wills cases 2

7/25/2019 Wills Cases 2

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place,$ hile the6 a"e en0a0e, in othe",iscussions !o"e si!ulate, than "eal. Theseconsi,e"ations a"e$ e thin3$ ,ecisi+e.

'n "ulin0 upon the point abo+e p"esente, e ,onot ish to be un,e"stoo, as la6in0 ,on an6ha", an, fast "ule that oul, p"o+e ane!ba""ass!ent to this cou"t in thea,!inist"ation of ustice in the futu"e. 'n one a6o" anothe" e a"e constantl6 he"e consi,e"in0aspects of cases an, appl6in0 ,oct"ines hichha+e escape, the attention of all pe"sonsconce"ne, in the liti0ation belo> an, this isnecessa"6 if this cou"t is to cont"ibute the pa"t,ue f"o! it in the co""ect ,ecision of the casesb"ou0ht befo"e it. ;hat e !ean to ,ecla"e isthat hen e belie+e that substantial ustice hasbeen ,one in the Cou"t of =i"st 'nstance$ an, thepoint "elie, on fo" "e+e"sal in this cou"t appea"sto be one hich ou0ht p"ope"l6 to ha+e been

p"esente, in that cou"t$ e ill in the e:e"cise ofa soun, ,isc"etion i0no"e such 7uestion "elatesa ,efect hich !i0ht ha+e been cu"e, in theCou"t of =i"st 'nstance if attention ha, beencalle, to it the"e. 'n the p"esent case$ if theappellant ha, "aise, this 7uestion in the loe"cou"t$ eithe" at the hea"in0 o" upon a !otion fo"a ne t"ial$ that cou"t oul, ha+e ha, the poe"$an, it oul, ha+e been is ,ut6$ consi,e"in0 theta",6 institution of the contest$ to ha+e 0"ante, ane t"ial in o",e" that all the itnesses to the ill!i0ht be b"ou0ht into cou"t. But instea, of thuscallin0 the e""o" to the attention of the cou"t an,

his a,+e"sa"6$ the point is fi"st "aise, b6 theappellant in this cou"t. ;e hol, that this is toolate.

P"ope"l6 un,e"stoo,$ the case of Caban0 +s.elfina,o$ sup"a$ contains nothin0 inconsistentith the "ulin0 e no !a3e$ fo" it appea"s f"o!the opinion in that case that the p"oponent of theill ha, obtaine, an o",e" fo" a "epublicationan, ne t"ial fo" the a+oe, pu"pose ofp"esentin0 the to a,,itional attestin0 itnessesho ha, not been p"e+iousl6 e:a!ine,$ butne+e"theless subse7uentl6 faile, ithout an6

appa"ent "eason to ta3e thei" testi!on6. Bothpa"ties in that case e"e the"efo"e full6 app"ise,that the 7uestion of the nu!be" of itnessesnecessa"6 to p"o+e the ill as in issue in theloe" cou"t.

The secon, point in+ol+e, in this case ishethe"$ un,e" section 1 of the Co,e of Ci+ilP"oce,u"e$ as a!en,e, b6 Act No. $ it isessential to the +ali,it6 of a ill in this u"is,ictionthat the na!es of the testato" an, theinst"u!ental itnesses shoul, be "itten on theleft !a"0in of each pa0e$ as "e7ui"e, in sai, Act$an, not upon the "i0ht !a"0in$ as in the ill nobefo"e us> an, upon this e a"e of the opinionthat the ill in 7uestion is +ali,. 't is t"ue that thestatute sa6s that the testato" an, theinst"u!ental itnesses shall si0n thei" na!es onthe left !a"0in of each an, e+e"6 pa0e> an, it isun,eniable that the 0ene"al ,oct"ine is to theeffect that all statuto"6 "e7ui"e!ents as to thee:ecution of ills !ust be full6 co!plie, ith.

The sa!e ,oct"ine is also ,e,ucible f"o! caseshe"etofo"e ,eci,e, b6 this cou"t.

Still so!e ,etails at ti!es c"eep into le0islati+eenact!ents hich a"e so t"i+ial it oul, beabsu", to suppose that the 2e0islatu"e coul,ha+e attache, an6 ,ecisi+e i!po"tance to the!.The p"o+ision to the effect that the si0natu"es ofthe testato" an, itnesses shall be "itten onthe left !a"0in of each pa0e 9 "athe" than onthe "i0ht !a"0in 9 see!s to be this cha"acte".So fa" as conce"ns the authentication of the ill$an, of e+e"6 pa"t the"eof$ it can !a3e nopossible ,iffe"ence hethe" the na!es appea"on the left o" no the "i0ht !a"0in$ p"o+i,e, the6a"e on one o" the othe". 'n Ca"ai0 +s. Tatlon0ha"i?R. G. No. 1&55$ ,eci,e, Ma"ch &@$ 1%1$ not"epo"te,$ this cou"t ,ecla"e, a ill +oi, hichas totall6 lac3in0 in the si0natu"es "e7ui"e, tobe "itten on its se+e"al pa0es> an, in the case

of Re estate of Sa0uinsin ?#1 Phil.$ 5$ a illas li3eise ,ecla"e, +oi, hich containe, thenecessa"6 si0natu"es on the !a"0in of each leaf? folio$ but not in the !a"0in of each pa0econtainin0 "itten !atte".

The inst"u!ent no befo"e us contains thenecessa"6 si0natu"es on e+e"6 pa0e$ an, theonl6 point of ,e+iation f"o! the "e7ui"e!ent ofthe statute is that these si0natu"es appea" in the"i0ht !a"0in instea, of the left. B6 the !o,e ofsi0nin0 a,opte, e+e"6 pa0e an, p"o+ision of theill is authenticate, an, 0ua",e, f"o! possible

alte"ation in e:actl6 the sa!e ,e0"ee that itoul, ha+e been p"otecte, b6 bein0 si0ne, inthe left !a"0in> an, the "esou"ces of casuist"6coul, be e:hauste, ithout ,isco+e"in0 thesli0htest ,iffe"ence beteen the conse7uencesof affi:in0 the si0natu"es in one !a"0in o" theothe".

The sa!e coul, not be sai, of a case li3e that ofEstate of Sa0uinsin$ sup"a$ he"e onl6 thelea+es$ o" alte"nate pa0es$ e"e si0ne, an, noteach "itten pa0e> fo" as obse"+e, in that caseb6 ou" late la!ente, Chief -ustice$ it as

possible that in the ill as the"e o"i0inall6e:ecute, b6 the test"at"i: onl6 the alte"nati+epa0es ha, been use,$ lea+in0 blan3s on the"e+e"se si,es$ hich concei+abl6 !i0ht ha+ebeen fille, in subse7uentl6.

The cont"ollin0 consi,e"ations on the point nobefo"e us e"e ell state, 'n Re ill of Aban0an?#D Phil.$ #$ #%$ he"e the cou"t$ spea3in0th"ou0h M". -ustice A+ancea$ in a case he"ethe si0natu"es e"e place, at the botto! of thepa0e an, not in the !a"0in$ sai,4

The obect of the sole!nities su""oun,in0 thee:ecution of ills is to close the ,oo" a0ainstba, faith an, f"au,$ to a+oi, substitution o illan, testa!ents an, to 0ua"antee thei" t"uth an,authenticit6. The"efo"e the las on this subectshoul, be inte"p"ete, in such a a6 as to attainthese p"i!o",ial en,s. But$ on the othe" han,$also one !ust not lose si0ht of the fact that it isnot the obect of the la to "est"ain an, cu"tail


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the e:e"cise of the "i0ht to !a3e a ill. So henan inte"p"etation al"ea,6 0i+en assu"es suchen,s$ an6 othe" inte"p"etation hatsoe+e"$ thata,,s nothin0 but ,e!an,s !o"e "e7uisitesenti"el6 unnecessa"6$ useless an, f"ust"ati+e ofthe testato"Fs last ill$ !ust be ,is"e0a",e,.

'n the case befo"e us$ he"e in0enuit6 coul, notsu00est an6 possible p"eu,ice to an6 pe"son$as atten,ant upon the actual ,e+iation f"o! thelette" of the la$ such ,e+iation !ust beconsi,e"e, too t"i+ial to in+ali,ate theinst"u!ent.

't "esults that the le0al e""o"s assi0ne, a"e notsustainable$ an, the u,0!ent appeale, f"o!ill be affi"!e,. 't is so o",e"e,$ ith costsa0ainst the appellants.

-ohnson$ A"aullo$ A+ancea an, )illa!o"$ --.$

concu".A)ERA +s. GARC'A

=acts4 Euti7uia A+e"a institute, fo" the p"obateof the ill of Esteban Ga"cia an, contest as!a,e b6 Ma"ino Ga"cia an, -uan Ro,"i0ue8 as0ua",ian fo" the !ino"s -ose Ga"cia an, Cesa"Ga"cia. Upon the ,ate appointe, fo" the hea"in0$the p"oponent of the ill int"o,uce, one of theth"ee attestin0 itnesses ho testifie, that theill as e:ecute, ith all necessa"6 e:te"nalfo"!alities$ an, that the testato" as at the ti!ein full possession of ,isposin0 faculties. To of

the attestin0 itnesses e"e notint"o,uce,$ no" as thei" absenceaccounte, fo" b6 the p"oponent of the ill.The t"ial u,0e foun, that the testato" at the ti!eof the !a3in0 of the ill as of soun, !in, an,,isposin0 !e!o"6 an, that the ill ha, beenp"ope"l6 e:ecute,.


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'ssue4 ;hethe" o" not the subsc"ibin0 itnessas able to see the testato" an, othe" itnessesin the act of affi:in0 thei" si0natu"es.


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This case is about the ,is!issal of a petition fo"the p"obate of a nota"ial ill on the 0"oun, that it,oes not bea" a thi"t6*centa+o ,ocu!enta"6sta!p.

The Cou"t of =i"st 'nstance of Ca!i0uin in its,ecision of ece!be" &$ 1% in SpecialP"ocee,in0 No. #1 fo" the p"obate of the ill ofthe late Ro0aciano Gabucan$ ,is!isse, thep"ocee,in0 ?e""oneousl6 cha"acte"i8es as anaction

The p"ocee,in0 as ,is!isse, because the"e7uisite ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p as not affi:e, tothe nota"ial ac3nole,0!ent in the ill an,$hence$ acco",in0 to "espon,ent -u,0e$ it asnot a,!issible in e+i,ence$ citin0 section &@ ofthe Ta: Co,e$ no section &5D of the 1% Ta:Co,e$ hich "ea,s4

SEC. &@. Effect of failu"e to sta!p ta:able,ocu!ent. 9 An inst"u!ent$ ,ocu!ent$ o" pape"hich is "e7ui"e, b6 la to be sta!pe, an,hich has been si0ne,$ issue,$ accepte,$ o"t"ansfe""e, ithout bein0 ,ul6 sta!pe,$ shall notbe "eco",e,$ no" shall it o" an6 cop6 the"eof o"an6 "eco", of t"ansfe" of the sa!e be a,!itte,o" use, in e+i,ence in an6 cou"t until the"e7uisite sta!p o" sta!ps shall ha+e beenaffi:e, the"eto an, cancelle,.

No nota"6 public o" othe" office" autho"i8e, to

a,!iniste" oaths shall a,, his u"at o"ac3nole,0!ent to an6 ,ocu!ent subect to,ocu!enta"6 sta!p ta: unless the p"ope",ocu!enta"6 sta!ps a"e affi:e, the"eto an,cancelle,.

The p"obate cou"t assu!e, that the nota"ialac3nole,0!ent of the sai, ill is subect to thethi"t6*centa+o ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p ta: fi:e, insection &&5 of the Ta: Co,e$ no section &@ ofthe 1% Ta: Co,e.

Respon,ent -u,0e "efuse, to "econsi,e" the

,is!issal in spite of petitione"Fs !anifestationthat he ha, al"ea,6 attache, the ,ocu!enta"6sta!p to the o"i0inal of the ill. ?See Mahilu!+s. Cou"t of Appeals$ # O. G. #D1$ 1 SCRA#&$ #.

The case as b"ou0ht to this Cou"t b6 !eans ofa petition fo" !an,a!us to co!pel the loe"cou"t to allo petitione"Fs appeal f"o! its,ecision. 'n this Cou"tFs "esolution of -anua"6 &1$1%D the petition fo" !an,a!us as t"eate, inthe inte"est of substantial an, spee,6 ustice asan appeal un,e" Republic Act No. 5##D as ellas a special ci+il action of ce"tio"a"i un,e" Rule5 of the Rules of Cou"t.

;e hol, that the loe" cou"t !anifestl6 e""e, in,ecla"in0 that$ because no ,ocu!enta"6 sta!pas affi:e, to the ill$ the"e as no ill an,testa!ent to p"obate an,$ conse7uentl6$ thealle0e, action !ust of necessit6 be ,is!isse,.

;hat the p"obate cou"t shoul, ha+e ,one as to"e7ui"e the petitione" o" p"oponent to affi: the"e7uisite thi"t6*centa+o ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p tothe nota"ial ac3nole,0!ent of the ill hich isthe ta:able po"tion of that ,ocu!ent.

That p"oce,u"e !a6 be i!plie, f"o! thep"o+ision of section &@ that the non*a,!issibilit6 of the ,ocu!ent$ hich ,oes notbea" the "e7uisite ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p$ subsistsonl6 until the "e7uisite sta!p o" sta!ps shallha+e been affi:e, the"eto an, cancelle,.

Thus$ it as hel, that the ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p!a6 be affi:e, at the ti!e the ta:able ,ocu!entis p"esente, in e+i,ence ?el Castillo +s.Ma,"ilena #% Phil. #%. 'f the p"o!isso"6 note,oes not bea" a ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p$ the cou"tshoul, ha+e alloe, plaintiffFs ten,e" of a sta!pto suppl6 the ,eficienc6. ?Ro,"i0ue8 +s.

Ma"tine8$ 5 Phil. $ 1. Note the hol,in0 inA8a""a0a +s. Ro,"i0ue8$ % Phil. @$ that thelac3 of the ,ocu!enta"6 sta!p on a ,ocu!ent,oes not in+ali,ate such ,ocu!ent. See Cia.Gene"al ,e Tabacos +s. -eana7uet 1& Phil. 1%5$&D1*& an, el0a,o an, =i0ue"oa +s. A!enaba"1 Phil. #D@$ #D5*.

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&. One of the alle0ations as that the ce"tificateof ac3nole,0e!ent to the co,icil as si0ne,so!ehe"e else o" in the office of the nota"6.The i: an, the itnesses at the hospital$ assi0ne, an, seale, b6 the nota"6 onl6 hen heb"ou0ht it in his office.

'ssue4 ;hethe" o" not the si0nin0 an, sealin0 ofthe ill o" co,icil in the absence of the testato"an, itnesses affects the +ali,it6 of the ill

RU2'NG4 NO. Unli3e in the Ol, Ci+il Co,e of1%%$ the NCC ,oes not "e7ui"e that the si0nin0of the testato"$ the itnesses an, the nota"6 beacco!plishe, in one sin0le act. All that is"e7ui"e, is that e+e"6 ill !ust be ac3nole,0e,befo"e a nota"6 public b6 the testato" an,itnesses. The subse7uent si0nin0 an, sealin0is not pa"t of the ac3nole,0e!ent itself no" ofthe testa!enta"6 act. Thei" sepa"ate e:ecution

out of the p"esence of the testato" an, theitnesses cannot be a +iolation of the "ule thattesta!ents shoul, be co!plete, ithoutinte""uption.Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURTManila

EN BANC

G.R. No. 2*1% -une @D$ 1%55

Testate Estate of the 2ate Apolina"ia 2e,es!a.

=E2'C'A -A)E22ANA$ petitione"*appellee$+s.OA MATEA 2EESMA$ opposito"*appellant.

=ul0encio )e0a an, =eli: . Bacabac fo"appellant.Bena!in ?&hethe" the ac3nole,0!ent clause as si0ne,an, the nota"ial seal affi:e, b6 the nota"6ithout the p"esence of the testat"i: an, theitnesses> an, ?@ if so$ hethe" the co,icil asthe"eb6 "en,e"e, in+ali, an, ineffecti+e. These7uestions a"e the sa!e ones p"esente, to us fo""esolution.

The contestant a"0ues that the Cou"t beloe""e, in "efusin0 c"e,ence to he" itnessesMa"ia Pa,e"o0ao an, )i,al Alla,o$ coo3 an,,"i+e"$ "especti+el6$ of the ,ecease, Apolina"ia2e,es!a. Both testifie, that on Ma"ch @D$ 1%5D$the6 sa an, hea", )icente ap ?one of theitnesses to the ill info"! the ,ecease, thathe ha, b"ou0ht the testa!ento an, u"0e he" to0o to atto"ne6 TabianaFs office to si0n it> that a.Apolina"ia !anifeste, that she coul, not 0o$because she as not feelin0 ell> an, that upon

apFs insistence that the ill ha, to be si0ne, inthe atto"ne6Fs office an, not elsehe"e$ the,ecease, too3 the pape" an, si0ne, it in thep"esence of ap alone$ an, "etu"ne, it ith thestate!ent that no one oul, 7uestion it becausethe p"ope"t6 in+ol+e, as e:clusi+el6 he"s.

Ou" e:a!ination of the testi!on6 on "eco",,iscloses no 0"oun,s fo" "e+e"sin0 the t"ialCou"tFs "eection of the i!p"obable sto"6 of theitnesses. 't is s7ua"el6 cont"a,icte, b6 theconco",ant testi!on6 of the inst"u!entalitnesses$ )icente ap$ Att6. Ra!on Tabiana$

an, his ife Glo"ia Montinola$ ho asse"te,un,e" oath that the testa!ent as e:ecute, b6testat"i: an, itnesses in the p"esence of eachothe"$ at the house of the ,ece,ent on Gene"al butshe coul, "e!e!be" no othe" ,ate$ no" 0i+esatisfacto"6 e:planation h6 that pa"ticula" ,a6stuc3 in he" !in,. ;o"se still$ Alla,o clai!e, toha+e hea", hat alle0e,l6 t"anspi"e, beteenap an, a. Apolina"ia f"o! the 3itchen of thehouse$ that as late" p"o+e, to ha+e beensepa"ate, f"o! the ,ecease,Fs 7ua"te"s$ an,stan,in0 at a !uch loe" le+el$ so thatcon+e"sations in the !ain buil,in0 coul, not be,istinctl6 hea", f"o! the 3itchen. 2ate"$ on"e,i"ect e:a!ination$ Alla,o sou0ht to cu"e histesti!on6 b6 clai!in0 that he as upstai"s in a


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"oo! he"e the se"+ants use, to eat hen hehea", ap con+e"se ith his !ist"ess> but thisco""ection is una+ailin0$ since it as plainl6in,uce, b6 to hi0hl6 lea,in0 7uestions f"o!contestantFs counsel that ha, been p"e+iousl6"ule, out b6 the t"ial Cou"t. Besi,es$ thecont"a,iction is ha",l6 consonant ith thisitnessF 1 6ea"s of se"+ice to the ,ecease,.

Upon the othe" han,$ the ,isc"epancies in thetesti!on6 of the inst"u!ental itnesses u"0e,upon us b6 the contestant*appellant$ conce"nin0the p"esence o" absence of Au"elio Montinola atthe si0nin0 of the testa!ent o" of the co,icil$ an,the i,entit6 of the pe"son ho inse"te, the ,atethe"ein$ a"e not !ate"ial an, a"e la"0el6i!a0ina"6$ since the itness M"s. Tabianaconfesse, inabilit6 to "e!e!be" all the ,etails ofthe t"ansaction. Neithe" a"e e i!p"esse, b6 thea"0u!ent that the use of so!e Spanish te"!s in

the co,icil an, testa!ent ?li3e le0a,o$ pa"tesi0uales$ plena p"opie,a, is p"oof that itscontents e"e not un,e"stoo, b6 the testat"i:$ itappea"in0 in e+i,ence that those te"!s a"e ofco!!on use e+en in the +e"nacula"$ an, thatthe ,ecease, as a o!an of i,e businessinte"ests.

The !ost i!po"tant +a"iation note, b6 thecontestants conce"ns that si0nin0 of thece"tificate of ac3nole,0!ent ?in Spanishappen,e, to the Co,icil in )isa6an$ E:hibit E.Unli3e the testa!ent$ this co,icil as e:ecute,

afte" the enact!ent of the ne Ci+il Co,e$ an,$the"efo"e$ ha, to be ac3nole,0e, befo"e anota"6 public ?A"t. D. No$ the inst"u!entalitnesses ?ho happen to be the sa!e onesho atteste, the ill of 1%5D asse"te, that afte"the co,icil ha, been si0ne, b6 the testat"i: an,the itnesses at the San Pablo EECUT'ON O= ;'22. 9 Un,e" ou"statute$ the e:ecution of a ill is suppose, to beone act an, cannot be le0all6 effecti+e if the+a"ious pa"ticipants si0n on +a"ious ,a6s an, in+a"ious co!binations of those p"esent.

E C ' S ' O N


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cannot be le0all6 effecti+e if the +a"iouspa"ticipants si0n on +a"ious ,a6s an, in +a"iousco!binations of those p"esent.

The u,0!ent of the Cou"t of =i"st 'nstance ofCa!a"ines Su" is the"efo"e "e+e"se,$ an, theill in 7uestion is ,enie, p"obate. Costs a0ainstappellee. So o",e"e,.ANA2'S )S. PU2GUERAS5% Phil #@

=ACTS41. The alle0e, ill of )icto" Pul0ue"as asa,!itte, to p"obate.&. The testi!on6 of onl6 one to the attestin0itnesses as ta3en.@. The testi!on6 as4a that the pa0es of the ill e"e si0ne, on the!a"0in b6 the testato" an, to of the itnesseson -anua"6 #$ 1%@1>b the "e!ainin0 th"ee pa0es e"e si0ne, b6 thetestato" an, the th"ee attestin0 itnesses on-anua"6 11$ 1%@1$ an, that the thi", attestin0itness then si0ne, the fi"st si: pa0es.

'SSUE4;as the ill e:ecute, p"ope"l6L

that the sai, inst"u!ent as e:ecute ithout thetestato" ha+in0 been full6 info"!e, of thecontent the"eof$ pa"ticula"l6 as to hatp"ope"ties he as ,isposin0 an, that thesuppose, last ill an, testa!ent as note:ecute, in acco",ance ith la.Notithstan,in0 he" obection$ the Cou"t alloe,the p"obate of the sai, last ill an, testa!ent


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to on as 0enuine$ to assent$ to a,!it> an,befo"e !eans in f"ont o" p"ece,in0 in space o"ahea, of. ?The Ne ;ebste" Enc6clope,icictiona"6 of the En0lish 2an0ua0e$ p. &> =un3 ;a0nalls Ne Stan,a", ictiona"6 of theEn0lish 2an0ua0e$ p. &5&> ;ebste"Fs Ne'nte"national ictiona"6 &,. p. .Conse7uentl6$ if the thi", itness e"e thenota"6 public hi!self$ he oul, ha+e to a+oassent$ o" a,!it his ha+in0 si0ne, the ill inf"ont of hi!self. This cannot be ,one because hecannot split his pe"sonalit6 into to so that oneill appea" befo"e the othe" to ac3nole,0e hispa"ticipation in the !a3in0 of the ill. To pe"!itsuch a situation to obtain oul, be sanctionin0 ashee" absu",it6.

=u"the"!o"e$ the function of a nota"6 public is$a!on0 othe"s$ to 0ua", a0ainst an6 ille0al o"i!!o"al a""an0e!ent Balinon +. e 2eon$ 5D D.

G. 5@. That function oul, ,efeate, if thenota"6 public e"e one of the attestin0inst"u!ental itnesses. =o" the! he oul, beinte"este, sustainin0 the +ali,it6 of the ill as it,i"ectl6 in+ol+es hi! an, the +ali,it6 of his onact. 't oul, place hi! in inconsistent positionan, the +e"6 pu"pose of ac3nole,0!ent$ hichis to !ini!i8e f"au, ?Repo"t of Co,eCo!!ission p. 1D*1D$ oul, be tha"te,.

A,!itte,l6$ the"e a"e A!e"ican p"ece,entshol,in0 that nota"6 public !a6$ in a,,ition$ act asa itness to the e:ecuti+e of the ,ocu!ent he

has nota"i8e,. ?Mahilu! +. Cou"t Appeals$ # D.G. #D1> 1 SCRA #&> Sa6e" +. Co:$ #@ 'll.1@D. The"e a"e othe"s hol,in0 that his si0nin0!e"el6 as nota"6 in a ill nonetheless !a3eshi! a itness the"eon ?=e"0uson +. =e"0uson$# S. E. &,. @#> 'n Re ou0las ;ill$ N. . S. &,.#1> Ra0s,al +. Seealso T"enith +. S!alloo,$ 15 So. 1D@D. Butthese autho"ities ,o not se"+e the pu"pose of thela in this u"is,iction o" a"e not ,ecisi+e of theissue he"ein because the nota"ies public an,

itnesses "efe""e, to afo"ecite, cases !e"el6acte, as inst"u!ental$ subsc"ibin0 attestin0itnesses$ an, not as ac3nole,0in0 itnesses.


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be in an inconsistent position$ tha"tin0 the +e"6pu"pose of the ac3nole,0!ent$ hich is to!ini!i8e f"au,.Republic of the PhilippinesSUPREME COURTManila

EN BANC

G.R. No. 1#1 -anua"6 1%$ 1%D

GERMAN -ABONETA$ plaintiff*appellant$+s.R'CARO GUST'2O$ ET A2.$ ,efen,ants*appellees.

2e,es!a$ Su!ulon0 an, (uintos fo" appellant.el*Pan$ O"ti0as an, =ishe" fo" appellees.

CARSON$ -.4

'n these p"ocee,in0s p"obate as ,enie, thelast ill an, testa!ent of Maca"io -aboneta$,ecease,$ because the loe" cou"t as of theopinion f"o! the e+i,ence a,,uce, at thehea"in0 that -ulio -a+ellana$ one of theitnesses$ ,i, not attach his si0natu"e the"eto inthe p"esence of 'sabelo -ena$ anothe" of theitnesses$ as "e7ui"e, b6 the p"o+isions ofsection 1 of the Co,e of Ci+il P"oce,u"e.

The folloin0 is a cop6 of the e+i,ence hichappea"s of "eco", on this pa"ticula" point$ bein0

a pa"t of the testi!on6 of the sai, 'sabeo -ena4

(. 1#1 ;ho fi"st si0ne, the illL

A. 1#1 ' si0ne, it fi"st$ an, afte"a",sAniceto an, the othe"s.

(. 1#1 ;ho e"e those othe"s to ho!6ou ha+e ust "efe""e,L

A. 1#1 Afte" the itness Aniceto si0ne,the ill ' left the house$ because ' as in a hu""6$an, at the !o!ent hen ' as lea+in0 ' sa

-ulio -a+ellana ith the pen in his han, inposition "ea,6 to si0n ?en actitu, ,e fi"!a". 'belie+e he si0ne,$ because he as at thetable. . . .

(. 1#1 State positi+el6 hethe" -ulio-a+ellana ,i, o" ,i, not si0n as a itness to theill.

A. 1#1 ' canFt sa6 ce"tainl6$ because as 'as lea+in0 the house ' sa -ulio -a+ellana iththe pen in his han,$ in position "ea,6 to si0n. 'belie+e he si0ne,.

(. 1#1 ;h6 ,o 6ou belie+e -ulio-a+ellana si0ne,L

A. 1#1 Because he ha, the pen in hishan,$ hich as "estin0 on the pape"$ thou0h ',i, not actuall6 see hi! si0n.

(. 1#1 E:plain this cont"a,icto"6state!ent.

A. 1#1 Afte" ' si0ne, ' as3e, pe"!issionto lea+e$ because ' as in a hu""6$ an, hile 'as lea+in0 -ulio ha, al"ea,6 ta3en the pen inhis han,$ as it appea"e,$ fo" the pu"pose ofsi0nin0$ an, hen ' as nea" the ,oo" 'happene, to tu"n !6 face an, ' sa that he ha,his han, ith the pen "estin0 on the ill$ !o+in0it as if fo" the pu"pose of si0nin0.

(. 1#1 State positi+el6 hethe" -ulio!o+e, his han, ith the pen as if fo" thepu"pose of si0nin0$ o" hethe" he as si0nin0

A. ' belie+e he as si0nin0.

The t"uth an, accu"ac6 of the testi!on6 of thisitness ,oes not see! to ha+e been 7uestione,

b6 an6 of the pa"ties to the p"ocee,in0s$ but thecou"t$ ne+e"theless$ foun, the folloin0 facts4

On the &th ,a6 of ece!be"$ 1%D1$ Maca"io-aboneta e:ecute, un,e" the folloin0ci"cu!stances the ,ocu!ent in 7uestion$ hichhas been p"esente, fo" p"obate as his ill4

Bein0 in the house of A"ca,io -a"an,illa$ in -a"o$in this p"o+ince$ he o",e"e, that the ,ocu!ent in7uestion be "itten$ an, callin0 -ulio -a+ellana$Aniceto -albuena$ an, 'sabelo -ena asitnesses$ e:ecute, the sai, ,ocu!ent as his

ill. The6 e"e all to0ethe"$ an, e"e in the"oo! he"e -aboneta as$ an, e"e p"esenthen he si0ne, the ,ocu!ent$ 'sabelo -enasi0nin0 afte"a",s as a itness$ at his "e7uest$an, in his p"esence an, in the p"esence of theothe" to itnesses. Aniceto -albuena thensi0ne, as a itness in the p"esence of thetestato"$ an, in the p"esence of the othe" tope"sons ho si0ne, as itnesses. At that!o!ent 'sabelo -ena$ bein0 in a hu""6 to lea+e$too3 his hat an, left the "oo!. As he as lea+in0the house -ulio -a+ellana too3 the pen in hishan, an, put hi!self in position to si0n the ill

as a itness$ but ,i, not si0n in the p"esence of'sabelo -ena> but ne+e"theless$ afte" -ena ha,left the "oo! the sai, -ulio -a+ellana si0ne, as aitness in the p"esence of the testato" an, of theitness Aniceto -albuena.

;e can not a0"ee ith so !uch of the abo+efin,in0 of facts as hol,s that the si0natu"e of-a+ellana as not si0ne, in the p"esence of-ena$ in co!pliance ith the p"o+isions ofsection 1 of the Co,e of Ci+il P"oce,u"e. Thefact that -ena as still in the "oo! hen he sa-a+ellana !o+in0 his han, an, pen in the act ofaffi:in0 his si0natu"e to the ill$ ta3en to0ethe"ith the testi!on6 of the "e!ainin0 itnesseshich shos that -a+ellana ,i, in fact the"e an,then si0n his na!e to the ill$ con+inces us thatthe si0natu"e as affi:e, in the p"esence of-ena. The fact that he as in the act of lea+in0$an, that his bac3 as tu"ne, hile a po"tion ofthe na!e of the itness as bein0 "itten$ is ofno i!po"tance.


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the testato"$ ha, asse!ble, fo" the pu"pose ofe:ecutin0 the testa!ent$ an, e"e to0ethe" inthe sa!e "oo! fo" that pu"pose$ an, at the!o!ent hen the itness -a+ellana si0ne, the,ocu!ent he as actuall6 an, ph6sicall6p"esent an, in such position ith "elation to-a+ellana that he coul, see e+e"6thin0 hichtoo3 place b6 !e"el6 castin0 his e6es in thep"ope" ,i"ection$ an, ithout an6 ph6sicalobst"uction to p"e+ent his ,oin0 so$ the"efo"e ea"e of opinion that the ,ocu!ent as in factsi0ne, befo"e he finall6 left the "oo!.

The pu"pose of a statuto"6 "e7ui"e!ent that theitness si0n in the p"esence of the testato" issai, to be that the testato" !a6 ha+e ocula"e+i,ence of the i,entit6 of the inst"u!entsubsc"ibe, b6 the itness an, hi!self$ an, the0ene"all6 accepte, tests of p"esence a"e +isionan, !ental app"ehension. ?See A!. En0. Enc.

of 2a$ +ol. @D$ p. 5%%$ an, cases the"e cite,.

'n the !atte" of Be,ell ?& Connol6 ?N..$ @& itas hel, that it is sufficient if the itnesses a"eto0ethe" fo" the pu"pose of itnessin0 thee:ecution of the ill$ an, in a position to actuall6see the testato" "ite$ if the6 choose to ,o so>an, the"e a"e !an6 cases hich la6 ,on the"ule that the t"ue test of +ision is not hethe" thetestato" actuall6 sa the itness si0n$ buthethe" he !i0ht ha+e seen hi! si0n$consi,e"in0 his !ental an, ph6sical con,itionan, position at the ti!e of the subsc"iption.

?Spoone!o"e +s. Cables$ Mo.$ 5%.

The p"inciples on hich these cases "est an,the tests of p"esence as beteen the testato"an, the itnesses a"e e7uall6 applicable in,ete"!inin0 hethe" the itnesses si0ne, theinst"u!ent in the p"esence of each othe"$ as"e7ui"e, b6 the statute$ an, appl6in0 the! to thefacts p"o+en in these p"ocee,in0s e a"e ofopinion that the statuto"6 "e7uisites as to thee:ecution of the inst"u!ent e"e co!plie, ith$an, that the loe" cou"t e""e, in ,en6in0 p"obateto the ill on the 0"oun, state, in the "ulin0appeale, f"o!.

;e a"e of opinion f"o! the e+i,ence of "eco",that the inst"u!ent p"opoun,e, in thesep"ocee,in0s as satisfacto"il6 p"o+en to be thelast ill an, testa!ent of Maca"io -aboneta$,ecease,$ an, that it shoul, the"efo"e bea,!itte, to p"obate.

The u,0!ent of the t"ial cou"t is "e+e"se,$ithout especial con,e!nation of costs$ an,afte" tent6 ,a6s the "eco", ill be "etu"ne, tothe cou"t fo"! hence it ca!e$ he"e the p"ope"o",e"s ill be ente"e, in confo"!ance he"eith.So o",e"e,.

A"ellano$ C.-.$ To""es$ Mapa$ an, -ohnson$ --.$concu".

wills cases 2

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