On October 4, 1932, the plaintiff Pablo Lorenzo, in his
capacity as trustee of the estate of Thomas Hanley,
deceased, brought this action in the Court of First Instance of
xxx
xxx
and
(a) The merger of the usufruct in the owner of the naked title.
(b) The transmission or delivery of the inheritance or legacy
by the fiduciary heir or legatee to the trustees.
(c) The transmission from the first heir, legatee, or donee in
favor of another beneficiary, in accordance with the desire of
the predecessor.
In the last two cases, if the scale of taxation appropriate to
the new beneficiary is greater than that paid by the first, the
former must pay the difference.
SEC. 1544. When tax to be paid. The tax fixed in this
article shall be paid:
(a) In the second and third cases of the next preceding
section, before entrance into possession of the property.
(b) In other cases, within the six months subsequent to the
death of the predecessor; but if judicial testamentary or
intestate proceedings shall be instituted prior to the
expiration of said period, the payment shall be made by the
executor or administrator before delivering to each
beneficiary his share.
If the tax is not paid within the time hereinbefore prescribed,
interest at the rate of twelve per centum per annum shall be
added as part of the tax; and to the tax and interest due and
unpaid within ten days after the date of notice and demand
thereof by the collector, there shall be further added a
surcharge of twenty-five per centum.
A certified of all letters testamentary or of admisitration shall
be furnished the Collector of Internal Revenue by the Clerk
of Court within thirty days after their issuance.
It should be observed in passing that the word "trustee",
appearing in subsection (b) of section 1543, should read
"fideicommissary" or "cestui que trust". There was an
obvious mistake in translation from the Spanish to the
English version.
(e) The plaintiff correctly states that the liability to pay a tax
may arise at a certain time and the tax may be paid within
another given time. As stated by this court, "the mere failure
to pay one's tax does not render one delinqent until and
unless the entire period has eplased within which the
taxpayer is authorized by law to make such payment without
being subjected to the payment of penalties for fasilure to
pay his taxes within the prescribed period." (U. S. vs.
Labadan, 26 Phil., 239.)