Acop to Caluya Case Page 2

8/12/2019 Acop to Caluya Case Page 2

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In re estate of Piraso, deceased.SIXTO ACOP, petitioner-appellant,vs.SALMING PIRASO, T AL., opponents-appellees.

T!is appeal "as ta#en fro$ t!e %&d'$ent of t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of )en'&et, den*in' t!e pro+ate of t!e instr&$ent !i+it A, as t!e last "ill and

testa$ent of t!e deceased Piraso.

T!e proponent-appellant assi'ns t!e follo"in' as alle'ed errors of t!e lo"erco&rt

. In !oldin' t!at in order to +e valid t!e "ill in /&estion s!o&ld !ave +eendra"n &p in t!e Ilocano dialect.

0. In not !oldin' t!at t!e testator Piraso did not #no" t!e Ilocano dialect "elleno&'! to &nderstand a "ill dra"n &p in said dialect.

1. In ref&sin' to ad$it t!e "ill in /&estion to pro+ate.

T!e f&nda$ental errors assi'ned refer c!ie2* to t!e part of t!e %&d'$ent

"!ic! reads as follo"s

T!e evidence s!o"s t!at Piraso #ne" !o" to spea# t!e Ilocano dialect,alt!o&'! i$perfectl*, and co&ld $a#e !i$self &nderstood in t!at dialect, andt!e co&rt is of t!e opinion t!at !is "ill s!o&ld !ave +een "ritten in t!at dialect.

S&c! state$ents "ere not &nnecessar* for t!e decision of t!e case, once it !as+een proved "it!o&t contradiction t!at t!e said deceased Piraso did not #no"n'lis!, in "!ic! lan'&a'e t!e instr&$ent !i+it A, alle'ed to +e !is "ill, isdra"n. Section 304 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, strictl* provides t!at

5No "ill, ecept as provides in t!e precedin' section5 6as to "ills eec&ted +* aSpaniard or a resident of t!e P!ilippine Islands, +efore t!e present Code of CivilProced&re "ent into e7ect8, 5s!all +e valid to pass an* estate, real or personal,

nor c!ar'e or a7ect t!e sa$e, &nless it +e "ritten in t!e lan'&a'e or dialect#no"n +* t!e testator,5 etc. 6$p!asis s&pplied.8 Nor can t!e pres&$ption infavor of t!e "ill esta+lis!ed +* t!is co&rt in A+an'an vs. A+an'an 69: P!il.,9;38, to t!e e7ect t!at t!e testator is pres&$ed to #no" t!e dialect of t!elocalit* "!ere !e resides, &nless t!ere is proof to t!e contrar*, even !e invo#edin s&pport of t!e pro+ate of said doc&$ent !i+it A, as a "ill, +eca&se, in t!einstant case, not onl* is it not proven t!at n'lis! is t!e lan'&a'e of t!e Cit* of )a'&io "!ere t!e deceased Piraso lived and "!ere !i+it A "as dra"n, +&tt!at t!e record contains positive proof t!at said Piraso #ne" no ot!er lan'&a'et!an t!e I'orrote dialect, "it! a s$atterin' of Ilocano< t!at is, !e did not #no"t!e n'lis! lan'&a'e in "!ic! !i+it A is "ritten. So t!at even if s&c! apres&$ption co&ld !ave +een raised in t!is case it "o&ld !ave +een "!oll*contradicted and destro*ed.

=e consider t!e ot!er /&estion raised in t!is appeal needless and i$$aterialto t!e ad%&dication of t!is case, it !avin' +een, as it "as, proven, t!at t!einstr&$ent in /&estion co&ld not +e pro+ated as t!e last "ill and testa$ent of t!e deceased Piraso, !avin' +een "ritten in t!e n'lis! lan'&a'e "it! "!ic!t!e latter "as &nac/&ainted.

S&c! a res&lt +ased &pon solidl* esta+lis!ed facts "o&ld +e t!e sa$e "!et!eror not it +e tec!nicall* !eld t!at said "ill, in order to +e valid, $&st +e "rittenin t!e Ilocano dialect< "!et!er or not t!e I'orrote or Ini+aloi dialect is ac&ltivated lan'&a'e and &sed as a $eans of co$$&nication in "ritin', and"!et!er or not t!e testator Piraso #ne" t!e Ilocano dialect "ell eno&'! to&nderstand a "ill "ritten in said dialect. T!e fact is, "e repeat, t!at it is /&itecertain t!at t!e instr&$ent !i+it A "as "ritten in n'lis! "!ic! t!e s&pposedtestator Piraso did not #no", and t!is is s&>cient to invalidate said "illaccordin' to t!e clear and positive provisions of t!e la", and inevita+l*prevents its pro+ate.

T!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ is a>r$ed, "it! t!e costs of t!is instance a'ainstt!e appellant. So ordered.

G.R. No. 9;9? @an&ar* 1, 0::?

TSTAT STAT O( T LAT ALIPIO A)ABA, )LINBA CAPONONG-NO)L,petitioner,vs.ALIPIO A)A@A and NOL A)LLAR, respondents.

T!e Case

)efore t!e Co&rt is a petition for revie" assailin' t!e Becision0 of t!e Co&rt of Appeals of 0 @an&ar* 0:: in CA-G.R. C No. 9;399. T!e Co&rt of Appealss&stained t!e Resol&tion1 of t!e Re'ional Trial Co&rt of Da+an#alan, Ne'rosOccidental, )ranc! 3 65RTC-Da+an#alan58, ad$ittin' to pro+ate t!e last "illand testa$ent of Alipio A+ada 65A+ada58.

T!e Antecedent (acts

A+ada died so$eti$e in Ma* E9:.9 is "ido" Pa&la Tora* 65Tora*58 diedso$eti$e in Septe$+er E91. )ot! died "it!o&t le'iti$ate c!ildren.

On 1 Septe$+er E34, Alipio C. A+a%a 65Alipio58 Fled "it! t!e t!en Co&rt of (irst Instance of Ne'ros Occidental 6no" RTC-Da+an#alan8 a petition,? doc#etedas SP No. :;: 611-43348, for t!e pro+ate of t!e last "ill and testa$ent 65"ill58of A+ada. A+ada alle'edl* na$ed as !is testa$entar* !eirs !is nat&ral c!ildren&lo'io A+a%a 65&lo'io58 and Rosario Cordova. Alipio is t!e son of &lo'io.

Nicanor Caponon' 65Caponon'58 opposed t!e petition on t!e 'ro&nd t!atA+ada left no "ill "!en !e died in E9:. Caponon' f&rt!er alle'ed t!at t!e "ill,if A+ada reall* eec&ted it, s!o&ld +e disallo"ed for t!e follo"in' reasons 68 it"as not eec&ted and attested as re/&ired +* la"< 608 it "as not intended as

S&ccession - s%+Prior

8/12/2019 Acop to Caluya Case


t!e last "ill of t!e testator< and 618 it "as proc&red +* &nd&e and i$properpress&re and in2&ence on t!e part of t!e +eneFciaries. Citin' t!e sa$e'ro&nds invo#ed +* Caponon', t!e alle'ed intestate !eirs of A+ada, na$el*,

@oel, @&lian, PaH, van'eline, Geroni$o, &$+erto, Teodora and lena A+ada65@oel A+ada, et al.58, and Levi, Leandro, Antonio, (lorian, ernani and Car$ela

Tronco 65Levi Tronco, et al.58, also opposed t!e petition. T!e oppositors are t!enep!e"s, nieces and 'randc!ildren of A+ada and Tora*.

On 1 Septe$+er E34, Alipio Fled anot!er petition3 +efore t!e RTC-Da+an#alan, doc#eted as SP No. :; 610-433E8, for t!e pro+ate of t!e last "illand testa$ent of Tora*. Caponon', @oel A+ada, et al., and Levi Tronco, et al.opposed t!e petition on t!e sa$e 'ro&nds t!e* cited in SP No. :;: 611-43348.

On 0: Septe$+er E34, Caponon' Fled a petition; +efore t!e RTC-Da+an#alan,doc#eted as SP No. :3E 61:E8, pra*in' for t!e iss&ance in !is na$e of letters of ad$inistration of t!e intestate estate of A+ada and Tora*.

In an Order dated 9 A&'&st E4, t!e RTC-Da+an#alan ad$itted to pro+atet!e "ill of Tora*. Since t!e oppositors did not Fle an* $otion forreconsideration, t!e order allo"in' t!e pro+ate of Tora*s "ill +eca$e Fnal andeec&tor*.4

In an order dated 01 Nove$+er EE:, t!e RTC-Da+an#alan desi'nated )elindaCaponon'-No+le 65Caponon'-No+le58 Special Ad$inistratri of t!e estate of A+ada and Tora*.E Caponon'-No+le $oved for t!e dis$issal of t!e petition forpro+ate of t!e "ill of A+ada. T!e RTC-Da+an#alan denied t!e $otion in anOrder dated 0: A&'&st EE.:

So$eti$e in EE1, d&rin' t!e proceedin's, Presidin' @&d'e Rodolfo S. La*&$asdiscovered t!at in an Order dated 3 Marc! EE0, for$er Presidin' @&d'ed'ardo Catilo !ad alread* s&+$itted t!e case for decision. T!&s, t!e RTC-Da+an#alan rendered a Resol&tion dated 00 @&ne EE9, as follo"s

T!ere !avin' +een s&>cient notice to t!e !eirs as re/&ired +* la"< t!at t!ere iss&+stantial co$pliance "it! t!e for$alities of a =ill as t!e la" directs and t!att!e petitioner t!ro&'! !is testi$on* and t!e deposition of (eli Gallinero "asa+le to esta+lis! t!e re'&larit* of t!e eec&tion of t!e said =ill and f&rt!er,t!ere +ein' no evidence of +ad fait! and fra&d, or s&+stit&tion of t!e said =ill,t!e Last =ill and Testa$ent of Alipio A+ada dated @&ne 9, E10 is ad$itted andallo"ed pro+ate.

As pra*ed for +* co&nsel, Noel A++ellar is appointed ad$inistrator of t!eestate of Pa&la Tora* "!o s!all disc!ar'e !is d&ties as s&c! after letters of ad$inistration s!all !ave +een iss&ed in !is favor and after ta#in' !is oat! andFlin' a +ond in t!e a$o&nt of Ten T!o&sand 6P:,:::.::8 Pesos.

Mrs. )elinda C. No+le, t!e present ad$inistratri of t!e estate of Alipio A+adas!all contin&e disc!ar'in' !er d&ties as s&c! &ntil f&rt!er orders fro$ t!isCo&rt.

SO ORBRB.0

T!e RTC-Da+an#alan r&led on t!e onl* iss&e raised +* t!e oppositors in t!eir$otions to dis$iss t!e petition for pro+ate, t!at is, "!et!er t!e "ill of A+ada!as an attestation cla&se as re/&ired +* la". T!e RTC-Da+an#alan f&rt!er !eldt!at t!e fail&re of t!e oppositors to raise an* ot!er $atter forecloses all ot!eriss&es.

Not satisFed "it! t!e Resol&tion, Caponon'-No+le Fled a notice of appeal.

In a Becision pro$&l'ated on 0 @an&ar* 0::, t!e Co&rt of Appeals a>r$edt!e Resol&tion of t!e RTC-Da+an#alan. T!e appellate co&rt fo&nd t!at t!e RTC-Da+an#alan properl* ad$itted to pro+ate t!e "ill of A+ada.

ence, t!e present reco&rse +* Caponon'-No+le.

T!e Iss&es

T!e petition raises t!e follo"in' iss&es

. =!at la"s appl* to t!e pro+ate of t!e last "ill of A+ada<

0. =!et!er t!e "ill of A+ada re/&ires ac#no"led'$ent +efore a notar*p&+lic<1

1. =!et!er t!e "ill $&st epressl* state t!at it is "ritten in a lan'&a'e ordialect #no"n to t!e testator<

9. =!et!er t!e "ill of A+ada !as an attestation cla&se, and if so, "!et!er t!eattestation cla&se co$plies "it! t!e re/&ire$ents of t!e applica+le la"s<

?. =!et!er Caponon'-No+le is precl&ded fro$ raisin' t!e iss&e of "!et!er t!e"ill of A+ada is "ritten in a lan'&a'e #no"n to A+ada<

3. =!et!er evidence ali&nde $a* +e resorted to in t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill of A+ada.

T!e R&lin' of t!e Co&rt

T!e Co&rt of Appeals did not err in s&stainin' t!e RTC-Da+an#alan in ad$ittin'to pro+ate t!e "ill of A+ada.

T!e Applica+le La"

A+ada eec&ted !is "ill on 9 @&ne E10. T!e la"s in force at t!at ti$e are t!eCivil Code of 44E or t!e Old Civil Code, and Act No. E: or t!e Code of CivilProced&re9 "!ic! 'overned t!e eec&tion of "ills +efore t!e enact$ent of t!eNe" Civil Code.

S&ccession - s%+Prior 0



T!e $atter in disp&te in t!e present case is t!e attestation cla&se in t!e "ill of A+ada. Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, as a$ended +* Act No.039?,? 'overns t!e for$ of t!e attestation cla&se of A+adas "ill.3 Section34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, as a$ended, provides

SC. 34. Re/&isites of "ill. J No "ill, ecept as provided in t!e precedin'section,; s!all +e valid to pass an* estate, real or personal, nor c!ar'e ora7ect t!e sa$e, &nless it +e "ritten in t!e lan'&a'e or dialect #no"n +* t!etestator and si'ned +* !i$, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!erperson in !is presence, and +* !is epress direction, and attested ands&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testatorand of eac! ot!er. T!e testator or t!e person re/&ested +* !i$ to "rite !isna$e and t!e instr&$ental "itnesses of t!e "ill, s!all also si'n, as aforesaid,eac! and ever* pa'e t!ereof, on t!e left $ar'in, and said pa'es s!all +en&$+ered correlativel* in letters placed on t!e &pper part of eac! s!eet. T!eattestation s!all state t!e n&$+er of s!eets or pa'es &sed, &pon "!ic! t!e "illis "ritten, and t!e fact t!at t!e testator si'ned t!e "ill and ever* pa'e t!ereof,or ca&sed so$e ot!er person to "rite !is na$e, &nder !is epress direction, int!e presence of t!ree "itnesses, and t!e latter "itnessed and si'ned t!e "illand all pa'es t!ereof in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er.

Re/&isites of a =ill &nder t!e Code of Civil Proced&re

Knder Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, t!e re/&isites of a "ill are t!efollo"in'

68 T!e "ill $&st +e "ritten in t!e lan'&a'e or dialect #no"n +* t!e testator<

608 T!e "ill $&st +e si'ned +* t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten+* so$e ot!er person in !is presence, and +* !is epress direction<

618 T!e "ill $&st +e attested and s&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le"itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er<

698 T!e testator or t!e person re/&ested +* !i$ to "rite !is na$e and t!einstr&$ental "itnesses of t!e "ill $&st si'n eac! and ever* pa'e of t!e "ill ont!e left $ar'in<

6?8 T!e pa'es of t!e "ill $&st +e n&$+ered correlativel* in letters placed ont!e &pper part of eac! s!eet<

638 T!e attestation s!all state t!e n&$+er of s!eets or pa'es &sed, &pon "!ic!t!e "ill is "ritten, and t!e fact t!at t!e testator si'ned t!e "ill and ever* pa'eof t!e "ill, or ca&sed so$e ot!er person to "rite !is na$e, &nder !is epressdirection, in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses, and t!e "itnesses "itnessed andsi'ned t!e "ill and all pa'es of t!e "ill in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er.

Caponon'-No+le asserts t!at t!e "ill of A+ada does not indicate t!at it is"ritten in a lan'&a'e or dialect #no"n to t!e testator. (&rt!er, s!e $aintainst!at t!e "ill is not ac#no"led'ed +efore a notar* p&+lic. S!e cites in partic&larArticles 4:9 and 4:? of t!e Old Civil Code, t!&s

Art. 4:9. ver* "ill $&st +e in "ritin' and eec&ted in a lan'&a'e or dialect#no"n to t!e testator.

Art. 4:3. ver* "ill $&st +e ac#no"led'ed +efore a notar* p&+lic +* t!etestator and t!e "itnesses. 4

Caponon'-No+le act&all* cited Articles 4:9 and 4:3 of t!e Ne" Civil Code.EArticle 4:9 of t!e Old Civil Code is a+o&t t!e ri'!ts and o+li'ations of ad$inistrators of t!e propert* of an a+sentee, "!ile Article 4:3 of t!e Old CivilCode deFnes a le'iti$e.

Articles 4:9 and 4:3 of t!e Ne" Civil Code are ne" provisions. Article 4:9 of t!e Ne" Civil Code is ta#en fro$ Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re.0:Article 4:3 of t!e Ne" Civil Code is ta#en fro$ Article 34? of t!e Old CivilCode0 "!ic! provides

Art. 34?. T!e notar* and t"o of t!e "itnesses "!o a&t!enticate t!e "ill $&st+e ac/&ainted "it! t!e testator, or, s!o&ld t!e* not #no" !i$, !e s!all +eidentiFed +* t"o "itnesses "!o are ac/&ainted "it! !i$ and are #no"n to t!enotar* and to t!e attestin' "itnesses. T!e notar* and t!e "itnesses s!all alsoendeavor to ass&re t!e$selves t!at t!e testator !as, in t!eir %&d'$ent, t!ele'al capacit* re/&ired to $a#e a "ill.

=itnesses a&t!enticatin' a "ill "it!o&t t!e attendance of a notar*, in casesfallin' &nder Articles ;:: and ;:, are also re/&ired to #no" t!e testator.

o"ever, t!e Code of Civil Proced&re00 repealed Article 34? of t!e Old CivilCode. Knder t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, t!e intervention of a notar* is notnecessar* in t!e eec&tion of an* "ill.01 T!erefore, A+adas "ill does notre/&ire ac#no"led'$ent +efore a notar* p&+lic.a"p!i.nt

Caponon'-No+le points o&t t!at no"!ere in t!e "ill can one discern t!at A+ada#ne" t!e Spanis! lan'&a'e. S!e alle'es t!at s&c! defect is fatal and $&stres&lt in t!e disallo"ance of t!e "ill. On t!is iss&e, t!e Co&rt of Appeals !eldt!at t!e $atter "as not raised in t!e $otion to dis$iss, and t!at it is no" toolate to raise t!e iss&e on appeal. =e a'ree "it! Caponon'-No+le t!at t!edoctrine of estoppel does not appl* in pro+ate proceedin's.09 In addition, t!elan'&a'e &sed in t!e "ill is part of t!e re/&isites &nder Section 34 of t!eCode of Civil Proced&re and t!e Co&rt dee$s it proper to pass &pon t!is iss&e.

Nevert!eless, Caponon'-No+les contention $&st still fail. T!ere is no stat&tor*re/&ire$ent to state in t!e "ill itself t!at t!e testator #ne" t!e lan'&a'e ordialect &sed in t!e "ill.0? T!is is a $atter t!at a part* $a* esta+lis! +* proof ali&nde.03 Caponon'-No+le f&rt!er ar'&es t!at Alipio, in !is testi$on*, !as




failed, a$on' ot!ers, to s!o" t!at A+ada #ne" or &nderstood t!e contents of t!e "ill and t!e Spanis! lan'&a'e &sed in t!e "ill. o"ever, Alipio testiFedt!at A+ada &sed to 'at!er Spanis!-spea#in' people in t!eir place. In t!ese'at!erin's, A+ada and !is co$panions "o&ld tal# in t!e Spanis! lan'&a'e.0;

T!is s&>cientl* proves t!at A+ada spea#s t!e Spanis! lan'&a'e.

T!e Attestation Cla&se of A+adas =ill

A scr&tin* of A+adas "ill s!o"s t!at it !as an attestation cla&se. T!eattestation cla&se of A+adas "ill reads

S&scrito * declarado por el testador Alipio A+ada co$o s& &lti$a vol&ntad *testa$ento en presencia de nosotros, !a+iendo ta$+ien el testador Fr$ado enn&estra presencia en el $ar'en iH/&ierdo de todas * cada &na de las !o%as del$is$o. en testi$onio de ello, cada &no de nosotros lo Fr$a$os en presenciade nosotros * del testador al pie de este doc&$ento * en el $ar'en iH/&ierdode todas * cada &na de las dos !o%as de /&e esta co$p&esto el $is$o, lasc&ales estan pa'inadas correlativa$ente con las letras 5KNO5 * 5BOS en laparte s&perior de la carrilla.04

Caponon'-No+le proceeds to point o&t several defects in t!e attestationcla&se. Caponon'-No+le alle'es t!at t!e attestation cla&se fails to state t!en&$+er of pa'es on "!ic! t!e "ill is "ritten.

T!e alle'ation !as no $erit. T!e p!rase 5en el $ar'en iH/&ierdo de todas *cada &na de las dos !o%as de /&e esta co$p&esto el $is$o5 "!ic! $eans 5int!e left $ar'in of eac! and ever* one of t!e t"o pa'es consistin' of t!e sa$e5s!o"s t!at t!e "ill consists of t"o pa'es. T!e pa'es are n&$+eredcorrelativel* "it! t!e letters 5ON5 and 5T=O5 as can +e 'leaned fro$ t!ep!rase 5las c&ales estan pa'inadas correlativa$ente con las letras 5KNO5 *5BOS.5

Caponon'-No+le f&rt!er alle'es t!at t!e attestation cla&se fails to stateepressl* t!at t!e testator si'ned t!e "ill and its ever* pa'e in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses. S!e t!en fa&lts t!e Co&rt of Appeals for appl*in' to t!epresent case t!e r&le on s&+stantial co$pliance fo&nd in Article 4:E of t!e Ne"Civil Code.0E

T!e Frst sentence of t!e attestation cla&se reads 5S&scrito * declarado por eltestador Alipio A+ada co$o s& &lti$a vol&ntad * testa$ento en presencia denosotros, !a+iendo ta$+ien el testador Fr$ado en n&estra presencia en el$ar'en iH/&ierdo de todas * cada &na de las !o%as del $is$o.5 T!e n'lis!translation is 5S&+scri+ed and professed +* t!e testator Alipio A+ada as !islast "ill and testa$ent in o&r presence, t!e testator !avin' also si'ned it in o&rpresence on t!e left $ar'in of eac! and ever* one of t!e pa'es of t!e sa$e.5

T!e attestation cla&se clearl* states t!at A+ada si'ned t!e "ill and its ever*pa'e in t!e presence of t!e "itnesses.

o"ever, Caponon'-No+le is correct in sa*in' t!at t!e attestation cla&se doesnot indicate t!e n&$+er of "itnesses. On t!is point, t!e Co&rt a'rees "it! t!eappellate co&rt in appl*in' t!e r&le on s&+stantial co$pliance in deter$inin't!e n&$+er of "itnesses. =!ile t!e attestation cla&se does not state t!en&$+er of "itnesses, a close inspection of t!e "ill s!o"s t!at t!ree "itnessessi'ned it.

T!is Co&rt !as applied t!e r&le on s&+stantial co$pliance even +efore t!ee7ectivit* of t!e Ne" Civil Code. In Bic!oso de Ticson v. Be GorostiHa,1: t!eCo&rt reco'niHed t!at t!ere are t"o diver'ent tendencies in t!e la" on "ills,one +ein' +ased on strict constr&ction and t!e ot!er on li+eral constr&ction. InBic!oso, t!e Co&rt noted t!at A+an'an v. A+an'an,1 t!e +asic case on t!eli+eral constr&ction, is cited "it! approval in later decisions of t!e Co&rt.

In Adeva vda. Be Le*neH v. Le*neH,10 t!e petitioner, ar'&in' for li+eralconstr&ction of applica+le la"s, en&$erated a lon' line of cases to s&pport !erar'&$ent "!ile t!e respondent, contendin' t!at t!e r&le on strict constr&ctions!o&ld appl*, also cited a lon' series of cases to s&pport !is vie". T!e Co&rt,after ea$inin' t!e cases invo#ed +* t!e parties, !eld

It is, of co&rse, not possi+le to la* do"n a 'eneral r&le, ri'id andin2ei+le, "!ic! "o&ld +e applica+le to all cases. More t!an an*t!in' else, t!efacts and circ&$stances of record are to +e considered in t!e application of an*'iven r&le. If t!e s&rro&ndin' circ&$stances point to a re'&lar eec&tion of t!e"ill, and t!e instr&$ent appears to !ave +een eec&ted s&+stantiall* inaccordance "it! t!e re/&ire$ents of t!e la", t!e inclination s!o&ld, in t!ea+sence of an* s&''estion of +ad fait!, for'er* or fra&d, lean to"ards itsad$ission to pro+ate, alt!o&'! t!e doc&$ent $a* s&7er fro$ so$ei$perfection of lan'&a'e, or ot!er non-essential defect. .

An attestation cla&se is $ade for t!e p&rpose of preservin', in per$anentfor$, a record of t!e facts attendin' t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill, so t!at in case of fail&re of t!e $e$or* of t!e s&+scri+in' "itnesses, or ot!er cas&alt*, t!e* $a*still +e proved. 6T!o$pson on =ills, 0d ed., sec. 10.8 A "ill, t!erefore, s!o&ldnot +e re%ected "!ere its attestation cla&se serves t!e p&rpose of t!e la". 11aQp!i.net

=e r&le to appl* t!e li+eral constr&ction in t!e pro+ate of A+adas "ill. A+adas"ill clearl* s!o"s fo&r si'nat&res t!at of A+ada and of t!ree ot!er persons. Itis reasona+le to concl&de t!at t!ere are t!ree "itnesses to t!e "ill. T!e/&estion on t!e n&$+er of t!e "itnesses is ans"ered +* an ea$ination of t!e"ill itself and "it!o&t t!e need for presentation of evidence ali&nde. T!e Co&rteplained t!e etent and li$its of t!e r&le on li+eral constr&ction, t!&s

T!e so-called li+eral r&le does not o7er an* p&HHle or di>c&lt*, nor does itopen t!e door to serio&s conse/&ences. T!e later decisions do tell &s "!en and"!ere to stop< t!e* dra" t!e dividin' line "it! precision. T!e* do not allo"evidence ali&nde to Fll a void in an* part of t!e doc&$ent or s&ppl* $issin'details t!at s!o&ld appear in t!e "ill itself.lQvvp!i.net T!e* onl* per$it a




pro+e into t!e "ill, an eploration "it!in its conFnes, to ascertain its $eanin'or to deter$ine t!e eistence or a+sence of t!e re/&isite for$alities of la".

T!is clear, s!arp li$itation eli$inates &ncertaint* and o&'!t to +anis! an* fearof dire res&lts.19 6$p!asis s&pplied8

T!e p!rase 5en presencia de nosotros5 or 5in o&r presence5 co&pled "it! t!esi'nat&res appearin' on t!e "ill itself and after t!e attestation cla&se co&ldonl* $ean t!at 68 A+ada s&+scri+ed to and professed +efore t!e t!ree

"itnesses t!at t!e doc&$ent "as !is last "ill, and 608 A+ada si'ned t!e "illand t!e left $ar'in of eac! pa'e of t!e "ill in t!e presence of t!ese t!ree"itnesses.

(inall*, Caponon'-No+le alle'es t!at t!e attestation cla&se does not epressl*state t!e circ&$stances t!at t!e "itnesses "itnessed and si'ned t!e "ill andall its pa'es in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er. T!is Co&rt !asr&led

Precision of lan'&a'e in t!e draftin' of an attestation cla&se is desira+le.o"ever, it is not i$perative t!at a parrot-li#e cop* of t!e "ords of t!e stat&te+e $ade. It is s&>cient if fro$ t!e lan'&a'e e$plo*ed it can reasona+l* +eded&ced t!at t!e attestation cla&se f&lFlls "!at t!e la" epects of it.1?

T!e last part of t!e attestation cla&se states 5en testi$onio de ello, cada &node nosotros lo Fr$a$os en presencia de nosotros * del testador.5 In n'lis!,t!is $eans 5in its "itness, ever* one of &s also si'ned in o&r presence and of t!e testator.5 T!is clearl* s!o"s t!at t!e attestin' "itnesses "itnessed t!esi'nin' of t!e "ill of t!e testator, and t!at eac! "itness si'ned t!e "ill in t!epresence of one anot!er and of t!e testator.

=R(OR, "e A((IRM t!e Becision of t!e Co&rt of Appeals of 0 @an&ar*0:: in CA-G.R. C No. 9;399.

SO ORBRB.

Nove$+er 0, EE G.R. No. L-191

In re "ill of Ana A+an'an.GRTRKBIS A)ANGAN, eec&tri-appellee, vs. ANASTACIA A)ANGAN, T AL.,opponents-appellants. (ile$on Sotto for appellants. M. @es&s C&enco forappellee.

On Septe$+er E, E;, t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of Ce+& ad$itted topro+ate Ana A+an'ans "ill eec&ted @&l*, E3. (ro$ t!is decision t!eopponents appealed. Said doc&$ent, d&l* pro+ated as Ana A+an'ans "ill,consists of t"o s!eets, t!e Frst of "!ic! contains all of t!e disposition of t!etestatri, d&l* si'ned at t!e +otto$ +* Martin Montal+an 6in t!e na$e and&nder t!e direction of t!e testatri8 and +* t!ree "itnesses. T!e follo"in's!eet contains onl* t!e attestation cla&se d&l* si'ned at t!e +otto$ +* t!et!ree instr&$ental "itnesses. Neit!er of t!ese s!eets is si'ned on t!e left$ar'in +* t!e testatri and t!e t!ree "itnesses, nor n&$+ered +* letters< and

t!ese o$issions, accordin' to appellants contention, are defects "!ere+* t!epro+ate of t!e "ill s!o&ld !ave +een denied.=e are of t!e opinion t!at t!e "ill "as d&l* ad$itted to pro+ate. In re/&irin't!at eac! and ever* s!eet of t!e "ill s!o&ld also +e si'ned on t!e left $ar'in+* t!e testator and t!ree "itnesses in t!e presence of eac! ot!er, Act No. 039?6"!ic! is t!e one applica+le in t!e case8 evidentl* !as for its o+%ect 6referrin'to t!e +od* of t!e "ill itself8 to avoid t!e s&+stit&tion of an* of said s!eets,t!ere+* c!an'in' t!e testators dispositions. )&t "!en t!ese dispositions are

"!oll* "ritten on onl* one s!eet si'ned at t!e +otto$ +* t!e testator andt!ree "itnesses 6as t!e instant case8, t!eir si'nat&res on t!e left $ar'in of saids!eet "o&ld +e co$pletel* p&rposeless. In re/&irin' t!is si'nat&re on t!e$ar'in, t!e stat&te too# into consideration, &ndo&+tedl*, t!e case of a "ill"ritten on several s!eets and $&st !ave referred to t!e s!eets "!ic! t!etestator and t!e "itnesses do not !ave to si'n at t!e +otto$. A di7erentinterpretation "o&ld ass&$e t!at t!e stat&te re/&ires t!at t!is s!eet, alread*si'ned at t!e +otto$, +e si'ned t"ice. =e cannot attri+&te to t!e stat&te s&c!an intention. As t!ese si'nat&res $&st +e "ritten +* t!e testator and t!e"itnesses in t!e presence of eac! ot!er, it appears t!at, if t!e si'nat&res at t!e+otto$ of t!e s!eet '&aranties its a&t!enticit*, anot!er si'nat&re on its left$ar'in "o&ld +e &nneccessar*< and if t!e* do not '&arant*, sa$e si'nat&res,a>ed on anot!er part of sa$e s!eet, "o&ld add not!in'. =e cannot ass&$et!at t!e stat&te re'ards of s&c! i$portance t!e place "!ere t!e testator andt!e "itnesses $&st si'n on t!e s!eet t!at it "o&ld consider t!at t!eirsi'nat&res "ritten on t!e +otto$ do not '&arant* t!e a&t!enticit* of t!e s!eet+&t, if repeated on t!e $ar'in, 'ive s&>cient sec&rit*. In re/&irin' t!at eac!and ever* pa'e of a "ill $&st +e n&$+ered correlativel* in letters placed ont!e &pper part of t!e s!eet, it is li#e"ise clear t!at t!e o+%ect of Act No. 039? isto #no" "!et!er an* s!eet of t!e "ill !as +een re$oved. )&t, "!en all t!edispositive parts of a "ill are "ritten on one s!eet onl*, t!e o+%ect of t!estat&te disappears +eca&se t!e re$oval of t!is sin'le s!eet, alt!o&'!&nn&$+ered, cannot +e !idden. =!at !as +een said is also applica+le to t!eattestation cla&se. =!erefore, "it!o&t considerin' "!et!er or not t!is cla&se isan essential part of t!e "ill, "e !old t!at in t!e one acco$pan*in' t!e "ill in/&estion, t!e si'nat&res of t!e testatri and of t!e t!ree "itnesses on t!e$ar'in and t!e n&$+erin' of t!e pa'es of t!e s!eet are for$alities notre/&ired +* t!e stat&te. Moreover, referrin' speciall* to t!e si'nat&re of t!etestatri, "e can add t!at sa$e is not necessar* in t!e attestation cla&se+eca&se t!is, as its na$e i$plies, appertains onl* to t!e "itnesses and not tot!e testator since t!e latter does not attest, +&t eec&tes, t!e "ill. S*nt!esiHin'o&r opinion, "e !old t!at in a "ill consistin' of t"o s!eets t!e Frst of "!ic!contains all t!e testa$entar* dispositions and is si'ned at t!e +otto$ +* t!etestator and t!ree "itnesses and t!e second contains onl* t!e attestationcla&se and is si'ned also at t!e +otto$ +* t!e t!ree "itnesses, it is notnecessar* t!at +ot! s!eets +e f&rt!er si'ned on t!eir $ar'ins +* t!e testatorand t!e "itnesses, or +e pa'ed. T!e o+%ect of t!e sole$nities s&rro&ndin' t!eeec&tion of "ills is to close t!e door a'ainst +ad fait! and fra&d, to avoids&+stit&tion of "ills and testa$ents and to '&arant* t!eir tr&t! anda&t!enticit*. T!erefore t!e la"s on t!is s&+%ect s!o&ld +e interpreted in s&c! a"a* as to attain t!ese pri$ordal ends. )&t, on t!e ot!er !and, also one $&st

S&ccession - s%+Prior ?



not lose si'!t of t!e fact t!at it is not t!e o+%ect of t!e la" to restrain andc&rtail t!e eercise of t!e ri'!t to $a#e a "ill. So "!en an interpretationalread* 'iven ass&res s&c! ends, an* ot!er interpretation "!atsoever, t!atadds not!in' +&t de$ands $ore re/&isites entirel* &nnecessar*, &seless andfr&stative of t!e testators last "ill, $&st +e disre'arded. As anot!er 'ro&nd fort!is appeal, it is alle'ed t!e records do not s!o" t!at t!e testari #ne" t!edialect in "!ic! t!e "ill is "ritten. )&t t!e circ&$stance appearin' in t!e "illitself t!at sa$e "as eec&ted in t!e cit* of Ce+& and in t!e dialect of t!is

localit* "!ere t!e testatri "as a nei'!+or is eno&'!, in t!e a+sence of an*proof to t!e contrar*, to pres&$e t!at s!e #ne" t!is dialect in "!ic! t!is "ill is"ritten. (or t!e fore'oin' considerations, t!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ is!ere+* a>r$ed "it! costs a'ainst t!e appellants. So ordered.

G.R. No. L-;4; A&'&st 0;, E94 Testac* of Sito LopeH. @OS S. LOP, petitioner-appellee,vs.AGKSTIN LI)ORO, oppositor-appellant.

In t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of )atan'as t!e appellant opposed &ns&ccessf&ll*t!e pro+ate of "!at p&rports to +e t!e last "ill and testa$ent 6!i+it A8 of Bon Sito LopeH, "!o died at t!e a'e of 41 in )ala*an, )atan'as, on Marc! 1,E9;, al$ost si $ont!s after t!e doc&$ent in /&estion "as eec&ted. In t!eco&rt +elo", t!e present appellant speciFed Fve 'ro&nds for !is opposition, to

"it 68 t!at t!e deceased never eec&ted t!e alle'ed "ill< 608 t!at !issi'nat&re appearin' in said "ill "as a for'er*< 618 t!at at t!e ti$e of t!eeec&tion of t!e "ill, !e "as "antin' in testa$entar* as "ell as $entalcapacit* d&e to advanced a'e< 698 t!at, if !e did ever eec&te said "ill, it "asnot eec&ted and attested as re/&ired +* la", and one of t!e alle'edinstr&$ental "itnesses "as incapacitated to act as s&c!< and it "as proc&red+* d&ress, in2&ence of fear and t!reats and &nd&e and i$proper press&re andin2&ence on t!e part of t!e +eneFciaries instit&ted t!erein, principall* t!etestators sister, Cle$encia LopeH, and t!e !erein proponent, @ose S. LopeH<and 6?8 t!at t!e si'nat&re of t!e testator "as proc&red +* fra&d or tric#.

In t!is instance onl* one of t!ese o+%ections is reiterated, for$&lated in t!ese"ords 5T!at t!e co&rt a /&o erred in !oldin' t!at t!e doc&$ent !i+it 5A5"as eec&ted in all partic&lars as re/&ired +* la".5 To t!is o+%ection is added

t!e alle'ed error of t!e co&rt 5in allo"in' t!e petitioner to introd&ce evidencet!at !i+it 5A5 "as "ritten in a lan'&a'e #no"n to t!e decedent afterpetitioner rested !is case and over t!e vi'oro&s o+%ection of t!e oppositor.

T!e "ill in /&estion co$prises t"o pa'es, eac! of "!ic! is "ritten on one sideof a separate s!eet. T!e Frst s!eet is not pa'ed eit!er in letters or in Ara+icn&$erals. T!is, t!e appellant +elieves, is a fatal defect.

T!e p&rpose of t!e la" in prescri+in' t!e pa'in' of "ills is '&ard a'ainst fra&d,and to a7ord $eans of preventin' t!e s&+stit&tion or of defectin' t!e loss of an* of its pa'es. 6A+an'an vs. A+an'an, 9: P!il., 9;3.8 In t!e present case, t!eo$ission to p&t a pa'e n&$+er on t!e Frst s!eet, if t!at +e necessar*, iss&pplied +* ot!er for$s of identiFcation $ore tr&st"ort!* t!an t!econventional n&$erical "ords or c!aracters. T!e &nn&$+ered pa'e is clearl*identiFed as t!e Frst pa'e +* t!e internal sense of its contents considered inrelation to t!e contents of t!e second pa'e. )* t!eir $eanin' and co!erence,t!e Frst and second lines on t!e second pa'e are &ndenia+l* a contin&ation of t!e last sentence of t!e testa$ent, +efore t!e attestation cla&se, "!ic! startsat t!e +otto$ of t!e precedin' pa'e. (&rt!er$ore, t!e &nn&$+ered pa'econtains t!e caption 5TSTAMNTO,5 t!e invocation of t!e Al$i'!t*, and arecital t!at t!e testator "as in f&ll &se of !is testa$entar* fac&lt*, U all of "!ic!, in t!e lo'ical order of se/&ence, precede t!e direction for t!edisposition of t!e $ar#ers propert*. A'ain, as pa'e t"o contains onl* t!e t"olines a+ove $entioned, t!e attestation cla&se, t!e $ar# of t!e testator and t!esi'nat&res of t!e "itnesses, t!e ot!er s!eet can not +* an* possi+ilit* +e ta#enfor ot!er t!an pa'e one. A+an'an vs. A+an'an, s&pra, and (ernandeH vs.er'el de Bios, 93 P!il., E00 are decisive of t!is iss&e.

Alt!o&'! not fallin' "it!in t!e p&rvie" and scope of t!e Frst assi'n$ent of error, t!e $atter of t!e credi+ilit* of t!e "itnesses is assailed &nder t!is!eadin'. On t!e $erits "e do not +elieve t!at t!e appellants contentiondeserves serio&s consideration. S&c! contradictions in t!e testi$on* of t!einstr&$ental "itnesses as are set o&t in t!e appellants +rief are incidents notall of "!ic! ever* one of t!e "itnesses can +e s&pposed to !ave perceived, orto recall in t!e sa$e order in "!ic! t!e* occ&rred.

ver*da* life and t!e res&lt of investi'ations $ade in t!e Feld of eperi$entalps*c!olo'* s!o" t!at t!e contradictions of "itnesses 'enerall* occ&r in t!edetails of a certain incident, after a lon' series of /&estionin', and far fro$+ein' an evidence of false!ood constit&te a de$onstration of 'ood fait!.Inas$&c! as not all t!ose "!o "itness an incident are i$pressed in li#e$anner, it is +&t nat&ral t!at in relatin' t!eir i$pressions t!e* s!o&ld nota'ree in t!e $inor details< !ence, t!e contradictions in t!eir testi$on*. 6Peoplevs. Li$+o, 9E P!il., EE.8

T!e testator a>ed !is t!&$+$ar# to t!e instr&$ent instead of si'nin' !isna$e. T!e reason for t!is "as t!at t!e testator "as s&7erin' fro$ 5partialparal*sis.5 =!ile anot!er in testators place $i'!t !ave directed so$eone elseto si'n for !i$, as appellant contends s!o&ld !ave +een done, t!ere is not!in'




c&rio&s or s&spicio&s in t!e fact t!at t!e testator c!ose t!e &se of $ar# as t!e$eans of a&t!enticatin' !is "ill. It "as a $atter of taste or preference. )ot!"a*s are 'ood. A stat&te re/&irin' a "ill to +e 5si'ned5 is satisFed if t!esi'nat&re is $ade +* t!e testators $ar#. 6Be Gala vs. GonHales and Ona, ?1P!il., :4< 04 R. C. L., ;.8

=it! reference to t!e second assi'n$ent of error, "e do not s!are t!e opiniont!at t!e trial co&rt co$$&nicated an a+&se of discretion in allo"in' t!e

appellant to o7er evidence to prove #no"led'e of Spanis! +* t!e testator, t!elan'&a'e in "!ic! t!e "ill is dra"n, after t!e petitioner !ad rested !is case andafter t!e opponent !ad $oved for dis$issal of t!e petition on t!e 'ro&nd of ins&>cienc* of evidence. It is "it!in t!e discretion of t!e co&rt "!et!er or notto ad$it f&rt!er evidence after t!e part* o7erin' t!e evidence !as rested, andt!is discretion "ill not +e revie"ed ecept "!ere it !as clearl* +een a+&sed.639 C. @., 3:.8 More, it is "it!in t!e so&nd discretion of t!e co&rt "!et!er ornot it "ill allo" t!e case to +e reopened for t!e f&rt!er introd&ction of evidenceafter a $otion or re/&est for a nons&it, or a de$&rrer to t!e evidence, and t!ecase $a* +e reopened after t!e co&rt !as anno&nced its intention as to itsr&lin' on t!e re/&est, $otion, or de$&rrer, or !as 'ranted it or !as denied t!esa$e, or after t!e $otion !as +een 'ranted, if t!e order !as not +een "ritten,or entered &pon t!e $in&tes or si'ned. 639 C. @., 39.8

In t!is %&risdiction t!is r&le !as +een follo"ed. After t!e parties !ave prod&cedt!eir respective direct proofs, t!e* are allo"ed to o7er re+&ttin' evidence onl*,+&t, it !as +een !eld, t!e co&rt, for 'ood reasons, in t!e f&rt!erance of %&stice,$a* per$it t!e$ to o7er evidence &pon t!eir ori'inal case, and its r&lin' "illnot +e dist&r+ed in t!e appellate co&rt "!ere no a+&se of discretion appears.6Si&lion' and Co. vs. la'an, 91 P!il., 1E1< K. S. vs. Alviar, 13 P!il., 4:9.8 So,'enerall*, additional evidence is allo"ed "!en it is ne"l* discovered, or "!ereit !as +een o$itted t!ro&'! inadvertence or $ista#e, or "!ere t!e p&rpose of t!e evidence is to t!e evidence is to correct evidence previo&sl* o7ered. 6IMorans Co$$ents on t!e R&les of Co&rt, 0d ed., ?9?< 39 C. @., 3:-31.8 T!eo$ission to present evidence on t!e testators #no"led'e of Spanis! !ad not+een deli+erate. It "as d&e to a $isappre!ension or oversi'!t.

Alt!o&'! alien to t!e second assi'n$ent of error, t!e appellant i$p&'ns t!e"ill for its silence on t!e testators &nderstandin' of t!e lan'&a'e &sed in t!etesta$ent. T!ere is no stat&tor* re/&ire$ent t!at s&c! #no"led'e +e epressl*stated in t!e "ill itself. It is a $atter t!at $a* +e esta+lis!ed +* proof ali&nde.

T!is Co&rt so i$pliedl* r&led in GonHales vs. La&rel, 93 P!il., ;4, in "!ic! t!epro+ate of a "ill "ritten in Ta'alo' "as ordered alt!o&'! it did not sa* t!at t!etestator #ne" t!at idio$. In fact, t!ere "as not even etraneo&s proof on t!es&+%ect ot!er t!an t!e fact t!at t!e testator resided in a Ta'alo' re'ion, fro$"!ic! t!e co&rt said 5a pres&$ption arises t!at said Maria Tapia #ne" t!e

Ta'alo' dialect.

T!e order of t!e lo"er co&rt orderin' t!e pro+ate of t!e last "ill and testa$entof Bon Sito LopeH is a>r$ed, "it! costs.

A.M. No. 0:03-C(IBece$+er E, E4NNITA B RA SKROA, co$plainant,vs.

@KBG RNALBO P. ONRABO of t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of RiHal, Pasi')ranc! 0? and ANGLIN S. KIPCO, Bep&t* Cler# of Co&rt, respondents. S!o&ld disciplinar* action +e ta#en a'ainst respondent %&d'e for !avin'

ad$itted to pro+ate a "ill, "!ic! on its face is void +eca&se it is "ritten inn'lis!, a lan'&a'e not #no"n to t!e illiterate testatri, and "!ic! is pro+a+l*a for'ed "ill +eca&se s!e and t!e attestin' "itnesses did not appear +eforet!e notar* as ad$itted +* t!e notar* !i$selfV

T!at /&estion arises &nder t!e pleadin's Fled in t!e testate case and in t!ecertiorari case in t!e Co&rt of Appeals "!ic! reveal t!e follo"in' tan'ledstrands of !&$an relations!ip

Ma&ro S&roHa, a corporal in t!e 9?t! Infantr* of t!e K.S. Ar$* 6P!ilippineSco&ts8, (ort McDinle*, $arried Marcelina Salvador in E01 6p. ?:, Spec. Proc.No. ;438. T!e* "ere c!ildless. T!e* reared a +o* na$ed A'apito "!o &sedt!e s&rna$e S&roHa and "!o considered t!e$ as !is parents as s!o"n in !isE9? $arria'e contract "it! Nenita de era 6p. ?, Rollo of CA-G.R. No. :43?9-

R< p. 94, Rollo of Testate Case s!o"in' t!at A'apito "as ? *ears old "!enMa&ro $arried Marcelina in E018.

Ma&ro died in E90. Marcelina, as a veterans "ido", +eca$e a pensioner of t!e (ederal Govern$ent. T!at eplains "!* on !er deat! s!e !ad acc&$&latedso$e cas! in t"o +an#s.

A'apito and Nenita +e'ot a c!ild na$ed Lilia "!o +eca$e a $edicaltec!nolo'ist and "ent a+road. A'apito also +eca$e a soldier. e "as disa+ledand !is "ife Nenita "as appointed as !is '&ardian in E?1 "!en !e "asdeclared an inco$petent in Special Proceedin' No. 4:; of t!e Co&rt of (irstInstance of RiHal, Pasi' )ranc! I 6p. 3, Rollo of CA-G.R. No. :43?9-R8.

In t!at connection, it s!o&ld +e noted t!at a "o$an na$ed Arsenia de la Cr&H

"anted also to +e !is '&ardian in anot!er proceedin'. Arsenia tried to provet!at Nenita "as livin' separatel* fro$ A'apito and t!at s!e 6Nenita8 ad$ittedto Marcelina t!at s!e "as &nfait!f&l to A'apito 6pp. 3-31, Record of testatecase8.

@&d'e )ienvenido A. Tan dis$issed t!e second '&ardians!ip proceedin' andconFr$ed Nenitas appoint$ent as '&ardian of A'apito 6p. 3, Rollo of CAcase8. A'apito !as +een sta*in' in a veterans !ospital in San (rancisco or PaloAlto, California 6p. 4;, Record8.

On a date not indicated in t!e record, t!e spo&ses Antonio S* and er$o'ena Talan +e'ot a c!ild na$ed Maril*n S*, "!o, "!en a fe" da*s old, "asentr&sted to Arsenia de la Cr&H 6apparentl* a 'irl friend of A'apito8 and "!o"as later delivered to Marcelina Salvador S&roHa "!o +ro&'!t !er &p as a

S&ccession - s%+Prior ;



s&pposed da&'!ter of A'apito and as !er 'randda&'!ter 6pp. 01-03, Rollo of CA-G.R. No.SP-:43?9-R8. Maril*n &sed t!e s&rna$e S&roHa. S!e sta*ed "it!Marcelina +&t "as not le'all* adopted +* A'apito. S!e $arried Oscar Medranoand is residin' at ;333 @.). Roas Street, Ma#ati, apparentl* a nei'!+or of Marina Pa%e, a resident of ;334 @.). Roas Street.

Marcelina s&pposedl* eec&ted a notarial "ill in Manila on @&l* 01, E;1, "!ens!e "as ;1 *ears old. T!at "ill "!ic! is in n'lis! "as t!&$+$ar#ed +* !er.

S!e "as illiterate. er letters in n'lis! to t!e eterans Ad$inistration "erealso t!&$+$ar#ed +* !er 6pp. 14-1E, CA Rollo8. In t!at "i', Marcelina+e/&eat!ed all !er estate to !er s&pposed 'randda&'!ter Maril*n.

Marcelina died on Nove$+er ?, E;9 at t!e eterans ospital in W&eHon Cit*.At t!e ti$e of !er deat!, s!e "as a resident of ;1;9 San Mai$o Street,Oli$pia, Ma#ati, RiHal. S!e o"ned a ?:-s/&are $eter lot and !o&se in t!atplace. S!e ac/&ired t!e lot in E33 6p. 19, Record of testate case8.

On @an&ar* 1, E;?, Marina Pa%e, alle'ed to +e a la&ndr*"o$an of Marcelina6P. E;, CA Rollo8 and t!e eec&tri in !er "ill 6t!e alternate eec&tri "as

@&anita Macarae', $ot!er of Oscar, Maril*ns !&s+and8, Fled "it! t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of RiHal, Pasi' )ranc! 0?, a petition for t!e pro+ate of Marcelinasalle'ed "ill. T!e case "as assi'ned to @&d'e Re*naldo P. onrado.

As t!ere "as no opposition, @&d'e onrado co$$issioned !is dep&t* cler# of co&rt, van'eline S. &ipco, to !ear t!e evidence. T!e transcripts of t!esteno'rap!ic notes ta#en at t!e !earin' +efore t!e dep&t* cler# of co&rt arenot in t!e record.

In an order dated Marc! 1, E;?, @&d'e onrado appointed Marina asad$inistratri. On t!e follo"in' da*, April , @&d'e onrado iss&ed t"o ordersdirectin' t!e Merc!ants )an#in' Corporation and t!e )an# of A$erica to allo"Marina to "it!dra" t!e s&$ of P:,::: fro$ t!e savin's acco&nts of MarcelinaS. S&roHa and Maril*n S&roHa and re/&irin' CoraHon Castro, t!e c&stodian of t!e pass+oo#s, to deliver t!e$ to Marina.

Kpon $otion of Marina, @&d'e onrado iss&ed anot!er order dated April ,E;?, instr&ctin' a dep&t* s!eri7 to e%ect t!e occ&pants of t!e testatris!o&se, a$on' "!o$ "as Nenita . S&roHa, and to place Marina in possessiont!ereof.

T!at order alerted Nenita to t!e eistence of t!e testa$entar* proceedin' fort!e settle$ent of Marcelinas estate. S!e and t!e ot!er occ&pants of t!edecedents !o&se Fled on April 4 in t!e said proceedin' a $otion to set asidet!e order of April e%ectin' t!e$. T!e* alle'ed t!at t!e decedents sonA'apito "as t!e sole !eir of t!e deceased, t!at !e !as a da&'!ter na$ed Lilia,t!at Nenita "as A'apitos '&ardian and t!at Maril*n "as not A'apitosda&'!ter nor t!e decedents 'randda&'!ter 6pp. ?0-34, Record of testatecase8. Later, t!e* /&estioned t!e pro+ate co&rts %&risdiction to iss&e t!ee%ect$ent order.

In spite of t!e fact t!at @&d'e onrado "as alread* apprised t!at persons,ot!er t!an Maril*n, "ere clai$in' Marcelinas estate, !e iss&ed on April 01 anorder pro+atin' !er s&pposed "ill "!erein Maril*n "as t!e instit&ted !eiress6pp. ;9-;;, Record8.

On April 09, Nenita Fled in t!e testate case an o$ni+&s petition 5to set asideproceedin's, ad$it opposition "it! co&nter-petition for ad$inistration and

preli$inar* in%&nction5. Nenita in t!at $otion reiterated !er alle'ation t!atMaril*n "as a stran'er to Marcelina, t!at t!e "ill "as not d&l* eec&ted andattested, t!at it "as proc&red +* $eans of &nd&e in2&ence e$plo*ed +*Marina and Maril*n and t!at t!e t!&$+$ar#s of t!e testatri "ere proc&red +*fra&d or tric#.

Nenita f&rt!er alle'ed t!at t!e instit&tion of Maril*n as !eir is void +eca&se of t!e preterition of A'apito and t!at Marina "as not /&aliFed to act as eec&tri6pp. 41-E, Record8.

To t!at $otion "as attac!ed an a>davit of enaida A. Penao%as t!e !o&se$aidof Marcelina, "!o s"ore t!at t!e alle'ed "ill "as falsiFed 6p. :E, Record8.

Not content "it! !er $otion to set aside t!e e%ect$ent order 6Fled on April 48and !er o$ni+&s $otion to set aside t!e proceedin's 6Fled on April 098, NenitaFled t!e net da*, April 0?, an opposition to t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill and aco&nter-petition for letters of ad$inistration. In t!at opposition, Nenita assailedt!e d&e eec&tion of t!e "ill and stated t!e na$es and addresses of Marcelinas intestate !eirs, !er nieces and nep!e"s 6pp. 1-0, Record8.Nenita "as not a"are of t!e decree of pro+ate dated April 01, E;?.

To t!at opposition "as attac!ed an a>davit of Bo$in'a Salvador Teodocio,Marcelinas niece, "!o s"ore t!at Marcelina never eec&ted a "in 6pp. 09-0?, Record8.

Marina in !er ans"er to Nenitas $otion to set aside t!e proceedin's ad$ittedt!at Maril*n "as not Marcelinas 'randda&'!ter +&t "as t!e da&'!ter of A'apito and Arsenia de la Cr&H and t!at A'apito "as not Marcelinas son +&t$erel* an ana#-ana#an "!o "as not le'all* adopted 6p. 91, Record8.

@&d'e onrado in !is order of @&l* ;, E;? dis$issed Nenitas co&nter-petitionfor t!e iss&ance of letters of ad$inistration +eca&se of t!e non-appearance of !er co&nsel at t!e !earin'. S!e $oved for t!e reconsideration of t!at order.

In a $otion dated Bece$+er ?, E;?, for t!e consolidation of all pendin'incidents, Nenita . S&roHa reiterated !er contention t!at t!e alle'ed "ill isvoid +eca&se Marcelina did not appear +efore t!e notar* and +eca&se it is"ritten in n'lis! "!ic! is not #no"n to !er 6pp. 0:4-0:E, Record8.

@&d'e onrado in !is order of @&ne 4, E;3 5denied5 t!e vario&s incidents5raised5 +* Nenita 6p. 049, Record8.




Instead of appealin' fro$ t!at order and t!e order pro+atin' t!e "i', Nenita5Fled a case to ann&l5 t!e pro+ate proceedin's 6p. 110, Record8. T!at case,Civil Case No. 090;3, S&roHa vs. Pa%e and onrado 6p. 1E4, Record8, "as alsoassi'ned to @&d'e onrado. e dis$issed it in !is order of (e+r&ar* 3, E;;6pp. 1E4-9:0, Record8.

@&d'e onrado in !is order dated Bece$+er 00, E;;, after notin' t!at t!e

eec&tri !ad delivered t!e estate to Maril*n, and t!at t!e estate ta !ad +eenpaid, closed t!e testa$entar* proceedin'.

A+o&t ten $ont!s later, in a veriFed co$plaint dated Octo+er 0, E;4, Fled int!is Co&rt, Nenita c!ar'ed @&d'e onrado "it! !avin' pro+ated t!e fra&d&lent"ill of Marcelina. T!e co$plainant reiterated !er contention t!at t!e testatri"as illiterate as s!o"n +* t!e fact t!at s!e a>ed !er t!&$+$ar# to t!e "illand t!at s!e did not #no" n'lis!, t!e lan'&a'e in "!ic! t!e "in "as "ritten.6In t!e decree of pro+ate @&d'e onrado did not $a#e an* Fndin' t!at t!e "ill"as "ritten in a lan'&a'e #no"n to t!e testatri.8

Nenita f&rt!er alle'ed t!at @&d'e onrado, in spite of !is #no"led'e t!at t!etestatri !ad a son na$ed A'apito 6t!e testatris s&pposed sole co$p&lsor*and le'al !eir8, "!o "as preterited in t!e "ill, did not ta#e into acco&nt t!econse/&ences of s&c! a preterition.

Nenita disclosed t!at s!e tal#ed several ti$es "it! @&d'e onrado andinfor$ed !i$ t!at t!e testatri did not #no" t!e eec&tri Marina Pa%e, t!at t!e+eneFciar*s real na$e is Maril*n S* and t!at s!e "as not t!e net of #in of t!e testatri.

Nenita deno&nced @&d'e onrado for !avin' acted corr&ptl* in allo"in' Marinaand !er co!orts to "it!dra" fro$ vario&s +an#s t!e deposits Marcelina.

S!e also deno&nced van'eline S. &ipco, t!e dep&t* cler# of co&rt, for not'ivin' !er access to t!e record of t!e pro+ate case +* alle'in' t!at it "as&seless for Nenita to oppose t!e pro+ate since @&d'e onrado "o&ld notc!an'e !is decision. Nenita also said t!at van'eline insin&ated t!at if s!e6Nenita8 !ad ten t!o&sand pesos, t!e case $i'!t +e decided in !er favor.van'eline alle'edl* advised Nenita to desist fro$ clai$in' t!e properties of t!e testatri +eca&se s!e 6Nenita8 !ad no ri'!ts t!ereto and, s!o&ld s!epersist, s!e $i'!t lose !er pension fro$ t!e (ederal Govern$ent.

@&d'e onrado in !is +rief co$$ent did not deal speciFcall* "it! t!ealle'ations of t!e co$plaint. e $erel* pointed to t!e fact t!at Nenita did notappeal fro$ t!e decree of pro+ate and t!at in a $otion dated @&l* 3, E;3 s!eas#ed for a t!irt* da* period "it!in "!ic! to vacate t!e !o&se of t!e testatri.

van'eline S. &ipco in !er a>davit said t!at s!e never tal#ed "it! Nenita andt!at t!e latter did not $ention van'eline in !er letter dated Septe$+er ,E;4 to President Marcos.

van'eline +randed as a lie Nenitas i$p&tation t!at s!e 6van'eline8prevented Nenita fro$ !avin' access to t!e record of t!e testa$entar*proceedin'. van'eline "as not t!e c&stodian of t!e record. van'eline 5stron'l*, ve!e$entl* and 2atl* denied5 Nenitas c!ar'e t!at s!e 6van'eline8said t!at t!e s&$ of ten t!o&sand pesos "as needed in order t!at Nenita co&ld'et a favora+le decision. van'eline also denied t!at s!e !as an* #no"led'e of Nenitas pension fro$ t!e (ederal Govern$ent.

T!e E;4 co$plaint a'ainst @&d'e onorado "as +ro&'!t to attention of t!isCo&rt in t!e Co&rt Ad$inistrators $e$orand&$ of Septe$+er 0?, E4:. T!ecase "as referred to @&stice @&an A. Sison of t!e Co&rt of Appeals forinvesti'ation, report and reco$$endation. e s&+$itted a report datedOcto+er ;, E4.

On Bece$+er 9, E;4, Nenita Fled in t!e Co&rt of Appeals a'ainst @&d'eonrado a petition for certiorari and pro!i+ition "!erein s!e pra*ed t!at t!e"ill, t!e decree of pro+ate and all t!e proceedin's in t!e pro+ate case +edeclared void.

Attac!ed to t!e petition "as t!e a>davit of Bo$in'o P. A/&ino, "!o notariHedt!e "ill. e s"ore t!at t!e testatri and t!e t!ree attestin' "itnesses did notappear +efore !i$ and t!at !e notariHed t!e "ill 5%&st to acco$$odate a+rot!er la"*er on t!e condition5 t!at said la"*er "o&ld +rin' to t!e notar* t!etestatri and t!e "itnesses +&t t!e la"*er never co$plied "it! !isco$$it$ent.

T!e Co&rt of Appeals dis$issed t!e petition +eca&se Nenitas re$ed* "as anappeal and !er fail&re to do so did not entitle !er to resort to t!e special civilaction of certiorari 6S&roHa vs. onrado, CA-G.R. No. SP-:43?9, Ma* 09, E48.

Rel*in' on t!at decision, @&d'e onrado Fled on Nove$+er ;, E4 a $otionto dis$iss t!e ad$inistrative case for !avin' alle'edl* +eco$e $oot andacade$ic.

=e !old t!at disciplinar* action s!o&ld +e ta#en a'ainst respondent %&d'e for!is i$proper disposition of t!e testate case "!ic! $i'!t !ave res&lted in a$iscarria'e of %&stice +eca&se t!e decedents le'al !eirs and not t!e instit&ted!eiress in t!e void "in s!o&ld !ave in!erited t!e decedents estate.

A %&d'e $a* +e cri$inall* lia+le or #no"in'l* renderin' an &n%&st %&d'$ent orinterloc&tor* order or renderin' a $anifestl* &n%&st %&d'$ent or interloc&tor*order +* reason of inec&sa+le ne'li'ence or i'norance 6Arts. 0:9 to 0:3,Revised Penal Code8.

Ad$inistrative action $a* +e ta#en a'ainst a %&d'e of t!e co&rt of Frstinstance for serio&s $iscond&ct or ine>cienc* 6 Sec. 3;, @&diciar* La"8.Miscond&ct i$plies $alice or a "ron'f&l intent, not a $ere error of %&d'$ent.5(or serio&s $iscond&ct to eist, t!ere $&st +e relia+le evidence s!o"in' t!at

S&ccession - s%+Prior E



t!e %&dicial acts co$plained of "ere corr&pt or inspired +* an intention toviolate t!e la", or "ere in persistent disre'ard of "ell-#no"n le'al r&les5 6In rel$peac!$ent of orrilleno, 91 P!il. 00, 09-0?8.

Ine>cienc* i$plies ne'li'ence, inco$petence, i'norance and carelessness. A %&d'e "o&ld +e inec&sa+l* ne'li'ent if !e failed to o+serve in t!eperfor$ance of !is d&ties t!at dili'ence, pr&dence and circ&$spection "!ic!t!e la" re/&ires in t!e rendition of an* p&+lic service 6In re Cli$aco, Ad$. Case

No. 19-@, @an. 0, E;9, ?? SCRA :;, E8.

In t!is case, respondent %&d'e, on per&sin' t!e "ill and notin' t!at it "as"ritten in n'lis! and "as t!&$+$ar#ed +* an o+vio&sl* illiterate testatri,co&ld !ave readil* perceived t!at t!e "ill is void.

In t!e openin' para'rap! of t!e "ill, it "as stated t!at n'lis! "as a lan'&a'e5&nderstood and #no"n5 to t!e testatri. )&t in its concl&din' para'rap!, it"as stated t!at t!e "ill "as read to t!e testatri 5and translated into (ilipinolan'&a'e5. 6p. 3, Record of testate case8. T!at co&ld onl* $ean t!at t!e "ill"as "ritten in a lan'&a'e not #no"n to t!e illiterate testatri and, t!erefore, itis void +eca&se of t!e $andator* provision of article 4:9 of t!e Civil Code t!atever* "ill $&st +e eec&ted in a lan'&a'e or dialect #no"n to t!e testator.

T!&s, a "ill "ritten in n'lis!, "!ic! "as not #no"n to t!e I'orot testator, is

void and "as disallo"ed 6Acop vs. Piraso, ?0 P!il. 33:8.

T!e !ast* preparation of t!e "ill is s!o"n in t!e attestation cla&se and notarialac#no"led'$ent "!ere Marcelina Salvador S&roHa is repeatedl* referred to ast!e 5testator5 instead of 5testatri5.

ad respondent %&d'e +een caref&l and o+servant, !e co&ld !ave noted notonl* t!e ano$al* as to t!e lan'&a'e of t!e "ill +&t also t!at t!ere "asso$et!in' "ron' in instit&tin' t!e s&pposed 'randda&'!ter as sole !eiressand 'ivin' not!in' at all to !er s&pposed fat!er "!o "as still alive.

(&rt!er$ore, after t!e !earin' cond&cted +* respondent dep&t* cler# of co&rt,respondent %&d'e co&ld !ave noticed t!at t!e notar* "as not presented as a"itness.

In spite of t!e a+sence of an opposition, respondent %&d'e s!o&ld !avepersonall* cond&cted t!e !earin' on t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill so t!at !e co&ld!ave ascertained "!et!er t!e "ill "as validl* eec&ted.

Knder t!e circ&$stances, "e Fnd !is ne'li'ence and dereliction of d&t* to +einec&sa+le.

=R(OR, for ine>cienc* in !andlin' t!e testate case of Marcelina S.S&roHa, a Fne e/&ivalent to !is salar* for one $ont! is i$posed on respondent

%&d'e 6!is co$p&lsor* retire$ent falls on Bece$+er 0?, E48.

T!e case a'ainst respondent &ipco !as +eco$e $oot and acade$ic +eca&ses!e is no lon'er e$plo*ed in t!e %&diciar*. Since Septe$+er , E4: s!e !as+een assistant cit* Fscal of S&ri'ao Cit*. S!e is +e*ond t!is Co&rts disciplinar*

%&risdiction 6Peralta vs. (ir$ Ad$. Matter No. 0:99-C(I Nove$+er 0, E4:, :SCRA 00?8.

SO ORBRB.

G.R. No. L-1;4 @an&ar* 1:, E3: Testate state of @OS @. @ALLANA, Beceased. CRISTTA @ IMNA BA. B @ALLANA, and )N@AMIN @ALLANA, petitioners-appellees,vs.

@OS @ALLANA * AAOLA and @OS @ALLANA, @R., oppositors-appellants.

On @&ne 0E, E?;, a petition to pro+ate t!e alle'ed last "ill and testa$ent of @ose @. @avellana, "!o died on Ma* 09 of t!e sa$e *ear, "as presented in t!eCo&rt of (irst Instance of RiHal +* Crsiteta @i$enea da. de @avellana and)en%a$in @avellana, "ido" and +rot!er respectivel* of t!e deceased, alle'in't!at t!e aforesaid @ose @. @avellana, at t!e ti$e of !is deat!, a resident of Ssan

@&an RiHal, left porperties "it! an approi$ate val&e of P9::,:::.::< t!at !ealso left a "ill "!ic! "as delivered to t!e cler# of co&rt p&rs&ant to t!e R&les of

Co&rt< t!at Oscar Ledes$a, t!erein na$ed eec&tor, !ad a'reed to act ass&c!< t!at t!e decedents net of #in "ere< t!e "ido., Criteta @. da. de @avellana, !is c!ildren U rlinda @avellana, @ose @avellana * AHaola, and @ose @avellana, @ r. 6Pepito8, !is sister @&anito @. de Ledes$a, and +rot!er )en%a$in @avellana, "!ose respective addresses "re 'iven in t!e petition.

To t!is petition, @ose @avellana * AHaola and @ose @avellana, @r. 6Pepito8 Fledseparate opposi*tions, +ot! clai$in' t!at t!e alle'ed "ill of @ose @. @avellanadeposited +* peittioners "it! t!e cler# of co&rt "as n&ll and void, t!e sa$e not!avin' +een eec&ted 5in accordance "it! t!e for$alities re/&ired +* la"5 andt!at 5t!e le'al re/&ire$ents necessar* for its validit5 !ad not +een co$plied"it!.

At t!e !earin', petitioners introd&ced as evidence in s&pport of t!e petition, a

cop* of t!e "ill< certiFcation of t!e date and ca&se of deat! of t!e testator<proof of p&+lication of t!e petition, once a "ee# for 1 consec&tive "ee#s, in ane"spaper of 'eneral circ&lation, and t!re testi$onies of @ose G. G&evarra,loisa illan&eva and @ose &lo, @r., t!e 1 instr&$ental "itnesses to t!e "ill, "!i,in s&stancer, testiFed t!at so$eti$e in April, E?3, t!e* "ere as#ed to "itnesst!e eec&tion of t!e "ill of t!e late @ose. @. @avellana< t!at on t!e said occasion,

@ose @. @avellana si'ned t!e 9 pa'es of t!e "ill in t!eir presence, and t!e*, int&rn, also si'ned eac! and eve* pa'e t!ereof in t!e presence of t!e testatorand of one anot!er< and t!at t!ese acts "etre ac#no"led'e +efore notar*p&+lic (ernando Gre*, @r. on t!e sa$e occasion.

(or t!eir part, t!e oppositor li$ited t!eir evidence to t!e presentation of t"oletters in t!e isa*an dialect alle'edl* "ritten +* t!e deceased, t!e si'nat&resappearin' t!ereon +ein' identiFed +* @ose @avellana, @r. 6Pepito8 and Man&el

S&ccession - s%+Prior :



AHaola, as t!ose of t!e deceased, for t!e sole p&rpose of co$parin' saidsi'nat&res "ot! t!ose appearin' in t!e "ill.

On Bece$+er :, E?;, t!e co&rt a /&o iss&ed an order allo"in' t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill and directin' t!e iss&ance of letters testa$entar* to Oscar Ledes$a aseec&tor t!ereoif, &pon t!e latters Flin' a +ond in t!e s&$ of P:,:::.::.(ro$ t!is order, oppositors appealed to t!is Co&rt c!ar'in' t!e lo"er co&rt of co$$ittin' error in allo"in' opro+ate of t!e "ill, !i+it C, on 0 'ro&nds 68

t!at t!e 1 sttestin' "itnesses failed to clearl* and convincin'l* esta+is! t!ed&e eec&tion of t!e "ill< and 608 t!at petitioners failed to prove t!at t!e "ill"as "ritten in a lan'&a'e #no"n to t!e testator.

T!e Frst +asis of oppositors appeal !as no $erit. It is tr&e t!at "itnesses,partic&larl* Miss loisa illan&eva, apparentl* fo&nd di>c&lt* recallin' "!oarrived Frst at t!e appointed place, or t!e order of t!e "itnesses si'nin' t!e"ill, or failed to $ention +* na$e t!e persons present at t!e ti$e of t!e"itnesses "as si'nin' t!e doc&$ent. T!ese details, !o"ever, are $inor andsi'niFcant and do not enervate t!eir positive testi$on* t!at at t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill t!e testator, t!e 1 "itnesses, t!e notar* p&+lic and Att*. icente ilado"ere all to'et!er in t!e private o>ce of t!e latter< t!at @ose G&evarra, loisaillan&eva and @ose &lo, @r., t!e instr&$ental "itnesses, "ere &nani$o&s indeclarin' t!at t!e* act&all* sa" t!e testator si'n t!e "ill as "ell as eac! and

ever* pa'e t!ereof, and t!e*, in t&ren, a>ed t!eir si'nat&res to all of its 9pa'es. (or t!e p&rpose of deter$inin' t%!e d&e eec&tion of a "ill, it is notnecessar* t!at t!e instr&$ental "itnesses s!o&ld 'ive an acc&rate anddetailed acco&nt of t!e proceedin', s&c! as recallin' t!e order of t!e si'nin' of t!e doc&$ent +* t!e dsaid "irtneese. It is s&>cient t!at t!e* !ave seen or atleast "ere so sit&ated at t!e $o$ent t!at t!e* co&ld !ave seen eac! ot!ersi'n, !ad t!e* "nated to do so. In fact, in t!e instant case, at least t"o"itnesses, &lo and G&evarra, +ot! testiFed !at t!e testator and t!e 1"itnesses si'ned in t!e presence of eac! and ever* one of t!e$.

=it! respect to t!e second 'ro&nd, t!ere is so$e $erit in appellantscontention t!at t!e lan'&a'e re/&ire$ent of t!e la" on "ills !as not +eensatisfactoril* co$plied "it! in t!is case. Ad$ittedl*, t!ere is "ant of epressionin t!e +od* of t!e "ill itself or in its attestation cla&se t!at t!e testator #ne"Spanis!, t!e lan'&a'e in "!ic! it is "ritten. It is tr&e t!at t!ere is no stat&tor*provision re/&irin' t!is and t!at proof t!ereof $a* +e esta+lis!ed +* evidenceali&nde.0 )&t !ere, t!ere is a+sol&tel* no s&c! evidence presented +* t!epetitioners-appellees. Not even t!e petition for pro+ate contains an* alle'ationto t!is e7ect. No reference to it "!atsoever is $ade in t!e appealed order.

In so$e cases, it is tr&e, t!is lac# of evidence "as considered c&red +*pres&$ptioin of #no"led'e of t!e lan'&a'e or dialect &sed in t!e "ill, as "!eret!e "ill is eec&ted in a certain province or localit*, in t!e dialect c&rrentl*&sed in s&c! provi$nce or localit* in "!ic! t!e testator is a native or resident,t!e pres&$ption arises t!at t!e testator #ne" t!e dialect so &sed, in t!ea+sence of evidence to t!e contrar*< 1 or "!ere t!e "ill is in Spanis!, t!e factt!at t!e testratri "as a 5$estiHa espaola5, "as $arried to a Spaniard, $ade

several trips to Spain, and so$e of !er letters in !er o"n !and"ritin's&+$itted as evidence +* t!e oppositor, are in Spanis!, 'ive rise to t!epres&$ption t!at s!e #ne" t!e lan'&a'e in "!ic! t!e "ill "as "ritten, in t!ea+sence of proof to t!e contrar*.9

In t!e case +efore &s, no s&c! or si$ilar circ&$stances eist. On t!e contrar*,t!ere is evidence t!at t!e testator is a isa*an alt!o&'! residin' in San @&an,RiHal at t!e ti$e of !is deat!. T!e "ill "as eec&ted in t!e Cit* of Manila.

Kndo&+tedl*, it cannot +e said, and t!ere is no evidence, t!at Spaniards is t!elan'&a'e c&rrentl* &sed eit!er in San @&an, RiHal, or Manila. It follo"s,t!erefore, t!at no pres&$ption can rise t!at t!e testator #ne" t!e Spanis!Lan'&a'e.

)&t petitioner-appellees insist in t!eir +rief t!at t!e +&rden is on t!e oppositorsto alle'e and prove t!at t!e testator did not #no" t!e Spanis! lan'&a'e in t!eface of t!e le'al pres&$ption t!at 5t!e la" !as +een o+e*ed5, 5t!at a "illeec&ted in t!e P!ilippines $&st +e pres&$ed to !ave +een eec&ted inconfor$it* "it! t!e la"s of t!e P!ilippines5.? and 5t!at t!in's !ave !appenedin accordance "it! t!e ordinar* co&rse of nat&re and t!e ordinar* !a+its of life5, concl&din' t!at it "oi&ld certainl* +e contrar* to t!e ordinar* !a+its of lifefor a person to eec&te !is "ill in a lan'&a'e &n#no"n to !i$. T!is, "e +elieve,is, to &se a collo/&ial ter$, +ein' t!e /&estion. If t!e ar'&$ent of co&nsel is

correct, t!en ever* &nopposed "ill $a* +e pro+ated &pon its $erepresentation in co&rt, "it!o&t need of prod&cin' evidence re'ardin' itseec&tion. Co&nsels state$ent is its o"n ref&tation.

=e Fnd, in t!e record stone indicia, alt!o&'! ins&>cient to 'ive rise to t!epres&$ption, t!at t!e testator $i'!t, in fact, !ave #no"n t!e Spanis!lan'&a'e. In oppositors o"n !i+it 1 6a letter ad$ittedl* "ritten +* t!etestator8 appear t!e sal&tation 5W&erido Pri$o5 and t!e co$pli$entar* endin'5S& pri$o5 "!ic! are Spanis! ter$s. avin' fo&nd t!at al t!e for$al re/&isitesfor t!e validit* of t!e "ill !ave +een satisfactoril* esta+lis!$ent, ecept t!elan'&a'e re/&ire$ent, "e dee$ it in t!e interest of %&stice to a7ord t!e partiesa opport&nit* to present evidence, if t!e* so desire, on t!is controverted iss&e.

=!erefore, let t!e records of t!is case +e re$anded to t!e co&rt of ori'in forf&r!ter proceedin's as a+ove indicated, "it!o&t costs. It is so ordered.

Marc! 03, E0E G.R. No. 1:04ESRAPIA B GALA, petitioner-appellant,vs.APOLINARIO GONALS and SIN(OROSO ONA, opponents-appellants.

On Nove$+er 01, E0:, Severina GonHales eec&ted a "ill in "!ic! Serapia deGala, a niece of Severina, "as desi'nated eec&tri. T!e testatri died inNove$+er, E03, leavin' no !eirs +* force of la", and on Bece$+er 0, E03,Serapia, t!ro&'! !er co&nsel, presented t!e "ill for pro+ate. ApolinarioGonHales, a nep!e" of t!e deceased, Fled an opposition to t!e "ill on t!e'ro&nd t!at it !ad not +een eec&ted in confor$it* "it! t!e provisions of

S&ccession - s%+Prior



stat&te re/&irin' a "ill to +e si'ned is satisFed if t!e si'nat&re is $ade +* t!etestators $ar#. 604 R. C. L., pp. 3-;8.

T!e opinion /&oted is eactl* in point. T!e testatri t!&$+-$ar# appears in t!ecenter of !er na$e as "ritten +* Serapia de Gala on all of t!e pa'es of t!e "ill.

T!e second and t!ird points raised +* Sinforoso Ona and Apolinario GonHalesare s&>cientl* ref&ted +* /&otin' t!e last cla&se of t!e +od* of t!e "ill

to'et!er "it! t!e attestation cla&se, +ot! of "!ic! are "ritten in t!e Ta'alo'dialect. T!ese cla&ses read as follo"s

Sa #at&na*an' an' #as&latan' ito, na $a* ani$ na da!on, a* si*an'na'lala$an n' a#in' !&lin' ta'&+ilin, at sa !indi #o #aala$an' l&$a'da n'a#in' pan'alan, ipina$an!i# #o sa a#in' pa$an#in na si Serapia de Gala nais&lat an' a#in' pan'alan at apellido, at sa tapat a* inila'da #o an' titi# n'#anan' daliri #on' !inlala#i, sa "al#as at sa +a"at isa sa ani$ 638 na da!on n'#as&latan' ito, at itos 'ina"a ni*a sa #a&t&san at sa !arap #o at n' tatlon'sa#sin' na'papat&t&o sa !&li n'a*on i#a dala"an' pot tatlo n' No+ie$+re n'E0:.

6S'd.8 SRINA GONALS

Pinat&t&na*an na$in na an' #as&latan' ito na +in&+&o n' ani$ 638 na da!onna pinir$a!an sa !arap na$in ni Serapia de Gala sa #a!ilin'an ni SeverinaGonHales sa "a#as at sa $'a 'ilid n' +a"at isa sa ani$ 638 na da!on atisina*sa* na an' #as&latan' ito a* si*an' !&lin' !a+ilin o testa$ento niSeverina GonHales, a* pinir$a!an na$in, +ilan' $'a sa#si sa "a#as at sa 'ilidn' +a"at da!on sa !arap at sa #a!ilin'an n' tin&ran' testadora, at an' +a"atisa sa a$in a* p&$ir$a sa !arap n' la!at at +a"at isa sa a$in, n'a*on i#adala"an' pot tatlo n' novie$+re n' taon' E0: n' taon' E0:.

6S'd.8 LKTRIO NATIIBAB @KAN SKMKLONG(RANCISCO NATIIBAB

T!e translation in n'lis! of t!e cla&ses /&oted reads as follo"s

In virt&e of t!is "ill, consistin' of si pa'es, t!at contains $* last "is!, and+eca&se of t!e fact t!at I cannot si'n $* na$e, I re/&est $* niece Serapia deGala to "rite $* na$e, and a+ove t!is I placed $* ri'!t t!&$+-$ar# at t!eend of t!is "ill and to eac! of t!e si pa'es of t!is doc&$ent, and t!is "asdone at $* direction and in t!e presence of t!ree attestin' "itnesses, t!is 01rdof Nove$+er, E0:.

6S'd.8 SRINA GONALS

=e certif* t!at t!is doc&$ent, "!ic! is co$posed of si 638 s!eets and "assi'ned in o&r presence +* Serapia de Gala at t!e re/&est of Severina GonHalesat t!e end and on t!e $ar'ins of eac! of t!e si 638 s!eets and "as declared to

contain t!e last "ill and testa$ent of Severina GonHales, "as si'ned +* &s as"itnesses at t!e end and on t!e $ar'ins of eac! s!eet in t!e presence and att!e re/&est of said testatri, and eac! of &s si'ned in t!e presence of all andeac! of &s, t!is 01rd da* of Nove$+er of t!e *ear E0:.

6S'd.8 LKTRIO NATIIBAB @KAN SKMKLONG(RANCISCO NATIIBAB

As "ill +e seen, it is not $entioned in t!e attestation cla&se t!at t!e testatrisi'ned +* t!&$+-$ar#, +&t it does t!ere appear t!at t!e si'nat&re "as a>edin t!e presence of t!e "itnesses, and t!e for$ of t!e si'nat&re is s&>cientl*descri+ed and eplained in t!e last cla&se of t!e +od* of t!e "ill. It $a*+econceded t!at t!e attestation cla&se is not artisticall* dra"n and t!at, standin'alone, it does not /&ite $eet t!e re/&ire$ents of t!e stat&te, +&t ta#en inconnection "it! t!e last cla&se of t!e +od* of t!e "ill, it is fairl* clear ands&>cientl* carries o&t t!e le'islative intent< it leaves no possi+le do&+t as tot!e a&t!enticit* of t!e doc&$ent.

T!e contention of t!e appellants Sinforoso Ona and Apolinario GonHales t!att!e fact t!at t!e "ill !ad +een si'ned in t!e presence of t!e "itnesses "as notstated in t!e attestation cla&se is "it!o&t $erit< t!e fact is epressl* stated in

t!at cla&se. In o&r opinion, t!e "ill is valid, and t!e orders appealed fro$ are!ere+* a>r$ed "it!o&t costs. So ordered.

Bece$+er 3, E0; G.R. No. 03?9? Testate state of (lorencia R. Mateo. PR(CTO GA)RIL, petitioner-appellee,vs.RITA R. MATO, T AL., opponents-appellants.

T!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ allo"ed t!e "ill of (lorencia Mateo dated(e+r&ar* 3, E01, co$posed of t"o &sed s!eets to pro+ate. T!e "ill appears to+e si'ned +* t!e testatri and t!ree "itnesses on t!e left $ar'in of eac! of t!es!eets, +* t!e testatri alone at t!e +otto$, and +* t!e t!ree "itnesses aftert!e attestation cla&se. T!e testatri died on A&'&st 1, E0?. Opposition to

s&c! pro+ate "as Fled +* Rita Mateo, t!e testatris sister, and +* ot!errelatives.

T!e t!ree attestin' "itnesses to t!is "ill, testif*in' in t!is case, declared t!att!e si'nat&re of t!e testatri "ere "ritten in t!eir presence and t!at t!e*si'ned t!eir na$es in t!e presence of t!e testatri and of eac! ot!er.

T!e testatri fro$ 'irl!ood #ne" !o" to si'n !er na$e and did so "it! !erri'!t !and< +&t as t!e ri'!t side of !er +od* later +eca$e paral*Hed, s!elearned to si'n "it! !er left !and and for $an* *ears t!ereafter, &p to t!e ti$eof !er deat!, s!e &sed to si'n "it! t!at !and. Opponents alle'e t!at (lorenciaMateo did not si'n t!is "ill.




T!ere are t!ree salient ar'&$ents a$on' t!ose add&ced +* t!e opponents ins&pport of t!eir opposition.

T!e attestin' "itnesses testiFed t!at t!e testratri si'ned +efore t!e* did. T!esi'nat&res of t!e testatri on t!e left $ar'in of t!e t"o s!eets of t!e "ill are+et"een t!e si'nat&res of t!e t"o "itnesses idal Raoa and @&lio Ga+riel, and+elo" !er s&rna$e is t!e si'nat&re of t!e ot!er "itness (elicisi$o Ga+riel. T!esi'nat&res of idal Raoa and @&lio Ga+riel are on a level "it! eac! ot!er, "!ile

t!at of (elicisi$o Ga+riel is fo&nd a little lo"er do"n. T!e testatris si'nat&resstart on t!e line "it! (elicisi$o Ga+riels si'nat&re, +&t tend to rise and !ers&rna$e reac!es a level "it! @&lio Ga+riels si'nat&re.

It is said t!at t!is direction of t!e testatris si'nat&re "as d&e to t!e fact t!at"!en it "as "ritten (elicisi$o Ga+riels si'nat&re "as alread* t!ere, and sos!e !ad to "rite !er s&rna$e &p"ards in order to avoid interferin' "it! t!at(elicisi$o Ga+riel, "!ic! "o&ld !ave +een t!e case !ad s!e contin&ed on t!e!oriHontal line on "!ic! s!e !ad "ritten !er Frst na$e. (ro$ t!is detail it ispretended to dra" t!e inference t!at t!e attestin' "itnesses si'ned +eforetestatri, contrar* to t!eir testi$on* t!at s!e sin'ed +efore t!e* did. T!isded&ction, !o"ever, is &nnecessar*. It $a* +e inferred "it! e/&al, if not'reater, lo'ic t!at t!e testatri si'ned +efore !i$, and "!en it ca$e to t!e"itness Ga+riels t&rn, !e, Fndin' t!e space +elo" t!e testatri si'nat&re free,

si'ned !is na$e t!ere. On t!e ot!er !and, it $a* +e noted t!at t!e testatrisot!er si'nat&re at t!e +otto$ of t!e "ill also s!o"s a $ore or less $ar#edtendenc* to rise, not"it!standin' t!e fact t!at t!ere "as no si'nat&re "it!"!ic! s!e $i'!t interfere if s!e contin&ed to "rite in a strai'!t !oriHontal line.(&rt!er$ore, if, as t!e opposition alle'es, t!e testatris si'nat&re is not'en&ine and "as placed t!ere +* anot!er person, it is stran'e t!at t!e latters!o&ld !ave done so in s&c! a "a* as to "rite it a+ove Ga+riels si'nat&re"!ile follo"in' t!e !oriHontal line, "!en t!is co&ld !ave +een avoided +*si$pl* p&ttin' it a little !i'!er. And t!is $a* +e attri+&ted to carelessness int!e Frst case, +&t it cannot +e so eplained in t!e second.

Attention is also called to t!e apparentl* di7erent #inds of in# &sed +* t!etestatri in !er si'nat&re and +* t!e attestin' "itnesses. Reall* an ea$inationof t!ese si'nat&re reveals a so$e"!at deeper intensit* of in# in t!e si'nat&reof t!e testatri t!an in t!ose of t!e attestin' "itnesses. It is alle'ed t!at t!iscirc&$stance cannot +e reconciled "it! t!e declaration of t!e attestin'"itnesses t!at t!e* &sed t!e sa$e pen and in# as t!e testatri. )&t, onl* oneof t!ese "itnesses declared t!is. T!e ot!er one "as not s&re of it and said t!at!e said t!at !e did not perfectl* re$e$+er t!is detail. T!e t!ird scarcel* $adereference to t!is partic&lar. At all events, t!is apparent di7erence in in# $a* +e$erel*d&e U s&pposin' t!at t!e sa$e in# and pen "ere &sed U to t!e di7erence inpress&re e$plo*ed in "ritin' t!ese si'nat&res, as is reasona+le to s&ppose"!en "e consider t!at t!e testatri "as a paral*tic and "rote "it! !er left!and< or it $a* !ave +een d&e to t!e fact t!at t!e attestin' "itnesses dippedli'!tl* in t!e in# "!ile t!e testatri dipped t!e pen so as to ta#e &p t!e in#fro$ t!e +otto$ of t!e "ell. To +rin' o&t t!is irre'&larit*, t!e opposition

presented t!e epert Bel Rosario "!o asserted, a$on' ot!er t!in's, t!at t!esi'nat&re of t!e testatri is $ore recent t!an t!at of t!e attestin' "itnesses. If t!is opinion is correct and if, as alle'ed, t!e testatris si'nat&re is for'ed, it"o&ld $ean t!at t!e for'ers, after !avin' prepared t!e "ill and $ade t!e"itnesses si'n, allo"ed so$eti$e to elapsed +efore for'in' t!e testatrissi'nat&re, "!ic! s&pposition is not all pro+a+le, nor !as it +een eplained.

At all events, even ad$ittin' t!at t!ere is a certain /&estion as to "!et!er t!e

attestin' "itnesses si'ned +efore or after t!e testatri, or "!et!er or not t!e*si'ned "it! t!e sa$e pen and in#, t!ese are details of s&c! trivial i$portance,considerin' t!at t!is "ill "as si'ned t"o *ears +efore t!e date on "!ic! t!ese"itnesses 'ave t!eir testi$on*, t!at it is not proper to set aside t!e "ill for t!isreason alone.

T!e attestin' "itnesses to t!is "ill, "!o testiFed also as "itnesses at t!e trialof t!is case, s!o"ed t!e$selves to +e intelli'ent and !onest, one of t!e$+ein' a la"*er of t"elve *ears practice, and t!ere is no reason to re%ect t!eirtesti$on*, and to s&ppose t!at t!e* "ere &ntr&t!f&l in testif*in', and t!at t!e*falsiFed t!e "ill in /&estion.

Lastl*, attention is called to t!e &nreasona+leness of t!e testatri in notleavin' an*t!in' to t!e principal opponent, !er sister Rita Mateo, and to !er

nep!e"s and nieces, to "!o$ s!e !ad +een so a7ectionate d&rin' life. )&t asto t!e a7ectionate relations +et"een t!e deceased and t!e opponents, onl*t!e opponent Rita Mateo testiFed, and s!e onl* stated t!at s!e "as on 'oodter$s "it! !er sister d&rin' t!e latters lifeti$e< t!at t!e said sister &sed to'ive !er a sac# or so$e 'antas of rice, and, a ti$es, a little $one*< t!at s!e!eld all !er nep!e"s and nieces in e/&al re'ard. )&t even s&pposin' t!at t!is"ere so, t!ere is not!in' stran'e in t!e testatri !avin' left not!in' to t!eopponents, or in !er !avin' left all of !er estate to t!e onl* !eir instit&ted in!er "ill, To$as Mateo, "!o is also one of !er nieces. And not onl* is it notstran'e, +&t it see$s reasona+le, since, accordin' to t!e evidence of t!etestatri "!en t!e for$er "as +&t 1 *ears old, and fro$ t!en on &p to t!e ti$eof !er deat! !ad never +een separated fro$ !er.

T!e opposition presented Boctor )an#s as epert. e testiFed t!at t!esi'nat&res of t!e testatri in t!e "ill are not 'en&ine. T!e petitioner, on t!eot!er !and, presented anot!er epert, Pedro Serrano La#tao, "!o a>r$ed t!att!ese si'nat&res are 'en&ine. )&t, over t!e testi$on* of t!ese eperts, "e!ave t!e cate'orical and positive declaration of veracio&s "itnesses "!o a>r$t!at t!ese si'nat&res "ere "ritten +* t!e testatri !erself.

T!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ is a>r$ed, "it! costs a'ainst t!e appellants. Soordered.

Bece$+er 0:, E1: G.R. No. 1113?state of t!e deceased Pa&lino Biancin. TOPISTA BOLAR, proponent-appellant,vs.(IBL BIANCIN, T AL., oppositors-appellees.




T!e "ill of t!e deceased Pa&lino Biancin "as denied pro+ate in t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of Iloilo on t!e sole 'ro&nd t!at t!e t!&$+$ar#s appearin't!ereon "ere not t!e t!&$+$ar#s of t!e testator. Bisre'ardin' t!e ot!er errorsassi'ned +* t!e proponent of t!e "ill, "e "o&ld direct attention to t!e t!irderror "!ic! c!allen'es s/&arel* t!e correctness of t!is Fndin'.

T!e "ill in /&estion is alle'ed to !ave +een eec&ted +* Pa&lino Biancin at

B&$an'as, Iloilo, on Nove$+er 1, E0;. A t!&$+$ar# appears at t!e end of t!e "ill and on t!e left !and $ar'in of eac! of its pa'es in t!e follo"in'$anner 5Pa&lino Biancin, S& Si'no, Por Pedro Bia$ante.5 T!e "itnesses to t!e"ill "ere t!e sa$e Pedro Bia$ante, Inocentes Beoca$po, and @&an Bo$inado.

T!e "ill is detailed in nat&re, and disposes of an estate a$o&ntin'approi$atel* to P?:,:::.

(or co$parative p&rposes, !i+it 4, a doc&$ent of sale containin' anad$ittedl* 'en&ine t!&$+$ar# of Pa&lino Biancin, "as presented.P!oto'rap!s of t!e t!&$+$ar#s on t!e "ill and of t!e t!&$+$ar# on !i+it 4"ere also o7ered in evidence. One, Carlos @. @aena, atte$pted to /&alif* as an5epert,5 and t!ereafter 'ave as !is opinion t!at t!e t!&$+$ar#s !ad not +een$ade +* t!e sa$e person .One, @ose G. illan&eva, li#e"ise atte$pted to/&alif* as "ere a&t!entic. T!e petition of t!e proponent of t!e "ill to per$it

t!e "ill to +e sent to Manila to +e ea$ined +* an epert "as denied. On onefact onl* "ere t!e opposin' "itnesses a'reed, and t!is "as t!at t!e in# &sedto $a#e t!e t!&$+$ar#s on t!e "ill "as of t!e ordinar* t*pe "!ic! +l&rred t!ec!aracteristics of t!e $ar#s, "!ereas t!e t!&$+$ar# on !i+it 4 "as for$edclearl* +* t!e &se of t!e special in# re/&ired for t!is p&rpose. T!e trial %&d'eepressed !is personal vie" as +ein' t!at 'reat di7erences eisted +et"eent!e /&estioned $ar#s and t!e 'en&ine $ar.

T!e re/&ire$ent of t!e stat&te t!at t!e "ill s!all +e 5si'ned5 is satisFed notonl* t!e c&sto$ar* "ritten si'nat&re +&t also +* t!e testators or testatrit!&$+$ar# .pert testi$on* as to t!e identit* of t!&$+$ar#s or Fn'erprintsis of co&rse ad$issi+le. T!e $et!od of identiFcation of Fn'erprints is a sciencere/&irin' close st&d* .=!ere t!&$+ i$pressions are +l&rred and $an* of t!ec!aracteristic $ar#s far fro$ clear, t!&s renderin' it di>c&lt to trace t!e

feat&res en&$erated +* eperts as s!o"in' t!e identit* or lac# of identit* of t!e i$pressions, t!e co&rt is %&stiFed in ref&sin' to accept t!e opinions of alle'ed eperts and in s&+stit&tin' its o"n opinion t!at a distinct si$ilarit* inso$e respects +et"een t!e ad$ittedl* 'en&ine t!&$+$ar# and t!e/&estioned t!&$+$ar#s, is evident .T!is "e do !ere. 6$peror vs. A+d&la$id E:?, 10 Indian L. Rep., ;?E, cited in 1 C!a$+erla*ne on t!e ModernLa" of vidence, sec. 0?3, notes 1.8

T!ere is anot!er $eans of approac! to t!e /&estion and an o+vio&s one. T!et!ree instr&$ental "itnesses &nited in testif*in' concernin' t!e circ&$stancess&rro&ndin' t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill. It "as stated t!at in addition to t!etestator and t!e$selves, on ot!er person, Biosdado Bo$inado, "as present.

T!is latter individ&al "as called as a "itness +* t!e oppositors to t!e "ill to

identif* !i+it 4. e "as later placed on t!e "itness stand +* t!e proponenton re+&ttal, and t!ere&pon declared positivel* t!at !e "as t!e one "!oprepared t!e "ill for t!e si'nat&re of Pa&lino Biancin< t!at t!e t!&$+$ar#sappearin' on t!e "ill "ere t!ose of Pa&lino Biancin, and t!at !e sa" Pa&linoBiancin $a#e t!ese i$pressions. T!e testi$on* of a "itness called +* +ot!parties is "ort!* of credit.

=e reac! t!e ver* deFnite concl&sion t!at t!e doc&$ent presented for pro+ate

as t!e last "ill of t!e deceased Pa&lino Biancin "as, in tr&t!, !is "ill, and t!att!e t!&$+$ar#s appearin' t!ereon "ere t!e t!&$+$ar#s of t!e testator.Accordin'l*, error is fo&nd, "!ic! $eans t!at t!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$$&st +e, as it is !ere+*, reversed, and t!e "ill ordered ad$itted to pro+ate,"it!o&t special Fndin' as to costs in t!is instance.

Marc! 1, E? G.R. No. E?:MARIANO LAYO, petitioner-appellant,vs.ARCABIO LAYO, o+%ector-appellee.

T!e evidence of record satisfactoril* discloses t!at Cristina aldes, deceased,placed !er costs a'ainst !er na$e, attac!ed +* so$e ot!er person to t!einstr&$ent o7ered for pro+ate "!ic! p&rports to +e !er last "ill and testa$ent,in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses "!ose na$es are attac!ed to t!e attestin'cla&se, and t!at t!e* attested and s&+scri+ed t!e instr&$ent in !er presenceand in t!e presence of eac! ot!er.

=e are of t!e opinion t!at t!e placin' of t!e cross opposite !er na$e at t!econstr&ction of t!e instr&$ent "as a s&>cient co$pliance "it! t!ere/&ire$ents of section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, "!ic! prescri+est!at ecept "!ere "ills are si'ned +* so$e ot!er person t!an t!e testator int!e $anner and fro$ !erein indicated, a valid "ill $&st +e si'ned +* t!etestator. T!e ri'!t of a testator to si'n !is "ill +* $ar#, eec&ted ani$otestandi !as +een &nifor$l* s&stained +* t!e co&rts of last resort of t!e KnitedStates in constr&in' stat&tor* provisions prescri+in' t!e $ode of eec&tion of "ills in lan'&a'e identical "it!, or s&+stantiall* si$ilar to t!at fo&nd in section

34 of o&r code, "!ic! "as ta#en fro$ section 019E of t!e Code of er$ont.6Pa'e on =ills, par. ;1, and t!e cases t!ere cited in s&pport of t!e doctrine %&st anno&nced.8

T!e trial %&d'e "as of contrar* opinion, and declined to ad$it t!e instr&$ent topro+ate as t!e last "ill and testa$ent of t!e decedent. =e are of opinion,!o"ever, t!at t!e evidence of record satisfactoril* esta+lis!es t!e eec&tion of t!at instr&$ent as and for !er last "ill and testa$ent in t!e $anner and for$prescri+ed +* la".

T!e %&d'$ent entered in t!e co&rt +elo" s!o&ld t!erefore +e reversed, "it!o&tcosts in t!is instance, and t!e record re$anded to t!e co&rt +elo", "!ere

%&d'$ent "ill +e entered ad$ittin' t!e instr&$ent in /&estion to pro+ate inaccordance "it! t!e pra*er of t!e petitioner. So ordered.

S&ccession - s%+Prior ?



G.R. No. L-9:3; Nove$+er 0E, E?In t!e Matter of t!e "ill of ANTRO MRCABO, deceased. ROSARIO GARCIA,petitioner,vs.

@KLIANA LACKSTA, T AL., respondents.

T!is is an appeal fro$ a decision of t!e Co&rt of Appeals disallo"in' t!e "ill of Antero Mercado dated @an&ar* 1, E91. T!e "ill is "ritten in t!e Ilocano dialectand contains t!e follo"in' attestation cla&se

=e, t!e &ndersi'ned, +* t!ese presents to declare t!at t!e fore'oin'testa$ent of Antero Mercado "as si'ned +* !i$self and also +* &s +elo" !isna$e and of t!is attestation cla&se and t!at of t!e left $ar'in of t!e t!reepa'es t!ereof. Pa'e t!ree t!e contin&ation of t!is attestation cla&se< t!is "ill is"ritten in Ilocano dialect "!ic! is spo#en and &nderstood +* t!e testator, andit +ears t!e correspondin' n&$+er in letter "!ic! co$pose of t!ree pa'es andall t!e$ "ere si'ned in t!e presence of t!e testator and "itnesses, and t!e"itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testator and all and eac! and ever* one of &s"itnesses.

In testi$on*, "!ereof, "e si'n t!is state$ent, t!is t!e t!ird da* of @an&ar*,one t!o&sand nine !&ndred fort* t!ree, 6E918 A.B.

6S'd.8 NKMRIANO ANGLISTA

6S'd.8 5ROSNBA CORTS

6S'd.8 )I)IANA ILLGI)L

T!e "ill appears to !ave +een si'ned +* Att*. (lorentino @avier "!o "rote t!ena$e of Antero Mercado, follo"ed +elo" +* 5A re&'o del testator5 and t!ena$e of (lorentino @avier. Antero Mercado is alle'ed to !ave "ritten a crossi$$ediatel* after !is na$e. T!e Co&rt of Appeals, reversin' t!e %&d'e$ent of t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of Ilocos Norte, r&led t!at t!e attestation cla&se

failed 68 to certif* t!at t!e "ill "as si'ned on all t!e left $ar'ins of t!e t!reepa'es and at t!e end of t!e "ill +* Att*. (lorentino @avier at t!e epress re/&estof t!e testator in t!e presence of t!e testator and eac! and ever* one of t!e"itnesses< 608 to certif* t!at after t!e si'nin' of t!e na$e of t!e testator +*Att*. @avier at t!e for$ers re/&est said testator !as "ritten a cross at t!e endof !is na$e and on t!e left $ar'in of t!e t!ree pa'es of "!ic! t!e "ill consistsand at t!e end t!ereof< 618 to certif* t!at t!e t!ree "itnesses si'ned t!e "ill inall t!e pa'es t!ereon in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er.

In o&r opinion, t!e attestation cla&se is fatall* defective for failin' to state t!atAntero Mercado ca&sed Att*. (lorentino @avier to "rite t!e testators na$e&nder !is epress direction, as re/&ired +* section 34 of t!e Code of CivilProced&re. T!e !erein petitioner 6"!o is appealin' +* "a* of certiorari fro$ t!edecision of t!e Co&rt of Appeals8 ar'&es, !o"ever, t!at t!ere is no need for

s&c! recital +eca&se t!e cross "ritten +* t!e testator after !is na$e is as&>cient si'nat&re and t!e si'nat&re of Att*. (lorentino @avier is a s&rpl&sa'e.Petitioners t!eor* is t!at t!e cross is as $&c! a si'nat&re as a t!&$+$ar#, t!elatter !avin' +een !eld s&>cient +* t!is Co&rt in t!e cases of Be Gala vs.GonHales and Ona, ?1 P!il., :9< Bolar vs. Biancin, ?? P!il., 9;E< Pa*ad vs.

Tolentino, 30 P!il., 494< Ne*ra vs. Ne*ra, ;3 P!il., 0E3 and LopeH vs. Li+oro, 4P!il., 90E.

It is not !ere pretended t!at t!e cross appearin' on t!e "ill is t!e &s&alsi'nat&re of Antero Mercado or even one of t!e "a*s +* "!ic! !e si'ned !isna$e. After $at&re re2ection, "e are not prepared to li#en t!e $ere si'n of t!e cross to a t!&$+$ar#, and t!e reason is o+vio&s. T!e cross cannot anddoes not !ave t!e tr&st"ort!iness of a t!&$+$ar#.

=!at !as +een said $a#es it &nnecessar* for &s to deter$ine t!ere is as&>cient recital in t!e attestation cla&se as to t!e si'nin' of t!e "ill +* t!etestator in t!e presence of t!e "itnesses, and +* t!e latter in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er.

=!erefore, t!e appealed decision is !ere+* a>r$ed, "it! a'ainst t!epetitioner. So ordered.

C.A. No. 4:;? Marc! 0?, E93 TRINIBAB NRA, plainti7-appellant,vs.NCARNACION NRA, defendant-appellee.

On Octo+er 0?, E1E, Trinidad Ne*ra Fled a co$plaint a'ainst !er sister,ncarnacion Ne*ra, in t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of t!e Cit* of Manila, for t!erecover* of one-!alf 6Z8 of t!e propert* $entioned and descri+ed t!erein,"!ic! !ad +een left +* t!eir deceased fat!er, Severo Ne*ra, and "!ic! !ad+een previo&sl* divided e/&all* +et"een t!e t"o etra%&diciall*, de$andin' att!e sa$e ti$e one-!alf 6Z8 of t!e rents collected on t!e said propert* +* t!edefendant ncarnacion Ne*ra. T!e defendant Fled an ans"er ad$ittin' t!att!e propert* $entioned and descri+ed t!erein "as co$$&nit* propert*, and at

t!e sa$e ti$e set &p co&nterclai$s a$o&ntin' to over P,:::, for $one*spent, d&rin' t!e last illness of t!eir fat!er, and for $one* loaned to t!eplainti7.

After t!e trial of t!e case, t!e co&rt fo&nd t!at t!e plainti7 "as reall* entitledto one-!alf 6Z8 of t!e said propert*, ad%&dicatin' t!e sa$e to !er, +&t at t!esa$e ti$e ordered said plainti7 to pa* to t!e defendant t!e s&$ of P;0;.;;,pl&s interests, +* virt&e of said co&nterclai$s.

Plainti7 Trinidad Ne*ra appealed fro$ t!e said decision, to t!e Co&rt of Appealsfor Manila, alle'in' several errors, attac#in' t!e eec&tion and validit* of saida'ree$ent< and on Nove$+er :, E90, said appeal "as dis$issed, p&rs&antto t!e to an a'ree$ent or co$pro$ise entered into +* t!e parties, as s!o"n +*




t!e correspondin' doc&$ent, dated Nove$+er 1, E90, "!ic! "as Fled in t!ecase t!e follo"in' da*, Nove$+er 9, E90.

In t!e $ean"!ile, ncarnacion Ne*ra, "!o !ad +een sic#l* for a+o&t t"o *ears,&nepectedl* died, on Nove$+er 9, E90 at t!e a'e of 94, alle'edl* fro$ !eartattac#, as a conse/&ence of Addisons disease fro$ "!ic!, it "as clai$ed, s!e!ad +een s&7erin' for so$eti$e.

In vie" of t!e decision of t!e Co&rt of Appeals, dated Nove$+er :, E90,dis$issin' t!e appeal, +* virt&e of said a'ree$ent or co$pro$ise, Att*. L&cio

@avillonar, clai$in' to represent ncarnacion Ne*ra, "!o !ad died sinceNove$+er 9, E90, and ot!er relatives of !ers, Fled a petition, datedNove$+er 01, E90, as#in' for t!e reconsideration of said decision of t!e Co&rtof Appeals, dis$issin' t!e appeal, clai$in' t!at t!e alle'ed co$pro$ise ora'ree$ent, dated Nove$+er 1, E90, co&ld not !ave +een &nderstood +*ncarnacion Ne*ra, as s!e "as alread* t!en at t!e t!res!old of deat!, and t!atas a $atter of fact s!e died t!e follo"in' da*< and t!at if it !ad +een si'ned atall +* said ncarnacion Ne*ra, !er t!&$+$ar# appearin' on said doc&$ent$&st !ave +een a>ed t!ereto +* Trinidad Ne*ras attorne*, a'ainstncarnacions "ill< and t!at t!e co&rt !ad no $ore %&risdiction over t!e case,"!en t!e alle'ed a'ree$ent "as Fled on Nove$+er 9, E90, at t!e instance of

Trinidad Ne*ra, as ncarnacion "as alread* dead at t!e ti$e.

T!e principal /&estion to +e decided, in connection "it! said petition forreconsideration, is "!et!er or not said co$pro$ise or a'ree$ent !ad +eenle'all* eec&ted and si'ned +* ncarnacion Ne*ra, on Nove$+er 1, E90.

Trinidad Ne*ra $aintains t!e a>r$ative.

T!e vol&$ino&s evidence, testi$onial and doc&$entar*, add&ced +* t!eparties, in t!is case, !as f&ll* esta+lis!ed t!e follo"in' facts

T!at Severo Na*ra died intestate in t!e Cit* of Manila, on Ma* 3, E14, leavin'certain properties and t"o c!ildren, +* !is Frst $arria'e, na$ed ncarnacionNe*ra and Trinidad Ne*ra, and ot!er c!ildren +* !is second $arria'e< T!atafter t!e deat! of Severo Ne*ra, t!e t"o sisters, ncarnacion Ne*ra and

Trinidad Ne*ra, !ad serio&s $is&nderstandin's, in connection "it! t!e

properties left +* t!eir deceased fat!er, and so serio&s "ere t!eir dissensionst!at, after Marc! 1, E1E, t!e* !ad t"o liti'ations in t!e Co&rt of (irstInstance of Manila, concernin' said properties. In t!e Frst case, Fled in Marc!1, E1E, Trinidad Ne*ra and ot!ers de$anded +* ncarnacion Ne*ra andot!ers t!e ann&l$ent of t!e sale of t!e propert* located at No. 133 RaonStreet, Manila "!ic! "as Fnall* decided in favor of t!e defendants, in t!e co&rtof Frst instance, and in t!e Co&rt of Appeals, on Bece$+er 0, E91 6G.R. No.4308< and t!e second is t!e instance case.

T!at ncarnacion Ne*ra, "!o !ad re$ained sin'le, and "!o !ad no lon'er an*ascendants, eec&ted a "ill on Septe$+er 9, E1E, $ar#ed !i+it 3,disposin' of !er properties in favor of t!e 5Con're'acion de Reli'iosas de lair'en Maria5 and !er ot!er relatives, na$ed Teodora Ne*ra, Pilar de G&H$an

and Maria @aco+o da. de )lanco, $a#in' no provision "!atsoever in said "ill,in favor of !er onl* sister of t!e "!ole +lood, Trinidad Ne*ra, "!o !ad +eco$e!er +itter ene$*< t!at "!en t!e said "ill "as +ro&'!t to t!e attention of t!ea&t!orities of said Con're'ation, after d&e deli+eration and consideration, saidreli'io&s or'aniHation declined t!e +o&nt* o7ered +* ncarnacion Ne*ra, andsaid decision of t!e Con're'ation "as d&l* co$$&nicated to !er< t!at in orderto overco$e t!e di>c&lties enco&ntered +* said reli'io&s or'aniHation in notacceptin' t!e 'enerosit* of ncarnacion Ne*ra, t!e latter decided to $a#e a

ne" "ill, and for t!at p&rpose, a+o&t one "ee# +efore !er deat!, sent for Att*.Ricardo Si#at, and 'ave !i$ instr&ctions for t!e preparation of a ne" "ill< t!atAtt*. Si#at, instead of preparin' a ne" "ill, $erel* prepared a draft of a codicil,a$endin' said "ill, dated Septe$+er 9, E1E, a'ain na$in' said reli'io&sor'aniHation, a$on' ot!ers as +eneFciar*, and said draft of a codicil "as alsofor"arded to t!e a&t!orities of reli'io&s or'aniHation, for t!eir considerationand acceptance< +&t it "as also re%ected.

In t!e $ean"!ile, ncarnacion Ne*ra !ad +eco$e serio&sl* ill, s&7erin' fro$Addisons disease, and on Octo+er 1, E90, s!e sent for !er reli'io&s adviserand confessor, Mons. icente (ernandeH of t!e W&iapo C!&rc! to $a#econfession, after "!ic! s!e re/&ested t!at !ol* $ass +e cele+rated in !er!o&se at No. 133 Raon Street, Cit* of Manila, so t!at s!e $i'!t ta#e !ol*co$$&nion< t!at Mons. (ernandeH ca&sed t!e necessar* arran'e$ents to +e

$ade, and, as a $atter of fact, on Nove$+er , E90, !ol* $ass "assole$niHed in !er !o&se +* (at!er Teodoro Garcia, also of t!e W&iapo C!&rc!,on "!ic! occasion, ncarnacion Ne*ra, "!o re$ained in +ed, too# !ol*co$$&nion< t!at after t!e $ass, (at!er Garcia tal#ed to ncarnacion Ne*raand advised reconciliation +et"een t!e t"o sisters, ncarnacion and TrinidadNe*ra. ncarnacion accepted said advise and, at a+o&t noon of t!e sa$e da*6Nove$+er , E908, sent &sta/&io MendoHa to fetc! !er sister Trinidad, "!oca$e at a+o&t 01: t!at sa$e afternoon< t!at t!e t"o sisters 'reeted eac!ot!er in $ost a7ectionate $anner, and +eca$e reconciled and t"o !ad a lon'and cordial conversation, in t!e co&rse of "!ic! t!e* also tal#ed a+o&t t!eproperties left +* t!eir fat!er and t!eir liti'ations "!ic! !ad reac!ed t!e Co&rtof Appeals for t!e Cit* of Manila, t!e instant case +ein' t!e second, and t!e*a'reed to !ave t!e latter dis$issed, on t!e condition t!at t!e propert*involved t!erein s!o&ld +e 'iven ecl&sivel* to Trinidad Ne*ra, t!at t!e latter

s!o&ld "aive !er s!are in t!e rents of said propert* collected +* ncarnacion,and t!e Trinidad !ad no $ore inde+tedness to ncarnacion. T!e* also a'reedto send for Att*. Ale%andro M. Panis, to prepare t!e necessar* doc&$ente$+od*in' t!e said a'ree$ent, +&t Attorne* Panis co&ld co$e onl* in t!eafternoon of t!e follo"in' da*, Nove$+er 0, E90, "!en ncarnacion 'ave !i$instr&ctions for t!e preparation of t!e doc&$ent e$+od*in' t!eir a'ree$ent,and ot!er instr&ctions for t!e preparation of !er last "ill and testa$ent< t!atAttorne* Panis prepared said doc&$ent of co$pro$ise as "ell as t!e ne" "illand testa$ent, na$in' Trinidad Ne*ra and &sta/&io MendoHa +eneFciariest!erein, p&rs&ant to ncarnacions epress instr&ctions, and t!e t"odoc&$ents "ere prepared, in d&plicate, and "ere read* for si'nat&re, since t!e$ornin' of Nove$+er 1, E90< t!at in t!e afternoon of t!at da*, of co$pro$iseand last "ill and testa$ent to ncarnacion Ne*ra, slo"l* and in a lo&d voice, in

S&ccession - s%+Prior ;



t!e presence of (at!er Teodoro Garcia, Br. Moises ). A+ad, Br. ladio Aldecoa, Trinidad Ne*ra, and ot!ers, after "!ic! !e as#ed !er if t!eir ter$s "ere inaccordance "it! !er "is!es, or if s!e "anted an* c!an'e $ade in saiddoc&$ents< t!at ncarnacion Ne*ra did not s&''est an* c!an'e, and as#ed fort!e pad and t!e t"o doc&$ents, and, "it! t!e !elp of a son of Trinidad, placed!er t!&$+$ar# at t!e foot of eac! one of t!e t"o doc&$ents, in d&plicate, on!er +ed in t!e sala, in t!e presence of attestin' "itnesses, Br. Moises ). A+ad,Br. ladio R. Aldecoa and Att*. Ale%andro M. Panis, after "!ic! said "itnesses

si'ned at t!e foot of t!e "ill, in t!e presence of ncarnacion Ne*ra, and of eac!ot!er. T!e a'ree$ent "as also si'ned +* Trinidad Ne*ra, as part*, and +* Br.M. ). A+ad and &sta/&io MendoHa, a prote'e, as "itnesses.

(at!er Teodoro Garcia "as also present at t!e si'nin' of t!e t"o doc&$ents, att!e re/&est of ncarnacion Ne*ra.

T!e fore'oin' facts !ave +een esta+lis!ed +* t!e "itnesses presented +* Trinidad Ne*ra, "!o are all tr&st"ort!* $en, and "!o !ad a+sol&tel* nointerest in t!e Fnal o&tco$e of t!is case. T"o of t!e$ are $inisters of t!eGospel, "!ile t!ree of t!e attestin' "itnesses are professional $en of irreproac!a+le c!aracter, "!o !ad #no"n and seen and act&all* tal#ed to t!etestatri.

Petitioner Teodora Ne*ra, !alf sister of ncarnacion, and !er *o&n' da&'!terCeferina de la Cr&H, and Presentacion )lanco, da&'!ter of petitioner Maria

@aco+o da. de )lanco, s&+stantiall* corro+orated t!e testi$on* of t!e"itnesses presented +* Trinidad Ne*ra, "it! reference to t!e si'nin' of doc&$ents, in t!e +edroo$ of ncarnacion Ne*ra, in t!e afternoon of Nove$+er 1, E90.

Teodora Ne*ra, Presentacion )lanco and Ceferina de la Cr&H testiFed, !o"ever,t!at "!en t!e t!&$+$ar# of ncarnacion Ne*ra "as a>ed to t!e a'ree$entin /&estion, dated Nove$+er 1, E90, s!e "as sleepin' on !er +ed in t!e sala<and t!at t!e attestin' "itnesses "ere not present, as t!e* "ere in t!e caida.

)&t Ceferina de la Cr&H also stated t!at t!e attestin' "itnesses si'ned t!edoc&$ents t!&$+$ar#ed +* ncarnacion Ne*ra, in t!e sala near !er +ed, t!&s

contradictin' !erself and Teodora Ne*ra and Presentacion )lanco.

Stran'e to sa*, Teodora Ne*ra, Presentacion )lanco and Ceferina de la Cr&Halso testiFed t!at ncarnacion Ne*ras, t!&$+$ar# "as a>ed to t!e "ill, onl*in t!e $ornin' of Nove$+er 9, E90, +* Trinidad Ne*ra and one Ildefonso del)arrio, "!en ncarnacion "as alread* dead.

T!e testi$on* of Br. Bionisio Par&lan, alle'ed $edical epert, as to t!e nat&reof e7ects of Addisons disease, is a+sol&tel* &nrelia+le. e !ad never seen ortal#ed to t!e testatri ncarnacion Ne*ra.

Accordin' to $edical a&t!orities, persons s&7erin' fro$ Addisons diseaseoften live as lon' as ten 6:8 *ears, "!ile ot!ers die after a fe" "ee#s onl*,

and t!at as t!e disease pro'resses, ast!enia sets in, and fro$ 4: per cent toE: per cent of t!e patients develop t&+erc&losis, and co$plications of t!e !eartalso appear. 6Cecil, Tet+oo# of Medicine, 1d ed., E1?, pp. 0?:-0?1<McCrae, Oslers Modern Medicine, 1d ed., ol. , pp. 0;0-0;E.8

And it !as +een concl&sivel* s!o"n t!at ncarnacion Ne*ra died on Nove$+er9, E90, d&e to a !eart attac#, at t!e a'e of 94, after an illness of a+o&t t"o 608*ears.

In connection "it! $ental capacit*, in several cases, t!is co&rt !as consideredt!e testi$on* of "itnesses, "!o !ad #no"n and tal#ed to t!e testators, $oretr&st"ort!* t!an t!e testi$on* of t!e alle'ed $edical eperts.

Inso$nia, in spite of t!e testi$on* of t"o doctors, "!o testiFed for t!eopponents to t!e pro+ate of a "ill, to t!e e7ect t!at it tended to destro*$ental capacit*, "as !eld not to e7ect t!e f&ll possession of $ental fac&ltiesdee$ed necessar* and s&>cient for its eec&tion. 6Ca'&ioa vs. Calderon, 0:P!il., 9::.8 T!e testatri "as !eld to !ave +een co$pos $entis, in spite of t!ep!*sicians testi$on* to t!e contrar*, to t!e e7ect t!at s!e "as ver* "ea#,+ein' in t!e t!ird or last sta'e of t&+erc&losis. 6ap T&a vs. ap Ca D&an and

ap Ca L l&, 0; P!il., ?;E.8 T!e testi$on* of t!e attendin' p!*sician t!at t!edeceased "as s&7erin' fro$ dia+etes and !ad +een in a co$atose condition

for several da*s, prior to !is deat!, "as !eld not s&>cient to esta+lis!testa$entar* incapacit*, in vie" of t!e positive state$ent of several credi+le"itnesses t!at !e "as conscio&s and a+le to &nderstand "!at "as said to !i$and to co$$&nicate !is desires. 6Sa$son vs. Corrales Tan W&intin, 99 P!il.,?;1.8 =!ere t!e $ind of t!e testator is in perfectl* so&nd condition, neit!er olda'e, nor ill !ealt!, nor t!e fact t!at so$e+od* !ad to '&ide !is !and in ordert!at !e $i'!t si'n, is s&>cient to invalidate !is "ill 6A$ata and Al$o%&ela vs.

Ta+liHo, 94 P!il., 94?.8

=!ere it appears t!at a fe" !o&rs and also a fe" da*s after t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill, t!e testator intelli'entl* and intelli'i+l* conversed "it! ot!er persons,alt!o&'! l*in' do"n and &na+le to $ove or stand &p &nassisted, +&t co&ld stille7ect t!e sale of propert* +elon'in' to !i$, t!ese circ&$stances s!o" t!at t!etestator "as in a perfectl* so&nd $ental condition at t!e ti$e of t!e eec&tion

of t!e "ill. 6A$ata and Al$o%&ela vs. Ta+liHo, 94 P!il., 94?.8

Presentacion )lanco, in t!e co&rse of !er cross-ea$ination, fran#l* ad$ittedt!at, in t!e $ornin' and also at a+o&t 3 ocloc# in !e afternoon of Nove$+er 1,E90, ncarnacion Ne*ra tal#ed to !er t!at t!e* &nderstood eac! ot!er clearl*,t!&s s!o"in' t!at t!e testatri "as reall* of so&nd $ind, at t!e ti$e of si'nin'and eec&tion of t!e a'ree$ent and "ill in /&estion.

It $a*, t!erefore, +e reasona+l* concl&ded t!at t!e $ental fac&lties of personss&7erin' fro$ Addisons disease, li#e t!e testatri in t!is case, re$ain&ni$paired, partl* d&e to t!e fact t!at, on acco&nt of t!e sleep t!e* en%o*,t!e* necessaril* receive t!e +eneFt of p!*sical and $ental rest. And t!at li#e




patients s&7erin' fro$ t&+erc&losis, inso$nia or dia+etes, t!e* preserve t!eir$ental fac&lties &ntil t!e $o$ents of t!eir deat!.

@&d'in' +* t!e a&t!orities a+ove cited, t!e lo'ical concl&sion is t!atncarnacion Ne*ra "as of so&nd $ind and possessed t!e necessar*testa$entar* and $ental capacit*, at t!e ti$e of t!e eec&tion of t!ea'ree$ent and "ill, dated Nove$+er 1, E90.

T!e contention t!at t!e attestin' "itnesses "ere not present, at t!e ti$encarnacion Ne*ra t!&$+$ar#ed t!e a'ree$ent and "ill in /&estion, on !er+ed, in t!e sala of t!e !o&se, as t!e* "ere alle'edl* in t!e caida, is &ntena+le.It !as +een f&ll* s!o"n t!at said "itnesses "ere present, at t!e ti$e of t!esi'nin' and eec&tion of t!e a'ree$ent and "ill in /&estion, in t!e sala, "!eret!e testatri "as l*in' on !er +ed. T!e tr&e test is not "!et!er t!e* act&all*sa" eac! ot!er at t!e ti$e of t!e si'nin' of t!e doc&$ents, +&t "!et!er t!e*$i'!t !ave seen eac! ot!er si'n, !ad t!e* c!osen to do so< and t!e attestin'"itnesses act&all* sa" it all in t!is case. 6@a+oneta vs. G&stilo, ? P!il., ?9.8And t!e t!&$+$ar# placed +* t!e testatri on t!e a'ree$ent and "ill in/&estion is e/&ivalent to !er si'nat&re. 6ap T&a vs. ap Ca D&an and ap CaLl&, 0; P!il., ?;E.8

Teodora Ne*ra and !er principal "itnesses are all interested parties, as t!e*

are c!ildren of le'atees na$ed in t!e "ill, dated Septe$+er 9, E1E, +&teli$inated fro$ t!e "ill, dated Nove$+er 1, E90.

(&rt!er$ore, t!e testi$on* of Teodora Ne*ra and !er "itnesses, to t!e e7ectt!at t!ere co&ld !ave +een no reconciliation +et"een t!e t"o sisters, and t!att!e t!&$+$ar# of ncarnacion Ne*ra "as a>ed to t!e doc&$ents e$+od*in't!e a'ree$ent, "!ile s!e "as sleepin', on Nove$+er 1, E90, in t!eirpresence< and t!at !er t!&$+$ar# "as a>ed to t!e "ill in /&estion, "!ens!e "as alread* dead, in t!e $ornin' of Nove$+er 9, E90, "it!in t!eir vie",is a+sol&tel* devoid of an* se$+lance of tr&t!. Said testi$on* is contrar* toco$$on sense. It violates all sense of proportion. Teodora Ne*ra and !er"itnesses co&ld not !ave told t!e tr&t!< t!e* !ave testiFed to deli+eratefalsefoods< and t!e* are, t!erefore, a+sol&tel* &n"ort!* of +elief. And to t!eevidence of t!e petitioners is co$pletel* applica+le t!e le'al ap!oris$ U

fals&s in &no, fals&s in o$ni+&s. 6GonHales vs. Ma&ricio, ?1 P!il., ;04, ;1?.8

To s!o" t!e alle'ed i$pro+a+ilit* of reconciliation, and t!e eec&tion of t!et"o doc&$ents, dated Nove$+er 1, E90, petitioners !ave erroneo&sl* placed'reat e$p!asis on t!e fact t!at, &p to Octo+er 1, E90, t!e t"o sistersncarnacion and Trinidad Ne*ra "ere +itter ene$ies. T!e* "ere +an#in'evidentl* on t!e co$$on +elief t!at t!e !atred of relatives is t!e $ost violent.

Terri+le indeed are t!e fe&ds of relatives and di>c&lt t!e reconciliation< and *etnot i$possi+le. T!e* !ad for'otten t!at ncarnacion Ne*ra "as a reli'io&s"o$an instr&cted in t!e ancient virt&es of t!e C!ristian fait!, and !ope andc!arit*, and t!at to for'ive is a divine attri+&te. T!e* !ad also for'otten t!att!ere co&ld +e no $ore s&+li$e love t!an t!at e$+al$ed in tears, as in t!ecase of a reconciliation.

It "as $ost nat&ral t!at t!ere s!o&ld !ave +een reconciliation +et"een t!e t"osisters, ncarnacion and Trinidad Ne*ra, as t!e latter is t!e nearest relative of t!e for$er, !er onl* sister of t!e "!ole +lood. T!e approac! of i$$inent deat!$&st !ave evo#ed in !er t!e tenderest recollections of fa$il* life. And+elievin' per!aps t!at !er little tri&$p!s !ad not al"a*s +ro&'!t !er!appiness, and t!at s!e !ad al"a*s +een %&st to !er sister, "!o !ad +eende$andin' insistentl* "!at "as !er d&e, ncarnacion Fnall* decided &pon

reconciliation, as s!e did not "ant to 'o to !er eternal rest, "it! !atred in !er!eart or "rat! &pon !er !ead. It "as, t!erefore, $ost lo'ical t!at ncarnacions!o&ld $a#e Trinidad t!e +eniFciar* of !er 'enerosit*, &nder !er last "ill andtesta$ent, and end all !er tro&+les "it! !er, +* eec&tin' said a'ree$ent, andt!&s depart in perfect peace fro$ t!e scenes of !er eart!l* la+ors.

It !avin' +een s!o"n t!at t!e said co$pro$ise or a'ree$ent !ad +een le'all*si'ned and eec&ted +* ncarnacion Ne*ra on Nove$+er 1, E90, in t!epresence of credi+le and tr&st"ort!* "itnesses, and t!at s!e "as co$pos$entis and possessed t!e necessar* testa$entar* and $ental capacit* of t!eti$e< t!e petition for t!e reconsideration Fled +* Att*. L&cio @avillonar, onNove$+er 01, E90, on +e!alf of a client, ncarnacion Ne*ra, "!o !ad +eendead since Nove$+er 9, E90, and so$e of !er relatives, "!o !ave appeared,in accordance "it! t!e provisions of section ; of R&le 1 of t!e R&les of Co&rt,

is !ere+* denied< and t!e decision of t!e Co&rt of Appeals for Manila, datedNove$+er :, E90, dis$issin' t!e appeal, is !ere+* re-a>r$ed, "it!o&tcosts. So ordered.

G.R. No. 0?43. @an&ar* E, E:3. TOMAS GKISON, Petitioner-Appellant, v. MARIA CONCPCION, Respondent.

SLLA)KS

. =ILLS< INA)ILIT TO SIGN< SIGNATKR ) ANOTR. U T!e testatri "as nota+le to si'n !er na$e to t!e "ill, and s!e re/&ested anot!er person to si'n itfor !er. Instead of "ritin' !er na$e !e "rote !is o"n &pon t!e "ill. eld, T!att!e "ill "as not d&l* eec&ted. 6(ollo"in' No. 0::0, A&'&st 4, E:?.8

B C I S I O N

@aco+a Concepcion Salcedo $ade !er "ill in Manila, on @an&ar* 1, E:9. T!elast part of t!e "ill is as follo"s%'cc!anro+les.co$.p!

5Asi lo otor'o ante los testi'os Seores A$+rosio Re*es, Mariano de Leon *(eli Polintan, de Manila, Islas (ilipinas, * por no *o poder Fr$ar, Fr$a a $ir&e'o el $is$o (eliciano Ma'la/&i, en $i presencia * de los $encionadostesti'os, /&ienes ta$+ien s&scri+en, cada &no de ellos en presencia de losotros * la $ia.

So I 'rant to t!e Lords "itness A$+rosio Re*es, Mariano de Leon and (eliPolintan, Manila, P!ilippine Islands, and I co&ld not si'n $* si'nat&re (eliciano

S&ccession - s%+Prior E



Ma'la/&i +e' t!e sa$e in $* presence and t!e afore$entioned "itnesses,"!o also si'n, eac! in t!e presence of ot!ers and $ine

56(ir$ado8 (LICIANO MAGLAWKI.

56(ir$ado8 AM)ROSIO RS.

56(ir$ado8 MARIANO B LON.

56(ir$ado8 (LIX POLINTAN.

5Nosotros A$+rosio Re*es, Mariano de Leon * (eli Polintan, atesti'&a$os /&e(iliciano Ma'la/&i, a r&e'o de la Sra. @aco+a Concepcion Salcedo * enpresencia de la $is$a * la n&estra, Fr$o el testa$ento /&e antecede< * /&ecada &no de nosotros lo Fr$o en presencia de los otros * de dic!a testadora.

=e A$+rosio Re*es, Mariano de Leon and (eli Polintan, testif* t!at (ilicianoMa'la/&i to +e' Mrs @ac/&eline Salcedo Concepcion and in t!e presence of t!esa$e and o&rs, "ill si'n t!e fore'oin'< and t!at eac! of &s si'n it in t!epresence of ot!ers and of t!e testatri.

5Manila, tres de nero de $il novecientos c&atro.

Manila, @an&ar* 1 t!o&sand nine !&ndred and fo&r.

56(ir$ado8 AM)ROSIO RS.

56(ir$ado8 MARIANO B LON.

56(ir$ado8 (LIX POLINTAN.5crala" virt&aa" li+rar*

It "ill +e seen t!at t!e "itness (eliciano Ma'la/&i, instead of "ritin' t!e na$eof t!e testatri on t!e "ill, "rote !is o"n. Pro+ate of t!e "ill "as ref&sed in t!eco&rt +elo" on t!e 'ro&nd t!at t!e na$e of t!e testatri "as not si'nedt!ereto, and t!e petitioner !as appealed. T!e /&estion presented !as +een

decided adversel* to t!e appellant in t!e follo"in' cases parte PedroArcenas t. Al., No. ;:4, A&'&st 09, E:? 69 O7. GaH., ?348< parteNe$esio BelFn Santia'o, 0 No. 0::0, A&'&st 4, E:? 69 O7. GaH., ?:;.8

T!e %&d'$ent of t!e co&rt +elo" is a>r$ed, "it! t!e costs of t!is instancea'ainst t!e appellant, and after t!e epiration of t"ent* da*s %&d'$ent s!o&ld+e entered in accordance !ere"it! and t!e case re$anded to t!e co&rt +elo"for eec&tion. So ordered.

Marc! 01, E:4 G.R. No. 910In t!e $atter of t!e "ill of MARIA SIASON MABRIB B LBSMA, Pro+ateproceedin's.

In t!is special proceedin's for t!e le'aliHation of a "ill, t!e Co&rt of (irstInstance ref&sed pro+ate on t!e 'ro&nd t!at t!e instr&$ent "as not s&+scri+ed+* t!e "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testatri and of eac! ot!er as re/&ired+* section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re.

T!e testatri "as ill and conFned to !er !o&se, t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill ta#in'place in t!e sala "!ere s!e la* &pon a sofa. T!e "itnesses di7er as to "!et!ert!e testatri fro$ "!ere s!e la* co&ld read "!at "as "ritten at t!e ta+le< and

t!e Frst "itness, after si'nin', "ent a"a* fro$ t!e ta+le. T!ese t"ocirc&$stances do not i$pair t!e validit* of t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill. T!e"itnesses +ein' in t!e sa$e apart$ent "ere all present and t!e stat&te doesnot eact t!at eit!er t!e* are t!e testator s!all read "!at !as +een "ritten.ad one of t!e "itnesses left t!e roo$ or placed !i$self so re$otel* t!erein asto +e c&t o7 fro$ act&al participation in t!e proceedin's, t!en t!e s&+scription$i'!t not !ave ta#en place in !is presence "it!in t!e $eanin' of t!e la".

A second o+%ection is s&''ested on t!is appeal, t!at t!e si'nat&re to t!einstr&$ent is defective. It ends in t!is for$

At t!e re/&est of Seora Maria Siason.

CATALINO GA.

T. SILRIO. (RKCTKOSO G. MORIN.

RA(AL SPINOS.

Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re reads as follo"s

Re/&isites of "ill. U No "ill, ecept as provided in t!e precedin' section, s!all+e valid to pass an* estate, real of personal, nor c!ar'e or e7ect t!e sa$e,&nless it +e in "ritin' and si'ned +* t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e"ritten +* so$e ot!er person in !is presence, and +* !is epress direction, andattested and s&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testator and eac! of t!e ot!er. T!e attestation s!all estate t!e fact t!at t!etestator si'ned t!e "ill, or ca&sed it to +e si'ned +* so$e ot!er person, at !is

epress direction, in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses, and t!at t!e* attestedand s&+scri+ed it in !is presence and in t!e presence of eac! ot!er. )&t t!ea+sence of s&c! for$ of attestation s!all not render t!e "ill invalid if it isproven t!at t!e "ill "as in fact si'ned and attested as in t!is section provided.

T!e $is&nderstandin' of t!is section arisin' fro$ t!e incorrect renderin' of into Spanis! in t!e o>cial translation "as corrected +* "!at "as said in t!edecision of t!is co&rt in parte Arcenas 69 P!il. Rep., ;::8. Conf&sion !as alsoco$e o&t of t!e di7erent "ordin' of t!e t"o cla&ses of t!is section, t!e onespecif*in' t!e re/&isites of eec&tion and t!e ot!er t!ose of t!e attestationcla&se. T!e concl&din' sentence of t!e section, !o"ever, $a#es clear t!at t!efor$er and not t!e latter is to control. Conse/&entl* t!e "ill $&st +e si'ned +*t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!er person in !is

S&ccession - s%+Prior 0:



presence, and +* !is epress direction,5 and t!e /&estion presented in t!iscase is, Are t!e "ords 5Seora Maria Siason5 !er na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!erpersonV T!e* &ndo&+tedl* are !er na$e, +&t occ&rrin' as t!e* do after t!e"ords 5at re/&est of,5 it is contended t!at t!e* for$ a part of t!e recital andnot a si'nat&re, t!e onl* si'nat&re +ein' t!e na$es of t!e "itnessest!e$selves. In G&ison vs. Concepcion 6? P!il. Rep., ??8 it "as !eld t!at t!ere"as no si'nat&re, alt!o&'! t!e attestation cla&se "!ic! follo"ed t!e "illcontained t!e na$e of t!e testatri and "as t!ereafter si'ned +* t!e

"itnesses. T!e distinction +et"een t!at case and t!e present one is one of t!eetre$e nicet*, and in t!e %&d'$ent of t!e "riter of t!is opinion s!o&ld not +eatte$pted. T!e $a%orit* of t!e co&rt, !o"ever, are of t!e opinion t!at t!edistinction is a tena+le one inas$&c! as in t!e Concepcion "ill t!e na$e of t!etestatri occ&rred onl* in t!e +od* of t!e attestation cla&se, after t!e Frstsi'nat&res of t!e "itnesses, "!ereas in t!is "ill it i$$ediatel* follo"s t!etesta$ent itself and precedes t!e na$es of t!e "itnesses.

In s&stainin' t!is for$ of si'nat&re, t!is co&rt does not intend to /&alif* t!edecisions in parte Santia'o 69 P!il. Rep., 3E08, parte Arcenas, a+ove/&oted, or in A+a*a vs. ala$ero. In t!e Arcenas case t!e co&rt pointed o&tt!e correct for$&la for a si'nat&re "!ic! o&'!t to +e follo"ed, +&t did not$ean to ecl&de an* ot!er for$ s&+stantiall* e/&ivalent.

T!e decision of t!e co&rt +elo" is reversed, "it!o&t costs, and t!at co&rt isdirected to ad$it t!e instr&$ent +efore it to pro+ate as t!e last "ill of t!etestatri. So ordered.

G.R. No. L-?9E Marc! 00, E:GRGORIO MACAPINLAC, petitioner-appellee,vs.MARIANO ALIMKRONG, opponent-appellant.

Si$plicia de los Santos !avin' died on @&ne E, E:;, !er s&rvivin' !&s+and,Gre'orio Macapinlac, s&+$itted !er "ill to t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of Pa$pan'a for pro+ate. Macario Ali$&ron', a nep!e" of t!e deceased, opposedt!e proceedin's and re/&ested t!at 5t!e "ill of t!e deceased, Boa Si$pliciade los Santos, +e declared n&ll and void for eit!er of t!e t"o reasons5 "!ic! !eepresses, and "!ic! are

68 )eca&se t!e "ill "as not eec&ted and si'ned +* t!e "itnesses inaccordance "it! t!e provisions of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re no" in force.

608 )eca&se it "as eec&ted &nder d&ress and &nd&e and ille'al in2&ence ont!e part of t!e persons +eneFted t!ere+* or of a person actin' in t!eirinterests.

T!e trial !avin' +een !eld and evidence add&ced, t!e trial co&rt declared t!efollo"in' facts to +e proven

68 T!at at 3 o cloc# on t!e evenin' of @&ne ;, E:;, Si$plicia de los Santos,"!o "as sic# +&t in f&ll possession of all !er fac&lties, eec&ted !er "ill, "!ic!is t!e doc&$ent attac!ed to t!e record, !i+it No. of t!e petitioner.

608 T!at after t!e eec&tion of s&c! "ill on Monda*, t!e testatri died earl* ont!e $ornin' of t!e follo"in' =ednesda*.

618 T!at, as a preli$inar* act, a ro&'! cop* of t!e said "ill "as $ade &p, "!ic!

ro&'! cop* "as read to t!e testatri, and t!e latter ordered an additionalcla&se to +e added t!ereto, in connection "it! a le'ac* t!at s!e desired to$a#e in favor of so$e of !er old servants "!o and rendered 'ood service.

698 T!at, after t!e ro&'! cop* "as a$ended +* t!e addition of t!e a+ove-$entioned cla&se, a clear cop* t!ereof "as $ade &p and "as a'ain read to t!etestatri, "!o approved it in all of its parts, and as s!e "as &na+le to si'n, s!ere/&ested A$ando de Oca$po to si'n for !er and t!e latter "rote t!e follo"in'"ords "it! !is o"n !and. 5At t!e re/&est of t!e testatri B.a Si$plicia de losSantos, I si'ned U A$ando de Oca$po.5 I$$ediatel* after"ards and also int!e presence of t!e sa$e testatr& and of eac! ot!er, t!e "itnesses @ose @&ico,Ga+ino Panopio, &se+io da*ao, @&an An'eles, @ose Torres, Ale%o San Pedro, andGre'orio San'il si'ned at t!e +otto$ of t!e "ill.

In vie" of t!e said factsUt!e lo"er co&rt concl&desUt!e "ill eec&ted +*Si$plicia de los Santos $&st +e ad$itted to pro+ate. T!e provisions of section34 of t!e Code of Proced&re in Civil Actions and Special Proceedin's are f&ll*co$plied "it!. T!e "ill +ears t!e na$e of t!e testatri "ritten +* A$ando deOca$po in !er presence and +* !er epress direction, and !as +een "itnessedand si'ned +* $ore t!an t!ree tr&st"ort!* "itnesses, in t!e presence of t!etestatri and of eac! ot!er.

T!e %&d'$ent "as as follo"s

It is ordered t!at e!i+it No. , d&l* translated, +e pro+ated as t!e last "ill of Si$plicia de los Santos and t!at t!e correspondin' letters of ad$inistration +eiss&ed in favor of Gre'orio Macapinlac, t!e s&rvivin' !&s+and of t!e saidSi$plicia de los Santos, t!e protest of t!e adverse part* +ein' dis$issed, "it!

t!e costs.

T!e opponent appealed, and t!e appeal !avin' +een s&+$itted to t!is co&rt,to'et!er "it! t!e alle'ations of +ot! parties, it appears t!at t!e appellant !asalle'ed t!e follo"in' assi'n$ents of error

T!at t!e proceedin's "ere not dis$issed, +eca&se t!e "itnesses for t!epetitioner did not si'n t!eir respective testi$on*.

0 T!at it "as declared t!at t!e "ill of t!e deceased Si$plicia de los Santos "aseec&ted "it! a le'al for$alities.




1 T!at it "as not declared t!at t!e "ill of t!e deceased Si$plicia de los Santos"as eec&ted &nder &nd&e and ille'al in2&ence on t!e part of t!e persons+eneFted t!ere+* or of a person actin' in t!eir interests.

=it! reference to t!e Frst assi'n$ent of error, inas$&c! as no /&estion "asraised in t!e Frst instance in t!e for$ of a $otion and denied +* t!e co&rt+elo" and eception ta#en and +ro&'!t &p on appeal, t!ere is no 'ro&nd on"!ic! "e $a* ta#e into consideration s&c! assi'n$ent and decide a $atter

not covered +* t!e appeal and "it! reference to "!ic! a decision +* t!is co&rtis not properl* so&'!t.

In re'ard to t!e second assi'n$ent, in vie" of t!e facts set fort! and of t!eFndin's $ade +* t!e trial co&rt, accordin' to t!e preponderance of t!eevidence, it can not +e rationall* s!o"n t!at t!e concl&sion s!o&ld !ave +eenot!er"ise, nor does it appear t!at t!e concl&sion infrin'es an* stat&te or le'aldoctrine for t!e enforce$ent of "!ic! t!is co&rt s!o&ld revie" t!e evidence.

)&t, +esides t!e /&estion of fact, t!e appellant s&+$it anot!er /&estion of la",viH, "!et!er or not t!e "ill "as si'ned in accordance "it! t!e la", and !ea>r$s t!at it "as not, inas$&c! as t!e la" re/&ires t!at "!en a person si'nsin place of t!e testator !e s!o&ld "rite t!e na$e of t!e latter in t!e "ill as t!esi'nat&re< t!is "as not done +* A$ando de Oca$po in t!e "ill in /&estion, as

!e did not si'n it "it! t!e na$e of testatri.

It is s!o"n +* t!e evidence t!at t!e "ill "as "!oll* "ritten in t!e !and"ritin'of t!e s&+scri+in' "itness, Gre'orio San'il, and at t!e foot t!ereof t!efollo"in' "ords appear in a ne" para'rap! and s&>cientl* apart

At t!e re/&est of t!e testatri, Ba. Si$plicia de los Santos, I si'ned.

(or Si$plicia de los Santos. A$ando de Oca$po.

As a /&estion of fact, t!e a&t!enticit* of t!e "ords 5(or Si$plicia de losSantos,5 preFed to t!e si'nat&re, is i$p&'ned as not !avin' +een "ritten att!e ti$e of t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill.

And, as a /&estion of la", it is clai$ed t!at t!e for$ of si'nin' for t!e testatri5At t!e re/&est of t!e testatri Ba. Si$plicio de los Santos, I si'ned A$andode Oca$po,5 is not in accordance "it! t!e re/&ire$ents of t!e la".

Re'ardin' t!e Frst /&estion, t!e trial co&rt concl&ded t!at 5t!e posteriorinsertion of t!e "ords (or Si$plicia de los Santos can not a7ect t!e validit* of t!e "ill.5

T!erefore, it can +e considered as noneistent, and t!e ot!er as t!e onl* foreof si'nat&re +* t!e testatri, t!e a&t!enticit* of "!ic! !as not +een i$p&'nedor "!ic! t!e trial co&rt ad$its as concl&sive, and is onl* one ta#en intoacco&nt in its Fndin's of fact. Alt!o&'! t!e said "ords 5(or Si$plicia de losSantos5 +e considered as inserted s&+se/&entl*, "!ic! "e neit!er a>r$ nor

den*, +eca&se a speciFc deter$ination eit!er "a* is &nnecessar*, in o&ropinion t!e si'nat&re for t!e testatri as if s!e si'ned t!e "ill, and also t!esi'nat&re of t!e "itness "!o, at !er re/&est, "rote t!e na$e of t!e testatriand si'ned for !er, a>r$in' t!e tr&t! of t!is fact, attested +* t!e ot!er"itnesses t!en present. And t!is f&ll* co$plies "it! t!e provisions of section34 of t!e Act.

=it! reference to t!e t!ird assi'n$ent of error, t!e co&rt +elo" fo&nd

. . . and t!e in2&ence "!ic!, accordin' to t!e adverse part*, "as eercised&pon t!e testatri +* (at!er L&po is not s!o"n. =!ile t!e ro&'! cop* of t!e "ill"as +ein' $ade, (at!er L&po si$pl* disc&ssed "it! t!ose "!o "ere $a#in't!e ro&'! draft t!e /&estion of t!e $ore appropriate &se of so$e p!rases inPa$pan'o. It is tr&e t!at !e "ent in and o&t of t!e roo$ of t!e testatri severalti$es, and t!at fro$ ti$e to ti$e !e s!o"ed a relic to !er, +&t t!ere is noevidence to indicate t!at (at!er L&po in2&enced t!e testatri directl* andca&sed !er to +e in2&enced in an* "a*.

A'ainst t!is Fndin' of fact, +ased &pon t!e preponderance of t!e evidence as"ei'!ed +* t!e trial co&rt, "e Fnd no reason or 'ro&nd for decidin' t!is/&estion of fact in an* ot!er "a*. =e Fnd no data s!o"in' t!at t!e persona+ove $entioned directl* in2&enced t!e provisions of t!e "ill< t!at s&c! is t!e

ille'al and i$proper in2&ence "!ic! t!e la" conde$ns as overco$in' t!atfreedo$ +* "!ic! t!e last "ill of a $an $&st +e epressed.

T!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ is !ere+* a>r$ed, "it! t!e costs of t!is instancea'ainst t!e appellant. So ordered.

G.R. No. L-1E:; Marc! 0, E:4ROMAN A)AA, petitioner-appellant,vs.BONATA ALAMRO, respondent-appellee.

On t!e 3t! of A&'&st, Ro$an A+a*a Fled a petition "it! t!e Co&rt of (irstInstance of La La'&na, for t!e allo"ance of t!e "ill eec&ted +* @&an ala$ero,a resident of Pa'san!an, in said province, on t!e 0Et! of Octo+er, E:?, andprod&ced in co&rt t!e said "ill, "!ic! "as "ritten in Ta'alo' dialect. Bonataala$ero opposed t!e petition, alle'in' t!at t!e "ill !ad +een eec&ted &nderpress&re and &nla"f&l and i$proper in2&ence on t!e part of t!ose "!o "ere to+eneFt t!ere+*, and t!at it !ad not +een eec&ted and si'ned in accordance"it! t!e provisions of section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re. A da* "asappointed for t!e !earin' and in t!e co&rse of t!e proceedin's t!e "itnesseso7ered +* +ot! parties "ere ea$ined< on t!e :t! of @an&ar*, E:;, t!e co&rt




ref&sed to ad$it t!e "ill of said @&an ala$ero, as re/&ested +* Ro$an A+a*a<A+a*a appealed fro$ t!e decision and $oved for a ne" trial "!ic! $otion !asnot +een Fnall* acted &pon +* t!e co&rt< for t!is reason t!e petitioner, no"+efore t!is co&rt, still insists t!ereon for t!e e7ects of t!e appeal "!ic! !e !adinterposed, and !as s&+$itted a certiFed cop* of t!e proceedin's to "!ic! t!eassi'n$ent of errors presented +* !i$ refers.

T"o points are presented. T!e Frst is, t!at @&an ala$ero, "!ile in life,

eec&ted !is "ill on t!e 0Et! of Octo+er, E:?, &nder la"f&l press&re andin2&ence eercised +* t!ose "!o "ere t!ere+* +eneFted< and second, t!at t!esaid "ill "as not eec&ted and si'ned in accordance "it! t!e provisions of section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re.

After an ea$ination of t!e facts alle'ed and t!e evidence add&ced +* +ot!parties, and considerin' t!e case accordin' to t!e r&les of co$$on sense andso&nd criticis$, it $&st necessaril* +e ad$itted t!at t!e "ei'!t andpreponderance of t!e evidence prove in a concl&sive $anner t!e a&t!enticit*and 'en&ineness of t!e said "ill as t!e real and tr&e epression of t!e "ill of t!e testator, @&an ala$ero, and for t!is reason t!e Frst point s!o&ld !ave+een decided +* t!e co&rt +elo" in a ne'ative sense.

It "as not epressl* pretended t!at t!e said "ill s!o&ld +e disallo"ed &nder

t!e provisions of section 319 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re, eit!er +eca&se t!etestator "as insane or ot!er"ise $entall* incapa+le to eec&te s&c!instr&$ent at t!e ti$e of its eec&tion, or +eca&se it "as proc&red +* &nd&eand i$proper press&re and in2&ence on t!e part of t!e +eneFciaries< nor evenif s&c! re/&est !ad +een $ade, co&ld t!e n&llit* of t!e said "ill !ave +een

%&diciall* declared in vie" of t!e lac# of satisfactor* proof of t!e presence of s&c! circ&$stances. T!erefore, t!e co&rt, in order to disallo" t!e petition, !adto disre'ard t!e$ and rest t!e decision &pon t!e alle'ation t!at t!e "ill "asnot eec&ted in accordance "it! t!e provisions of section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re.

Not"it!standin' t!e reasons stated in t!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$, it appearst!at t!e "ill in /&estion "as eec&ted "it! t!e re/&ire$ents esta+lis!ed +* t!ela" in force, and t!at, t!erefore, t!e decision &pon t!e second point s!o&ld +e

a'ainst t!e opponents to t!e petition.

It is s!o"n +* t!e evidence, and +* t!e "ill itself, t!at for t!e reasons set fort!+* t!e testator and at !is o"n re/&est, one of t!e "itnesses to t!e "ill,Mariano a'&irre, "rote "it! !is o"n !and t!e na$e and s&rna$e of @&anala$ero, t!e testator, and !is presence, and t!at t!e latter p&t a cross+et"een t!e$ and a note statin' t!at "!at !ad +een "ritten +efore t!e na$eand s&rna$e of t!e said @&an ala$ero, "it! t!e cross placed at t!e foott!ereof, "as !is testa$ent and contained !is last "ill as stated +* !i$ "!en !edirected t!e eec&tion t!ereof in t!e presence of t!e t!ree "itnesses "!os&+scri+ed it in !is presence, and in t!e presence of eac! ot!er.

It is tr&e t!at t!e "itness Mariano a'&irre, "!o "as re/&ested +* t!e testatorto "rite !is na$e and s&rna$e at t!e end of !is "ill, did not a> !is o"nsi'nat&re i$$ediatel* +elo" t!e na$e and s&rna$e of @&an ala$ero and+elo" t!e cross placed +* t!e latter "it! t!e "ords 5+* re/&est of t!e testator

@&an ala$ero<5 +&t in t!e said "ill are clearl* stated t!e reason "!* it "as notsi'ned +* t!e testator !i$self as also t!e re/&est !e $ade to t!e "itnessa'&irre, and a repetition t!ereof "as not necessar*< f&rt!er, t!at t!is sa$e"itness, &pon +ein' re/&ested, "rote "it! !is o"n !and t!e na$e and

s&rna$e of t!e testator, "!o after"ards placed t!e cross +et"een t!e$,statin' t!at it "as !is state$ent, all of "!ic! "as "ritten i$$ediatel* after t!esaid na$e and s&rna$e of t!e testator and t!e cross $ade +* !i$, and t!esa$e "as s&+scri+ed +* t!e t!ree "itnesses in t!e $anner provided +* la".

T!e essential re/&isites prescri+ed +* t!e a+ove-$entioned section 34 of t!ela" !ave +een co$plied "it!, na$el*, t!at t!ree "itnesses "ere present at t!eeec&tion of t!e "ill of @&an ala$ero at t!e date $entioned t!erein< t!at t!e*!eard !is state$ent t!at t!e said instr&$ent, "ritten and dra"n &p &nder !isdirection, contained !is last "ill< t!at t!e* sa" and "itnessed "!en, at t!eepress re/&est of t!e testator, and &nder !is direction, t!e "itness, Marianoa'&irre, "rote at t!e foot of t!e "ill t!e na$e and s&rna$e of @&an ala$ero,and "!en t!e latter p&t t!e cross +et"een !is "ritten na$e and s&rna$e,eac! of t!e "itnesses s&+scri+in' it at t!e ti$e and in t!e presence of eac!

ot!er.

(or t!e reasons !erein+efore set fort! it is o&r opinion t!at t!e %&d'$entappealed fro$ s!o&ld +e reversed and t!at it +e declared, as "e no" do, t!att!e "ill eec&ted +* t!e late @&an ala$ero "!ile in life, &nder date of t!e 0Et!of Octo+er, E:?, "as eec&ted in accordance "it! t!e la", and t!at t!ereforeit s!o&ld +e d&l* ad$itted in order t!at it $a* prod&ce all conse/&ent le'ale7ects, and it is so ordered "it!o&t an* special r&lin' as to costs.

G.R. No. ;:4 A&'&st 09, E:?X PART PBRO ARCNAS, (LIS)RTA ACBO, T AL. U Pro+ateProceedin's.

On Octo+er 0, E:, +efore (elipe illasis * Castaeda, a notar* p&+lic of t!e$&nicipalit* of CapiH, and in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses, residents t!ereof,

@ose de los Santos e Isada, also a resident of t!at cit*, eec&ted !is last "ill andtesta$ent, and to t!is e7ect e!i+ited to t!e notar* and attestin' "itnesses a




T!erefore, &nder t!e la" no" in force, t!e "itness Naval A. idal s!o&ld !ave"ritten at t!e +otto$ of t!e "ill t!e f&ll na$e of t!e testator and !is o"n na$ein one of t!e for$s 'iven a+ove. e did not do so, !o"ever, and t!is fail&re toco$pl* "it! t!e la" is a s&+stantial defect "!ic! a7ects t!e validit* of t!e "illand precl&des its allo"ance, not"it!standin' t!e fact t!at no one appeared tooppose it.

T!e trail co&rt states in its decision t!at fro$ t!e evidence introd&ced t!e co&rtis convince t!at t!e doc&$ent in /&estion contained t!e last "ill of t!edeceased as to t!e disposition of !is propert*< +&t no decision in t!is case"o&ld +e proper &nless in strict accordance "it! t!e la", no $atter !o" !ars!s&c! decision $a* +e. T!e allo"ance of t!is defective "ill "o&ld +e a violationof t!e la".

T!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ s!o&ld +e a>r$ed and t!e "ill in /&estion,eec&ted at CapiH on t!e 0t! of Octo+er, E:, +* t!e deceased, @ose de losSantas e Isada, is !ere+* disallo"ed. After t!e epiration of t"ent* da*s

%&d'$ent s!all +e entered accordin'l* and t!e case re$anded to t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance for proceedin's in confor$it* !ere"it!. So ordered.

G.R. No. L-99?9 April 0, E:E

parte @KAN ONBILLA, T AL., petitioners-appellants.

T!ese proceedin's "ere instit&ted for t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill of Pasc&alaOla'&er, deceased. T!e lo"er co&rt ref&sed t!e pro+ate and fro$ t!at decisiont!e petitioners !ave appealed to t!is co&rt.

T!ere is no do&+t t!at t!e testa$ent in /&estion "as eec&ted +efore as&>cient n&$+er of "itnesses. T!is "as ac#no"led'ed to +e tr&e in t!edecision appealed fro$. T!e onl* $atter at iss&e is t!e s&>cienc* of for$ in"!ic! t!e na$e of t!e testatri appears at t!e foot of t!e "ill. T!e testatrico&ld not si'n at t!e ti$e s!e eec&ted t!e "ill and re/&ested one na$ed(r&ct&oso Llenaresa to si'n on !er +e!alf, "!ic! t!e latter did +* "ritin' !erna$e and si'nin' at t!e foot of t!e doc&$ent as follo"s

(or Pasc&ala Ola'&er,(r&ct&oso Llenaresa.

T!e %&d'e +elo" "as of t!e opinion t!at t!is $anner of "ritin' t!e na$e of t!etestatri is not in accordance "it! t!e la", and t!is "as !is onl* reason forref&sin' t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill, +eca&se, as !e sa*s, 5it is al"a*s +etter t!at,"!ere a testator can not si'n !is na$e, t!e person si'nin' for !i$ s!o&ld onl*"rite t!e na$e of t!e testator, and t!at t!e latter s!o&ld $a#e a cross "!ic!s!o&ld +e "itnessed and attested +* t!e "itnesses to t!e act.5

Section 34 of t!e Code of Proced&re in Civil Actions, "!ic! prescri+es t!e for$of t!e eec&tion of "ills, provides in part as follo"s

No "ill, ecept as provided in t!e precedin' section, s!all +e valid to pass an*estate, real or personal, nor c!ar'e or a7ect t!e sa$e, &nless it +e in "ritin'and si'ned +* t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!erperson in !is presence, and +* !is epress direction, and attested ands&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testatorand of eac! ot!er.

As "ill +e seen, t!e la" does not prescri+e t!e speciFc for$ in "!ic! t!e na$e

of t!e testator s!o&ld +e a>ed at t!e foot of t!e "ill "!en "ritten at !isre/&est +* anot!er person. T!e onl* t!in' re/&ired +* la" is t!at t!e "ill s!all+e +ear t!e na$e of t!e testator. In constr&in' t!is le'al provision t!is co&rt!as !eld and esta+lis!ed in case No. ;:4, parte Pedro Arcenas et al. 69P!il. Rep., ;::8, t!at 5"!ere a testator does not #no" !o", or is &na+le for an*reason, to si'n t!e "ill !i$self, it s!all +e si'ned in t!e follo"in' $anner @o!nBoe, +* t!e testator, Ric!ard Roe< or in t!is for$ )* t!e testator, @o!n Boe,Ric!ard Roe. 5

T!is last for$ is precisel* t!e one "!ic! !as +een &sed in t!e "ill in /&estion,"it! t!e eception of t!e "ords t!e testator "!ic! "ere o$itted. It is&nnecessar* to sa* t!at s&c! o$ission does not nor can it in an*"a* a7ect t!evalidit* of t!e "ill, +eca&se t!e essential t!in' is t!e na$e of t!e testator,"!ic! na$e, "e !old, "as d&l* "ritten in t!e aforesaid "ill.

T!e order appealed fro$ is reversed, and t!e "ill is !ere+* declared valid andordered ad$itted to pro+ate. So ordered.

G.R. No. L-304? (e+r&ar* ?, E0PBRO )ARKT, petitioner-appellant,vs.(AKSTINO CA)ACKNGAN, T AL., opponents-appellees.

T!is case is closel* connected "it! t!e case of (a&stino Ca+ac&n'an vs. Pedro)ar&t and anot!er, No. 3049, %&st decided +* t!is co&rt, "!erein t!ere "as anapplication for t!e pro+ate of an alle'ed last "ill and testa$ent of t!e sa$eperson t!e pro+ate of "!ose "ill is involved in t!is s&it.

T!is appeal arises o&t of an application on t!e part of Pedro )ar&t to pro+atet!e last "ill and testa$ent of Maria Salo$on, deceased. It is alle'ed in t!epetition of t!e pro+ate t!at Maria Salo$on died on t!e ;t! da* of Nove$+er,E:4, in t!e p&e+lo of Sinait, Ilocos S&r, leavin' a last "ill and testa$ent+earin' date Marc! 0, E:;. Severo A'a*an, Ti$otea Inoselda, CatalinoRa'asa, and A. M. @i$eneH are alle'ed to !ave +een "itnesses to t!e eec&tiont!ereof. )* t!e ter$s of said "ill Pedro )ar&t received t!e lar'er part of decedents propert*.

T!e ori'inal "ill appears on pa'e 1 of t!e record and is in t!e Ilocano dialect.Its translation into Spanis! appears at pa'e . After disposin' of !er propert*t!e testatri revo#ed all for$er "ills +* !er $ade. S!e also stated in said "illt!at +ein' &na+le to read or "rite, t!e sa$e !ad +een read to !er +* Ciriaco

S&ccession - s%+Prior 0?



Concepcion and Ti$otea Inoselda and t!at s!e !ad instr&cted Severo A'a*anto si'n !er na$e to it as testatri.

T!e pro+ate of t!e "ill "as contested and opposed +* a n&$+er of t!erelatives of t!e deceased on vario&s 'ro&nds, a$on' t!e$ t!at a later "ill !ad+een eec&ted +* t!e deceased. T!e "ill referred to as +ein' a later "ill is t!eone involved in case No. 3049 alread* referred to. Proceedin' for t!e pro+ateof t!is later "ill "ere pendin' at t!e ti$e. T!e evidence of t!e proponents and

of t!e opponents "as ta#en +* t!e co&rt in +ot! cases for t!e p&rpose of considerin' t!e$ to'et!er.

In t!e case +efore &s t!e learned pro+ate co&rt fo&nd t!at t!e "ill "as notentitled to pro+ate &pon t!e sole 'ro&nd t!at t!e !and"ritin' of t!e person"!o it is alle'ed si'ned t!e na$e of t!e testatri to t!e "ill for and on !er+e!alf loo#ed $ore li#e t!e !and"ritin' of one of t!e ot!er "itnesses to t!e"ill t!an t!at of t!e person "!ose !and"ritin' it "as alle'ed to +e. =e do not+elieve t!at t!e $ere dissi$ilarit* in "ritin' t!&s $entioned +* t!e co&rt iss&>cient to overco$e t!e &ncontradicted testi$on* of all t!e "itnesses to t!e"ill t!at t!e si'nat&re of t!e testatri "as "ritten +* Severo A'a*an at !erre/&est and in !er presence and in t!e presence of all t!e "itnesses to t!e "ill.It is i$$aterial "!o "rites t!e na$e of t!e testatri provided it is "ritten at!er re/&est and in !er presence and in t!e presence of all t!e "itnesses to t!e

eec&tion of t!e "ill.

T!e co&rt see$s , +* inference at least, to !ave !ad in $ind t!at &nder t!e la"relatin' to t!e eec&tion of a "ill it is necessar* t!at t!e person "!o si'ns t!ena$e of t!e testatri $&st after"ards si'n !is o"n na$e< and t!at, in vie" of t!e fact t!at, in t!e case at +ar, t!e na$e si'ned +elo" t!at of t!e testatri ast!e person "!o si'ned !er na$e, +ein', fro$ its appearance, not t!e sa$e!and"ritin' as t!at constit&tin' t!e na$e of t!e testatri, t!e "ill isaccordin'l* invalid, s&c! fact indicatin' t!at t!e person "!o si'ned t!e na$eof t!e testatri failed to si'n !is o"n. =e do not +elieve t!at t!is contentioncan +e s&stained. Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re reads as follo"s

No "ill, ecept as provided in t!e precedin' section, s!all +e valid to pass an*estate, real or personal, nor c!ar'e or e7ect t!e sa$e, &nless it +e in "ritin'

and si'ned +* t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!erperson in !is presence, and +* !is epenses direction, and attested ands&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testatorand of eac!. . . .

T!is is t!e i$portant part of t!e section &nder t!e ter$s of "!ic! t!e co&rt!olds t!at t!e person "!o si'ns t!e na$e of t!e testator for !i$ $&st alsosi'n !is o"n na$e T!e re$ainder of t!e section reads

T!e attestation s!all state t!e fact t!at t!e testator si'ned t!e "ill, or ca&sed itto +e si'ned +* so$e ot!er person, at !is epress direction, in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses, and t!at t!e* attested and s&+scri+ed it in !is presence and int!e presence of eac! ot!er. )&t t!e a+sence of s&c! for$ of attestation s!all

not render t!e "ill invalid if it is proven t!at t!e "ill "as in fact si'ned andattested as in t!is section provided.

(ro$ t!ese provisions it is entirel* clear t!at, "it! respect to t!e validit* of t!e"ill, it is &ni$portant "!et!er t!e person "!o "rites t!e na$e of t!e testatrisi'ns !is o"n or not. T!e i$portant t!in' is t!at it clearl* appears t!at t!ena$e of t!e testatri "as si'ned at !er epress direction in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses and t!at t!e* attested and s&+scri+ed it in !er presence and in

t!e presence of eac! ot!er. T!at is all t!e stat&te re/&ires. It $a* +e "ise as apractical $atter t!at t!e one "!o si'ns t!e testators na$e si'ns also !is o"n<+&t t!at it is not essential to t!e validit* of t!e "ill. =!et!er one parson oranot!er si'ned t!e na$e of t!e testatri in t!is case is a+sol&tel* &ni$portantso far as t!e validit* of !er "ill is concerned. T!e plain "ordin' of t!e stat&tes!o"s t!at t!e re/&ire$ent laid do"n +* t!e trial co&rt, if it did la* do"n, isa+sol&tel* &nnecessar* &nder t!e la"< and t!e reasons &nderl*in' t!eprovisions of t!e stat&te relatin' to t!e eec&tion of "ills do not in an* sensere/&ire s&c! a provision. (ro$ t!e standpoint of lan'&a'e it is an i$possi+ilit*to dra" fro$ t!e "ords of t!e la" t!e inference t!at t!e persons "!o si'ns t!ena$e of t!e testator $&st si'n !is o"n na$e also. T!e la" re/&ires onl* t!ree"itnesses to a "ill, not fo&r.

Nor is s&c! re/&ire$ent fo&nd in an* ot!er +ranc! of t!e la". T!e na$e of a

person "!o is &na+le to "rite $a* +e si'ned +* anot!er +* epress direction toan* instr&$ent #no"n to t!e la". T!ere is no necessit* "!atever, so far as t!evalidit* of t!e instr&$ent is concerned, for t!e person "!o "rites t!e na$e of t!e principal in t!e doc&$ent to si'n !is o"n na$e also. As a $atter of polic*it $a* +e "ise t!at !e do so inas$&c! as it "o&ld 'ive s&c! inti$ation as"o&ld ena+le a person provin' t!e doc&$ent to de$onstrate $ore readil* t!eeec&tion +* t!e principal. )&t as a $atter of essential validit* of t!edoc&$ent, it is &nnecessar*. T!e $ain t!in' to +e esta+lis!ed in t!e eec&tionof t!e "ill is t!e si'nat&re of t!e testator. If t!at si'nat&re is proved, "!et!er it+e "ritten +* !i$self or +* anot!er at !is re/&est, it is none t!e less valid, andt!e fact of s&c! si'nat&re can +e proved as perfectl* and as co$pletel* "!ent!e person si'nin' for t!e principal o$its to si'n !is o"n na$e as it can "!en!e act&all* si'ns. To !old a "ill invalid for t!e lac# of t!e si'nat&re of t!eperson si'nin' t!e na$e of t!e principal is, in t!e partic&lar case, a co$plete

a+ro'ation of t!e la" of "ills, as it re%ects and destro*s a "ill "!ic! t!e stat&teepressl* declares is valid.

T!ere !ave +een cited t!ree cases "!ic! it is alle'ed are in opposition to t!edoctrine "!ic! "e !ave !erein laid do"n. T!e* are parte Santia'o 69 P!il.Rep., 3E08, parte Arcenas 69 P!il. Rep., ;::8, and G&ison vs. Concepcion 6?P!il. Rep., ??8. Not one of t!ese cases is in point. T!e !eadnote in t!e caselast a+ove stated 'ives an indication of "!at all of cases are and t!e /&estioninvolved in eac! one of t!e$. It sa*s

T!e testatri "as not a+le to si'n it for !er. Instead of "ritin' !er na$e !e"rote !is o"n &pon t!e "ill. eld, T!at t!e "ill "as not d&l* eec&ted.




All of t!e a+ove cases are precisel* of t!is c!aracter. ver* one of t!e$ "as acase in "!ic! t!e person "!o si'ned t!e "ill for t!e testator "rote !is o"nna$e to t!e "ill instead of "ritin' t!at of t!e testator, so t!at t!e testatorsna$e no"!ere appeared attac!ed to t!e "ill as t!e one "!o eec&ted it. T!ecase of parte Arcenas contains t!e follo"in' para'rap!

=!ere a testator does not #no", or is &na+le for an* reason, to si'n t!e "ill!i$self, it s!all +e si'ned in t!e follo"in' $anner 5@o!n Boe, +* t!e testator,

Ric!ard Roe<5 or in t!is for$ 5)* t!e testator. @o!n Boe, Ric!ard Roe.5 All t!is$&st +e "ritten +* t!e "itness si'nin' at t!e re/&est of t!e testator.

T!e onl* /&estion for decision in t!at case, as "e !ave +efore stated, "aspresented +* t!e fact t!at t!e person "!o "as a&t!oriHed to si'n t!e na$e of t!e testator to t!e "ill act&all* failed to si'n s&c! na$e +&t instead si'ned !iso"n t!ereto. T!e decision in t!at case related onl* to t!at /&estion.

Aside fro$ t!e presentation of an alle'ed s&+se/&ent "ill t!e contestants int!is case !ave set fort! no reason "!atever "!* t!e "ill involved in t!epresent liti'ation s!o&ld not +e pro+ated. T!e d&e and le'al eec&tion of t!e"ill +* t!e testatri is clearl* esta+lis!ed +* t!e proofs in t!is case. Kpon t!efacts, t!erefore, t!e "ill $&st +e pro+ated. As to t!e defense of a s&+se/&ent"ill, t!at is resolved in case No. 3049 of "!ic! "e !ave alread* spo#en. =e

t!ere !eld t!at said later "ill not t!e "ill of t!e deceased.

T!e %&d'$ent of t!e pro+ate co&rt $&st +e and is !ere+* reversed and t!atco&rt is directed to enter an order in t!e &s&al for$ pro+atin' t!e "ill involvedin t!is liti'ation and to proceed "it! s&c! pro+ate in accordance "it! la".

G.R. No. L-??1 A&'&st 1, E3:In t!e Matter of t!e s&$$ar* settle$ent of t!e state of t!e deceasedANACLTA A)LLANA. LKCIO )ALONAN, petitioner-appellee,vs.KS)IA A)LLANA, et al., oppositors-appellants.

Appeal fro$ a decision of t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of a$+oan'a Cit*ad$ittin' to pro+ate t!e "ill of one Anacleta A+ellana. T!e case "as ori'inall*appealed to t!e Co&rt of Appeals "!ere t!e follo"in' assi'n$ent of error is$ade

T!e appellants respectf&ll* s&+$it t!at t!e Trial Co&rt erred in !oldin' t!at t!es&pposed testa$ent, !. 5A5, "as si'ned in accordance "it! la"< and inad$ittin' t!e "ill to pro+ate.

In vie" of t!e fact t!at t!e appeal involves a /&estion of la" t!e said co&rt !ascertiFed t!e case to &s.

T!e facts as fo&nd +* t!e trial co&rt are as follo"s

It appears on record t!at t!e last =ill and Testa$ent 6!i+it 5A58, "!ic! isso&'!t to +e pro+ated, is "ritten in t!e Spanis! lan'&a'e and consists of t"o608 t*pe"ritten pa'es 6pa'es 9 and ? of t!e record8 do&+le space. T!e Frstpa'e is si'ned +* @&an )ello and &nder !is na$e appears t*pe"ritten 5Por latestadora Anacleta A+ellana, residence CertiFcate A-3;30E, nero 0:, E?,Ci&dad de a$+oan'a, and on t!e second pa'e appears t!e si'nat&re of t!ree618 instr&$ental "itnesses )las Se+astian, (a&stino Macaso and Rafael I'nacio,at t!e +otto$ of "!ic! appears t!e si'nat&re of T. de los Santos and +elo" !is

si'nat&re is !is o>cial desi'nation as t!e notar* p&+lic "!o notariHed t!e saidtesta$ent. On t!e Frst pa'e on t!e left $ar'in of t!e said instr&$ent alsoappear t!e si'nat&res of t!e instr&$ental "itnesses. On t!e second pa'e,"!ic! is t!e last pa'e of said last =ill and Testa$ent, also appears t!esi'nat&re of t!e t!ree 618 instr&$ental "itnesses and on t!at second pa'e ont!e left $ar'in appears t!e si'nat&re of @&an )ello &nder "!ose na$e appears!and"ritten t!e follo"in' p!rase, 5Por la Testadora Anacleta A+ellana. T!e "illis d&l* ac#no"led'ed +efore Notar* P&+lic Attorne* Ti$oteo de los Santos.6$p!asis s&pplied8

T!e appeal s/&arel* presents t!e follo"in' iss&e Boes t!e si'nat&re of Br. @&an A. A+ello a+ove t!e t*pe"ritten state$ent 5Por la Testadora AnacletaA+ellana . . ., Ci&dad de a$+oan'a,5 co$pl* "it! t!e re/&ire$ents of la"prescri+in' t!e $anner in "!ic! a "ill s!all +e eec&tedV

T!e present la", Article 4:? of t!e Civil Code, in part provides as follo"s

ver* "ill, ot!er t!an a !olo'rap!ic "ill, $&st +e s&+scri+ed at t!e end t!ereof +* t!e testator !i$self or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!er personin !is presence, and +* !is epress direction, and attested and s&+scri+ed +*t!ree or $ore credi+le "itness in t!e presence of t!e testator and of oneanot!er. 6$p!asis s&pplied.8

T!e cla&se 5$&st +e s&+scri+ed at t!e end t!ereof +* t!e testator !i$self or +*t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!er person in !is presence and +* !isepress direction,5 is practicall* t!e sa$e as t!e provisions of Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re 6Act No. E:8 "!ic! reads as follo"s

No "ill, ecept as provided in t!e precedin' section s!all +e valid to pass an*estate, real or personal, nor c!ar'e or a7ect t!e sa$e, &nless it +e in "ritin'and si'ned +* t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!erperson in !is presence, and +* !is epress direction, and attested ands&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testatorand of eac! ot!er. . . . 6$p!asis s&pplied8.

Note t!at t!e old la" as "ell as t!e ne" re/&ire t!at t!e testator !i$self si'nt!e "ill, or if !e cannot do so, t!e testators na$e $&st +e "ritten +* so$eot!er person in !is presence and +* !is epress direction. Appl*in' t!isprovision t!is Co&rt said in t!e case of Parte Pedro Arcenas, et al., P!il., ;::

S&ccession - s%+Prior 0;



It "ill +e noticed fro$ t!e a+ove-/&oted section 34 of t!e Code of CivilProced&re t!at "!ere t!e testator does not #no" !o", or is &na+le, to si'n, it"ill not +e s&>cient t!at one of t!e attestin' "itnesses si'ns t!e "ill at t!etestators re/&est, t!e notar* certif*in' t!ereto as provided in Article 3E? of t!e Civil Code, "!ic!, in t!is respect, "as $odiFed +* section 34 a+overeferred to, +&t it is necessar* t!at t!e testators na$e +e "ritten +* t!eperson si'nin' in !is stead in t!e place "!ere !e co&ld !ave si'ned if !e #ne"!o" or "as a+le to do so, and t!is in t!e testators presence and +* !is epress

direction< so t!at a "ill si'ned in a $anner di7erent t!an t!at prescri+ed +*la" s!all not +e valid and "ill not +e allo"ed to +e pro+ated.

=!ere a testator does not #no" !o", or is &na+le for an* reason, to si'n t!e"ill !i$self, it s!all +e si'ned in t!e follo"in' $anner

@o!n Boe +* t!e testator, Ric!ard Boe< or in t!is for$ 5)* t!e testator, @o!nBoe, Ric!ard Boe.5 All t!is $&st +e "ritten +* t!e "itness si'nin' at t!ere/&est of t!e testator.

T!erefore, &nder t!e la" no" in force, t!e "itness Naval A. idal s!o&ld !ave"ritten at t!e +otto$ of t!e "ill t!e f&ll na$e of t!e testator and !is o"n na$ein one for$s 'iven a+ove. e did not do so, !o"ever, and t!is is fail&re toco$pl* "it! t!e la" is a s&+stantial defect "!ic! a7ects t!e validit* of t!e "ill

and precl&des its allo"ance, not"it!standin' t!e fact t!at no one appeared tooppose it.

T!e sa$e r&lin' "as laid do"n in t!e case of C&ison vs. Concepcion, ? P!il.,??0. In t!e case of )ar&t vs. Ca+ac&n'an, 0 P!il., 93, "e !eld t!at t!ei$portant t!in' is t!at it clearl* appears t!at t!e na$e of t!e testatri "assi'ned at !er epress direction< it is &ni$portant "!et!er t!e person "!o"rites t!e na$e of t!e testatri si'ns !is o"n or not. Cases of t!e sa$e i$portareas follo"s 6 Parte @&an Ondevilla, 1 P!il., 9;E, Cal&*a vs. Bo$in'o, 0;P!il., 11:< Garcia vs. Lac&esta, E: P!il., 94E8.

In t!e case at +ar t!e na$e of t!e testatri, Anacleta A+ellana, does notappear "ritten &nder t!e "ill +* said A+ellana !erself, or +* Br. @&an A+ello.

T!ere is, t!erefore, a fail&re to co$pl* "it! t!e epress re/&ire$ent in t!e la"

t!at t!e testator $&st !i$self si'n t!e "ill, or t!at !is na$e +e a>ed t!ereto+* so$e ot!er person in !is presence and +* !is epress direction.

It appearin' t!at t!e a+ove provision of t!e la" !as not +een co$plied "it!,"e are constrained to declare t!at t!e said "ill of t!e deceased AnacletaA+ellana $a* not +e ad$itted to pro+ate.

=R(OR, t!e decision appealed fro$ is !ere+* set aside and t!e petitionfor t!e pro+ate of t!e "ill denied. =it! costs a'ainst petitioner.

Marc! 0;, E9 G.R. No. ;39;BOMINGO CALKA, petitioner-appellant,vs.

LKCINA BOMINGO, respondent-appellee.

T!is is an appeal fro$ a %&d'$ent of t!e Co&rt of (irst Instance of t!e Provinceof Ilocos Norte den*in' t!e pro+ate of a "ill.

T!e learned co&rt +elo" +ased its %&d'$ent &pon t!ree 'ro&nds. T!e Frst one"as t!at, alt!o&'! t!e testator !ad si'ned +* $ar#, it no"!ere appeared in t!e"ill "!o !ad "ritten t!e si'nat&re or t!at it !ad +een "ritten at !is re/&est.

T!e second, t!at t!e "itness Antonino Pandaraoan co&ld not reall* !ave si'nedt!e attestation cla&se +eca&se, at t!e ti$e it "as eec&ted, !e "as attendin' asession of t!e $&nicipal co&ncil of Piddi' as a $e$+er t!ereof. T!ird T!at asto t!e ot!er "itness, Se'&ndino Asis, t!e "ill $entioned and conFr$ed a saleof land to !i$ +* t!e testator, and !e +ein' t!ere+* an interested part* !istesti$on* co&ld not +e +elieved.

=e do not +elieve t!at an* of t!e o+%ections are "ell fo&nded and t!e %&d'$ent ref&sin' its pro+ate $&st, t!erefore, +e reversed.

Section 34 of t!e Code of Civil Proced&re provides in part

No "ill, ecept as provided in t!e precedin' section, s!all +e valid to pass an*estate, real or personal, nor c!ar'e or a7ect t!e sa$e, &nless it +e in "ritin'

and si'ned +* t!e testator, or +* t!e testators na$e "ritten +* so$e ot!erperson in !is presence, and +* !is epress direction, and attested ands&+scri+ed +* t!ree or $ore credi+le "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testatorand of eac! ot!er. . . .

It is no"!ere re/&ired t!at, "!ere t!e testator is &na+le to "rite, t!e fact t!at!is si'nat&re "as "ritten +* so$e ot!er person, at !is re/&est and epressdirection, s!o&ld appear in t!e +od* of t!e "ill itself. In t!e case of )ar&t vs.Ca+ac&n'an 60 P!il. Rep., 93, 9318 "e !eld t!e follo"in'

(ro$ t!ese provisions it is entirel* clear t!at, "it! respect to t!e validit* of t!e"ill, it is &ni$portant "!et!er t!e person "!o "rites t!e na$e of t!e testatrisi'ns !is o"n or not. T!e i$portant t!in' is t!at it clearl* appears t!at t!ena$e of t!e testatri "as si'ned at !er epress direction in t!e presence of t!ree "itnesses and t!at t!e* attested and s&+scri+ed it in !er presence and int!e presence of eac! ot!er. T!at is all t!e stat&te re/&ires. It $a* +e "ise as apractical $atter t!at t!e one "!o si'ns t!e testators na$e si'ns also !is o"n<+&t t!at is not essential to t!evalidit* of t!e "ill. =!et!er one person oranot!er si'ned t!e na$e of t!e testatri in t!is case is a+sol&tel* &ni$portantso far as t!e validit* of !er "ill is concerned. T!e plain "ordin' of t!e stat&tes!o"s t!at t!e re/&ire$ent laid do"n +* t!e trial co&rt, if it did la* it do"n, isa+sol&tel* &nnecessar* &nder t!e la"< and t!e reasons &nderl*in' t!eprovisions of t!e stat&te relatin' to t!e eec&tion of "ills do not in an* sensere/&ire s&c! a provision. (ro$ t!e standpoint of lan'&a'e it is an i$possi+ilit*to dra" fro$ t!e "ords of t!e la" t!e inference t!at t!e person "!o si'ns t!ena$e of t!e testator $&st si'n !is o"n na$e also. T!e la" re/&ires onl* t!ree"itnesses to a "ill, not fo&r.




Nor is s&c! re/&ire$ent fo&nd in an* ot!er +ranc! of t!e la". T!e na$e of aperson "!o is &na+le to "rite $a* +e si'ned +* anot!er, +* epress direction,to an* instr&$ent #no"n to t!e la". T!ere is no necessit* "!atever, so far ast!e validit* of t!e instr&$ent is concerned, for t!e person "!o "rites t!e na$eof t!e principal in t!e doc&$ent to si'n !is pen na$e also. As a $atter of polic* it $a* +e "ise t!at !e did so inas$&c! as it "o&ld 'ive s&c! inti$ationas "o&ld ena+le a person provin' t!e doc&$ent to de$onstrate $ore readil*

t!e eec&tion +* t!e principal. )&t as a $atter of essential validit* of t!edoc&$ent, it is &nnecessar*. T!e $ain t!in' to +e esta+lis!ed in t!e eec&tionof t!e "ill is t!e si'nat&re of t!e testator. If t!at si'nat&re is proved, "!et!er it+e "ritten +* !i$self or +* anot!er at !is re/&est, it is none t!e less valid, andt!e fact of s&c! si'nat&re can +e proved as perfectl* and as co$pletel* "!ent!e person si'nin' for t!e principal o$its to si'n !is o"n na$e as it can "!en!e act&all* si'ns. To !old a "ill invalid for t!e lac# of t!e si'nat&re of t!eperson si'nin' t!e na$e of t!e principal is, in t!e partic&lar case, a co$pletea+ro'ation of t!e la" of "ills, as it re%ects and destro*s a "ill "!ic! t!e stat&sepressl* declares is valid.

T!e section a+ove /&oted also provides t!at 5 t!e attestation cla&se s!all statet!e fact t!at t!e testator si'ned t!e "ill, or ca&sed it to +e si'ned +* so$eot!er person, at !is epress direction, in t!e presence of t!e "itnesses, and

t!at t!e* attested and s&+scri+ed it in !is presence and in t!e presence of eac! ot!er. )&t t!e a+sence of s&c! for$ of attestation s!all not render t!e "illinvalid if it is proven t!at t!e "ill "as in fact si'ned and attested as in t!issection provided.5

Not onl* does t!e attestation cla&se co$pl* "it! t!e re/&ire$ents of t!issection, +&t it appears clearl* proved in evidence t!at t!e na$e of t!e testator"as si'ned +* anot!er person at !is re/&est and &nder !is direction and in !ispresence and in t!e presence of t!e "itnesses to t!e "ill. Moreover, as appearsfro$ t!e last cla&se of t!e section, if t!e attestation cla&se is defective, oreven a+sent, t!e "ill is nevert!eless valid provided it is satisfactoril* provedt!at it "as in fact si'ned and eec&ted as provided +* la".

As to t!e second o+%ection, na$el*, t!at Antonino Pandaraoan co&ld not !ave

si'ned t!e "ill as a "itness t!ereto, as stated in t!e attestation cla&se,+eca&se !e "as attendin' a $eetin' of t!e $&nicipal co&ncil of Piddi' at t!eti$e t!e "ill is alle'ed to !ave +een eec&ted, "e +elieve t!is also to +e"it!o&t $erit. It does not appear in t!e evidence of t!e opposition t!at t!e"itness Pandaraoan "as attendin' a $eetin' of t!e $&nicipal co&ncil of Piddi'fro$ so$et!in' li#e : ocloc# till 0.1: ocloc# of t!e da* on "!ic! t!e "ill"as eec&ted ands t!at t!e "ill "as eec&ted so$eti$e +et"een : and 0ocloc#. To $&c! "ei'!t, !o"ever, can not +e 'iven to t!e testi$on* relative tot!e precise ti$e of t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill. T!e +arrio of Piddi' is onl* a s!ortdistance fro$ t!e !o&se in "!ic! t!e "ill "as eec&ted and it "o&ld !aveta#en +&t a s!ort ti$e to cover t!e distance. t!e "itness Pandaraoan !i$self testiFed directl* and positivel* t!at, after !avin' left t!e $eetin' of t!e$&nicipal co&ncil, !e "ent to t!e !o&se of t!e testator +* appoint$ent and

t!ere si'ned t!e "ill as stated in t!e attestation cla&se. T!e ot!er "itnesses tot!e "ill s&pport t!is declaration. Not onl* t!is, +&t t!e notar* p&+lic "!o dre"&p t!e "ill and "!o translated it to t!e testator and "!o "as present at t!eti$e of its eec&tion, declared and testiFed t!at t!e "itnesses "!ose na$esappear &pon t!e "ill "ere present at t!e ti$e it "as eec&ted +* t!e testatorand t!at t!e* si'ned t!e sa$e at !is re/&est and in !is presence and in t!epresence of eac! ot!er. All of t!e "itnesses to t!e "ill &nite in declarin' t!att!e* "ere t!ere present at t!e ti$e t!e "ill "as eec&ted and t!at t!e* si'ned

as "itnesses in t!e presence of t!e testator and of eac! ot!er. T!e $ere factt!at t!ere "as a session of t!e $&nicipal co&ncil of Piddi' a+o&t t!e sa$e ti$et!at t!e "ill "as eec&ted is not necessaril* concl&sive a'ainst t!e fact t!atAntonino Pandaraoan "as present and si'ned as a s&+scri+in' "itness as !edeclares. Mista#es in ti$e are easil* $ade a$on' "itnesses "!o $eas&re ti$enot so $&c! +* cloc#s or "atc!es as +* t!e s&n. Antonino Pandaraoan testiFedt!at t!e $&nicipal co&ncil +e'an its session a+o&t : ocloc#< t!at in order toattend t!e eec&tion of t!e "ill, as !e !ad a'reed "it! t!e notar* p&+lic !e"o&ld do, !e "as o+li'ed to leave t!e session +efore it ter$inated< t!at !e soleft t!e session, $o&nted a !orse and arrived at t!e !o&se of t!e testator ata+o&t 0 ocloc#, in ti$e to ta#e part in t!e eec&tion of t!e ill as stated in t!eattestation cla&se.

=e do not +elieve t!at t!e clear and positive testi$on* of t!e "itnesses to t!e

"ill and of t!e notar* p&+lic is overco$e +* t!e evidence o7ered in oppositionto t!e pro+ate.

As to t!e t!ird 'ro&nd &pon "!ic! t!e co&rt +ased its decision< na$el*, t!att!e "ill !avin' $entioned and conFr$ed a sale of land to Se'&ndino Asis, oneof t!e "itnesses to t!e "ill, "!ile not renderin' t!e "ill entirel* invalid, t!ro"s'reat do&+t &pon t!e le'alit* of its eec&tion and especiall* t!e testi$on* of said "itness relatin' t!ereto.

Section 300 provides

If a person attests t!e eec&tion of a "ill, to "!o$ or to "!ose "ife or!&s+and, or parent, or c!ild, a +eneFcial devise, le'ac*, or interest, of ora7ectin' real or personal estate, is 'iven +* s&c! "ill, s&c! devise, le'ac*, or

interest s!all, so far onl* as concerns s&c! person, or t!e "ife or !&s+and, orparent or c!ild of s&c! person, or an*one clai$in' &nder s&c! person or s&c!"ife or !&s+and, or parent or c!ild, +e void, &nless t!ere are t!ree ot!erco$petent "itnesses to s&c! "ill, and s&c! person so attestin' s!all +ead$itted as a "itness as if s&c! devise, le'ac*, or interest !ad not +een $adeor 'iven. )&t a $ere c!ar'e on t!e real or personal estate of t!e testator, fort!e pa*$ent of de+ts, s!all not prevent !is creditors fro$ +ein' co$petent"itnesses to !is "ill.

As "ill readil* +e seen on readin' t!is section, not!in' in t!e "ill +efore &srelative to t!e sale of land to Se'&ndino Asis creates s&c! an interest t!ereinas falls "it!in t!e provisions t!ereof. Indeed, no interest of an* #ind "ascreated +* t!e "ill in favor of Se'&ndino Asis, nor did it conve* or transfer of

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an* interest to !i$. It si$pl* $entioned a fact alread* cons&$$ated, a salealread* $ade. ven if, !o"ever, t!e "ill !ad conve*ed an interest toSe'&ndino Asis, it "o&ld not !ave +een for t!at reason void. Onl* t!at cla&se of t!e "ill conve*in' an interest to !i$ "o&ld !ave +een void< t!e re$ainderco&ld !ave stood and "o&ld !ave stood as a valid testa$ent.

=e are conFdent fro$ a t!oro&'! ea$ination of t!e record t!at a fairpreponderance of t!e evidence is in favor of t!e proponents, and t!ere +ein'

no le'al i$pedi$ent to t!e pro+ate t!e co&rt erred in ref&sin' it.

T!e %&d'$ent appealed fro$ is !ere+* reversed and t!e ca&se re$anded tot!e co&rt "!ence it ca$e "it! instr&ctions to le'aliHe and pro+ate t!e "ill inaccordance "it! t!e petition.

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