Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
CASE DIGEST
IN
CIVIL LAW REVIEW I
SUBMITTED BY:
IV - LLB-4402
SURNAME
1ABRINA
2AQUILINO
3BACARRA
4BAET
5BANOCAG
6BARIA
7BERMUDO
8BUESER, AM
9BUESER, JM
10CARLOS
11DAVID
12DAYA
13DE GUZMAN
14DISTURA
15GARCIA
16GENUINO
17GEREMIA
18GONZAGA
19GONZALES
20GUILLERMO
21GUTIERREZ
22LAYSON
23MALABANAN
24MARTINEZ
25MENDOZA
26MOLINA
27NEPOMUCENO
28PATAUEG
29PIO
30RADOVAN
31RODRIGUEZ
32RONQUILLO
33SACRAMENTO
34SITJAR
35TELOG
36TOLENTINO
37TORRES
38YAMAT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
I.
PRELIMINARY TITLE--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4
II.
HUMAN RELATIONS--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 15
III.
PREJUDICIAL QUESTION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 29
IV.
CIVIL PERSONALITY--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 35
V.
CITIZENSHIP-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 36
VI.
MARRIAGE---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 39
VII.
VOID MARRIAGES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 51
VIII.
PSYCHOLOGICAL INCAPACITY----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 53
IX.
VOIDABLE MARRIAGES---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 73
X.
LEGAL SEPARATION-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 77
XI.
XII.
PROPERTY RELATIONS---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 85
XIII.
XIV.
XV.
ADOPTION----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 136
XVI.
XVII.
XVIII.
6.
55 SCRA 607
Facts:
On September 5, 1964, the accused was found to be
in possession of a revolver without the requisite
license or permit. He claimed to be entitled to
exoneration because, although he had no license or
permit, he had appointments as Secret Agent from
the Provincial Governor of Batangas and as
Confidential Agent from the PC Provincial
Commander, and the said appointments expressly
carried with them the authority to possess and carry
the said firearm. The accused further contended that
in view of his appointments, he was entitled to
acquittal on the basis of the Supreme Courts
decisions in People vs. Macarandang and in People
vs. Lucero.
The trial court found the accused criminally liable for
illegal possession of firearm and ammunition on the
ground that the rulings in Macarandang* and in
Lucero* were reversed and abandoned in People vs.
Mapa**.
The case was elevated to the Supreme Court.
Issue: Whether or not the appellant should be
acquitted on the basis of the Supreme Courts
rulings in the cases of Macarandang and of Lucero.
Held: The appellant was acquitted.
Decisions of the Supreme Court, although in
themselves not laws, are nevertheless evidence of
what the law means; this is the reason why Article 8
of the New Civil Code provides that, Judicial
decisions applying and interpreting the laws or the
constitution shall form part of the legal system. The
interpretation upon a law by the Supreme Court
constitutes in a way a part of the law as of the date
the law was originally passed, since the courts
construction
merely
establishes
the
contemporaneous legislative intent that the law thus
construed intends to effectuate. The settled rule
supported by numerous authorities is a restatement
of the legal maxim legis interpretatio legis vim
obtinetthe interpretation placed upon the written
law by a competent court has the force of law. The
doctrine laid down in Lucero and in Macarandang
was part of the jurisprudence, hence, of the law of
the land, at the time appellant was found in
possession of the firearm and when he was
arraigned by the trial court. It is true that the doctrine
was overruled in Mapa case in 1967,but when a
doctrine of the Supreme Court is overruled and a
different view is adopted, the new doctrine should be
applied prospectively, and should not apply to
6) People vs Jabinal
10
Doctrine:
It is true that owing to the nationality principle
embodied in Article 15 of the Civil Code, 5 only
Philippine nationals are covered by the policy
against absolute divorces the same being
considered contrary to our concept of public police
and morality. However, aliens may obtain divorces
abroad, which may be recognized in the Philippines,
provided they are valid according to their national
law
Facts:
Petitioner is a citizen of the Philippines while private
respondent is a citizen of the United States. They
were married in Hongkong in 1972. After the
marriage, they established their residence in the
Philippines. They begot two children born on April 4,
1973 and December 18, 1975, respectively. The
parties were divorced in Nevada, United States, in
1982 and petitioner has re-married also in Nevada,
this time to Theodore Van Dorn. In 1983, private
respondent filed suit against petitioner alleging the
petitioners business in Ermita (the Galeon Shop) is
a conjugal property of the parties and prayed that
private respondent be declared with right to manage
said property. Petitioner moved to dismiss the
petition on the ground that the cause of action is
barred by previous judgement in the divorce
proceedings before the Nevada Court. The Court
11
12
13
vs.
Facts:
On April 24, 1950, admitting to probate C. O.
Bohanans last will and testament, executed on April
23, 1944 in Manila, CFI found that the testator was
born in Nebraska and a citizen of California, but
temporarily stayed in the Philippines for a long
period of time. At the time of his death, he was a
citizen of the United States and of the State of
Nevada, and his will was executed in accordance
with the laws of the state of Nevada. Out of his total
estate of P211,639.33 in cash, the testator gave his
grandson P90,819.67 and of all shares of stock of
several mining companies and to his brother and
sister the same amount. To his children, he gave a
legacy of only P6,000 each. Magdalena, his wife,
and her 2 children opposed the validity of the
testamentary provisions contending that the will
deprived them of their legitime.
Magdalena alleged that the trial court erred in
recognizing the Reno divorce secured by the testator
from his Filipino wife Magdalena, and that divorce
should be declared a nullity in this jurisdiction.
According to the laws of the State of Nevada, no
right to share in the inheritance in favor of a divorced
wife. The divorce was granted to the testator on May
20, 1922.
Issue: Whether Philippine laws or the law of the
State of Nevada should apply.
Held: The testator died in 1944, thus, the old Civil
Code governs. The old Civil Code provides that
successional rights to personal property are to be
earned by the national law of the person whose
succession is in question.
The foreign law, specifically Section 9905, compiled
Newada Laws, was introduced as evidence. That
law can be taken judicial notice by the Court, without
proof of such law having been offered at the hearing
of the project of partition.
According to Article 10 of the Old Civil Code, the
validity of testamentary dispositions are governed by
the national law of the testator, and it has been
decided without dispute that the national law of the
testator is that of the State of Nevada, which allows
14
15
16
RADIO
FACTS:
Private respondent Tobias was employed by Globe
Mackay in a dual capacity as a purchasing agent
and administrative assistant. Petitioner discovered
fictitious purchases and other fraudulent transactions
for which it lost several thousands of pesos. Tobias
was implicated as the number one suspect. Police
investigations were conducted as a result of said
anomaly.
The police reports exculpated Tobias from any
participation in the offense. Unsatisfied, petitioner
still hired private investigators. Pending the
investigation of the private detectives, petitioner filed
a complaint for estafa against Tobias.
Later, Tobias was terminated. Hence, he filed an
action for illegal dismissal. While his case awaits
resolution, he sought employment with RETELCO.
However, petitioner, without being asked by
RETELCO, wrote a letter to the latter stating that
Tobias was dismissed due to dishonesty.
Thus, Tobias filed a civil case for damages anchored
on alleged unlawful, malicious and abusive acts of
petitioner.
ISSUE: Whether or not petitioner should
indemnify private respondent for damages.
HELD: Article 19 of the Civil Code known to contain
what is commonly referred to as the principle of
abuse of rights, sets certain standards which must
be observed not only in the exercise of one's rights
but also in the performance of one's duties. These
standards are the following: to act with justice; to
give everyone his due; and to observe honesty and
good faith. Violation of Article 19 can result to right to
damages pursuant to Article 21 or Article 22.
This article was adopted to remedy the countless
gaps in the statutes, which leave so many victims of
moral wrongs helpless, even though they have
actually suffered material and moral injury.
In the case at bar, petitioners claim that they did not
violate any provision of law since they were merely
exercising their legal right to dismiss private
respondent.
17
18
Should
Valmonte
be
entitled
to
19
21) RCPI VS CA
G.R No. L-44748, August 29, 1986
FACTS:
Plaintiff-respondent Loreto Dionela alleges that the
defamatory words on the telegram sent to him not
only wounded his feelings but also caused him
undue embarrassment and affected adversely his
business as well because other people have come
to know of said defamatory words. Defendantcorporation as a defense, alleges that the additional
words in Tagalog was a private joke between the
sending and receiving operators and that they were
not addressed to or intended for plaintiff and
therefore did not form part of the telegram and that
the Tagalog words are not defamatory. The telegram
sent through its facilities was received in its station
at Legaspi City. Nobody other than the operator
manned the teletype machine which automatically
receives telegrams being transmitted. The said
telegram was detached from the machine and
placed inside a sealed envelope and delivered to
plaintiff, obviously as is. The additional words in
Tagalog were never noticed and were included in the
telegram when delivered.
The trial court ruled that in favor of the plaintiff
holding that the liability of petitioner-companyemployer is predicated on Articles 19 and 20 of the
Civil Code. The Court of Appeals affirmed the
decision, upon appeal.
ISSUE: Whether or not petitioner-companyemployer is liable for damages under Articles 19
and 20 of the Civil Code.
HELD: Yes. The cause of action of the private
respondent is based on Arts. 19 and 20 of the New
Civil Code. As well as on respondent's breach of
contract thru the negligence of its own employees.
Petitioner is a domestic corporation engaged in the
business of receiving and transmitting messages.
Every time a person transmits a message through
the facilities of the petitioner, a contract is entered
into. Upon receipt of the rate or fee fixed, the
petitioner undertakes to transmit the message
accurately. There is no question that in the case at
bar, libelous matters were included in the message
transmitted, without the consent or knowledge of the
sender. There is a clear case of breach of contract
by the petitioner in adding extraneous and libelous
matters in the message sent to the private
respondent. As a corporation, the petitioner can act
only through its employees. Hence the acts of its
employees in receiving and transmitting messages
are the acts of the petitioner.
20
21
22
23
24
25
vs.
FACTS:
On May 14, 1987, the National Power Corporation
(NAPOCOR) issued invitations to bid for the supply
and delivery of 120,000 metric tons of imported coal
for its Batangas Coal-Fired Thermal Power Plant in
Calaca, Batangas. The Philipp Brothers Oceanic,
Inc. (PHIBRO) prequalified and was allowed to
participate as one of the bidders. After the public
bidding was conducted, PHIBRO's bid was
accepted. NAPOCOR's acceptance was conveyed
in a letter dated July 8, 1987, which was received by
PHIBRO on July 15, 1987.
On July 10, 1987, PHIBRO sent word to NAPOCOR
that industrial disputes might soon plague Australia,
the shipment's point of origin, which could seriously
hamper PHIBRO's ability to supply the needed coal.
From July 23 to July 31, 1987, PHIBRO again
apprised NAPOCOR of the situation in Australia,
particularly informing the latter that the ship owners
therein are not willing to load cargo unless a "strikefree" clause is incorporated in the charter party or
the contract of carriage. In order to hasten the
transfer of coal, PHIBRO proposed to NAPOCOR
that they equally share the burden of a "strike-free"
clause. NAPOCOR refused.
On August 6, 1987, PHIBRO received from
NAPOCOR a confirmed and workable letter of credit.
Instead of delivering the coal on or before the
thirtieth day after receipt of the Letter of Credit, as
agreed upon by the parties in the July contract,
PHIBRO effected its first shipment only on
November 17, 1987.
Consequently, in October 1987, NAPOCOR once
more advertised for the delivery of coal to its Calaca
thermal plant. PHIBRO participated anew in this
subsequent bidding. On November 24, 1987,
NAPOCOR disapproved PHIBRO's application for
pre-qualification to bid for not meeting the minimum
requirements. Upon further inquiry, PHIBRO found
that the real reason for the disapproval was its
purported failure to satisfy NAPOCOR's demand for
damages due to the delay in the delivery of the first
coal shipment.
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
ISSUE:
Whose claim, as supported by their respective
pieces of evidence, will prevail?
HELD:
The claim of the private respondents will prevail.
Under the Rules of Court, the presumption is that a
man and a woman conducting themselves as
husband and wife are legally married.
This
presumption may be rebutted only by cogent proof to
the contrary. In this case, petitioners claim that the
pieces of evidence presented by private respondents
was belied by the production of the Book of
Marriages by the assistant municipal treasurer of
Asturias. Petitioners argue that this book does not
contain any entry pertaining to the alleged marriage
of private respondents parents. This contention has
no merit. In Pugeda v. Trias, the defendants, who
questioned the marriage of the plaintiffs, produced a
photostatic copy of the record of marriages of the
Municipality of Rosario, Cavite for the month of
January, 1916, to show that there was no record of
FACTS:
Plaintiff-appellant [petitioner herein] claimed to be
the surviving spouse of deceased Dr. Alfredo E.
Jacob and was appointed Special Administratix for
the various estates of the deceased by virtue of a
reconstructed Marriage Contract between herself
and the deceased.
Defendant-appellee on the other hand, claimed to be
the legally-adopted son of Alfredo. In support of his
claim, he presented an Order dated 18 July 1961
issued by then Presiding Judge Jose L. Moya, CFI,
Camarines Sur, granting the petition for adoption
filed by deceased Alfredo in favor of Pedro Pilapil.
During the proceeding for the settlement of the
estate of the deceased Alfredo in Case No. T-46
(entitled "Tomasa vda. de Jacob v. Jose Centenera,
et al) herein defendant-appellee Pedro sought to
intervene therein claiming his share of the
40
41
solemnizing officer.29
The basis of human society throughout the civilized
world is . . . of marriage. Marriage in this jurisdiction
is not only a civil contract, but it is a new relation, an
institution in the maintenance of which the public is
deeply interested. Consequently, every intendment
of the law leans toward legalizing matrimony.
Persons dwelling together in apparent matrimony
are presumed, in the absence of any
counterpresumption or evidence special to the case,
to be in fact married. The reason is that such is the
common order of society, and if the parties were not
what they thus hold themselves out as being, they
would be living in the constant violation of decency
and of law. A presumption established by our Code
of Civil Procedure is "that a man and woman
deporting themselves as husband and wife have
entered into a lawful contract of marriage." Semper
praesumitur pro matrimonio Always presume
marriage.
This jurisprudential attitude31 towards marriage is
based on the prima facie presumption that a man
and a woman deporting themselves as husband and
wife have entered into a lawful contract of
marriage.32 Given the undisputed, even accepted, 33
fact that Dr. Jacob and petitioner lived together as
husband and wife,34 we find that the presumption of
marriage was not rebutted in this case.
42) Republic Of The Philippines v. CA
G.R. No. 92326 January 24, 1992
Facts:
On February 2, 1988, Zenaida Corteza Bobiles filed
a petition to adopt Jason Condat, then six (6) years
old and who had been living with her family since he
was four (4) months old, before the Regional Trial
Court of Legaspi City.
The petition for adoption was filed by private
respondent Zenaida C. Bobiles on February 2, 1988,
when the law applicable was Presidential Decree
No. 603, the Child and Youth Welfare Code. Under
said code, a petition for adoption may be filed by
either of the spouses or by both of them. However,
after the trial court rendered its decision and while
the case was pending on appeal in the Court of
Appeals, Executive Order No. 209, the Family Code,
took effect on August 3, 1988. Under the said new
law, joint adoption by husband and wife is
mandatory.
Petitioner contends that the petition for adoption
should be dismissed outright for it was filed solely by
private respondent without joining her husband, in
violation of Article 185 of the Family Code which
42
43
FACTS:
Petitioner and respondent contracted marriage on
November 15, 1973. both were then 22 years old.
Their union was blessed with two children.
Respondent left their conjugal dwelling, since the
they lived separately.
Petitioner filed a petition for legal separation.
Judgment was rendered dissolving their conjugal
partnership of gains and approving a regime of
separation of properties based on the Memorandum
of Agreement executed by the spouse. The trial
court granted custody of the children to Filipina.
Petitioner filed a criminal action for attempted
parricide against her husband, which RTC convicted
him for lesser offense of slight physical injuries.
Petitioner filed a petition for the declaration of
absolute nullity of her marriage on the ground of
psychological incapacity. RTC denied. CA affirmed.
The petitioner for the first time on appeal, the issue
with regard to the absence of marriage license.
ISSUE: Whether or not the marriage is valid?
HELD: No. The marriage is not valid on the ground
that there is no marriage license.
Although, the petitioner raises the issue for the first
time on appeal the issue on lack of marriage license.
The petitioner states that though she did not
categorically state her petition for annulment of
marriage before the trial court that the inconguinoty
in the dates of the marriage license and the
celebration of the marriage itself would lead to the
conclusion that her marriage to respondent was void
from the beginning, she pointed out that these
critical dates were contained in the documents she
submitted before the Court.
The marriage license was issued one year after the
ceremony took place. Hence the marriage was
celebrated without the marriage license.
Petition granted.
45) SEVILLA vs. CARDENAS
G.R. No. 167684. July 31, 2006.
FACTS:
Herein petitioner, Jaime Sevilla and respondent
Carmelita Cardenas were allegedly married without
a valid marriage license. The former contended that
44
FACTS:
On October 24, 1995, petitioner Oscar P. Mallion
filed a petition with the RTC, Branch 29, of San
Pablo City seeking a declaration of nullity of his
marriage to respondent Editha Alcantara under
Article 36 of the Family Code, citing respondent's
alleged psychological incapacity. After trial on the
merits, the RTC denied the petition in a decision
dated November 11, 1997 upon the finding that
petitioner "failed to adduce preponderant evidence
to warrant the grant of the relief he is seeking." The
appeal filed with the Court of Appeals was likewise
dismissed for failure of petitioner to pay the docket
and other lawful fees within the reglementary period.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the marriage is void for lack of a valid
marriage license?
HELD: No. It has been held by the Court that the
certificates issued by the Local Civil Registrar were
not sufficient as to invalidate the marriage license
no. 2770792 which had been secured by the parties.
It could be easily implied from the said statement
that the Office of the Local Civil Registrar could not
exert its best efforts to locate and determine the
existence of Marriage License No. 2770792 due to
its "loaded work and that they failed to locate the
book in which the marriage license was entered.
Likewise, both certifications failed to state with
absolute certainty whether or not such license was
issued.
This implication is confirmed in the testimony of the
representative from the Office of the Local Civil
Registrar of San Juan, Ms. Perlita Mercader, who
stated that they cannot locate the logbook due to the
fact that the person in charge of the said logbook
had already retired. Further, the testimony of the
said person was not presented in evidence. It does
not appear on record that the former custodian of the
logbook was deceased or missing, or that his
testimony could not be secured. This belies the
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
VS. BRIX
63
64
65
66
67
68
ISSUE:
Whether or not Nolasco has a well-founded belief
that his wife is already dead.
HELD:
Four (4) requisites for the declaration of presumptive
death under Article 41 of the Family Code:
1. That the absent spouse has been missing
for four consecutive years, or two
consecutive years if the disappearance
occurred where there is danger of death
under the circumstances laid down in Article
391, Civil Code;
2. That the present spouse wishes to remarry;
3. That the present spouse has a well-founded
belief that the absentee is dead; and
4. That the present spouse files a summary
proceeding
for
the
declaration
of
presumptive death of the absentee.
The Court believes that respondent Nolasco failed to
conduct a search for his missing wife with such
diligence as to give rise to a "well-founded belief"
that she is dead.
In the case at bar, the Court considers that the
investigation allegedly conducted by respondent in
his attempt to ascertain Janet Monica Parker's
whereabouts is too sketchy to form the basis of a
reasonable or well-founded belief that she was
already dead. When he arrived in San Jose, Antique
after learning of Janet Monica's departure, instead of
seeking the help of local authorities or of the British
Embassy, he secured another seaman's contract
and went to London, a vast city of many millions of
inhabitants, to look for her there. In Respondent's
testimony, however, showed that he confused
London for Liverpool and this casts doubt on his
supposed efforts to locate his wife in England. The
Court of Appeal's justification of the mistake, to wit:
Well, while the cognoscente would readily know the
geographical difference between London and
Liverpool, for a humble seaman like Gregorio the
two places could mean one place in England, the
port where his ship docked and where he found
Janet. Our own provincial folks, every time they
leave home to visit relatives in Pasay City, Kalookan
City, or Paraaque, would announce to friends and
relatives, "We're going to Manila." This apparent
error in naming of places of destination does not
appear to be fatal. Is not well taken. There is no
analogy between Manila and its neighboring cities,
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
appellate
court
RULING:
Yes. As we understand the article, it does
not exclude, as evidence, any admission or
confession made by the defendant outside of the
court. It merely prohibits a decree of separation upon
a confession of judgment. Confession of judgment
usually happens when the defendant appears in
court and confesses the right of plaintiff to judgment
or files a pleading expressly agreeing to the plaintiff's
demand.
Yet, even supposing that the above
statement of defendant constituted practically a
confession of judgment, inasmuch as there is
78
79
80
81
ISSUE:
Whether a decree of legal separation should not be
granted following Art. 56(4) of the FC which provides
that legal separation shall be denied when both
parties have given ground for legal separation.
HELD:
A decree of legal separation should be granted in
this case. The abandonment referred to by the
Family Code is abandonment without justifiable
cause for more than one year. As it was established
that Lucita left William due to his abusive conduct,
such
does
not
constitute
abandonment
contemplated by the said provision. As correctly
observed by the trial court, William himself admitted
that there was no day that he did not quarrel with his
wife, which made his life miserable, and he blames
her for being negligent of her wifely duties and for
not reporting to him the wrongdoings of their
children.
Lucita and her sister, Linda Lim, also gave numerous
accounts of the instances when William displayed
violent temper against Lucita and their children; such
as: when William threw a steel chair at Lucita threw
chairs at their children slapped Lucita and utter
insulting words at her use the buckle of the belt in
whipping the children; pinned Lucita against the wall
with his strong arms almost strangling her, and
smashed the flower vase and brick rocks and
moldings leaving the bedroom in disarray shouted at
Lucita and threw a directory at her, in front of Linda
and the employees of their business, because he
could not find a draft letter on his table got mad at
Charleston for cooking steak with vetchin prompting
82
RIGHTS
AND OBLIGATIONS
HUSBAND AND WIFE
BETWEEN
83
84
85
86
93) BELCODERO V. CA
227 SCRA 303
FACTS: Alayo D. Bosing, married Juliana Oday on
27 July 1927, with whom he had three children. In
1946, he left the conjugal home, and he started to
live instead with Josefa Rivera with whom he later
begot one child, named Josephine Bosing, now
Josephine Belcodero.
On 23 August 1949, Alayo purchased a parcel of
land on installment basis from the Magdalena
Estate, Inc. In the deed, he indicated his civil status
as, "married to Josefa R. Bosing," the common-law
wife. In a letter which he addressed to Magdalena
Estate, Inc., he authorized the latter to transfer the
lot in the name of his "wife Josefa R. Bosing." The
final deed of sale was executed by Magdalena
Estate, Inc. A few days later, or on 09 November
1959, Transfer Certificate of Title No. 48790 was
issued in the name of "Josefa R. Bosing, . . . married
to Alayo Bosing, . . ."
On 06 June 1958, Alayo married Josefa while his
prior marriage with Juliana was still subsisting.
Alayo died on 11 March 1967. About three years
later, or on September 1970, Josefa and Josephine
executed a document of extrajudicial partition and
sale of the lot in question, which was there described
as "conjugal property" of Josefa and deceased
Alayo. In this deed, Josefa's supposed one-half (1/2)
interest as surviving spouse of Alayo, as well as her
one-fourth (1/4) interest as heir, was conveyed to
Josephine for a P10,000.00 consideration, thereby
completing for herself, along with her one-fourth
(1/4) interest as the surviving child of Alayo, a full
"ownership" of the property. A new TCT No. 198840
was issued on June 1974 in the name of Josephine.
On October 1980, Juliana (deceased Alayo's real
widow) and her three legitimate children filed with
the court a quo an action for reconveyance of the
property. TC ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.
CA affirmed.
ISSUE: WON THE PROPERTY IN QUESTION
BELONGS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE PETITIONERS.
HELD: It cannot be seriously contended that, simply
because the Property was titled in the name of
Josefa at Alayo's request, she should thereby be
deemed to be its owner. The property
unquestionably was acquired by Alayo. Alayo's letter,
dated 06 October 1959, to Magdalena Estate, Inc.,
merely authorized the latter to have the title to the
property transferred to her name. More importantly,
she implicitly recognized Alayo's ownership when,
87
88
89
90
ISSUE:
WON a surety agreement entered into by the
husband in favor of his employer is within the
contemplation of Art. 161 of the Civil Code and
considered for the benefit of the conjugal
partnership?
HELD:
No. The surety agreement entered into by the
husband in favor of his employer is not considered
for the benefit of the conjugal partnership.
We do not agree with petitioners that there is a
difference between the terms "redounded to the
benefit of" or "benefited from" on the one hand; and
"for the benefit of" on the other. They mean one and
the same thing. Art. 161 (1) of the Civil Code and Art.
121 (2) of the Family Code are similarly worded, i.e.,
both use the term "for the benefit of." On the other
hand, Art. 122 of the Family Code provides that "The
payment of personal debts by the husband or the
wife before or during the marriage shall not be
charged to the conjugal partnership except insofar
as they redounded to the benefit of the family." As
can be seen, the terms are used interchangeably.
From the jurisprudential rulings of this Court, we can
derive the following conclusions:
(A) If the husband himself is the principal obligor in
the contract, i.e., he directly received the money and
services to be used in or for his own business or his
own profession, that contract falls within the term . . .
. obligations for the benefit of the conjugal
partnership." Here, no actual benefit may be proved.
It is enough that the benefit to the family is apparent
at the time of the signing of the contract. From the
very nature of the contract of loan or services, the
family stands to benefit from the loan facility or
services to be rendered to the business or
profession of the husband. It is immaterial, if in the
end, his business or profession fails or does not
succeed. Simply stated, where the husband
contracts obligations on behalf of the family
business, the law presumes, and rightly so, that
such obligation will redound to the benefit of the
conjugal partnership.
(B) On the other hand, if the money or services are
given to another person or entity, and the husband
acted only as a surety or guarantor, that contract
cannot, by itself, alone be categorized as falling
within the context of "obligations for the benefit of
the conjugal partnership." The contract of loan or
services is clearly for the benefit of the principal
debtor and not for the surety or his family. No
presumption can be inferred that, when a husband
enters into a contract of surety or accommodation
agreement, it is "for the benefit of the conjugal
91
92
93
ISSUE:
Whether or not he Court of Appeals erred in
dismissing petitioners Complaint for failure to state
a cause of action.
HELD:
NO.After a reading of the allegations contained in
petitioners Complaint, we are convinced that the
same failed to state a cause of action.
According to petitioner, while the RTC recognized
that the improvements constructed on Alfredos lots
were deemed as Alfredos exclusive and capital
property, the court also held that petitioner, as
Alfredos spouse, has the right to claim
reimbursement from the estate of Alfredo. It is
argued by petitioner that her husband had no other
property, and his only property had been sold to the
respondents; hence, she has the legal right to claim
for reimbursement from the respondents who are
now the owners of the lot and the improvements
thereon. In fine, petitioner asseverates that the
Complaint cannot be dismissed on the ground of
failure to state a cause of action because the
respondents have the correlative obligation to pay
the value of the improvements.
Petitioner was not able to show that there is an
obligation on the part of the respondents to respect
or not to violate her right. While we could concede
that Civil Case No. 61327 made a reference to the
right of the spouse as contemplated in Article 120 of
the Family Code to be reimbursed for the cost of the
improvements, the obligation to reimburse rests on
the spouse upon whom ownership of the entire
property is vested. There is no obligation on the part
of the purchaser of the property, in case the property
is sold by the owner-spouse.
Indeed, Article 120 provides the solution in
determining the ownership of the improvements that
are made on the separate property of the spouses at
the expense of the partnership or through the acts or
efforts of either or both spouses. Thus, when the
cost of the improvement and any resulting increase
in value are more than the value of the property at
the time of the improvement, the entire property of
one of the spouses shall belong to the conjugal
partnership, subject to reimbursement of the value of
the property of the owner-spouse at the time of the
improvement; otherwise, said property shall be
retained in ownership by the owner-spouse, likewise
subject to reimbursement of the cost of the
improvement. The subject property was precisely
declared as the exclusive property of Alfredo on the
basis of Article 120 of the Family Code.
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
Held:
No. The reason for the requirement that earnest
efforts at compromise be first exerted before a
complaint is given due course is because it is
difficult to imagine a sadder and more tragic
spectacle than a litigation between members of the
same family. It is necessary that every effort should
be made toward a compromise before a litigation is
allowed to breed hate and passion in the family. It is
known that a lawsuit between close relatives
generates deeper bitterness than between
strangers. A litigation in a family is to be lamented
far more than a lawsuit between strangers .
In Gayon v. Gayon, the enumeration of brothers and
sisters as members of the same family does not
comprehend sisters-in-law. The attempt to
compromise as well as inability to succeed is a
condition precedent to the the filing of a suit between
members of the same family.
Since Art. 150 of the Family Code repeats
essentially the same enumeration of "members of
the family", we find no reason to alter existing
jurisprudence on the matter. Consequently, the court
a quo erred in ruling that petitioner Guerrero, being a
brother-in-law of private respondent Hernando, was
required to exert earnest efforts towards a
compromise before filing the present suit.
Also, Guerreros wife has no actual interest and
participation in the land subject of the suit, which the
petitioner bought, before he married his wife.
112) Hiyas Savings and Loan Bank, Inc. vs. Hon.
Edmundo Acua, RTC Judge Caloocan City and
Alberto Moreno
G.R. no. 154132 August 31, 2006
Facts:
Alberto Moreno filed with the RTC of Caloocan City
a complaint against Hiyas Savings and Loan Bank,
his wife Remedios, the spouses Felipe and Maria
Owe and the Register of Deeds of Caloocan City for
cancellation of mortgage.
Respondent Moreno
contends that he did not secure any loan from
petitioner, nor did he sign or execute any contract of
mortgage in its favor; that his wife, acting in
conspiracy with Hiyas and the spouses Owe, who
were the ones that benefited from the loan, made it
appear that he signed the contract of mortgage; that
he could not have executed the said contract
because he was working abroad.
Petitioner filed a motion to dismiss because private
respondent failed to comply with Article 151 of the
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
Facts:
Petitioner Joey D. Briones filed a Petition for Habeas
Corpus against respondents Maricel Pineda Miguel
and Francisca Pineda Miguel, to obtain custody of
his minor child Michael Kevin Pineda. Later,
petitioner filed an Amended Petition to include Loreta
P. Miguel, the mother of the minor, as one of the
respondents.
The petitioner alleges that the minor Michael Kevin
Pineda is his illegitimate son with respondent Loreta
P. Miguel.
The petitioner further alleges that he caused the
minor child to be brought to the Philippines so that
he could take care of him and send him to school.
That respondents Maricel P. Miguel and Francisca P.
Miguel came to the house of the petitioner in
Caloocan City on the pretext that they were visiting
the minor child and requested that they be allowed
to bring the said child for recreation at the SM
Department store. They promised him that they will
bring him back in the afternoon, to which the
petitioner agreed. However, the respondents did not
bring him back as promised by them. The petitioner
went several times to respondent Maricel P. Miguel
at Tanza, Tuguegarao City but he was informed that
the child is with the latters mother at Batal Heights,
Santiago City. When he went there, respondent
Francisca P. Miguel told him that Michael Kevin
Pineda is with her daughter at Tuguegarao City.
He sought the assistance of the police and the
Department of Social Welfare to locate his son and
to bring him back to him, but all his efforts were
futile. Hence, he was constrained to file a Petition for
Habeas Corpus.
The petitioner prays that the custody of his son
Michael Kevin Pineda be given to him as his
biological father and as he has demonstrated his
capability to support and educate him.
The respondents filed their Comment, in their
Comment, the respondent Loreta P. Miguel denies
the allegation of the petitioner that he was the one
who brought their child to the Philippines and stated
that she was the one who brought him here pursuant
to their agreement. She likewise denies petitioners
allegation that respondents Maricel P. Miguel and
Francisca P. Miguel were the ones who took the
child from the petitioner or the latters parents. She
averred that she was the one who took Michael
Kevin Pineda from the petitioner when she returned
to the Philippines and that the latter readily agreed
and consented.
Respondent Loreta P. Miguel alleges that the
petitioner was deported from Japan under the
assumed name of Renato Juanzon when he was
found to have violated or committed an infraction of
134
135
136
Held:
Article 246 of the Family Code provides for
retroactive effect of appropriate relevant provisions
thereof, subject to the qualification that such
retrospective application will not prejudice or impair
vested or acquired rights in accordance with the Civil
Code or other laws.
A vested right is one whose existence, effectivity and
extent does not depend upon events foreign to the
will of the holder. Vested rights include not only legal
or equitable title to the enforcement of a demand,
but also an exemption from new obligations created
after the right has vested.
Under the Child and Youth Welfare Code, private
respondent had the right to file a petition for adoption
by herself, without joining her husband therein.
When Mrs. Bobiles filed her petition, she was
exercising her explicit and unconditional right under
said law. Upon her filing thereof, her right to file such
petition alone and to have the same proceed to final
adjudication, in accordance with the law in force at
the time, was already vested and cannot be
prejudiced or impaired by the enactment of a new
law.
When private respondent filed her petition in Special
Proceeding, the trial court acquired jurisdiction there
over in accordance with the governing law.
Jurisdiction being a matter of substantive law, the
established rule is that the jurisdiction of the court is
determined by the statute in force at the time of the
commencement of the action.
Although Dioscoro Bobiles was not named
as one of the petitioners in the petition for adoption
filed by his wife, his affidavit of consent attached to
the petition and expressly made an integral part
thereof, shows that he himself actually joined his
wife in adopting the child. Those declarations, and
his subsequent confirmatory testimony in open court,
are sufficient to make him a co-petitioner. Under the
circumstances then obtaining, and by reason of his
foreign residence, he must have yielded to the legal
advice that an affidavit of consent on his part
sufficed to make him a party to the petition. This is
evident from the text of his affidavit. Punctiliousness
in language and pedantry in the formal requirements
should yield to and be eschewed in the higher
considerations of substantial justice. The future of an
innocent child must not be compromised by arbitrary
insistence of rigid adherence to procedural rules on
the form of pleadings.
137
138
139
140
141
Facts:
Honorato B. Catindig filed a petition to adopt
his minor illegitimate child Stephanie Nathy Astorga
Garcia alleging that Stephanie has been using her
mother's middle name and surname and that he is
now a widower and qualified to be her adopting
parent. He prayed that Stephanie's middle name
Astorga be changed to 'Garcia, her mother's
surname, and that her surname Garcia be changed
to Catindig, his surname
.
142
143
144
for
145
Facts:
146
147
148
149
ISSUE:
Whether or not Bonifacia should be appointed as the
guardian
FACTS:
In February 1995, defendant-appellant St Marys
Academy of Dipolog City conducted an enrollment
drive for the SY 1995-96.Part of the campaign was
the visitation of schools from where prospective
enrollees were studying. A student of that school and
part of the campaign, Sherwin Carpitanos along
w/other high school students were riding in a
Mitsubishi jeep driven by James Daniel II, a 15 year
old student of the same school. En route to Larayan
Elem School, it was alleged that minor James drove
the jeep in a reckless manner and as a result the
jeep turned turtle. Sherwin Carpitanos died as a
result of the injuries he sustained from the accident.
The Regional Trial Court held St Marys liable for
indemnification for loss of Sherwins life, actual
damages for burial and so-related expenses,
attorneys fees and moral damages. The Court of
Appeals affirmed decision but absolved from any
liability the driver-minor James and jeeps owner
Vivencio Villanueva. St. Marys appealed. The Court
of Appeals reduced actual damages to PhP25K but
affirmed the rest of its previous decision. School filed
Motion for Reconsideration but was denied. Hence,
this appeal.
HELD:
No. The Court of Appeals affirmed. The case is
moot. Valerie since already turned 18 on Sept. 2,
1998. Only thing in dispute is guardianship of
Vincent. Art. 211 (FC): Father & mother shall jointly
exercise parental authority over their common
children. Fathers decision shall prevail in cases of
disagreement unless theres a judicial order to the
contrary. Thus, Helen, being the natural mom of
Vincent has the natural & legal right to his custody.
Such right is inherent & not created by
state/decision of courts but derives from nature of
parental relationship (Sagala-Eslao vs. CA). Art. 214
(FC) allows substitute parental authority of surviving
grandparent only in case of death, absence or
unsuitability of parents. Helen is very much alive &
has continuously exercised parental authority over
Vincent. Helens unfitness was only asserted Valerie
& since shes already of major age, such cannot be
appreciated anymore. Even if Helen were unfit,
Bonifacia still wont qualify considering that shes a
US citizen & resident. She wont be able to perform
the responsibilities &obligations required of a
guardian. Most probably shell just delegate those
duties to another person who might not be qualified.
Shes been out of the country since 1987 and
considering that shes old & was previously
convicted of libel, its not likely that shell come back
here to fulfill her duties. Besides, only2 yrs are left
for her to exercise guardianship over child. True that
law does not require courts to only appoint residents
as guardians but court should not appoint guardians
who are not within our courts jurisdiction for it will be
difficult to protect the wards in such instances.
WILLIAM
ISSUES:
1.
Whether or not the Court of Appeals erred in
holding St. Marys liable for said death
2.
Whether or not the Court of Appeals erred in
affirming the award of moral damages against the
school
HELD:1. Yes.CA held school liable under Arts 218 &
219 FC, pointing out that petitioner was negligent in
allowing a minor to drive in the campaign to visit
public schools to solicit enrollment. School was also
liable in not having a teacher accompany the minor
150
151
152
153
FACTS:
Development Bank of the Philippines filed this
petition for review on certiorari assailing the decision
of the Court of Appeals holding that the mortgages in
favor of the bank were void and ineffectual because
when constituted the mortgagors, who were merely
applicants for free patent of the property mortgaged,
were not the owners thereof in fee simple and
therefore could not validly encumber the same.
Petitioner granted a loan of P94,000.00 to the
spouses Santiago Olidiana and Oliva Olidiana. To
secure the loan the Olidiana spouses executed a
real estate mortgage on several properties. At the
time of the mortgage the property was still the
subject of a Free Patent application filed by the
Olidianas with the Bureau of Lands but registered
under their name in the Office of the Municipal
Assessor of Molave for taxation purposes.The
Olidiana spouses filed with the Bureau of Lands
a Request for Amendment of their Free Patent
applications over several parcels of land including
Lot No. 2029 (PIs-61). In this request they
renounced, relinquished and waived all their rights
and interests over Lot No. 2029 (Pls-61) in favor of
Jesusa Christine Chupuico and Mylo O. Quinto,
respondents herein. This second mortgage also
included Lot No. 2029 (Pls-61) as security for the
Olidiana spouses financial obligation with petitioner.
Thereafter, for failure of Santiago and Oliva Olidiana
to comply with the terms and conditions of their
promissory notes and mortgage contracts, petitioner
extrajudicially foreclosed all their mortgaged
properties. However, when petitioner tried to register
the sale and the affidavit of consolidation and to
have the tax declaration transferred in its name it
was discovered that Lot No. 2029 had already been
divided and covered in the name of Jesusa Christine
Chupuico, while the other half known as Lot 2029-B
was covered by the same in the name of Mylo 0.
Quinto. Since there was no showing that the sales
application was approved before the property was
mortgaged, the trial court concluded that the
Olidiana spouses were not yet its owners in fee
simple when they mortgaged the property. The lower
court also said that with the subsequent issuance of
the Free Patent by the Bureau of Lands for the
respondents. Therefore petitioner could not have
acquired a valid title over the subject property by
ISSUE:
Whether the land in dispute could have been validly
mortgaged while still the subject of a Free Patent
Application with the government
HELD:
Petitioner bank did not acquire valid title over the
land in dispute because it was public land when
mortgaged to the bank. The Court cannot accept
petitioners contention that the lot in dispute was no
longer public land when mortgaged to it since the
Olidiana spouses had been in open, continuous,
adverse and public possession thereof for more than
thirty (30) years. Meanwhile the government still
remained the owner thereof, as in fact the
application could still be canceled and the land
awarded to another applicant should it be shown that
the legal requirements had not been complied with.
What divests the government of title to the land is
the issuance of the sales patent and its subsequent
registration with the Register of Deeds. It is the
registration and issuance of the certificate of title that
segregate public lands from the mass of public
domain and convert it into private property. Since the
disputed lot in the case before us was still the
subject of a Free Patent Application when
mortgaged to petitioner and no patent was granted
to the Olidiana spouses. Thus, since the disputed
property was not owned by the Olidiana spouses
when they mortgaged it to petitioner, the contracts of
mortgage and all their subsequent legal
consequences as regards the subject lot are null and
void. It is essential requisite for the validity of a
mortgage that the mortgagor be the absolute owner
of a property mortgaged, and it appearing that the
mortgage was constituted before the issuance of the
patent to the mortgagor, the mortgage in question
must of necessity be void and ineffective. For the
law explicitly requires an imperative for the validity of
a mortgage that the mortgagor be the absolute
owner of what is mortgaged.
(Gutierrez, Alvin F.)
154
155
FACTS:
Alejandro De Lara was the original
applicant-claimant
for
Miscellaneous
Sales
Application on 1942. He was succeeded by his wife,
respondent Felicitas De Lara upon his death.
156
ISSUE:
Whether or not the respondents were
builders in good faith or mere lessees.
HELD:
Being mere lessees, the respondents knew
that their occupation of the premises would continue
only for the life of the lease. Thus, they cannot be
considered as possessors or builders in good faith.
Article 448 of the Civil Code in relation to Article 546
of the Civil Code applies only to possessors in good
faith. It does not apply where ones only interest is
that of a lessee under a rental contract; otherwise, it
would always be in the power of the tenant to
improve his landlord out of his property.
156) Tecnogas vs. CA
G.R. No. 108894, February 10, 1997
FACTS:
Plaintiff is a domestic corporation and a
registered owner of the subject land located in San
Dionisio, Paranaque. It purchased the subject land
from Pariz Industries, Inc. in 1970 with the buildings,
improvements and the wall existing thereon.
Dedendant Eduardo Uy was the registered owner of
the land adjoining petitioners land.
Tecnogas offered to buy from Uy the portion of the
latters land occupied by the portion of its buildings
and wall. Uy refused.
ISSUE:
Whether or not the plaintiff is considered a
builder in bad faith because he is presumed to know
the metes and bounds of his property as described
in the Certificate of Title.
HELD:
The plaintiff purchased the land with the
structures already in existence.
Article 527, Civil Code presumes good faith since no
proof exists to show that the encroachment over a
narrow, needle-shaped portion of the respondents
157
FACTS:
ISSUE:
Whether or not possession of a lot
encroached upon by a part of anothers house be
recovered in an action for ejectment.
HELD:
158
FACTS:
Leon Robles primitively owned a land which he
occupied the same openly and adversely as early as
1916 and paid its taxes. When Leon died his son
Silvino Robles inherited land, took possession and
paid taxes. Upon Silvinos death, his widow Maria de
la Cruz and his children inherited the property, took
adverse possession and paid taxes. However, the
task of cultivating the land was assigned to Lucio
Robles. Plaintiffs entrusted the payment of the land
taxes to their co-heir and half-brother, Hilario Robles.
159
160
In this case, Regalado merely became a new coowner of Lot 162 to the extent of the shares which
Salome, Consorcia and Alfredo could validly convey.
Soledad retained her rights as co-owner and could
validly transfer her share to petitioners in 1951. The
logical effect of the second disposition is to
substitute petitioners in the rights of Soledad as coowner of the land. Needless to say, these rights are
preserved notwithstanding the issuance of TCT No.
14566 in Regalado's name in 1977.
165) Rodil Enterprises vs. CA
G.R. No. 129609; November 29, 2001
FACTS:
Petitioner Rodil Enterprises Inc. is the lessee of the
Ides O'Racca Building since 1959. It was a "former
alien property" over which the Republic of the
Philippines acquired ownership by virtue of RA 477.
In 1972, the lease contract between RODIL and the
REPUBLIC was renewed for another 15 years. In
1980, RODIL entered into a sublease contract with
respondents Carmen Bondoc, et al. members of the
Ides O'Racca Building Tenants Association Inc.
(ASSOCIATION). In 1982, authorization of the sale
of "former alien properties" classified as commercial
and industrial, and the O'RACCA building was
classified as commercial property. In 1987,RODIL
offered to purchase the subject property. In 1997,
ASSOCIATION also offered to lease the same
building.
In May 18, 1992, RODIL signed a renewal contract
which would extend the lease for 10 years from 1
September 1987. A supplement to the renewal
contract was subsequently entered into on May 25,
1992 where rentals on the previous lease contract
were increased. In September 1992: spouses
Saturnino Alvarez and Epifania Alvarez, sublessees
of RODIL, filed with the Office of the President a
letter-appeal assailing the authority of Factoran to
enter into the renewal contract of May 18, 1992 with
RODIL, and claiming the right to purchase the
subject property. ASSOCIATION instituted another
Civil Case praying for the setting aside of the
renewal contract of 18 May 1992 as well as the
supplementary contract of May 25, 1992. Finally in
1993, RODIL filed an action for unlawful detainer
against Divisoria Footwear (private respondents)
and a similar action against Chua Huay Soon (also
private respondents).
161
ISSUE:
Whether or not the Republic being the owner has
freedom to dispose of a thing.
FACTS:
The land in question was originally owned by
Adriano Soriano, upon his death, it passed on to his
heirs who leased the same to the spouse De Vera
for a period of 15 years. Roman Soriano as one of
the children of Adriano Soriano, acts as the
caretaker. The property was subdivided into two lots,
lot 1 was sold to respondent spouses Abalos. As a
co-owner of lot 2, Roman ownes , the of which
was also sold to the spouses Abalos. He was ousted
as caretaker of the land.
HELD:
Yes. The owner has the right to enjoy and dispose of
a thing, without other limitations than those
established by law. Every owner has the freedom of
disposition over his property. It is an attribute of
ownership, and this rule has no exception. The
REPUBLIC being the owner of the disputed property
enjoys the prerogative to enter into a lease contract
with RODIL in the exercise of its jus disponendi.
Hence, as lessor, the REPUBLIC has the right to
eject usurpers of the leased property where the
factual elements required for relief in an action for
unlawful detainer are present.
The contracts of 18 May 1992 and 25 May 1992 are
valid. CA invalidated the contracts because they
were supposedly executed in violation of a
temporary restraining order issued by the RTC. CA
however failed to note that the order restrains the
REPUBLIC from awarding the lease contract only as
regards respondent ASSOCIATION but not petitioner
RODIL.
In an action for unlawful detainer the plaintiff need
not have been in prior physical possession.
Respondents have admitted that they have not
entered into any lease contract with the REPUBLIC
and that their continued occupation of the subject
property was merely by virtue of acquiescence. The
records clearly show this to be the case. The
REPUBLIC merely issued a "temporary occupancy
permit" which was not even in the name of the
respondents Bondoc, Bondoc-Esto, Divisoria
Footwear or Chua but of respondent ASSOCIATION.
Since the occupation of respondents was merely
tolerated by the REPUBLIC, the right of possession
of the latter remained uninterrupted. It could
therefore alienate the same to anyone it chose.
162
acquisitive
163
found out in March 30, 1987 that the lot was sold to
Verdad, she sought intervention of the Lupong
Tagapamayapa for redemption, her tender of
P23,000.00 was refused because the current value
of the property is higher.
October 16, 1987, no settlement was
reached, thus a case was filed by Socorro (private
respondent) for Legal Redemption with Preliminary
Injunction, which the RTC denied stating that
redemption period already lapse.
On appeal to the Court of Appeals, it
reversed the RTC and declared that Socorro has the
right to redeem the property.
ISSUE:
Whether Socorro Cordero Vda. De Rosales
is capacitated to redeem the property even if she is
only related by affinity to Macaria Atega and not an
heir?
HELD:
Yes, Socorro is capacitated to make the
redemption.
Even if she is not an heir to Macaria, she is
an heir to David Rosales who inherited a share of his
mothers estate.
Article 995 of the Civil Code, in the absence
of legitimate descendants and ascendants, and
illegitimate and their descendants, whether
legitimate of illegitimate, the surviving spouse shall
inherit, without prejudice to the rights of brothers and
sisters, nephews and nieces, should there be any,
under article 1001.
The right to redeem spawned from the nondisclosure of the sale to all co-owners when the sale
is in favor of a third person. In fact, written notice is
required under Article 1623, and the redemption
period is 30 days from receipt of such notice.
In the case at bar, no notice was given,
hence, the 30 day period stared from the time of
discovery of the sale on March 30, 1987, and stayed
by the proceedings in the Punong Tagapamayapa.
There was clear intent to redeem at that
time but the offer was rejected by Verdad.
170) TABUSO vs. COURT OF APPEALS
G.R. 108558 June 21, 2001
FACTS:
The lot in question is an unregistered parcel
of land in Antipolo, Naval, Leyte with an area of
3,267 square meters, which latter turned out to be in
fact 11,927 square meters.
164
165
THE
FACTS:
The land in dispute has an area of 19.4 hectares
located in San Miguel, Province of Bohol whose
original ownership rest with Ulpiano Mumar as
evidenced by Tax Declaration since 1917.
In 1950, Mumar sold the subject property
Carlos Cajes (herein private respondent) who was
issued tax declaration in the same year. He occupied
and cultivated the land, planting cassava and
camote in certain portions of the land.
In 1969, unknown to private respondent,
Jose Alvarez was able to register a parcel of land
with an area of 1,512,468 square meters and OCT
#546 was issued in the same year in his name. In
1972 Alvarez sold the property to spouses Beduya to
whom TCT #10101 was issued, the former and the
latter never occupied the said lot the property
included in it the 19.4 hectares owned by Cajes.
In the same year, 1972, spouse Beduya
acquired a loan from DBP and mortgage the the land
under TCT #10101 for P526,000.00, and in 1978 it
was again mortgage for another loan in the amount
of P1,430,000.00 in favor of the petitioner (DBP), no
ocular inspection of the land was made.
166
HELD:
FACTS:
Petitioners are the legitimate children of Leon
Villanueva, Concepcion Macahilas vda. de
Villanueva is his widow. Leon was one of eight (8)
children of Felipe Villanueva, predecessor-in-interest
of the parties in the present case.Private
respondents are related by blood to the petitioners
as descendants of Felipe.
.
The remaining undivided portion of the land
was held in trust by Leon for his co-heirs. During
Leon's lifetime, his co-heirs made several
seasonable and lawful demands upon him to
subdivide and partition the property, but for one
reason or another, no subdivision took place.
ISSUE:
Whether the CA was correct in adjudicating
that the 19.4 hectares included in TCT #10101 is
owned by private respondent Carlos Cajes?
167
ISSUE:
Whether or not the appellate court erred in failing to
declare action by the private respondents to recover
the property in question barred by laches, estoppel,
prescription.
RULING:
Laches is negligence or omission to assert a right
within a reasonable time, warranting the
presumption that the party entitled to assert it has
either abandoned or declined to assert it. Its
essential elements are: (1) conduct on the part of the
defendant, or of one under whom he claims, giving
rise to the situation complained of; (2) delay in
asserting complainant's right after he had knowledge
of the defendant's conduct and after he has an
opportunity to sue; (3) lack of knowledge or notice
on the part of the defendant that the complainant
would assert the right on which he bases his suit;
and (4) injury or prejudice to the defendant in the
event relief is accorded to the complainant.
At the time of signing of the Deed of Sale of August
26, 1948, private respondents , Ramon and Rosa
were minors. They could not be faulted for their
failure to file a case to recover their inheritance from
their uncle Leon, since up to the age of majority, they
believed and considered Leon their co-heir and
administrator. It was only in 1975, not in 1948, that
they became aware of the actionable betrayal by
their uncle. Upon learning of their uncle's actions,
they filed an action for recovery.
They did not sleep on their rights, contrary to
petitioners' assertion. Under the circumstances of
the instant case, we do not think that respondent
appellate court erred in considering private
respondents' action. The action was not too late.
Furthermore, when Felipe Villanueva died, an
implied trust was created by operation of law
between Felipe's children and Leon, their uncle, as
far as the 1/6 share of Felipe. Leon's fraudulent
titling of Felipe's 1/6 share was a betrayal of that
implied trust
Neither is the action barred by prescription, we held
that an action for reconveyance of a parcel of land
based on implied or constructive trust prescribes in
10 years, the point of reference being the date of
168
169
170
171
172
173
V.
174
175
176
177
178
179
the
and
and
the
180
187) ENCARNACION V. CA
195 SCRA 74
181
182
court.
The Court has held in several cases that in order to
be entitled to an injunctive writ, one must show an
unquestionable right over the premises and that
such right has been violated.
In the case at bar, the private respondents have not
shown that there is an urgent and paramount
necessity for the issuance of the writ of preliminary
injuction.
The records show that there are two (2) gates
through which the private respondents may pass to
have direct access to EDSA: (1) the northern gate
which opens directly to EDSA; and (2) the southern
gate along Howmart Road. The records also
disclose that the petitioners and the other lot owners
previously prohibited and prevented members of
QCIEA from opening new gates. The claim that they
were forced to open a new gate by reason of the
subdivision of Lot 272 where a wall was constructed
between these 2 lots is untenable. The private
respondents can not assert a right of way when by
their own or voluntary act, they themselves have
caused the isolation of their property from the
access road.
The fact that the barricade constructed by the
petitioners was already removed upon the issuance
of the questioned preliminary injunction does not
make the petition moot and academic as ruled by
the Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals has the
power to recallor lift the writ of preliminary
mandatory injunction so issued if it finds that the
party is not so entitled. But as earlier found, the
private respondents are not entitled to the injunctive
relief considering that they have no clear right over
Howmart Road.
189) ROMAN CATHOLIC vs. CA
198 SCRA 300
FACTS:
Private respondents as plaintiffs, filed a complaint for
nullification of deed of donation, rescission of
contract and reconveyance of real property with
damages against petitioners Florencio and Soledad
C. Ignao and the Roman Catholic Bishop of Imus,
Cavite, together with the Roman Catholic Archbishop
of Manila, before the Regional Trial Court. Private
respondents alleged that on August 23, 1930,
spouses Eusebio de Castro and Martina Rieta, now
both deceased, executed a deed of donation in favor
of therein defendant Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Manila covering a certain parcel of land, Lot No.
626located at Kawit, Cavite. Said lot consists of an
area of 964 square meters. The deed of donation
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
MENDOZA, J.:
Note: This is a petition for review of the decision of
the CA reversing the decision of the RTC of
Cauayan, Isabela declaring Free Patent No. V79740 and Original Certificate of Title No. P-8817 in
the name of Irene Bullungan null and void so far as
the portion of Lot No. 1, Psu-150801 involved in this
case is concerned.
FACTS:
Irene Bullungan (now deceased) applied for a
FREE PATENT covering lots situated in Angadanan,
Isabela. The lots included a portion of lot (Lot No. 1,
Psu-150801 between Lot No. 763 and Lot No. 764)
which Vicente Carabbacan claimed. (Vicente
Carabbacan in this case is the present possessor
and cultivator of the land in dispute).
BASIS FOR HER APPLICATION OF FEE PATENT
(w/c is false): In her application however, Irene
Bullungan stated that the land applied for by her was
not claimed or occupied by any other person and
that it was public land which had been continuously
occupied and cultivated by her since 1925.
THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS DECISION: Upon
certification of Assistant Public Land that Irene
Bullungan had been in actual, continuous open,
notorious, exclusive and adverse possession of the
land since 1925, the Director of Lands approved
Bullungan's application for free patent and an OCT
was issued in her name.
STEPS TAKEN BY THE OPPOSITOR
THE PROTEST: Alleging that a portion of Lot No. 1,
Psu-150801 (lot in dispute) covered by the free
patent issued to Irene Bullungan overlapped the lot
between Lot No. 763 and Lot No. 764, which he was
occupying, Vicente Carrabacan, (the actual
possessor of the land) filed a protest to the Director
of Lands on 1961. The latter only ordered an
investigation on 1982.
ACTION
FOR
RECONVEYANCE
(1st)
&
CANCELLATION OF FEE PATENT: Vicente
Carabbacan also brought an action for the
reconveyance of the portion of the lot in dispute and
the cancellation of free patent against Irene
Bullungan before the CFI on 1961.
DISMISSAL OF THE ACTION BY THE COURT: but
this was dismissed by the court without prejudice.
191
PETITIONER-REPUBLIC
ARGUMENT:
The
Republic controverts the ruling of the Court of
Appeals. It contends that the doctrine of
indefeasibility of Torrens Titles does not bar the filing
of an action for cancellation of title and reversion of
land even if more than one year has elapsed from
the issuance of the free patent in case of fraud in
obtaining patents.
ISSUE:
Whether or not doctrine of indefeasibility of
Torrens Title bars the filing of an action for
cancellation of title, on the ground of fraud, if more
than one year has elapsed from the issuance of the
free patent.
HELD:
NO. The SC agreed as to the argument of
petitioner-Republic.
To begin with, there is no question that Free
Patent No. 79740 and Original Certificate of Title P8817 were obtained through fraud. The trial court
found that Irene Bullungan falsely stated in her
application for a free patent that Lot No. 1, Psu150801 was not claimed or occupied by any other
person. The trial court found that a portion of the lot
in question had been in the possession and
cultivation of Vicente Carabbacan since December
1947. Indeed private respondents admit that before
Irene Bullungan filed her application for a free
patent, she had filed a complaint for forcible entry
against Vicente Carrabacan. The complaint, which
was filed in the Justice of the Peace Court of
Angadanan, Isabela, was dismissed precisely
because the court found that Carabbacan had been
in possession of the land long before it was sold to
Irene Bullungan by Leonida Tarayao.
The Court of Appeals did not disturb the trial court's
finding in this case that Irene Bullungan committed
fraud and misrepresentation. Its decision rests solely
on the ground that after the lapse of one year from
the date of issuance of a free patent an action for the
cancellation of patent and title on ground of fraud
and misrepresentation can no longer be maintained.
GENERAL RULE: It is settled that once a patent is
registered under Act No. 496 (now P.D. No. 1529)
and the corresponding certificate of title is issued,
the land ceases to be part of the public domain and
192
193
ISSUE 1:
May Maria Unson validly renounce her future
inheritance?
HELD 1:
NO. There is no dispute that Maria Uson,
plaintiff-appellee, is the lawful wife of Faustino
Nebreda, former owner of the five parcels of lands
litigated in the present case. There is likewise no
dispute that Maria del Rosario, one of the
defendants-appellants, was merely a common-law
wife of the late Faustino Nebreda with whom she
had four illegitimate children, her now codefendants. It likewise appears that Faustino
Nebreda died in 1945 much prior to the effectivity of
the new Civil Code. With this background, it is
evident that when Faustino Nebreda died in 1945
the five parcels of land he was seized of at the time
passed from the moment of his death to his only
heir, his widow Maria Uson.
Applying Article 657 of the old Civil Code,
Court ruled that the property belongs to the heirs at
the moment of the death of the ancestor as
completely as if the ancestor had executed and
delivered to them a deed for the same before his
death. The right of ownership of Maria Uson over the
lands in question became vested in 1945 upon the
death of her late husband and this is so because of
the imperative provision of the law which commands
that the rights to succession are transmitted from the
moment of death (Article 657, old Civil Code).
The claim of the defendants that Maria Uson
had relinquished her right over the lands in question
because she expressly renounced to inherit any
future property that her husband may acquire and
leave upon his death in the deed of separation they
had entered into on February 21, 1931 cannot be
entertained for the simple reason that future
inheritance cannot be the subject of a contract nor
can it be renounced. The decision appealed from is
affirmed.
ISSUE 2:
Whether or not the illegitimate children of del
Rosario are entitled to the inheritance.
HELD 2:
NO.
Defendants contend that, while it is true that the
four minor defendants are illegitimate children of the
late Faustino Nebreda and under the old Civil Code
are not entitled to any successional rights, however,
under the new Civil Code which became in force in
June, 1950, they are given the status and rights of
194
as
Mode
of
Transferring
195
196
197
198
199
200
HELD 1:
201
203) ARUEGO VS CA
254 SCRA 711
FACTS:
Jose Aruego Sr. had an amorous relationship with
Luz Fabian, out of which was born Antonia and
Evelyn Aruego.
A Complaint for Compulsory Recognition and
Enforcement of Successional Rights was filed by the
two children, represented by their mother, Fabian.
Said complaint prayed for the following:
a.
That Antonia and Evelyn be declared the
illegitimate children of the deceased Jose;
b.
That petitioners be compelled to recognize
and acknowledge them as the compulsory heirs of
the deceased Jose;
c.
That their share and participation in the
estate of Jose be determined and ordered delivered
to them.
The main basis of the action for compulsory
recognition is their alleged open and continuous
possession of the status of illegitimate children.
RTC declared Antonia as illegitimate daughter of
Jose but not as to Evelyn. It ordered petitioners to
recognize Antonia and to deliver to the latter her
share in the estate of Jose.
Petitioners filed a Motion for Partial Reconsideration
alleging loss of jurisdiction on the part of the trial
court by virtue of the advent of the Family Code.
Said motion was denied. CA affirmed.
ISSUE:
HELD 2:
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
FACTS:
This is an appeal interposed by the oppositors from
a decision of the Court of First Instance of Samar,
admitting to probate the will allegedly executed by
Vicente Cagro who died in Laoangan, Pambujan,
Samar, on February 14, 1949.
The main objection insisted upon by the appellant in
that the will is fatally defective, because its
216
217
218
to share of the
219
220
224) LABRADOR VS CA
184 SCRA 170
FACTS: Testator Melencio died and left a parcel of
land and his children as heirs. He allegedly executed
a holographic will. The holographic will was
submitted for probate by petitioner Sagrado, the
devisee of the parcel of the land.
Jesus and Gaudencio opposed the probate of the
will on the ground that the will has been extinguished
or revoked by implications of law, when the testator,
before his death, sold the parcel of land to the
oppositors. The said transaction was evidenced by
the new TCT issued in the name of the oppositors
and the Deed of Sale executed by the testator.
Meanwhile, Jesus sold the parcel of land to a 3 rd
person, Sagrado sought to have the Deed of Sale
annulled on the ground that it was fictitious.
LC allowed the probate of the will and declared null
and void the Deed of Sale. CA reversed the
judgment and disallowed the probate of the will on
the ground that it was undated.
ISSUE: WON the alleged holographic will is dated?
HELD: The Holographic is dated. It appears that the
date when the testator made the will was stated in
the body of the complaint, on the 2nd page of the will
and this is the day in which we agreed that
we are making the partitioning and assigning the
respective assignment of the said fish pond, and this
being in the month of March, 17 th day, in the year
1968, and this decision and or instruction of mine is
the matter to be followed, and the one who made
this writing is no other that MELECIO LABRADOR,
their father.
The law does not specify a particular location where
the date should be placed in the will. The only
requirements are that the date be in the will itself
and executed in the hand of the testator. These
requirements are present in the subject will.
FACTS: Dr. Jose Cunanan and Dr. Evelyn PerezCunanan are husband and wife, who became
American citizens and residents of New York, U.S.A,
with their children, Jocelynm18; Jacqueline,16; and
Josephine,14.
221
222
223
224
225
226
227
228
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
250) DOROTHEO vs CA
320 SCRA 12
FACTS:
241
242
FACTS:
Eleno and Rafaela Sayson begot five children,
namely, Mauricio, Rosario, Basilisa, Remedios and
Teodoro. Eleno died on 1952, and Rafaela on 1976.
Teodoro, who had married Isabel Bautista, died on
1972. His wife died nine years later, on, 1981. Their
ISSUE:
Whether a nephew is considered a
collateral relative who may inherit if no descendant,
ascendant or spouse survive the decedent
243
244
245
REYES, J.B.L., J.
David T. Tolentino
FACTS:
John, Rustico and Silvina are siblings. Silvina G.
Udan died leaving a purported will naming her
illegitimate son, Francisco G. Udan, and one
Wencesla Cacho, as her sole heirs, share and share
alike. During the probate of the will, opposition was
made by her two brothers on the ground that the will
was not attested and executed as required by law,
that the testatrix was incapacitated to execute it; and
that it was procured by fraud or undue influence.
Francisco died pending the probate. The RTC
denied the oppositions filed by the two brothers.
Hence, this appeal
ISSUE:
WON oppositor brothers, John and Rustico Udan,
may claim to be heirs intestate of their legitimate
sister, the late Silvina Udan.
HELD:
The Court ruled that the court below correctly held
that they were not, for at the time of her death
Silvina's illegitimate son, Francisco Udan, was her
heir intestate, to the exclusion of her brothers under
Articles 988 and 1003 of the governing Civil Code of
the Philippines in force at the time of the death of the
testatrix
It decreed that collateral relatives of one who died
intestate inherit only in the absence of descendants,
ascendants, and illegitimate children. Albeit the
brothers and sisters can concur with the widow or
widower under Article 1101, they do, not concur, but
are excluded by the surviving children, legitimate or
illegitimate (Art. 1003). The trial court committed no
error in holding that John and Rustico Udan had no
standing to oppose the probate of the will. For if the
will is ultimately probated John and Rustico are
excluded by its terms from participation in the estate;
and if probate be denied, both oppositors-appellants
246
247
248
David T. Tolentino
260) CORAZON DEZOLLER TISON and RENE R.
DEZOLLER, petitioners, vs.COURT OF APPEALS
and TEODORA DOMINGO, respondents.
G.R. No. 121027 July 31, 1997
REGALADO, J.:
FACTS:
This case involves an action for reconveyance filed
by herein petitioners against herein private
respondent before the Regional Trial Court of
Quezon City, Branch 98, docketed as the aforesaid
Civil Case No. Q-88-1054, over a parcel of land with
a house and apartment thereon located at San
Francisco del Monte, Quezon City and which was
originally owned by the spouses Martin Guerrero
and Teodora Dezoller Guerrero.
Petitioners Corazon Tison and Rene Dezoller are the
niece and nephew, respectively, of the deceased
Teodora Dezoller Guerrero who is the sister of
petitioner's father, Hermogenes Dezoller. Teodora
249
250
HELD:
The Court denied the petition. On the contention of
petitioner as to the capacity of Socorro to initiate the
redemption proceedings, the Court ruled that
Respondent possess the capacity to ask for a
redemption. It is true that Socorro, a daughter-in-law
(or, for that matter, a mere relative by affinity), is not
an intestate heir of her parents-in-law; however,
Socorro's right to the property is not because she
rightfully can claim heirship in Macaria's estate but
that she is a legal heir of her husband, David
Rosales, part of whose estate is a share in his
mother's inheritance.
David Rosales, incontrovertibly, survived his
mother's death. When Macaria died on 08 March
1956 her estate passed on to her surviving children,
among them David Rosales, who thereupon became
co-owners of the property. When David Rosales
himself later died, his own estate, which included
his undivided interest over the property inherited
from Macaria, passed on to his widow Socorro and
her co-heirs pursuant to the law on succession(Art
995 and 1001). Socorro and herein private
respondents, along with the co-heirs of David
Rosales, thereupon became co-owners of the
property that originally descended from Macaria.
As to the timeliness of the filing of the petition, the
Court ruled that such was exercised on time.
Concededly, no written notice of the sale was given
by the Burdeos heirs (vendors) to the coowners required under Article 1623 of the Civil Code.
Hence, the thirty-day period of redemption had yet to
commence when private respondent Rosales sought
to exercise the right of redemption on 31 March
1987, a day after she discovered the sale from the
Office of the City Treasurer of Butuan City, or when
the case was initiated, on 16 October 1987, before
the trial court. The written notice of sale is
mandatory. This Court has long established the rule
that notwithstanding actual knowledge of a coowner, the latter is still entitled to a written notice
from the selling co-owner in order to remove all
uncertainties about the sale, its terms and
conditions, as well as its efficacy and status.
David T. Tolentino
262)
FILOMENA
ABELLANA
DE
BACAYO, petitioner-appellant,
vs.GAUDENCIA
FERRARIS DE BORROMEO, CATALINA FERARIS
251
252
253
254
255
256
257
HELD:
Private respondents claim that not all the known
heirs participated in the extrajudicial partition, and
that two persons who participated and were made
parties thereto were not the heirs of Crisanta.
HELD:
Petitioner Trinidad is not entitled to one-half (1/2) of
said lot but only to the share of one legitimate child
or 1 and 1/3 rights and interest, citing article 996 of
the Civil Code.
The deed of sale is void insofar as it affects the
rights and interests of other petitioners because
petitioner Trinidad can only sell her 1 1/3 rights and
interest over the said lot and no more than that.
Corollary, the remaining petitioners can still exercise
the right of legal redemption, conformably with
Article 1620 of the civil code.
272) AZNAR BROTHERS REALT CO. VS CA
327 SCRA 359
FACTS
Lot no. 4399 containing an area of 34,325 square
meters located at Brgy. Mactan, Lapu Lapu City was
acquired By Aznar from the heirs of Crisanta
Maloloy-on by virtue of an extrajudicial Partition of
real estate with deed of absolute sale.
258
259
260
261