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676
conjugal house thereon.
6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
The background facts may be summarized as follows: Petitioner MERCEDES
76 Calimlim-Canullas and FERNANDO Canullas were married on December 19,
Calimlim-Canullas vs. Fortun 1962. They begot five children. They lived in a small house on the residential land
value of land.—We hold that pursuant to the foregoing provision both the land and in question with an area of approximately 891 square meters, located at Bacabac,
the building belong to the conjugal partnership but the conjugal partnership is indebted to Bugallon, Pangasinan. After FERNANDO’s father died in 1965, FERNANDO
the husband for the value of the land. The spouse owning the lot becomes a creditor of the inherited the land.
conjugal partnership for the value of the lot, which value would be reimbursed at the In 1978, FERNANDO abandoned his family and was living with private
liquidation of the conjugal partnership. respondent Corazon DAGUINES. During the pendency of this appeal, they were
Same; Same; Same.—“As to the above properties, their conversion from paraphernal convicted of concubinage in a judgment rendered on October 27, 1981 by the then
to conjugal assets should be deemed to retroact to the time the conjugal buildings were first
Court of First Instance of Pangasinan, Branch II, which judgment has become
constructed thereon or at the very latest, to the time immediately before the death of
Narciso A. Padilla that ended the conjugal partnership. They can not be considered to have final.
become conjugal property only as of the time their values were paid to the estate of the On April 15, 1980, FERNANDO sold the subject property with the house
widow Concepcion Paterno because by that time the conjugal partnership no longer existed thereon to DAGUINES for the sum of P2,000.00. In the document of sale,
and it could not acquire the ownership of said properties. The acquisition by the partnership FERNANDO described the house as “also inherited by me from my deceased
of these properties was, under the 1943 decision, subject to the suspensive condition that parents.”
their values would be reimbursed to the widow at the liquidation of the conjugal Unable to take possession of the lot and house, DAGUINES initiated a
partnership; once paid, the effects of the fulfillment of the condition should be deemed to complaint on June 19, 1980 for quieting of title and damages against
retroact to the date the obligation was constituted (Art. 1187, New Civil Code). x x x”
MERCEDES. The latter resisted and claimed that the house in dispute where she
Same; Same; Same; Sale; Consent of wife needed for validity of sale of land of
husband on which conjugal house was constructed.—The foregoing premises considered, it and her children were residing, including the coconut trees on the land, were built
follows that FERNANDO could not have alienated the house and lot to DAGUINES since and planted with conjugal funds and through her industry; that the sale of the
MERCEDES had not given her consent to said sale. land together with the house and improvements to DAGUINES was null and void
Same; Same; Same; Sale to concubine null and void.—Anent the second issue, we find because they
that the contract of sale was null and void for being contrary to morals and public policy. 678
The sale was made by a husband in favor of a concubine after he had abandoned his family 678 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
and left the conjugal home where his wife and children lived and from whence they derived
their support. That sale was subversive of the stability of the family, a basic social Calimlim-Canullas vs. Fortun
institution which public policy cherishes and protects. are conjugal properties and she had not given her consent to the sale.
In its original judgment, respondent Court principally declared DAGUINES
PETITION for certiorari to review the decision of the Court of First Instance of “as the lawful owner of the land in question as well as the one-half (½) of the
Pangasinan, Br. I. Fortun, J. house erected on said land.” Upon reconsideration prayed for by MERCEDES,
however, respondent Court resolved:
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
“WHEREFORE, the dispositive portion of the Decision of this Court, promulgated on ownership of said properties. The acquisition by the partnership of these properties was,
October 6, 1980, is hereby amended to read as follows: under the 1943 decision, subject to the suspensive condition that their values would be
reimbursed to the widow at the liquidation of the conjugal partnership; once paid, the
effects of the fulfillment of the condition should be deemed to retroact to the date the
1. “(1)Declaring plaintiff as the true and lawful owner of the land in question and the
obligation was constituted (Art. 1187, New Civil Code). x x x”
10 coconut trees;
2. “(2)Declaring as null and void the sale of the conjugal house to plaintiff on April The foregoing premises considered, it follows that FERNANDO could not have
15, 1980 (Exhibit A) including the 3 coconut trees and other crops planted during alienated the house and lot to
the conjugal relation between Fernando Canullas (vendor) and his legitimate
wife, herein defendant Mercedes Calimlim-Canullas: _______________
given to the second paragraph of Article 158 of the Civil Code, which reads: Anent the second issue, we find that the contract of sale was null and void for
“x x x being contrary to morals and public policy. The sale was made by a husband in
“Buildings constructed at the expense of the partnership during the marriage on land favor of a concubine after he had abandoned his family and left the conjugal home
belonging to one of the spouses also pertain to the partnership, but the value of the land where his wife and children lived and from whence they derived their support.
shall be reimbursed to the spouse who owns the same.” That sale was subversive of the stability of the family, a basic social institution
We hold that pursuant to the foregoing provision both the land and the building which public policy cherishes and protects. 5
belong to the conjugal partnership but the conjugal partnership is indebted to the Article 1409 of the Civil Code states inter alia that: contracts whose cause,
husband for the value of the land. The spouse owning the lot becomes a creditor object, or purpose is contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order, or public
679
policy are voidand inexistent from the very beginning.
VOL. 129, JUNE 22, 1984 679 Article 1352 also provides that: “Contracts without cause, or with unlawful
Calimlim-Canullas vs. Fortun cause, produce no effect whatsoever.The cause is unlawful if it is contrary to law,
of the conjugal partnership for the value of the lot, which value would be
1
morals, good customs, public order, or public policy.”
reimbursed at the liquidation of the conjugal partnership. 2
Additionally, the law emphatically prohibits the spouses from selling property
In his commentary on the corresponding provision in the Spanish Civil Code to each other subject to certain exceptions. Similarly, donations between spouses
6
(Art. 1404), Manresa stated: during marriage are prohibited. And this is so because if transfers or conveyances
7
“El articulo cambia la doctrina; los edificios construidos durante el matrimonio en suelo between spouses were allowed during marriage, that would destroy the system of
propio de uno de los conjuges son gananciales, abonandose el valor del suelo al conjuge a conjugal partnership, a basic policy in civil law. It was also designed to prevent
quien pertenezca.” the exercise of undue influence by one spouse over the other, as well as to protect
8
It is true that in the case of Maramba vs. Lozano, relied upon by respondent
3 the institution of marriage, which is the cornerstone of family law. The
Judge, it was held that the land belonging to one of the spouses, upon which the prohibitions apply to a couple living as husband and wife without benefit of
spouses have built a house, becomes conjugal property only when the conjugal marriage, otherwise, “the condition of those who incurred guilt would turn out to
partnership is liquidated and indemnity paid to the owner of the land. We believe be better than those in legal union.” Those provisions are dictated by public
that the better rule is that enunciated by Mr. Justice JBL Reyes in Padilla vs. interest and their criterion must be imposed upon the will of the parties. That
Paterno, 3 SCRA 678, 691 (1961), where the following was explained: was the ruling in Buenaventura vs.
“As to the above properties, their conversion from paraphernal to conjugal assets should be
deemed to retroact to the time the conjugal buildings were first constructed thereon or at ________________
the very latest, to the time immediately before the death of Narciso A. Padilla that ended
the conjugal partnership. They can not be considered to have become conjugal property only 4 Article 166, Civil Code.
as of the time their values were paid to the estate of the widow Concepcion Paterno because 5 Article 216, Civil Code.
by that time the conjugal partnership no longer existed and it could not acquire the 6 Article 1490, ibid.
7 Article 133, ibid.
8Article 1337, ibid. Property acquired partly with paraphernal and partly with conjugal funds is
681
held to belong to both patrimonies in common, in proportion to the contribution of
VOL. 129, JUNE 22, 1984 681 each of the total purchase price. (Castillo, Jr. vs. Pasco, 11 SCRA 102.)
Calimlim-Canullas vs. Fortun
Bautista, also penned by Justice JBL Reyes (CA) 50 O.G. 3679, and cited in ——o0o——
Matabuena vs. Cervantes. We quote hereunder the pertinent dissertation on this
9
point: © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
“We reach a different conclusion. While Art. 133 of the Civil Code considers as void a
donation between the spouses during the marriage, policy considerations of the most exigent
character as well as the dictates of morality require that the same prohibition should apply
to a common-law relationship.
“As announced in the outset of this opinion, a 1954 Court of Appeals decision,
Buenaventura vs. Bautista, 50 OG 3679, interpreting a similar provision of the old Civil
Code speaks unequivocally. If the policy of the law is, in the language of the opinion of the
then Justice J.B.L. Reyes of that Court, ‘to prohibit donations in favor of the other consort
and his descendants because of fear of undue influence and improper pressure upon the
donor, a prejudice deeply rooted in our ancient law, x x x, then there is every reason to apply
the same prohibitive policy to persons living together as husband and wife without benefit of
nuptials.For it is not to be doubted that assent to such irregular connection for thirty years
bespeaks greater influence of one party over the other, so that the danger that the law seeks
to avoid is correspondingly increased’. Moreover, as pointed out by Ulpian (in his lib 32 ad
Sabinum, fr. 1), ‘It would not be just that such donations should subsist, lest the conditions
of those who incurred guilt should turn out to be better.’ So long as marriage remains the
cornerstone of our family law, reason and morality alike demand that the disabilities
attached to marriage should likewise attach to concubinage” (Italics supplied).
WHEREFORE, the Decision of respondent Judge, dated October 6, 1980, and his
Resolution of November 27, 1980 on petitioner’s Motion for Reconsideration, are
hereby set aside and the sale of the lot, house and improvements in question, is
hereby declared null and void. No costs.
SO ORDERED.
Teehankee, (Chairman), Plana, Relova, Gutierrez, Jr., and De la Fuente,
JJ., concur.
Decision set aside.
________________
*SECOND DIVISION. PETITION for certiorari to review the decision of the Court of Appeals.
298
Gopengco, J.
2 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
98 The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Ong vs, Court of Appeals
Jose L. Lapak for petitioner.
factual finding of the trial court is entitled to great weight and should not be
Jose M. Abola for private respondent.
disturbed on appeal. “Factual questions should be resolved by the lower courts and the
Supreme Court has no ju jurisdiction as a rule to reverse the findings of the lower courts PARAS, J.:
except in a clear showing of a grave abuse of discretion” (Korean Air Lines vs. Court of
Appeals, 154 SCRA 211). In the instant case, petitioner failed to show any grave abuse of The instant petition for certiorari seeks a reversal of the decision ** of herein
discretion committed by the lower court in appreciating private respondent’s allegation that
public respondent Court of Appeals dated October 24, 1977 in CA-G.R. No. 47063-
petitioner was previously notified of the supposed transfer of the date of public auction from
September 25, 1958 to October 10, 1958.
R and its resolution dated January 14, 1983 denying herein petitioner’s Motion
Civil Law; Paraphernal property.—The mere use of the surname of the husband in for Reconsideration.
the tax declaration of the subject property is not sufficient proof that said property was The Court of Appeals narrates the facts thus:
acquired during the marriage and is therefore conjugal. It is undisputed that the subject The record shows that on November 16,1961, Ramon C. Ong filed a complaint
parcel was declared solely in the wife’s name, but the house built thereon was declared in against defendants Arsenio Camino as Deputy Sheriff of Camarines Norte and
the name of the spouses. Under such circumstances, coupled with a careful scrutiny of the Francisco Boix, to annul the auction sale of a parcel of land, allegedly owned
records of the present case, We hold that the lot in question is paraphernal, and is therefore, conjugally by plaintiff and his former wife Teodora B. Ong, awarded in favor of
liable for the personal debts of the wife.
Boix, as highest bidder, in an auction sale conducted on October 10, 1958 by the
Same; Conjugal property; Necessity to prove that property was acquired during
marriage.—As correctly pointed out by the respondent Court. the party who invokes the
Deputy Sheriff of Camarines Norte, herein defendant Camino, pursuant to a writ
presumption that all property of the marriage belongs to the conjugal partnership (Art. 160, of execution dated August 8, 1958 (Exhibits “C", “2-A") issued by the Court of
New Civil Code) must first prove that the property was acquired during the marriage. Proof First Instance of Manila, Branch IV, to enforce its decision in Civil Case No.
of acquisition during the marriage is a condition sine qua non for the operation of the 33396, entitled, “Francisco Boix, Plaintiff vs. Teodora B. Ong and Ramon C. Ong,
presumption in favor of the conjugal partnership. Defendants” wherein judgment was rendered to wit:
Same; Same; Liability of conjugal partnership for debts of wife incurred in the course
of her business.—Furthermore, even assuming for the sake of argument that the property in
________________
dispute is conjugal, the same may still be held liable for the debts of the wife in this case.
Under Art. 117 of the Civil Code, the wife may engage in business although the husband
** Penned by the then Associate Justice (now deceased) Simeon M. Gopengco
may object (but subject to certain conditions). It is clear from the records that the wife was
engaged in the logging business with the husband’s knowledge and apparently without any and concurred in by Associate Justices Ameurfina A. Melencio-Herrera and
objection on his part. The acts of the husband show that he gave his implied consent to the Vicente G. Ericta.
wife’s engagement in business. According to Justice Ameurfina-Herrera (then Associate 300
Justice of the Court of Appeals) in her concurring opinion, the rule that should govern in
300 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Ong vs. Court of Appeals held liable for personal debts contracted by the wife, and that there was
WHEREFORE. judgment is hereby rendered in favor of plaintiff, ordering the no valid publication thus making the auction sale void.
defendant Teodora B. Ong to pay to the plaintiff the sum of P2,827.83, with The Court of Appeals affirmed the decision of the trial court,
interest of 8% per annum on the sum of P1,000.00 from September 5, 1955, on the prompting petitioner to file a motion for reconsideration thereof. Said
sum of P1,000.00 from October 30, 1955; and on the sum of P827.83 from motion was denied on January 15, 1983; hence, the present petition.
December 30, 1955 plus 15% on the total amount of P2,827.83 as attorney’s fees; Petitioner contends that the auction sale of the property in dispute is
and the further amount of P2,503 with interest at 6% per annum from date of the null and void, having been made on a date different from that reflected in
filing of the complaint, and the costs of the suit.” (Exhibit “1")
the advertisement thereof, aside from having been published in a
The title to the property, in favor of the execution-creditor Boix was duly
registered in the Office of the Register of Deeds of Camarines Norte (Exhibit “4").
newspaper which is not of general circulation in the province where the
It is not disputed that plaintiffs wife, Teodora B. Ong conducted her own property is situated, According to the petitioner, respondent court’s
logging business in Camarines Sur. In furtherance of her business operation, on failure to touch on such a jurisdictional issue constitutes grave abuse of
August 18, 1955, she secured from Francisco Boix a loan in the amount of discretion which justifies a reversal of its decision affirming the finding of
P2,827.83. Unfortunately, because of mismanagement, Teodora defaulted in her the trial court which in itself constitutes a misappreciation of facts.
obligation. This prompted Boix to file a complaint, based on the promissory notes The other argument advanced by the petitioner is that the subject
executed by Teodora, to collect the sum legally due plus interest against Teodora property is really corjugal which the wife in the case at bar could not
and Ramon Ong, the latter being joined as husband of the former. Defendant- legally bind, and considering that the indebtedness was contracted by the
spouses were declared in default and judgment was rendered, as aforesaid, in
wife only, the levy of the subject property not owned exclusively by the
favor of Boix.
After the aforementioned decision became final and executory, Boix moved to
wife but owned jointly with the husband is improper.
execute the judgment. The motion was granted and a corresponding writ of Against petitioner’s argument that the auction sale is null and void is
execution, dated August 8, 1958 (Exhibits “C", “2-A"), was issued. Accordingly, the the trial court’s assessment of the validity thereof, that is, that the notice
Sheriff of Camarines Norte levied and attached a parcel of land situated at Diego of public auction sale was published in accordance with law. Such a
Linan St., Daet, Camarines Norte, declared under Tax No. 05378 in the sole name factual finding of the trial court is entitled to great weight and should not
of Teodora B. Ong, subject-parcel of herein suit. In a notice of levy on Execution be disturbed on appeal. “Factual questions should be resolved by the
dated August 22, 1958 (Exhibit “2-B") and notice of Public Auction sale dated lower courts and the Supreme Court has no jurisdiction as a
September 10, 1958 (Exhibit “2-C"), auction sales was held on October 10, 1958 rule to reverse the findings of the lower courts except in a clear showing
and as already mentioned, defendant Boix was adjudged highest bidder. A writ of
of a grave abuse of discretion” (Korean Air Lines vs. Court of
possession was issued to place the execution-creditor in possession of the property
levied upon and sold on execution. A corresponding Certificate of Sale (Exhibit
Appeals, 154 SCRA 211). In the instant case, petitioner failed to show
“H") was also issued in favor of Boix. any grave abuse of discretion committed by the lower court in
Subsequently, thereafter, Ramon C. Ong filed an Omnibus motion dated appreciating private respondent’s allegation that petitioner was
October 2,1961 (Exhibit “D") with the same Court of First Instance of Manila previously notified of the supposed transfer of the date of public auction
asking to quash the writ of possession, which was denied in an order dated from September 25, 1958 to October 10, 1958.
December 6,1961. A motion for reconsideration dated December 29,1961 (Exhibit 302
“F") was likewise denied in an order dated February 10,1962 (Exhibit “G"). (Pp. 1– 302 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
4, Decision; pp. 11–14, Rollo)
301 Ong vs. Court of Appeals
VOL. 204, NOVEMBER 29, 1991 301 Petitioner’s other argument is also based on factual considerations.
Against the Court of Appeals’ finding that the subject property is
Ong vs. Court of Appeals
paraphernal property, in view of the fact that it was “declared, under Tax
Consequently, petitioner brought the case to the Court of Appeals to No. 05378, in the name of Teodora B. Ong while the house erected
annul the auction sale allegedly irregularly executed on the following thereon was declared under Tax No. 06022 in the name of Ramon C. Ong
grounds, namely, that the property was conjugal and thus could not be and Teodora B. Ong (Exhibits “B", “H", “2-B", “2-C, “4") (Decision, p. 4) is
petitioner’s claim that the subject property is conjugal. Petitioner stresses
heavily on the fact that since the surname “Ong” (which is the surname of without any objection on his part. The acts of the husband show that he
the husband Ramon C. Ong) was carried by Teodora in the aforesaid tax gave his implied consent to the wife’s engagement in business, According
declaration, that indicates that the subject property was acquired during to Justice Ameurfina-Herrera (then Associate Justice of the Court of
the marriage. By reason thereof, the property in dispute is presumed to Appeals) in her concurring opinion, the rule that should govern in that
be owned jointly by both spouses. case is that the wife’s paraphernal properties, as well as those of their
We disagree. The mere use of the surname of the husband in the tax conjugal partnership, shall be liable for the obligations incurred by the
declaration of the subject property is not sufficient proof that said wife in the course of her business (Arts. 117, 140, 172, 203, and 236, Civil
property was acquired during the marriage and is therefore conjugal. It is Code; Art 10, Code of Commerce, cited in Commentaries on Phil.
undisputed that the subject parcel was declared solely in the wife’s name, Commercial Laws, Martin, T.C. Vol. 1, 1970 Revised Edition, pp. 14–15).
but the house built thereon was declared in the name of the spouses. After all, whatever profits are earned by the wife from her business go to
Under such circumstances, coupled with a careful scrutiny of the records the conjugal partnership. It would only be just and equitable that the
of the present case, We hold that the lot in question is paraphernal, and obligations contracted by the wife in connection with her business may
is therefore, liable for the personal debts of the wife. also be chargeable not only against her paraphernal property but also
Thus, it was held in the case of Maramba vs. Lozano, 20 SCRA 474, against the conjugal property of the spouses.
that Let it be noted that due to the length of time that this case has
‘The presumption that property is conjugal (Art. 160, New Civil Code) refers to remained pending, private respondents Francisco Boix and Arsenio
property acquired during the marriage. When there is no showing as to when the Camino have allegedly already died in the process. No proper substitution
property was acquired by a spouse, the fact that the title is in the spouse’s name of parties have apparently been made. Nevertheless, despite such
is an indication that the property belongs exclusively to said spouse.”
supervening events, for failure on the part of petitioner to show any grave
As correctly pointed out by the respondent Court, the party who invokes abuse of discretion or reversible error committed by respondent appellate
the presumption that all property of the marriage belongs to the conjugal court, We
partnership (Art. 160, New Civil Code) must first prove that the property 304
was acquired during the marriage. Proof of acquisition during the 304 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
marriage is a condition sine qua non for the operation of the presumption
in favor of the conjugal partnership. (Cobb-Perez, et al. vs. Lantin, et Alabanzas vs. Intermediate Appellate Court
al., 23 SCRA 637; Jose Ponce de Leon vs. Rehabilitation Finance deem it wise to affirm the said court’s decision. Besides, the decision of
303 the trial court is in accordance with law and the evidence presented,
VOL. 204, NOVEMBER 29, 1991 303 WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DISMISSED for lack of merit
without pronouncement as to costs.
Ong vs. Court of Appeals
SO ORDERED.
Corp., 36 SCRA 289). In the same manner, the recent case of PNB vs. Padilla and Regalado, JJ., concur.
Court of Appeals, 153 SCRA 435 affirms that: Melencio-Herrera (Chairman, J., No Part Concurred in the Court
“When the property is registered in the name of a spouse only and there is no
of Appeals decision under review.
showing as to when the property was acquired by said spouse, this is an
indication that the property belongs exclusively to said spouse. And this Petition dismissed.
presumption under Art. 160 of the Civil Code cannot prevail when the title is in Note.—Proof of acquisition during the coverture is a condition sine
the name of only one spouse and the rights of innocent third parties are involved.” qua non for the operation of the presumption in favor of conjugal
Furthermore, even assuming for the sake of argument that the property ownership, (Jocson vs. Court of Appeals, 170 SCRA 333.)
in dispute is conjugal, the same may still be held liable for the debts of
the wife in this case. Under Art. 117 of the Civil Code, the wife may ——o0o——
engage in business although the husband may object (but subject to
certain conditions). It is clear from the records that the wife was engaged © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
in the logging business with the husband’s knowledge and apparently
VOL. 10, MARCH 31, 1964 493 About a month after this decision was rendered, Kalaw filed a complaint
against her husband Katigbak, for "judicial separation of property and separate
Laperal, Jr. vs. Katigbak administration,'" docketed as Civil Case No. 12860, of the Court of First Instance
No. L-16991. March 31, 1964. of Manila. Prior to the trial, Katigbak and Kalaw submitted an agreement or
ROBERTO LAPERAL, JR., ET AL., plaintiffs-appellants, vs. RAMON L. stipulation of facts, on the basis of which, the court granted the prayer for the
KATIGBAK, ET AL., defendants-appellees. "judicial
Conjugal property; Presumption in favor of partnership rebutted.—The legal 495
presumption that all properties acquired during the marriage are conjugal is rebuttable. In VOL. 10, MARCH 31, 1964 495
the case at bar, the property in question is paraphernal despite its having been acquired
during coverture as proven by the following circumstances: the disputed land is in the name Laperal, Jr. vs. Katigbak
of the wife; the property was of such substantial value as the husband then by himself could separation of property and separate administration."
not have afforded to buy; the purchase price was furnished by the wife's mother; it was On February 1, 1955, the Laperals filed another complaint against Kalaw and
established that it was a practice of the wife's parents to so provide their children with Katigbak, Civil Case No. 25235 in the Court of First Instance of Manila, seeking
money to purchase realties for themselves; and, the husband expressly acknowledged in the among other things, annulment of the proceedings had in Civil Case No. 12860 for
deed of sale that the did not have any interest in the property.
494
"judicial separation of property and separate administration/' to enforce the
judgment secured by the Laperals in Civil Case No. 11767 on the fruits of Kalaw's
494 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED paraphernal property, and to secure a ruling declaring the real property covered
Laperal, Jr. vs. Katigbak by TCT No. 57626 as conjugal property of Katigbak and Kalaw. After trial, the
court dismissed the complaint, which dismissal the Laperals appealed to this
APPEAL from a judgment of the Court of First Instance of Manila. Gatmaitan, J. Court. Acting on the same, We rendered judgment under G.R. No. L-11418,
promulgated on December 27, 1958, the pertinent portion of which reads:
"However, our holding does not- write a finis to the case. Because the trial court held that
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
the conjugal partnership was not liable, it naturally, saw no reason or necessity for
William H. Quasha & Associates for plaintiffs-appellants. rulingupon the other issues involved, such as the legality of the proceedings in Civil Case
Bausa, Ampil & Suarez for defendant-appellee Evelina Kalaw Katigbak. No. 12860 for the dissolution of the conjugal partnership and whether or not the property
Ramon L. Katigbak in his own behalf as defendant-appellee. covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 57626 belongs to the conjugal partnership.
"In conclusion, .we hold that while the fruits of the paraphernal property of Kalaw are
REGALA, J.: not liable for the enforcement of the obligations contracted by Katigbak, nevertheless, the
conjugal properties are.
"The case is hereby ordered remanded for further proceedings to the trial court, the
This is an appeal from a decision of the Court of First Instance of Manila latter to make the necessary findings indicated and then render a decision on the basis of
declaring the property covered by TCT No. 57626 in the City of Manila to be the said findings in accordance with our decision. No costs."
separate or paraphernal property of the defendant-appellee Evelina Kalaw. In compliance with the above endorsement, the trial court, after submission by
Plaintiffs-appellants, the spouses Laperal, disagree with the said finding. Hence the parties of their respective memoranda, there being already sufficient evidence
they appealed from the said decision. They maintain that the realty in question, in the record, rendered judgment declaring the property covered by TCT No 57626
with its improvements and income, are conjugal assets of the spouses Evelina as paraphernal. Hence, this appeal.
Kalaw and Ramon Katigbak. The facts upon which the trial court predicated its con clusion that the realty
This litigation is a sequel to the one instituted by the Laperals against in question is paraphernal are as follows:
Katigbak and Kalaw way back in August, 1950. In that case, Civil Case No. "For the reason that it is established without contradiction in the record that the spouses
11767 of the Court of First Instance of Manila, the Laperals sought from the Ramon Katigbak and Evelina Kalaw were married in 1938 (tsn, p. 20, hearing of Jan. 31,
therein defendants "recovery of P14,000 evidenced by various promissory notes 1956) and either of them had brought properties unto the mar
executed in favor of the Laperals by Katigbak, and for the return of jewelry 496
Valued at P97,500.00, delivered by the Laperals to Katigbak for sale on 496 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
commission, or a total of P111,500.00." On November , 1950, upon a confession of Laperal, Jr. vs. Katigbak
judgment by Katigbak, the trial court rendered judgment against him to pay the riage; that Ramon's occupation was that of Asst. Atty. of the Bank of the Phil. Islands
Laperals the sum of P14,000.00, and to return the jewelry involved, or in lieu wherein his monthly salary was ?200.00 (id); that the property under TCT No. 57626 was
thereof, to pay plaintiffs P97,500.00, with interest from August 8, 1950. registered in the name of 'Evelina Kalaw-Katigbak, married to Ramon Katigbak' on
December 6, 1939, only two years after the marriage and the property was and is in Calle
Evangelista, which was and is a business district; the Court, notwithstanding the Assessor's Office showing that the land was assessed in his name; .a certified copy
presumption that all properties acquired during the marriage are conjugal, is led to believe of an inspector's report in which the name of the husband appears as the owner;
that, as Evelina declares, her mother Pura Villanueva was the one that had bought that and, a tax declaration made in November, 1905, relating to the property in
property for her and had placed it only in her name as was the practice of her mother; that
dispute, in the name of the husband." Yet, even then, this Court declined to give
is, buying properties and placing them directly in the names of her children; and this is
recognized by Article 1448; and the Court is all the more led to the conclusion when it sees effect to the presumption as the wife's evidence to the contrary were more
that Ramon Katigbak, in the -same year 1939, that is, long before the spouses had come to preponderant. In the present case, on the other hand, We note that other than
the parting of ways, made a manifestation that he had no interest in the properties— invoking the presumption, the burden of denying the evidence so presented was
'Ramon Katigbak, the husband of the vendor signed this document only for the purpose of assisting his shifted to the appellant. In this latter task, the appellant failed completely.
wife but he has no interest in the property. Again, in the Coingco case, We ruled:
(Sgd.) Ramon L. Katigbak' "The second question raised in the motion for reconsidera
(Exh. 5-a, p. 189, Record)" 498
As this case is before Us now, therefore, the issue is whether or not the above
498 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
findings warrant a rejection of the presumption that the property disputed, for
the reason that it was acquired during the marriage, is conjugal. Laperal, Jr. vs. Katigbak
We find for the appellee. tion is, whether the presumption that the properties in litigation are conjugal properties
There is no denying that all properties acquired during the marriage are, by because they were acquired during the coverture may be sufficiently rebutted by any one of
law, presumed conjugal. (Art. 160, Civil Code) The presumption, however, is not the following facts: (1) the titles to them are in the name of the wife alone; (2) that the
husband gave his marital consent to their being mortgaged by the wife; (3) that the wife was
conclusive but merely rebuttable, for the same law is unequivocal that it exists
financially able to buy those properties. While it is true that each one of them, taken
only "unless it be proved that it (the property) belongs exclusively to the husband separately, may not be sufficient to overcome the above-quoted presumption established by
or to the wife." And, examining the records and evidence in this suit, We hold that Art. 1407 of the Civil Code, it is nonetheless true that all of them taken together, with all
this is a case where the presumption has been sufficiently and convincingly the other facts and circumstances established by the evidence, might be, and were,
disproven. considered by the lower court as sufficient to rebut the same presumption."
The facts recited by the trial judge in explanation of his view that the property In the case before Us now for review, the deed to the disputed land is in the name
in dispute is paraphernal despite its having been acquired during coverture, of the wife. At the time of its purchase, the property was already of such
impress Us as adequate and conclusive. As a matter of fact, the factors he took substantial value as admittedly, the husband, by himself could not have afforded
into account in rejecting the to buy, considering that his singular source of income then was his P200.00 a
497 month salary from a Manila bank. As in the Casiano case, supra, the defendant
VOL. 10, MARCH 31, 1964 497 herein testified, and was believed by the trial court, that the purchase price was
furnished by her mother so she could buy the property for herself. Furthermore, it
Laperal, Jr. vs. Katigbak
was established during the trial that it was a practice of defendant's parents to so
presumption, on the whole, tally with Our own views in the cases of Casiano v.
provide their children with money to purchase realties for themselves.
Samaniego, 30 Phil. 135 and Coingco v. Flores, 82 Phil. 284.
These facts, quite obviously, more than measure up to the circumstances
In the Casiano case, the deeds to the property in question were in the name of
obtaining in the two cases previously cited wherein We held the conjugal
the defendant who testified that they were "purchased by her mother for herself"
presumption to have been rebutted.
and that the purchase price was paid with money furnished by her mother. On
IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, the judgment of the lower Court declaring
the foregoing, the trial judge rendered judgment in favor of the defendant, and
the property covered by TCT No. 57626 of the Register of Deeds of Manila as
declared the real properties to be paraphernal. On appeal to this Court, declaring
paraphernal is hereby affirmed, with costs against the appellants.
the ruling as essentially factual, We said:
Bengzon, C.J., Concepcion, Reyes,
"We do not question the correctness of the doctrine contended for, but we think it is
sufficient to say that the legal presumption established by article 1407 of the Civil Code has J.B.L., Barrera, Paredes and Makalintal, JJ., concur.
been overcame by the evidence of record. There is nothing in the record which would justify Padilla and Bautista Angelo, JJ., took no part.
us in disturbing the findings of the trial judge as to the credibility of the witnesses called by Dizon, J., did not take part.
the defense, and if we believe the defendant herself there can be no doubt the land in Judgment affirmed.
question was, purchased for the wife with her own separate funds." Notes.—The party who invokes the presumption of conjugal ownership in
It should be further noted that the husband in the aforecited case, apart from Article 160 of the new Civil Code must first prove that the property in question
relying on the presumption established by the Civil Code, sought to show the was acquired
conjugal nature of the disputed property by presenting a number of documentary 499
evidence. He exhibited, for instance, "certified copies of reports on file in the City
VOL. 10, MARCH 31, 1964 499
Insurance Company of North America vs. United States Lines Company
during the marriage; this is a condition sine qua non before the presumption will
apply. Cobb-Perez v. Lantin, L-22320, May 22, 1968, 23 SCRA 637, 644
citing Maramba v. Lozano, L-21533, June 29, 1967, 20 SCRA 474, and Camia de
Reyes v. Reyes de Ilano, 63 Phil. 629.
Once the property in question is proved to have been acquired during the
marriage, the presumption attaches. Registration alone of the property in the
name of one of the spouses does not destroy the conjugal nature of the
property. Bucoy v. Paulino, L-25775, April 26, 1968, 23 SCRA 248, 257
citing Alvarez v. Espiritu, L-18833, Aug. 14,1965; Silos v. Ramos, 97 Phil.
263; Guinoo v. Court of Appeals, 97 Phil. 235; Sideco v. Aznar, 92 Phil. 952; Vitug
v. Montemayor, 91 Phil. 286; Padilla v. Padilla, 74 Phil. 377; Romero de Pratts v.
Menzi & Co., Inc., 53 Phil. 51; and Marigsa v. Macabuntoc, 17 Phil. 107.
______________
baptismal certificate, Exh. “7-A”, the rule is that although the baptismal record of a natural
ILUMINADA PONCE BERCILES, ILONA BERCILES ALVAREZ, ELLERY P. child describes her as a child of the decedent, yet, if in the preparation of the record the
BERCILES, ENGLAND P. BERCILES and IONE P. BERCILES, decedent had no intervention, the baptismal record cannot be held to be a voluntary
petitioners, vs.GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM, PASCUAL recognition of parentage. (Canales vs. Arrogante, et al., 91 Phil. 6; Adriano vs. De Jesus, 23
VOLTAIRE BERCILES, MARIA LUISA BERCILES VILLAREAL, MERCY Phil. 350; Samson vs. Corrales Tan, 48 Phil. 401; Madridejo vs. De Leon, 55 Phil. 1;
BERCILES PATACSIL and RHODA BERCILES, respondents. Malonda vs. Infante Vda. de Malonda, 81 Phil. 149). The reason for this rule that canonical
records do not constitute the authentic document prescribed by Arts. 115 and 117 to prove
Adm. Matter No. 1337-Ret. March 5, 1984. *
the legitimate filiation of a child is that such canonical record is simply proof of the only act
RE: CLAIM OF THE HEIRS OF THE LATE PASCUAL G. BERCILES, Former to which the priest may certify by reason of his personal knowledge, an act done by himself
District Judge of the Court of First Instance of Cebu, Cebu City, FOR THE or in his presence, like the administration of the sacrament upon a day stated; it is no proof
UNPAID SALARY, MONEY VALUE OF TERMINAL LEAVE and of the declarations in the record with respect to the parentage of the child baptized, or of
REPRESENTATION AND TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCES OF THE prior and distinct facts which require separate and concrete evidence. (Adriano vs. De Jesus,
DECEASED JUDGE. 23 Phil. 350).
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Judges; Affidavits of sister-in-law of deceased judge
Adm. Matter No. 10468-CFI. March 5, 1984. *
that her family lived closely together with her brother-in-law and his wife, during Japanese
RE: TERMINAL LEAVE PAY, UNPAID SALARY AND ALLOWANCE OF THE occupation not sufficient proof of filiation.—Discrediting the above certificates (birth and
LATE CFI JUDGE PASCUAL G. BERCILES: FLOR FUENTEBELLA AND HER baptismal) of the illegitimate spurious children which do not constitute proof of filiation
FOUR CHILDREN, ALL SURNAMED BERCILES, petitioners, vs. ILUMINADA with the deceased Judge Berciles, what remains are the sworn statements of Coronacion
PONCE AND HER FOUR CHILDREN, ALL SURNAMED BERCILES, Berciles, Exh.
55
respondents.
Civil Registry; Evidence; Succession; Parents and Children;Filiation; If alleged father VOL. 128, MARCH 5, 1984 55
did not intervene in the birth certificate, the putting of his name by the mother or doctor or Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System
registrar is null and void the signature of the alleged father on the birth certificate is 10 and 31, sister-in-law of the late Judge Berciles wherein she stated that after she
necessary.—The evidence considered by the Committee on Claims Settlement as basis of its was married to her husband, they lived together with the family of Pascual Berciles and his
finding that Pascual Voltaire Berciles is an acknowledged natural child of the late Judge wife, Flor Fuentebella; that their two families had lived closely enough during the Japanese
Pascual Berciles is the birth certificate of said Pascual Voltaire Berciles marked “Exh. “6”. Occupation and even after. These statements, however, does not prove the filiation of the
We have examined carefully this birth certificate and We find that the same is not signed by children to the late Judge Pascual Berciles.
either the father or the mother; We find no Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Retirement Law; Family pictures do not
indicate marriage and is not proof of filiation.—Neither are the family pictures, Exhs. 30 to
_______________
30-M, which, according to the Committee, do not indicate that the marriage (between Judge
Berciles and Flor Fuentebella) took place and that if at all, the said pictures show the
EN BANC.
presence of a family with or without the sanction of marriage. We agree and We add that
*
54
said pictures do not constitute proof of filiation.
5 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; A typewritten letter signed by the father is not
4 an authentic writing and is not a credible evidence of recognition.—We also agree with the
finding of the Committee that “(t)he letters written by Judge Berciles to her daughters with
Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System Flor Fuentebella especially the one sent to daughter Mercy Berciles (Exh. “22”) wherein he
participation or intervention whatsoever therein by the alleged father, Judge Pascual vigorously affirmed that it’s only her mother, Flor Fuentebella, and no other woman who
Berciles. Under our jurisprudence, if the alleged father did not intervene in the birth was recognized as his wife and loved by her parents deserve scant consideration. Pascual
certificate, the putting of his name by the mother or doctor or registrar is null and void. Berciles could not be expected to admit the existence of his other family. This would be
Such registration would not be evidence of paternity. (Joaquin P. Roces et al, vs. Local Civil disastrous to his efforts at preventing one family from knowing the other.” Not only do they
Registrar of Manila, 102 Phil. 1050). The mere certificate by the registrar without the deserve scant consideration but also, there is jurisprudence that a typewritten letter signed
signature of the father is not proof of voluntary acknowledgment on his part (Dayrit vs. by the father is not an authentic writing. (Decision of the Supreme Court of Spain of Feb.
Piccio, 92 Phil. 729). A birth certificate does not constitute recognition in a public 27, 1923 and Dec. 7, 1927 cited in 3 Castan, 6th ed., 25; see Caguioa, Comments and Cases
instrument. (Pareja vs. Pareja, et al., 95 Phil. 167). A birth certificate, to evidence on Civil Law, Vol. I, p. 379).
acknowledgment, must, under Section 5 of Act 3753, bear the signature under oath of the Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Affidavits are insufficient to show filiation.—As to
the other exhibits of private respondents, We affirm the Committee’s finding that the Flor
Fuentebella Affidavit (Exh. “5”) is self-serving; that the testimony of Concepcion Gonzales the same to the Court of Appeals, now the Intermediate Appellate Court, on questions of
(Exh. “31-A”), being blind, is deficient; and that the affidavit of Judge Rafael Lavente (Exh. law and facts following the procedures for appeals from the Court of First Instance (now
“35”) has been repudiated. Indeed, the above evidence are, to Our view, very insignificant, Regional Trial Court) to the I.A.C. and if the appeal is only on questions of law, the same
insufficient, and unsubstantial to prove the filiation of private respondents to the alleged shall be brought directly to the Supreme Court on certiorari, which abbreviated procedure
father, Judge Pascual Berciles. was designed to facilitate, and not to prolong, the payment of benefits, may be invoked by
56 the petitioners.
5 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Same; Same; Same; Same; P.D. 1146 is applicable to disputes arising under the
Judiciary Retirement Law.—That P.D. 1146, Sec. 35 is applicable to disputes arising under
6 the Judiciary Retirement Act and all other acts administered by the GSIS may also be
Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System construed from Sec. 23 of the Decree which provides that the “System shall prescribe such
Retirement Law; Public Officers; Succession; Judges; The GSIS distribution of the rules and regulations to facilitate payment of benefits, proceeds and claims under the Act
retirement pay of deceased judge being without factual and legal basis is erroneous. and any other laws administered by the System.”
Retirement benefits of deceased judge should accrue to his estate to be distributed in
accordance with law to his heirs.—In fine, We hold and rule that the respondent GSIS PETITION to review the order of the Government Service Insurance System.
committed grave abuse of discretion in approving Resolution No. 431 which adopted the
erroneous recommendation of the Committee on Claims Settlement, a recommendation The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
which has no legal or factual basis to stand on. Accordingly, the disposition made by
Ramon M. Durano & Associates for petitioners.
respondent GSIS of the retirement benefits due the heirs of the late Judge Pascual G.
Berciles is consequently erroneous and not in accordance with law. Petitioners are the
Luzel D. Demasu-ay and Nicolas Sonalan for Pascual Voltaire, et al.
lawful heirs entitled to the distribution of the benefits which shall accrue to the estate of the private respondents in 57257.
deceased Judge Berciles and will be distributed among the petitioners as his legal heirs in
accordance with the law on intestate succession. (Re: Mario vs. Chanliongco, 79 SCRA 364; GUERRERO, J.:
Vda. de Consuegra vs. GSIS, 37 SCRA 325).
Succession; Retirement Law; Share of surviving spouse and children in intestate
The disposition made by respondent GSIS of the retirement benefits under
estate.—According to Article 996 of the New Civil Code which provides that “If a widow or
widower and legitimate children or descendants are left, the surviving spouse has in the
Republic Act 910, as amended, due the heirs of the late Judge of Court of First
succession the same share as that of each of the children,” and Article 980 which provides Instance Pascual G. Berciles whereby the GSIS considered said retirement
that “The children of the deceased shall always inherit from him in their own right, dividing benefits in the
the inheritance in equal shares,” the retirement benefits shall be distributed equally to the 58
five (5) heirs: Iluminada Ponce Berciles, Ilona Berciles Alvarez, Ellery P. Berciles, England 58 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
P. Berciles and Ione P. Berciles.
Same; Same; Conjugal Property; Retirement premium forms part of conjugal estate, Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System
absent proof to contrary.—As to the retirement premiums totaling P9,700.00, the same is total amount of P311,460.00 as partly conjugal and partly exclusive in nature and
presumed conjugal property, there being no proof that the premiums were paid from the thus divided the same in the following proportion:
exclusive funds of the deceased Judge (Article 160, New Civil Code). Such being the case,
77
one-half of the amount belongs to the wife as her property in the conjugal partnership and
the other half shall go to the estate of the deceased Judge which shall in turn be distributed ____ for the surviving spouse, Iluminada Ponce Berciles;
to his legal heirs.
134
Same; Same; Public Officers; Only the heirs are entitled to terminal leave pay, unpaid
salary and allowances of deceased judge.—With respect to the terminal leave pay, unpaid 10 each for the legitimate children, Ilona Berciles
salary and allowances accruing to the deceased, since petitioners are the only
57 ____ Alvarez, Ellery P. Berciles, England P. Berciles and
VOL. 128, MARCH 5, 1984 57 134 Ione P. Berciles;
Memorandum that “the alleged marital relationship between the late Judge VOL. 128, MARCH 5, 1984 63
Berciles and Ms. Flor Fuentebella Berciles has no leg to stand on. It should be Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System
stated in this connection that there was no marriage contract submitted by Miss Judge Pascual G. Berciles be awarded and correspondingly distributed to his lawful heirs,
Rhoda F. Berciles in her claim-letter, dated October 29, 1979, nor was there any the Court Resolved to AWARD and CORRESPONDINGLY DISTRIBUTE aforesaid benefits
certification from the Local Civil Registrar certifying to the fact that the deceased to his lawful heirs, namely: Mrs. Iluminada Ponce Berciles, surviving spouse; Mrs. Ilona
Judge was actually married to Miss Flor Fuentebella. It can, therefore, be Berciles Alvarez, daughter; Ellery Berciles, son; England P. Berciles, son; and Ione P.
assumed that Miss Flor Fuentebella was not legally married to the late Judge Berciles, daughter.”
Pascual Berciles. Necessarily, it follows that the innocent children that came into Pursuant to the above Resolution, the amount of P60,817.52 was paid to
being out of the alleged marital union of the deceased Judge and Ms. Flor Iluminada Ponce and her four children on April 2, 1981.
Fuentebella Berciles are spurious and have no established family filiation with On April 23, 1981, Flor Fuentebella and her four children, Pascual Voltaire,
the said Judge. We can, therefore, rule that the attached papers/documents in the Ma. Luisa, Mercy, and Rhoda, through counsel, filed a Motion for Reconsideration
letter of Miss Rhoda F. Berciles, dated October 29, 1979 relative to their praying that the resolution of March 17, 1981 be set aside; that they be allowed to
62 present their evidence; and that, after due hearing, the benefits be awarded and
62 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED distributed to them as lawful heirs. In support of their motion, the movants
alleged that they did not receive the Resolution of March 17, 1981 nor the letter
Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System
or notice of hearing sent by Atty. Quilala on December 22, 1980, the same having
claim as the surviving heirs of the late CFI Judge Pascual Berciles are mere scrap been sent to their old address at 6069-B, Palma St., Makati; that all of the
of papers unworthy of credence, there being no substantiating evidence to movants have left the Philippines to reside in the United States of America and
corroborate the same, especially so in the face of the adverse claim of Mrs. that the aunts and cousins residing at the old address moved to a new address at
Iluminada Ponce Berciles as the rightful surviving spouse and with whom the GSIS Village, Project 8, Quezon City; that before they moved to the new address,
deceased Judge was living with at the time of his untimely demise.” these relatives left a forwarding address at the Makati Post Office; and, that they
The same memorandum, therefore, recommended that since “(a)ll the did not receive the aforementioned mail. The fact of non-receipt was confirmed by
documents presented amply corroborate and fully substantiate what were one Domingo P. Raiz, letter carrier of the Post Office of Makati, who executed an
previously submitted to the office by Mrs. Iluminada Ponce Berciles and her affidavit to that effect, which affidavit We admitted in Our resolution of July 9,
1981. The matter of the Fuentebella Motion for Reconsideration is docketed before before that payment was made. He said that the payment was being capitalized upon by
Us as Administrative Matter No. 10468-CFI. Iluminada Ponce and her children in the GSIS as the basis for the payment to them of the
Acting on the aforesaid motion for reconsideration, We adopted the following retirement gratuity of Judge Berciles.
Considering that the issue as to who are the legal heirs of Judge Berciles is still being
resolution dated July 2, 1981, to wit:
litigated in the Social Security Services of the GSIS (according to Atty. Felicisimo
“Administrative Matter No. 10468-CFI—Re Terminal Leave Pay, Unpaid Salary and
Fernandez of that unit), and the survivors’ benefits have not yet been paid to Iluminada
Allowance of the late CFI Judge Pascual G. Berciles: Flor Fuentebella and her four children,
Ponce and her children, and considering that the children of Flor Fuentebella, even as
all surnamed Berciles vs. Iluminada Ponce and her four children, all surnamed
64
illegitimate children of Judge Berciles, would be entitled to a share in his terminal leave
pay, allowance and unpaid salary (In re Chanliongco, Adm. Matter No. 190-Ret., October 18,
64 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED 1977, 79 SCRA 364), the Court Resolved (1) to require Iluminada Ponce and her children, c/o
Ione P. Berciles, 9 Jersey Street, Toro Hills, Project 8, Quezon City, to COMMENT on the
Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System
said motion for reconsideration within ten (10) days from notice and (2) to direct Atty. Juan
Berciles.—Judge Pascual G. Berciles of the Court of First Instance of Cebu died in office on
P. Enriquez, Jr., Deputy Clerk of Court and Chief of the Administrative Division, to advise
August 21, 1979 at the age of sixty-six years. He was a native of Lapuz Norte, La Paz, Iloilo
the GSIS that, should Flor Fuentebella and her children be ultimately adjudged as legal
City.
heirs of Judge Berciles, their share in the sum of P60,817.50 (terminal leave pay, etc.) would
Iluminada Ponce of Tagudin, Ilocos Sur, who claimed to be the decedent’s widow, and
be taken from the survivors’ benefits amounting to P301,760, already remitted to the GSIS
her four children, Ilona, Ellery, England and Ione, filed a claim dated May 2, 1980 for
and, consequently, the shares of Iluminada Ponce and her children in the said gratuity
survivors’ benefits, Iluminada executed an affidavit of heir ship dated September 19, 1979.
would answer for the portions due to Flor Fuentebella, et al. in the terminal leave pay, etc.,
On the other hand, Rhoda F. Berciles, 6069-B Palma Street, Makati, Rizal in a verified
if adjudged entitled thereto.
statement dated November 19, 1979, claimed that the deceased judge was survived by Flor
A copy of this resolution should be furnished the GSIS.”
Fuentebella, as widow, and their four children named Voltaire, Luisa, Mercy and Rhoda.
Judge Berciles allegedly married Flor Fuentebella on March 28, 1937 in Iloilo City before
In a subsequent Resolution dated July 21, 1981, We noted the Comment filed by
City Judge Vicente Mapa. Iluminada Ponce and in the same resolution, clarified Our resolution of April 10,
Rhoda, in a letter to the Judicial Administrator dated October 29, 1979, requested the 1980 in Administrative Matter No. 1337-Ret., to wit:
Judicial Administrator to hold the processing of the claim filed by Iluminada Ponce and her “As may be seen from this Court’s resolution of April 10, 1980 in Administrative Matter No.
four children pending the filing of Rhoda’s formal complaint. 1337-Ret. regarding the gratuity of Judge Berciles, this Court has not finally and
Iluminada Ponce claimed that she was married to Judge Berciles at Bocaue, Bulacan on conclusively decided that the children of Flor Fuentebella are not the heirs of the late Judge
January 20, 1941. Berciles.
This Court in its resolution of April 10, 1980 approved the grant of survivors’ benefits The question of whether the four children of Flor Fuentebella should share in the
subject to the proper determination of the rightful beneficiaries and their corresponding gratuity amounting to P301,760.00 is still being
shares in accordance with law, it appearing that there are two claimant families. (Adm. 66
Matter No. 1337—Ret. re Gratuity of Judge Berciles). 66 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Pursuant to that resolution, the five-year lump sum gratuity amounting to P301,760
due to the heirs of Judge Berciles was remitted to the GSIS on October 15, 1980. The said Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System
amount up to this time has not yet been distributed in view of the controversy between the litigated in the GSIS. Should it be finally decided by the GSIS that the children of Flor
families of Flor Fuentebella and Iluminada Ponce as to who are the legal heirs of Judge Fuentebella are entitled to share in that gratuity or survivors’ benefits, then they are also
Berciles. entitled to share in the terminal leave pay, unpaid salary and allowances and their share
In a letter dated October 9, 1980, Ellery P. Berciles requested the Chief Justice for the should be deducted from the shares in the said gratuity of Iluminada Ponce and her four
payment to Iluminada Ponce of the terminal leave pay of Judge Berciles, which, together children.
with his unpaid salary and allowance, amounted to P74,884.52, or to P60,817.52 after This incident should, therefore, await the outcome of a final decision of competent
deducting the withholding tax of P14,067. authority on who are the heirs of Judge Berciles, as contemplated in this Court’s resolution
Upon the recommendation of Court Administrator Lorenzo Relova and Deputy Court of April 10, 1980 in Administrative Matter No. 1337-Ret.”
Administrator Leo D. Medialdea, the said amount of P60,817.52 was paid to Iluminada In the meantime, pursuant to Our Resolution of April 10, 1980, the papers were
Ponce and her four children on April 2, 1981 pursuant to this Court’s resolution of March transmitted to the GSIS under the advertisement that the approval of the
17, 1981. Payment was made to them on the assumption that application of Iluminada Ponce was subject to the proper determination of the
65
rightful beneficiaries.
VOL. 128, MARCH 5, 1984 65 The records of this Court, as adverted to earlier, disclose that on October 9,
Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System 1980, the GSIS approved the claim of Iluminada Ponce and so, the five (5) years
they are the only legal heirs of Judge Berciles. lump sum retirement gratuity of the deceased Judge, in the net amount of
Atty. Luzel D. Demasu-ay, counsel for Flor Fuentebella and her four children, in his P301,760.00, was remitted by our Budget and Finance Office to the GSIS on
motion for reconsideration dated April 21, 1981, alleged that his clients were not heard October 15, 1980 under Check No. 04824308 for payment to Iluminada and her
four children. The GSIS, however, in its Memorandum dated June 25, 1982 in 6. (f)Xerox copy of Income Tax Return for 1972 of Pascual showing Flor as
G.R. No. 57257 denied having approved the claim of Iluminada Ponce Berciles the wife.
and her children saying that no such approval was made. The records in G.R. No.
57257 disclose Annex “A” attached to the petition on pp. 14-15 of the Rollo the 1. (2)Documents submitted by Iluminada Ponce—
following evaluation report evaluated by Carmelo C. Garcia, Legal Evaluator;
reviewed by Lorenzo Sanchez, Legal Evaluator; approved by Felicisimo A.
Fernandez, Manager, Survivorship Benefits Dept.; and confirmed by Juanito S. 1. (a)Marriage certificate from Bocaue, Bulacan, showing marriage of
Santamaria, Vice President, SSS-II, to wit: Iluminada and Paquito Berciles on January 20, 1941.
“PASCUAL G. BERCILES ANNEX “A” 2. (b)Birth certificate of Ilona—May 15, 1945; Ellery—Sept. 21, 1946;
Judge, CFI, Branch XV, Cebu City England—Nov. 14, 1948; Ione Ainee—Aug. 25, 1955.
Died—August 21, 1979, Cause: CVA 3. (c)GSIS IMI on C-20297 dated Dec. 1, 1956 of Pascual Berciles.
Evaluation on compensability under 4. (d)IMI on 0-26030 dated Jan. 1, 1957.
PD 626, as amended. 5. (e)Affidavit of Pascual Berciles dated April 21, 1978 mentioning Ione and
67 Iluminada as his daughter and wife respectively.
VOL. 128, MARCH 5, 1984 67
Berciles vs. Government Service Insurance System 68
On the 1st day of July, 1911, the plaintiff commenced an action in the Court of VOL. 28, OCTOBER 24, 1914. 257
First Instance of the Province of Cebu to recover of the defendant, personally and Veloso vs. Martinez.
as administratrix of the estate of JDomingo Franco, deceased, the possession of a that a short time before the death of Domingo Franco he borrowed from the
certain parcel of land particularly deseribed in the second paragraph of the plaintiff the sum of f*4,500 and gave as security f or the payment of said sum the
complaint, together with the sum of P125 per month, from the 1st day of June, jewelry described in the complaint, The money was borrowed on the 7th day of
1911. April, 1911, under promise to repay the same, with 12 per cent interest, on the
The defendant presented a demurrer to said complaint, which was overruled. 7th day of May, 1911. Itjs not ctear whether or not the jewelry, at the time of the
No exception was taken to the ruling of the court upon the demurrer. Later the execution of said document (Exhibit C), was in fact delivered to the plaintiff. Said
def6ndant answered, setting up a general denial and a special defense. The exhibit states that the jewelry was contained "dentro de una caja que queda
special defense consisted— cerrada despues de demostradas las alhajas a D. Mariano Veloso" (in a box which
First Of a counterclaim in the sum of P18,500 as at- remains closed after the jewels were shown to Mariano Veloso). The document
256
further admits that "la llave quedara en poder de D. Domingo Franco" (the key
256 PHILIPPINE REPORTS ANNOTATED shall remain in possession of Domingo Franco). After the death of Domingo
Veloso vs. Martinez. Franco it appears that said jewelry was found in the same "caja" and that the key
torney's fees for services rendered by the deceased, Domingo Franco, to the was in the possession of the defendant. It is very doubtful, indeed, under the
plaintiff; and, second, for the recovery of certain jewelry, of the value of ^6,000, facts, whether the plaintiff ever obtained the actual possession of the jewelry. His
particularly described in the answer of the defendant, alleged to be in the possession, however, seems to be admitted by the defendant in the present action.
possession of the plaintiff. So far as the record shows the jewelry was in the same box where it was f ound at
The first special defense, relating to attorney's fees, was later withdrawn by the time of the execution and delivery of said Exhibit C and that the defendant
the defendant. The only questions left for litigation were: still has the key to said box.
First. Whether the plaintiff was entitled to the recovery of the parcel of land During the trial of the cause the plaintiff attempted to show that the jewels in
in question; and, second, whether the defendant vvas entitled to recover from the question were pawned to him by Domingo Franco, with the f ull knowledge and
plaintiff the jewelry described in her answer. consent of the defendant. And not only that, the plaintiff further attempts to show
that af ter the death of Domingo Franco, the defendant promised to pay the
amount for which the said jewels were pawned. The defendant positively denies
that she knew that her husband had pawned her jewels or that she promised to
redeem the same by paying the amount due. No explanation is contained in the
record why the jewels were placed in said box (presumably a money safe). In view
of the fact, however, that the record shows that the jewels were the sole and
separate property of the wife,
258
______________
AMALIA PLATA, petitioner, vs. HON. NICASIO YATCO, Judge, Court of First 720 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Instance of Rizal, Branch V; BENITO MACROHON, Sheriff of Quezon City and Plata vs. Yatco
The Spouses CESAREA E. VILLANUEVA and GREGORIO LEAÑO, respondents.
daña, who obtained TCT No. 40459 therefor; but seven months afterwards, on 24
Husband and wife; Paraphernal property; Conveyance and subsequent reconveyance
does not transform it to conjugal property.—The conveyance of paraphernal property of the September 1958, Saldaña resold the same property to “Amalia Plata, married to
wife to a third person and its reconveyance to her several months afterwards, does not Gaudencio Begosa,” (Ans. Exh. 3) and a new certificate of Title No. 43520 was
transform it to conjugal property, in the absence of proof that the money paid in the issued to the vendee, Amalia Plata (Exh. 3-a).
reconveyance came from conjugal funds. On the same date, 24 September 1958, “Amalia Plata of legal age, Filipino,
Same; Same; Husband’s signing of mortgage deed does not convert paraphernal married to Gaudencio Begosa,” in consideration of a loan of P3,000, mortgaged to
property to conjugal.—Where a piece Cesarea Villanueva married to Gregorio Leaño, the identical property and its
719
improvements “of which the mortgagor declares to be her(s) as the absolute owner
VOL. 12, DECEMBER 28, 1964 719 thereof.” The mortgage was also signed by Gaudencio Begosa, as co-mortgagor
Plata vs. Yatco (Exh. 4).
of land is paraphernal in origin, the fact that the husband signed a mortgage deed For failure to pay the mortgage, the same was extrajudicially foreclosed under
thereof as a co-mortgagor does not by itself alone suffice to convert it into conjugal property. Act 3135, and sold on 12 April 1960 to the mortgagee as the highest bidder; on 13
Same; Same; Illegal detainer judgment against husband cannot bind wife’s possession May 1961, the Sheriff issued a final deed of sale on the strength of which the
of her paraphernal.—An illegal detainer judgment against the husband alone over a piece of Register of Deeds issued the buyer TCT No. 55949 (Exhs. 5, 6, 7). Subsequently,
land paraphernal in character cannot bind nor affect the wife’s possession thereof. the respondent, Villanueva, sued Gaudencio Begosa alone for illegal detainer
Contempt of court; Wife’s ignoring judgment of eviction over paraphernal property
(Annex C. Petition) in Case No. Q-6250, and obtained judgment against him in
against husband alone no contempt.—A wife not made party defendant to an eviction suit
against the husband over possession of land which is paraphernal property of the wife, could
the court of first instance, that became final (Annex D, Petition). A writ of
validly ignore the judgment of eviction against her husband, and it was no contempt of court execution was duly issued, but Amalia Plata resisted all efforts to eject her from
for her to do so, because the writ of execution was not lawful against her. the property, and she filed a third party claim, averring ownership of the property
(Annex E). Upon motion of the judgment creditors, the court below cited both
ORIGINAL PETITION in the Supreme Court. Certiorari. Begosa and Plata for contempt (Annex H), and, finding her explanation (Annex I)
unsatisfactory, found her guilty and sentenced her, as, stated at the beginning of
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court. this decision.
Rosales & Montesa for petitioner. The issue here is whether the petitioner, Amalia Plata, is bound by the
Venida & Demonteverda Law Offices for respondents. detainer judgment against Gaudencio Begosa in Civil Case No. Q-6250. Petitioner
denies it, claiming that she was never lawfully married to Begosa, and that she
had acquired the property while still single, and was in possession thereof when
REYES, J.B.L., J.:
the Sheriff of Rizal attempted to enforce the writ of ejectment. Respondent
Villanueva and her husband maintain, on the other hand,
Amalia Plata resorts to this Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari against the 721
Court of First Instance of Rizal, Branch V, Quezon City, to annul and set aside its
VOL. 12, DECEMBER 28, 1964 721
order of 4 January 1963, issued in its Civil Case No. Q-6250 (Cesarea Villanueva,
et al. vs. Gaudencio Begosa) finding petitioner Plata in contempt of court for Plata vs. Yatco
refusing to vacate certain property, and sentencing her to pay a fine of P100, with that Plata had repeatedly acknowledged being married to Begosa; that she had
subsidiary imprisonment in case of insolvency, with a warning of more drastic lived with him openly as his wife, and their marriage is presumed; that, therefore,
action should she persist in disobeying the writ issued by said court. she is to be deemed as holding under Begosa, and is bound by the judgment
At petitioner’s instance, a writ of preliminary injunction was issued to stay against the latter.
enforcement of the order complained of, and respondents required to answer. We are constrained to uphold as meritorious the petitioner’s stand. Granting
The pleadings and other papers on record disclose that Amalia Plata, in 1954, that the evidence before us against the marriage of petitioner Amalia Plata to
had purchased a parcel of land (Lot 23, Block 4-M, of Subdivision plan PSD-59) in Gaudencio Begosa is weak, considering the admissions of married status in public
documents (Answer, Exhs. 3 and 4); the well-known presumption that persons Regala, J., took no part.
openly living together as husband and wif e are legally married to each other, and Writ granted.
that the prior marriage of Begosa to someone else does not necessarily exclude the
possibility of a valid subsequent marriage to herein petitioner; still the
respondents Villanueva could not ignore the paraphernal character of the A N N O T A T I O N INFORMAL CIVIL PARTNERSHIP
property in question, which had been unquestionably acquired by Plata while still Statement of the codal provision.—When a man and a woman live together as
single, as shown by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 25855 of Rizal (Art. 148 of the husband and wife but they are not married, or their marriage is void from the
New Civil Code). The subsequent conveyance thereof to Celso Saldaña, and the beginning, the property acquired by either or both of them through their work or
reconveyance to her several months afterward of the same property, did not industry or their wages and salaries shall
723
transform it from paraphernal to conjugal property, there being no proof that the
money paid to Saldaña came from common or conjugal funds (Civ. Code, Art 153). VOL. 12, DECEMBER 28, 1964 723
The deed of mortgage in favor of respondents Villanueva actually recites that the Plata vs. Yatco
petitioner was the owner of the tenement in question and so does the conveyance be governed by the rules on co-ownership (Art. 144, New Civil Code).
of it by Saldaña to her (Ans., Exhs. 3 and 4). Early recognition of technical conjugal partnership.—Professor Rosauro
It is true that Gaudencio Begosa signed the mortgage (Exh. 4) as a co- Alvarez once wrote that the provision of Article 144 evidently recognizes in our
mortgagor; but by itself alone that circumstance would not suffice to convert the jurisdiction what is known as technical conjugal partnership under the conditions
land into conjugal property, considering that it was paraphernal in origin. This is therein prescribed. This is borne out, among others, by the position that Article
particularly the case where the addition of Begosa as co-mortgagor was clearly an 144 occupies, or the place where it is found, in relation to the other articles on
afterthought, the text of the deed showing that Plata was the sole mortgagor. conjugal partnership. It is included under Title VI, Chapter 4 of the new Civil
Since the property was paraphernal, and the creditors and purchasers were Code. Title VI is entitled PROPERTY RELATIONS BETWEEN HUSBAND AND
aware of it, the fact being clearly spread on the land records, it is plain that WIFE and embraces Article 118 to 215. Chapter 4 of the said title is captioned
Plata’s pos- “Conjugal Partnership of Gains” and covers Articles 142 to 189, thereby including
722
Article 144. This is very indicative of the intention of the legislature (MLQ Law
722 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Quarterly, Vol. IV, No. 1, March 1954, p. 17).
Plata vs. Yatco Mr. Justice J.B.L. Reyes has another term for technical conjugal
session, therefore, was not derived from Gaudencio Begosa. The illegal detainer partnership: Informal Civil Partnership. In one of his well-respected decisions, he
judgment against the husband alone cannot bind nor affect the wife’s possession said: “x x x though there is no technical marital partnership between persons
of her paraphernal, which by law she holds and administers independently, and living maritally, without being lawfully married, nevertheless there is between
which she may even encumber or alienate without his knowledge or consent (Civ. them an informal civil partnership which would entitle the parties to an equal
Code, Arts. 136, 137, 140). Hence, as she was not made party defendant in the interest in property acquired by the joint efforts of the deceased and his
eviction suit, the petitioner-wife could validly ignore the judgment of eviction widow” (Lesaca, et al. v. Lesaca, et al., L-3605, April 21, 1952; See also the
against her husband, and it was no contempt of court for her to do so, because the unpublished decision in Marata v. Dionio, G.R. No. L-24449).
writ of execution was not lawful against her (Chanco vs. Madrilejos, 9 Phil. Even before the effectivity of the new Civil Code our Supreme Court had
356; A. Jose Realty vs. Galao, et al., 76 Phil. 201; Segarro vs. Maronilla, L-14428, already held in Pasilbon v. Bejec (77 Phil. 88) that the fact that one of the parties
July 26, 1960; Weigall vs. Shuster, 11 Phil. 340). is legally married to another will not preclude the formation of a co-ownership of
We need not decide here whether the property was validly conveyed to properties acquired through the joint effort, work and industry of the parties.
respondents Villanueva, since that issue is the subject of an independent This Pasilbon decision is therefore an authority for the proposition that although
proceeding in the Court of First Instance of Quezon City, Civ. Case No. Q6510 Article 144 is a new provision in our Civil Code, it is not devoid of an old
(Petition, Annex F). jurisprudential basis or support.
724
The writ of certiorari prayed for is granted, and the order of the lower court,
dated 4 January 1963, is annulled and set aside. The preliminary injunction is 724 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
made permanent, with costs against private respondents Villanueva. Plata, vs. Yatco
Bengzon, C.J., Bautista Article 144 legalizes and recognizes acquisitions of properties of common-Iaw
Angelo, Concepcion, Barrera, Paredes, Dizon, Makalintal, Bengzon, husband and wife.
J.P., and Zaldivar, JJ., concur.
Living together as husband and wife.—The first condition for the application Can it be said now that if they had gone one step further and committed the
of Article 144 is that: there must be a living together as spouses, i.e., there must public crime of bigamy they would have been better protected by the law than
be marital cohabitation provable by the fact of sexual relations combined with a when they had desisted from committing such offense? That would be
common household manifestation of’ marital ties before third persons as well as absurd. (MLQ Law Quarterly, Vol. IV, No. 1, March 1954, p. 19).
mutual financial assistance and support, the raising of children together and Tolentino’s Commentary on the Civil Code (Vol. I, 1960 ed., p. 360) speaks of
other like facts (Colon v. Heirs of Trestani, 44 Porto Rico 163 and 1 Govski 115, the same view: Besides the case of void marriages, whether the parties to said
cited in Tolentino, Civil Code, Vol. I, 1960 ed., 360). marriage are in good or in bad faith (Ricafrente v. Ventura, 53 O.G. 6617), Article
Cohabitation then is something more than merely living voluntarily in the 144 covers the case of a man and a woman, both unmarried, and without
same house or even occupying the same bed, but is the living together of the impediment for a legal marriage between them (Valencia v. Rodriguez, et al., 54
parties as husband and wife, and including sexual relations (Sison v. Te Lay O.G. 5526; Malayacan v. Rubi, 52 O.G. 5576) who live together as husband and
Li, 48 O.G. 3906; Menciano v. San Jose, L-1967, May 28, 1951, cited in 22 SCRA wife.
533). Is voidable bigamous marriage included? Under Article 83 of the new Civil
Neither law nor jurisprudence fixed a definite period for an effective marital Code, there are two kinds of bigamous marriages, to wit: first, a bigamous
cohabitation. But there is jurisprudence to the effect that mere surreptitious marriage subsequently contracted in bad faith by any person during the life-
meetings, trysts, encounters on the sly, as when the man meets the woman at 726
night and has sexual intercourse with her and then goes away, even if continued 726 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
for some period of time, does not establish that it was a living together as
Plata vs. Yatco
husband and wife (Vasquez v. De Jesus, 65 Porto Rico 846). Similarly, if
immediately after the man had carnal knowledge with the woman, he gave her a f time of the first spouse of such person without the first marriage being annulled
ew pesos and sent her to her father’s house, such conduct would show that he had or dissolved (Art. 83, No. 1, new Civil Code; People v. Subano, L-48143, Sept. 30,
1942, 73 Phil. 692; 3 Viada, Codego Penal, 275) ; and, second, a bigamous
no intention of making her as his wif e; and, under such a circumstance, there
marriage contracted in good faith under any of the three circumstances
would be no cohabitation to speak of (Cf. People v. Santiago, 51 Phil. 68; and
compare with Castro v. Dabu, 57 O.G. 1050). mentioned under No. 2 of said Article 83 (cf. U.S. v. Enriquez, 32 Phil. 202; Jones
Not legally married to each other.—The other condition for the application of v. Hortiquela, 64 Phil. 179).
Article 144 is in the clause “but they are not legally married. x x x.” This means The first kind of bigamous marriage is void ab initio and the good faith of the
that the man and the woman are not legally married to each other.—But if one is, second wife or husband is immaterial (People v. Concepcion, 40 O.G. 2878;
Capistrano, Civil Code Annotated, 1950; ed., p. 97). In the second, the bigamous
or both of them are, married to somebody else, will Article 144 apply?
725 marriage, under any of the three cases mentioned in No. 2 of Article 83, is merely
voidable—“valid until declared null and void by a competent court” (Art. 85, no. 2,
VOL. 12, DECEMBER 28, 1964 725
New Civil Code; People v. Mendoza, L-5877, Sept. 28, 1954; Cortez v. Brownell, L-
Plata vs. Yatco 7554, Aug. 31, 1955; People v. Baluya, CA-G.R. No. 16762-R, Aug. 26, 1956; see
The Supreme Court of Spain, in its Sentencia of February 4, 1930, held that the also 22 SCRA 531–532).
union of a man and a woman in a state of concubinage does not give rise either to As Article 144 covers a case of a marriage “void from the beginning”, there
the conjugal partnership of gains or to an ordinary partnership.With the advent of seems to be no reason for the exclusion therefrom of “a voidable bigamous
the new provision of Article 144, however, a change of view was advanced: As it is marriage contracted in good faith” under any of the three circumstances
presently worded, Article 144 applies to persons who are free to marry each other mentioned under No. 2 of Article 83.
as well as to those who are barred from doing so by reason of some legal Property acquired by either or both of them.—The property referred to in
impediment, as when one or both of the parties is/are married to somebody else. Article 144 is limited to that acquired by either or both of them through their
The reason for this is obvious. If one of the parties is married to somebody else work or industry, or their wages and salaries (Capistrano, Civil Code Annotated,
but this notwithstanding he lives with the other as husband and wife, he, or they, Vol. 1, 1950 ed., p. 155). Not within the range or ambit of said article are: (a)
would, in a proper case, be committing the private crime of adultery or properties acquired by the parties or either of them during their union
concubinage, as the case may be. But suppose they went one step further, and by lucrativeor gratuitous title, i.e., donation, inheritance, legacy, etc.;and (b) fruits
married each other, they would have committed the public crime of bigamy, a from said properties, whether they be natural, industrial, or civil (cf. Art. 153 in
more serious offense than either of the former. But in the latter case their rel. Art. 441 et seq.). Natural fruits are the spontaneous products of the soil, and
marriage would be void from the beginning per Article 80 in relation to Article 83. the young and other products of animals. Industrial fruits are those produced by
However, Article 144, by its express terms, would, nevertheless apply to them.
lands of any kind through cultivation or labor. Civil fruits are the rents of is presumed to belong to the conjugal partnership, unless it be proved that it
buildings, the price of leases of lands and other property and the pertains exclusively to the husband or to the wife (Art. 160, N.C.C.; De Reyes v. De
727 Ilamo, 63 Phil. 629). The party who invokes this presumption must first prove
VOL. 12, DECEMBER 28, 1964 727 that the property was acquired during the marriage. In other words, proof of
acquisition during the marriage is a condition sine qua nonfor the operation of the
Plata vs. Yatco
presumption in favor of conjugal ownership (Laperal, Jr., et al. v. Katigbak, et
amount of perpetual or life annuities or other similar income (cf. Art. 442, Civil al., 10 SCRA 493; Cobb-Perez, et al. v. Lantin, et al, 23 SCRA 637). Such proof of
Code). acquisition of the property during cohabitation is also required in the case of an
Is it necessary that both parties should have contributed materially to the
informal civil partnership.—JUDGE DOMINGO LUCENARIO.
acquisition of the properties? The creation of the civil relationship envisaged in
Article 144 is circumscribed by conditions, the existence of which must first be
______________
shown before rights provided thereunder may be deemed to accrue (See Lesaca v.
Lesaca, 91 Phil. 135, 140; Aznar v. Garcia, 102 Phil. 1055, 1068). One such
condition is that there must be a clear showing that the petitioner had, during © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
cohabitation, really contributed to the acquisition of the property involved
(Yaptinchay v. Torres, et al, L-26462, June 9, 1969).
Is it necessary for the application of Article 144 that both parties should have
contributed materially to the acquisition of the properties subject of the informal
civil partnership? It would seem that, as in the case of conjugal partnership
proper, the contribution need not be material and that even if, for example, only
the man has been earning and has given material contribution, the woman who
has helped him maritally and has contributed to the prosperity of the union as by
caring for him when sick, rearing the children, etc., is entitled to share in the
common property in proportion to the value of her work and industry (MLQ Law
Quarterly, Ibid, p. 21).
Applicability of the rules on co-ownership.—By express provision of the law,
the property relations of the parties within the contemplation of Article 144 are to
be governed by the rules on co-ownership for the reason that there is no marriage.
These rules are found in Articles 484 to 500, inclusive.
The share of the co-owners, in the benefits as well as in the charges, shall be
proportional to their respective interests (Art. 484, N.C.C.). The portions
belonging- to the co-owners in the co-ownership shall be presumed equal, unless
the contrary is proved (Ibid).
Upon the death of one of the spouses, the community property ceases to
belong to the legal partnership and becomes the property, by operation of law, of
the surviving
728
dustry shall be owned by them in common in proportion to their respective seeking to nullify the February 4, 2002 Decision and the August 14, 2002
2
contributions. In the absence of proof to the contrary, their contributions and corresponding Resolution of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-GR CV No. 45883. The CA
3
shares are presumed to be equal. The same rule and presumption shall apply to joint
disposed as follows:
deposits of money and evidence of credit. If one of the parties is validly married to another,
“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the appeal is hereby partially DENIED and
his or her share in the co-ownership shall accrue to the absolute community or conjugal
the Decision dated May 30, 1994, of the Regional Trial Court of Pasay City, Branch 111 in
partnership existing in such valid marriage. If the party which acted in bad faith is not
Civil Case No. 9722-P is MODIFIED to read, as follows:
validly married to another, his or her share shall be forfeited in the manner provided in the “WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of plaintiffs and against the defendant as follows:
last paragraph of the preceding Article. The foregoing rules on forfeiture shall likewise
1. ‘a.Declaring the house and lot registered under Transfer Certificate of said Rodolfo A. Reyes before his death and at the time of his death, the outstanding balance of
P110,000.00 was to be paid out of his Philam Life Insurance [p]olicy.
Title No. 90293 (26627-A) of the Registry of Deeds of Metro Manila, ‘The complaint finally alleges that the deceased had two cars in [petitioner’s] possession and that the
District IV as conjugal partnership property of the late Spouses Rodolfo real and personal properties in [petitioner’s] possession are conjugal partnership propert[ies] of the
and Lourdes Reyes; spouses Lourdes P. Reyes and Rodolfo A. Reyes and one-half belongs exclusively to [respondent] Lourdes
2. ‘b.Ordering the [petitioner] to surrender possession of said subject P. Reyes and the other half to
264
property, pursuant to the applicable law on succession, to the respective
estates of the late Rodolfo Reyes and Lourdes Reyes and to pay a 264 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
reasonable rental of P10,000.00 a month, to the same juridical entities, Joaquino vs. Reyes
upon their failure to do so until possession of the property is delivered; the estate of Rodolfo A. Reyes to be apportioned among the [other respondents] as his forced heirs.
and [Respondents] therefore, pray that the property covered by T.C.T. No. 90293 be declared conjugal
property of the spouses Lourdes P. Reyes and Rodolfo A. Reyes and that [petitioner] be ordered to
3. ‘c.To pay [respondents] attorney’s fees in the sum of P20,000.00 and to reconvey the property in [respondents’] favor; that the two cars in [petitioner’s] possession be delivered to
pay the costs.’ ” 4
[respondents] and that [petitioner] be made to pay actual, compensatory and moral damages to
[respondents] as well as attorney’s fees.’
xxx xxx xxx
The questioned Resolution, on the other hand, denied petitioner’s Motion for “[Petitioner] eventually filed her Answer, dated August 1, 1982, the allegations of which
Reconsideration. have been summarized by the trial court in the following manner:
‘In her Answer, [petitioner] Milagros B. Joaquino alleges that she purchased the real property in question
_______________ with her own exclusive funds and it was only for convenience that the late Rodolfo Reyes facilitated the
mortgage over the same; that although the late Rodolfo Reyes paid the monthly amortization of the
mortgage as attorney-in-fact of [petitioner], the money came exclusively from [her].
1Rollo, pp. 10-53. ‘[Petitioner] further alleges in her answer, by way of special and affirmative defenses, that during all
2Id., pp. 119-133. Sixth Division. Penned by Justice Teodoro P. Regino and concurred in by Justices the nineteen (19) years that [she] lived with Rodolfo Reyes from 1962 continuously up to September 12,
Eugenio S. Labitoria (Division chairman) and Rebecca de Guia-Salvador (member). 1981 when the latter died, [petitioner] never had knowledge whatsoever that he was married to someone
3Id., p. 161. else, much less to [respondent] Lourdes P. Reyes; that [petitioner] was never the beneficiary of the
4CA Decision, pp. 14-15; Rollo, pp. 132-133. emoluments or other pecuniary benefits of the late Rodolfo Reyes during his lifetime or after his death
263 because [she] had the financial capacity to support herself and her children begotten with the late
VOL. 434, JULY 13, 2004 263 Rodolfo Reyes. [Petitioner] prays for a judgment dismissing [respondents’] complaint and for the latter to
pay unto [petitioner] moral and exemplary damages in such amounts as may be determined during the
Joaquino vs. Reyes trial, including atto[r]ney’s fees and the costs of the suit. x x x.’
xxx xxx xxx
The Facts “On February 2, 1993, [respondent] Lourdes Reyes died.
The CA narrated the facts as follows: “Subsequently, the trial court granted the complaint based on the following factual
“[Respondents] filed a Complaint for reconveyance and damages, dated January 23, 1982, findings:
before the Court of First Instance of Rizal, containing the following allegations: ‘Lourdes Reyes was legally married to Rodolfo Reyes on January 3, 1947 in Manila. They have four
‘x x x The complaint alleges that [respondent] Lourdes P. Reyes is the widow of Rodolfo A. Reyes who children, namely: Mercedes, Manuel, Miriam and Rodolfo Jr., all surnamed Reyes and co-[respondents] in
died on September 12, 1981; that [respondents] Mercedes, Manuel, Miriam and Rodolfo, Jr. are the this case. Rodolfo Reyes died on September 12, 1981. At the time of his death, Rodolfo Reyes was living
legitimate children of [respondent] Lourdes P. Reyes and the deceased Rodolfo A. Reyes; that for years with his common-law wife, Milagros Joaquino, x x x with whom she begot
before his death, Rodolfo A. Reyes had illicit relations with [petitioner] Milagros B. Joaquino; that before 265
his death, x x x Rodolfo A. Reyes was Vice President and Comptroller of Warner Barnes and Company
with an income of P15,000.00 a month and, after retirement on September 30, 1980, received from said VOL. 434, JULY 13, 2004 265
company benefits and emoluments in the amount of P315,0[1]1.79; that [respondent] wife was not the Joaquino vs. Reyes
recipient of any portion of the said amount.
three (3) children namely: Jose Romillo, Imelda May and Charina, all surnamed Reyes.
‘The complaint further alleges that on July 12, 1979, a [D]eed of [S]ale of a property consisting of a
‘During his lifetime, Rodolfo Reyes worked with Marsman and Company and later transferred to
house and lot at BF Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila was executed by the spouses Ramiro Golez and
Warner Barnes & Co., where he assumed the position of Vice-President [Comptroller] until he retired on
Corazon Golez in favor of [petitioner] Milagros B. Joaquino for which Transfer Certificate of Title No.
September 30, 1980. His monthly salary at Warner Barnes & Co. was P15,000.00 x x x and upon his
90293 of the Register of Deeds of Metro Manila, District IV was issued in the name of [petitioner]
separation or retirement from said company, Rodolfo Reyes received a lump sum of P315,011.79 in full
Milagros B. Joaquino; that the funds used to purchase this property were conjugal funds and earnings of
payment and settlement of his separation and retirement benefits.
the deceased Rodolfo A. Reyes as executive of Warner Barnes and Company as [petitioner] Joaquino was
‘During the common-law relationship of Rodolfo Reyes and [petitioner] Milagros Joaquino and while
without the means to pay for the same; that [petitioner] executed a Special Power of Attorney in favor of
living together, they decided to buy the house and lot situated at No. 12 Baghdad Street, Phase 3, BF
Rodolfo A. Reyes to mortgage the property to Commonwealth Insurance Corporation in order to pay the
Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila. A Deed of Absolute Sale dated July 12, 1979 was executed in favor of
balance of the purchase price; that said Rodolfo A. Reyes executed a mortgage in favor of Commonwealth
[petitioner] Milagros Joaquino and Transfer Certificate of Title No. S-90293 covering the said property
Insurance Corporation for P140,000.00 and to guaranty payment thereof, he secured a life insurance
was issued in the name of [petitioner only] on July 20, 1979.
[policy] with Philam Life Insurance Corporation for the said amount, assigning the proceeds thereof to
‘To secure the finances with which to pay the purchase price of the property in the amount of
Commonwealth Insurance Corporation; that the monthly amortizations of the mortgage were paid by
P140,000.00, [petitioner] executed on July 20, 1979, a Special Power of Attorney in favor of Rodolfo A.
Reyes for the latter, as attorney-in-fact, to secure a loan from the Commonwealth Insurance Company. Whether or not it is legally permissible for [respondents] to make a mockery of the law
An application for mortgage loan was filed by Rodolfo Reyes with the Commonwealth Insurance by denying [the] filiations of their [two] 2 illegitimate sisters and one [1] illegitimate brother
Company and a Real Estate Mortgage Contract was executed as collateral to the mortgage loan. The loan
when in fact the very complaint filed by their mother, the lawful wife, Lourdes[,] shows that
was payable in ten (10) years with a monthly amortization of P1,166.67. The monthly amortizations were
paid by Rodolfo Reyes and after his death, the balance of P109,797.64 was paid in full to the
her husband Rodolfo
Commonwealth Insurance by the Philam Life Insurance Co. as insurer of the deceased Rodolfo A. Reyes.’
”
5 _______________
On appeal to the CA, petitioner questioned the following findings of the trial
6 The case was deemed submitted for decision on October 7, 2003, upon the Court’s receipt of respondents’
court: 1) that the house and lot had been paid in full from the proceeds of the loan Memorandum, signed by Atty. Edgar B. Francisco of Francisco & Francisco. Petitioner’s Memorandum, signed by Atty.
that Rodolfo Reyes obtained from the Commonwealth Insurance Company; 2) that Teresita S. de Guzman of the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO), was received on July 30, 2003.
his salaries and earnings, which were his and Lourdes’ conjugal funds, paid for 267
the loan and, hence, the disputed property was conjugal; and 3) that petitioner’s VOL. 434, JULY 13, 2004 267
illegitimate children, not having been recognized or acknowledged by him in any
Joaquino vs. Reyes
of the ways provided by law, acquired no successional rights to his estate.
had illicit relations with the petitioner Milagros and had lived with her in a house and lot at
Baghdad Street.
_______________
“III.
5Id., pp. 2-9 & 120-127.
266
Whether or not the fact that the Court of Appeals made a finding that the house and lot
266 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
at Baghdad Street are conjugal property of lawfully wedded Rodolfo and Lourdes including
Joaquino vs. Reyes the insurance proceeds which was used to pay the final bill for the house and lot, this will
prevail over Articles 19 and 21 of the Civil Code.
Ruling of the Court of Appeals
Affirming the RTC, the CA held that the property had been paid out of the “IV.
conjugal funds of Rodolfo and Lourdes because the monthly amortizations for the
loan, as well as the premiums for the life insurance policy that paid for the Whether or not the Supreme Court should enforce the rule that the parties to a lawsuit
balance thereof, came from his salaries and earnings. Like the trial court, it found should only tell the truth at the trial and in [their] pleadings x x x.
no sufficient proof that petitioner was financially capable of buying the disputed
property, or that she had actually contributed her own exclusive funds to pay for “V.
it. Hence, it ordered her to surrender possession of the property to the respective
estates of the spouses. Whether or not the legitimate children of the late Rodolfo Reyes should respect their
The appellate court, however, held that the trial court should not have father’s desire that his illegitimate children should have a home or a roof over their heads in
resolved the issue of the filiation and the successional rights of petitioner’s consonance with his duty to love, care and provide for his children even after his death.” 7
children. Such issues, it said, were not properly cognizable in an ordinary civil The issues boil down to the following: 1) the nature of the house and lot on
action for reconveyance and damages and were better ventilated in a probate or Baghdad Street (BF Homes Parañaque, Metro Manila); and 2) the propriety of
special proceeding instituted for the purpose. ruling on the filiation and the successional rights of petitioner’s children.
Hence, this Petition. 6
“I.
The Conjugal Nature of the Disputed Property
Before tackling the merits, we must first point out some undisputed facts and
Whether or not it has been indubitably established in a court of law and trier of facts, the guiding principles.
Regional Trial Court, that petitioner’s three [3] illegitimate children are x x x indeed the As to the facts, it is undisputed that the deceased Rodolfo Reyes was legally
children of the late Rodolfo Reyes. married to Respondent Lourdes Reyes on January 3, 1947. It is also admitted 8
that for 19 years or so, and while their marriage was subsisting, he was actually
“II. living with petitioner. It
_______________ dence —evidence that has greater weight or is more convincing than that which is
14
7Petitioner’s Memorandum, pp. 19-20; Rollo, pp. 250-251. On the other hand, Article 144 of the Civil Code mandates a co-ownership
16
Under Article 145 thereof, a conjugal partnership of gains (CPG) is created upon In default of Article 144 of the Civil Code, Article 148 of the Family Code has
marriage and lasts until the legal union is dissolved by death, annulment, legal
9 been applied. The latter Article provides:
19
Moreover, under Article 160 of the Code, all properties of the marriage, unless “ART. 144. When a man and a woman live together as husband and wife, but they are not married, or their marriage is void from the beginning, the
property acquired by either or both of them through their work or industry or their wages and salaries shall be governed by the rules on co-
proven to pertain to the husband or the wife exclusively, are presumed to belong ownership.”
17 Tumlos v. Spouses Fernandez, 386 Phil. 936, 950; 330 SCRA 718, 732; Valdes v. Regional Trial Court, Br. 102,
to the CPG. For the rebuttable presumption to arise, however, the properties Quezon City, 328 Phil.1289, 1296; 260 SCRA 221, 226, July 31, 1996; Juaniza v. Jose, 89 SCRA 306, 308, March 30, 1979.
must first be proven to have been acquired during the existence of the marriage. 12
18 Tumlos v. Spouses Fernandez, supra.
19 Agapay v. Palang, 342 Phil. 302, 310; 276 SCRA 340, 348, July 28, 1997.
The law places the burden of proof on the plaintiffs (respondents herein) to
13
270
establish their claim by a preponderance of evi-
270 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
_______________ Joaquino vs. Reyes
feited in the manner provided in the last paragraph of the preceding Article.
In the absence of a marriage settlement, the conjugal partnership of gains (CPG) is ordained.
9
“The foregoing rules on forfeiture shall likewise apply even if both parties are in bad
Article 175 of the Civil Code.
10
faith.”
Article 143 of the Civil Code.
Thus, when a common-law couple have a legal impediment to marriage, only the
11
Diancin v. Court of Appeals, 345 SCRA 117, 122, November 20, 2000; Francisco v. Court of
12
Appeals, 359 Phil. 519, 526; 299 SCRA 188, 194, November 25, 1998; Tan v. Court of Appeals, 339 Phil. property acquired by them—through their actual joint contribution of money,
423, 430-431; 273 SCRA 229, 236, June 10, 1997. property or industry—shall be owned by them in common and in proportion to
This is defined under §1 of Rule 131 of the Rules of Court as follows:
13
their respective contributions.
“Section 1. Burden of Proof.—Burden of proof is the duty of a party to present evidence on the facts in issue necessary to
establish his claim or defense by the amount of evidence required by law.” With these facts and principles firmly settled, we now proceed to the merits of
269 the first issue.
VOL. 434, JULY 13, 2004 269 The present controversy hinges on the source of the funds paid for the house
and lot in question. Upon the resolution of this issue depends the determination
Joaquino vs. Reyes
of whether the property is conjugal (owned by Rodolfo and Lourdes) or exclusive
(owned by Milagros) or co-owned by Rodolfo and Milagros.
The above issue, which is clearly factual, has been passed upon by both the _______________
trial and the appellate courts, with similar results in favor of respondents. Such
finding is generally conclusive; it is not the function of this Court to review This was released by Warner Barnes & Co., Inc.; Exhibit “C”, Records, p. 15; Rollo, p. 62.
22
See Exhibit “F”, Deed of Absolute Sale dated July 12, 1979.
23
questions of fact. 20
See Exhibit “I”, Application for Mortgage Loan.
24
Moreover, it is well-settled that only errors of law and not of facts are Exhibit “I-1”.
25
reviewable by this Court in cases brought to it from the Court of Appeals or under See Exhibit “H”. The mortgage was executed by Milagros Joaquino to secure the loan of Rodolfo
26
Reyes, whom she had appointed as her attorney-in-fact, also on July 12, 1979. See also Exhibit “G”,
Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. This principle applies with greater force herein,
21
Even then, heeding petitioner’s plea, we have gone through the pleadings and Ibid.
28
the evidence presented by the parties to find out if there is any circumstance that See Exhibit “K”, Certification dated August 18, 1982 from Commonwealth Insurance Company,
29
which confirmed that Philam Life Insurance Company had paid the balance of the mortgage loan account
might warrant a reversal of the factual findings. Unfortunately for petitioner, we of Rodolfo Reyes.
have found none. 272
People, 363 Phil. 594, 600; 304 SCRA 252, March 4, 1999.
21Ninoy Aquino International Airport Authority v. Court of Appeals, 398 SCRA 703, 710, March 10,
undated Certification she had presented to prove that she borrowed money from
32
2003; Spouses Calvo v. Spouses Vergara, 423 Phil. 939, 947; 372 SCRA 650, December 19, 2001; Sps. Uy her siblings and had earnings from a jewelry business. Respondents had not been
Tansipek v. Philippine Bank of Communications, 423 Phil. 727, 733; 372 SCRA 456, December 14, 2001. given any opportunity to cross-examine the affiants, who had not testified on
271 these matters. Based on the rules of evidence, the Affidavits and the Certification
VOL. 434, JULY 13, 2004 271 have to be rejected. In fact, they have no probative value. The CA was also 33
Joaquino vs. Reyes correct in disregarding petitioner’s allegation that part of the purchase money
had come from the sale of a drugstore four years earlier.
Indeed, a preponderance of evidence has duly established that the disputed house
34
24 25
donations between persons living together in illicit relations; otherwise, the latter
Company; 3) that he secured the loan with a real estate mortgage over the same 26
would be better situated than the former. Article 87 of the Family Code now
property; 4) that he paid the monthly amortizations for the loan as well as the
36
27
“Art. 87. Every donation or grant of gratuitous advantage, direct or indirect, between the
to take as additional security; and 5) that with the proceeds of his life insurance spouses during the marriage shall be void, except moderate gifts which the spouses may
policy, the balance of the loan was paid to Commonwealth by Philam Life give each other on the occasion of
Insurance Company. 29
All told, respondents have shown that the property was bought during the _______________
marriage of Rodolfo and Lourdes, a fact that gives rise to the presumption that it
is conjugal. More important, they have established that the proceeds of the loan 30 Her Service Record, Exhibit “4”, showed that she was employed only until July 19, 1961, as clerk at the Office of the
Governor of Cebu.
obtained by Rodolfo were used to pay for the property; and that the loan was, in 31 Exhibits “10” and “40”. These Affidavits, dated April 7, 1986 and November 27, 1987, were executed by Teresa
turn, paid from his salaries and earnings, which were conjugal funds under the Joaquino-Bermejo and Jesus B. Joaquino—petitioner’s sister and brother, respectively.
32 See Exhibit “39.”
Civil Code. 33 De la Torre v. Court of Appeals, 381 Phil. 819, 829; 325 SCRA 11, 19-20, February 8, 2000; Midas Touch Food
In contrast, petitioner has failed to substantiate either of her claims—that she Corporation v. National Labor Relations, 328 Phil. 1033, 1044; 259 SCRA 652, 661, July 29, 1996.
34 The Absolute Deed of Sale over the drugstore was executed on February 14, 1975. Exhibit “3”, Folder of Exhibits.
was financially capable of buying the house and lot, or that she actually 35 Article 133 of the Civil Code.
contributed to the payments therefor. 36 Arcaba v. Vda. de Batocael, 370 SCRA 414, 422, November 22, 2001; Matabuena v. Cervantes, 148 Phil. 295, 298-
any family rejoicing. The prohibition shall also apply to persons living together as husband Supplemental Complaint for reconveyance of property and damages; that it was
43
cannot rely on the registration in repudiation of the trust, for this case is a well-
_______________
known exception to the principle of conclusiveness of a certificate of title. 39
47The Article requires that all cases of illegitimate filiation must be duly proved.
improper in the instant case. 48De Vera, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, 419 Phil. 820, 834; 367 SCRA 534, 548, October 18,
Her position is untenable. 2001; Diamonon v. Department of Labor and Employment, 384 Phil. 19, 23; 327 SCRA 283, 288, March 7,
2000.
275
_______________
VOL. 434, JULY 13, 2004 275
Adriano v. Court of Appeals, 385 Phil. 474, 485-486; 328 SCRA 738, 747, March 27, 2000
37
Joaquino vs. Reyes
(citing Padilla v. Padilla, 74 Phil. 377, 383, October 4, 1943).
Belcodero v. Court of Appeals, 227 SCRA 303, 307-308, October 20, 1993 (cited in Adriano v. Court
38 The invocation by petitioner of Articles 19 and 21 of the Civil Code is also
49 50
of Appeals, supra). unmeritorious. Clearly, the illegitimate filiation of her children was not the
Adriano v. Court of Appeals, supra; Padilla v. Padilla, supra.
39
subject of inquiry and was in fact not duly established in this case. Thus, she
274
could not have shown that respondents had acted in bad faith or with intent to
274 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED prejudice her children. These are conditions necessary to show that an act
Joaquino vs. Reyes constitutes an abuse of rights under Article 19. She also failed to show that
51
Indeed, it has been ruled that matters relating to the rights of filiation and respondents—in violation of the provisions of Article 21 of the Civil Code—had
heirship must be ventilated in the proper probate court in a special proceeding acted in a manner contrary to morals, good customs or public policy.
instituted precisely for the purpose of determining such rights. Sustaining the 40
Moreover, we note that the issue concerning the applicability of Articles 19
appellate court in Agapay v. Palang, this Court held that the status of an
41
and 21 was not raised by petitioner in the trial court or even in the CA. Hence,
illegitimate child who claimed to be an heir to a decedent’s estate could not be she should not be permitted to raise it now. Basic is the rule that parties may not
adjudicated in an ordinary civil action which, as in this case, was for the recovery bring up on appeal issues that have not been raised on trial. 52
of property. WHEREFORE, the Petition is hereby DENIED, and the assailed Decision and
Resolution of the Court of Appeals AFFIRMED. Costs against petitioner.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr. (C.J., Chairman), Ynares-Santiago, Carpio and Azcuna,
JJ., concur.
Petition denied, assailed decision and resolution affirmed.
_______________
49 Article 19 of the Civil Code, which embodies the principle of abuse of rights, provides:
“Art. 19. Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance of his duties, act with justice, give
everyone his due, and observe honesty and good faith.”
50 Article 21 of the Civil Code reads as follows:
“Art. 21. Any person who willfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner that is contrary to morals, good customs or
public policy shall compensate the latter for the damage.”
Barons Marketing Corp. v. Court of Appeals, 286 SCRA 96, 105, February 9, 1998.
51
Lazaro v. Court of Appeals, 423 Phil. 554, 558; 372 SCRA 308, 311, December 14, 2001; Magellan
52
Capital Management Corporation v. Zosa, 355 SCRA 157, 170, March 26, 2001; Sumbad v. Court of
Appeals, 308 SCRA 575, 596, June 21, 1999.
276
——o0o——
_______________
writ of execution issued in Civil Case No. 7678 is not merely an interlocutory order. It
SOCORRO L. VDA. DE STA. ROMANA, petitioner, vs.PHILIPPINE attained finality due to the failure of the petitioner to appeal or seek a review of the same. It
COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL BANK and HON. SANCHO Y. INSERTO, as is not questioned that the trial court had jurisdiction to take cognizance of the motion to
Judge of Branch I, COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF ILOILO, respondents. quash the writ of execution and over the parties litigating the same. The order of denial is
Civil Law; Conjugal Partnership; Unpaid purchase price of lot bought by the deceased on the merits of the motion. There was also identity of parties involved in the motion to
husband in behalf of the conjugal partnership chargeable against the partnership assets as quash the writ of execution, identity of subject-matter and identity of causes of action. The
the obligation was contracted for the benefit of the conjugal partnership.—The action filed by requisites of res judicata being all present in the incident concerning the issuance of the
private respondent against the petitioner Ramon Sta. Romana was clearly a suit to enforce writ of execution, We feel no hesitancy in declaring that the filing of Civil Case No. 13533 is
an obligation of the conjugal partnership. Civil Case No. 7678 arose out of the failure of barred by the principle of res judicata. The underlying philosophy of this doctrine is: “x x x
Ramon Sta. Romana to pay the purchase price of a lot he bought from C.N. Hodges that parties ought not to be permitted to litigate the same issue more than once; that, when
presumably in behalf of the conjugal partnership. Petitioner does not deny the conjugal a right or fact has been judicially tried and determined by a court of competent jurisdiction,
nature of both Lots Nos. 1258-G and 1258-F. Indeed she bases her contention on the claim or an opportunity for such trial has been given the judgment of
that at least Lot No. 1258-F, together with its improvements existing thereon, constitutes 332
property of the conjugal partnership. It may not be denied, therefore, that the liability 3 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
incurred by Ramon Sta. Romana is chargeable against the conjugal partnership assets, it
being undisputed that the said obligation was contracted by the husband for the benefit of 32
the conjugal partnership. (Art. 161 [1], Civil Code.) Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
Same; Same; Same; Parties; Inclusion of wife as party defendant in a suit against the the court, so long as it remains unreversed, should be conclusive upon the parties and
husband to enforce an obligation either pertaining to him alone or one chargeable against the those in privity with them in law or estate. x x x x x x.” (2 Moran Rules of Court, p. 362,
conjugal partnership in order to bind the conjugal partnership property, not necessary; citing Sta.Ana v. Narvades,L-24390, Nov. 28, 1969, 30 SCRA 454, 463.)
Reasons.—The non-inclusion of the herein petitioner as a party-defendant in Civil Case No. Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Principle of conclusiveness of judgment.—In
7678 is immaterial. There is no rule or law requiring that in a suit against the husband to any other litigation between the same parties or their successors in interest, that only is
enforce an obligation, either pertaining to him alone or one chargeable against the conjugal deemed to have been adjudged in a former judgment which appears upon its face to have
partnership, the defendant husband must be joined by his wife. The contrary rule is been so adjudged, or which was actually and necessarily included therein or necessary
prescribed in Section 4, Rule 3, of the Rules of Court thereto. (SEC. 49, Rule 39, New Rules of Court.)
________________
PETITION for review by certiorari the Order of the Court of First Instance of
*FIRST DIVISION. Iloilo, Br. I. Inserto, J.
331
VOL. 118, NOVEMBER 15, 1982 331 The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
German M. Lopez for petitioner.
and Article 113 of the Civil Code, but not the other way around, obviously in
Tirol & Tirol Law Offices for private respondent.
recognition of the legal status of the husband as the administrator of the conjugal
partnership. (Art. 112, Civil Code.) There was, therefore, no need of including the petitioner VASQUEZ, J.:
as a party in Civil Case No. 7678 for the purpose of binding the conjugal partnership
properties for the satisfaction of the judgment that could be rendered therein. In this petition for review by certiorari, petitioner seeks to annul and set aside an
Same; Same; Same; Remedial Law; Civil Procedure; Res Judicata; Conclusiveness of
Order of the respondent Judge of the Court of First Instance of Iloilo, Branch I,
judgment; Issues raised in one case and which were squarely placed before and ruled upon by
a court in connection with the execution proceeding in another case, barred by res judicata or
which dismissed Civil Case No. 13533, entitled “Socorro L. Vda. de Sta. Romana,
conclusiveness of judgment—We likewise agree with the view that the issues raised by the Plaintiff, versus The Philippine Commercial and Industrial Bank, et al.,
petitioner in Civil Case No. 13533 may not be litigated anew, if not by the principle of res Defendants.” The petition was given due course in the Resolution dated July 29,
judicata but at least by conclusiveness of judgment. The record reveals that the contentions 1981 and the parties have submitted their respective memoranda.
being raised by the petitioner in Civil Case No. 13533 were squarely placed before and ruled Civil Case No. 13533 is an offshoot of Civil Case No. 7678, entitled “PCIB, et
upon by the respondent court in connection with the execution proceedings in Civil Case No. al. versus Ramon Sta. Romana” which was filed way back on August 6, 1968, Civil
7678. After the writ of execution was issued on October 5, 1979 (Annex E, Petition), herein Case No. 7678 was an action for rescission with damages filed by herein private
petitioner filed a motion to quash the said writ of execution (Annex F, Petition).
respondent PCIB as Administrator of the estate of the deceased C. N. Hodges, and
for the recovery of a parcel of land known as Lot No. 1258-G which Ramon Sta. Petitioner assails the pronouncement by the respondent court that Civil Case
Romana purchased from the late C. N. Hodges under a Contract to Sell. On No. 13533 is barred by res judicata on the principal ground that, not being a party
motion of private respondent PCIB, a writ of preliminary attachment in Civil Case No. 7678, she could not be bound by the judgment rendered in said
333 case and, consequently, the writ of attachment and the consequent writ of
VOL. 118, NOVEMBER 15, 1982 333 execution which levied on Lot No. 1258-F, together with its existing
improvements, are null and void insofar as her ONE-HALF (1/2) interest in said
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
properties is concerned.
was issued in said case by virtue of which the Sheriff levied on August 23, 1968 on We find no merit in this contention of the petitioner.
the rights and interests of Ramon Sta. Romana over Lot No. 1258-F and the The action filed by private respondent against the petitioner Ramon Sta.
improvements existing thereon, which lot Ramon Sta. Romana also purchased Romana was clearly a suit to enforce an obligation of the conjugal partnership.
from C. N. Hodges under another Contract to Sell. A third party claim was filed
Civil Case No. 7678 arose out of the failure of Ramon Sta. Romana to pay the
by a certain Emilio Sta. Romana who claimed that Lot No. 1258-F and its purchase price of a lot he bought from C. N. Hodges presumably in behalf of the
improvements had been sold to him by Ramon Sta. Romana on August 16, 1963. conjugal partnership. Petitioner does not deny the conjugal nature of both Lots
The trial court rendered its decision in Civil Case No. 7678 on June 16, 1975 Nos. 1258-G and 1258-F. Indeed, she bases her contention on the claim that at
rescinding the Contract to Sell and ordering Ramon Sta. Romana to return the least Lot No. 1258-F, together with its improvements existing thereon, constitutes
possession of Lot No. 1258-G to the herein private respondent, as well as to pay property of the conjugal partnership. It may not be denied, therefore, that the
rentals or damages for use and occupation thereof. The decision was appealed to
liability incurred by Ramon Sta. Romana is chargeable against the conjugal
the Court of Appeals which affirmed the same and further ordered Ramon Sta.
partnership assets, it being undisputed that the said obligation was contracted by
Romana to pay the land taxes and the interest thereon. the husband for the benefit of the conjugal partnership. (Art. 161 [1], Civil Code.)
On October 5, 1979, the trial judge issued a writ of execution by virtue of The non-inclusion of the herein petitioner as a party-defendant in Civil Case
which the Sheriff issued a notice of sale at public auction of the rights and No. 7678 is immaterial. There is no rule or law requiring that in a suit against the
interests of Ramon Sta. Romana as defendant in the case over Lot No. 1258-F and husband to enforce an obligation, either pertaining to him alone or one chargeable
its improvements for the satisfaction of the damages awarded in the decision.
against the conjugal partnership, the defendant husband must be joined by his
Ramon Sta. Romana died intestate on October 21, 1979. On November 26,
wife. The contrary rule is prescribed in Section
1979, herein petitioner Socorro L. Vda. de Sta. Romana, the surviving spouse of 335
Ramon Sta. Romana, filed a motion to quash the writ of execution alleging
VOL. 118, NOVEMBER 15, 1982 335
principally that the proceedings in Civil Case No. 7678 did not affect her rights
and interests over Lot No. 1258-G and Lot No. 1258-F inasmuch as she was not a Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
party in said action. The trial court denied the said motion to quash the writ of 4, Rule 3, of the Rules of Court and Article 113 of the Civil Code, but not the other
execution. The public auction sale was held and the private respondent was way around, obviously in recognition of the legal status of the husband as the
issued the corresponding certificate of sale. A Motion for Reconsideration filed by administrator of the conjugal partnership. (Art. 112, Civil Code.) There was,
the herein petitioner was likewise denied in the Order dated May 15, 1980. therefore, no need of including the petitioner as a party in Civil Case No. 7678 for
On September 1, 1980, herein petitioner instituted Civil Case No. 13533 the purpose of binding the conjugal partnership properties for the satisfaction of
praying therein that the writ of execution and the levy on execution made on Lot the judgment that could be rendered therein.
No. 1258-F and the improvements existing thereon be annulled insofar as her We likewise agree with the view that the issues raised by the petitioner in
ONEHALF (1/2) share in the said properties is concerned, and that Civil Case No. 13533 may not be litigated anew, if not by the principle of res
334 judicata but at least by conclusiveness of judgment. The record reveals that the
334 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED contentions being raised by the petitioner in Civil Case No. 13533 were squarely
placed before and ruled upon by the respondent court in connection with the
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
execution proceedings in Civil Case No. 7678. After the writ of execution was
she be declared the lawful and absolute owner of said ONEHALF (1/2) share of issued on October 5, 1979 (Annex E, Petition), herein petitioner filed a motion to
the said properties. Private respondent filed a motion to dismiss the complaint in quash the said writ of execution (Annex F, Petition).In said motion, the petitioner
Civil Case No. 13533 on the ground of res judicata. After the petitioner filed her
raised the following issues:
opposition to the motion to dismiss, the respondent court, in its Order dated
November 30, 1980, granted the motion to dismiss on the grounds of res
“x x x xxx
judicata and laches. This is the order that the petitioner seeks to annul in the
present proceeding.
3. That as will be noted from the records, the herein movant as spouse of the defendant was only possible doubt as to whether res judicata may be utilized as a bar to the
not impleaded as a defendant in the above entitled case; filing of
4. That on the other hand, it would appear from Exh. A, contract to sell dated October 6, 337
1956, that the property in question, having been transacted and/or bought by the defendant
during his marriage life with the herein movant is a sort of a conjugal property or asset of VOL. 118, NOVEMBER 15, 1982 337
the defendant and the herein movant: Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
5. That accordingly, the herein movant would have been an indispensable party in the Civil Case No. 13533 is that the pronouncement constituting the bar to a new
case at bar; specially when the aforesaid transaction was perfected at the time the Civil
action was not in the main judgment in Civil Case No. 7678 but only in a
Code of the Philippines had already taken effect;
6. That the herein movant having been not impleaded in the case at bar; no jurisdiction subsequent incident therein.
over his person had been vested in the proceedings; therefore whatever acts of levy on the It is Our considered opinion that such circumstance does not militate against
property of which she is or presumed to be a co-owner and which has never been liquidated the existence of res judicata if all the requisites for its application are otherwise
yet is an ultra vires following a well-known principle that a person who is not a party in a present. The order denying the petitioner’s motion to quash the writ of execution
given case cannot be reached by any process or order of the given court; issued in Civil Case No. 7678 is not merely an interlocutory order. It attained
336
finality due to the failure of the petitioner to appeal or seek a review of the same.
336 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED It is not questioned that the trial court had jurisdiction to take cognizance of the
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank motion to quash the writ of execution and over the parties litigating the same.
7. Thus, the rule is well-settled in this jurisdiction that “on the contention that at least one- The order of denial is on the merits of the motion. There was also identity of
half of the conjugal partnership belongs to the husband, and therefore could be validly parties involved in the motion to quash the writ of execution, identity of subject-
levied upon to satisfy the money judgment against said husband, it must be said that as matter and identity of causes of action. The requisites of res judicata being all
long as the conjugal partnership subsists, there can be no one-half share ofthe husband or present in the incident concerning the issuance of the writ of execution, We feel
the wife. Only when the conjugal partnership is dissolved and liquidated between husband no hesitancy in declaring that the filing of Civil Case No. 13533 is barred by the
and wife. In the meantime, the interest of each in the conjugal partnership property is principle of res judicata. The underlying philosophy of this doctrine is:
inchoate and is a mere expectancy. Therefore, any levy on the conjugal partnership property “x x x that parties ought not to be permitted to litigate the same issue more than once; that,
to satisfy the money judgment against the husband is null and void.(Quintos Ansaldo vs. when a right or fact has been judicially tried and determined by a court of competent
Sheriff of Manila, 64 Phil. 116). Conformably to the foregoing doctrine, it is therefore jurisdiction, or an opportunity for such trial has been given the judgment of the court, so
respectfully submitted that the writ of execution, notice of levy if one has been made and the long as it remains unreversed, should be conclusive upon the parties and those in privity
notice of sale in public auction are null and void.” (Rollo, pp. 38-39.) with them in law or estate. x x x x x x.” (2 Moran Rules of Court, p. 362, citing Sta. Ana v.
The respondent court ruled on this motion by issuing the Order dated March 5, Nar-vades,L-24390, Nov. 28, 1969, 30 SCRA 454, 463.)
1980 denying the same for lack of merit. (Annex B, Petition, Rollo, p. 41.) The To sanction the filing of Civil Case No. 13533 is to nullify altogether the
petitioner did not seek a further review of the said order of denial either in the proceedings had in connection with the petitioner’s motion to quash the writ of
respondent court or in any other tribunal; instead, she resorted to the remedy of execution and the ruling made by the respondent court thereon which had already
filing on June 10, 1980 Civil Case No. 13533. attained the status of finality.
Technically speaking, if may be said that the judgment rendered in the main In the least, the institution of Civil Case No. 13533 may be deemed barred by
action Civil Case No. 7678 does not constitute res judicata with respect to Civil the principle of conclusiveness of judgment which is expressed in the Rules in the
Case No. 13533. The causes of action in the two (2) cases are not the same; following terms:
neither is there identity of the subject-matter involved. Civil Case No. 7678 was “Effect of judgments.—The effect of a judgment or final order
essentially an action to rescind the Contract to Sell Lot No. 1258-G and to recover 338
possession thereof plus damages. Civil Case No. 13533, on the other hand, is to 338 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
annul the levy and execution sale of Lot No. 1258-F and the improvements
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
existing thereon with respect to the ONE-HALF (1/2) interest claimed by the
rendered by a court or judge of the Philippines, having jurisdiction to pronounce the
petitioner. judgment or order, may be as follows:
However, it may not be denied that the issues raised by the petitioner in Civil
Case No. 13533 had already been litigated and finally decided in the subsequent xxx xxx xxx
proceedings taken to enforce the judgment in Civil Case No. 7678. The parties
involved in said proceedings are the same, and so are the subject-matter involved (c) In any other litigation between the same parties or their successors in interest, that
and the cause of action relied upon by the petitioner in Civil Case No. 13533. The only is deemed to have been adjudged in a former judgment which appears upon its face to
have been so adjudged, or which was actually and necessarily included therein or necessary ineffective acts already done in the performance of their part of the illegal
thereto.” (SEC. 49; Rule 39, New Rules of Court.) bargain. (De Raquiza vs. Castellvi,77 SCRA 88.)
Even assuming, therefore, that Civil Case No. 13533 is on a different cause of Party invoking the presumption that property is conjugal must first prove
action than that involved in Civil Case No. 7678, the ruling in the latter on the that the same was acquired during the marriage. (Reyes vs. Ines-Luciano,91
motion for the quashing of the levy on execution made on Lot 1258-F which SCRA 612.)
involved the same subject-matter and parties litigating Civil Case No. 13533 is
rendered conclusive under the doctrine of conclusiveness of judgment. ——o0o——
Petitioner has further argued that her having filed the motion to quash the
writ of execution in Civil Case No. 7678 to assert her claim over ONE-HALF (1/2) 340
interest in Lot No. 1258-F and its improvements does not preclude her from filing © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
a separate civil action to pursue the same claim. She cites the case of Manila
Fidelity and Surety Company vs. Teodoro, et al., 20 SCRA 463, which holds that “
‘a third party claim is not an exclusive remedy; the same rule (Section 17, Rule
29), provides that nothing therein shall prevent such third person from
vindicating his claim to the property by any proper action.’ ”
We find no merit in this argument. The petitioner did not merely file a third
party claim on the property levied upon in connection with the writ of execution
issued in Civil Case No. 7678. Instead of a third party claim which, under the
rules, must be filed with the “officer making the levy and a copy thereof upon the
judgment creditor” (Sec. 17, Rule 39, Rules of Court), the petitioner filed a
“Motion to Quash Writ of Execution and All Subsequent Proceedings” (Record on
Appeal, p. 17) to which private respondent filed its Opposition (Ibid., pp. 20-24),
and to which in turn the petitioner filed her Reply to Opposition (Ibid., pp. 25-31).
When the respondent court issued its Order dated May 5, 1980 denying the
aforesaid Motion to Quash Execution for lack of merit (Ibid., p. 32), the
339
VOL. 118, NOVEMBER 15, 1982 339
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Phil. Commercial and Industrial Bank
petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration (Ibid., pp. 33-34) which was opposed
by the private respondent in writing (Ibid., pp. 35-35-B) and which in turn a
Reply to Opposition was filed by the petitioner (Ibid., pp. 36-38). In said motions,
oppositions and replies repeatedly filed by the parties, the same issues sought to
be reopened by the petitioner in Civil Case No. 13533 had been fully and
exhaustively ventilated. It was on the basis of such exposure of those issues that
the respondent court issued its Order denying the motion to quash the writ of
execution, and also the Order denying a motion for a reconsideration of the same.
WHEREFORE, the Petition is DENIED, and the Orders of the respondent
Judge issued in Civil Case No. 13533 dated March 5, 1980 and May 15, 1980 are
hereby AFFIRMED. With costs against the petitioner.
SO ORDERED.
Teehankee (Chairman), Melencio-
Herrera, Plana, Relova and Gutierrez,JJ., concur.
Petition denied.
Notes.—Parties who voluntarily entered into a compromise agreement
expressly prohibited or declared void by law cannot withdraw or recall or render
192 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Assailed and challenged in this Petition for Review is the Decision dated April 29,
1977 of the them Court of Appeals in its CA-G.R. No. SP-05920, the dispositive
G-Tractors, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals portion of which reads as follows—
No. L-57402. February 28, 1985. *
“WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby granted. The levy on execution dated February 11,
G-TRACTORS, INC., petitioner, vs. HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS and 1976, the sheriff s certificate of sale dated March 25, 1975 and final deed of sale, and the
orders of the respondent judge dated April 26, 1976, July 12, 1976 and August 26, 1976, are
LUIS R. NARCISO AND JOSEFINA SALAK NARCISO, respondents.
set aside and declared null and void, The writ of preliminary injunction heretofore in
Conjugal Partnership; Property; The conjugal partnership must equally bear the
force is made permanent, Costs against private respondent.
indebtedness of the husband in pursuit of his career or profession and his losses from a
SO ORDERED."
legitimate business.—The husband is the administrator of the conjugal partnership and as
long as he believes he is doing right to his family, he should not be made to suffer and
Private respondent Luis R. Narciso is a businessman. He is engaged in business
answer alone. So that, if he incurs an indebtedness in the legitimate pursuit of his career or as a producer and exporter of Philippine mahogany logs and operates a logging
profession or suffers losses in a legitimate business, the conjugal partnership must equally concession at del Gallego, Camarines Sur. He is legally married to the other
bear the indebtedness and the losses, unless he deliberately acted to the prejudice of his private respondent Josefina Salak Narciso.
family. Such is the nature of the judgment debt of private respondent Luis R. Narciso to Petitioner G-Tractors, Inc. upon the other hand, is a domestic corporation
petitioner. Consequently, the conjugal partnership of gains of private respondents Narcisos, engaged primarily in the business of leasing heavy equipments such as tractors,
must answer for the same. Necessarily the sale at public auction by the Sheriff of Quezon bulldozers, and the like.
City of TCT No. 120923 belonging to the conjugal partnership of gains of the private
Sometime in February 28, 1973, private respondent Luis R. Narciso entered
respondents Narcisos in order to satisfy the judgment debt of the private respondent Luis R.
Narciso with petitioner, was validly and legally made in accordance with law and not legally
into a Contract of Hire of Heavy Equipment with petitioner G-Tractors under the
assailable as held in the analogous case of Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Philippine Commercial terms of which the latter leased to the former tractors for the purpose of
and Industrial Bank. constructing switchroads and hauling felled trees at the jobsite of Narciso’s
Same; Actions; There is no need to include the name of the wife where husband is sued logging concession at del Gallego, Camarines Sur. The contract provided for
in order to bind the conjugal partnership.—The non-inclusion of the herein petitioner as a payment of rental for the use of said tractors.
partydefendant in Civil Case No. 7678 is immaterial. There is no rule or law requiring that 194
in a suit against the husband to enforce an obligation, either pertaining to him alone or one
194 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
chargeable against the conjugal partnership, the defendant husband must be joined by his
wife. The contrary rule is prescribed in Sec. 4, Rule 3, of the Rules of Court and Article 113 G-Tractors, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals
of the Civil Code, but not the other way around, obviously in recognition of the legal status Luis R. Narciso defaulted in his rental payments. Hence, on August 15, 1974, G-
of the husband as the administrator of the conjugal partnership (Art, 112, Civil Code) There Tractors instituted an action against him to collect the total amount of
was, therefore, no need of including the petitioner as a party in Civil Case No. 7678 for the
P155,410.25 with legal interest thereon, representing unpaid rentals for the
purpose of binding the conjugal partnership proper ties for the satisfaction of the judgment
that could be rendered thereon. leased tractors, 25% thereof as liquidated damages, P30,000.00 as and for
attorney’s fees, and the costs of suit, before the then Court of First Instance of
_______________ Rizal, Quezon City, Branch IX. The case was docketed thereat as Civil Case No.
Q-19173.
*SECOND DIVISION. Luis R. Narciso was declared in default. On his representations, however, G-
193 Tractors accepted his offer for a compromise agreement. A compromise agreement
VOL. 135, FEBRUARY 28, 1985 193 was thereupon signed by G-Tractors and Luis R. Narciso and on the basis thereof,
judgment thereon was rendered on October 10, 1974,
G-Tractors, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals
The compromise agreement stipulated for payment by Luis R. Narciso of the
total claim of G-Tractors on an installment plan. Luis R. Narciso failed to comply
PETITION for review the decision of the Court of Appeals. and so on November 29, 1974, G-Tractors filed a motion for execution. This was
opposed by Luis R. Narciso who asked for the suspension of the issuance of a writ
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court of execution on the ground that he allegedly has a pending loan with a banking
Francisco, De Castro, Zulueta & Reyes Law Office for petitioner. institution. The lower court, finding the allegation without legal basis, denied the
Fernando F. Villoria for private respondents. request for suspension and ordered the issuance of a writ of execution to enforce
the judgment based on the compromise agreement. The writ of execution was
CUEVAS, J.: issued on February 7, 1975. Levy was accordingly made on February 19, 1975 by
1
is allegedly the conjugal property of the spouses Luis R. Narciso and Josefina
consolidation of ownership and on the next day, April 6, 1976, the sheriff issued a
Salak Narciso.
Sheriff’s Final Deed of Sale. On April 12, 1976, G-Tractors, Inc. filed in Civil Case
6
On February 22, 1975, the Sheriff notified the general public, in his Notice of
No. Q19173, a “Motion for Entry and Issuance of New Torrens Certificate of Title”
Sheriff’s sale, that on March 25, 1975 he would sell at public auction to the
asking the Court to direct the Register of Deeds of Quezon City to cancel TCT No.
highest bidder for cash “the rights, interest and participation of the
120923 and to allow the entry and issuance of a new torrens title in the name of
aforementioned defendant Luis R. Narciso in the aforesaid real estate property
GTractors, Inc.
covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 120923, together with all the
On April 22, 1976, Luis R. Narciso filed an opposition to the aforesaid motion
improvements existing thereon” to satisfy the aforementioned writ of execution.
calling attention to the fact that he and his wife had filed a complaint which was
3
On March 25, 1975, a “Certificate of Sale” was issued to the effect that “on
docketed as Civil Case No. Q-21267 and pointing out that the Sheriff s final deed
said date (March 25, 1975) by virtue of the writ of execution issued by the
of sale and affidavit of consolidation of ownership would have no ef fect should the
Honorable Ulpiano Sarmiento in Civil Case No. Q-19173, the ex-oficio Sheriff of
levy on execution and the subsequent auction sale of the conjugal property be
Quezon City sold at public auction to the highest bidder (plaintiff GTractors, Inc.)
nullified. 7
for P180,000.00 the real estate property covered by TCT No. 120923, Quezon City,
Civil Case No. Q-21267 was subsequently transferred to Branch IX of the
and levied upon on February 12, 1975, together with all the improvements
same Court of First Instance which tried Civil Case No. Q-19173.
thereon." At that time, however, TCT No. 120923 was mortgaged to Mercantile
4
201
therefrom. It held:
“Lastly, the contention that the conjugal partnership is not liable because the obligation VOL. 135, FEBRUARY 28, 1985 201
contracted by the husband is personal in nature is not applicable in this case, The record
G-Tractors, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals
shows that Luis R. Narciso is a producer and exporter of Philippine mahogany logs and that
the bulldozers leased to him was used for the construction of switchroads for logging. It is “Petitioner assails the pronouncement by the respondent court that Civil Case No. 13553 is
very clear, therefore, that the obligations were contracted in connection with his Iegitimate barred by res judicata on the principal ground that, not being a party in Civil Case No.
business as a producer and exporter in mahogany logs and certainly benefited the conjugal 7678, she could not be bound by the judgment rendered in said case and, consequently, the
partnership. Justice J.B.L. Reyes is very liberal in interpreting Art. 161 of the Civil Code writ of attachment and the consequent writ of execution which levied on Lot No. 1258-F,
when he declared in Luzon Surety Co., Inc. versus de Garcia, 130 SCRA 1181 that the words together with its existing improvements, are null and void insofar as her ONE-HALF (1/2)
in said article “all debts and obligations contracted by the husband for the benefit of the interest in said properties is concerned.
conjugal partnership “do not require that actual profit or benefit must accrue to the conjugal We find no merit in this contention of the petitioner, The action filed by private
partnership from the husband’s transaction”, but it suffices that the transaction should be respondent against the petitioner Ramon Sta. Romana was clearly a suit to enforce an
200 obligation of the conjugal partnership. Civil Case No. 7678 arose out of the failure of Ramon
Sta. Romana to pay the purchase price of a lot he bought from C.N. Hodges presumably in
200 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED behalf of the conjugal partnership. Petitioner does not deny the conjugal nature of both Lots
G-Tractors, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals Nos. 1258G and 1258-F. Indeed, she bases her contention on the claim that at least Lot No.
one that normally would produce such benefit for the partnership." 9
1258-F, together with its improvements existing thereon, constitutes property of the
conjugal partnership, It may not be denied, therefore, that the liability incurred by Ramon
In the case of Cobb-Perez vs. Lantin, citing the case of Abella de Diaz vs.
10
Sta. Romana is chargeable against the conjugal partnership assets, it being undisputed that
Erlanger and Galinger, and Javier vs. Osmeña, this court ruled—
11 12
the said obligation was contracted by the husband for the benefit of the conjugal
“The aforesaid obligation was contracted in the purchase of leather used in the shoe partnership, (Art. 161(1), Civil Code)
manufacturing business of the petitioner husband. Said business is an ordinary commercial The non-inclusion of the herein petitioner as a party-defendant in Civil Case No. 7678 is
enterprise for gain, in the pursuit of which Damaso Perez had the right to embark the immaterial. There is no rule or law requiring that in a suit against the husband to enforce
partnership. It is well settled that the debts contracted by the husband for and in the exercise an obligation, either pertaining to him alone or one chargeable against the conjugal
of the industry or profession by which he contributes to the support of the family cannot be partnership, the defendant husband must be joined by his wife, The contrary rule is
deemed to be his exclusive and private debts.” (Italics supplied) prescribed in Sec. 4, Rule 3, of the Rules of Court and Article 113 of the Civil Code, but not
The husband is the administrator of the conjugal partnership and as long as he the other way around, obviously in recognition of the legal status of the husband as the
believes he is doing right to his family, he should not be made to suffer and administrator of the conjugal partnership. (Art. 112, Civil Code) There was, therefore, no
answer alone. So that, if he incurs an indebtedness in the legitimate pursuit of
13
need of including the petitioner as a party in Civil Case No. 7678 for the purpose of binding
his career or profession or suffers losses in a legitimate business, the conjugal the conjugal partnership properties for the satisfaction of the judgment that could be
partnership must equally bear the indebtedness and the losses, unless he rendered thereon.” (Italics supplied)
deliberately acted to the prejudice of his family. Such is the nature of the WHEREFORE, the Decision of the then Court of Appeals sought to be reviewed is
judgment debt of private respondent Luis R. Narciso to petitioner. Consequently, hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. No pronouncement as to costs.
the conjugal partnership of gains of private respondents Narcisos, must answer SO ORDERED.
202
for the same. Necessarily the sale at public auction by the Sheriff of Quezon City
14
of TCT No. 120923 belonging to the conjugal partnership of gains of the private 202 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
respondents Narcisos in order to satisfy the judgment debt of the private People vs. Itlanas
respondent Luis R. Narciso with petitioner, was validly and legally made in Makasiar, Aquino, Concepcion, Jr., Abad Santosand Escolin, JJ., concur.
accordance with law and not legally assailable as held in the analogous case of Decision reversed and set aside.
Vda. de Sta. Romana vs. Philippine Commercial and Industrial Bank where We 15
partnership, are chargeable to the conjugal partnership. No doubt, in this case, respondent
DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES (DBP), petitioner, vs. THE Confesor signed the second promissory note for the benefit of the conjugal partnership.
HONORABLE MIDPANTAO L. ADIL, Judge of the Second Branch of the Court of Hence the conjugal partnership is liable for this obligation.
First Instance of Iloilo and SPOUSES PATRICIO CONFESOR and JOVITA PETITION for certiorari to review the decision of the Court of First Instance of
VILLAFUERTE, respondents. Iloilo, Br. II. Adil, J.
Civil Law; Prescription; Waiver of right to prescription; Case at bar.—The right to The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
prescription may be waived or renounced. Article 1112 of Civil Code provides: “Art. 1112.
Persons with capacity to alienate property may renounce prescription already obtained, but
not the right to prescribe in the future. Prescription is deemed to have been tacitly
GANCAYCO, J.:
renounced when the renunciation results from acts which imply the abandonment of the
right acquired.” There is no doubt that prescription has set in as to the first promissory note The issue posed in this petition for review on certiorari is the validity of a
of February 10, 1940. However, when respondent Confesor executed the second promissory promissory note which was executed in consideration of a previous promissory
note on April 11,1961 whereby he promised to pay the amount covered by the previous note the enforcement of which had been barred by prescription.
promissory note on or before June 15, 1961, and upon failure to do so, agreed to the On February 10,1940 spouses Patricio Confesor and Jovita Villafuerte
foreclosure of the mortgage, said respondent thereby effectively and expressly renounced
obtained an agricultural loan from the Agricultural and Industrial Bank (AIB),
and waived his right to the prescription of the action covering the first promissory note. This
Court had ruled in a similar case that— x x x when a debt is already barred by prescription,
"
now the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP), in the sum of P2,000.00,
it cannot be enforced by the creditor. But a new contract recognizing and assuming the Philippine Currency, as evidenced by a promissory note of said date whereby they
prescribed debt would be valid and enforceable x x x.” Thus, it has been held—“Where, bound themselves jointly and severally to pay the account in ten (10) equal yearly
therefore, a party acknowledges the correctness of a debt and promises to pay it after the amortizations. As the obligation remained outstanding and unpaid even after the
same has prescribed and with full knowledge of the prescription he thereby waives the lapse of the aforesaid ten-year period, Confesor, who was by then a member of the
benefit of prescription.” Congress of the Philippines, executed a second promissory note on April 11,1961
Same; Same; Same; Effects of a new express promise to pay a debt.—This is not a expressly acknowledging said loan and promising to pay the same on or before
mere case of acknowledgment of a debt that has prescribed but a new promise to pay the
June 15, 1961. The new promissory note reads as follows—
debt. The consideration of the new promissory note is the pre-existing obligation under the
“I hereby promise to pay the amount covered by my promissory note on or before June 15,
first promissory note. The statutory limitation bars the remedy but does not discharge the
1961. Upon my failure to do so, I hereby agree to the foreclosure of my mortgage. It is
debt. “A new express promise to pay a debt barred xxx will take the case from the operation
understood that if I can
of the statute of limitations as this proceeds upon the ground that as a statutory limitation 309
merely bars the remedy and does not discharge the debt, there is something more than a
mere moral obligation to support a promise, to wit—a preexisting debt which is a sufficient VOL. 161, MAY 11, 1988 309
consideration for the new promise; the new promise upon this sufficient consideration Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) vs. Adil
constitutes, in fact,
secure a certificate of indebtedness from the government of my back pay I will be allowed to
pay the amount out of it.”
_______________
Said spouses not having paid the obligation on the specified date, the DBP filed a
* FIRST DIVISION. complaint dated September 11, 1970 in the City Court of Iloilo City against the
spouses for the payment of the loan.
308 After trial on the merits a decision was rendered by the inferior court on
December 27, 1976, the dispositive part of which reads as follows:
3 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED “WHEREFORE, premises considered, this Court renders judgment, ordering the defendants
Patricio Confesor and Jovita Villafuerte Confesor to pay the plaintiff Development Bank of
08
the Philippines, jointly and severally, (a) the sum of P5,760.96 plus additional daily interest
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) vs. Adil of P1.04 from September 17, 1970, the date Complaint was filed, until said amount is paid;
a new cause of action.” “x x x x x It is this new promise, either made in express terms (b) the sum of P576.00 equivalent to ten (10%) of the total claim by way of attorney’s fees
or deduced from an acknowledgment as a legal implication, which is to be regarded as and incidental expenses plus interest at the legal rate as of September 17, 1970, until fully
reanimating the old promise, or as imparting vitality to the remedy (which by lapse of time paid; and (c) the costs of the suit.”
had become extinct) and thus enabling the creditor to recover upon his original contract.”
Defendants-spouses appealed therefrom to the Court of First Instance of lloilo _______________
wherein in due course a decision was rendered on April 28, 1978 reversing the
appealed decision and dismissing the complaint and counter-claim with costs 1 Villaroel vs. Estrada, 71 Phil. 140.
against the plaintiff.
A motion for reconsideration of said decision filed by plaintiff was denied in an 2 Tauch vs. Gondram, 20 La. Ann. 156, cited on page 7, Vol. 4, Tolentino’s New Civil Code of the
order of August 10, 1978. Philippines.
Hence this petition wherein petitioner alleges that the decision of respondent 3Johnson vs. Evans, 50 Am. Dec. 669.
judge is contrary to law and runs counter to decisions of this Court when 311
respondent judge (a) refused to recognize the law that the right to prescription “x x x x x It is this new promise, either made in express terms or deduced from an
may be renounced or waived; and (b) that in signing the second promissory note acknowledgment as a legal implication, which is to be regarded as reanimating the old
respondent Patricio Confesor can bind the conjugal partnership; or otherwise said promise, or as imparting vitality to the remedy (which by lapse of time had become extinct)
respondent became liable in his personal capacity. and thus enabling the creditor to recover upon his original contract." 4
The petition is impressed with merit. However, the court a quo held that in signing the promissory note alone,
The right to prescription may be waived or renounced. Article 1112 of Civil respondent Confesor cannot thereby bind his wife, respondent Jovita Villafuerte,
Code provides: citing Article 166 of the New Civil Code which provides:
“Art 1112. Persons with capacity to alienate property may renounce prescription already “Art 166. Unless the wife has been declared a non compos mentisor a spendthrift, or is under
obtained, but not the right to prescribe in the future. civil interdiction or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband cannot alienate or encumber
310 any real property of the conjugal partnership without the wife’s consent. If she refuses
unreasonably to give her consent, the court may compel her to grant the same.”
310 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED We disagree. Under Article 165 of the Civil Code, the husband is the
Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) vs. Adil administrator of the conjugal partnership. As such administrator, all debts and
Prescription is deemed to have been tacitly renounced when the renunciation results from obligations contracted by the husband for the benefit of the conjugal partnership,
acts which imply the abandonment of the right acquired.” are chargeable to the conjugal partnership. No doubt, in this case, respondent
5
There is no doubt that prescription has set in as to the first promissory note of Confesor signed the second promissory note for the benefit of the conjugal
February 10,1940. However, when respondent Confesor executed the second partnership. Hence the conjugal partnership is liable for this obligation.
promissory note on April 11, 1961 whereby he promised to pay the amount WHEREFORE, the decision subject of the petition is reversed and set aside
covered by the previous promissory note on or before June 15, 1961, and upon and another decision is hereby rendered reinstating the decision of the City Court
failure to do so, agreed to the foreclosure of the mortgage, said respondent thereby of Iloilo City of December 27, 1976, without pronouncement as to costs in this
effectively and expressly renounced and waived his right to the prescription of the instance. This decision is immediately executory and no motion for extension of
action covering the first promissory note. time to file motion for reconsideration shall be granted.
This Court had ruled in a similar case that— SO ORDERED.
“x x x when a debt is already barred by prescription, it cannot be enforced by the creditor. Narvasa and Cruz, JJ., concur.
But a new contract recognizing and assuming the prescribed debt would be valid and Griño-Aquino, J., no part. The Confesors are my relatives.
enforceable x x x."
Decision reversed and set aside.
1
This is not a mere case of acknowledgment of a debt that has prescribed but a 4 Mattingly vs. Boyd, 20 How (US) 128, 15 Led 845; St. John vs. Garrow,4 Port. (Ala) 223, 29 Am.
new promise to pay the debt. Theconsideration of the new promissory note is the Dec. 280. American Jurisprudence—Vol. 34, page 233 (Statute of Limitations).
pre-existing obligation under the first promissory note. The statutory limitation
Article 161(1), Civil Code.
bars the remedy but does not discharge the debt. 5
312
“A new express promise to pay a debt barred x x x will take the case from the operation of
the statute of limitations as this proceeds upon the ground that as a statutory limitation
Note.—Prescription is rightly regarded as a statute of repose whose subject is
merely bars the remedy and does not discharge the debt, there is something more than a to suppress fraudulent and state claims from springing up at great distances of
mere moral obligation to support a promise, to wit—a pre-existing debt which is a sufficient time and surprising the parties or their representatives when the facts have
consideration for the new promise; the new promise upon this sufficient consideration become obscure from the lapse of time or death or removal of witnesses. (Peñales
constitutes, in fact, a new cause of action."
3
vs. Intermediate Appellate Court, 145 SCRA 223).
enjoining him from proceeding with the execution sale.” “Upon the other hand, if the claim
VOL. 174, JUNE 7, 1989 59
of impropriety on the part of the sheriff in the execution proceedings is made by a party
Mariano vs. Court of Appeals 61
children, had redounded to the benefit of the partnership. It was therefore error for the the value of ladies’ ready made dresses allegedly purchased by and delivered to
Court of Appeals to have ruled otherwise.
the latter. 2
Caloocan Court. The rule, one of great importance in the administration of justice, is that a motion for the discharge of the attachment having been denied, Lourdes Mariano
4
Court of First Instance has no power to restrain by means of injunction the execution of a went up to the Court of Appeals on certiorari. That Court ordered the Trial Court
5
judgment or decree of another judge of concurrent or coordinate jurisdiction. But this is to receive evidence on whether or not the attachment had been improvidently or
precisely what was done by the Quezon City Court of First Instance: it enjoined the irregularly
execution of a judgment authorized and directed by a co-equal and coordinate court, the
Caloocan City Court of First Instance. It did so on the claim of Daniel Sanchez that the
_______________
property being levied on belonged to the conjugal partnership and could not be made liable
for the wife’s obligations.
Docketed as Civil Case No. C-3038, assigned to Branch XXXIII.
Same; Same; Same; Levy on Execution; Husband of the judgment debtor cannot be
1
in favor of defendant Lourdes Mariano and against plaintiff Esther Sanchez The Quezon City Court issued an order setting the matter of the injunction for
containing the following dispositions, to wit: 8 hearing, and commanding the sheriff, in the meantime, to desist from proceeding
with the auction sale of the property subject of Daniel Sanchez’ claim. Lourdes 14
1. 1.On the complaint, defendant is ordered to pay unto the plaintiff for the value of Mariano filed a motion to dismiss the action; this, the Court denied. She then 15
the dishonored check (Exhs. G-1, H and I) in the total amount of Pl,512.00. instituted a special civil action of certiorari in the Court of Appeals, where she 16
2. 2.On the counterclaim, the plaintiff is ordered to pay unto defendant the following, initially enjoyed some measure of success: her petition was given due course, and
as follows: the Quezon City Court was restrained by the Appellate Court’s Seventh
Division from further proceeding with the case. Eventually, how-
17 18
_______________ cause and dismissed her petition. It ruled that the Quezon City Court had not
20
interfered with the execution process of the Caloocan Court because Daniel
6SEC. 13, Rule 57, Rules of Court, authorizes the discharge of a preliminary attachment upon a Sanchez’s action in the former court raised an issue—the validity of the sheriffs
showing that the same had been improperly or irregularly issued.
levy on the conjugal partnership assets of the Sanchez Spouses—different from
7Rollo, p. 55.
8Id., pp. 88 et seq. those adjudicated in the Caloocan Court, and Sanchez was not a party to the case
9Id., p 56. tried by the latter.
10Ibid. From this verdict Lourdes Mariano has appealed to this Court, contending
63
that the Appellate Court committed reversible error—
VOL. 174, JUNE 7, 1989 63
Mariano vs. Court of Appeals 1. 1)in ruling that the conjugal partnership of Daniel and Esther Sanchez
levied on real and personal property belonging to the conjugal partnership of could not be made liable for Esther’s judgment obligation arising from
Esther Sanchez and her husband, Daniel Sanchez. Esther Sanchez then filed a the spouses’ joint business with Lourdes Mariano;
petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals, praying for the annulment of the 2. 2)in ruling that the Quezon City Court of First Instance had not
execution pending appeal authorized by the Trial Court; but her petition was interfered with the execution process of the Caloocan Court of First
adjudged to be without merit and was accordingly dismissed. 11 Instance; and
Daniel Sanchez, Esther’s husband, now made his move. He filed a complaint 3. 3)when its Eighth Division decided the petition of Lourdes Mariano
for annulment of the execution in the Court of First Instance at Quezon City in although the case had been raffled to the Seventh Division and the
his capacity as administrator of the conjugal partnership. He alleged that the
12 latter had in fact given due course to the petition.
1. There is no dispute about the fact that Esther Sanchez was engaged in business 24ART. 161 (1) and (5), Civil Code.
SEE Hacbang v. Diez, 8 SCRA 103 (1963); Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines v.
not only without objection on the part of her husband, Daniel, but in truth with
25
I.A.C., 151 SCRA 161 (1987); Republic v. Reyes, 155 SCRA 237 (1987); Cabigao v. Rosario, 44 Phil.
his consent and approval. It is also established that, as expressly acknowledged
21
182; Araneta & Uy v. Commonwealth Insurance Co., 55 O.G. 431; Ngo Bun Tiong v. Judge Sayo, G.R. No.
by Esther herself and never denied by Daniel, the profits from the business had L-45825, June 30, 1988, citing Cabigao v. del Rosario, supra.
been used to meet, in part at least, expenses for the support of her family, i.e., the 66
schooling of the children, food and other household expenses. Under the 22 66 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
circumstances, Lourdes Mariano’s action against Esther Sanchez was justified, Mariano vs. Court of Appeals
the litigation being “incidental to the x x business in which she is engaged,” and
any proper action.” The section reads as follows:
23
SEC. 17. Proceedings where property claimed by third person.—If property levied on be
claimed by any other person than the judgment debtor or his agent, and such person make
_______________ an affidavit of his title thereto or right to the possession thereof, stating the grounds of such
right or title, and serve the same upon the officer making the levy, and a copy thereof upon
Borromeo, J., ponente, with whom concurred Gopengco and Busran, JJ.
19
the judgment creditor, the officer shall not be bound to keep the property, unless such
Id., pp. 87-91.
20
judgment creditor or his agent, on demand of the officer, indemnify the officer against such
SEE ART. 117, Civil Code.
claim by a bond in a sum not greater than the value of the property levied on. In case of
21
a writ of preliminary injunction against the sheriff enjoining him from proceeding
2. It was also error for the Court of Appeals to have held that there was no
with the execution sale.” “Upon the other hand, if the claim of impropriety on the
28
interference by the Quezon City Court of First Instance with the execution
part of the sheriff in the execution proceedings is made by a party to the
process of the Caloocan Court.
action, not a stranger thereto, any relief therefrom may be applied for with, and
The rule, one of great importance in the administration of justice, is that a
obtained from, only the executing court; and this is true even if
Court of First Instance has no power to restrain by means of injunction the
execution of a judgment or decree of another judge of concurrent or coordinate _______________
jurisdiction. But this is precisely what was done by the Quezon City Court of
25
First Instance: it enjoined the execution of a judgment authorized and directed by Emphasis supplied.
26
a co-equal and coordinate court, the Caloocan City Court of First Instance. It did Ong v. Tating, 149 SCRA 265, 277, italics supplied, citing Bayer Phil. v. Agana, 63 SCRA 355 (in
27
so on the claim of Daniel Sanchez that the property being levied on belonged to turn citing Manila Herald Publishing, etc. v. Ramos, 88 Phil. 94); Polaris Marketing Corp. v. Plan, 69
SCRA 93; Lorenzana v. Cayetano, 78 SCRA 485; Arabay v. Salvador, 82 SCRA 138; Roque v. CA, 93
the conjugal partnership and could not be made liable for the wife’s obligations. SCRA 540.
The question that arises is whether such a claim—that property levied on in Ong v. Tating, supra, at pp. 278-279.
28
person,” i.e., “any other person than the judgment debtor or his agent,” to In the case at bar, the husband of the judgment debtor cannot be deemed a
vindicate “his claim to the property by “stranger” to the case prosecuted and adjudged against his wife. A strikingly
similar situation was presented in a case decided by this Court as early as
_______________ 1976, Rejuso v. Estipona. There, the sheriff tried to evict petitioner Rejuso and
30
his family from their house and lot which had been sold in execution of a money
judgment rendered by the Court of First Instance of Davao against Rejuso. What conjugal assets to respond for the wife’s obligations in the premises cannot be
Rejuso did was to institute, together with his wife, Felisa, a separate suit in the disputed.
same court against the sheriff and the judgment creditor, Estipona, for the The petitioner’s appeal must therefore be sustained.
purpose of annulling the levy, execution sale, and writ of possession issued in the However, the petitioner’s theory that the Eighth Division of the Appellate
first action in respect of their residential house and lot, on the theory that that Court had improperly taken cognizance of the case which had been raffled to the
property was conjugal in character and “hence, not subject to such proceedings Seventh Division, must be rejected. It is without foundation, and was evidently
considering that Felisa was not a party to the previous case.” The action was made without attempt to ascertain the relevant facts and applicable rules. The
however dismissed by the court on the ground that it had “no jurisdiction over the case had originally been assigned to Mr. Justice Isidro C. Borromeo for study and
subject matter of the action or the nature of the action and of the relief report while he was still a member of the Seventh Division. The case was brought
sought.” The dismissal was had on motion of Estipona who argued that the court
31 by him to the Eighth Division when he was subsequently transferred thereto; and
had no jurisdiction to “vacate or annul and/or enjoin the enforcement of the he had ultimately written the opinion for the division after due deliberation with
process issued by another branch in another case,” and since Rejuso had already his colleagues. All of this took place in accordance with the Rules of the Court of
raised the same issues in the first case, without success, he should not be allowed Appeals.
to “get from another branch x x what he failed to get x x (from) Branch 1.” This WHEREFORE, the Decision of the Court of Appeals subject of the petition is
Court affirmed that judgment of dismissal, holding that Rejuso’s action was
32 REVERSED AND SET ASIDE, and the Regional Trial Court (formerly Court of
barred by res adjudicata;and “(a)s regards Felisa Rejuso, who is a new party First Instance) at Quezon City is
in Civil Case No. 5102” (the second action) it was ruled that—x x her remedy, if it 69
has not yet been barred by the statute of limitations or become stale in some other VOL. 174, JUNE 7, 1989 69
way, is within Civil Case No.
Mariano vs. Court of Appeals
_______________
ORDERED to dismiss Civil Case No. 20415 entitled “Daniel P. Sanchez v. Deputy
Sheriff Mariano V. Cachero, et al,” with prejudice. Costs against private
Ong v. Tating, supra, at p. 279, italics supplied, citing Rejuso v. Estipona, 72 SCRA 509; National
29
respondents.
Power Corp. v. De Veyra, 3 SCRA 646. SO ORDERED.
72 SCRA 509, supra, 511.
30
Cruz, Gancayco, Griño-Aquino and Medialdea, JJ.,concur.
Id., p. 512.
Decision reversed and set aside.
31
Remedial law; Appeals; Procedure in Court of Appeals;Questions that may be raised There was a stipulation of facts submitted. There is no question as to one
on appeal; Effect of failure to raise question of jurisdiction of lower court to entertain case;
Ladislao Chavez, as principal, and petitioner Luzon Surety Co., Inc., executing a
Case at bar.—Where the question of jurisdiction of the lower court to entertain the petition
in question was not raised before the lower court and only raised for the first time on
surety bond in favor of the Philippine National Bank, Victorias Branch, to
appeal, laches may be held to have intervened as in this case as held in Tijam v. guaranty a crop loan granted by the latter to Ladislao Chavez in the sum of
Sibonghanoy, 23 SCRA 29 (1968), as to preclude the petitioner from now attempting to P9,000.00. On or' about the same date, Vicente Garcia, together with the said
interpose it in the Supreme Court. Ladislao Chavez and one Ramon B. Lacson, as guarantors, signed an indemnity
agreement wherein they bound themselves, jointly and severally, to indemnify
REYES, J.B.L., J., concurring: now petitioner Luzon Surety Co., Inc. against any and all damages, losses, costs,
stamps, taxes, penalties, charges and expenses of whatsoever kind and nature
Civil law; Persons; Property relations between husband and wife; Conjugal which the petitioner may at any time sustain or incur in consequence of having
partnership of gains; Charges upon and obligations of the conjugal partnership of gains; become guarantor upon said bond, to pay interest at the rate of 12% per annum,
Article 161 of Civil Code does not require actual profit or benefit to accrue to the conjugal computed and compounded quarterly until fully paid; and to pay 15% of the
partnership from the husband's transactions.—The words "all debts and obligations amount involved
________________ We reiterate what was set forth at the opening of this opinion. There is no
reason for a reversal of the judgment. The decision sought to be reviewed is in
1Brief for Petitioner, p. 3. accordance with law.
114
As explained in the decision now under review: "It is true that the husband is
114 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED the administrator of the conjugal property pursuant to the provisions of Art. 163
Luzon Surety Co., Inc. vs. De Garcia of the new Civil Code. However, as such administrator the only obligations
in any litigation or other matters growing out of or connected therewith for incurred by the husband that are chargeable against the conjugal property are
attorney's fees. those incurred in the legitimate pursuit of his career, profession or business with
It was likewise stipulated that on or about April 27, 1956, the Philippine the honest belief that he is doing right for the benefit of the family. This is not
National Bank filed a complaint before the Court of First Instance of Negros true in the case at bar for we believe that the husband in acting as guarantor or
Occidental, docketed as its Civil Case No. 3893. against Ladislao Chavez and surety for another in an indemnity agreement as that involved in this case did not
Luzon Surety Co.. Inc. to recover the amount of P4,577.95, in interest, attorney's act for the benefit of the conjugal partnership. Such inference is more emphatic in
fees, and costs of the suit. On or about August 8, 1957, in turn, a third-party this case, when no proof is presented that Vicente Garcia in acting as surety or
complaint against Ladislao Chavez. Ramon 8. Lacson and Vicente Garcia, based quarantor received consideration therefor, which may redound to the benefit of
on the indemnity agreement, was instituted by Luzon Surety Co., Inc. the conjugal partnership." 3
Then, as set forth by the parties, on September 17, 1958, the lower court In the decision before us, the principal error assigned is the above holding of
rendered a decision condemning Ladislao Chavez and Luzon Surety Co., Inc., to the Court of Appeals that under Article 161 of the Civil Code no liability was
pay the plaintiff jointly and severally the amount of P4,577.95 representing the incurred by the conjugal partnership. While fully conscious of the express
principal and accrued interest of the obligation at the rate of 6% per annum as of language of Article 161 of the Civil Code, petitioner, in its well-written brief
January 6, 1956, with a daily interest of P0,7119 on P4.330.91 from January 6. submitted by its counsel, would impress on us that in this case it could not be said
1956, until fully paid, plus the sum of P100.00 as attorney's fees, and to pay the that no benefit was received by the conjugal partnership; It sought to lend some
costs. The same decision likewise ordered the third party defendants, Ladislao semblance of plausibility to this view thus: "The present case involves a contract
Chavez, Vicente Garcia, and Ramon B, Lacson, to pay Luzon Surety Co., Inc., the of sure-
total amount to be paid by it to the plaintiff Philippine National Bank.
________________
On July 30, 1960, pursuant to the aforesaid decision, the Court of First
Instance of Negros Occidental issued a writ of execution against Vicente Garcia
Ibid., pp. 46-47
for the satisfaction of the claim of petitioner in the sum of P8,839.97. There-af ter,
3
116
a writ of garnishment was issued by the Provincial Sheriff of Negros Occidental
dated August 9, 1960, levying and garnishing the sugar quedans of the now 116 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
respondent-spouses, the Garcias, from their sugar plantation, registered in the Luzon Surety Co., Inc. vs. De Garcia
names of both of them. The suit for Injunction filed by the Garcia spouses was the
2
tyship entered into by the husband, the respondent Vicente Garcia, in behalf of a
result. third person. A transaction based on credit through which, by our given
As noted, the lower court found in their favor. In its decision of April 30, 1962, definitions, respondent Vicente Garcia, by acting as guarantor and making good
it declared that the garnish- his guaranty, acquires the capacity of being trusted, adds to his reputation or
esteem, enhances his standing as a citizen in the community in which he lives,
________________ and earns the confidence of the business community. He can thus secure money
with which to carry on the purposes of their conjugal partnership." 4
2Ibid., Appendix, pp. 39-42. While not entirely without basis, such an argument does not carry conviction.
115
Its acceptance would negate the plain meaning of what is expressly provided for
VOL. 30, OCTOBER 31, 1969 115 in Article 161. In the most categorical language, a conjugal partnership under
Luzon Surety Co., Inc. vs. De Garcia that provision is liable only for such "debts and obligations contracted by the
ment in question was contrary to Article 161 of the Civil Code and granted their husband for the benefit of the conjugal partnership." There must be the requisite
petition, making the writ of preliminary injunction permanent Luzon Surety, Inc. showing then of some advantage which clearly accrued to the welfare of the
elevated the matter to the Court of Appeals, which, as mentioned at the outset, spouses. There is none in this case. Nor could there be, considering that the benef
likewise reached the same result. Hence this petition for review. it was clearly intended for a third party, one Ladislao Chavez. While the husband
by thus signing the indemnity agreement may be said to have added to his
reputation or esteem and to have earned the confidence of the business 6Article 165, New Civil Code.
Ct Report of the Code Commission, p. 17 (1948).
community, such benefit, even if hypothetically accepted, is too remote and
7
118
fanciful to come within the express terms of the provision.
Its language is clear; it does not admit of doubt. No process of interpretation 118 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
or construction need be resorted to. It peremptorily calls f or application. Where a Luzon Surety Co., Inc. vs. De Garcia
requirement is made in explicit and unambiguous terms, no discretion is left to sider a question raised for the first time on appeal. Now as to the question of
the judiciary. It must see to it that its mandate is obeyed. So it is in this case. jurisdiction of the lower court to entertain this petition for injunction against the
That is how the Court of Appeals acted, and what it did cannot be impugned for Provincial Sheriff, to which our attention is invited, neither the Court of Appeals
being contrary to law. 5
nor the lower court having been asked to pass upon it Of course, if raised earlier,
it ought to have been seriously inquired into. We feel, however, that under all the
________________ circumstances of the case, substantial justice would be served if petitioner be held
as precluded from now attempting to interpose such a barrier. The conclusion
Ibid., pp. 24-25.
that thereby laches had intervened is not unreasonable. Such a response on our
4
Cf. People v. Mapa, 20 SCRA 1164 (1967); Pacific Oxygen & Acetylene Co. v. Central Bank, 22
5
SCRA 917 (1968); Dequito v. Lopez, 22 SCRA 1352 (1968); Padilla v, City of Pasay, 23 part can be predicated on the authoritative holding in Tijam v. Sibonghanoy. 8
117 WHEREFORE, the decision of the Court of Appeals of December 17, 1965,
VOL. 30, OCTOBER 31, 1969 117 now under review, is affirmed with costs against petitioner Luzon Surety Co., Inc.
Concepcion,
Luzon Surety Co., Inc. vs. De Garcia C.J., Dizon, Makalintal, Zaldivar, Sanchez, Castro, Teehankee and Barredo,
Moreover, it would negate the plain object of the additional requirement in the JJ., concur.
present Civil Code that a debt contracted by the husband to bind a conjugal
partnership must redound to its benefit. That is still another provision indicative REYES, J., concurring:
of the solicitude and tender regard that the law manifests for the family as a unit.
Its interest is paramount; its welfare uppermost in the minds of the codifiers and
I concur in the result, but would like to make of record that, in my opinion, the
legislators.
words "all debts and obligations contracted by the husband for the benefit of the
This particular codal provision in question rightfully emphasizes the
conjugal partnership" used in Article 161 of the Civil Code of the Philippines in
responsibility of the husband as administrator, He is supposed to conserve and, if
describing the charges and obligations for which the conjugal partnership is
6
possible, augment the funds of the conjugal partnership, not dissipate them. If out
liable, do not require that actual profit or benefit must accrue to the conjugal
of friendship or misplaced generosity on his part the conjugal partnership would
partnership from the husband's transactions; but that it suffices that the
be saddled with financial burden, then the family stands to suffer. No objection
transaction should be one that normallywould produce such benefit for the
need arise if the obligation thus contracted by him could be shown to be for the
partnership, This is the ratio behind our ruling in Javier vs. Osmeña, 34 Phil.
benefit of the wife and the progeny if any there be. That is but fair and just.
336, that obligations incurred by the husband in the practice of his profession are
Certainly, however. to make a conjugal partnership respond for a liability that
collectible from the conjugal partnership.
should appertain to the husband alone is to defeat and frustrate the avowed
Decision affirmed.
objective of the new Civil Code to show the utmost concern for the solidarity and
Notes.—Laches.—See the annotation in 5 SCRA 57-65.
well-being of the family as a unit. The husband, therefore, as is wisely thus made
7
certain, is denied the power to assume unnecessary and unwarranted risks to the ________________
financial stability of the conjugal partnership.
No useful purpose would be served by petitioner assigning as one of the errors 823 SCRA 29 (1968). Cf. Carillo v. Allied Workers' Association, 24 SCRA 566 (1968).
the observation made by the Court of Appeals as to the husband's interest in the 119
conjugal property being merely inchoate or a mere expectancy in view of the © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
conclusion thus reached as to the absence of any liability on the part of the
conjugal partnership. Nor was it error for the Court of Appeals to refuse to con-
________________
SCRA 1349 (1968); Garcia v. Vasquez, 27 SCRA 505 (1969); La Perla Cigar & Cigarette Factory v.
Capapas, L-27948 & 28001-11, July 31, 1969; Mobil Oil Philippines v. Diocares, L26371, Sept. 30, 1969.
any error on the part of the trial judge in using the above documents as standards and also
608 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
in giving credence to the expert witness presented by the private respondent whose
BA Finance Corporation us. Court of Appeals testimony .the petitioner failed to rebut and whose credibility it likewise failed to impeach.
But more important is the fact that the unrebutted handwriting expert’s testimony noted
No. L-61464. May 28, 1988, *
twelve (12) glaring and material differences in the alleged signature of the private
BA FINANCE CORPORATION, petitioner, vs. THE HONORABLE COURT OF respondent in the Special Power of Attorney as compared with the specimen signatures,
APPEALS, AUGUSTO YULO, LILY YULO (doing business under the name and something which the appellate court also took into account.
style of A & L INDUSTRIES), respondents. Same; Same; Same; Presumption that the single proprietorship established during the
Civil Law; Obligations; Property; Conjugal partnership property, not a case of; Where marriage is conjugal, and even if it is registered in the name of only one of the
there is strong preponderant evidence that the single proprietorship business belongs spouses; Exception.—There is no dispute that A & L Industries was established during the
exclusively to the wife, said property cannot form part of the partnership answerable to the marriage of Augusto and Lily Yulo and therefore the same is presumed conjugal and the
spouses’ obligations.—As to the petitioner’s contention that even if the signature of Lily Yulo fact that it was registered in the name of only one of the spouses does not destroy its
was forged or even if the attached properties were her exclusive property, the same can be conjugal nature (See Mendoza v. Reyes, 124 SCRA 161, 165). However, for the said property
made answerable to the obligation because the said properties form part of the conjugal to be held liable, the obligation contracted by the husband must have redounded to the
partnership of the spouses Yulo, the appellate court held that these contentions are without benefit of the conjugal partnership under Article 161 of the Civil Code. In the present case,
merit because there is strong preponderant evidence to show that A & L Industries belongs the obligation which the petitioner is seeking to enforce against the conjugal property
exclusively to respondent Lily Yulo, namely: a) The Certificate of Registration of A & L managed by the private respondent Lily
Industries, issued by the Bureau of Commerce, showing that said business is a single 610
proprietorship, and that the registered owner thereof is only Lily Yulo; b) The Mayor’s 6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Permit issued in favor of A & L Industries, by the Caloocan City Mayor’s Office showing
compliance by said single proprietorship company with the City Ordinance governing 10
business establishments; and c) The Special Power of Attorney itself, assuming but without BA Finance Corporation vs. Court of Appeals
admitting its due execution, is tangible proof that Augusto Yulo has no interest whatsoever Yulo was undoubtedly contracted by Augusto Yulo for his own benefit because at the
in the A & L Industries, otherwise, there would have been no necessity for the Special time he incurred the obligation he had already abandoned his family and had left their
Power of Attorney if he is a part owner of said single proprietorship. conjugal home. Worse, he made it appear that he was duly authorized by his wife in behalf
Same; Same; Same; Remedial Law; Evidence; Handwriting; How genuineness of a of A & L Industries, to procure such loan from the petitioner. Clearly, to make A & L
standard writing established.—The records show that Industries liable now for the said loan would be unjust and contrary to the express provision
of the Civil Code.
_______________
Same; Same; Same; Damages; Attachment; When is an attachment said to be
wrongful.—Both the trial and appellate courts found that there was bad faith on the part of
THIRD DIVISION.
the petitioner in securing the writ of attachment. We do not think so. “An attachment may
*
609
be said to be wrongful when, for instance, the plaintiff has no cause of action, or that there
VOL. 161, MAY 28, 1988 609 is no true ground therefor, or that the plaintiff has a sufficient security other than the
BA Finance Corporation vs. Court of Appeals property attached, which is tantamount to saying that the plaintiff is not entitled to
attachment because the requirements of entitling him to the writ are wanting (7 C.J.S.,
the signatures which were used as “standards” for comparison with the alleged
664)" (p. 48, Section 4, Rule 57, Francisco, Revised Rules of Court).
signature of the private respondent in the Special Power of Attorney were those from the
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Failure of petitioner to prove the ground relied upon
latter’s residence certificates in the years 1973, 1974 and 1975, her income tax returns for
for issuance of the writ of attachment cannot be equated with bad faith or malicious intent.—
the years 1973 and 1975 and from a document on long bond paper dated May 18, 1977. Not
Although the petitioner failed to prove the ground relied upon for the issuance of the writ of
only were the signatures in the foregoing documents admitted by the private respondent as
attachment, this failure cannot be equated with bad faith or malicious intent. The steps
hers but most of the said documents were used by the private respondent in her
which were taken by the petitioner to ensure the security of its claim were premised on the
transactions with the government. As was held in the case of Plymouth Saving & Loan
firm belief that the properties involved could be made answerable for the unpaid obligation
Ass’n. No. 2 v. Kassing (125 N.E. 488, 494): “We believe the true rule deduced from the
due it. There is no question that a loan in the amount of P591,003.59 was borrowed from the
authorities to be that the genuineness of a ‘standard’ writing may be established (1) by the
bank.
admission of the person sought to be charged with the disputed writing made at or for the
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Private respondent wife entitled to actual damages
purposes of the trial or by his testimony; (2) by witnesses who saw the standards written or
based on the value of the attached property as proven in court.—We, thus, find that the
to whom or in whose hearing the person sought to be charged acknowledged the writing
petitioner is liable only for actual damages and not for exemplary damages and attorney’s
thereof; (3) by evidence showing that the reputed writer of the standard has acquiesced in or
fees. Respondent Lily Yulo has manifested before this Court that she no longer desires the
recognized the same, or that it has been adopted and acted upon by him in his business
return of the attached properties since the said attachment caused her to close down the
transactions or other concerns. x x x.”
business. From that time she has become a mere employee of the new owner of the
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Sufficiency of signatures of respondent in
premises. She has grave doubts as to the running condition of the attached machineries and
certain documents as standards; Testimonies of expert witnesses, credible.—We cannot find
equipments considering that the attachment was effected way back in 1975. She states as a by executing a Deed of Assignment in favor of the petitioner, assigning all their
matter of fact that the petitioner has already caused the sale of the machineries for fear that rights, titles and interests over a construction contract executed by and between
they might be destroyed due to prolonged litigation. We, therefore, deem it just and the spouses and A. Soriano Corporation on June 19, 1974 for a consideration of
equitable to allow private respondent Lily Yulo to recover actual
611
P615,732.50 when, in truth, the spouses did not have any intention of remitting
the proceeds of the said construction contract to the petitioner because despite the
VOL. 161, MAY 28, 1988 611
provisions in the Deed of Assignment that the spouses shall, without
BA Finance Corporation vs. Court of Appeals compensation or costs, collect and receive in trust for the petitioner all payments
damages based on the value of the attached properties as proven in the trial court, in made upon the construction contract and shall remit to the petitioner all
the amount of P660,000.00. In turn, if there are any remaining attached properties, they collections therefrom, the said spouses failed and refused to remit the collections
should be permanently released to herein petitioner. and instead, misappropriated the proceeds for their own use and benefit, without
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Award for unrealized profits, not proved or justified
the knowledge or consent of the petitioner.
before the trial court.—We cannot, however, sustain the award of P500,000.00 representing
unrealized profits because this amount was not proved or justified before the trial court. The
The trial court issued the writ of attachment prayed for thereby enabling the
basis of the alleged unearned profits is too speculative and conjectural to show actual petitioner to attach the properties of A & L Industries. Apparently not contented
damages for a future period. The private respondent failed to present reports on the average with the order, the petitioner filed another motion for the examination of
actual profits earned by her business and other evidence of profitability which are necessary attachment debtor, alleging that the properties attached by the sheriff were not
to prove her claim for the said amount (See G.A. Machineries, Inc. v. Yaptinchay, 126 SCRA sufficient to secure the satisfaction of any judgment that may be recovered by it in
78, 88). the case. This was likewise granted by the court.
PETITION to review the decision of the Court of Appeals. Private respondent Lily Yulo filed her answer with counter-claim, alleging
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court. that although. Augusto Yulo and she are husband and wife, the former had
abandoned her and their children five (5) months before the filing of the
GUTIERREZ, JR., J.: complaint; that they were already separated when the promissory note was
executed; that her signature in the special power of attorney was forged because
This is a petition for review seeking to set aside the decision of the Court of she had never authorized Augusto Yulo in any capacity to transact any business
Appeals which affirmed the decision of the then Court of First Instance of Manila, for and in behalf of A & L Industries, which is owned by her as a single
dismissing the complaint instituted by the petitioner and ordering it to pay proprietor, that she never got a single centavo from the proceeds of the loan
damages on the basis of the private respondent’s counterclaim. mentioned in the promissory note; and that as a result of the illegal attachment of
On July 1, 1975, private respondent Augusto Yulo secured a loan from the her properties, which constituted the assets of the A & L Industries, the latter
petitioner in the amount of P591,003.59 as evidenced by a promissory note he closed its business and was taken over by the new owner.
signed in his own behalf and as representative of the A & L Industries. After hearing, the trial court rendered judgment dismissing
Respondent Yulo presented an alleged special power of attorney executed by his 613
wife, respondent Lily Yulo, who manages A & L Industries and under whose VOL. 161, MAY 28, 1988 613
name the said business is registered, purportedly authorizing Augusto Yulo to
BA Finance Corporation vs. Court of Appeals
procure the loan and sign the promissory note. About two months prior to the
the petitioner’s complaint against the private respondent Lily Yulo and A & L
loan, however, Augusto Yulo had already left Lily Yulo and their children and had
Industries and ordering the petitioner to pay the respondent Lily Yulo
abandoned their conjugal home. When the obligation became due and
P660,000.00 as actual damages; P500,000.00 as unrealized profits; P300,000.00 as
demandable, Augusto Yulo failed to pay the same.
exemplary damages; P30,000.00 as and for attorney’s fees; and to pay the costs.
On October 7, 1975, the petitioner filed its amended complaint against the
The petitioner appealed. The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s
spouses Augusto and Lily Yulo on the basis of the promissory note. It also prayed
decision except for the exemplary damages which it reduced from P300,000.00 to
for the issuance of a writ of attachment alleging that the said spouses were guilty
P150,000.00 and the attorney’s fees which were reduced from P30,000.00 to
of fraud
612 P20,000.00.
In resolving the question of whether or not the trial court erred in holding
612 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
that the signature of respondent Lily Yulo in the special power of attorney was
BA Finance Corporation vs. Court of Appeals forged, the Court of Appeals said:
in contracting the debt upon which the action was brought and that the fraud “The crucial issue to be determined is whether or not the signatures of the appellee Lily
consisted of the spouses’ inducing the petitioner to enter into a contract with them Yulo in Exhibits B and B-1 are forged, Atty. Crispin Ordoña, the Notary Public, admitted in
open court that the parties in the subject documents did not sign their signatures in his
presence. The same were already signed by the supposed parties and their supposed the Philippines, and likewise conducted an observation of the present and modern trends of
witnesses at the time they were brought to him for ratification. We quote from the records crime laboratories in the West Coast, U.S.A., in 1971; that he likewise had conducted actual
the pertinent testimony of Atty. Ordoña, thus: tests and examination of about 100,000 documents, as requested by the different courts,
administrative, and governmental agencies of the Government, substantial portions of
“Q This document marked as Exhibit B-1, when this was presented to you by that common friend,
which relate to actual court cases.
June Enriquez, it was already typewritten, it was already accomplished, all typew ritten? “In concluding that the signatures of the appellee Lily Yulo, in the disputed document
in question (Exh. B-1), were all forgeries, and not her genuine signatures, the expert
“
A Yes, sir.
witness categorically recited and
“Q And the parties had already affixed their signatures in this document? 615
——o0o——
VOL. 29, AUGUST 28, 1969 153 Socrates G. Desales for heirs-appellants.
Marciano Chitongco for movant-appellee.
People vs. Lagrimas
No. L-25355. August 28, 1969. FERNANDO, J.:
THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, plaintiff, vs.FROILAN LAGRIMAS,
accused, HEIRS OF PELAGIO CAGRO, heirsappellants, MERCEDES AGUIRRE The Civil Code, under the conditions therein specified, recognizes the liability 01
DE LAGRIMAS, movantappellee. the conjugal partnership for fines and indemnities imposed upon either husband
Civil law; Persons and family relations; Conjugal partnership of gains; Charges upon or wife "after the responsibilities enumerated in article 161 have been covered," in
and obligations of the conjugal partnership; Fines and pecuniary indemnities imposed upon the absence of any separate property of the offending spouse or its
spouses may be charged against the partnership assets even before the liquidation of the
insufficiency. How such an
1
partnership.—Fines and indemnities imposed upon either husband or wife "may be enforced
against the partnership assets after the responsibilities enumerated in article 161 have
________________
been covered, if the spouse who is bound should have no exclusive property or if it should be
insufficient." It is quite plain, therefore, that the period during which such a liability may be
enforced presupposes that the conjugal partnership is still existing. The termination of the 1 According to Article 163 of the Civil Code: "The payment of debts contracted by the husband or the
wife before the marriage shall not be charged to the conjugal partnership. Neither shall the fines and
conjugal partnership is not contemplated as a prerequisite. Whatever doubt may still
pecuniary indemnities imposed upon them be charged to the partnership. However, the payment of debts
remain should be erased by the concluding portion of Article 163 of the Civil Code which contracted by the husband or the wife before the marriage, and that of fines and indemnities imposed
provides that "at the time of the liquidation of the partnership such spouse shall be charged upon them, may be enforced against the partnership assets after the responsibilities enumerated in
for what has been paid for the purposes above-mentioned." article 161 have been covered, if the spouse who is bound should have no exclusive property or if it should
Same; Same; Same; Same; Reason for Article 163 of Civil Code.—The reason for be insufficient; but at the time of the liquidation
Article 163 of the Civil Code is in accord with the principle that every person criminally 155
liable for felony is also civilly liable. If the fines and indemnities imposed upon either VOL. 29, AUGUST 28, 1969 155
husband or wife were to be allowed only after liquidation of the conjugal partnership, the
effect would be to exempt the accused from civil liability and the heirs of the offended party People vs. Lagrimas
would be made to suffer still further. Article 163 of the Civil Code minimizes the possibility obligation "may be enforced against the partnership assets" is the question, one of
that such additional liability of an accused would be rendered nugatory. In doing justice to first impression, raised in this appeal from a lower court order, based on the
the heirs of the victim, no injustice is committed against the family of the offender because assumption of the total exemption of the conjugal partnership from the liability
it is
154
thus incurred, prior to the stage of liquidation. The result was to set aside the
preliminary attachment and thereafter the writ of execution in favor of the heirs
1 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
of the murdered victim, appellants before us, the judgment against the accused
54 imposing not only the penalty of reclusión perpetua but also the indemnification
People vs. Lagrimas to such heirs having attained the status of finality. In view of the failure,
made a condition under this article of the Civil Code that the responsibilities apparent on the face of the appealed order, to respect what the Civil Code
enumerated in Article 161 covering primarily the maintenance of the family and the ordains, we reverse and remand the case for further proceedings.
education of the children of the spouses as well as other obligations of a preferential The brief of appellants, the heirs of Pelagio Cagro, the murdered victim,
character are first satisfied. discloses that on February 19, 1960 an information was filed against the accused,
Same; Same; Same; Same; Proof of requisites for applicability.—Considering that the Froilan Lagrimas, for the above murder committed on February 15, 1960 in
obligations mentioned in Article 161 of the Civil Code are peculiarly within the knowledge of Pambujan, Samar. Thereafter, appellants as such heirs, filed on February 27,
the husband or of the wife whose conjugal partnership is- made liable, the proof required of
1960 a motion for the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment on the
the beneficiaries of the indemnity to show that the requisites for the imposition and
enforcement of the fines and indemnities against the conjugal partnership are obtaining,
property of the accused, such motion being granted in an order of March 5, 1960.
should not be most exacting, ordinary credibility sufficing. Otherwise, the husband or the After trial, the lower court found the accused guilty of the crime charged and
wife, as the case may be, representing the conjugal partnership, may find the temptation to sentenced him
magnify its obligation irresistible so as to defeat the right of recovery of the family of the
offended party, ________________
APPEAL from an order of the Court of First Instance of Samar. Mangosing, J. of the partnership such spouse shall be charged for what has been paid for the purposes above-
mentioned." Article 161 in turn provides: "The conjugal partnership shall be liable for: (1) All debts and
obligations contracted by the husband for the benefit of the conjugal partnership,, and those contracted
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court. by the wife, also for the same purpose, in the cases where she may legally bind the partnership; (2)
Arrears or income due, during the marriage, from obligations which constitute a charge upon property of which is death of one of the spouses. Since both are still living there cannot be
either spouse or of the partnership; (3) Minor repairs or for mere preservation made during the marriage
upon the separate property of either the husband or the wife; major repairs shall not be charged to the
any dissolution, imprisonment for life of the husband notwithstanding, in the
partnership; (4) Major or minor repairs upon the conjugal partnership property; (5) The maintenance of absence of a judicial separation of property properly decreed in accordance with
the family and the education of the children of both husband and wife, and of legitimate children of one of the provisions of article 191 thereof. Moreover, the fines and indemnities sought
the spouses; (6) Expenses to permit the spouses to complete a professional, vocational or other course." to be charged against the ganancial properties of the accused and his wife are not
156
such debts and obligations contracted by said accused for the benefit, of the
156 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED conjugal partnership." 2
People vs. Lagrimas The conclusion, arrived at by Judge Mangosing follows: "We sympathize with
to suffer the penalty of reclusión perpetua and to indemnify the appellants as such the predicament of the widow and other heirs of the deceased Pelagio Cagro, but
heirs in the sum of P6,000.00 plus the additional sum of P10,000.00 in the con the law is clear on the matter. The indemnities adjudged by the Court in their
cept of damages, attorney's fees and burial expenses, An appeal from the favor may only be charged against the exclusive properties of the accused if he
judgment was elevated to this Court by the accused but thereafter withdrawn, the has any, or against his share in the partnership assets after liquidation thereof if
judgment, therefore, becoming final on October 11, 1962. any still remains after the payment of' all the items enumerated in article 161 of
A writ of execution to cover the civil Indemnity was issued by the Iower court the said Civil Code." 3
upon motion of appellants, A levy was had on eleven parcels of land in the Hence, this appeal, the heirs of Pelagio Cagro assigning as sole error the
province declared for tax purposes in the name of the accused. The sale thereof at quashing and annulling of the writs of attachment and execution aforesaid. As
public auction was scheduled on January 5, 1965 but on December 29, 1964 the stated at the outset, we find the appeal meritorious.
wife of the accused, Mercedes Aguirre de Lagrimas, filed a motion to quash the The applicable Civil Code provision is not lacking in explicitness. Fines and
4
writ of attachment as well as the writ of execution with the allegation that the indemnities imposed upon either husband or wife "may be enforced against the
property levied upon belonged to the conjugal partnership and, therefore, could partnership
not be held liable for the pecuniary indemnity the husband was required to pay.
________________
The then judge of the lower court granted such motion declaring null and void the
order of attachment and the writ of execution, in accordance with Article 1.61 of
Record on Appeal, pp. 72-73.
the new Civil Code. Another judge of the same lower court set aside the above
2
occurrence of any of the causes mentioned in article 175 of the same Code, one of noted. found guilty of the crime of murder and sentenced to reclusión perpetua, as
well as to pay the indemnification to satisfy the civil liability incumbent upon 6L-19346, May 31, 1965.
160
him. If the appealed order were to be upheld, he would be in effect exempt
therefrom, the heirs of the offended party being made to suffer still further. 160 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
It would follow, therefore, that the Civil Code provision, as thus worded, Miranda vs. Reyes
precisely minimizes the possibility that such additional liability of an accused dence may be offered to assure compliance with this codal provision.
would be rendered nugatory, In doing justice to the heirs of the murdered victim, WHEREFORE, the appealed order of August 7, 1965 is set aside and the case
no injustice is committed against the family of the offender, It is made a condition remanded to the court of origin for the reception of evidence in accordance with
under this article of the Civil Code that the responsibilities enumerated in Article this opinion. With costs against appellee Mercedes Aguirre de Lagrimas.
161, covering" primarily the maintenance of the family Concepcion,
C.J., Dizon, Makalintal, Sanchez, Castro, Capistrano, Teehankee and Barredo,
________________
JJ., concur.
Reyes, J.B.L. and Zaldivar, JJ., are on official leave.
5Article 100, Revised Penal Code.
159 Order set aside and case remanded to court of origin for reception of evidence.
VOL. 29, AUGUST 28, 1969 159
_____________
People vs. Lagrimas
and the education of the children of the spouses or the legitimate children of one © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
of them as well as other obligations of a preferential character, are first satisfied.
It is thus apparent that the legal scheme cannot be susceptible to the charge that
for a transgression of the law by either husband or wife, the rest of the family
may be made to bear burdens of an extremely onerous character.
The next question is how practical effect would be given this particular
liability of the conjugal partnership for the payment of fines and indemnities
imposed upon either husband or wife? In the brief for appellants, the heirs of
Pelagio Cagro, they seek the opportunity to present evidence as to how the
partnership assets could be made to respond, this on the assumption that the
property levied upon does not belong .exclusively to the convicted spouse.
In Lacson v. Diaz, which deals with the satisfaction 01 the debt contracted by
6
________________
VOL. 508, NOVEMBER 29, 2006 419 PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the Court of Appeals.
48107.
_______________ On May 7, 1980, respondent Mar Tierra Corporation, through its president,
Wilfrido C. Martinez, applied for a P12,000,000 credit accommodation with
SECOND DIVISION.
*
420
petitioner Security Bank and Trust Company. Petitioner approved the application
and entered into a credit line agreement with respondent corporation. It was
4 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED secured by an indemnity agreement executed by individual respondents Wilfrido
20 C. Martinez, Miguel J. Lacson and Ricardo A. Lopa who bound themselves jointly
Security Bank and Trust Company vs. Mar Tierra Corporation
and severally with respondent corporation for the payment of the loan.
conjugal partnership.” In other words, where the husband contracts an obligation on
On July 2, 1980, the credit line agreement was amended and increased to
behalf of the family business, there is a legal presumption that such obligation redounds to P14,000,000. Individual respondents correspondingly executed a new indemnity
the benefit of the conjugal partnership. On the other hand, if the money or services are agreement in favor of the bank to secure the increased credit line.
given to another person or entity and the husband acted only as a surety or guarantor, the On September 25, 1981, respondent corporation availed of its credit line and
transaction cannot by itself be deemed an obligation for the benefit of the conjugal received the sum of P9,952,000 which it undertook to pay on or before November
partnership. It is for the benefit of the principal debtor and not for the surety or his family. 30, 1981. It was able to pay P4,648,000 for the principal loan and P2,729,195.56
No presumption is raised that, when a husband enters into a contract of surety or for the interest and other charges. However, respondent corpora-
accommodation agreement, it is for the benefit of the conjugal partnership. Proof must be
presented to establish the benefit redounding to the conjugal partnership. In the absence of
_______________
any showing of benefit received by it, the conjugal partnership cannot be held liable on an
indemnity agreement executed by the husband to accommodate a third party.
Penned by Associate Justice Conrado M. Vasquez, Jr. and concurred in by Associate Justices
Same; Same; Same; To hold the conjugal partnership liable for an obligation
1
Salome A. Montoya (retired) and Teodoro P. Regino (retired) of the Second Division of the Court of
pertaining to the husband alone defeats the objective of the Civil Code to protect the solidarity Appeals; Rollo, pp. 34–42.
and well-being of the family as a unit.—In this case, the principal contract, the credit line 422
agreement between petitioner and respondent corporation, was solely for the benefit of the
latter. The accessory contract (the indemnity agreement) under which individual respondent 422 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Martinez assumed the obligation of a surety for respondent corporation was similarly for the Security Bank and Trust Company vs. Mar Tierra Corporation
latter’s benefit. Petitioner had the burden of proving that the conjugal partnership of the
tion was not able to pay the balance as it suffered business reversals, eventually
spouses Martinez benefited from the transaction. It failed to discharge that burden. To hold
the conjugal partnership liable for an obligation pertaining to the husband alone defeats the ceasing operations in 1984.
objective of the Civil Code to protect the solidarity and well being of the family as a unit. Unable to collect the balance of the loan, petitioner filed a complaint for a sum
The underlying concern of the law is the conservation of the conjugal partnership. Hence, it of money with a prayer for preliminary attachment against respondent
limits the liability of the conjugal partnership only to debts and obligations contracted by corporation and individual respondents in the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of
the husband for the benefit of the conjugal partnership. Makati, Branch 66. It was docketed as Civil Case No. 3947.
Subsequently, however, petitioner had the case dismissed with respect to power of judicial review under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court which is concerned
individual respondents Lacson and Lopa, leaving Martinez as the remaining
2 solely with questions of law. 7
individual respondent. We now move on to the principal issue in this case. Under Article 161(1) of the
On August 10, 1982, the RTC issued a writ of attachment on all real and Civil Code, the conjugal partnership is liable for “all debts and obligations
8
personal properties of respondent corporation and individual respondent contracted by the husband for the benefit of the conjugal partnership.” But when
Martinez. As a consequence, the conjugal house and lot of the spouses Wilfrido are debts and obligations contracted by the husband
and Josefina Martinez in Barrio Calaanan, Caloocan City covered by Transfer
Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 49158 was levied on. _______________
The RTC rendered its decision on June 20, 1994. It held respondent
3
corporation and individual respondent Martinez jointly and severally liable to Aboitiz International Forwarders, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 156978, 02 May 2006, 488
4
SCRA 492.
petitioner for P5,304,000 plus 12% interest per annum and 5% penalty Id.
5
commencing on June 21, 1982 until fully paid, plus P10,000 as attorney’s fees. It, CA Records, p. 3; Rollo, p. 39.
6
however, found that the obligation contracted by individual respondent Martinez Philippine National Bank v. Campos, G.R. No. 167270, 30 June 2006, 494 SCRA 370.
7
did not redound to the benefit of his family, hence, it ordered the lifting of the Now Article 121(2) of the Family Code.
8
424
attachment on the conjugal house and lot of the spouses Martinez.
Dissatisfied with the RTC decision, petitioner appealed to the CA but the 424 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
appellate court affirmed the trial court’s decision in toto. Petitioner sought Security Bank and Trust Company vs. Mar Tierra Corporation
reconsideration but it was denied. Hence, this petition. alone considered for the benefit of and therefore chargeable against the conjugal
Petitioner makes two basic assertions: (1) the RTC and CA erred in finding partnership? Is a surety agreement or an accommodation contract entered into by
that respondent corporation availed of P9,952,000 only from its credit line and not the husband in favor of his employer within the contemplation of the said
the entire provision?
We ruled as early as 1969 in Luzon Surety Co., Inc. v. de Garcia that, in 9
_______________
acting as a guarantor or surety for another, the husband does not act for the
benefit of the conjugal partnership as the benefit is clearly intended for a third
Petition for Review, p. 5; Id., p. 15. The reason for the dismissal, however, was not mentioned.
party.
2
We uphold the CA. On the other hand, if the money or services are given to another person or
Factual findings of the CA, affirming those of the trial court, will not be entity and the husband acted only as a surety or guarantor, the transaction
disturbed on appeal but must be accorded great weight. These findings are 4
cannot by itself be deemed an obligation for the benefit of the conjugal
conclusive not only on the parties but on this Court as well. 5
partnership. It is for the benefit of the principal debtor and not for the surety or
12
The CA affirmed the finding of the RTC that the amount availed of by his family. No presumption is raised that, when a husband enters into a contract
respondent corporation from its credit line with petitioner was only P9,952,000. of surety or accommodation agreement, it is for the benefit of the conjugal
Both courts correctly pointed out that petitioner itself admitted this amount when partnership. Proof must be presented to establish the benefit redounding to the
it alleged in paragraph seven of its complaint that respondent corporation conjugal partnership. In the absence of any showing of benefit received by it, the
13
“borrowed and received the principal sum of P9,952,000.” Petitioner was therefore
6
conjugal partnership cannot be held
bound by the factual finding of the appellate and trial courts, as well as by its own
judicial admission, on this particular point. _______________
At any rate, the issue of the amount actually availed of by respondent
corporation is factual. It is not within the ambit of this Court’s discretionary 9 140 Phil. 509; 30 SCRA 111 (1969).
10 349 Phil. 942; 286 SCRA 272 (1998).
11 Id.
Id.
12
Id.
13
425
In this case, the principal contract, the credit line agreement between
petitioner and respondent corporation, was solely for the benefit of the latter. The
accessory contract (the indemnity agreement) under which individual respondent
Martinez assumed the obligation of a surety for respondent corporation was
similarly for the latter’s benefit. Petitioner had the burden of proving that the
conjugal partnership of the spouses Martinez benefited from the transaction. It
failed to discharge that burden.
To hold the conjugal partnership liable for an obligation pertaining to the
husband alone defeats the objective of the Civil Code to protect the solidarity and
well being of the family as a unit. The underlying concern of the law is the
15
conjugal partnership only to debts and obligations contracted by the husband for
the benefit of the conjugal partnership.
WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DENIED.
Costs against petitioner.
SO ORDERED.
Puno (Chairperson), Sandoval-Gutierrez, Azcunaand Garcia, JJ., concur.
Petition denied.
Notes.—The absence of the consent of one spouse in the sale of a conjugal
property renders the sale null and void,
_______________
Ching v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124642, 23 February 2004, 423 SCRA 356.
15
426
——o0o——
half (1/2) of the lands and their share is two-thirds (2/3) thereof, one-third (1/3) pertaining to
EDUARDO FELIPE, HERMOGENA V. FELIPE AND VICENTE V. FELIPE, the widow.
petitioners, vs. HEIRS OF MAXIMO ALDON, NAMELY: GIMENA ALMOSARA, Same; Prescription; Evidence; Fact that son of supposed vendee still went to the
SOFIA ALDON, SALVADOR ALDON, AND THE HONORABLE COURT OF supposed vendors for the latter to sign a deed of sale
630
APPEALS, respondents.
Appeal; Factual issues are not as a rule passed upon by the Supreme Court in an 6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
appeal by way of petition for review under Rule 45.—The defendants are now the appellants
30
in this petition for review. They invoke several grounds in seeking the reversal of the
decision of the Court of Appeals. One of the grounds is factual in nature; petitioners claim Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon
that “respondent Court of Appeals has found as a fact that the ‘Deed of Purchase and Sale’ of the land shows that the former knew that the defect in the sale of the land made by
executed by respondent Gimena Almosara is not a forgery and therefore its authenticity and the wife alone. Prescription in such case is 30 years.—This actuation clearly indicated that
due execution is already beyond question.” We cannot consider this ground because as a rule the appellees knew the lots did not still belong to them, otherwise, why were they interested
only questions of law are reviewed in proceedings under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court in a document of sale in their favor? Again why did Vicente V. Felipe tell Gimena that the
subject to well-defined exceptions not present in the instant case. purpose of the document was to obtain Gimena’s consent to the construction of an irrigation
Contracts; Words and Phrases; Judgment the term used by the court below, that the pump on the lots in question? The only possible reason for purporting to obtain such consent
contract is “invalid” is imprecise.—In the instant case, Gimena, the wife, sold lands is that the appellees knew the lots were not theirs. Why was there an attempted improvement
belonging to the conjugal (the irrigation tank) only in 1970? Why was the declaration of property made only in 1974?
Why were no attempts made to obtain the husband’s signature, despite the fact that
_____________ Gimena and Hermogena were close relatives? All these indicate the bad faith of the
appellees. Now then, even if we were to consider appellees’ possession in bad faith as a
*SECOND DIVISION. possession in the concept of owners, this possession at the earliest started in 1951, hence the
629
period for extraordinary prescription (30 years) had not yet lapsed when the present action
VOL. 120, FEBRUARY 16, 1983 629 was instituted on April 26, 1976.
Same; Same; Prescriptive period to file action is counted from death of the father
Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon
whose consent was not obtained by his wife in the sale of conjugal lands, with respect to their
partnership without the consent of the husband and the sale is not covered by the heirs.—As to the second question, the children’s cause of action accrued from the death of
phrase “except in cases provided by law.” The Court of Appeals described the sale as their father in 1959 and they had thirty (30) years to institute it (Art. 1141, Civil Code.)
“invalid”—a term which is imprecise when used in relation to contracts because the Civil They filed action in 1976 which is well within the period.
Code uses specific names in designating defective contracts, namely: rescissible (Arts.
1380 et seg.), voidable (Arts. 1390 et seq.), unenforceable (Arts. 1403, et seq.), and void or
inexistent(Arts. 1409 et seq.) The sale made by Gimena is certainly a defective contract but Aquino. J., concurring:
of what category? The answer: it is a voidable contract.
Same; Sale; A contract of sale of land made by the wife without the husband’s consent Prescription; Contracts; An action to declare void a sale of conjugal land by the wife
is voidable.—The view that the contract made by Gimena is a voidable contract is supported does not prescribe.—With more reason, the wife cannot make such a disposition without the
by the legal provision that contracts entered by the husband without the consent of the wife husband’s consent since the husband is the administrator of the conjugal assets. In the
when such consent is required, are annullable at her instance during the marriage and instant case, the Court of Appeals did not err in voiding the wife’s sale of the conjugal land
within ten years from the transaction questioned. (Art. 173, Civil Code.) without the husband’s consent. As that sale is contrary to law, the action to have it declared
Same; Same; Wife’s contract of sale can be annulled by the husband during the void or inexistent does not prescribe. Moreover, there are indications that the contract
marriage, but not by the wife nor their children.—The voidable contract of Gimena was between the parties was an antichresis, a transaction which is very common in rural areas.
subject to annulment by her husband only during the marriage because he was the victim
who had an interest in the contract. Gimena, who was the party responsible for the defect, PETITION for review the decision of the Court of Appeals.
could not ask for its annulment. Their children could not likewise seek the annulment of the
contract while the marriage subsisted because they merely had an inchoate right to the
lands sold. The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
631
Same; Same; Actions; Succession; The wife who sold conjugal lands without her
husband’s consent cannot bring action for annulment of the sale even after her husband’s VOL. 120, FEBRUARY 16, 1983 631
death, but their childrenheirs can with respect to their shares.—The termination of the
marriage and the dissolution of the conjugal partnership by the death of Maximo Aldon did Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon
Romulo D. San Juan for petitioner. “One of the principal issues in the case involves the nature of the aforementioned
Gerundino Castillejo for private respondent. conveyance or transaction, with appellants claiming the same to be an oral contract of
mortgage or antichresis, the redemption of which could be done anytime upon repayment of
the P1,800.00 involved (incidentally the only thing written about the transaction is the
ABAD SANTOS, J.: aforementioned receipt re the P1,800). Upon the other hand, appellees claim that the
transaction was one of sale, accordingly, redemption was improper. The appellees claim that
Maximo Aldon married Gimena Almosara in 1936. The spouses bought several plaintiffs never conveyed the property because of a loan or mortgage or antichresis and that
pieces of land sometime between 1948 and 1950. In 1960-62, the lands were what really transpired was the execution of a contract of sale thru a private document
divided into three lots, 1370, 1371 and 1415 of the San Jacinto Public Land designated as a ‘Deed of Purchase and Sale’ (Exhibit 1), the execution having been made by
Subdivision, San Jacinto, Masbate. Gimena Almosara in favor of appellee Hermogena V. Felipe.
“After a study of this case, we have come to the conclusion that the appellants are
In 1951, Gimena Almosara sold the lots to the spouses Eduardo Felipe and
entitled to recover the ownership of the lots in question. We so hold because although Exh. 1
Hermogena V. Felipe. The sale was made without the consent of her husband, concerning the sale made in 1951 of the disputed lots is, in Our opinion, not a forgery the
Maximo. fact is that the sale made by Gimena Almosara is invalid, having been executed without the
On April 26, 1976, the heirs of Maximo Aldon, namely his widow Gimena and needed consent of her husband, the lots being conjugal. Appellees’ argument that this was
their children Sofia and Salvador Aldon, filed a complaint in the Court of First an issue not raised in the pleadings is baseless, considering the fact that the complaint
Instance of Masbate against the Felipes. The complaint which was docketed alleges that the parcels ‘were purchased by plaintiff Gimena Almosara and her late husband
as Civil Case No. 2372 alleged that the plaintiffs were the owners of Lots 1370, Maximo Aldon’ (the lots having been purchased during the existence of the marriage, the
1371 and 1415; that they had orally mortgaged the same to the defendants; and same are presumed conjugal) and inferentially, by force of law, could not, be disposed of by a
wife without her husband’s consent.”
an offer to redeem the mortgage had been refused so they filed the complaint in 633
order to recover the three parcels of land.
The defendants asserted that they had acquired the lots from the plaintiffs by VOL. 120, FEBRUARY 16, 1983 633
purchase and subsequent delivery to them. The trial court sustained the claim of Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon
the defendants and rendered the following judgment: The defendants are now the appellants in this petition for review. They invoke
several grounds in seeking the reversal of the decision of the Court of Appeals.
1. “a.declaring the defendants to be the lawful owners of the property One of the grounds is factual in nature; petitioners claim that “respondent Court
subject of the present litigation; of Appeals has found as a fact that the ‘Deed of Purchase and Sale’ executed by
2. b.declaring the complaint in the present action to be without merit and is respondent Gimena Almosara is not a forgery and therefore its authenticity and
therefore hereby ordered dismissed; due execution is already beyond question.” We cannot consider this ground
3. c.ordering the plaintiffs to pay to the defendants the amount of P2,000.00 because as a rule only questions of law are reviewed in proceedings under Rule 45
as reasonable attorney’s fees and to pay the costs of the suit.” of the Rules of Court subject to well-defined exceptions not present in the instant
case.
The legal ground which deserves attention is the legal effect of a sale of lands
The plaintiffs appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals which rendered the
belonging to the conjugal partnership made by the wife without the consent of the
following judgment:
“PREMISES CONSIDERED, the decision appealed from is husband.
632 It is useful at this point to re-state some elementary rules: The husband is the
administrator of the conjugal partnership. (Art. 165, Civil Code.) Subject to
632 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
certain exceptions, the husband cannot alienate or encumber any real property of
Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon the conjugal partnership without the wife’s consent. (Art. 166, Idem.) And the
hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE, and a new one is hereby RENDERED, ordering the wife cannot bind the conjugal partnership without the husband’s consent, except
defendants-appellees to surrender the lots in question as well as the plaintiffs’-appellants’ in cases provided by law. (Art. 172, Idem.)
muniments of title thereof to said plaintiffs-appellants, to make an accounting of the
In the instant case, Gimena, the wife, sold lands belonging to the conjugal
produce derived from the lands including expenses incurred since 1951, and to solidarily
turn over to the plaintiffs-appellants the NET monetary value of the profits, after deducting
partnership without the consent of the husband and the sale is not covered by the
the sum of P1,800.00. No attorney’s fees nor moral damages are awarded for lack of any phrase “except in cases provided by law.” The Court of Appeals described the sale
legal justification therefor. No costs.” as “invalid”—a term which is imprecise when used in relation to contracts
The ratio of the judgment is stated in the following paragraphs of the decision because the Civil Code uses specific names in designating defective contracts,
penned by Justice Edgardo L. Paras with the concurrence of Justices Venicio namely: rescissible (Arts. 1380 et seq.), voidable (Arts. 1390 et
Escolin and Mariano A. Zosa: seq.), unenforceable (Arts. 1403, et seq.), and void or inexistent (Arts. 1409 et seq.)
The sale made by Gimena is certainly a defective contract but of what Anent the first question, We quote with approval the following statement of the
category? The answer: it is a voidable contract. Court of Appeals:
According to Art. 1390 of the Civil Code, among the voidable contracts are “We would like to state further that appellees [petitioners herein] could not have acquired
“[T]hose where one of the parties is incapable of giving consent to the contract.” ownership of the lots by prescription in view of what we regard as their bad faith. This bad
(Par. 1.) In the instant case Gimena had no capacity to give consent to the faith is revealed by testimony to the effect that defendant-appellee Vicente V. Felipe (son of
appellees Eduardo Felipe and Hermogena V. Felipe) attempted in December 1970 to have
contract of sale. The capacity to give consent belonged not even to the husband
Gimena Almosara sign a ready-made document purporting to sell the disputed lots to the
alone but to both spouses. appellees. This actuation clearly indicated that the appellees knew the lots did not still
634
belong to them,otherwise, why were they interested in a document of sale in their favor?
634 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Again why did Vicente V. Felipe tell Gimena that the purpose of the document was to obtain
Gimena’s consent to the construction of an irrigation pump on the lots in question? The only
Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon
possible reason for purporting to obtain such consent is that the appellees knew the lots were
The view that the contract made by Gimena is a voidable contract is supported by not theirs. Why was there an attempted improvement (the irrigation tank) only in 1970?
the legal provision that contracts entered by the husband without the consent of Why was the declaration of property made only in 1974? Why were no attempts made to
the wife when such consent is required, are annullable at her instance during the obtain the husband’s signature, despite the fact that Gimena and Hermogena were close
marriage and within ten years from the transaction questioned. (Art. 173, Civil relatives? All these indicate the bad faith of the appellees. Now then, even if we were to
Code.) consider appellees’ possession in bad faith as a possession in the concept of owners, this
Gimena’s contract is not rescissible for in such contract all the essential possession at the earliest started in 1951, hence the period for extraordinary prescription
(30 years) had not yet lapsed when the present action was instituted on April 26, 1976.
elements are untainted but Gimena’s consent was tainted. Neither can the
As to the second question, the children’s cause of action accrued from the death of
contract be classified as unenforceable because it does not fit any of those
their father in 1959 and they had thirty (30) years to institute it (Art. 1141, Civil
described in Art. 1403 of the Civil Code. And finally, the contract cannot be void
Code.) They filed action in 1976 which is well within the period.
or inexistent because it is not one of those mentioned in Art. 1409 of the Civil
WHEREFORE, the decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby modified.
Code. By process of elimination, it must perforce be a voidable contract.
Judgment is entered awarding to Sofia and Salvador Aldon their shares of the
The voidable contract of Gimena was subject to annulment by her husband
lands as stated in the body of this decision; and the petitioners as possessors in
only during the marriage because he was the victim who had an interest in the
bad faith shall make an accounting of the fruits corresponding to the share
contract. Gimena, who was the party responsible for the defect, could not ask for
aforementioned from 1959 and solidarity pay their value to Sofia and Salvador
its annulment. Their children could not likewise seek the annulment of the
Aldon; costs against the petitioners.
contract while the marriage subsisted because they merely had an inchoate right
SO ORDERED.
to the lands sold.
Concepcion, Jr., Guerrero and De Castro, JJ., concur.
The termination of the marriage and the dissolution of the conjugal 636
partnership by the death of Maximo Aldon did not improve the situation of
Gimena. What she could not do during the marriage, she could not do thereafter. 6 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
The case of Sofia and Salvador Aldon is different. After the death of Maximo 36
they acquired the right to question the defective contract insofar as it deprived Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon
them of their hereditary rights in their father’s share in the lands. The father’s
Makasiar, (Chairman), J., In the result.
share is one-half (1/2) of the lands and their share is two-thirds (2/3) thereof, one-
Aquino, J., See concurrence.
third (1/3) pertaining to the widow.
Escolin, J., (No part.)
The petitioners have been in possession of the lands since 1951. It was only in
1976 when the respondents filed action to recover the lands. In the meantime,
AQUINO, J., concurring:
Maximo Aldon died.
Two questions come to mind, namely: (1) Have the petitioners acquired the
lands by acquisitive prescription? (2) Is the right of action of Sofia and Salvador I concur in the result. The issue is whether the wife’s sale in 1951 of an
Aldon barred by the statute of limitations? unregistered sixteen-hectare conjugal land, without the consent of her husband
635 (he died in 1959), can be annulled in 1976 by the wife and her two children.
As a rule, the husband cannot dispose of the conjugal realty without the wife’s
VOL. 120, FEBRUARY 16, 1983 635
consent (Art. 166, Civil Code). Thus, a sale by the husband of the conjugal realty
Felipe vs. Heirs of Maximo Aldon without the wife’s consent was declared void (Tolentino vs. Cardenas, 123 Phil.
517; Villocino vs. Doyon, L-19797, December 17, 1966, 18 SCRA 1094 and L-
28871, April 25, 1975, 63 SCRA 460; Reyes vs. De Leon, L-22331, June 6, 1967, 20
SCRA 369; Bucoy vs. Paulino, L-25775, April 26, 1968, 23 SCRA 248; Tinitigan
vs. Tinitigan, L-45418, October 30, 1980, 100 SCRA 619).
With more reason, the wife cannot make such a disposition without the
husband’s consent since the husband is the administrator of the conjugal assets.
In the instant case, the Court of Appeals did not err in voiding the wife’s sale
of the conjugal land without the husband’s consent. As that sale is contrary to
law, the action to have it declared void or inexistent does not prescribe. Moreover,
there are indications that the contract between the parties was an antichresis, a
transaction which is very common in rural areas.
Decision modified.
Notes.—Husband may dispose conjugal land without wife’s consent for a big
conjugal liability which might endanger the family’s economic standing.
(Tinitigan vs. Tinitigan, Sr., 100 SCRA 619).
A pacto de retro sale of conjugal real property, effected by the husband
without the wife’s consent, was considered
637
——o0o——
Civil Law; Property; Conjugal Partnership; The husband is the administrator of the VOL. 198, JUNE 26, 1991 543
conjugal partnership.––Under the New Civil Code (NCC) “Art. 165. The husband is the
administrator of the conjugal partnership,” in view of the fact that the husband is Roxas vs. Court of Appeals
principally responsible for the support of the wife and the rest of the family. If the conjugal also a “qualified alienation, with the lessee becoming, for all legal intents and
partnership does not have enough assets, it is the husband’s capital that is responsible for purposes, and subject to its terms, the owner of the thing affected by the lease.”
such support, not the paraphernal property. Responsibility should carry authority with it. Same; Same; Same; Same; Joinder of the wife required in a lease of conjugal realty for
Same; Same; Same; Husband is not an ordinary administrator.–– The husband is not a period of more than one year.––Thus, the joinder of the wife, although unnecessary for an
an ordinary administrator, for while a mere administrator has no right to dispose of, sell, or oral lease of conjugal realty which does not exceed one year in duration, is required in a
otherwise alienate the property being administered, the husband can do so in certain cases lease of conjugal realty for a period of more than one year, such a lease being considered a
conveyance and encumbrance within the provisions of the Civil Code requiring the joinder of
_______________ the wife in the instrument by which real property is conveyed or encumbered (See also 41
C.J.S., p. 1149). In case the wife’s consent is not secured by the husband as required by law,
*SECOND DIVISION. the wife has the remedy of filing an action for the annulment of the contract.
Appellee’s Brief, p. 18.
24
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Petitioner has a cause of action under Art. 173 to file
542 a case for annulment of the contract of lease entered into without her consent; Case at bar.––
5 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED In the case at bar, the allegation in paragraph 2 of the complaint indicates that petitioner’s
estranged husband, defendant Antonio S. Roxas had entered into a contract of lease with
42 defendant Antonio M. Cayateno without her marital consent being secured as required by
Roxas vs. Court of Appeals law under Art. 166 of the Civil Code. Petitioner, therefore, has a cause of action under Art.
allowed by law. He is not required by law to render an accounting. Acts done under 173 to file a case for annulment of the contract of lease entered into without her consent.
administration do not need the prior consent of the wife. Petitioner has a cause of action not only against her husband but also against the lessee,
Same; Same; Same; Administration does not include acts of ownership.––However, Antonio M. Cayetano, who is a party to the contract of lease.
administration does not include acts of ownership. For while the husband can administer
the conjugal assets unhampered, he cannot alienate or encumber the conjugal realty. Thus, PETITION for review of a decision of the Court of Appeals. Imperial, J.
under Art. 166 of NCC, “unless the wife has been declared a non-compos mentis or a
spendthrift, or is under civil interdiction or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband cannot
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
alienate or encumber any real property of the conjugal partnership without the wife’s
consent. If she refuses unreasonably to give her consent, the court may compel her to grant
Agustin V. Velante for petitioner.
the same.” x x x Contracts entered into by the husband in violation of this prohibition are Manuel M. Katapang for private respondent.
voidable and subject to annulment at the instance of the aggrieved wife.
Same; Same; Lease; Alienation and encumbrance defined.––As stated in Black’s Law PARAS, J.:
Dictionary, the word “alienation” means “the transfer of the property and possession of
lands, tenements, or other things from one person to another x x x. The act by which the
The only issue before Us is whether or not a husband, as the administrator of the
title to real estate is voluntarily assigned by one person to another and accepted by the
latter, in the form prescribed by law. Cf. In re Enrhardt, U.S.D.C., 19F. 2d 406, 407 x x x x.”
conjugal partnership, may legally enter into a contract of lease involving conjugal
While encumbrance “has been defined to be every right to, or interest in, the land which real property without the knowledge and consent of the wife.
544
may subsist in third persons, to the diminution of the value of the land, but consistent with
the passing of the fee by the conveyance; any (act) that impairs the use or transfer of 544 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
property or real estate x x x.”
Same; Same; Same; Lease is a grant of use and possession.––Under the law, lease is a Roxas vs. Court of Appeals
grant of use and possession: it is not only a grant of possession as opined by the Court of According to the Decision rendered by the respondent Court of Appeals, the
**
Appeals. The right to possess does not always include the right to use. For while the bailee pertinent facts of the case as alleged in plaintiff-petitioner’s complaint indicate:
1. “1.That plaintiff is of legal age, married but living separately from 1. the herein defendants and the resultant unlawful deprivation of plaintiff
husband, one of the defendants herein and presently residing at No. 4 from operating her own legitimate business on the same lot of which
Ambrocia St., Quezon City; while defendant Antonio S. Roxas is she is a conjugal owner, plaintiff has been compelled to seek redress
likewise of legal age and living separately from his wife, plaintiff and ventilate her grievance to the court for which she has to engage the
herein, with residence at No. 950 Quirino Highway, Novaliches, Quezon services of counsel with whom she agreed to pay as and for attorney’s
City where he may be served with summons; and defendant Antonio M. fees the sum of P10,000.00; plus the amount equivalent to 20% of
Cayetano is of legal age and residing at No. 28 Mariano Olondriz Street, whatever damages may be awarded to her in addition to the sum of
BF Homes, Parañaque, Metro Manila where he may be served with P500.00 per appearance in court.
summons;
2. “2.That only recently, plaintiff discovered that her estranged husband, xxx xxx xxx
defendant Antonio S. Roxas, had entered into a contract of lease with xxx xxx xxx
defendant Antonio M. Cayetano sometime on March 30, 1987 covering a “Dated July 31, 1989 defendant Antonio M. Cayetano moved to dismiss the complaint
portion of their conjugal lot situated at 854 Quirino Highway, on the sole ground that the complaint states no cause of action, to which an Opposition was
Novaliches, Quezon City, described in T.C.T. No. 378197 (formerly filed by plaintiff (now petitioner herein), while defendant Antonio S. Roxas, estranged
T.C.T. No. 23881) of the Land Registry for Quezon City without her husband of plaintiff-petitioner, filed an answer.
“Confronted with the private respondent’s Motion to Dismiss, on August 16, 1989,
previous knowledge, much less her marital consent; xerox copy of which
respondent Judge resolved said Motion by dismissing plaintiff-petitioner’s complaint in its
lease contract is hereto attached as Annex ‘A’, and made an integral Order dated August 16, 1989, the dispositive portion of which reads, as follows:
part hereof. ‘It is said that the test of sufficiency of the cause of action is whether admitting the facts alleged to be
3. “3.That on the same lot, plaintiff had planned to put up her flea market true, the court could render a valid judgment in accordance with the prayer in the complaint. After
examining the material allegations in the complaint, the Court finds that the complaint failed to satisfy
with at least twenty (20) stalls and mini-mart for grocery and dry goods
the test of sufficiency.
items for which she had filed an application for the corresponding ‘WHEREFORE, the complaint is dismissed for failure to state a sufficient cause of action.
Mayor’s Permit and Municipal License which had been approved since ‘IT IS SO ORDERED.’ (p. 2 Order, dated August 16, 1989).
1986, but when she attempted to renew it for 1986, the same was “Plaintiff-petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which was denied by respondent
disapproved last month due to the complaint lodged by defendant Judge in its Order dated September 29, 1989.” (Decision of Court of Appeals, pp. 1-4; Rollo,
Antonio M. Cayetano whose application for renewal of Mayor’s Permit Annex ‘A’, pp. 26-29)
and License for the same business of putting up a flea market, had been Petitioner directly appealed the Decision of the lower court to the Supreme Court.
allegedly earlier approved; On November 27, 1989, the Second Division of this Court referred this case to
4. “4.That for the planning and initial construction of plaintiff’s project to the Court of Appeals for “proper determination and disposition.”
put up her own business of flea market and mini-mart grocery and wet Respondent Court of Appeals rendered judgment affirming in toto the Order
and dry stores which she had intended to operate partly by herself and of the trial court.
lease the rest of the twenty (20) stalls thereon, she had spent some Hence, this petition.
P135,000.00 for the said construction, including materials and labor, Under the New Civil Code (NCC), “Art. 165. The husband is
546
where she had expected to earn as daily net income in the minimum
amount of P500.00 daily; 546 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
5. “5.That due to the illegal lease contract entered into between Roxas vs. Court of Appeals
the administrator of the conjugal partnership,” in view of the fact that the
_______________ husband is principally responsible for the support of the wife and the rest of the
family. If the conjugal partnership does not have enough assets, it is the
Penned by Justice Jorge S. Imperial, and concurred in by Justices Reynato S. Puno and Artemon
**
husband’s capital that is responsible for such support, not the paraphernal
D. Luna.
545
property. Responsibility should carry authority with it.
The husband is not an ordinary administrator, for while a mere administrator
VOL. 198, JUNE 26, 1991 54 has no right to dispose of, sell, or otherwise alienate the property being
Roxas vs. Court of Appeals administered, the husband can do so in certain cases allowed by law. He is not
required by law to render an accounting. Acts done under administration do not
need the prior consent of the wife.
However, administration does not include acts of ownership. For while the Moreover, lease is not only an encumbrance but also a “qualified alienation,
husband can administer the conjugal assets unhampered, he cannot alienate or with the lessee becoming, for all legal intents and purposes, and subject to its
encumber the conjugal realty. Thus, under Art. 166 of NCC, “unless the wife has terms, the owner of the thing affected by the lease.” (51 C C.J.S., p. 522)
been declared a non-compos mentis or a spendthrift, or is under civil interdiction Thus, the joinder of the wife, although unnecessary for an oral lease of
or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband cannot alienate or encumber any real conjugal realty which does not exceed one year in duration, is required in a lease
property of the conjugal partnership the wife’s consent. If she refuses of conjugal realty for a period of more than one year, such a lease being
unreasonably to give her consent, the court may compel her to grant the same.” considered a conveyance and encumbrance within the provisions of the Civil Code
This rule prevents abuse on the part of the husband, and guarantees the rights of requiring the joinder of the wife in the instrument by which real property is
the wife, who is partly responsible for the acquisition of the property, particularly conveyed or encumbered (See also 41 C.J.S., p. 1149). In case the wife’s consent is
the real property. Contracts entered into by the husband in violation of this not secured by the husband as required by law, the wife has the remedy of filing
prohibition are voidable and subject to annulment at the instance of the aggrieved an action for the annulment of the contract. Art. 173 of the Civil Code states “the
wife. (Art. 173 of the Civil Code) wife may, during the marriage and within ten years from the transaction
As stated in Black’s Law Dictionary, the word “alienation” means “the questioned, ask the courts for the annul-
transfer of the property and possession of lands, tenements, or other things from 548
one person to another x x x. The act by which the title to real estate is voluntarily 548 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
assigned by one person to another and accepted by the latter, in the form
Roxas vs. Court of Appeals
prescribed by law. Cf. In re Enrhardt, U.S.D.C., 19F. 2d 406, 407 x x x x.” While
ment of any contract of the husband entered into without her consent, when such
encumbrance “has been defined to be every right to, or interest in, the land which
may subsist in third persons, to the diminution of the value of the land, but consent is required. x x x.”
consistent with the passing of the fee by the conveyance; any (act) that impairs In the case at bar, the allegation in paragraph 2 of the complaint indicates
the use or transfer of property or real estate x x x.” (42 C.J.S., p. 549). that petitioner’s estranged husband, defendant Antonio S. Roxas had entered into
The pivotal issue in this case is whether or not a lease is an a contract of lease with defendant Antonio M. Cayetano without her marital
547 consent being secured as required by law under Art. 166 of the Civil Code.
Petititoner, therefore, has a cause of action under Art. 173 to file a case for
VOL. 198, JUNE 26, 1991 547
annulment of the contract of lease entered into without her consent. Petitioner
Roxas vs. Court of Appeals has a cause of action not only against her husband but also against the lessee,
encumbrance and/or alienation within the scope of Art. 166 of the New Civil Code. Antonio M. Cayetano, who is a party to the contract of lease.
Under Art. 1643 of the New Civil Code “In the lease of things, one of the PREMISES CONSIDERED, the decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby
parties binds himself to give to another the enjoyment or use of a thing for a price SET ASIDE and this case is hereby REMANDED to the Regional Trial court for
certain, and for a period which may be definite or indefinite. However, no lease for further proceedings.
more than ninety-nine years shall be valid.” Under the law, lease is a grant of use SO ORDERED.
and possession: it is not only a grant of possession as opined by the Court of Melencio-Herrera (Chairman), Padilla, Sarmientoand Regalado,
Appeals. The right to possess does not always include the right to use. For while JJ., concur.
the bailee in the contract of deposit holds the property in trust, he is not granted Judgment set aside. Case remanded to the Regional Trial Court for further
by law the right to make use of the property in deposit. proceedings.
In the contract of lease, the lessor transfers his right of use in favor of the Note.––Proof of acquisition during the converture is a condition sine qua
lessee. The lessor’s right of use is impaired, therein. He may even be ejected by non for the operation of the presumption in favor of conjugal ownership. (Jocson
the lessee if the lessor uses the leased realty. Therefore, lease is a burden on the vs. Court of Appeals, 170 SCRA 333.)
land, it is an encumbrance on the land. The opinion of the Court of Appeals that
lease is not an encumbrance is not supported by law. The concept of encumbrance –––––o0o––––
includes lease, thus “an encumbrance is sometimes construed broadly to include
not only liens such as mortgages and taxes, but also attachment, LEASES, 549
inchoate dower rights, water rights, easements, and other RESTRICTIONS on © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
USE.” (Capitalization is Ours) (533 Pacific Reporter [second series] 9, 12).
November 5, 1990 issued in the same case denying their motion for
reconsideration.
302 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED The facts of the case are as follows:
Spouses Julian Gotgotao and Guillerma Opena are the registered owners of
Opena vs. Court of Appeals Lot No. 1584-B located at Barangay Cayambanan, Urdaneta, Pangasinan, as
G.R. No. 96227. February 1, 1993. * evidenced by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 61957 duly issued by the Register of
TELESFORO OPENA, petitioner, vs. HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS AND Deeds of Pangasinan, which property they mortgaged to the Rural Bank of 1
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, respondents. Mangaldan, Inc., for the sum of Two Thousand (P2,000.00) Pesos and which
Criminal Law; Falsification of public document by private individual.—Petitioner mortgage was annotated on the second page of the title. 2
contends that the crime of falsification of public documents has not been committed in this However, when spouses Gotgotao went to the Bank to check on their
case, considering that the thumbmark of Julian Gotgotao on the Absolute Deed of Sale was Certificate of Title, they got the shock of their life when the bank employees said
declared to be genuine and not a forgery by Questioned Document Expert Arturo B.
that Telesforo Opena, the half brother of Guillerma Opena, withdrew the said
Marasigan of the P.C. Crime Laboratory who issued a dactyloscopy report thereon. But
while this may be true with respect to Julian Gotgotao's thumbmark on the Deed of Sale,
Certificate of Title from the bank by presenting a Special Power of Attorney
the fact remains that Guillerma Gotgotao's signature on the same document was purported-
indubitably confirmed to be counterfeit and forged, both by the testimony of Guillerma
herself and by the testimony of the handwriting expert Jovito R. Gutierrez of the P.C. Crime _________________
Laboratory who examined the same.
Civil Law; Disposition of conjugal partnership property under the Civil Code.—Even 1Exhibit "D", Records, p. 241.
assuming arguendo that Julian Gotgotao's thumbmark on the subject document is genuine, 2Exhibit "A-1", Records, p. 74.
still the counterfeit signature of Guillerma Gotgotao invalidates the whole instrument, since 304
her signature thereon is essential to the validity of the alleged deed of sale, as warranted by 304 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Article 165 and 166 of the Civil Code which provides: "Article 165—The husband is the
administrator of the conjugal partnership." Article 166—Unless the wife has been declared Opena vs. Court of Appeals
a non compos mentis or a spendthrift, or is under civil ly executed by the Gotgotao spouses in favor of Telesforo Opena.
Upon verification with the Register of Deeds of Pangasinan in Lingayen to
________________ check on their title, they were informed that Telesforo Opena had caused the
transfer of the title in his name by presenting a Deed of Absolute Sale allegedly
SECOND DIVISION.
executed by them. They also discovered that their Transfer Certificate of Title No.
*
303
61957 had been cancelled and a new one, Transfer Certificate of Title No. 131474
VOL. 218, FEBRUARY 1, 1993 303
had been issued in the name of Telesforo Opena, married to Carolina Sanidad. 3
Opena vs. Court of Appeals Consequently, a complaint for falsification of public documents was filed
interdiction or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband cannot alienate or encumber against Telesforo Opena resulting in his conviction of said crime. On appeal to the
any real property of the conjugal partnership without the wife's consent. If she refuses Court of Appeals, accused-appellant's conviction was affirmed in toto.
unreasonably to give her consent, the court may compel her to grant the same." Hence, this appeal.
PETITION for review by certiorari of the decision of the Court of Appeals. The errors presented by herein petitioner are the following:
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Simplicio M. Sevilleja for petitioner.
1. 1.That the appellate court and the trial court erred in not acquitting
petitioner when they found him not to have forged the thumbmark of
NOCON, J.:
Julian Gotgotao nor is there solid evidence that petitioner forged the
signature of Guillerma Opena Gotgotao.
This is a Petition for Review by certiorari of the decision rendered by the Court of 2. 2.That both the appellate court and the trial court erred in finding that
Appeals dated January 2,1989 in CAG.R. CR No. 06576, affirming in toto the the defense is guilty of suppression of evidence.
judgment of conviction rendered by Branch 48 of the Regional Trial Court of 3. 3.That said courts erred in not finding that spouses Julian Gotgotao and
Pangasinan in Criminal Case No. U-3011, entitled "People of the Philippines vs. Guillerma Opena validly conveyed the land in question in favor of
Telesforo Opena" for falsification of public document by a private individual. In petitioner; and
the same light, petitioner seeks to annul the order of the Court of Appeals dated
4. 4.In annulling the Deed of Sale dated April 10, 1978 executed by spouses 5Exhibit "E", Records, p. 243.
306
Julian Gotgotao and Guillerma Opena in favor of petitioner and his
wife. 306 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
Opena vs. Court of Appeals
We find no merit in the instant petition. Article 166—Unless the wife has been declared a non compos mentis or a spendthrift, or is
Petitioner contends that the crime of falsification of public documents has not under civil interdiction or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband cannot alienate or
been committed in this case, considering that the thumbmark of Julian Gotgotao encumber any real property of the conjugal partnership without the wife's consent. If she
on the Absolute Deed of Sale was declared to be genuine and not a forgery by refuses unreasonably to give her consent, the court may compel her to grant the same."
Questioned Document Expert Arturo B. Marasigan of the P.C. Crime Laboratory Petitioner's argument that the prosecution failed to establish the counterfeit
who issued a dactyloscopy report thereon. 4
nature of Guillerma Gotgotao's signature in the Deed of Absolute Sale, because
she "could not identify and recognize her signature in said exhibit because she
________________ could not read and she had a poor and defective eyesight" had already been
disposed off correctly by the trial court, as follows:
3Exhibit "C", Records, pp. 76-77. "The Court finds the said objection bereft of merit. There is no need for the complaining
4Exhibit "6", Records, p. 260. witness Guillerma Opena (sic) to identify her forged signature appearing in the questioned
305 deed of absolute sale because her denial of not having executed the said deed of absolute
sale in favor of Telesforo Opena (sic) goes to show that she did not affix her signature in the
VOL. 218, FEBRUARY 1, 1993 305
said document." 6
complaining witness Guillerma Opena (sic) appearing in the questioned deed of absolute
sale dated April 10, 1978 is nothing but a forgery (Questioned Document Report No. 12582, ____________________
Exh. "E"). The Court relied on the aforesaid findings of the examining handwriting expert
from the Philippine Constabulary Crime Laboratory, Camp Crame, Quezon City in the light 6RTC Decision, p. 8.
of accused Telesforo Opeña's (sic) and former Barangay Captain Esteban Valdez's 7Court of Appeals Decision, p. 12; Rollo, p. 69.
testimonies that both did not see the complaining witness Guillerma Opena (sic) sign her 307
name on the aforesaid deed of absolute sale because she was not present during the
preparation and execution of the said deed of absolute sale at the law office of Atty. Caoayan VOL. 218, FEBRUARY 1, 1993 307
in Poblacion, Urdaneta, Pangasinan. Further, said complaining witness denied having Opena vs. Court of Appeals
executed a deed of absolute sale in favor of the herein accused."
As to the claim that the trial court and the Court of Appeals erred in stating that
Even assummg arguendo that Julian Gotgotao's thumbmark on the subject his counsel suppressed evidence which would otherwise have been material to his
document is genuine, still the counterfeit signature of Guillerma Gotgotao defense, We find nothing in the records to justify the same.
invalidates the whole instrument, since her signature thereon is essential to the The trial court ruled:
validity of the alleged deed of sale, as warranted by Article 165 and 166 of the "Noteworthy is the dispensation by the defense of the testimony of Atty. Anastacio Caoayan,
Civil Code which provides: the Notary Public of the questioned deed of absolute sale dated April 10, 1978 despite the
"Article 165—The husband is the administrator of the conjugal partnership." issuance of several subpoena duces tecum issued upon him, on November 4, 1983, December
12, 1983, December 21, 1983, February 15, 1984, April 10,1984, May 28, 1984, July 18,1984
_______________ and August 8,1984. The unexplained facts leads to the presumption that the defense's
counsel suppressed evidence which is detrimental to his client's cause." 8
Atty. Caoayan's testimony could have weighed heavily in favor of the petitioner's "Court:
defense, if petitioner is to be believed, since Atty. Caoayan was ostensibly the
lawyer who notarized the alleged deed of absolute sale, and could therefore have You will present Atty. Caoayan? He is here finally.
validated petitioner's claim that Guillerma Gotgotao's signature on the said "Atty. Sevilleja:
document was genuine. Thus, petitioner's failure to present this material witness We will present the other witness from Villasis, Emilio Latore, Your Honor.
creates the presumption that if such testimony had been given, it would have
been adverse to the petitioner's claim. "Court:
Likewise, the Court of Appeals concurred with the trial court's assessment of Latore?
the situation, to wit: "Atty. Sevilleja:
"The trial court was justified in holding the appellant as having suppressed evidence when
it dispensed with the testimony of the notary public who notarized the questioned Deed of Yes, Your Honor.
Sale (Exh. "2", "B"). It appears that Atty. Anastacio Caoayan was subpoenaed no less than "Court:
eight times (November 14, 1983; December 12, 1983; December 21, 1983; February 15, 1984;
April 10, 1984; May 28, 1984; July 18, 1984 and August 8, 1984). At the hearing on April 5, You are dispensing with the testimony of Atty. Caoayan? He is finally here because this is in a
1984, indications that the defense was not really interested in presenting Atty. Caoayan coincidence he has a case.
was shown, thus:
"Atty. Sevilleja:
"Atty. Sevilleja:
I will talk with him first, Your Honor.
Yes, Your Honor. Your Honor, may we request that a subpoena be issued to Emilio Latore of
"Court:
Poblacion, Villasis,
The court has issued several subpoena duces tecum. Now he is here, take the chance.
_________________ xxx xxx xxx
8 RTC Decision, p. 9.
_________________
308
308 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED 9 Court of Appeals Decision, pp. 14-15; Rollo, pp. 71-72.
309
Opena vs. Court of Appeals
VOL. 218, 309
pangasinan?
FEBRUARY 1,
"Court:
1993
What about Atty. Caoayan. There as a subpoena issued to him. He comes here every now and
Opena vs. Court of Appeals
then. He should be punished for contempt of court for his failure to come despite subpoena duly
"Atty. Sevilleja:
served to him.
Your Honor, after minutely studying the case and our documentary evidence
"Atty. Sevilleja:
which are voluminous, we can prove the innocence of the accused without the
We just subpoena him in the next hearing. In fact I talked with him only this morning.
testimony of Atty. Caoayan, Your Honor.
"Court:
"Court:
As if you do not want to present him anymore. It is up to you.
So you are now dispensing his testimony?
"Atty. Sevilleja:
"Atty. Sevilleja:
No. Your honor, We will just subpoena him, Your Honor." 9
However, on August 7, 1984, when by coincidence, Atty. Caoayan happened to be We are now dispensing the testimony of Atty. Caoayan, Your Honor." 10
in the sala of the judge hearing the falsification case and the judge called the Furthermore, the Court of Appeals likewise correctly concluded that even Julian
attention of appellant's counsel to present him as a witness, the latter refused. Gotgotao's admittedly genuine thumbmark appearing on the questioned Deed is
Thus: questionable, thus:
"[E]ven granting hypothetically, that Julian Gotgotao may have had some knowledge of the
"Court: forgery, we do not believe he has the required cunning to, by himself and without
appellant's instigation and active participation, develop the idea and proceed to have his Note.—The lack of consent on the part of the wife will not
wife's signature forged, considering the level of his intelligence as demonstrated in his
testimony at the trial. (T.S.N., August 13, 1987, September 15, 1987) We are convinced, as ________________
was the trial court, that it was appellant himself, the one who used, took advantage, and
profited by the forged signature who authored the same. Besides, while the finding is that Ibid.
12
Julian Gotgotao's thumbmark is genuine, he denied having knowingly thumbmarked any 311
document selling their land." 11
The Court of Appeals observed further: VOL. 218, FEBRUARY 1, 1993 311
"It is likewise alleged that the appellee did not dispute or deny the contract of sale dated Heirs of Nicolas Y. Orosa vs. Migrino
November 5, 1976 (Exh. "11") allegedly thumbmarked by Julian Gotgotao and the receipt make the alienation or encumbrance of real property of the conjugal property by
dated June 20, 1977 (Exh. "12"). In fact, the prosecution witnesses have denied these
the husband void, but merely voidable (Rojas vs. Bautista, 192 SCRA 388).
documents when appellees and their witnesses asserted that they never borrowed money
from the accused-appellant in 1976 or in 1977 (T.S.N., April 11, 1983, p. 10; October
22,1986, pp. 15-18; December 9, 1987, pp. 21-23; June 25, 1987, pp. 3-5; August 13, 1987, p. ——o0o——
4), when Julian Gotgotao denied that there ever was a time he agreed to sell the land to
accused (T.S.N., August 13, 1987, p. 12) or that he © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
________________
Finally, petitioner's claim that spouses Gotgotao conveyed the subject property in
his favor in view of previous loans extended to them has been resolved by the trial
court in this wise, to which We concur:
"In an effort to justify the due execution of the deed of sale dated April 10, 1978, the accused
Telesforo Opena (sic) claimed that the consideration in the amount of P18,000.00 represents
the total borrowings of the Gotgotao family from him. However, the aggregate amount
shelled out by the herein accused (P6,370.00, Exh. 11; P12,300.00, Exh. 12; P4,700.00 given
after the execution of the said deed of absolute sale and P2,138.10, Exh. 13 or a total of
P25,508.10) is more than what the herein accused bargained with the Gotgotao family at
P3.00 per square meter of the said lot in dispute containing an area of 6,190 square meters
and 6,190 multiplied by P3.00 amounts to P18,570.00. The conflicting amounts of money
testified to by the herein accused gives truth to the saying that 'No falsification is perfect in
all its parts'. Further, 'defense evidence which is replete with inconsistencies does not
inspire belief (People vs. Radomes, 141 SCRA 548) 'Contradictory and inconsistent on
material points render testimonies doubtful.' (People vs. Quison, 142 SCRA 362).
WHEREFORE, there being no reversible error in the decision appealed herefrom,
the same is hereby AFFIRMED in toto. Costs against appellant.
SO ORDERED.
Narvasa, (C.J., Chairman), Feliciano, Regalado and Campos, Jr.,
JJ., concur.
Decision affirmed.
Same; Same; Remedial Law; Evidence; There is no valid ground on petitioners’ claim
72 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
to parcels Nos. 3 and 4 as they failed to attack the validity of the transfer of the said
Garcia vs.. Gonzales properties to Fr. Eamiguel, the predecessor-in-interest of private respondents Ramon
Eamiguel and Nicasio Parilla.—With regard to parcels Nos. 3 and 4, both the trial court
G.R. No. 48184. March 12, 1990. *
and the Court of Appeals found that the controverted sale of said parcels of land was
PAULA GARCIA, FRANCISCO GARCIA, JUSTO GARCIA, CLAUDIA GARCIA, embodied in a public document, executed with all the formalities and solemnities of law. The
CRISPINA GARCIA, CATALINA GARCIA, BASILISA GARCIA, ZACARIAS evidence therefore that is required to overthrow it must be clear, convincing and beyond
GARCIA, AGUSTIN GARCIA, CANDIDA GARCIA, PABLEO PACULAN, mere preponderance of evidence. Such evidence is not obtaining in the case at bar and there
ANECITA PACULAN, AGAPITO PACULAN, MARCOSA PACULAN, and is no valid ground on which petitioners’ claim to said parcels of land could stand. They failed
ILUMINADO SOLITE, petitioners, vs. ANDRES GONZALES, RAMON to successfully attack the validity of the transfer of said properties to Father Eamiguel, the
EAMIGUEL, NICASIO PARILLA and COURT OF APPEALS, respondents. predecessor-in-interest of Ramon Eamiguel and Nicasio Parilla. Additionally, the
Remedial Law; Evidence; Although petitioners attempted to question the validity and transaction was executed by both Fructuoso and Quintina, and therefore must be respected.
due execution of the deed of sale through oral testimony, they were unable to buttress it with More importantly, as correctly found by the Court of Appeals, prescription has set in. It was
other evidence which might obviate the apparent biased nature of the testimony.—As to only after more
74
parcel No. 2, we disagree with the Court of Appeals that Gonzales is entitled to only one-
half thereof. The deed of sale was personally acknowledged before Pedro Mate, then justice 7 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
of the peace, as Quintina’s free act and deed. Although the petitioners attempted to question 4
the validity and due execution of said deed of sale through oral testimony, they were unable
to buttress it with other evidence which might obviate the apparent biased nature of the Garcia vs.. Gonzales
testimony. than 45 years after the sale on December 4, 1921 that this case was filed by the
Civil Law; Sale; The sale to Andres Gonzales may be considered valid only with petitioners on June 15, 1967.
respect to one-half portion of parcel No. 2 belonging to Quintina pursuant to the last sentence Same; Damages; The adverse result of an action does not per se make the act wrongful
of Section 685 of the Code of Civil Procedure, as there was no liquidation of conjugal and subject the actor to the payment of moral damages.—Lastly, we make no award of
partnership damages to any of the parties. In this regard, we quote with approval the following portion
of the Court of Appeals decision: x x x The adverse result of an action does not per se make
________________ the act wrongful and subject the actor to the payment of moral damages. The law could not
have meant to impose a penalty on the right to litigate, such right is so precious that moral
*THIRD DIVISION. damages may not be charged on those who may even exercise it erroneously. (Ramos v.
73 Ramos, 61 SCRA 284, 305-306). And an adverse decision does not ipso facto justify the
VOL. 183, MARCH 12, 1990 73 award of attorney’s fee to the winning party.”
The record shows that on July 3, 1911, Agustin Manco Garcia donated to the declared said property as his own and paid taxes thereon. 10
spouses Fructuoso Garcia and Quintina Gonzales On June 15, 1967, the herein petitioners, nephews and nieces of Fructuoso,
75 filed the aforementioned complaint against Andres Gonzales for the recovery of
VOL. 183, MARCH 12, 1990 75 parcels Nos. 1 and 2, on the premise that under Article 995 of the New Civil Code,
as such relatives of Fructuoso, they are entitled to one-half of the intestate estate
Garcia vs.. Gonzales
of Quintina who allegedly misrepresented in the deed of sale in favor of Gonzales
two parcels of land. One parcel, with an area of more than three hectares, is that parcels Nos. 1 and 2 were her paraphernal properties. The complaint was
located in barrio Caraycaray in Naval, Leyte (parcel No. 3) and the other lot, with later amended to include parcels Nos. 3 and 4 as subjects of the complaint and to
an area of more than two hectares, is located in sitio Calumpang, also in barrio
include Ramon Eamiguel and Nicasio Parilla as defendants. With regard to these
Caraycaray (parcel No. 4). On December 4, 1921, Fructuoso and his wife executed two defendants, the complaint alleged that Eamiguel, a grandnephew of
an “escritura de venta” over said two parcels of land in favor of Sergio Eamiguel, a Quintina, took possession of parcel No. 4 after Quintina’s death on March 16,
parish priest, in consideration of the amount of P2,500. The following year, 1922,
1
1945 and that Parilla was also unlawfully in possession of parcel No. 3.
Fructuoso died. The trial court ruled that since nobody claimed parcel No. 1, “the same has
In 1930, Father Eamiguel declared as his own parcel No. 3 under tax remained the property of the plaintiffs.” In holding that parcel No. 2 rightfully
11
declaration No. 7370 and parcel No. 4 under tax declaration No. 7389. On June 5,
belongs to Andres Gonzales, the court stated that except for their oral
2 3
execution of the deed of sale in favor of Gonzales. The trial court also ruled that
Pedro later exchanged his share over parcel No. 3 with another parcel owned the plaintiffs may no longer question the validity of the sale to Father Eamiguel
by his brother Rosendo thereby making the latter a co-owner of said of parcels Nos. 3 and 4 because after a copy of the December 4, 1921 deed of sale
property. While thus in possession of parcel No. 3, the Eamiguel brothers,
5
was furnished the plaintiffs, “nothing has been done thereabout” and that said
through Ramon, executed deeds of sale with right to repurchase over portions of
document, being more than 47 years old and a public instrument, is in full force
the property in favor of different persons.
and effect unless impugned by strong, complete and conclusive proof. The
6
12
On October 24, 1954, after the properties had been repur-chased, Rosendo dispositive portion of the trial court’s June 1970 decision reads:
13
sold a one-half portion of parcel No. 3 to the spouses Nicasio Parilla and
Purificacion Manco for P3,200. On October 31, 1954, Ramon also sold his one-half
7
________________
portion of the property to the Parilla spouses for P3,500. Since then, the Parilla
8
spouses have been in possession of the 3-hectare property paying taxes thereon. 9Exhibit 1-Gonzales.
On the other hand, parcel No. 4 remained in the possession of Ramon. Exhibits 2 to 3-W Gonzales.
10
Fructuoso Garcia also owned a 1.7 hectare lot in Anas, Antipolo, also in the Record on Appeal, p. 66.
11
municipality (parcel No. 2). On January 26, 1945, Fructuoso’s widow, Quintina 77
Gonzales VOL. 183, MARCH 12, 1990 77
8Exhibit 11. The plaintiffs appealed to the Court of Appeals. In its decision of May 5,
76 1977, said appellate court ruled that as to parcels Nos. 3 and 4, prescription has
15
76 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED set in to herein petitioners’ prejudice. As to parcel No. 2, the Court of Appeals
held that since Article 837 of the Spanish Civil Code entitled the surviving spouse
Garcia vs.. Gonzales
to inherit only one-half of the estate, the sale of parcel No. 2 to Andres Gonzales As to parcel No. 2, we disagree with the Court of Appeals that Gonzales is
was valid only with respect to Quintina’a one-half (1/2) share thereof. The entitled to only one-half thereof. The deed of sale was personally acknowledged
dispositive portion of the decision states: before Pedro Mate, then justice of the peace, as Quintina’s free act and deed.
“WHEREFORE, the appealed decision is hereby modified, as follows: Although the petitioners attempted to question the validity and due execution of
said deed of sale through oral testimony, they were unable to buttress it with
1. 1.Declaring Andres Gonzales as owner of one-half portion of Parcel No. 2 and other evidence which might obviate the apparent biased nature of the testimony.
plaintiffs herein as the owners of the other half; The deed of sale having been executed before the effectivity of the New Civil
2. 2.Ordering Andres Gonzales to deliver and convey the one-half portion of Parcel Code, the law governing the transaction was the Code of Civil Procedure, which
No. 2 to the plaintiffs; and specifically provides:
3. 3.Eliminating the award of moral damages as well as attorney’s fees.
________________
The rest of the judgment appealed from is affirmed. Without costs.
SO ORDERED.” 16
Rollo, pp. 17, 20 & 23.
17
Their motion for reconsideration praying for the amendment of the said decision Appellants’ Brief, p. 1; Rollo, p. 27.
18
79
instant petition for review on certiorari alleging that the Court of Appeals: (a)
“hastily en- VOL. 183, MARCH 12, 1990 79
Garcia vs.. Gonzales
________________ “Sec. 685. Community Property.—When the marriage is dissolved by the death of the
husband or wife, the community property shall be inventoried, administered, and
Record on Appeal, p. 93; Rollo, p. 26.
14
liquidated, and the debts thereof shall be paid, in the testamentary or intestate proceedings
Penned by Justice Crisolito Pascual and concurred in by Justices Pacifico P. de Castro and Lorenzo
15
of the deceased spouse, in accordance with the provisions of this Code relative to the
Relova.
administration and liquidation of the estates of deceased persons, unless the parties being
Rollo, pp. 45-46.
16
78
all of age and legally capacitated, avail themselves of the right granted them by this Code
for proceeding to an extrajudicial partition and liquidation of said property.
78 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED In case it is necessary to sell any portion of said community property in order to pay the
outstanding debts and obligations of the same, such sale shall be made in the manner and
Garcia vs.. Gonzales
with the formalities established by this Code for the sale of the property of deceased
tered its judgment” without adjudicating in their favor one-half of the equivalent persons. Any sale, transfer, alienation or disposition of said property effected without said
of the fruits of parcel No. 2 since January 26, 1945; (b) “gravely failed to give formalities shall be null and void, except as regards the portion that belonged to the vendor
justice” to them by depriving them of the “chance to own and possess” one-half of at the time the liquidation and partition was made” (Italics supplied).
parcels Nos. 3 and 4 and their fruits; and (c) “gravely failed to give clearance” as Inasmuch as no liquidation of the conjugal partnership had been made in
to their absolute ownership over parcel No. 1. 17
accordance with Articles 1418 and 1481 of the Civil Code, the last sentence of
20
The failure to make a declaration as to the ownership of parcel No. 1 is Section 685 maybe applied. More so because there is no proof that the sale of
attributable to the trial court rather than to the appellate court. In their brief parcel No. 2 was necessary to pay the partnership debts and obligations.
submitted before the latter, herein petitioners as appellants therein categorically Pursuant to said law, therefore, the sale to Andres Gonzales may be considered as
stated that “originally four parcels were involved but defendants in their answer valid only with respect to the one-half portion of parcel No. 2 rightfully belonging
later waived any claim over parcel 1 x x x.” Since the ownership of parcel 1 was
18
to Quintina.
not an issue in the appeal, the appellate court could not be expected to, and Notwithstanding this, petitioners may not validly lay claim to the other half
should not, in fact, make any declaration pertaining to parcel 1. portion of the property corresponding to their share as heirs of Fructuoso
It was the trial court which should have included in the dispositive portion of considering that for forty-five (45) years after Fructuoso’s death and twenty-two
its decision a declaration as to the ownership of parcel 1 consistent with the (22) from the execution of the deed of sale, petitioners slept on their rights.
statement in its decision that “it appears from the evidence presented that nobody Granting that there was a mistake or fraud in the execution of
**
is claiming parcel 1 so that the same has remained the property of the plaintiffs”
(herein petitioners). 19 ________________
Be that as it may, no prejudicial error resulted from this inadvertence on the
part of the trial court, no claim adverse to petitioners’ over said parcel 1 having 20 Tabotabo v. Molero, 22 Phil. 418.
been presented by any party.
**Petitioners tried to prove in the lower court that Quintina Gonzales’ consent to the sale was it erroneously. (Ramos v. Ramos, 61 SCRA 284, 305-306). And an adverse decision does not
vitiated because even during the Japanese occupation, she was old, sightless and with childish manners ipso facto justify the award of attorney’s fee to the winning party.”
23
(TSN, April 1, 1970, p. 4). Even Andres Gonzales’ witness, Pedro Mate who notarized the deed of sale,
admitted that Quintana was “quite old” as she must have been “around one hundred years old at that
WHEREFORE, the decision of the Court of Appeals is hereby affirmed insofar as
time” (TSN, April 29, 1970, pp. 18-20). it eliminates the award of moral damages as well as attorney’s fees. It is modified
80 as follows: (a) parcel No. 1 is hereby declared as absolutely owned by petitioners
80 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED in their respective capacities as heirs of Fructuoso Garcia; (b) parcel No. 2 shall
exclusively belong to Andres Gonzales; and (c) parcels Nos. 3 and 4 shall be under
Garcia vs.. Gonzales
the absolute ownership of Nicasio Parilla and Ramon Eamiguel, respectively. No
the deed of sale so much so that under Article 1456 of the Civil Code an implied or costs.
constructive trust was constituted in favor of the petitioners, still, laches barred SO ORDERED.
them from filing the complaint for the recovery of parcel No. 2. Although the 21
case at bar and there is no valid ground on which petitioners’ claim to said parcels ________________
of land could stand. They failed to successfully attack the validity of the transfer
of said properties to Father Eamiguel, the predecessor-in-interest of Ramon Rollo, p. 45.
23
Eamiguel and Nicasio Parilla. Additionally, the transaction was executed by both 82
Fructuoso and Quintina, and therefore must be respected. More importantly, as © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved.
correctly found by the Court of Appeals, prescription has set in. It was only after
more than 45 years after the sale on December 4, 1921 that this case was filed by
the petitioners on June 15, 1967.
Lastly, we make no award of damages to any of the parties. In this regard, we
quote with approval the following portion of the Court of Appeals decision:
“As to the award of damages, we find that the evidence on record does not justify the same.
It appears that appellants have tenaciously fought for their cause in order to protect their
rights. Moreover, their case is partially meritorious. The anxiety claimed by the defendant-
appellee was not due to a case which was maliciously instituted by the
________________
21 Ramos v. Ramos, L-19872, December 3, 1974, 61 SCRA 284; Diaz v. Gorricho & Aguado, 103 Phil. 261.
22 Mendezona v. Phil. Sugar Estates Des. Co., 41 Phil. 475, 497 (1921).
81
that, indeed, the loan obtained by the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. redounded to the benefit of
HOMEOWNERS SAVINGS & LOAN BANK, petitioner, vs. MIGUELA C. DAILO, the family. Consequently, the conjugal partnership cannot be held liable for the payment of
respondent. the principal obligation.
Civil Law; Family Code; Property; The sale of a conjugal property requires the consent
of both the husband and wife; Applying Article 124 of the Family Code, the Supreme Court
PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the Court of Appeals.
declared that the absence of the consent of one renders the entire sale null and void,
including the portion of the conjugal property pertaining to the husband who contracted the
285
sale.—In Guiang v. Court of Appeals, it was held that the sale of a conjugal property
requires the consent of both the husband and wife. In applying Article 124 of the Family VOL. 453, MARCH 11, 2005 285
Code, this Court declared that the absence of the consent of one renders the entire sale null
and void, including the portion of the conjugal property pertaining to the husband who Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
contracted the sale. The same principle in Guiangsquarely applies to the instant case. As The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
shall be discussed next, there is no legal basis to construe Article 493 of the Civil Code as an Edgardo R. Marilim for respondent Miguela Dailo.
exception to Article 124 of the Family Code.
Same; Same; Same; Conjugal Partnership; Unlike the absolute community of property TINGA, J.:
wherein the rules on co-ownership apply in a suppletory manner, the conjugal partnership
shall be governed by the rules on contract of partnership in all that is not in conflict with
what This is a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Revised Rules of
Court, assailing the Decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No.
1
_______________ 59986 rendered on June 3, 2002, which affirmed with modification the October
18, 1997 Decision of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 29, San Pablo City, Laguna
2
either or both spouses through their efforts or by chance. Unlike the absolute community of On December 1, 1993, Marcelino Dailo, Jr. executed a Special Power of
property wherein the rules on co-ownership apply in a suppletory manner, the conjugal Attorney (SPA) in favor of one Lilibeth Gesmundo, authorizing the latter to obtain
partnership shall be governed by the rules on contract of partnership in all that is not in a loan from petitioner Homeowners Savings and Loan Bank to be secured by the
conflict with what is expressly determined in the chapter (on conjugal partnership of gains) spouses Dailo’s house and lot in San Pablo City. Pursuant to the SPA, Gesmundo
or by the spouses in their marriage settlements. Thus, the property relations of respondent
obtained a loan in the amount of P300,000.00 from petitioner. As security
and her late husband shall be governed, foremost, by Chapter 4 on Conjugal Partnership of
Gains of the Family Code and, suppletorily, by the rules on partnership under the Civil
therefor, Gesmundo executed on the same day a Real Estate Mortgage constituted
Code. In case of conflict, the former prevails because the Civil Code provisions on on the subject property in favor of petitioner. The abovemen-
partnership apply only when the Family Code is silent on the matter.
Same; Same; Same; Same; The burden of proof that the debt was contracted for the _______________
benefit of the conjugal partnership of gains lies with the creditor-party litigant claiming as
such; Other than petitioner’s bare allegation, there is nothing from the records of the case to Penned by J. Juan Q. Enriquez and concurred in by JJ. Eugenio S. Labitoria, Chairman, and
1
compel a finding that the loan obtained by the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. redounded to the Teodoro P. Regino; Rollo, p. 34.
benefit of the family; Conjugal partnership cannot be held liable for the payment of the Penned by Judge Bienvenido Reyes.
2
286
conjugal partnership of gains lies with the creditor-party litigant claiming as such. Ei
incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat (he who asserts, not he who denies, must prove). 286 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
4. (c)The Affidavit of Consolidation of Ownership executed by the defendant over the
Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
residential lot located at Brgy. San Francisco, San Pablo City, covered by ARP
tioned transactions, including the execution of the SPA in favor of Gesmundo, No. 95-091-1236 entered as Doc. No. 406; Page No. 83, Book No. III, Series of
took place without the knowledge and consent of respondent. 4
1996 of Notary Public Octavio M. Zayas.
Upon maturity, the loan remained outstanding. As a result, petitioner 5. (d)The assessment of real property No. 95-051-1236.
instituted extrajudicial foreclosure proceedings on the mortgaged property. After
the extrajudicial sale thereof, a Certificate of Sale was issued in favor of 1. 2.The defendant is ordered to reconvey the property subject of this complaint to
petitioner as the highest bidder. After the lapse of one year without the property the plaintiff.
being redeemed, petitioner, through its vice-president, consolidated the ownership
thereof by executing on June 6, 1996 an Affidavit of Consolidation of Ownership ON THE SECOND CAUSE OF ACTION:
and a Deed of Absolute Sale. 5
In the meantime, Marcelino Dailo, Jr. died on December 20, 1995. In one of
1. 1.The defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of P40,000.00 representing the value
her visits to the subject property, respondent learned that petitioner had already of the car which was burned.
employed a certain Roldan Brion to clean its premises and that her car, a Ford
sedan, was razed because Brion allowed a boy to play with fire within the
ON BOTH CAUSES OF ACTION:
premises.
Claiming that she had no knowledge of the mortgage constituted on the
subject property, which was conjugal in nature, respondent instituted with the 1. 1.The defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of P25,000.00 as attorney’s fees;
Regional Trial Court, Branch 29, San Pablo City, Civil Case No. SP-2222(97) 2. 2.The defendant to pay plaintiff P25,000.00 as moral damages;
3. 3.The defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of P10,000.00 as exemplary damages;
for Nullity of Real Estate Mortgage and Certificate of Sale, Affidavit of 4. 4.To pay the cost of the suit.
Consolidation of Ownership, Deed of Sale, Reconveyance with Prayer for
Preliminary Injunction and Damages against petitioner. In the latter’s Answer
The counterclaim is dismissed.
with Counterclaim, petitioner prayed for the dismissal of the complaint on the 288
ground that the property in question was the exclusive property of the late
Marcelino Dailo, Jr. 288 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
After trial on the merits, the trial court rendered a Decision on October 18, Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
1997. The dispositive portion thereof reads as follows: SO ORDERED.” 6
Upon elevation of the case to the Court of Appeals, the appellate court affirmed
_______________ the trial court’s finding that the subject property was conjugal in nature, in the
absence of clear and convincing evidence to rebut the presumption that the
4Ibid. subject property acquired during the marriage of spouses Dailo belongs to their
Ibid.
conjugal partnership. The appellate court declared as void the mortgage on the
5
287
7
subject property because it was constituted without the knowledge and consent of
VOL. 453, MARCH 11, 2005 287
respondent, in accordance with Article 124 of the Family Code. Thus, it upheld
Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo the trial court’s order to reconvey the subject property to respondent. With 8
“WHEREFORE, the plaintiff having proved by the preponderance of evidence the respect to the damage to respondent’s car, the appellate court found petitioner to
allegations of the Complaint, the Court finds for the plaintiff and hereby orders: be liable therefor because it is responsible for the consequences of the acts or
ON THE FIRST CAUSE OF ACTION: omissions of the person it hired to accomplish the assigned task. All told, the
9
appellate court affirmed the trial court’s Decision, but deleted the award for
1. 1.The declaration of the following documents as null and void: damages and attorney’s fees for lack of basis. 10
Hence, this petition, raising the following issues for this Court’s consideration:
1. (a)The Deed of Real Estate Mortgage dated December 1, 1993 executed before
Notary Public Romulo Urrea and his notarial register entered as Doc. No. 212; 1. 1.WHETHER OR NOT THE MORTGAGE CONSTITUTED BY THE
Page No. 44, Book No. XXI, Series of 1993.
LATE MARCELINO DAILO, JR. ON THE SUBJECT PROPERTY AS
2. (b)The Certificate of Sale executed by Notary Public Reynaldo Alcantara on April
20, 1995.
CO-OWNER THEREOF IS VALID AS TO HIS UNDIVIDED SHARE.
3. (c)The Affidavit of Consolidation of Ownership executed by the defendant
2. 2.WHETHER OR NOT THE CONJUGAL PARTNERSHIP IS LIABLE 290 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED
FOR THE PAYMENT OF THE LOAN OBTAINED BY THE LATE
MARCELINO DAILO, JR. THE SAME HAVING REDOUNDED TO Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
THE BENEFIT OF THE FAMILY. 11
and wife. In applying Article 124 of the Family Code, this Court declared that the
14
absence of the consent of one renders the entire sale null and void, including the
_______________ portion of the conjugal property pertaining to the husband who contracted the
sale. The same principle in Guiang squarely applies to the instant case. As shall
6As quoted in the Decision of the Court of Appeals, pp. 1-2; Rollo, pp. 34-35. be discussed next, there is no legal basis to construe Article 493 of the Civil Code
7Decision of the Court of Appeals, p. 5; Rollo, p. 38. as an exception to Article 124 of the Family Code.
8Id., at p. 6; Rollo, p. 39. Respondent and the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. were married on August 8, 1967.
Ibid.
In the absence of a marriage settlement, the system of relative community or
9
VOL. 453, MARCH 11, 2005 289 Chapter 4 on Conjugal Partnership of Gains in the Family Code was made
applicable to conjugal partnership of gains already established before its
Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
effectivity unless vested rights have already been acquired under the Civil Code
First, petitioner takes issue with the legal provision applicable to the factual or other laws. 16
milieu of this case. It contends that Article 124 of the Family Code should be The rules on co-ownership do not even apply to the property relations of
construed in relation to Article 493 of the Civil Code, which states: respondent and the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. even in a suppletory manner. The
ART. 493. Each co-owner shall have the full ownership of his part and of the fruits and
regime of conjugal partnership of gains is a special type of partnership, where the
benefits pertaining thereto, and he may therefore alienate, assign or mortgage it, and even
substitute another person in its enjoyment, except when personal rights are involved. But husband and wife place in a common fund the proceeds, products, fruits and
the effect of the alienation or the mortgage, with respect to the co-owners, shall be limited to income from their separate properties and those acquired by either or both
the portion which may be allotted to him in the division upon the termination of the co- spouses through their efforts or by chance. Unlike the absolute community of
17
ownership. property wherein the rules on co-ownership apply in a suppletory manner, the 18
Article 124 of the Family Code provides in part: conjugal partnership shall be governed by the rules on contract of partnership in
ART. 124. The administration and enjoyment of the conjugal partnership property shall all that is not in conflict with what is expressly determined in the chapter (on
belong to both spouses jointly. . . . conjugal partnership
In the event that one spouse is incapacitated or otherwise unable to participate in the
administration of the conjugal properties, the other spouse may assume sole powers of _______________
administration. These powers do not include the powers of disposition or encumbrance
which must have the authority of the court or the written consent of the other spouse. In the
Id., at p. 374.
absence of such authority or consent, the disposition or encumbrance shall be void. . . .
14
Petitioner argues that although Article 124 of the Family Code requires the Article 105, Family Code.
16
consent of the other spouse to the mortgage of conjugal properties, the framers of Article 106, Family Code.
17
the law could not have intended to curtail the right of a spouse from exercising Article 90, Family Code.
18
291
full ownership over the portion of the conjugal property pertaining to him under
the concept of co-ownership. Thus, petitioner would have this Court uphold the
12
VOL. 453, MARCH 11, 2005 291
validity of the mortgage to the extent of the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr.’s share in Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
the conjugal partnership. of gains) or by the spouses in their marriage settlements. Thus, the property
19
In Guiang v. Court of Appeals, it was held that the sale of a conjugal property
13
290 knowledge and consent of his wife, Marcelino Dailo, Jr. constituted a real estate
mortgage on the subject property, which formed part of their conjugal
partnership. By express provision of Article 124 of the Family Code, in the trial court was it alleged that the proceeds of the loan redounded to the benefit of
absence of (court) authority or written consent of the other spouse, any disposition the family. Even on appeal, petitioner never
or encumbrance of the conjugal property shall be void.
The aforequoted provision does not qualify with respect to the share of the _______________
spouse who makes the disposition or encumbrance in the same manner that the
rule on co-ownership under Article 493 of the Civil Code does. Where the law does 22Ayala Investment & Development Corp. v. Court of Appeals, 349 Phil. 942, 952; 286 SCRA 272, 282
(1998), citing Luzon Surety Co., Inc. v. De Garcia, 30 SCRA 111 (1969).
not distinguish, courts should not distinguish. Thus, both the trial court and the
20
23Id., at p. 954, 286 SCRA 272, 283 (1998).
appellate court are correct in declaring the nullity of the real estate mortgage on 24Castilex Industrial Corporation v. Vasquez, Jr., 378 Phil. 1009; 321 SCRA 393 (1999).
the subject property for lack of respondent’s consent. 293
Second, petitioner imposes the liability for the payment of the principal VOL. 453, MARCH 11, 2005 293
obligation obtained by the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. on the conjugal partnership to
Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo
the extent that it redounded to the benefit of the family. 21
Under Article 121 of the Family Code, “[T]he conjugal partnership shall be claimed that the family benefited from the proceeds of the loan. When a party
liable for: . . . (3) Debts and obligations contracted by either spouse without the adopts a certain theory in the court below, he will not be permitted to change his
consent of the other theory on appeal, for to permit him to do so would not only be unfair to the other
party but it would also be offensive to the basic rules of fair play, justice and due
_______________ process. A party may change his legal theory on appeal only when the factual
25
bases thereof would not require presentation of any further evidence by the
Article 108, Family Code.
19 adverse party in order to enable it to properly meet the issue raised in the new
Recaña, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 123850, January 5, 2001, 349 SCRA 24, 33.
20
theory. 26
Rollo, p. 27.
WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED. Costs against petitioner.
21
292
SO ORDERED.
292 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED Puno (Chairman), Austria-Martinez, Callejo, Sr.and Chico-Nazario,
Homeowners Savings & Loan Bank vs. Dailo JJ., concur.
to the extent that the family may have been benefited; . . . .” For the subject Petition denied.
property to be held liable, the obligation contracted by the late Marcelino Dailo, Note.—Under the Spanish Civil Code, the wife’s consent to the sale of
Jr. must have redounded to the benefit of the conjugal partnership. There must be conjugal property is not required. Fact that Nieves Tolentino’s signature in the
the requisite showing then of some advantage which clearly accrued to the deed of sale is a forgery does not render the deed of sale void. (Isabela Colleges,
welfare of the spouses. Certainly, to make a conjugal partnership respond for a Inc. vs. Heirs of Nieves Tolentino-Rivera, 344 SCRA 95 [2000])
liability that should appertain to the husband alone is to defeat and frustrate the
avowed objective of the new Civil Code to show the utmost concern for the ——o0o——
solidarity and well-being of the family as a unit. 22
The burden of proof that the debt was contracted for the benefit of the _______________
conjugal partnership of gains lies with the creditor-party litigant claiming as
such. Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat (he who asserts, not he who
23
Drilon v. Court of Appeals, 336 Phil. 949; 270 SCRA 211 (1997).
25
Heirs of Enrique Zambales v. Court of Appeals, 205 Phil. 789; 120 SCRA 897 (1983).
26
denies, must prove). Petitioner’s sweeping conclusion that the loan obtained by
24
294
the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. to finance the construction of housing units without a © Copyright 2018 Central Book Supply, Inc. All rights reserved
doubt redounded to the benefit of his family, without adducing adequate proof,
does not persuade this Court. Other than petitioner’s bare allegation, there is
nothing from the records of the case to compel a finding that, indeed, the loan
obtained by the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. redounded to the benefit of the family.
Consequently, the conjugal partnership cannot be held liable for the payment of
the principal obligation.
In addition, a perusal of the records of the case reveals that during the trial,
petitioner vigorously asserted that the subject property was the exclusive
property of the late Marcelino Dailo, Jr. Nowhere in the answer filed with the