G.R. No.

L-14474 October 31, 1960

ONESIMA D. BELEN, petitioer-!ppe""!t, #$. BAN% O& '(E )(ILI))INE
ISLANDS !* MILAGROS BELEN DE OLAG+ERA, oppo$itor$-!ppe""ee$.
RE,ES, -.B.L., -..
&A/'S.
Bei0o Di!1 e2ec3te* ! co*ici" o Septe4ber 59, 1944. O No#e4ber 7, 1944,
Bei0o Di!1 *ie*6 !* t7e !8ore$!i* co*ici", to0et7er 9it7 t7e 9i"", 9!$ !*4itte* to
prob!te i Speci!" )rocee*i0$ No. :94 o8 t7e $!4e /o3rt o8 &ir$t I$t!ce o8
M!i"!. '7e procee*i0$ 8or t7e !*4ii$tr!tio o8 t7e e$t!te o8 Bei0o Di!1 9ere
c"o$e* i 19;0 !* t7e e$t!te 9!$ t7ere!8ter p3t 3*er t7e !*4ii$tr!tio o8 t7e
!ppe""ee B!< o8 t7e )7i"ippie I$"!*$, !$ tr3$tee 8or t7e bee8it o8 t7e "e0!tee$.
&i"o4e! Di!1 *ie* o &ebr3!r= :, 19;4, "e!#i0 t9o "e0iti4!te c7i"*re, Mi"!0ro$
Be"e *e O"$03er!, 4!rrie*, 9it7 $e#e >7? "e0iti4!te c7i"*re, !* Oe$i4! D.
Be"e, $i0"e.
O M!rc7 19, 19;:, Oe$i4! D. Be"e 8i"e* ! petitio i Speci!" )rocee*i0$ No.
9556, cote*i0 t7!t t7e !4o3t t7!t 9o3"* 7!#e !ppert!ie* to &i"o4e! Di!1
3*er t7e co*ici" $7o3"* o9 be *i#i*e*>e@3!""=? o"= bet9ee 7er$e"8 !* Mi"!0ro$
Be"e *e O"!03er!, !$ t7e $3r#i#i0 c7i"*re o8 t7e $!i* *ece!$e*, to t7e e2c"3$io,
i ot7er 9or*$, o8 t7e $e#e >7? "e0iti4!te c7i"*re
o8 Mi"!0ro$ Be"e *e O"!03er!. '7e co3rt, i it$ or*er o M!= 53, 19;: *eie*, !$
iiti!""= poite* o3t Oe$i4!A$ petitio.
ISS+E.
Do t7e 9or*$ B$3$ *e$ce*iete$ "e0iti4o$B re8er coCoit"= to !"" "i#i0 *e$ce*!t
>c7i"*re !* 0r!*c7i"*re? o8 t7e "e0!tee, !$ ! c"!$$6 or t7e= re8er to t7e
*e$ce*!t$ e!re$t i *e0reeD
(ELD.
It i$ $300e$te* t7!t B*e$ce*iete$ "e0iti4o$B co3"* 4e! t7e e!re$t *e$ce*!t
b3t 9it7 t7e ri07t o8 repre$et!tio i 8!#or o8 t7e 4ore *i$t!t re"!ti#e$.
+@3e$tio!b"=, t7e te$t!tor 9!$ !t "ibert= to pro#i*e ! $erie$ o8 $3cce$$i#e
$3b$tit3tio$ i t7e or*er o8 pro2i4it= o8 re"!tio$7ip to t7e ori0i!" "e0!tee. A* 7e,
"i<e9i$e, 9!$ 8ree to or*!i t7!t t7e 4ore *i$t!t *e$ce*!t$ $7o3"* eCo= t7e ri07t
o8 repre$et!tio !$ i ite$t!te $3cce$$io. B3t to !rri#e !t $3c7 coc"3$io, 9e
43$t *ec"!re t7!t t7e te$t!tor 7!*..
>!? ReCecte*, or ite*e* to reCect, t7e ri07t o8 !ccretio !4o0 co-7eir$ !* co-
"e0!tee$, !$ e$t!b"i$7e* 8or te$t!4et!r= $3cce$$io$ b= Artic"e$ 10016 >o"* Art. 9:5?
!* 1019, !* ite*e* to rep"!ce $3c7 !ccretio 9it7 repre$et!tio6
AR'. 1016. I or*er t7!t t7e ri07t o8 !ccretio 4!= t!<e p"!ce i ! te$t!4et!r=
$3cce$$io, it $7!"" be ece$$!r=.
>1? '7!t t9o or 4ore per$o$ be c!""e* to t7e $!4e i7erit!ce, or to t7e $!4e
portio t7ereo8, pro i*i#i$o6 !*
>5? '7!t oe o8 t7e per$o$ t73$ c!""e* *ie be8ore t7e te$t!tor or reo3ce t7e
i7erit!ce, or be ic!p!cit!te* to recei#e it.
222 222 222
AR'. 1019. '7e 7eir$ to 97o4 t7e petitio 0oe$ b= t7e ri07t o8 !ccretio t!<e it i
t7e $!4e proportio t7!t t7e= i7erit.
>b? Re83$e*, "i<e9i$e, t7e r3"e o8 Artic"e :46 >repro*3ce* 8ro4 Artic"e 76; o8 t7e
/o*e o8 1::9? pro#i*i0 t7!t.
(eir$ i$tit3te* 9it7o3t *e$i0!tio o8 $7!re$ $7!"" i7erit i e@3!" p!rt$,
97ic7 9o3"* ot obt!i i8 t7e ri07t o8 repre$et!tio 9ere to !pp"=6
>c? ReCecte* 8i!""= t7e r3"e o8 Artic"e 1055 >o"* Art. 9:6?, t7!t #!c!cie$ i t7e 8ree
p!rt $7o3"* be 8i"e* !ccor*i0 to t7e r3"e$ o8 !ccretio or $3b$tit3tio >ot
repre$et!tio?6 !* i *e8!3"t o8 t7e$e t9o, 3"ti4!te"= i7erite* b= t7e te$t!torA$
o9 7eir$ ite$t!te.
AR'. 1055. I te$t!4et!r= $3cce$$io, 97e t7e ri07t o8 !ccretio *oe$ ot t!<e
p"!ce, t7e #!c!t portio o8 t7e i$tit3te* 7eir$, i8 o $3b$tit3te 7!$ bee *e$i0!te*,
$7!"" p!$$ to t7e "e0!" 7eir$ o8 t7e te$t!tor, 97o $7!"" recei#e it 9it7 t7e $!4e c7!r0e$
!* ob"i0!tio$.
'7ere i$ o *o3bt t7!t, t7e te$t!torA$ itetio bei0 t7e c!r*i!" r3"e o8 $3cce$$io
i t7e !b$ece o8 co4p3"$or= >8orce*? 7eir$, 7e co3"* 7!#e re*ere* ioper!ti#e !""
t7e !rtic"e$ 4etioe*, i8 7e 7!* $o *e$ire*. B3t 9it7o3t != ot7er $3pporti0
circ34$t!ce$, 9e *ee4 e2pre$$io Bo ! $3$ *e$ece*iete$ "e0iti4o$,B t7e te$t!tor
Bei0o Di!1 *i* ite* to circ34#et !"" t7e "e0!"
pro#i$io$ 7ereto8ore @3ote*. It 9!$ ic34bet 3po !ppe""!t to pro#e $3c7
itetio o t7e p!rt o8 t7e te$t!tor6 =et $7e 7!$ ot *oe $o.
It i$ itere$ti0 to ote t7!t e#e 3*er t7e A0"o-S!2o *octrie, t7e co3rt$ !re
*i#i*e* o t7e @3e$tio 97et7er ! be@3e$t to Bre"!ti#e$B or Bi$$3e,B 4!*e i 0eer!"
ter4$, 0i#e$ ri$e to $3cce$$io per c!pit! or per $tripe$. IE=et7, et !"., #$. /r!e,
174 N.E. :71, t7e S3pre4e /o3rt o8 I""ioi$ $!i*6
'7e 4e!i0 o8 t7e 9or* B*e$ce*!t$B, 97e 3$e* i ! 9i"" or *ee* to *e$i0!te !
c"!$$ to t!<e propert= p!$$i0 b= t7e 9i"" or *ee*, 7!$ bee 8re@3et"= co$i*ere*
!* *eci*e* b= t7e /o3rt o8 E0"!* !* t7e +ite* St!te$. '7e= e$t!b"i$7e* r3"e i
E0"!* 8ro4 ! e!r"= *!te 9!$ t7!t t7e 9or* B*e$ce*!t$B or t7e 9or* Bi$$3e*B
3e2p"!ie* b= !=t7i0 i t7e cote2t o8 t7e i$tr34et, 4e!$ !"" per$o$
*e$ce*i0 "ie!""= 8ro4 !ot7er, to t7e re4ote$t *e0ree, !* ic"3*e$ per$o$
*e$ce*e*, e#e t7o307 t7eir p!ret$ !re "i#i0, !* t7!t $3c7 *e$ce*!t$ t!<e per
c!pit! $tripe$.
'7e co3rt$ o8 t7i$ co3tr= !re *i#i*e* o t7e @3e$tio o8 97et7er i c!$e o8 ! 0i8t or
co#e=!ce to B*e$ce*!t$B or Bi$$3eB, c7i"*re t!<e coc3rret"= 9it7 t7eir
p!ret$. '7e $o- c!""e* E0"i$7 r3"e 7!$ bee !*7ere* to i Ne9 ,or<, Ne9 -er$e=,
!* 'ee$$ee. . . . O t7e ot7er 7!*, t7e co3rt$ o8 M!$$!c73$ett$, M!ie, R7o*e
I$"!* !* So3t7 /!ro"i! 7!#e 7e"* t7!t, i c!$e o8 ! 0i8t or co#e=!ce to
*e$ce*!t$ or i$$3e, 3e2p"!ie* b= !=t7i0 i t7e cote2t o8 i$tr34et, c7i"*re
*o ot t!<e c3rret"= 9it7 t7eir p!ret$.
Ee coc"3*e t7!t i t7e !b$ece o8 ot7er i*ic!tio$ o8 cotr!r= itet, t7e proper
r3"e to !pp"= i t7e i$t!t c!$e i$ t7!t t7e te$t!tor, b= *e$i0!ti0 ! c"!$$ or 0ro3p o8
"e0!tee$, ite*e* !"" 4e4ber$ t7ereo8 to $3ccee* per c!pit!, i
co$o!ce 9it7 !rtic"e :46. So t7!t t7e ori0i!" "e0!c= to &i"o4e! Di!1 $7o3"* be
e@3!""= *i#i*e* !4o0 7er $3r#i#i0 c7i"*re !* 0r!*c7i*re.
N!b"e #$. +$o
FACTS:
This is an appeal which involves a question which arises from the interpretation of the
first andsecond clauses of a codicil to the will of Filomena Uson.The court below found
that the children of the deceased sisters should take only that portion which their
respective mothers would have taken if they been alive at the time the will was made that
the property should be divided into si! equal parts correspondin" to the number ofsisters
that each livin" sister should take one#si!th$ and the children of each deceased sister
should also take one#si!th$ each one# si!th to be divided amon" said children equally.The
appellants asserted that under a proper construction of the para"raphs of the codicil$ the
property should be divided equally between the livin" sisters and the children of the
decease dsisters$ share and share alike$ a niece takin" the same share that a sister receives.
%ence$ thisappeal.
&SSU':
(hether or not the livin" sisters and the children of the deceased sisters shall take
percapita and in equal parts the property passin" under the codicil in this case.
%eld:
)es. The appellants* contention is well founded.The court finds e!pressions which seem
to indicate with fair clearness that it was the intention of the testatri! to divide her
property equally between her sisters and nieces.Upon lookin" at the codicil$ it can be
observed that: first$ that the testatri!$ in the first para"raph thereof$ declares that after her
husband*s death she desires that +my sisters and nieces$ as hereinafter named$ shall
succeed him as heirs in the second place$ that the testatri!$ in the second para"raph of the
codicil$ names and identifies each one of her heirs then livin"$ in each one of the persons
whom she desires shall succeed her husband in the property. Amon" those mentioned
specially are the nieces as well as the sisters. The nieces are referred to in no way
different from the sisters. 'ach one stands out in the second para"raph of the codicil as
clearly as the other and under e!actly the same conditions and in the third place$ the last
clause of the second para"raph of the codicil$ taken to"ether with the last clause of the
first para"raph$ is decisive of the intention of the testatri!. &n the last clause she says that
she names all of the persons whom she desires to take under her will be named +so that
they must take and en,oy the property in equal parts as "ood sisters and relatives.+(e
have then in the first para"raph a declaration as to who the testatri! desires shall become
the owners of her property on the death of her husband$ her nieces as well as her sisters.
(ehave also the final declaration of the testatri! that she desires that the sisters and the
nieces shall take and en,oy the property in equal parts. Thus$ of the property passin"
under the codicil$ the livin" sisters and the children of the deceased sisters shall take per
capita and in equal parts.
A3$tri! F. Re=e$
&!ct$.
B!$i"i! A3$tri! #*!. *e /r31 8i"e* 9it7 t7e /&I o8 Ri1!" !petitio 8or prob!te,!te
4orte4, o8 7er "!$t 9i"" !* te$t!4et. '7e prob!te 9!$ oppo$e* b= t7e pre$et
petitioer$, 97o !re ep7e9$ !* iece$ o8 B!$i"i!. '7e 9i"" 9!$ $3b$e@3et"=
!""o9e*9it7 t7e b3"< o8 7er e$t!te *e$i0!te* 8or re$po*et$, !"" o8 97o49ere
B!$i"i!G$ "e0!""= !*opte* c7i"*re. '7e petitioer$, c"!i4i0 tobe t7e e!re$t o8 <i
o8 B!$i"i!, !$$ert t7!t t7e re$po*et$ 7!* oti 8!ct bee !*opte* b= t7e *ece*et
i !ccor*!ce 9it7 "!9,t7ereb= 4!<i0 t7e4 4ere $tr!0er$ to t7e *ece*et !*
9it7o3t!= ri07t to $3ccee* !$ 7eir$. )etitioer$ !r03e t7!t t7i$circ34$t!ce $7o3"*
7!#e "e8t t7e 97o"e e$t!te o8 B!$i"i! ope toite$t!c= 9it7 petitioer$ bei0 t7e
co4p3"$or= 7eir$.It i$ !""e0e* b= petitioer$ t7!t t7e "!03!0e 3$e* i4p"=
t7!tB!$i"i! 9!$ *ecei#e* ito be"ie#i0 t7!t $7e 9!$ "e0!""= bo3* tobe@3e!t7 oe-
7!"8 o8 7er etire e$t!te to t7e re$po*et$ !$ t7e"!tterA$ "e0iti4e, 9it7 t7e i8erece
t7!t re$po*et$ 9o3"* ot7!#e i$tit3te* t7e re$po*et$ !$ 7eir$ 7!* t7e 8!ct o8
$p3rio3$!*optio bee <o9 to 7er. '7e petitioer$ i8erre* t7!t 8ro4 t7e3$e o8
t7e ter4$, B$!pi"it!0 t!0!p!04!!B >co4p3"$or= 7eir$? !*B$!pi"it!0 4!!B
>"e0iti4e?, t7e i4pe""i0 re!$o or c!3$e 8or t7ei$tit3tio o8 t7e re$po*et$ 9!$ t7e
te$t!tri2A$ be"ie8 t7!t 3*ert7e "!9 $7e co3"* ot *o ot7er9i$e. '73$ Artic"e :;0 o8
t7e /i#i"/o*e !pp"ie$ 97ereb=, Ht7e $t!te4et o8 ! 8!"$e c!3$e 8or t7ei$tit3tio o8
! 7eir $7!"" be co$i*ere* !$ ot 9ritte, 3"e$$ it!ppe!r$ 8ro4 t7e 9i"" t7!t t7e
te$t!tor 9o3"* ot 7!#e 4!*e $3c7i$tit3tio i8 7e 7!* <o9 t7e 8!"$it= o8 $3c7
c!3$e.I
ISS+E.
EJN t7e "o9er co3rt co44itte* 0r!#e !b3$e o8 *i$cretio i b!rri0t7e petitioer$
ep7e9$ !* iece 8ro4 re0i$teri0 t7eir c"!i4 e#eto propertie$ !*C3*ic!te* b= t7e
*ece*et i 7er 9i"".
(ELD.
No. Be8ore t7e i$tit3tio o8 7eir$ 4!= be !3""e* 3*er!rtic"e :;0 o8 t7e /i#i"
/o*e, t7e 8o""o9i0 re@3i$ite$ 43$t coc3r. &ir$t , t7e c!3$e 8or t7e i$tit3tio o8
7eir$ 43$t be $t!te* i t7e 9i""6$eco* , t7e c!3$e 43$t be $7o9 to be 8!"$e6
!*t7ir* , it 43$t!ppe!r 8ro4 t7e 8!ce o8 t7e 9i"" t7!t t7e te$t!tor 9o3"* ot
7!#e4!*e $3c7 i$tit3tio i8 7e 7!* <o9 t7e 8!"$it= o8 t7e c!3$e. '7e *ece*etA$
9i"" *oe$ ot $t!te i ! $peci8ic or 3e@3i#oc!" 4!ert7e c!3$e 8or $3c7 i$tit3tio
o8 7eir$. Ab$et $3c7 9e "oo< !t ot7erco$i*er!tio$. '7e *ece*etG$ *i$po$itio o8
t7e 8ree portio o8 7ere$t!te, 97ic7 "!r0e"= 8!#ore* t7e re$po*et$, co4p!re* 9it7
t7ere"!ti#e"= $4!"" *e#i$e o8 "!* 97ic7 t7e *ece*et "e8t 8or 7er b"oo*re"!ti#e$,
$7o9$ ! perceptib"e ic"i!tio o 7er p!rt to 0i#e t7ere$po*et$ 4ore t7! 97!t
$7e t7o307t t7e "!9 eCoie* 7er to0i#e to t7e4. E2c"3*i0 t7e re$po*et$ 8ro4 t7e
i7erit!ce,co$i*eri0 t7!t petitioer ep7e9$ !* iece$ 9o3"* $3ccee* tot7e b3"<
o8 t7e te$t!te b= #irt3e o8 ite$t!c=, 9o3"* $3b#ert t7ec"e!r 9i$7e$ o8 t7e *ece*et.
'e$t!c= i$ 8!#ore* !* *o3bt$ !re re$o"#e* o it$ $i*e,e$peci!""= 97ere t7e 9i""
e#ice$ ! itetio o t7e p!rt o8 t7ete$t!tor to *i$po$e o8 pr!ctic!""= 7i$ 97o"e
e$t!te, !$ 9!$ *oe it7i$ c!$e. Ite$t!c= $7o3"* be !#oi*e* !* t7e 9i$7e$ o8
t7ete$t!tor $7o3"* be !""o9e* to pre#!i". Gr!te* t7!t ! prob!te co3rt7!$ 8o3*, b=
8i!" C3*04et, t7!t t7e *ece*et po$$e$$e*te$t!4et!r= c!p!cit= !* 7er "!$t 9i""
9!$ e2ec3te* 8ree 8ro48!"$i8ic!tio, 8r!3*, tric<er= or 3*3e i8"3ece, it 8o""o9$
t7!t 0i#i083"" e2pre$$io to 7er 9i"" 43$t be i or*er.
B!rrio$ #. Eri@3e1
Facts:
survivin" spouse of the deceased -ose .acrohon Tiahua$ and the latter*s le"itimate
children on the one side$ and &"nacio .acrohon$ his adulterous son$ on the other$ from an
order of the Court of First &nstance of /amboan"a$ layin" down the followin"
conclusions of law: 012 That an adulterous child may be instituted heir within the limits
provided by law 032 that in makin" &"nacio .acrohon an heir under his will$ the testator
did not observe the limitations prescribed by law 042 that the institution of &"nacio
.acrohon as heir under the will ou"ht not to be declared absolutely void$ but he should
so share in the inheritance as not to pre,udice the le"itimate of the other heirs 052 that as
'!hibit 1 deals with certain acts contrary to law$ such as not presentin" the will to the
court$ and as some minors took part in it throu"h their "uardian without the latter bein"
authori6ed by the court to enter into the transaction in their behalf$ said e!hibit cannot
bind the parties$ nor do the admissions made by them therein constitute estoppel
whereupon it disapproved the scheme of partition presented by the administrator and
ordered him to file another in consonance with the conclusions therein laid down.
&ssue:
(hether or not -ose .acrohon Tiahua have a ri"ht to dispose of a part of his estate by
will in favor of his adulterous son
%eld:
)es. As to the first question$ while it is true that article 758 of the Civil Code provides
that +ille"itimate children who have not the status of natural children shall be entitled to
support only$+ and therefore cannot demand anythin" more of those bound by law to
support them$ it does not prohibit said ille"itimate children from receivin"$ nor their
parents from "ivin" them$ somethin" more than support$ so lon" as the le"itimate
children are not pre,udiced. &f the law permits a testator to dispose of the free third of his
hereditary estate in favor of a stran"er 0art. 797 of the Civil Code2$ there is no le"al$
moral or social reason to prevent him from makin" over that third to his illle"itimate son
who has not the status of a natural son. :n the contrary$ by reason of blood$ the son$
althou"h ille"itimate$ has a preferential ri"ht over a stran"er unless by his behaviour he
has become unworthy of such consideration. For these reasons$ we are of opinion and so
hold$ that -ose .acrohon Tiahua could dispose of the free third of his estate in favor of
his adulterous son$ &"nacio .acrohon.
G!brie" #. M!teo
Facts:
The ,ud"ment appealed from allowed the will of Florencia .ateo dated February ;$ 1<34$
composed of two used sheets to probate. The will appears to be si"ned by the testatri!
and three witnesses on the left mar"in of each of the sheets$ by the testatri! alone at the
bottom$ and by the three witnesses after the attestation clause. The testatri! died on
Au"ust 14$ 1<38. :pposition to such probate was filed by =ita .ateo$ the testatri!*s
sister$ and by other relatives. The three attestin" witnesses to this will$ testifyin" in this
case$ declared that the si"nature of the testatri! were written in their presence and that
they si"ned their names in the presence of the testatri! and of each other. The testatri!
from "irlhood knew how to si"n her name and did so with her ri"ht hand but as the ri"ht
side of her body later became paraly6ed$ she learned to si"n with her left hand and for
many years thereafter$ up to the time of her death$ she used to si"n with that hand.
:pponents alle"e that Florencia .ateo did not si"n this will.
&ssue:
whether or not testatri! has the ri"ht to choose her heirs in the will
%eld:
)es. there is nothin" stran"e in the testatri! havin" left nothin" to the opponents$ or in her
havin" left all of her estate to the only heir instituted in her will$ Tomas .ateo$ who is
also one of her nieces. And not only is it not stran"e$ but it seems reasonable$ since$
accordin" to the evidence of the testatri! when the former was but 4 years old$ and from
then on up to the time of her death had never been separated from her. The opposition
presented >octor ?anks as e!pert. %e testified that the si"natures of the testatri! in the
will are not "enuine. The petitioner$ on the other hand$ presented another e!pert$ @edro
Serrano Aaktao$ who affirmed that these si"natures are "enuine. ?ut$ over the testimony
of these e!perts$ we have the cate"orical and positive declaration of veracious witnesses
who affirm that these si"natures were written by the testatri! herself.
The ,ud"ment appealed from is affirmed$ with costs a"ainst the appellants. So ordered.
Di1o #. Di1o
Facts:
:n -anuary 37$ 1<;1$ the testatri!$ A"ripina -. Balde6$ a widow$ died in An"eles$
@ampan"a$ and was survived by seven compulsory heirs$ to wit$ si! le"itimate children
named 'stela >i6on$ Tomas B. >i6on$ ?ernardita >i6on$ .arina >i6on 0herein e!ecutri!#
appellee2$ An"elina >i6on and -osefina >i6on$ and a le"itimate "randdau"hter named
Ailia >i6on$ who is the only le"itimate child and heir of =amon >i6on$ a pre#deceased
le"itimate son of the said decedent. Si! of these seven compulsory heirs 0e!cept .arina
>i6on$ the e!ecutri!#appellee2 are the oppositors#appellants. The deceased testatri! left a
last will e!ecuted on February 3$ 1<;9 and written in the @ampan"o dialect. Camed
beneficiaries in her will were the above#named compulsory heirs$ to"ether with seven
other le"itimate "randchildren$ namely @ablo =ivera$ -r.$ Dilbert >. Darcia$ Cayetano
>i6on$ Francisco =ivera$ A"ripina Ayson$ -olly -imene6 and Aaureano Tiambon. &n her
will$ the testatri! divided$ distributed and disposed of all her properties appraised at
@1$791$<;9.99 0e!cept two small parcels of land appraised at @8$75<.;9$ household
furniture valued at @3$899.99$ a bank deposit in the sum of @59<.<8 and ten shares of
@ampan"a Su"ar >evelopment Company valued at @489.992 amon" her above#named
heirs.
The e!ecutri! filed her pro,ect of partition dated February 8$ 1<;5$ in substance
ad,udicatin" the estate as follows:
012 with the fi"ure of @13<$385.<; as le"itime for a basis .arina 0e!acultri!#appellee2
and Tomas 0appellant2 are admittedly considered to have received in the will more than
their respective le"itime$ while the rest of the appellants$ namely$ 'stela$ ?ernardita$
An"elina$ -osefina and Ailia received less than their respective le"itime
032 thus$ to each of the latter are ad,udicated the properties respectively "iven them in
the will$ plus cash andEor properties$ to complete their respective le"itimes to
@13<$385.<; 042 on the other hand$ .arina and Tomas are ad,udicated the properties that
they received in the will less the cash andEor properties necessary to complete the
pre,udiced le"itime mentioned in number 3 above
052 the ad,udications made in the will in favor of the "randchildren remain untouched.
:n the other hand oppositors submitted their own counter#pro,ect of partition dated
February 15$ 1<;5$ wherein they proposed the distribution of the estate on the followin"
basis:
0a2 all the testamentary dispositions were proportionally reduced to the value of one#half
0F2 of the entire estate$ the value of the said one#half 0F2 amountin" to @<98$845.G7 0b2
the shares of the :ppositors#Appellants should consist of their le"itime$ plus the devises
in their favor proportionally reduced 0c2 in payment of the total shares of the appellants
in the entire estate$ the properties devised to them plus other properties left by the
Testatri! andEor cash are ad,udicated to them and 0d2 to the "randchildren who are not
compulsory heirs are ad,udicated the properties respectively devised to them sub,ect to
reimbursement by Dilbert >. Darcia$ et al.$ of the sums by which the devise in their favor
should be proportionally reduced.
&ssue:
(hether or not there is proper partition
%eld:
in the third para"raph of her will$ after commandin" that upon her death all her
obli"ations as well as the e!penses of her last illness and funeral and the e!penses for
probate of her last will and for the administration of her property in accordance with law$
be paid$ she e!pressly provided that +it is my wish and & command that my property be
divided+ in accordance with the dispositions immediately thereafter followin"$ whereby
she specified each real property in her estate and desi"nated the particular heir amon" her
seven compulsory heirs and seven other "randchildren to whom she bequeathed the same.
This was a valid partition 19 of her estate$ as contemplated and authori6ed in the first
para"raph of Article 1979 of the Civil Code$ providin" that +0S2hould a person make a
partition of his estate by an act inter vivos or by will$ such partition shall be respected$
insofar as it does not pre,udice the le"itime of the compulsory heirs.+ This ri"ht of a
testator to partition his estate is sub,ect only to the ri"ht of compulsory heirs to their
le"itime. The Civil Code thus provides the safe"uard for the ri"ht of such compulsory
heirs:
A=T. <9;. Any compulsory heir to whom the testator has left by any title less than
the le"itime belon"in" to him may demand that the same be fully satisfied.
A=T. <9G. Testamentary dispositions that impair or diminish the le"itime of the
compulsory heirs shall be reduced on petition of the same$ insofar as they may be
inofficious or e!cessive.
This was properly complied with in the e!ecutri!#appellee*s pro,ect of partition$ wherein
the five oppositors#appellants namely 'stela$ ?ernardita$ An"elina$ -osefina and Ailia$
were ad,udicated the properties respectively distributed and assi"ned to them by the
testatri! in her will$ and the differential to complete their respective le"itimes of
@13<$4;3.11 each were taken from the cash andEor properties of the e!ecutri!#appellee$
.arina$ and their co#oppositor#appellant$ Tomas$ who admittedly were favored by the
testatri! and received in the partition by will more than their respective le"itimes.