1 Constantino v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 116018, [November 13, 1996].docx

FIRST DIVISION [G.R. No. 116018. November 13, 1996.] NELIA A. CONSTANTIN CONSTANTINO O , petitioner , vs vs.. COURT OF APPEALS, AURORA S. ROQUE, PRISCILLA S. LUNA and JOSEFINA S. AUSTRIA , respondents .  Agcaoili Law Ofces for petitioer. Geronimo O. Veneracion, Jr. for priv!te re"po#et". SYLLABUS

1. R$%$DI&' '&() *IVI' +RO*$DR$) FOR%&' OFF$R OF $VID$N*$) RIG-T  T-$R$TO D$$%$D D$$%$D (&IV$D (&IV$D IN *&S$ *&S$ &T &T $N*-. $N*-. / Te tri! 2ort 2ort 4!" 2orre2t 2orre2t i o#i5 o#i5 t!t petitioe petitioerr 4!ive# 4!ive# te ri5t to form! form! o7er i" evi#e2e evi#e2e.. & 2o"i#er!be !p"e of time, !bot tree 3 mot", !# !re!# p!""e# before petitioer petitioer:" :" 2o"e 2o"e m!#e e7ort to form! form! o7er i" evi#e2e. evi#e2e. For te tri! 2ort to 5r!t petitioer:" motio to !#mit er e;ibit" 4o# be to 2o#oe ! ie;2"!be !;it if ot o<2ompi!2e 4it ! 2ort or#er 4i2, i e7e2t, 4o# 4o# e2or!5 e2or!5e e ee#e"" ee#e"" #e!" !# #er!i #er!i te "pee# "pee# !#mii"tr !#mii"tr!tio !tio of   ="ti2e. cdasia >. *IVI' '&() *ONTR&*TS) V&'IDIT?) NO %$$TING OF T-$ %INDS $T($$N +&RTI$S ON '&ND &R$& TO $ SO'D) *&S$ &T $N*-. / +etitioer !"o i"i"t" t!t te re! itet of te p!rtie" 4!" to m!@e te etire 'ot A< te "b=e2t m!tter m!tter of te "!e. "!e. Se 2!im" 2!im" t!t #ri5 2ro""
i#2e re"po#et" to "i5 te #ee# 4itot 4i2 te !tter 4o# ot !ve 5ive teir 2oformit tereto. $!*S-I 3. ID.) ID.) ID.) F&*T T-&T D$$D OF S&'$ (&S NOT&RI$D IN & +'&*$ OT-$R  T-&N (-$R$ S$*T S$*T 'OT (&S (&S SIT&T$D SIT&T$D *&STS DOT ON D$ D$ $H$*TION OF S&ID D$$D) *&S$ &T $N*-. / Te tri! 2ort 2orre2t !ppre2i!te# te f!2t t!t te #ee# 4!" ot!rie# i %!i! 4e it 2o# !ve bee ot!rie# i !2!. Ti" !##itio! #et!i 2!"t" #obt o te pro2e#r! re5!rit i te prep!r!tio, e;e2tio !# "i5i5 of te #ee#. It i" ot e!" to beieve t!t petitioer !# te te 10 Torre" eir" tr!vee# ! te 4! to %!i! to !ve teir Be"tioe# Be"tioe# #o2met #o2met ot!rie# ot!rie# 2o"i#eri5 2o"i#eri5 t!t te, 4it te e;2eptio of re"po#et RoBe, !re re"i#et" of !!5t!", !2!, 4ere ot!ri ot!rie" e" pbi pbi2 2 !re !re e!" e!" to C#. C#. *o"eB *o"eBe et t,, te 2!im 2!im of priv!t priv!te e re"po#et" t!t te #i# ot "i5 te #o2met before ! ot!r pbi2 i" more p!"ibe t! petitioer:" feebe 2!im to te 2otr!r. 2otr!r. A. ID.) ID.) FR&D) $'$%$NTS T-$R$OF) &NN'%$NT OF *ONTR&*T +RO+$R IN *&S$ &T $N*-. / &pp!ret, petitioer #e2eive# re"po#et" b Ci5 te b!@ "p!2e" i te #ee#, !vi5 te ot" "rvee# !# "b#ivi#e#, !# te te 2!"i 2!"i5 5 te i""! i""!2e 2e of tr!"f tr!"fer er 2ertiC 2ertiC2! 2!te" te" of tite tite 4ito 4itott teir teir @o4e#5e, m2 e"" 2o"et. T" ! te eemet" of fr!# viti!ti5 2o"et for prpo"e" prpo"e" of ! !i i5 5 ! 2otr 2otr!2 !2tt 2o2r 2o2rJJ ! It 4!" empoe empoe# # b ! 2otr!2ti5 p!rt po te oter) b It i#2e# te oter p!rt to eter ito te 2otr!2t) 2 It 4!" "erio") !#, # It re"te# i #!m!5e" !# i=r to te p!rt "ee@i5 !met. !met. +er!p", +er!p", !oter !oter 2ompei 2ompei5 5 re!"o re!"o for te !met of te #o2met of "ettemet !# 2ove!2e i" t!t te "e2o# p!5e tereof 2e!r m!ife"t" t!t te mber of te "b#ivi"io p! !# te re"pe2tive !re!" of 'ot" A<& !# A< 4ere mere !#4ritte 4ie ! te re"t of te "t!temet" terei 4ere tpe4ritte, 4i2 e!#" " to te 2o2"io t!t !#4ritte C5re" tereo 4ere ot !v!i!be !t te time te #o2met 4!" form!ie#. I!-D2T DECISION BELLOSILLO , J pJ

 OS$F&  OS$F& TORR$S #ie# ite"t!te e!vi5 ! p!r2e of !# o2!te# !t !!5t!", !2!. &mo5 er eir" !re re"po#et" &ror! S. RoBe, +ri"2i! S. '! !# o"eC! S. &"tri!. &"tri!. Sometime Sometime i 198A, 198A, te eir" of o"ef! Torre", orre", !" ve#or", ve#or", !# petitioer petitioer Nei! &. *o"t!ti *o"t!tio, o, !" ve#ee, ve#ee, etere# ito ! 2otr!2t to "e ! p!r2e of !# 4it ! tot! !# !re! of t4o #re# !# Cft >K0 "B!re meter". Te ot, o4e# i 2ommo b te Torre" eir", i" bei5 o22pie# b petitioer": moter !# "i"ter. & !#=oii5 ot, !"o 2o
&fter !vi5 te #o2met #r!fte# / 4it "ever! "p!2e" eft b!@ i2#i5 te "pe2iC2!tio !" to te mete" !# bo#" of te !# / petitioer !"@e# te eir" to !E; teir "i5!tre" o te #o2met. Te eir" "i5e# te #o2met 4it te #er"t!#i5 t!t re"po#et &ror! S. RoBe, oe of te eir", 4o# be pre"et 4e te !tter 4o# "ee@ permi""io from te re! of '!#" !# !ve te !# "rvee#. -o4ever, 4itot te p!rti2ip!tio of ! of te Torre" eir", te propert 4!" "b"eBet "rvee#, "b#ivi#e# !# te 2overe# b T*T No". T<>9>>6K !# T<>9>>66. +etitioer #i# ot fri" te eir" 4it 2opie" of te Deed o  Etra!"dicial #ettlement o Estate wit$ #ale or of te "b#ivi"io p! !# te 2ertiC2!te" of tite. po "e2ri5 ! 2op of te #ee# from te Re5i"tr of  Dee#", te re"po#et" e!re# t!t te !re! of te propert prporte# "o# to petitioer 4!" m2 bi55er t! t!t !5ree# po b te p!rtie". It !re!# i2#e# te portio bei5 o22pie# b te "po"e" Severio !# *o"eo 'im. O > e 1986, priv!te re"po#et" "et ! etter to petitioer #em!#i5 te "rre#er to tem of te #ee# of "ettemet !# 2ove!2e, te "b#ivi"io p! !# te 2ertiC2!te" of tite) bt to o !v!i. O >K e 1986 re"po#et" Ce# 4it te Re5io! Tri! *ort of !2! ! !2tio for !met of te #ee# !# 2!2e!tio of te 2ertiC2!te" of tite, 4it pr!er for re2over of  #!m!5e", !ttore:" fee" !# 2o"t" of "it. 1 +etitioer 2otroverte# te !e5!tio" of re"po#et" b pre"eti5 te Deed o Etra!"dicial #ettlement o Estate wit$ #ale #!te# 10 O2tober 198A 4erei re"po#et" !5ree# to #ivi#e !# !#=#i2!te !mo5 tem"eve" te ierite# propert 4it ! !re! of oe to"!# Cve #re# !# tree 1,K03 "B!re meter". I te "!me #o2met, te 2!"e# te "b#ivi"io of te propert ito t4o > ot" !22or#i5 to +! No. +SD<03<00910K i#etiCe# !" 'ot A<& 4it ! !re! of oe to"!# iet<"i; 1,096 "B!re meter", !# 'ot A< 4it ! !re! of for #re# !# "eve A0L "B!re meter", !# !2@o4e#5e# te "!e to petitioer of "!i# 'ot A<. &" ! 2o"eBe2e, o 18 %!r2 198K, te Re5i"ter of Dee#" i""e# T*T No. T<>9>>6K i te !me of te eir" of o"ef! Torre" !# T*T No. T<>9>>66 i te !me of petitioer. I rep, priv!te re"po#et" reiter!te# t!t ! te eir" "i5e# te #o2met before te !# 4!" "rvee# !# "b#ivi#e#, e2e, tere 4!" !" et o #eCite !re! to be "o# t!t 2o# be i#i2!te# i te #ee# !t te time of te "i5i5. Te !"o 2!ime# t!t te 4ere ot otiCe# !bot te "rve !# te "b#ivi"io of te ot !# terefore te 2o# ot !ve !5ree# o te !re! "ppo"e# "o# to petitioer. Te re"po#et eir" i"i"t t!t te 2o# ot !ve !5ree# to te e;tet of te !re! !2t! reMe2te# i te #ee# be2!"e it i2#e# te portio bei5 o22pie# b te 'im "po"e", 4i2 4!" !re!# te "b=e2t of ! previo" !5reemet to "e bet4ee tem !# teir pre#e2e""or.

 Te tri! 2ort etert!ie# "erio" #obt" 4it re"pe2t to te prep!r!tio !# #e e;e2tio of te Dee# of $;tr!=#i2i! Settemet of $"t!te 4it S!e t!@i5 ito !22ot t!t ! 4ie petitioer 2!ime# t!t ! te eir" "i5e# before te ot!r pbi2 !# i er pre"e2e, "e 4!" ot !be to emer!te ! te "i5!torie" to te #o2met) b 4ie petitioer 2!ime# t!t te #o2met 4!" "i5e# o !fter te "rve of te !# 4!" 2ompete#, or o 10 O2tober 198A, "2 f!2t 4!" e5!te# b er o4 4ite"" 4o te"tiCe# t!t te "rve 4!" 2o#2te# o o 16 O2tober 198A) !#, 2 4ie petitioer !e5e# t!t te #o2met 4!" "i5e# !# ot!rie# i %!i! o e;p!!tio 4!" o7ere# 4 te "!me 2o# ot !ve bee "i5e# !# ot!rie# i !2! 4ere ot!rie" pbi2 !bo# 4i2 2o# !ve bee e"" i2oveiet to te p!rtie" 2o2ere#. &##itio!, te tri! 2ort reie# e!vi o te !""ertio" of re"po#et" !" reMe2te# i teir #em!# etter t!t te #i# ot 5ive teir 2o"et to te "!e of 'ot A<.  T", o te b!"i" of te evi#e2e o re2or#, te tri! 2ort o >L September 1990 or#ere# te !met !# 2!2e!tio of te Deed o Etra!"dicial #ettlement o Estate wit$ #ale, T*T No". T<>9>>6K !# T<>9>>66 !# Sb#ivi"io +! No. +SD<03<00910K. It !"o or#ere# petitioer to p! priv!te re"po#et" +K0,000.00 for mor! #!m!5e", +1K,000.00 for !ttore:" fee", !# to p! te 2o"t" of "it. 2

O 16 %!r2 199A re"po#et *ort of &ppe!" ""t!ie# te #e2i"io of te tri! 2ort, 3 !# o >0 e 199A #eie# te motio to re2o"i#er it" #e2i"io. 4 +etitioer f!t" re"po#et *ort of &ppe!"J ! for #i"re5!r#i5 #o2met!r evi#e2e !re!# pre"ete#, m!r@e# !# i#etiCe# o ! pre te2i2! 5ro#, !# b for 2o2#i5 t!t te Dee# of $;tr!=#i2i! Settemet of $"t!te 4it S!e #i# ot reMe2t te tre itet of te p!rtie". +etitioer !r5e" t!t te tri! 2ort "o# ot !ve #eie# er motio to !#mit form! o7er of evi#e2e mere o te b!"i" of te2i2!it "2 !" !te Ci5, 2iti5 #ig"en%a &. 'o"rt o Appeals . 5 (e !re ot per"!#e#. I#ee#, 4e e# i #ig"en%a t!t re" of pro2e#re !re ot to be !ppie# i ! ver ri5i# !# te2i2! "e"e !" te !re "e# o to ep "e2re, ot overri#e, "b"t!ti! ="ti2e. ?et te o#i5 i" i!ppi2!be to te pre"et 2!"e !" te tri! 2ort !# ! re!"o!be b!"i" for #ei5 petitioer:" motio / O Febr!r 6, 1990, &tt. +o2i!o %er2!#o, #efe#!t:" 2o"e, m!ife"te# i *ort t!t e !" "i2 o more 4ite"" to pre"et. -e !"@e# t!t e be 5ive 1K #!" to m!@e ! form! o7er of evi#e2e !# 4i2 te *ort 5r!te#. &t te "2e#e# e!ri5 of &pri 03, 1990, &tt. +o2i!o %er2!#o . . . 4!" ot i *ort. &tt. Veer!2io, p!iti7": 2o"e, 2!e# te !ttetio of te *ort

t!t &tt. %er2!#o !" "i2 ot et Ce# !#or 2ompie# 4it te *ort Or#er #!te# Febr!r 06, 1990, 4i2 i" to Ce i" form! o7er of evi#e2e. O motio of &tt. Veer!2io, #efe#!t:" ri5t to Ce ! form! o7er of evi#e2e 4!" deemed wai&ed . &tt. Veer!2io 4!ive# te pre"et!tio of rebtt! o7er of evi#e2e. O %! 11, 1990, te *ort 4!" i re2eipt of ! motio to !#mit form! o7er of  e;ibit" Ce# b te #efe#!t tr 2o"e, &tt. +o2i!o %er2!#o, o %! 0>, 1990. *o"i#eri5 t!t te "!me 4!" Ce# ot of time !# te p!iti7" !vi5 Ce# teir memor!#m !re!#, te motio to !#mit form! o7er of  e;ibit" 4!" #eie# emp!"i" "ppie#.  Te tri! 2ort 4!" 2orre2t i o#i5 t!t petitioer 4!ive# te ri5t to form! o7er i" evi#e2e. & 2o"i#er!be !p"e of time, !bot tree 3 mot", !# !re!# p!""e# before petitioer:" 2o"e m!#e e7ort to form! o7er i" evi#e2e. For te tri! 2ort to 5r!t petitioer:" motio to !#mit er e;ibit"J 4o# be to 2o#oe ! ie;2"!be !;it if ot o< 2ompi!2e 4it ! 2ort or#er 4i2, i e7e2t, 4o# e2or!5e ee#e"" #e!" !# #er!i te "pee# !#mii"tr!tio of ="ti2e. +etitioer !"o i"i"t" t!t te re! itet of te p!rtie" 4!" to m!@e te etire 'ot A< te "b=e2t m!tter of te "!e. Se 2!im" t!t #ri5 2ro""< e;!mi!tio re"po#et &ror! S. RoBe !#mitte# t!t "e "i5e# i be!f of  er 2o<eir" ! re2eipt for +30,000.00 !" p!rti! p!met for te ot o22pie# b Ka Baring !# Linare!tive" of petitioer !# Iling *o"eo 'im. %oreover, accod!n" #o $%#!#!on%, #&% a''%#!on' o( $!)a#% %'$ond%n#' #o $%#!#!on% con#a!n%d !n #&% d%*and +%##% '&o+d no# n%c%''a!+- % # % and # &a# #&% ) a+!d!#- o( #&% Deed of Extrajudicial  Settlement of Estate with Sale /a' no# a0%c#%d - #&% (ac# #&a# !# /a' no#a!%d !n a $+ac% o#&% #&an /&%% #&% '%c# *a##% #&%%o(  /a' '! #a#%d , c!#!n " Sales v. Co urt o f Appeal s.   Te"e oter !r5met" of petitioer !re b!rre !# ftie. Te !#mi""io of  re"po#et RoBe 2!ot prev!i i te f!2e of te 2e!r evi#e2e t!t tere 4!" !" et o meeti5 of te mi#" o te !# !re! to be "o# "i2e priv!te re"po#et" 4ere "ti !4!iti5 te "rve to be 2o#2te# o te premi"e". Obvio", te tri! 2ort o et 2re#e2e to te !""ertio" i te #em!# etter !fter !vi5 4ei5e# te re"pe2tive evi#e2e of te p!rtie". t eve 4itot te etter, te evi#e2e of re"po#et" !# !re!# !mp "b"t!ti!te# teir 2!im". %  +%d !n #&% Sales ca'% #&a# #&% %#!n'!c )a+!d!#- o( a doc*%n# /a' no# a0%c#%d - #&% (ac# #&a# !# /a' no#a!%d !n a $+ac% o#&% #&an /&%% #&% '%c# *a##% #&%%o( /a' +oca#%d. &a# !' *o% !*$o#an# nd% #&% Notarial Law !' #&a# #&% no#a- $+!c &a' a#&o!#- #o ac6no/+%d"% #&% doc*%n# %%c#%d /!#&!n &!'

#%!#o!a+ !'d!c#!on. T&% +!n" !n Sales !' no# a$$+!ca+% #o #&% $%'%n# ca'%. O conc%n &%% !' no# /&%#&% #&% no#a- $+!c &ad #&% a#&o!#- #o ac6no/+%d"% #&% doc*%n# %%c#%d /!#&!n &!' #%!#o!a+ !'d!c#!on # /&%#&% %'$ond%n#' !nd%%d a$$%a%d %(o% &!* and '!"n%d #&% d%%d. 7o/%)%, #&% 8an#* o( %)!d%nc% '&o/' #&a# #&%- d!d no#.

 Te tri! 2ort 2orre2t !ppre2i!te# te f!2t t!t te #ee# 4!" ot!rie# i %!i! 4e it 2o# !ve bee ot!rie# i !2!. Ti" !##itio! #et!i 2!"t" #obt o te pro2e#r! re5!rit i te prep!r!tio, e;e2tio !# "i5i5 of te #ee# . I# !' no# %a'- #o %+!%)% #&a# $%#!#!on% and #&% #%n 91:; To%' &%!' #a)%+%d a++ #&% /a- #o ' (%%+% c+a!* #o #&% con#a-. 'i@e4i"e, 4e C# te !e5!tio of re"po#et" t!t te "i5e# te #ee# prior to te "rve, or before #etermi!tio of te !re! to be "o#, 4ort of 2re#it !" !5!i"t te 2otetio of petitioer t!t te "i5e# !fter te "rve or o 10 O2tober 198A. &" fo# b te tri! 2ort, "2 2otetio 4!" 2otr!#i2te# b petitioer": o4 4ite"" 4o po"itive !""erte# i 2ort t!t te "rve 4!" 2o#2te# o o 16 O2tober 198A or "i; 6 #!" !fter te "i5i5. ite obvio", 4e re"po#et" !E;e# teir "i5!tre" o te #ee#, it 4!" "ti i2ompete "i2e petitioer 4o 2!"e# it to be prep!re# eft "ever! "p!2e" b!@, more p!rti2!r !" re5!r#" te #ime"io" of te propert to be "o#.  Te eir" 4ere per"!#e# to "i5 te #o2met o po te !""r!2e of  petitioer t!t re"po#et RoBe, pr"!t to teir #er"t!#i5, 4o# be pre"et 4e te propert 4o# be "rvee# !fter obt!ii5 permi""io from te re! of '!#". &" it "rf!2e#, te "ppo"e# #er"t!#i5 4!" mere ! r"e of petitioer to i#2e re"po#et" to "i5 te #ee# 4itot 4i2 te !tter 4o# ot !ve 5ive teir 2oformit tereto. ?&pp!ret, petitioer #e2eive# re"po#et" b Ci5 te b!@ "p!2e" i te #ee#, !vi5 te ot" "rvee# !# "b#ivi#e#, !# te 2!"i5 te i""!2e of tr!"fer 2ertiC2!te" of tite 4itot teir @o4e#5e, m2 e"" 2o"et. T&' a++ #&% %+%*%n#' o( (ad )!#!a#!n" con'%n# (o $$o'%' o( ann++!n" a con#ac# conc@ 9a; I# /a' %*$+o-%d - a con#ac#!n" $a#- $on #&% o#&% 9; I# !ndc%d #&% o#&% $a#- #o %n#% !n#o #&% con#ac# 9c; I# /a' '%!o' and, 9d; I# %'+#%d !n da*a"%' and !n- #o #&% $a#'%%6!n" ann+*%n#.  +er!p", !oter 2ompei5 re!"o for te !met of te #o2met of  "ettemet !# 2ove!2e i" t!t te "e2o# p!5e tereof 2e!r m!ife"t"

t!t te mber of te "b#ivi"io p! !# te re"pe2tive !re!" of 'ot" A<& !# A< 4ere mere !#4ritte 4ie ! te re"t of te "t!temet" terei 4ere tpe4ritte, 4i2 e!#" " to te 2o2"io t!t !#4ritte C5re" tereo 4ere ot !v!i!be !t te time te #o2met 4!" form!ie#.

#e2i"io of te Re5io! Tri! *ort of %!oo", !2!, r. >>, te i"t!t petitio i" D$NI$D.

(-$R$FOR$, tere bei5 o error to 4!rr!t ! rever"! of te #e2i"io !# re"otio i Be"tio of re"po#et *ort of &ppe!", 4i2 !Erme# te

 ('onstantino &. 'o"rt o Appeals, G.). *o. ++-+, /*o&em0er +1, +223, 114 56IL 789

SO ORD$R$D.