Union Bank vs Santibanez - G.R. No. 149926. February 23, 2005

8/9/2019 Union Bank vs Santibanez - G.R. No. 149926. February 23, 2005

1/13

SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. 149926. February 23, 2005.]

NION !"N# OF $%E &%I'I&&INES, petitioner, vs. EDMUND

SANTIBAÑEZ and FLORENCE S"N$I!"(E) ARIOLA,respondents.

Maa!ino " Assoiates #or petitioner.

Ro$erto Ca! Cato!io #or respondents.

S%LLABUS

&. REMEDIAL LA'( CI)IL *ROCEDURE( +URISDICTION(

+URISDICTION OF A *ROBATE COURT. -'e!!/sett!ed is t0e r1!et0at a pro$ate o1rt 0as t0e 21risdition to deter3ine a!! t0e properties o#t0e deeased, to deter3ine 40et0er t0e5 s0o1!d or s0o1!d not $ein!1ded in t0e inventor5 or !ist o# properties to $e ad3inistered. T0esaid o1rt is pri3ari!5 onerned 4it0 t0e ad3inistration, !i61idation anddistri$1tion o# t0e estate.

7. CI)IL LA'( 'ILLS AND SUCCESSION( TESTATESUCCESSION( IN TESTATE SUCCESSION, T8ERE CAN BE NO)ALID *ARTITION AMON9 T8E 8EIRS UNTIL T8E 'ILL 8ASBEEN *ROBATED. :In testate s1ession, t0ere an $e no va!id

partition a3on; t0e 0eirs 1nti! a#ter t0e 4i!! 0as $een pro$ated. T0e !a4en2oins t0e pro$ate o# a 4i!! and t0e p1$!i re61ires it, $ea1se 1n!ess a4i!! is pro$ated and notie t0ereo# ;iven to t0e 40o!e 4or!d, t0e ri;0t o#a person to dispose o# 0is propert5 $5 4i!! 3a5 $e rendered n1;ator5.T0e a1t0entiation o# a 4i!! deides no ot0er 61estion t0an s10 as to101pon t0e apait5 o# t0e testator and t0e o3p!iane 4it0 t0ose

re61ire3ents or so!e3nities 40i0 t0e !a4 presri$es #or t0e va!idit5 o# a4i!!.:


2/13

IN CASE AT BAR. *er1sin; t0e 2oint a;ree3ent, it provides t0at t0e0eirs as parties t0ereto :0ave a;reed to divide $et4een t0e3se!ves andta>e possession and 1se t0e a$ove/desri$ed 0atte! and ea0 o# t0e3 toass13e t0e inde$tedness orrespondin; to t0e 0atte! ta>en as 0erein

a#ter stated 40i0 is in #avor o# First Co1ntr5side Credit Corp.: T0eass13ption o# !ia$i!it5 4as onditioned 1pon t0e 0appenin; o# an event,t0at is, t0at ea0 0eir s0a!! ta>e possession and 1se o# t0eir respetives0are 1nder t0e a;ree3ent. It 4as 3ade dependent on t0e va!idit5 o# t0e

partition, and t0at t0e5 4ere to ass13e t0e inde$tedness orrespondin;to t0e 0atte! t0at t0e5 4ere ea0 to reeive. T0e partition $ein; inva!idas ear!ier dis1ssed, t0e 0eirs in e##et did not reeive an5 s10 trator. It#o!!o4s t0en t0at t0e ass13ption o# !ia$i!it5 annot $e ;iven an5 #ore

and e##et. T0e Co1rt notes t0at t0e !oan 4as ontrated $5 t0e deedent.T0e petitioner, p1rported!5 a reditor o# t0e !ate E#rai3 Santi$a?e@,s0o1!d 0ave t01s #i!ed its 3one5 !ai3 4it0 t0e pro$ate o1rt inaordane 4it0 Setion , R1!e o# t0e Revised R1!es o# Co1rt . . . .T0e #i!in; o# a 3one5 !ai3 a;ainst t0e deedent=s estate in t0e pro$ateo1rt is 3andator5. EITCA

D E C I S I O N

CALLE+O, SR., + pBe#ore 1s is a petition #or revie4 on ertiorari 1nder R1!e o# t0eRevised R1!es o# Co1rt 40i0 see>s t0e reversa! o# t0e Deision & o# t0eCo1rt o# Appea!s dated Ma5


3/13

note in #avor o# t0e FCCC, t0e prinipa! s13 pa5a$!e in #ive e61a!ann1a! a3orti@ations o# *


4/13

&G, t0e petitioner #i!ed a Co3p!aint && #or s13 o# 3one5 a;ainst t0e0eirs o# E#rai3 Santi$a?e@, Ed31nd and F!orene, $e#ore t0e RTC o#Ma>ati Cit5, Bran0 &, do>eted as Civi! Case No. &GG.S133onses 4ere iss1ed a;ainst $ot0, $1t t0e one intended #or Ed31nd

4as not served sine 0e 4as in t0e United States and t0ere 4as noin#or3ation on 0is address or t0e date o# 0is ret1rn to t0e *0i!ippines. &7Aordin;!5, t0e o3p!aint 4as narro4ed do4n to respondent F!oreneS. Ario!a.

On Dee3$er K, &G, respondent F!orene S. Ario!a #i!ed 0er Ans4er&< and a!!e;ed t0at t0e !oan do13ents did not $ind 0er sine s0e 4asnot a part5 t0ereto. Considerin; t0at t0e 2oint a;ree3ent si;ned $5 0erand 0er $rot0er Ed31nd 4as not approved $5 t0e pro$ate o1rt, it 4asn1!! and void( 0ene, s0e 4as not !ia$!e to t0e petitioner 1nder t0e 2ointa;ree3ent.

On +an1ar5 7G, &GG, t0e ase 4as 1n!oaded and re/ra##!ed to t0e RTC o# Ma>ati Cit5, Bran0 o# 3erit. T0e dereta! portion o# t0e RTC deisionreads

'8EREFORE, 21d;3ent is 0ere$5 rendered DISMISSIN9 t0eo3p!aint #or !a> o# 3erit. &

T0e tria! o1rt #o1nd t0at t0e !ai3 o# t0e petitioner s0o1!d 0ave $een#i!ed 4it0 t0e pro$ate o1rt $e#ore 40i0 t0e testate estate o# t0e !ateE#rai3 Santi$a?e@ 4as pendin;, as t0e s13 o# 3one5 $ein; !ai3ed 4asan o$!i;ation in1rred $5 t0e said deedent. T0e tria! o1rt a!so #o1ndt0at t0e +oint A;ree3ent apparent!5 eJe1ted $5 0is 0eirs, Ed31nd andF!orene, on +1!5 77, &G&, 4as, in e##et, a partition o# t0e estate o# t0edeedent. 8o4ever, t0e said a;ree3ent 4as void, onsiderin; t0at it 0adnot $een approved $5 t0e pro$ate o1rt, and t0at t0ere an $e no va!id

partition 1nti! a#ter t0e 4i!! 0as $een pro$ated. T0e tria! o1rt #1rt0erde!ared t0at petitioner #ai!ed to prove t0at it 4as t0e no4 de#1nt UnionSavin;s and Mort;a;e Ban> to 40i0 t0e FCCC 0ad assi;ned its assets


5/13

and !ia$i!ities. T0e o1rt a!so a;reed to t0e ontention o# respondentF!orene S. Ario!a t0at t0e !ist o# assets and !ia$i!ities o# t0e FCCCassi;ned to Union Savin;s and Mort;a;e Ban> did not !ear!5 re#er tot0e deedent=s ao1nt. R1!in; t0at t0e 2oint a;ree3ent eJe1ted $5 t0e

0eirs 4as n1!! and void, t0e tria! o1rt 0e!d t0at t0e petitioner=s a1se o#ation a;ainst respondent F!orene S. Ario!a 31st neessari!5 #ai!.AC8SE

T0e petitioner appea!ed #ro3 t0e RTC deision and e!evated its ase tot0e Co1rt o# Appea!s HCA, assi;nin; t0e #o!!o4in; as errors o# t0e tria!o1rt

&. T8E COURT A UO ERRED IN FINDIN9 T8AT T8E +OINT

A9REEMENT HE8IBIT A S8OULD BE A**RO)ED B% T8E*ROBATE COURT.

7. T8E COURT A UO ERRED IN FINDIN9 T8AT T8ERE CANBE NO )ALID *ARTITION AMON9 T8E 8EIRS UNTIL AFTERT8E 'ILL 8AS BEEN *ROBATED.


6/13

On t0e ot0er 0and, respondent F!orene S. Ario!a 3aintained t0at t0e3one5 !ai3 o# t0e petitioner s0o1!d 0ave $een presented $e#ore t0e

pro$ate o1rt. &K

T0e appe!!ate o1rt #o1nd t0at t0e appea! 4as not 3eritorio1s and 0e!dt0at t0e petitioner s0o1!d 0ave #i!ed its !ai3 4it0 t0e pro$ate o1rt as provided 1nder Setions & and , R1!e o# t0e R1!es o# Co1rt. It#1rt0er 0e!d t0at t0e partition 3ade in t0e a;ree3ent 4as n1!! and void,sine no va!id partition 3a5 $e 0ad 1nti! a#ter t0e 4i!! 0as $een pro$ated.Aordin; to t0e CA, pa;e 7, para;rap0 He o# t0e 0o!o;rap0i 4i!!overed t0e s1$2et properties Htrators in ;eneri ter3s 40en t0edeeased re#erred to t0e3 as :a!! ot0er properties.: Moreover, t0e ative

partiipation o# respondent F!orene S. Ario!a in t0e ase did not a3o1ntto a 4aiver. T01s, t0e CA a##ir3ed t0e RTC deision, vi@.

'8EREFORE, pre3ises onsidered, t0e appea!ed Deision o# t0eRe;iona! Tria! Co1rt o# Ma>ati Cit5, Bran0


7/13

T8E COURT OF A**EALS ERRED IN NOT FINDIN9 T8AT T8ERES*ONDENT 8AD 'AI)ED 8ER RI98T TO 8A)E T8E CLAIMRE/LITI9ATED IN T8E ESTATE *ROCEEDIN9.

I).RES*ONDENTS CAN, IN FACT, BE 8ELD +OINTL% ANDSE)ERALL% LIABLE 'IT8 T8E *RINCI*AL DEBTOR T8E LATEEFRAIM SANTIBAÑEZ ON T8E STREN9T8 OF T8ECONTINUIN9 9UARANT% A9REEMENT EECUTED IN FA)OROF *ETITIONER/A**ELLANT UNION BAN. ITAaC

).

T8E *ROMISSOR% NOTES DATED MA%


8/13

a!!o4in; t0e said 0eirs to enri0 t0e3se!ves to t0e da3a;e and pre21dieo# t0e petitioner.

T0e petitioner, !i>e4ise, avers t0at t0e deisions o# $ot0 t0e tria! and

appe!!ate o1rts #ai!ed to onsider t0e #at t0at respondent F!orene S.Ario!a and 0er $rot0er Ed31nd eJe1ted !oan do13ents, a!!esta$!is0in; t0e vin1!13 21ris or t0e !e;a! $ond $et4een t0e !ate E#rai3Santi$a?e@ and 0is 0eirs to $e in t0e nat1re o# a so!idar5 o$!i;ation.F1rt0er3ore, t0e *ro3issor5 Notes dated Ma5


9/13

t0at t0e !ai3 s0o1!d $e #i!ed 4it0 t0e pro$ate o1rt. T01s, t0e petitionero1!d not invo>e or !ai3 t0at s0e is in estoppe!.

Respondent F!orene S. Ario!a #1rt0er asserts t0at s0e 0ad not si;ned

an5 ontin1in; ;1arant5 a;ree3ent, nor 4as t0ere an5 do13ent presented as evidene to s0o4 t0at s0e 0ad a1sed 0erse!# to $e $o1nd $5 t0e o$!i;ation o# 0er !ate #at0er.

T0e petition is $ere#t o# 3erit.

T0e Co1rt is posed to reso!ve t0e #o!!o4in; iss1es a 40et0er or not t0e partition in t0e A;ree3ent eJe1ted $5 t0e 0eirs is va!id( $ 40et0er ornot t0e 0eirs= ass13ption o# t0e inde$tedness o# t0e deeased is va!id(and 40et0er t0e petitioner an 0o!d t0e 0eirs !ia$!e on t0e o$!i;ationo# t0e deeased. TaISDA

At t0e o1tset, 4e!!/sett!ed is t0e r1!e t0at a pro$ate o1rt 0as t0e 21risdition to deter3ine a!! t0e properties o# t0e deeased, to deter3ine40et0er t0e5 s0o1!d or s0o1!d not $e in!1ded in t0e inventor5 or !ist o#

properties to $e ad3inistered. 7 T0e said o1rt is pri3ari!5 onerned4it0 t0e ad3inistration, !i61idation and distri$1tion o# t0e estate. 7&

In o1r 21risdition, t0e r1!e is t0at t0ere an $e no va!id partition a3on;

t0e 0eirs 1nti! a#ter t0e 4i!! 0as $een pro$ated.

In testate s1ession, t0ere an $e no va!id partition a3on; t0e 0eirs1nti! a#ter t0e 4i!! 0as $een pro$ated. T0e !a4 en2oins t0e pro$ate o# a4i!! and t0e p1$!i re61ires it, $ea1se 1n!ess a 4i!! is pro$ated andnotie t0ereo# ;iven to t0e 40o!e 4or!d, t0e ri;0t o# a person to disposeo# 0is propert5 $5 4i!! 3a5 $e rendered n1;ator5. T0e a1t0entiation o#a 4i!! deides no ot0er 61estion t0an s10 as to10 1pon t0e apait5 o#

t0e testator and t0e o3p!iane 4it0 t0ose re61ire3ents or so!e3nities40i0 t0e !a4 presri$es #or t0e va!idit5 o# a 4i!!. 77

T0is, o# o1rse, pres1pposes t0at t0e properties to $e partitioned are t0esa3e properties e3$raed in t0e 4i!!. 7< In t0e present ase, t0edeeased, E#rai3 Santi$a?e@, !e#t a 0o!o;rap0i 4i!! 7 40i0 ontained,inter a!ia, t0e provision 40i0 reads as #o!!o4s


10/13

He A!! ot0er properties, rea! or persona!, 40i0 I o4n and 3a5 $edisovered !ater a#ter 35 de3ise, s0a!! $e distri$1ted in t0e proportionindiated in t0e i33ediate!5 preedin; para;rap0 in #avor o# Ed31ndand F!orene, 35 0i!dren.

'e a;ree 4it0 t0e appe!!ate o1rt t0at t0e a$ove/61oted is an a!!/eno3passin; provision e3$rain; a!! t0e properties !e#t $5 t0e deedent40i0 3i;0t 0ave esaped 0is 3ind at t0at ti3e 0e 4as 3a>in; 0is 4i!!,and ot0er properties 0e 3a5 a61ire t0erea#ter. In!1ded t0erein are t0et0ree H


11/13

T0e 61estion t0at no4 o3es to #ore is 40et0er t0e 0eirs= ass13ption o#t0e inde$tedness o# t0e deedent is $indin;. 'e r1!e in t0e ne;ative.*er1sin; t0e 2oint a;ree3ent, it provides t0at t0e 0eirs as parties t0ereto:0ave a;reed to divide $et4een t0e3se!ves and ta>e possession and 1se

t0e a$ove/desri$ed 0atte! and ea0 o# t0e3 to ass13e t0e inde$tednessorrespondin; to t0e 0atte! ta>en as 0erein a#ter stated 40i0 is in #avor o# First Co1ntr5side Credit Corp.: 7G T0e ass13ption o# !ia$i!it5 4asonditioned 1pon t0e 0appenin; o# an event, t0at is, t0at ea0 0eir s0a!!ta>e possession and 1se o# t0eir respetive s0are 1nder t0e a;ree3ent. It4as 3ade dependent on t0e va!idit5 o# t0e partition, and t0at t0e5 4ereto ass13e t0e inde$tedness orrespondin; to t0e 0atte! t0at t0e5 4ereea0 to reeive. T0e partition $ein; inva!id as ear!ier dis1ssed, t0e 0eirs

in e##et did not reeive an5 s10 trator. It #o!!o4s t0en t0at t0eass13ption o# !ia$i!it5 annot $e ;iven an5 #ore and e##et. IT8ADC

T0e Co1rt notes t0at t0e !oan 4as ontrated $5 t0e deedent. T0e petitioner, p1rported!5 a reditor o# t0e !ate E#rai3 Santi$a?e@, s0o1!d0ave t01s #i!ed its 3one5 !ai3 4it0 t0e pro$ate o1rt in aordane4it0 Setion , R1!e o# t0e Revised R1!es o# Co1rt, 40i0 provides

Setion . C!ai3s 40i0 31st $e #i!ed 1nder t0e notie. I# not #i!ed

$arred( eJeptions. A!! !ai3s #or 3one5 a;ainst t0e deedent, arisin;#ro3 ontrat, eJpress or i3p!ied, 40et0er t0e sa3e $e d1e, not d1e, orontin;ent, a!! !ai3s #or #1nera! eJpenses #or t0e !ast si>ness o# t0edeedent, and 21d;3ent #or 3one5 a;ainst t0e deedent, 31st $e #i!ed4it0in t0e ti3e !i3ited in t0e notie( ot0er4ise t0e5 are $arred #orever,eJept t0at t0e5 3a5 $e set #ort0 as o1nter!ai3s in an5 ation t0at t0eeJe1tor or ad3inistrator 3a5 $rin; a;ainst t0e !ai3ants. '0ere aneJe1tor or ad3inistrator o33enes an ation, or prose1tes an ationa!read5 o33ened $5 t0e deeased in 0is !i#eti3e, t0e de$tor 3a5 set#ort0 $5 ans4er t0e !ai3s 0e 0as a;ainst t0e deedent, instead o#

presentin; t0e3 independent!5 to t0e o1rt as 0erein provided, and31t1a! !ai3s 3a5 $e set o## a;ainst ea0 ot0er in s10 ation( and i##ina! 21d;3ent is rendered in #avor o# t0e de#endant, t0e a3o1nt sodeter3ined s0a!! $e onsidered t0e tr1e $a!ane a;ainst t0e estate, ast0o1;0 t0e !ai3 0ad $een presented diret!5 $e#ore t0e o1rt in t0e


12/13

ad3inistration proeedin;s. C!ai3s not 5et d1e, or ontin;ent, 3a5 $eapproved at t0eir present va!1e.

T0e #i!in; o# a 3one5 !ai3 a;ainst t0e deedent=s estate in t0e pro$ate

o1rt is 3andator5.


13/13

*0i!ippines . . .: is no4, in #at, petitioner UnionBan> o# t0e *0i!ippines. As t0e tria! o1rt de!ared in its deision

. . . -T0e o1rt a!so #inds 3erit to t0e ontention o# de#endant t0at p!ainti## #ai!ed to prove or did not present evidene to prove t0at UnionSavin;s and Mort;a;e Ban> is no4 t0e Union Ban> o# t0e *0i!ippines.+1diia! notie does not app!5 0ere. :T0e po4er to ta>e 21diia! notie isto -$e eJerised $5 t0e o1rts 4it0 a1tion( are 31st $e ta>en t0at t0ere61isite notoriet5 eJists( and ever5 reasona$!e do1$t 1pon t0e s1$2ets0o1!d $e pro3pt!5 reso!ved in t0e ne;ative.: HRep1$!i vs. Co1rt o#Appea!s, &K SCRA .

Documents

Union Bank vs Santibanez - G.R. No. 149926. February 23, 2005