Salazar v Felias

The movant 's claim that his/her property is exempt from execution for being the family home is not a magic wand
that will freeze the court's hand and forestall the execution of a final and executory ruling. It is imperative that the
claim for exemption must be set up and proven.
Facts:
 Felias, representing the heirs of Nivera filed for recovery of four parcels of land against Lastimosa
spouses.
 During trial, Romualdo Lastimosa died. So his heirs substituted him.
 RTC declared the heirs of Nivera the owners, the heirs of Lastimosa did not file an appeal.
 Salazar (Romualdo’s daughter) filed for annulment of the RTC’s judgement for she was deprived of due
process when she was not impleaded in the case.
 In addition, Felicitas contends that the execution cannot continue as the Writ of Execution is being
enforced against property that is exempt from execution, as what is sought to be demolished is her family
home.
Issue:
 Was Salazar denied due process for not being impleaded in the complaint?
 Is the Family Home exempt from execution?
Held:
 She was not denied due process because When [Romualdo] died on March 3, 1997, the defendants filed
an Urgent Motion to Substitute Other Heirs of the said defendant listing the names of the heirs to be
substituted. It is therefore crystal clear that if [Felicitas) was not impleaded in this case as party defendant
being the daughter of [Romualdo ], that omission could not be attributed to the private respondent but the
defendants themselves.
 The family home is not exempt. It is not sufficient for the claimant to merely allege that such property is a
family home. Whether the claim is premised under the Old Civil Code or the Family Code, the claim for
exemption must be set up and proved.
 It bears emphasis that it is imperative that her claim must be backed with evidence showing that the home
was indeed
(i) duly constituted as a family home,
(ii) constituted jointly by the husband and wife or by an unmarried head of a family,
(iii) resided in by the family (or any of the family home's beneficiaries),
(iv) forms part of the properties of the absolute community orthe conjugal partnership, or of the exclusive
properties of either spouse with the latter's consent, or property of the unmarried head of the family, and
(v) has an actual value of Php 300,000.00 in urban areas, and Php 200,000.00 in rural areas.
 Felicitas adduced no proof to substantiate her claim that the property sought to be executed is indeed her
family home.