BAR EXA XAMI MI NATI ONSQ andA19872010 SPECPRO Czari nadi edsi ngl e.Shel ef tal lherpr opert i esbywi l lt oherf ri endDuqueza.I n t hewi l l ,Czari nast at edt hatshedi dnotr ecogni zeMarcoasan adopt edsonbecauseof hi sdi sr espect f ulconductt owar dsher . Duquezasoon i nst i t ut ed an act i on f orpr obat eofCzari na' swi l l .Marco,on t he ot herhand,i nst i t ut edi nt est at epr oceedi ngs.Bot hact i onswereconsol i dat edbef or et he RTC ofPasi g.On mot i on ofMar co,Duquez a' spet i t i on wasorder eddi smi mi ss edon t he groundt hatt hewi l li svoi df ordepri vi nghi m ofhi sl egi t i me.Ar guef orDuqueza.( 5%) SUGGESTEDANSWE WER:
Thepet i t i onf orpr obat eofCzar i na' swi l l ,asfil edbyDuquesashoul dnotbe di sm mi i ss edon mer emo mot i on ofMar cowhoi nst i t ut edi nt es t at epr oceedi ngs. Thel aw f avor st est acyoveri nt est acy,hence,t hepr obat eoft hewi l lcannot bedi spensed wi t h.( SeeSec.5,Rul e75)Thus,unl esst hewi l l -whi ch showst he obvi ousi nt entt odi si nheri tMarco-i spr obat ed,t heri ghtofaperson t odi spose of hi s pr oper t y maybe r ender ed nugat or y ( See Seangi ov . Reyes,G. R. Nos. des, t he aut hori t y of the probat e cour ti s 14037172, Nov . 27, 2006) . Besi general l yl i mi t ed onl yt oadetermi mi nati on oft heext ri nsi cval i di tyofthewi l l .I n thi scase,Marcoquesti onedthei nt ri nsi cval i di t yofthewi wi l l .
Pedri l l o,aFi l Am perma manentr esi dentofLosAngel es,Cal i f orni aatt het i meof hi sdeat h,bequeat hedt oWi Wi nst onasum ofmoneyt opur chaseanannui t y . Upon Pedr i l l o' s demi mi se ,hi s wi l lwas dul y probat ed i n Los Angel es and t he spec i fied sum i nt hewi wi l lwasi nf actuse dt opur chasean annui t ywi wi t h XYZ ofHong Kongsot hatWi nst onwoul dr ece i vet heequi val entofUS$1, 000permont hf ort henext 15year s. Wa Want i ng t or ecei vet hepr i nci palamountoft heannui t y ,Wi nst on fil esf ort he pr obat eofPedri l l o' swi l li nt heMa Makat iRTC.Aspr ayedf or ,t hecourtname mesWi Wi nst on as admi ni st r at oroft heest at e.Wi nst on now fil esi nt heMa Makat iRTC amot i on t ocomp mpel XYZt oaccountf oral lsumsi ni t spossessi onf or mi ngpar tofPedr i l l o' sest at e.Rul eon t hemo mot i on.( 5%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Themot i on shoul dbedeni ed.Makat iRTC hasnoj ur i sdi ct i on overXYZof Hong Kong.The l et t er s ofadmi mi ni st r at i on gr ant ed t o Wi nst on onl y cover s al l Pedri l l o' sestatei nthePhi l i ppi nes.( Rul e77,Sec.4)Thi s cannotcovert heannui t i esi nHongkong. At t he out set , Makat i RTC shoul d not have t aken cogni zance of t he pet i t i on fil ed by Wi ns t on,because t he wi l ldoes not cover any proper t y of Pedri l l ol ocat edherei nt hePhi l i ppi nes. XVI
SalMi neodi edi nt est at e,l eavi ngaPIbi l l i on est at e.Hewa wassurvi vedbyhi swi wi f e Dayanaraand.t hei rfivechi l dr en.Dayanarafil edapet i t i on f ort hei ssuanceofl et t er s ofadmi ni st r at i on.Char l ene,oneoft hechi l dr en,fil ed an opposi t i on t ot hepet i t i on, al l egi ng t hatt her ewas'nei t heran al l egat i on norgenui neeffortt o set t l et heest at e ami cabl ybef oret hefil i ngoft hepet i t i on.Rul eon t heopposi t i on.( 5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
The opposi t i on shoul d be over r ul ed f orl ack ofmer i t .The al l egat i on t hat t her ewasa genui neeffortt o set t l et heest at eam mi i cabl y bef oret hefil l i ngoft he peti t i oni sDotr equi r edbytheRu Rul es.Besi des,apeti ti onf ori ssuanceofl ett ersof admi mi ni s t r at i on maybecont est edon ei t heroft wogr ounds:( 1)t hei ncomp mpet ency oft heper son f orwhom l et t er sar eprayed t her ei n;and ( 2)t hecont est ant ' sown wn ri ghtt ot headmi ni st r ati on.( Sec.4,Rul e791) .
Fr ankandGi nawe wer ema marr i edon June12,1987i nMani l a.Bar el yayearaf t ert he weddi ng,Fr ankexhi bi t edavi ol entt emper ame nt ,f or ci ngGi na,f orr easonsofper sonal saf et y ,t ol i ve wi t h herpar ent s.A yeart her eaf t er ,Gi na f ound emp mpl oyme mentas a dome mest i chel peri nSi ngapore,wher esheworkedf ort enconsecut i veyears.Al lt het i me she was abr oad,Gi na had absol ut el y no communi cat i ons wi t h Fr ank,nordi d she hearanynewsabouthi m.Whi l ei nSi ngapore ,Gi nametandf el li nl ovewi t hWi l l i e. On Jul y4,2007,Gi naFi l edapet i t i on wi t ht heRTC ofMani l at odecl ar eFr ank pr esumpt i vel ydead,sot hatshecoul dmarryWi Wi l l i e.TheRTC gr ant edGi na’ spet i t i on. TheOfficeoft heSol i ci t orGener al( OSG)fil edaNot i ceofAppealwi t ht heRTC,st at i ng t hati twas appeal i ngt hedeci si on t ot heCo Cour tofAppeal son quest i onsoff actand l aw. [ a]I sapet i t i onf orDecl arat i on ofPr esumpt i veDeathaspeci alpr oceedi ng?Wh Whyor
whynot ?( 2%) SUSGES TED ANS WER:
NO.Thepet i t i on f orDecl ar at i on ofPr esumpti veDeat hprovi dedi nAr t .41of t he“Fami l yCode”i snott hespeci alproceedi nggoverni ngabsent eesunderRul e 107oft heRul esofCour twhoserul esofpr ocedur ewi l lnotbef ol l owed ( Republ i c d pet i t i on f or Decl ar at i on of Pr esumpti ve Deat h v .CA,458 SCRA [ 2005] ) .Sai underAr t i cl e 41 oft he Fami l y Code i sa summar y proceedi ng,author i zed f or pur posesonl yofr emar r i ageoft hepr esents pouse,t oavoi di ncur r i ngthecr i me ofbi gamy.Nonet hel ess ,i ti si nt he nat ur e ofa speci alpr oceedi ng,bei ng an appl i cati ont oestabl i shast atusorapart i cul arf acti ncourt . AL TERNA TI V E ANS WER:
A pet i t i on f ordecl ar at i on ofpr esumpt i vedeat h maybeconsi der edaspeci al pr oceedi ng,becausei ti ssocl assi fied i nt heRul esofCour t( Rul e107,Rul esof Cour t ) ,as di ffer ent i at ed f r om an ordi nary acti on whi ch i sadversar i al .I ti sa mer eappl i cati on orpr oceedi ngt oest abl i sht hest at usofapart yorapart i cul ar f act,tov hataper son hasbeen unhear d off oral ongt i meand unders uch i z :t ci r cums t ancet hathemaybepr es umeddead. [ a]Ast he RTC j udgewho gr ant ed Gi na’ spet i t i on,wi l lyou gi ve' due cour set ot he OSG’ sNot i ceofAppeal ?Expl ai n.( 3%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
NO.Appeali snotapr operr emedy si ncethe deci si on i si mmedi at el y final and execut ory upon not i ce to t he part i es under Ar t .247 oft he Fami l y Code ( Republ i cv.Ber mudesLor i no,449 SCRA 57 [ 2005] ) .TheOSG mayass ai lRTC’ s gr antoft hepet i t i on onl yon t hepr emi seofgra veabuseofdi scr et i on amount i ng t ol ack orexcessofj ur i sdi ct i on.Theremedyshoul dbebycert i orar iunderRul e 65oft heRul esofCour t .
[ a]I nt he exer ci se of i t s ori gi nal j ur i sdi ct i on, t he Sandi ganbayan may gr ant habeasc or pus. pet i t i onsf ort hei ssuanceofawri tof SUGGESTED ANSWER:
FALSE.The Sandi ganbayan may gr antpet i t i onsf or Habeas cor onl yi n pus ai d ofi t sappel l at ej ur i sdi ct i on ( RA 7975,asamended by RA 8249) ,noti nt he exerci seof“ori gi nal ”j uri sdi cti on.
Pi noydi ed wi t houtawi l l .Hi swi f e,Rosi e,and t hr eechi l dr en execut ed adeedof extr aj udi ci alset t l ementofhi sest at e.Thedeed waspr oper l ypubl i shedandr egi st ered wi t ht he Office oft he Regi st er ofDeeds.Thr ee year st her eaf t er ,Suz y appear ed, cl ai mi ng t o be t he i l l egi t i mat e chi l d ofPi noy .She soughtt o annult he set t l ement al l egi ngt hatshewasdepri vedofherr i ght f ulsharei nt heest at e.Rosi eandt het hr ee chi l dr encont endedt hat( 1)t hepubl i cat i on oft hedeedconst i t ut edconst ruct i venot i ce t ot hewhol ewor l d,andshoul dt her ef orebi ndSuzy;and( 2)Suzy’ sact i on hadal r eady pr escri bed.Ar eRosi eandt het hr eechi l dr encorr ect ?Expl ai n.( 4%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
NO,t he cont ent i on i snotcor r ect .Suzy can fil e a compl ai ntt o annult he extr aj udi ci alset t l ementandshecan r ecoverwhati sdueherassuch hei ri fher st at us as an i l l egi t i mat e chi l d of the deceased has been est abl i shed. The publ i cat i on of t he set t l ement does not const i t ut e cons t r uct i ve not i ce t ot he hei r s who had no knowl edge or di d nott ake par ti ni t because t he same was noti ceaf t ert hef actofexecut i on.Therequi r ementofpubl i cat i oni si nt endedf or t he prot ect i on ofcr edi t orsand was neveri nt ended t o depr i ve hei r s oft hei r l awf ulpart i ci pat i on i nt he decedent ’ sest at e.She can fil et he acti on t heref or wi t hi nf our( 4)year saf t ert heset t l ementwasr egi st er ed.
[ a]Whati st hewr i tofamparo?How i si tdi st i ngui shedf r om t hewr i tofhabeas cor pus?( 2%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Thepet i t i on f orawr i tofampar oi sar emedyavai l abl et oanyper son whose ri ghtt ol i f e,l i bert y and securi tyi svi ol ated ort hreatened wi th vi ol ati on by an unl awf ul act or omi ssi on of a publ i c offi ci al or empl oyee, or of a pri vat e i ndi vi dual or ent i t y. The wr i t shal l cover ext r al egal ki l l i ngs and enf orced di sappearancesort hr eatst her eof . The wr i tofampar o di ffer sf r om a wr i tofhabeascor pusi nt hatt he l at t er wr i ti s avai l ed of as a r emedy agai nst cases of unl awf ul confinement or det ent i on by whi ch any pers on i s depr i ved of hi sl i bert y,or cases by whi ch r i ght f ulcust odyofany pers on i swi t hhel df r om anotherwhoi sl awf ul l yent i t l ed t her et o( Sec1,Rul e102,Rul esofCour t ) .
[ c]Whati st hewr i tofhabeasdat a?( 1%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Thewr i tofhabeasdat ai sar emedy avai l abl et o any per son whoser i ghtt o pri vacyi nl i f e,l i bert yorsecuri t yi svi ol atedort hreatened by an unl awf ulactor omi ss i on ofa publ i c offi ci alorempl oyee,orofa pr i vat ei ndi vi dualorent i t y engaged i nt hegatheri ng,col l ecti ngorst ori ngofdat aori nf ormat i on r egardi ng t heper son,f ami l y,homeandcorr espondenceoft heaggri evedpar t y.
An hei r /opposi t or i n a pr obat e pr oceedi ng fil ed a mo t i on t or emov et he admi ni st r at oron t hegroundsofnegl ectofdut i esasadmi ni st r at orandabsencef r om t he count ry .On hi s partt he hei r /opposi t or ser ved wr i t t en i nt er r ogat ori es t ot he admi ni st r at orpr eparat ory t o pr esent i ng t he l at t eras a wi t ness.The admi ni st r at or obj ect ed,i nsi st i ngt hatt hemodesofdi scoveryappl yonl yt oordi naryci vi lact i ons,not speci alpr oceedi ngs.Rul eont hematt er .( 4%) SUGGESTEDANSWER:
The admi ni st r at or ’ scont ent i on t hatt he modesofdi scover y appl y onl yt o ordi naryci vi lacti onsand nott o speci alpr oceedi ngsi snotcor r ect.Secti on 2, Rul e 72 of t he Rul es of Court pr ovi des t hat :“ I n t he abs ence of speci al
pr ovi si ons,the rul es pr ovi ded f ori n ordi nary ci vi lact i ons shal lbe,as f aras pr acti cabl e,appl i cabl ei n speci alproceedi ngs. ” Ther ei s no pr ovi si on t ot he contr ar y t hat woul d pr ecl ude t he appl i cat i on of the modes of di scover y, speci fical l yI nt er r ogator i es t o Par t i es underRul e 25 oft he Rul es,t o pr obat e proceedi ngs.
Hal f br ot her s Roscoe and Sal vi oi nher i t ed f r om t hei rf at her a vast t r act of unr egi st er edl and.Roscoesucceededi n gai ni ngpossessi on oft heparcelofl andi ni t s ent i r et y and t r ansf er ri ng t he t ax decl arat i on t her eon i n hi sname.Roscoe sol dt he nort hernhal ft oBono,Sal vi o’ scousi n.Upon l earni ngoft hesal e,Sal vi oasked Roscoe t oconveyt hesout her n hal ft ohi m.Roscoeref usedasheeven sol d one-t hi r d oft he sout her n hal fal ong t he Wes tt o Car l o.Ther eupon,Sal vi o fil ed an act i on f or t he r econvey anceoft hesout her nhal fagai nstRoscoeonl y .Carl owasnoti mpl eaded.Af t er fil i nghi sanswer ,Roscoesol dt hemi ddl et hi r doft hesout hernhal ft oNi na.Sal vi odi d notamendt hec ompl ai ntt oi mpl eadNi na. Af t ert r i al ,t hecour tr ender ed j udgme ntor der i ngRoscoet or econveyt heent i r e sout hernhal ft oSal vi o.Thej udgmen b t ecamefinalandexecut ory .Awr i tofexecut i on havi ng been i ss ued, t he Sher i ffr equi r ed Rosc oe,Car l o and Ni na t o vac at et he sout hernhal fandyi el dpossessi on t hereoft oSal vi oast heprevai l i ngpart y.Car l oand Ni na r ef use d,cont endi ngt hatt heyar enotbound by t hej udgmentast heyar enot part i est ot hecase.I sthecont ent i on t enabl e?Expl ai nf ul l y.( 4%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Yes,i n case of Tr ansf er ofi nt er es t pendi ng l i t i gat i on,t he act i on may be cont i nued by or agai nst the ori gi nalpart y unl ess t he cour t ,upon mot i on, di r ect saperson t obesubsti t ut ed i nt heacti onorj oi ned wi t ht heori gi nalpart y ( Sec. 19, Rul e 3, Rul es of Court ) . The owner s of proper t y over whi ch r econveyance i sasser t ed ar ei ndi spensabl e part i es and mus tbe j oi ned i nt he act i on.Accor di ngl y,t he cont ent i on ofCar l o who i ssuch par t yt ot he act i on fil edbySal vi o,i st enabl e.Hei snotboundbyt hej udgmentbecausehebecamea coowneroft hel andbef or ethecasewasfil edandyethehasnotbeeni ncl uded asapart yt heret o[ Mat ugui naI nt egrat edWordProduct s,I nc.v . Cour tofAppeal s,263 SCRA 490[ 1996] ;Ma.Val ent i na Sant anaCr uz v.Cour tof Appeal s,e t .ah,361SCRA520[ 2001] ) .
Ni na,howeveri sa success ori ni nt er estofRoscoe and pr i vy t ot he case. Hence,she i s bound by t he j udgment as agai ns t Roscoe al t hough she i s not part yt ot hecase ( Sec.19,Rul e3;Cabr esosv .Ter o,166 SCRA 400 [ 1988] ) .A j udgmenti sconcl usi vebet ween t he par t i esand t hei rsuccessor si ni nt er es tby t i t l esubsequentt othecase( Sec.47,Rul e39,Rul esofCourt ) . [ Parent heti cal l y,i ti swor thment i oni ngthatt hesal eoft henort hernonehal fof t hevastt r actofl and ownedi n common byRoscoeandSal vi o,i svoi dast othe nort her n hal f but val i d as t ot he presumed onehal f undi vi ded i nt er es t of Roscoe.The exi st ence oft he co-owner shi p mustfir s tbe det er mi ned t o exi st bef or et he r i ght of r econveyance on t he basi s of a const r uct i ve t r us t may prosper .However ,i nt hepr obl em t hej udgmenthasbecomefinaland execut ory, sot hepr obl em i scent er edon t her emedi all aw aspect] .
Domeni coand Gen l i ve d wi t houtbenefitofmarr i agef ort went y ye ar s,dur i ng whi ch t i met heypur chased pr oper t i est oget her .Af t erDome ni co di ed wi t houta wi l l , Gen fil ed a pet i t i on f or l et t er s ofadmi ni st r at i on.Domeni co’ s si bl i ngs opposed t he sameont hegr oundt hatGenhasnol egalper sonal i t y .Deci de.( 4%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Gen has t he l egalper sonal i t yt o fil et he pet i t i on f orl et t ersofadmi ni st r at i on becauseshei san “i nt er est edper son”i n cont empl at i on ofSect i on 2,Rul e79 of t he Rul esofCour t ,bei ng a coowneroft he pr oper t i esacqui r ed t hr ough j oi nt effort swi t hDomenci odur i ngt hei rcohabi t at i on f or20 year s.She,t heref ore,has di r ecti nt er estas coownerto such propert i es f ormi ng partofthe es t at e of Domenci o( . Ar t s.147148,Fami l y Code;San Lui s v.San Lui s,514 SCRA 294 [ 2007] ) .
Af t erAl mahadst ar t edser vi nghersent encef orvi ol at i onofBat asPambansaBi g. 22( BP22) ,shefil edapet i t i on ofwri tofhabeascorpus,ci t i ngVaca vs.CA wher et he sent enceofi mpr i sonmentofapart yf oundgui l t yofvi ol at i on ofBP22wasr educedt o afineequalt odoubl et heamountoft hechec ki nvol ve d.Shepr ayedt hathersent ence be si mi l ar l y modi fied and t hatshe be i mmedi at el yr el eased f r om det ent i on.I nt he al t ernat i ve,sheprayedt hatpendi ngdet ermi nat i on on whet hert heVacarul i ngappl i es t oher ,shebeal l owedt opostbai lpur suantt oRul e102,Sec.14,whi chpr ovi dest hat i faper son i sl awf ul l yi mpr i soned orr est r ai ned on achargeofhavi ngcommi t t ed an offensenotpuni shabl ebydeat h,hemaybeadmi t t edt obai li nt hedi scr et i on oft he court .Accor di ngl y ,t he t r i alcour tal l owed Al ma t o postbai land t hen order ed her rel ease.I nyouropi ni on,i stheorderoft hetr i alcourtcorr ect? a)UnderRul e102?( 2%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
a)No.Sect i on 4,Rul e 102 oft he Rul esofCour t( HabeasCorpus)doesnot aut hori zea cour tt o di schar geby wr i tofhabeascorpusaper son char ged wi t h orconvi ct edofan offensei nt hePhi l i ppi nes,orofaper son suffer i ng i mpri sonmentunderl awf ulj udgment .
HusbandH fil esapet i t i on f ordecl arat i on ofnul l i t yofmarri agebef oret heRTC of Pasi g Ci t y .Wi f eW fil esa pet i t i on f orhabeas cor pusbef or et heRTC ofPasayCi t y , pr ayi ng f orcust ody overt hei rmi norchi l d.H fil es a mot i on t o di smi ss t he wi f e’ s pet i t i onont hegroundoft hependencyoft heot hercase.Rul e. SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Themot i on t o di smi sst hepet i t i on f orhabeascor pusshoul d begr ant ed t o avoi d mul t i pl i ci t y ofs ui t s.The quest i on ofwho bet ween t he spousesshoul d have cus t ody oft hei rmi norchi l d coul d al sobe det er mi ned i nt hepet i t i on f or decl ar at i on ofnul l i t y oft hei rmar r i agewhi ch i sal r eady pendi ngi nt heRTC of Pasi gCi t y.I notherwor ds,t hepeti t i onfil edi nPasi gCi t y,pr ayi ngf orcust odyof t hemi norchi l di sunnecess aryandvi ol at esonl yt hecar di nalr ul eofpr ocedur e agai nstmul t i pl i ci t yofsui t s.Hence,t hel att ers ui tmaybeabatedbyamoti ont o di smi sson t hegr oundofl ( Yu v.Yu,484SCRA485[ 2006] ) . i t i spe nde nt i a
( a)B fil esapet i t i on f orcancel l at i on oft hebi rt hcert i ficat eofherdaught erRont he r ound oft he f al si fied mat er i alent r i es t her ei n made by B’ s husband as t he i nf ormant .TheRTC set st hecasef orheari nganddi r ect st hepubl i cat i on oft he or der once a wee kf or t hr ee conse cut i ve weeks i n a newspaper ofgener al ci r cul at i on.Summons was se r ved on t he Ci vi lRegi st r arbutt her e was no appearanceduri ngt heheari ng.TheRTC gr ant edt hepet i t i on.R fil edapet i t i on f orannul mentofj udgmentbef or et heCour tofAppeal s,sayi ngt hatshewasnot not i fied oft hepet i t i on and hence,t hedeci si on wasi ssued i n vi ol at i on ofdue pr ocess.B opposedsayi ngt hatt hepubl i cat i onoft hecourtor derwassuffici ent compl i ancewi t hduepr ocess .Rul e.( 5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
R’ spet i t i on f orannul mentofj udgmentbef oret heCour tofAppeal ss houl d be gr ant ed. Al t hough t her e was publ i cat i on of t he cour t or der act i ng t he peti t i on t o cancelt hebi r t h cert i ficat e,r easonabl enoti ce st i l lhast o be served on R ass hehasan ai nt er estaffect ed by t hecancel l at i on.( Secs.3 and 4,Rul e 108,Rul esofCour t )Shei san i ndi spensabl epar t y( Republ i cv.Benemeri t o,425 SCRA 488 [ 2004] ) ,and not i cehast o be ser ved on her ,notf ort he pur pose of ves t i ngt hecour twi t hj ur i sdi ct i on,butt ocompl ywi t ht her equi r ement soff ai r pl ayandduepr ocess( 477SCRA 134[ 2005] ) . Cerui l av. Del ant ar ,
( a)Thehei r sofH agreeamongt hemsel vest hatt heywi l lhonort hedi vi si on ofH’ s est at e as i ndi cat ed i n herLastWi l land Tes t ament .To avoi dt he expenseof goi ngt ocourti n aPet i t i on f orPr obat eoft heWi l l ,can t heyi nst eadexecut ean Ext r aj udi ci alSet t l ementAgr eementamongt hemsel ves?Expl ai nbri efly .( 5%) SUGGESTEDANSWER:
Thehei r sofH cannotval i dl yagr eet or esor tt oext r aj udi ci alset t l ementof hi sest at eand doawaywi t ht hepr obat eofH’ sl astwi l land t est ament .Pr obat e oft hewi l li smandat ory ( Thepol i cy Guevarr a v.Guevarr a,74 Phi l .479 [ 1943] ) . of t he l aw i srt or espectthe wi l loft he t est at or as mani f est ed i nt he ot her di sposi t i onsi n hi sl astwi l land t est ament ,i nsof arasthey arenotcont rar yt o l aw,publ i cmor al sand publ i cpol i cy.Extr aj udi ci alset t l ementofan est ateofa deceased i sal l owed onl ywhen t hedeceased l ef tnol astwi l landt est amentand al ldebt s,i fany,arepai d( Rul e74,Sec.1,Rul esofCourt ) .
Ser gi o Punzal an,Fi l i pi no,50 year sol d,marr i ed,and r esi di ngatAyal a Al abang Vi l l age,Munt i nl upa Ci t y ,ofsound and di sposi ng mi nd,execut ed a l astwi l land t est amenti nEngl i sh,al anguagespokenandwri t t enbyhi m pr ofici ent l y .Hedi sposed ofhi sest at econsi st i ngofapar celofl andi nMakat iCi t yandcash deposi tatt heCi t y D Banki nt hes um of 300Mi l l i on.Hebequeat hedP50Mi l l i oneacht ohi s3sonsmdPI a 50 Mi l l i on t o hi swi f e.Hedevi sed a pi eceofl and wort h 100 Mi l l i on t o Susan,hi s f avori t edaught er i nl aw.Hel amedhi sbestf ri end,Canci oVi dal ,asexecut oroft hewi l l wi t houtbond. 1. I sCanci oVi dal ,af t erl earni ngofSergi o’ sdeat h,obl i ged t ofil e wi t ht hepr opercour ta pet i t i on f orpr obat eoft hel at t er ’ sl astwi l land t est ament ?2% SUGGESTEDANSWER:
No,Canci oVi dali snotobl i ged t ofil eapet i t i on f orprobat ebecauseunder Sec.3,Rul e 75,he i sonl y obl i ged t o del i vert he wi l lwi t hi nt went y( 20)days
af t erheknowsoft hedeathoft het est at or .
1.
Supposi ng t he or i gi nalcopy oft he l astwi l land t es t amentwas l ost ,can Canci ocompelSusan t opr oduceacopy i n herpossessi on t obesubmi t t edt o t hepr obat ecourt ?2%
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Yes,asa per son havi ng cust ody oft he wi l l ,Susan hast he dut yt o del i ver t he wi l lt ot he cour thavi ng j ur i sdi ct i on ort ot he execut ornamed i nt he wi l l wi t hi nt went y( 20)daysupon l ear ni ngt hedeat h oft het est at or ( Sec.2,Rul e75 oft heRul esofCourt ) .
2. Cant hepr obat ecour tappoi ntt hewi dow asexec ut oroft hewi l l ?2% SUGGESTED ANSWER:
Yes,t he pr obat e cour tcan appoi ntt hewi dow asan execut oroft he wi l li f Canci o Vi dali sf ound t o be i ncompet ent ,r ef usesthe t r ust ,or f ai l st o gi ve a bond,pr ovi dedt hatshei scompet entandwi l l i ngt oser ve ( Sec.6,Rul e78oft he Rul esofCourt ) .
3. Can t hewi dow and herc hi l dre n se t t l eext r aj udi ci al l yamongt hemse l ve st he est at eoft hedeceased?2% SUGGESTED ANSWER:
No,an ext r aj udi ci alse t t l ementofest at e by agr eementbet ween oramong t hehei r soft hedeceasedmaybe had onl ywhen t hedecedentl ef tno wi l l( Sec. 1,Rul e75oft heRul esofCourt ) .
4. Can t hewi dow andherchi l dr en i ni t i at easeparat epet i t i on f orpart i t i on oft he est at ependi ngt hepr obat eoft hel astwi l land t est amentbyt hepr opercourt ? 2% SUGGESTED ANSWER:
No,t hewi dow and herchi l dren cannotfil easeparat epeti t i on f orpar t i t i on pendi ngthepr obat eoft heWi l l( Sec.1,Rul e75 oft heRul esofCour t ;Vda.de Parti ti on i spartofthetestateestat e Ki l aykov.Tengco,207 SCRA 600,[ 1992] ) . proceeding. ( 1. ) Whi l e Mar i et t a was i n her pl ace of wor k i n Makat i Ci t y, her est r angedhusbandCar l obar gedi nt oherhousei nPar ahaqueCi t y,abduct edt hei r si xyearol dson.Per ci val ,andbroughtt hechi l dt ohi shomet own i nBagui oCi t y. Despi t e Mari ett a' spl eas,Carl or ef used t or eturn t hei rchi l d.Mari et t a,t hr ough counsel ,fil ed apet i t i on f orhabeascor nstCar l oi nt heCour tofAppeal s pusagai i n Mani l at o compelhi m t o produce t hei rs on bef or et he cour tand f orhert o r egai n cust ody.Sheal l eged i nt hepet i t i on t hatdespi t ehereffort s,shecoul dno
l ongerl ocat ehers on. I n hi scomment ,Car l oal l eged t hatt hepet i t i on waser r oneousl yfil ed i nt he Cour t ofAppeal s as t he same shoul d have been fil ed i nt he Fami l y Cour ti n Bagui oCi t ywhi ch,underRepubl i cActno.8369.hasexcl usi vej ur i sdi ct i on over t he pet i t i on.Mar i et t ar epl i ed t hatunder Rul e 102 oft he Rul es ofCour t ,as amended,t hepet i t i on maybefil ed i nt heCour tofAppeal sand i fgr ant ed,t he wr i tofhabeascor pusshal lbeenf or ceabl eanywher ei nt hePhi l i ppi nes.
Whosecont ent i oni scor r ect ?Expl ai n.( 5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: ( 1. ) Mari et t a' scont ent i on i scor r ect.TheCour tofAppeal shasconcur r ent j ur i sdi ct i on wi t ht he f ami l y cour t s and t he Supr eme Cour ti n pet i t i ons f or et he cust ody ofmi nors i s at i ss ue,not wi t hst andi ng t he habeas cor pus wher provi si on i nt he Fami l y Cour t sAct( Republ i c ActNo.8369)t hatf ami l y cour t s haveexcl usi vej uri sdi cti on i n such cases.( 436 SCRA 550 Thornt on v.Thornton, [ 2004] ) . Sec.20,par .6 ofSC AM No.030404 [ 2003]provi des:" t he pet i t i on may l i kewi se be fil ed wi t ht he Supreme Cour t ,Cour tofAppeal s,orwi t h any ofi t s member s and, i fs o gr anted, t he wr i t shal lbe enf or ceabl e anywher ei nt he Phi l i ppi nes .The wr i t may be made r et urnabl et o a Fami l y Court or t o any r egul arcour twi t hi nt heregi on wher ethepeti t i onerr esi desorwher ethemi nor maybef oundf orheari nganddeci si on on t hemer i t s. " ( 2) UnderRepubl i c ActNo.8353,one may be char ged wi t h and f ound gui l t yofqual i fiedr apei fheknew on orbef oret hecommi ss i on oft hecr i met hat he i s affli ct ed wi t h Human I mmunoDefici ency Vi r us ( HI V) /Acqui r ed I mmune Defici encySyndrome( AI DS)orany ot hers exual l yt r ansmi ss i bl edi seas eandt he vi r usordi seasei st r ansmi t t edt ot hevi ct i m. Under Sect i on 17( a)ofRepubl i c Act No. 8504 t he cur t may compelt he accused t o submi t hi msel ft o a bl ood t es t wher e bl ood sampl es woul d be ext r act edf r om hi svei nst odet er mi newhet herhehasHI V.
( 1)Af t erLul u’ sdeat h,herhei r sbr oughtherl astwi l lt oal awyert oobt ai nt hei r r espect i vesharesi nt heest at e.Thel awyerpr epar ed adeed ofpart i t i on di st ri but i ng Lul u’ sest at ei naccor dancewi t ht het ermsofherwi l l . I st heactoft hel awyercorr ect ?Why?( 2%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER: ( 1)No.Nowi l lshal lpassei therr ealorpersonalestateunl essi ti sproved and al l owedi nthepr opercourt .( Sect i on1,Rul e75,Rul esofCourt . ) ( 2) Nest ordi edi nt est at ei n 2003,l eavi ngnodebt s.How mayhi sest at ebeset t l ed byhi shei r swhoar eofl egalageandhavel egalcapaci t y?Expl ai n.( 2%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
( 2)I ft hedecedentl ef tnowi l land nodebt s,and t hehei r sareal lofage,t he part i esmay,wi thouts ecur i ngl ett ersofadmi ni st r ati on,di vi detheest ate amongt hemsel vesbymeansofapubl i ci nst r umentorbyst i pul at i on i na pendi ngact i on f orpart i t i on andshal lfil eabondwi t ht heregi st erofdeeds i n an amountequi val entt ot heval ueoft heper sonalpr oper t yi nvol ved as cert i fied t ounderoathby t hepart i esconcerned.Thef actofextr aj udi ci al set t l ementshal lbepubl i shedi n anewspaperofgeneralci r cul at i on oncea week f ort hr ee consecut i ve weeks i nt he pr ovi nce.( Sect i on 1,Rul e 74, Rul esofCour t ) .
( 3)St at et herul eon venueI nj udi ci alset t l ementofest at eofdeceased per sons. ( 2%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
( 3)The r ul e on venue i nj udi ci alset t l ementofes t at e ofdeceased pers ons may be st at ed as f ol l ows: I ft he decedent i s an i nhabi t ant of the Phi l i ppi nesatt he t i me ofhi sdeat h/whet hera ci t i zen oran al i en,t he venue shal lbe i nt he Regi onalTr i alCour ti nt he pr ovi nce i n whi ch he r esi desatt het i meofhi sdeat h.I tcannotbei nt hepl acewhereheusedt o l i ve( 382SCRA 407[ 2002] } .I fhei sani nhabi t ant Jaov.CourtofAppeal s, ofaf orei gn count r y,t heRegi onalTr i alCour tofanyprovi ncei n whi ch he had est at e,i st hepr opervenue.Thecour tfir s tt aki ngcogni zance oft he caseshal lexerci sej uri sdi cti on t o theexcl usi on ofal lothercourt s.When t he mar r i age i s di ssol ved by t he deat h of t he husband or wi f e, t he communi t y pr oper t y shal lbe i nvent ori ed,admi ni s t er ed,and l i qui dat ed, and t hedebtst her eofpai d,i nt het est at eori nt est at epr oceedi ngsoft he deceasedspouse.I fbot h spouseshavedi ed,t heconj ugalpart ners hi pshal l bel i qui dat edi nt het es t at eori nt est at epr oceedi ngsofei t her .( Secs.1and 2,Rul e73,Rul esofCour t . ) Hel en i st hedaught erofEl i za,aFi l i pi na,andTony,aChi nese,whoi smarr i edt o anot herwoman l i vi ng i n Chi n Herbi r t h cer t i ficat ei ndi cat esthatHel en i sthe l egi t i machi l dofTonyandEl i zaandt hats hei saChi neseci t i zen,j Hel en want s her bi r t h cer t i ficat e cor r ect ed by changi ng her fil i at i on f r om “l egi t i mate"t o “i l l egi t i mate"and herci t i zenshi pf r om " " Chi nese” t o “Fi l i pi no" becauseherpar ent swer enotmar r i ed. What pet i t i on shoul d Hel en fil e and what pr ocedur alr equi r ement s must be obser ved?Expl ai n.( 5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: A pet i t i on t o change t he r ecor d of bi r t h by changi ng t he fil i at i on f r om " l egi t i mat e" t o “i l l egi t i mat e" and pet i t i oner' s ci t i zenshi pf r om " Chi nese" t o “Fi l i pi no because her par ent s wer e not mar r i ed, does not i nvol ve a si mpl e summar y corr ect i on ofhercer t i ficat eofbi r t h,whi ch coul d ot her wi sebe done
undert he aut hori t y ofRepubl i c ActNo.9048.A pet i t i on hast o be fil ed i n an advers ar i alproceedi ngunderRul e108oft heRul esofCour t ,whi chhasnow been i nt er pre t ed t o be advers ar i ali n nat ur e( Republ i c v.Val enci a,141 SCRA 462, [ 1986) ;Gupi t ,Jr . ,Rul es ofProcedur ei n Fami l y Law Annot at ed,2005 ed. ,p. 407. )Pr ocedur alr equi r ement si ncl ude:( a)fil i ngaver i fied peti t i on;( b)nami ngas part i esal lpers onswho haveorcl ai m any i nt er estwhi ch woul d be affect ed;( c) i ss uance ofan orderfixi ngt he t i me and pl ace ofhear i ng;( d)gi vi ngr easonabl e noti cet ot hepart i esnamedi nt hepet i t i on;and( e)publ i cati on oft heor deronce aweek f ort hr eeconsecuti veweeksi n anewspaperofgener alci r cul at i on.( Rul e 108,Rul esofCour t ) ;Co.v.TheCi vi lRegi st r arofMani l a,423SCRA 420[ 2004] ) .
Wi dow A and hert wochi l dr en,bot h gi r l s,aged 8 and 12 year sol d,r esi dei n Angel esCi t y ,Pampanga.A l eaveshert wodaught er si nt hei rhouseatni ghtbecause sheworksi nabr ot helasapr ost i t ut e.Real i zi ngt hedangert ot hemoral soft heset wo gi r l s,B,t hef atheroft hedeceased husband ofA,fil esapet i t i on f orhabeascorpus agai nstA f ort he cust ody oft he gi r l si nt he Fami l y Cour ti n Angel es Ci t y .I n sai d pet i t i on,B al l eges t hathe i s ent i t l ed t ot hecust ody oft he t wo gi r l s because t hei r habeascor pus. motheri sl i vi ngadi sgracef ull i f e.Thecourti ssuest hewri tof Whe n A l ear nsoft hepet i t i onandt hewr i t ,shebr i ngshert wochi l dr ent oCebu Ci t y .Att he expenseofB,t hesher i ff oft hesai d Fami l yCour tgoest oCebu Ci t yand ser ve st he wr i tonA.Afil eshercommentont hepet i t i onr ai si ngt hef ol l owi ngdef enses: ( a) Theenf orc ementoft hewri tofhabeascorpus i nCe buCi t yi si l l e gal ;and ( b)B hasnopersonal i t yt oi nst i t ut et hepet i t i on. Resol vet hepet i t i on i nt hel i ghtoft heabovedef ensesofA. SUGGESTED ANSWER: or pus ( a)Thewr i tofhabeasc i ss uedbyt heFami l yCour ti n Angel esCi t ymaynot bel egal l yenf or cedi nCebuCi t y ,becauset hewr i ti senf or ceabl eonl ywi t hi nt he j udi ci alr egi on t owhi ch t heFami l yCour tbel ongs,unl i ket hewr i tgr ant ed by t heSupr emeCour torCour tofAppeal swhi ch i senf or ceabl eanywher ei nt he pus Phi l i ppi nes.( Sec.20ofRul eon Cust odyofMi norsandWri tofHabeas.Cor i nRel at i ont oCust odyofMi nors.( A. M.No.030404SC;seeal soSec.4ofRul e 102,Rul esofCour t . )
( b) B,t hef atheroft hedeceased husbandofA,hast heper sonal i t yt oi nst i t ut et he or pus pe t i t i on f orhabeasc oft het womi norgi r l s,becauset hegr andparenthas t heri ghtofcust odyasagai nstt hemot herA who i sa pr ost i t ut e.( Sect i ons2 and13,I d. ) ( c)A,a r esi dentofMal ol os,Bul acan,di ed l eavi ng an est at el ocat ed i n Mani l a, wor t h P200, OOO. OO.I n whatcour t ,t aki ng i nt o consi der at i on t he nat ur e of j ur i sdi ct i on andofvenue,shoul dt hepr obat epr oceedi ngon t heest at eofA be i ns t i t ut e d? ( d)
( e) ( f )SUGGESTED ANSWER:
( g)The probat e proceedi ng on t he es t at e ofA shoul d be i ns t i t ut ed i nt he Muni ci palTr i alCour tofMal ol os,Bul acan whi ch hasj ur i sdi cti on,because t he es t at ei s val ued atP200, 000. 00,and i st he cour tofpropervenue becauseA wasar esi dentofMal ol osatt het i meofhi sdeat h.( Sec.33 of BP129 asamendedbyRA 7691;Sec.1ofRul e73) .
A.May an or derdenyi ng t he pr obat e ofa wi l lst i l lbe overt urned af t ert he peri od t oappealt her ef r om hasl apsed?Why?( 3%) B. What shoul dt he courtdo i f ,i nt he cour se ofi nt est at e pr oceedi ngs,a wi l li sf oundandi ti ssubmi t t ed f orpr obat e?Expl ai n.( 2%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
A.Yes,an orderdenyi ng the probat e ofa wi l lmay be overturned af t er the peri od t o appealtheref rom hasl apsed.A peti ti on f orrel i efmay be fil ed on the grounds of f raud, acci dent, mi stake or excusabl e negl i gence wi thi n a peri od of si xty ( 60)days af t er the peti ti oner l ear ns of t he j udgment or final order and not more than si x( 6) months af t er such j udgment or finalorder was enter ed [ Rul e 38, secs. 1 end 3; Soriano v. Asl , 100 Phi l . 785 ( 1957) ] . An acti on f or annul mentmayal sobe fil ed on theground ofext ri nsi cf raud wi thi n f our ( 4) years f rom i ts di scover y, and i f based on l ack of Juri sdi cti on,bef orei ti sbarred by l achesorest oppel .( Rul e47,secs. 2 and 3) B. I fa wi l li sf ound i n the course ofi nt est ate proceedi ngs and i ti s submi tt ed f or probate,the i nt est ate proceedi ngs wi l lbe suspended unti lthewi l li sprobated.Upon theprobat eofthewi l l ,thei nt estat e proceedi ngswi l lbe t ermi nated.( Rul e32,sec.1) . A .X fil ed a cl ai m i nt he i nt est at e pr oceedi ngs ofD.D' s admi ni s t r at or deni ed l i abi l i t yandfil edacount ercl ai m agai nstX.X' scl ai m wasdi sal l owed.
( 1) Does t he pr obat e cour t st i l l have j ur i sdi ct i on t o al l ow t he cl ai m of D' s admi ni st r at orbywayofoffse t ?Why?( 2%) ( 2) SupposeD' s‘ admi ni st r at ordi dnotal l egeanycl ai m agai nstX bywayofoffset , canD’ sadmi ni st r at orpr osecut et hecl ai mi nan i ndependentpr oceedi ng?Why? ( 3%) B. A,B andC,t heonl yhei r si n D’ si nt est at epr oceedi ngs,submi t t edapr oj ectof part i t i on t ot hepr obat ecour t( RTCMani l a) .Upon t hecourt ’ sappr ovaloft he par t i t i on, t wo l ot s wer e assi gned t o C, who i mmedi at el y ent er ed i nt ot he possessi on oft hel ot s.Ther eaf t er ,C di edandpr oceedi ngsf ort heset t l ementof hi sest at e wer e fil ed i nt heRTCQuez on Ci t y .D’ s admi ni st r at ort hen fil ed a
mot i on i nt hepr obat ecourt( RTCMani l a) ,pr ayi ngt hatoneoft hel ot sassi gned t oC i nt he proj ec t of part i t i on be t ur ned ove rt o hi m t o sat i sf y debt s cor r espondi ngt oC' sport i on.Themot i on wasopposedbyt headmi ni st r at orof C’ s est at e. How shoul d t he RTC- Mani l a r esol ve t he mot i on of D’ s admi ni st r at or?Expl ai n.( 3%) C.Supposet hepr oper t yofD wasdec l ar edes cheat edon Jul y1,1990 i n es cheat pr oceedi ngsbr oughtbyt heSol i ci t orGener al .Now,X,whocl ai mst obean hei r ofD,fil es an act i on t or ecovert he escheat ed pr oper t y .I st he act i on vi abl e? Why?( 2%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
A.( 1)No,because si nce t he cl ai m ofX wasdi sal l owed,t her ei sno amount agai nstwhi cht ooffsett hecl ai m ofD’ sadmi ni st r at or . ( 2)Yes , D’ s admi ni s t r at or can pr osecut e t he cl ai m I n an I ndependent pr oceedi ngsi ncethecl ai m ofX wasdi sal l owed.I fX hadaval i dcl ai m and D’ sadmi ni s t r at ordi d notal l egeany cl ai m agai nstX by way ofoffset ,hi s f ai l ur etodosowoul dbarhi scl ai mf or ever .( Rul eOS,sec. 10) . B.The moti on ofD’ s admi ni strat or shoul d be grant ed.The assi gnment ofthe two l ots t o 0 was premat ure because the debts ofthe est at e had notbeen f ul l y pai d.[ Rul e 90,sec.1;Reyes v. Barreto-Datu, 19 SCRA 85 ( 1967) ] . No,t heact i on i snotvi abl e.Theact i on t or ecoveresc heat edpr oper t ymust befil edwi t hi nfiveyear sf r om Jul y1, 1990orbef or everbar r ed.( Rul e91,sec.4) . Josef afil edi nt heMuni ci palCi r cui tTr i alCour tofAl i ci aandMabi ni ,apet i t i onf ort he pr obat eoft hewi l lofherhusband,Mart i n,whodi edi nt heMuni ci pal i t yofAl i ci a,t he r esi denceoft hespouses.Thepr obabl eval ueoft heest at ewhi chconsi st edmai nl yofa houseand l otwaspl aced atP95. 000. 00 and i nt hepet i t i on f ort heal l owanceoft he wi l l ,at t or ney' sf eesi nt heamountofP10, 000. 00,l i t i gat i onexpensesi nt heamountof P5, 000. 00 and cos t s wer ei ncl uded. Pedr o; t he next ,of ki n of Mart i n, fil ed an opposi t i on t ot hepr obat eoft hewi l lon t hegroundt hatt het ot alamounti ncl udedi n ( he r el i efoft he pet i t i on i s mor et han P100, 000. 00,t he maxi mum Jur i sdi ct i onal amountf or muni ci palci r cui tt r i alcour t .The cour tover r ul ed t he opposi t i on and pr oceededt oheart hecase.
Wast hemuni ci palci r cui tt r i alcour tcor r ecti ni t sr ul i ng?Why?( 5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER: Yes,t he Muni ci palCi r cui tTr i alCour twascorr ecti n pr oceedi ng t o hear t he case.I thasexcl usi vej uri sdi ct i on i n al lmat t ersofprobat e,bot ht est at e and i nt est at e,wher et heval ueoft heest at edoesnotexceed P100, 000, 00 ( now ( P200. 000. 00) .Theval uei nt hi scaseofP95. 000. 00 i swi t hi ni t sj uri sdi ct i on. I n det er mi ni ng t he j ur i sdi ct i onal amount , excl uded ar e at t or ney' s f ees , l i t i gat i on expensesand cost s;t hesear e consi der ed onl yf ordet ermi ni ng t he fil i ngf ees.( B. P .Bi g.129,sec.33,asame nded)
a)How shoul dt he r ec or ds ofchi l d and f ami l y cas esi nt he Fami l y Cour t s or
Regi onalTr i alCour tdesi gnat edbyt heSupr emeCour tt ohandl eFami l yCour t casesbet r eat edanddeal twi t h?( 3%) b)Underwhatcondi t i onsmayt hei dent i t yofpar t i esi n chi l dandf ami l ycasesbe di vul ged?( 2%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
a)The r ecor ds ofchi l d and f ami l y cas es i nt he Fami l y Cour t s or Regi onal Tr i alCour tdesi gnat edbyt heSupr emeCour tt ohandl eFami l yCour tcases shal lbe deal twi t h ut mostconfident i al i t y.( Sec.12,Fami l y Cour t sActof 1997)shal lnotbe di vul ged unl essnecess ar y and wi t h aut hori t y oft he j udge.( I d. ) XV
The r ul es on speci al pr oceedi ngs or di nar i l yr equi r et hat t he est at e of t he deceasedshoul dbej udi ci al l yadmi ni st er edt hruan admi ni st r at ororexecut or . Whatar et het woexcept i onst osai dr equi r ement ?( 5%) SUGGESTEDANSWER:
Thet woexcept i onst ot her equi r ementar e: ( a) Wher ethedecedentl ef tno wi l landnodebtsand t hehei r sar eal lofage, or t he mi norsar er epr esent ed by t hei rj udi ci alor l egalr epr esent at i ves dul yaut hori zed f ort hepur pose,t hepart i esmaywi t houtsecur i ngl et t ers of admi ni st r at i on,di vi de t he es t at e among t hemsel ves by means of a publ i ci ns t r umentfil ed i nt he offi ce oft he r egi st erofdeeds,orshoul d t hey di sagr ee,t hey may do soi n an or di naryact i on ofpart i t i on.I ft her e i sonl yonehei r ,hemayadj udi cat et ohi msel ft heent i r eest at eby means ofanaffi davi tfil edi nt heofficeoft her egi s t erofdeeds.Thepar t i esort he sol ehei rs hal lfil esi mul t aneousl yabondwi t ht her egi st erofdeeds,i n an amountequi val entt ot he val ue oft he pers onalpropert y ascert i fied t o underoat h bythe part i esand condi t i oned upon t hepaymentofany j us t cl ai m t hatmay be fil ed l at er .Thef actoft he extr aj udi ci alset t l ementor admi ni st r at i on shal lbepubl i shed i n anewspaperofgener alci r cul ati on i n t hepr ovi nceonceaweek f ort hr eeconsecut i veweeks.( Sec.1 ofRul e74, Rul esofCour t ) ( b) Whenevert hegrossval ueoft heest at eofadeceasedper son,whet herhe di ed t es t at e ori nt est at e,doesnotexceed t en t housand pesos,and t hat f acti smade t o appeart ot heRegi onalTr i alCour thavi ng j ur i sdi ct i on of t heest at ebythepet i t i on ofan i nt er est edpers on andupon heari ng,whi ch shal lbehel dnotl esst han one( 1)mont h normoret han t hr ee( 3)mont hs f r om t hedat eoft hel astpubl i cati on ofanoti cewhi ch shal lbe publ i shed once a week f or t hree consecuti ve weeks i n a newspaper of gener al ci r cul at i on i nt he pr ovi nce, and af t er such other not i ce t oi nt er est ed per sons as the cour t may di r ect ,t he cour t may pr oceed summar i l y, wi t houtt he appoi nt mentofan execut ororadmi ni s t r at or ,t o• set t l et he estat e.( Sec.2ofRul e74,Rul esofCour t )
Maxi mofil edan act i on agai nstPedr o,t headmi ni st r at oroft heest at eofdeceased Juan,f ort her ecover yofa carwhi ch i spar toft hel at t er ' sest at e.Dur i ngt het r i al , Maxi mopr es ent edwi t nes sMar i anowhot es t i fied t hathewaspres entwhen Maxi mo and Juan agr eed t hatt he l at t erwoul d pay a r ent alofP20. 000. 00 f ort heuseof Maxi mo' scarf orone mont h af t erwhi ch Juan shoul di mmedi at el yret ur nt hecart o Maxi mo.Pedr oobj ect edt ot headmi ssi onofMari ano' st est i mony . I fyouwer et hej udge,woul dyousust ai nPedr o' sobj ect i on?Why?( 5%) SUGGESTED ANSWER:
No,t he t es t i mony i sadmi ssi bl ei n evi dence because wi t nessMar i ano who t es t i fiedast owhatMaxi moandJuan,t hedeceas edperson,agr eedupon,i snot di squal i fied t ot est i f y on t he agr eement . Those di squal i fied ar e part i es or assi gnorsofpart i est o acase,orpers onsi n whose behal facasei spr osecut ed, agai nstt headmi ni st r at orofJuan' sest at e,upon acl ai m ordemand agai nsthi s est at e astoany mat t eroff actoccur r i ng bef oreJuan' sdeat h.( Sec.23 ofRul e 130,Rul esofCour t )
X,an i l l egi t i mat e chi l d ofY,cel ebr at ed her18t h bi r t hday on May 2,1996.A mont hbef oreherbi rt hday.Ydi ed.Thel egi t i mat ef ami l yofYr ef usedt orecogni zeX as ani l l egi t i mat echi l dofY.Af t ercount l esseffort st oconvi ncet hem,X fil edon Apri l25, 2000an act i on f orr ecogni t i on agai nstZ,wi f e,ofY.Af t erZfil edheransweron August 14,2000,X fil ed a mot i on f orl eav et o fil ean amended compl ai ntand a mot i on t o admi tt hesai d amended compl ai nti mpl eadi ngt het hr ee( 3)l egi t i mat echi l dr en ofY. Thet r i alcour tadmi t t ed t heame nded compl ai nton Augus t22,2000.Whati st he effec toft headmi ss i on oft heamended compl ai nt ?Hast heact i on ofX pre sc r i bed? Expl ai n.( 5%)
SUGGESTED ANSWER:
No. The act i on fil ed on Apri l 25, 2000 i s st i l l wi t hi n t he f our year pr es cr i pt i ve per i od whi ch st ar t ed t o r un on May 2, 1996. The amended compl ai nti mpl eadi ngthet hr eel egi t i mat echi l dren,t hough admi t t edon August 22,2000beyondt hef our yearprescri pt i veperi od,r etr oactst ot hedateoffil i ng oft heor i gi nalcompl ai nt .Amendment si mpl eadi ngnew def endant sr et r oactt o t he dat e oft he fil i ng oft he compl ai ntbecausethey do notconst i t ute a new causeofact i on.( Verzosau.Cour 299SCRA 100( 1938] ) . tofAppeal s, ( Note:Thef our yearperi odi sbased onArt i cl e285oft heCi vi lCode) ALTERNATI VE ANSWER:
Under t he 1997 Rul es of Ci vi lPr ocedur e,i f an addi t i onaldef endant i s i mpl eaded i n al at erpl eadi ng,t heact i on i scommenced wi t hr egar dt o hi m on t hedat eoft hefil i ngofsuch l at erpl eadi ng,i r r espect i veofwhet hert hemoti on f ori tsadmi ssi on,i fnecessary,i sdeni edbythecourt .( Sec.5ofRul e 1) .
Consequent l y,t he act i on ofX haspr escr i bed wi t hr espectt ot he t hr ee ( 3) l egi t i matechi l dr en ofYwhoar ei ndi spensabl epart i es. ANOTHER ALTERNATI VE ANSWER:
UnderAr t i cl e 175 oft he Fami l y Code,t he act i on mus tbebroughtwi t hi n t hel i f et i meofX i ft heact i on i sbased on ar ecor d ofbi r t h oran admi ss i on of fil i at i on I n apubl i cdocumentorapr i vat ehandwr i t t en i ns t r uments i gned byY. I nsuchcase,t heacti on ofX hasnotpr escr i bed. However ,i ft he act i on i sbased on t he open and cont i nuousposs essi on of t hest atusofan i l l egi t i mat echi l d,t heact i on shoul d have been broughtdur i ng t hel i f eti meofY.I nsuchcase,t heact i onofX haspr escri bed.
a.Whatar et here qui si t esi n or dert hatal ostordest r oyedWi l lmaybeal l owed? ( 2%) b. A’ sWi l lwasal l owed byt heCour t .No appealwast aken f r om i t sal l owance. Ther eaf t er ,Y,whowasi nt er est edi nt heest at eofA,di scov er edt hatt heWi l lwas notgenui nebecauseA’ ssi gnat ur ewasf orgedbyX.Acri mi nalact i onf orf orger y was i nst i t ut ed agai nst X. May t he due execut i on of t he Wi l l be val i dl y quest i onedi nsuchcr i mi nalact i on?( 2%) SUGGESTEDANSWER:
a.
I n ordert hatal ostordest r oyed wi l lmaybeal l owed,t hef ol l owi ng mustbecompl i edwi t h:
( 1)t heexecut i on andval i di t yoft hesameshoul dbeest abl i shed; ( 2) t he wi l lmust have been i n exi st ence at t he t i me oft he deat h oft he t est at or ,ors hown t o have been f r audul ent l y oracci dent al l y dest r oyed i n t hel i f et i meoft hetes t at orwi t houthi sknowl edge;and ( 3) i t spr ovi si onsar e cl ear l y and di st i nctl y pr oved by atl eastt wo credi bl e wi t nesses.( Sec.6,Rul e76oft heRul esofCour t ) b. No.The al l owance oft he wi l lf r om whi ch no appealwast aken i s concl usi veast oi t sdueexecut i on.( Sec.1 ofRul e75. )Dueexecut i on i ncl udesa findi ngthatt hewi l li sgenui neandnotaf orger y.Accor di ngl y,t hedueexecut i on oft hewi l lcannotagai n bequest i onedi n asubsequentpr oceedi ng,noteven i na cri mi nalact i onf orf orgeryofthewi l l .
1.Di st i ngui shci vi lact i onsf r om speci alpr oceedi ngs.[ 3%] A civil action is one by which a party sues another for the enforcement or protection of a right, or the prevention or redress of a wrong. (Sec. 3[a], ule 1. 1!!" ules of #ivil $rocedure%, while a special proceeding is a remedy by which aparty see&s to establish aStatus, aright or a particular fact. (Sec. 3[#]. ule ', 1!!" ules of #ivil $rocedure.% A,cl ai mi ngt obean i l l egi t i mat echi l d oft hedeceased D,i ns t i t ut ed an i nt est at e
pr oceedi ng t o set t l et he est at e oft he l at t er .He al so pr ayed t hathe be appoi nt ed admi ni st r at orofsai d est at e.S,t hesurvi vi ng spouse,opposed t hepet i t i on and A' s appl i cat i ont obeappoi nt edt headmi ni st r at oront hegroundt hathewasnott hechi l d ofherdece asedhusbandD.Thecour t ,howev er ,appoi nt edA ast headmi ni st r at orof sai dest at e.Subsequent l y ,S.cl ai mi ngt obet hesol ehei rofD,execut edan Affidavi tof Adj udi cat i on,adj udi cat i ngunt oher sel ft heent i r eest at eofherdeceasedhusbandD. St hensol dt heent i reest at et oX. 1. Wast heappoi nt mentofAasadmi ni st r at orpr oper ? ( 2%) 2. Was t heact i on ofSi n adj udi cat i ng t heent i r eest at eofherl at ehusband t o hersel fl egal ?( 3%) SUGGESTEDANSWER:
1. Yes,unl essi ti sshown t hatt he cour tgr avel y abused i t sdi scr et i on i n appoi nt i ng t he i l l egi t i matechi l d asadmi ni st r ator ,i nst ead oft he spouse. Whi l et he spouse enj oys pr ef er ence, i t appear st hat t he spouse has negl ected t o appl yf or l et t ersofadmi ni st r at i on wi t hi nt hi r t y( 30)days f r om t hedeat h oft hedecendent .( Sec.6,Rul e78,Rul esofCour t ;Gas pay, Jr .vs.Cour tofAppeal s,238 SCRA 163. ) AL TERNA TI V EANS WER:
S,t he survi vi ng spouse,shoul d have been appoi nt ed admi ni st r at r i x oft he est at e,i n asmuch ass heenj oysfir stpref er encei n such appoi nt mentundert he rul es.( Sec.6( a)ofRul e78,Rul esofCourt . ) SUGGESTEDANSWER:
2. No.An affi davi tofsel f adj udi cat i on i sal l owed onl yi ft he affi anti st he sol ehei roft hedeceased.( Sec.1,Rul e74,Rul esofCour t ) .I nt hi scase,A al socl ai mst obean hei r .Mor eover ,i ti snotl egalbecausetherei sal r eady apendi ngJur i di calpr oceedi ngf ort hesett l ementoft heest at e.
Gi vet hepr opervenuef ort hef ol l owi ngspeci alpr oceedi ngs: ( a) A pet i t i on t odecl areasescheat edaparce lofl andownedbyar esi dentoft he Phi l i ppi nes who di ed i nt est at e and wi t houthei r s orper sons ent i t l ed t ot he property. ( b) A pet i t i on f ort heappoi nt mentofan admi ni st r at orovert hel andandbui l di ng l ef tby an Amer i can ci t i zen r esi di ngi n Cal i f orni a,who had been decl ared an i ncompet entbyanAmer i cancour t . ( c) Apet i t i onf ort headopt i onofami norr esi di ngi nPampanga. Ans we r :
( a)Thevenue oft he escheatproceedi ngsofa par celofl and i nt hi scasei s t he pl ace wher et he deceased l ast r esi ded.( Sec.1,Rul e 91,Rul es of Court ) . ( b) The venue f or the appoi nt ment of an admi ni st r at or over l and and bui l di ng of an Amer i can ci t i zen r esi di ng i n Cal i f or ni a, decl ar ed i ncompet ent by an Amer i can Cour t ,i st he Regi onalTr i alCour t oft he
pl acewherehi spr opert yorpartt hereofi ssi t uated.( Sec.1,Rul e92) . ( c) Thevenueofapet i t i on f ort headopt i on ofami norr esi di ngi n Pampanga i st he Regi onalTr i alCour toft he pl ace i n whi ch t he pet i t i onerr esi des. ( Sec.l ,Rul e99) .
st i ngui shspeci alpr oceedi ngf r om an ordi naryact i on. 1) Di A and B ar ebr ot her s.Thei rl at ef at her ,dur i nghi sl i f et i me ,donat ed hi sonl y 2)
r ealest at epr opert yt oB.Thereaf t er .B sol dt hepr opert yt oC whohadi tt i t l ed. C di ed i nt est at eand wassurvi vedbyhi sson.D.A.cl ai mi ngt hathi sl egi t i me had bee n i mpai r ed, fil ed a case f or annul ment of donat i on and sal e, cancel l at i on oft i t l eandr ecoveryofpossessi on oft hepr opert ybef or eBr anch85 oft heRegi onalTri alCour t .D fil ed a mot i on t odi smi sst hecompl ai nton t he gr ound t hatt her ei sa pendi ng i nt es t at ees t at epr oceedi ng bef or eBr anch 87 i nvol vi ngtheestat eofC.hi sf at her ,whi chi ncl udedt hesubj ectrealpropert y.A opposedt hemot i onar gui ngt hatBr anch85hasj ur i sdi ct i onsi nceowner shi pof t hel andi si nvol vedandt hesai dbr anchhasj uri sdi ct i on t oresol vet hequest i on ofowner shi p.
AsJudgeofBr anch85r esol vet hemot i ont odi smi ss. A wi l lcont ai ni ngt hr eepageswaswr i t t en i nt wol eavesofpaper .Thewi l lwas 3) wr i t t enont hefir stpageoft hefir stl eaf ,t hesecondpageont her ever sesi deof sai d fir stl eaf ,and t he t hi r d page on t he sec ond l eaf .The si gnat ur e oft he t est at ri x as wel las oft he i nst r ument alwi t nesses wer e wr i t t en on t he l ef t margi n oft hefir stpageorfir stf ol i oandon t het hi r d pageorsecondf ol i obut notont hesecondpageorr ever sesi deoft hefir stl eaf . Maythewi l lbeadmi t t edt opr obat e?Expl ai n. Answer :
1) A speci alproceedi ng i sa r emedy t o est abl i sh t he st at usorr i ghtofa par t y ora par t i cul arf act ,whi l e an or di nar y act i on i sone by whi ch one par t y prosecut esanot herf ort he enf orcementorpr ot ect i on ofa r i ghtor t hepr event i on orr edr essofawr ong.( Secs.1and2 ofRul e2) 2) Iwoul d deny t hemot i on becausei ti sBr anch 85 oft he Regi onalTr i al Cour tt hathasj ur i sdi ct i on t o deci de t he quest i on ofowner shi p ofs ai d property. 3) No,becauset hel aw r equi r est hateach and ever ypageoft hewi l lshoul d be si gned by t he t est at orand hi si nst r ument alwi t nesses.( Ar t .808 Ci vi l Code;Caneda vs.CourtofAppeals, 222SCRA781) Dougl as,marr i edt obutsepar at edf r om El l en,onedayf et chedf r om schoolhi s daught er .5yearol dSusan,andneverr et ur nedhei rt oEl l enunderwhosecust ody t hechi l dwaspl acedbyt heRegi onalTri alCourtofMani l ai nasui tf orcust odyoft he chi l dAf t ersearchi ngf orherdaught erf ordaysEl l enl earnedt hatDougl ashadbeen movi ngt hegi r lf r om onepl acet oanot herwi t hi nMet r oMani l at hel astbei ngt he r esi denceofhi ssi st erMaryi nParanaque.El l en’ scurr entr esi dencei sPasi g.
1. AsEl l en’ sl awyer ,whatcour seorcour sesofact i on wi l lyou t aket oeffect ,t he r et urnofSusan t othecust odyofEl l en?Di scussf ul l y . 2. ( a)Whati smeantby a pr el i mi naryci t at i on i n casesi nvol vi ngdepri vat i on of personall i bert y?Expl ai n.
( b)How i sapr el i mi naryci t at i ondi st i ngui shedf r om aper empt orywri tof Expl ai n. habeasc or pus? An s we r : 1. As El l en’ sl awyer ,Iwi l lfil e a mot i on wi t ht he Regi onalTr i alCour tof
Mani l at o or derDougl ast or et ur n Susan t o El l en and t o ci t eDougl asf or cont emptofcour t . Al t er nat i veAnswer ; Iwi l lfil eapeti ti onf orhabeascorpus. An s we r : 2. A pr el i mi nar y ci t at i on mer el yr equi r es t he r espondent t o appear and
show cause why t he per empt or y wr i t of habeas corpus shoul d not be grant ed.( 41Phi l .548) LeeYi ckHon.vs.Col l ect orofCust oms, Ont heot herhand,t heperempt orywr i tofhabeascorpus di r ect st heoffi cer 3. t ohavet hebodyoft hepers onr est r ai nedofhi sl i bert ybef oret hecour tor j udgedesi gnat edi nt hewr i tatt het i meandpl acet her ei n speci fied.( Sec. 6.Rul e102)
Renedi edi nt est at e,l eavi ngsever alhei r sandsubst ant i alpr opert yherei nt he Phi l i ppi nes. ngRenel ef tnodebt s,as counsell orRene’ shei r s,whats t eps woul d 1) Assumi yousuggestt oset t l eRene’ sest at ei nt hel eastexpensi vemanner ? 2) Assumi ngRenel ef tonl yonehei randnodebt s,ascounself orRene’ sl onehei r ,
whatst epswoul dyousugges t ? 3) Ass umi ng t hatt heval ueofRene’ sest at edoesnotexc ee d P10, 000. 00,what
r emedyi savai l abl et oobt ai naspeedyset t l ementofhi sest at e? Answer :
1) To set t l e Rene’ s est at ei nt he l eastexpensi ve manner ,an ext r aj udi ci al set t l ement of t he es t at e by agr eement of t he par t i es shoul d be made t hr ough a publ i ci ns t r ument t o be fil ed wi t ht he Regi st er of Deeds, t oget herwi t h abondi n an amountequi val entt ot heval ueoft heper sonal pr oper t yi nvol ved ascer t i fied t ounderoath byt hepart i esconcerned and condi t i oned upon paymentofany j us tcl ai mt hatmaybefil edwi t hi nt wo ( 2)yearsbyan hei rorotherperson undul ydepri vedofpart i ci pati oni nt he est at e. The f act of ext r aj udi ci al s et t l ement or admi ni st r at i on shal l be publ i shed i n anewspaperofgener alci r cul at i on onceaweek f ort hr ee( 3) consecut i veweeks.( Sec.I ,Rul e74) . 2) I fRene l ef tonl y one hei r ,t hen t he hei rmay adj udi cat et o hi msel ft he ent i r eest at eby meansofan affi davi tofsel f adj udi cat i on t o be fil ed al so wi t h t he Regi s t er of Deeds, t oget her wi t h t he ot her r equi r ement s abovement i oned.[ I d. ) 3) Si ncet heval ueofRene’ ses t at edoesnotexceedP10, 000. 00,t her emedy avai l abl ei st o proceed t o undert ake a summar y set t l ementofes t at esof smal lval ueby fil i nga peti t i on i n cour tand upon heari ng,whi ch shal lbe
hel dnotl esst hanone( 1)mont h normor et hant hr ee( 3)mont hsf r om t he dat e oft he l astpubl i cat i on ofa not i ce whi ch shal lbe publ i shed once a weekf ort hr ee( 3)consecut i veweeksi n anewspaperofgener alci r cul at i on i nt he provi nce and af t ers uch othernot i ce t oi nt er est ed per sonsasthe cour t may di r ect . The cour t may pr oceed summar i l y wi t hout t he appoi nt mentofan execut ororadmi ni st r at or ,and wi t houtdel ay,grant ,i f pr oper ,al l owance of t he wi l l ,i f any,t o det ermi ne t he pers ons l egal l y ent i t l ed t opart i ci pat ei nt heest at e,andt oapport i on anddi vi dei tamong t hem af t erpaymentofsuch debt soft he est at e ast he cour ts hal lt hen find t o be due.The orderofpart i t i on i fi ti nvol ves r eales t at e,s hal lbe r ecor dedbyt hepr operr egi st er' soffi ce.( Sec.2,Rul e74) . s i Roxanne,awi dow,fil edapet i t i onf orhabeascorpu w t ht heCour tofAppeal s agai nstMaj orAmorwho i sal l egedl ydet ai ni ngher18year ol d son Bongwi t hout aut hori t yofl aw.
Af t erMaj orAmorhadfil edar et ur n al l egi ngt hecauseofdet ent i on ofBong,t he Cour tofAppeal spr omul gat edar esol ut i on r emandi ngt hecaset ot heRegi onalTri al Courtf ora f ul l bl own t ri alduet ot heconfli ct i ngf act spr esent ed byt hepart i esi n t hei rpl eadi ngs.I n di r ect i ngtheremand,t heCourtofAppeal srel i ed on Sec.9( 1) ,i n r el at i on t o Sec.21 ofBP 129 conf er r i ngupon sai d Cour tt heaut hori t yt ot ryand or pus deci dehabeasc casesconcurr ent l ywi t ht heRegi onalTri alCourt s. Di dt heCourtofAppeal sactcorr ect l yi nr emandi ngt hepet i t i on t ot heRegi onal Tr i alCour t ?Why? Answer :
No.becausewhi l et heCourtofAppeal shas ori gi nalj ur i sdi ct i on overhabeas corpus concurr entwi t h Regi onalTri alCourt s,i thas noaut hori t yf orr emandi ngt o t hel at t erori gi nalact i onsfil edwi t ht hef ormer .Ont hecont rary,t heCourtofAppeal s I s speci fical l y gi ve nt he powert or ece i veevi dence and per f orm any and al lact s necessary t or esol ve f act ual i ssues r ai sed i n cases f al l i ng wi t hi n i t s ori gi nal j ur i sdi ct i on.( Sec.9.secondpar agr aphofB. P.Bi g.129,asame ndedbyE. O.No.33s. dav s .Co ur to fAppe al s .192SCRA768) 1986;Or . Al t er nat i veAnswer :
Yes,becauset her ei snopr ohi bi t i on i nt hel aw agai nstasuper i orcour tr ef er r i ng a case t oal owercour thavi ng concur r entJur i sdi ct i on.The Supreme Cour thas r ef err edt ot heCourtofAppeal sort heRegi onalTri alCourtcasesf al l i ngwi t hi nt hei r concurr entJuri sdi ct i on. Thel astwi l landt est ame ntoft hedeceased waspr esent ed i nt hepr oceedi ngt o set t l ehi sest at e,andi nduecourse,heari ngwassetf ort hepr obat eoft hewi l l .Bef ore evi dence,t her eon coul dbepr esent ed,t hel egalhei r soft hedeceased,hi swi dow and t wosurvi vi ngdaught er s,fil edamani f est at i on t hatt hepr obat eoft hewi l lwoul dno l ongerbenecessarysi ncet heyhad al r eadyagreedt odi vi det henetest at edi ffer ent l y i n accor dance wi t h a proj ec t of par t i t i on at t ached t o t hei r mani f es t at i on. Consequent l y ,t heymoved t hatt hepr oj ectofpart i t i on beappr oved and f ort hwi t h i mpl ement edwi t houtpr obat eoft hedecedent ’ swi l l . Shoul dt hecour tgr antt hehei r smot i on andaccordi ngl yappr ovet hei rpr oj ect ofpart i t i on wi t houtpr obat eoft hewi l l ?Expl ai n.
Sugges t edAnswer :
No.t hecour tmay notappr ove t heproj ectofpart i t i on wi t houtpr obateof the wi l l ,because no wi l lshal lpass ei t herrealorpersonales tat e unl ess i ti s pr oved and al l owed i nt hepr opercour t .( Sec.1 ofRul e75)Thel aw and publ i c pol i cyr equi r ethepr obat eofthewi l lbecauseot herwi se,t heri ghtofaperson t o di sposeofhi spr oper t y by wi l lmay be r ender ed,nugat ory.( Ral l a vs.Unt al an, 172SCRA858) Ques t i on No.X:
Per ni t o,al soknown i nt hecommuni t yasPer egri nofil edapet i t i on f orc hangeof namet oPedro.ThenamePer egr i noappear edi nt hebodyoft hepet i t i on butnoti n t he capt i on.When t he pe t i t i on was publ i shed,t he capt i on and t he body oft he pet i t i on weremerel yl i f t ed verbat i m,sot hataspubl i shed,t hepet i t i on’ scapt i on st i l l di d notcont ai n Peregr i no as t he pet i t i oner ’ s al i as.The gover nmentl awyerfil ed a mot i on t odi smi sson t hegr ound t hat ,not wi t hst andi ngpubl i cat i on f ort her equi si t e numberoft i mes,t he cour tdi d notacqui r e Juri sdi ct i on overt hepet i t i on because pet i t i oner ’ s al i as ( Peregr i no)di d notappear i nt he publ i shed capt i on.The court deni edt hemot i on t odi smi sswi t ht herul i ngt hatt her ewassubst ant i alcompl i ance wi t ht hel aw and t hatt heomi ssi on oft heal i asi nt hecapt i on maybedeeme dde mi ni mi s be caus etheal i aswasc l e ar l yse tf or t hi nt hepe t i t i oni t s el f . Wast hecour tcor r ecti ndenyi ngt hemot i ont odi smi ss?Expl ai n. Suggest edAnswer :
No,the f ai l ur e of t he pet i t i oner t oi ncl ude hi s al i as ( Per egri no)i nt he capt i on i sa j ur i sdi ct i onaldef ectand t he i ncl usi on oft heal i asi nt he body of t he pet i t i on does notcur e sai d def ect .The r eason f or t he r ul ei st hatthe ordi nary r eaderonl y gl ancesfleet i ngl y att he capt i on i n a speci alpr oceedi ng and onl yi ft he capt i on st r i keshi m doeshe proceed t or ead t he body oft he pet i t i on;hence,. hewi l lpr obabl y notnoti ce t heothernamesoral i asesoft he pet i t i oner .( Gi lGovs.Republ 77SCRA65) i c, I nt he Speci al Pr oceedi ngs f or t he set t l ement of t he i nt est at e est at e of t he deceas ed Johnny, hi s wi dow by hi s se cond marr i age , Car mel i t a, mov ed f or her appoi nt mentasAdmi ni st r at r i xoft hees t at e.Thi swasopposedbyManda,t heson of Johnnybyhi sfir stwi f e,whomovedf orhi sappoi nt me nti nst ead.Thecour tappoi nt ed Carmel i t a,t hewi dow,asAdmi ni st r at ri x.
( a)How mayMandacont es tt hatappoi nt mentofCarmel i t a? I nst eadofAdmi ni st r atr i x,Carmel i t awasappoi nt edSpeci alAdmi ni st r at ri x. ( b)I st hesamer emedyavai l abl et ot heopposi t or ,Manda?Whyorwhynot ? ( c) I fJohnnyl ef tahol ogr aphi cwi l l ,how mayi tbepr obat ed?Expl ai n.
Answer :
( a) Byappeal ,becauset heappoi nt mentofan admi ni st r at ori safinalor derunder Rul e109. ( b) No, because no appeal i s al l owed f r om t he appoi nt ment of a speci al admi ni st rat or .( Sec.1( e)ofRul e109) ( c) Ahol ogr aphi cwi l lmaybepr obat edbyfil i ngapet i t i on f ort heal l owanceofsai d wi l l .I fi ti s notcont est ed,atl eastone compet entwi t ness who knows t he handwri t i ngandsi gnat ur eoft het est at orshoul dexpl i ci t l ydecl ar et hatt hewi l l andt hesi gnat ur ear ei nt hehandwri t i ngoft het est at or .I nt heabsenceofany such compet entwi t ness ,and i ft hecour tdeem i tnecessar y ,expertt es t i mony may ber esort ed t o.I fi ti scont est ed,atl eastt hr eewi t nesseswho know t he handwri t i ng oft he t est at or shoul d expl i ci t l y decl are t hat t he wi l land t he si gnat ur e ar ei nt he handwr i t i ng of t he t es t at or .I nt he abse nce of any compet entwi t ness,andi ft hecourtdeem i tnecessary ,exper tt est i monymaybe r esort edt o.( Secs.1, 5and11ofRul e76) ( d)I n.1978,Pet ewasconvi ct ed by t het hen CourtofFi r stI nst anceofCavi t eon t hesol ebasi sofhi sext r aj udi ci alconf essi on.Thedeci si on soon becamefinal and Pet ehassi ncebeen ser vi ngsent enceunt i lnow,al t hough t ot hi sday ,he i nsi st st hathei si nnocentand t hathi sconf essi on had been coer ced.Hel at er l earned oft heSupr emeCour t ’ s deci si on i n.Peopl i n whi ch t heCour t ev .Gal i t r ev er se d a convi ct i on t hat had been based sol el y on an uncounse l l ed conf essi on.Hef ort hwi t h caused apet i t i on f orhabeascor tobefil ed,al l egi ng pus t hathi sconfinementhasal lal ongbeen i l l eg al .TheGove r nmentopposedt he pet i t i on on t hegr ound t hatt hedeci si on ofconvi ct i on had l ongbecomefinal andmaynol ongerber eopenedandt hathei si nf actser vi ngsent ence. ( e)Wi l lhabeascorpus l i e?Reasons. ( f )Answer :
( g)Yes,becauseoncea depri vat i on ofaconst i t ut i onalri ghti sshown t oexi st ,t he cour tt hatr ender edt hej udgmenti sdeemedoust edofj ur i sdi ct i on andhabeas cor pus i st he appr opr i at er emedy t o assai lt he l egal i t y of t he det ent i on. ( Gumabonvs .Di r ect orofPr i sons,37SCRA420) . ( h) ( i )Anot herAnswer : ( j )Yes,habeas corpus wi l ll i e.Fi r st l y ,t hej udgmenthasno suffici enti nasmuch a j udgme ntofconvi ct i on cannotbebased sol el y on an ext r aj udi ci alconf essi on wi t houtevi denceofcorpusdeli c t i . i t ( k)Secondl y ,Supr emeCourthasappl i edr et r oact i vel yt hegal rul i ngeven t ocases deci dedpri ort osai drul i ng. ( l ) ( m) Ther ebei ngnoval i dj udgment ,t hedet ent i onbecomesunl awf ul . A t er nat i veAnswer : ( n )l
( o)No,becauset hej udgmentofconvi ct i onhadl ongbec omefinalandhasbec ome t he l aw oft he case.The wr i tofhabeas cor pus can i ss ue onl yf orwantof
j ur i sdi ct i on oft hesent enci ngcour t .Thedoct r i nel ai ddown i n Peopl evs.Gal i t hasonl ypr ospect i veoper at i on anddoesnotappl yt ocasespr evi ousl ydeci ded. ( Pomeroyvs.Di r ect orofPri sons,107Phi l .50) .