Nera v.

Rimando
G.R. L-5971 February 27, 1911
Ponente: Carson, J.:
'Test of Presence'
Facts:
At the t!e the "## "as e$ecute%, n a #ar&e roo! connectn& "th a s!a##er roo! by a
%oor"ay "here a curtan han&s across, one of the "tnesses "as n the outs%e roo!
"hen the other "tnesses "ere attachn& ther s&natures to the nstru!ent.
The tra# court %% not cons%er the %eter!naton of the ssue as to the 'oston of the
"tness as of (ta# !'ortance n %eter!nn& the case. )t a&ree% "th the ru#n& n the
case of *aboneta (. Gust##o that the a##e&e% fact ben& that one of the subscrbn&
"tnesses "as n the outer roo! "h#e the s&nn& occurre% n the nner roo!, "ou#%
not be su+cent to n(a#%ate the e$ecuton of the "##.
The ,A %ee!e% the "## (a#%.
Issue: Whether or not the subscribing witness was able to see the testator
and other witnesses in the act of afxing their signatures.
-.L/: 0.1
The ,ourt s unan!ous n ts o'non that ha% the "tnesses been 'ro(en to be n the
outer roo! "hen the testator an% other "tnesses s&ne% the "## n the nner roo!, t
"ou#% ha(e n(a#%ate% the "## snce the attachn& of the s&natures un%er the
crcu!stances "as not %one 'n the 'resence' of the "tnesses n the outer roo!. The
#ne of (son of the "tness to the testator an% other "tnesses "as b#oc2e% by the
curtan se'aratn& the roo!s.
The 'oston of the 'artes !ust be such that "th re#aton to each other at the !o!ent
of the attachn& the s&natures, they !ay see each other s&n f they chose to.
)n the *aboneta case, the true test of 'resence s not "hether or not they actua##y sa"
each other s&n but "hether they !&ht ha(e seen each other s&n f they chose to %o
so cons%ern& ther 'hysca#, !enta# con%ton an% 'oston n re#aton to each other at
the !o!ent of the nscr'ton of the s&nature.
Llorente vs. Court of Aeals!
". R. No. #$%&'#!
November $&! $(((
)acts: 3n February 22, 1947, Loren5o an% 'ettoner Pau#a "ere !arre% before a 'arsh
'rest n 6abua, ,a!arnes 1ur.
3n 6o(e!ber 47, 1984, Loren5o "as a%!tte% to 9nte% 1tates ct5ensh' an%
,ert:cate of 6atura#5aton 6o. 5579;1< "as ssue% n hs fa(or by the 9nte% 1tates
/strct ,ourt, 1outhern /strct of 6e" 0or2.
9'on the #beraton of the Ph#''nes by the A!ercan Forces n 1985, Loren5o "as
&rante% an accrue% #ea(e by the 9. 1. 6a(y, to (st hs "fe an% he (ste% the
Ph#''nes. -e %sco(ere% that hs "fe Pau#a "as 're&nant an% "as =#(n& n> an%
ha(n& an a%u#terous re#atonsh' "th hs brother, ,eferno L#orente.
Loren5o refuse% to for&(e Pau#a an% #(e "th her . -e then returne% to the 9nte%
1tates an% on 6o(e!ber 1<, 1951 :#e% for %(orce "th the 1u'eror ,ourt of the 1tate
of ,a#forna n an% for the ,ounty of 1an /e&o. Pau#a "as re'resente% by counse#, *ohn
R#ey, an% act(e#y 'artc'ate% n the 'rocee%n&s. 3n 6o(e!ber 27, 1951, the 1u'eror
,ourt of the 1tate of ,a#forna, for the ,ounty of 1an /e&o foun% a## factua# a##e&atons
to be true an% ssue% an nter#ocutory?u%&!ent of %(orce.
3n /ece!ber 8, 1952, the %(orce %ecree beca!e :na#.
Loren5o "ent bac2 to the Ph#''nes an% on *anuary 1<, 195; !arre% A#ca
F. L#orente n @an#a.
Fro! 195; to 19;5, Loren5o an% A#ca #(e% to&ether as husban% an% "fe.Ther t"enty-
:(e A25B year unon 'ro%uce% three ch#%ren, Rau#, Lu5 an% Ce(er#y, a##
surna!e% L#orente.
3n @arch 14, 19;1, Loren5o e$ecute% a Last D## an% Testa!ent. The "## "as notar5e%
by 6otary Pub#c 1a#(a%or @. 3ccano, %u#y s&ne% by Loren5o "th attestn& "tnesses
Francsco -u&o, Francsco 6ebres an% Tto Tra?ano. )n the "##, Loren5o beEueathe% a##
hs 'ro'erty to A#ca an% ther three ch#%ren.
3n /ece!ber 18, 19;4, Loren5o :#e% "th the Re&ona# Tra# ,ourt, )r&a, ,a!arnes 1ur,
a 'etton for the 'robate an% a##o"ance of hs#ast "## an% testa!ent "heren Loren5o
!o(e% that A#ca be a''onte% 1'eca# A%!nstratr$ of hs estate.
3n *anuary 28, 19;8, :n%n& that the "## "as %u#y e$ecute%, the tra# court a%!tte%
the "## to 'robate but before the 'rocee%n&s cou#% be ter!nate% , Loren5o %e%.
Pau#a :#e% "th the sa!e court a 'etton for #etters of a%!nstraton o(er Loren5oFs
estate n her fa(or conten%n& that she "as Loren5oFs sur((n& s'ouse, that such
'ro'ertes "ere acEure% %urn& ther !arra&e an% that Loren5oFs "## "ou#% encroach
her #e&t!e.
A#ca :#e% n the testate 'rocee%n& , a 'etton for the ssuance of #etters testa!entary.
3n 3ctober 18, 19;5, "thout ter!natn& the testate 'rocee%n&s, the tra# court &a(e
%ue course to Pau#aFs 'etton.
The Re&ona# Tra# ,ourt foun% that the %(orce %ecree &rante% to the #ate
Loren5o L#orente s (o% an% na''#cab#e n the Ph#''nes, therefore the !arra&e he
contracte% "th A#ca Fortunato on *anuary 1<, 195; at @an#a s #2e"se (o%. Ths
ben& so the 'etton of A#ca F. L#orente for the ssuance of #etters testa!entary s
%ene%. L2e"se, she s not entt#e% to rece(e any share fro! the estate e(en f the "##
es'eca##y sa% so her re#atonsh' "th Loren5o ha(n& &ane% the status of 'ara!our
"hch s un%er Art. 749 A1B.
=Pettoner, Pau#a L#orente s a''onte% #e&a# a%!nstrator of the estate of the
%ecease%, Loren5o L#orente.
Issue: Dho are entt#e% to nhert fro! the #ate Loren5o 6. L#orenteG
*eld: The tra# court he#% that the "## "as ntrnsca##y n(a#% snce t contane%
%s'ostons n fa(or of A#ce, "ho n the tra# courtFs o'non "as a !ere 'ara!our. The
tra# court thre" the "## out, #ea(n& A#ce, an% her t"o ch#%ren, Rau# an% Lu5, "th
nothn&.
The ,ourt of A''ea#s a#so %sre&ar%e% the "##. )t %ec#are% A#ce entt#e% to one ha#f A1H2B
of "hate(er 'ro'erty she an% Loren5o acEure% %urn& ther cohabtaton, a''#yn&
Artc#e 188 of the ,(# ,o%e of the Ph#''nes.
The hasty a''#caton of Ph#''ne #a" an% the co!'#ete %sre&ar% of the "##, a#rea%y
'robate% as %u#y e$ecute% n accor%ance "th the for!a#tes of Ph#''ne #a", s fata#,
es'eca##y n #&ht of the factua# an% #e&a# crcu!stances here obtann&.
Loren5o 6. L#orente beca!e an A!ercan ct5en #on& before an% at the t!e of: A1B hs
%(orce fro! Pau#aI A2B !arra&e to A#caI A4B e$ecuton of hs "##I an% A8B %eath, s %u#y
estab#she%, a%!tte% an% un%s'ute%.
Thus, as a ru#e, ssues arsn& fro! these nc%ents are necessar#y &o(erne% by fore&n
#a". =
Art. 1<. Rea# 'ro'erty as "e## as 'ersona# 'ro'erty s sub?ect to the #a" of the country
"here t s stuate%.
=-o"e(er, ntestate an% testa!entary successon, both "th res'ect to the or%er of
successon an% to the a!ount of successona# r&hts an% to the ntrnsc (a#%ty of
testa!entary 'ro(sons, sha## bere&u#ate% by the natona# #a" of the 'erson "hose
successon s un%er cons%eraton, "hate(er !ay be the nature of the 'ro'erty an%
re&ar%#ess of the country "heren sa% 'ro'erty !ay be foun%.>
Cut the hasty %sre&ar% of both the RT, an% ,A of Loren5oFs D## byca##n& to the fore the
R.6J3) %octrne, c#a!n& that A!ercan #a" fo##o"s %o!c#ary ru#e s un?ust:e%.
There s no such thn& as A!ercan #a" for the "ho#e naton of the 91, for the country
co!'rses of a &rou' of 1tates, each 1tate ha(n& ts o"n a''#cab#e #a", enforceab#e
on#y "thn that state.
As to the (a#%ty of the fore&n %(orce , ?urs'ru%ence reterates that once t s 'ro(en
that an n%(%ua# s no #on&er a F#'no, thus an a#en, "hen he obtans a %(orce
abroa%, ts eKects sha## be reco&n5e% n the Ph#''nes.
The 1u're!e ,ourt he#% that the %(orce obtane% by Loren5o -.L#orente fro! hs :rst
"fe Pau#a "as (a#% an% reco&n5e% n ths ?urs%cton as a !atter of co!ty.
6o", the eKects of ths %(orce Aas to the successon to the estate of the %ece%entB are
!atters best #eft to the %eter!naton of the tra# court.
Dhether the "## s ntrnsca##y (a#% an% "ho sha## nhert fro! Loren5o are ssues best
'ro(e% by fore&n #a" "hch !ust be '#ea%e% an% 'ro(e%. Dhether the "## "as
e$ecute% n accor%ance "th the for!a#tes reEure% s ans"ere% by referrn& to
Ph#''ne #a". )n fact, the "## "as %u#y 'robate%.
The %ecson of the ,A s set as%e an% that of the RT, s re(erse%. ,ourt R.@A6/1 the
cases to the court of or&n for %eter!naton of the ntrnsc (a#%ty of Loren5o 6.
L#orenteFs "## an% %eter!naton of the 'artesF successona# r&hts a##o"n& 'roof of
fore&n #a" "thnstructons that the tra# court sha## 'rocee% "th a## %e#berate %s'atch
to sett#e the estate of the %ecease% "thn the fra!e"or2 of the Ru#es of ,ourt.
+,LLI- vs. +,LLI-
".R. No. L.$&/'0
1une /! #2/'
)AC3-: A@31 G. C.LL)1 "as a ct5en an% res%ent of Te$as at the t!e of hs %eath. -e
e$ecute% a "## n the Ph#''nes, n "hch he %recte% that after a## ta$es, ob#&atons,
an% e$'enses of a%!nstraton are 'a% for, hs %strbutab#e estate shou#% be %(%e%,
n trust, n the fo##o"n& or%er an% !anner
aB L287,777.77 to hs :rst "fe @AR0 .. @ALL.6
bB L127,777.77 to hs three ##e&t!ate ch#%ren A@31 C.LL)1, *R., @AR)A ,R)1T)6A
C.LL)1, @)R)A@ PAL@A C.LL)1,or L87,777.77 each, an%
cB After fore&on& the t"o te!s ha(e been sats:e%, the re!an%er sha## &o to hs se(en
sur((n& ch#%ren by hs :rst an% secon% "(es ./DAR/ A. C.LL)1, -.6R0 A. C.LL)1,
AL.MA6/.R C.LL)1, an% A66A C.LL)1-ALL1@A6, ./DAR/ G. C.LL)1, DA LT.R 1.
C.LL)1, an% /3R3T-0 .. C.LL)1 n eEua# shares.
@AR)A ,R)1T)6A C.LL)1 an% @)R)A@ PAL@A C.LL)1 :#e% ther res'ect(e o''ostons to
the 'ro?ect of 'artton on the &roun% that they "ere %e'r(e% of ther #e&t!es as
##e&t!ate ch#%ren an%, therefore, co!'u#sory hers of the %ecease%.
The L3D.R ,39RT ssue% an or%er o(erru#n& the o''ostons an% a''ro(n& the
e$ecutorFs :na# account, re'ort an% a%!nstraton, an% 'ro?ect of 'artton. Re#yn&
u'on Artc#e 1< of the ,(# ,o%e, t a''#e% the natona# #a" of the %ece%ent, "hch n
ths case s "hch %% not 'ro(%e for #e&t!es
I--4,: Dhch #a" !ust a''#y n e$ecutn& the "## of the %ecease% N Te$as La" or
Ph#''ne La"G
*,L5: The sa% ##e&t!ate ch#%ren are not entt#e% to ther #e&t!es un%er the Te$as
La" A"hch s the natona# #a" of the %ecease%B, here are no #e&t!es. The ren(o
%octrne cannot be a''#e%. 1a% %octrne s usua##y 'ertnent "here the %ece%ent s a
natona# of one country a% a %o!c#ary of another. )n the sa% case, t s not %s'ute%
that the %ecease% "as both a natona# of Te$as an% a %o!c#e thereof at the t!e of hs
%eath.
Artc#e 1<, Para&ra'h 2 of ,(# co%e ren%er a''#cab#e the natona# #a" of the %ece%ent,
n ntestate an% testa!entary successons, "th re&ar% to four te!s: AaB the or%er of
successon, AbB the a!ount of successona# r&hts, AcB the ntrnsc (a#%ty of 'ro(sons
of "##, an% A%B the ca'acty to succee%.
They 'ro(%e that
ART.1< Rea# 'ro'erty as "e## as 'ersona# 'ro'erty s sub?ect to the #a" of the country to
"here t s stuate%. -o"e(er, ntestate an% testa!entary successons, both "th
res'ect to the or%er of successons an% to the a!ount of successona# r&hts an% to the
ntrnsc (a#%ty of testa!entary 'ro(sons, sha## be re&u#ate% by the natona# #a" of the
'erson "hose successon s un%er cons%eraton, "hate(er !ay be the nature of the
'ro'erty an% re&ar%#ess of the country "heren sa% 'ro'erty !ay be foun%.
Dhere the testator "as a ct5en of Te$as an% %o!c#e% n Te$as, the ntrnsc (a#%ty of
hs "## shou#% be &o(erne% by hs natona# #a". 1nce Te$as #a" %oes not reEure
#e&t!es, then hs "##, "hch %e'r(e% hs ##e&t!ate ch#%ren of the #e&t!es, s (a#%.
The 1u're!e ,ourt he#% that the ##e&t!ate ch#%ren are not entt#e% to the #e&t!es
un%er the te$as #a", "hch s the natona# #a" of the %ecease%.
,ayetano (s. Leon%as
G.R. 6o. L-58919,
@ay 47, 19;8
G.6.RAL R9L.: L!te% ?urs%cton of the 'robate court
.M,.PT)36: Dhere 'ractca# cons%eratons %e!an% that the ntrnsc (a#%ty of the "##
be 'asse% u'on, e(en before t s 'robate%, the court shou#% !eet the ssues.
)AC3-: A%oracon ,. ,a!'os %e%, #ea(n& -er!o&enes ,a!'os AfatherB an% her
ssters, 6enta Pa&ua, Re!e%os Lo'e5, an% @areta @e%na as the sur((n& hers. As
the on#y co!'u#sory her s -er!o&enes, he e$ecute% an A+%a(t of A%?u%caton,
a%?u%catn& unto h!se#f the entre estate of A%oracon.
Later that sa!e year, 6enta :#e% a 'etton for re'robate of a "##, a##e&n& a!on&
others that A%oracon "as an A!ercan ct5en an% that the "## "as e$ecute% n teh 91.
A%oracon %e% n @an#a "h#e te!'orar#y res%n& n @a#ate.
Dh#e ths case "as st## 'en%n&, -er!o&enes %e% an% #eft a "##, a''ontn& Po##y
,ayetano as the e$ecutr$. -ence, ths case.
I--4,-: Dhether or not the "## "as (a#%
Dhether or not the court has ?urs%cton o(er 'robate 'rocee%n&s
*,L5: As a &enera# ru#e, the 'robate court's authorty s #!te% on#y to the e$trnsc
(a#%ty of the "##, the %ue e$ecuton thereof, the testatr$'s testa!entary ca'acty an%
the co!'#ance "th the reEustes or so#e!ntes 'rescrbe% by #a". The ntrnsc (a#%ty
nor!a##y co!es on#y after the court has %ec#are% that the "## has been %u#y
authentcate%. -o"e(er, "here 'ractca# cons%eratons %e!an% that the ntrnsc
(a#%ty of the "## be 'asse% u'on, e(en before t s 'robate%, the court shou#% !eet the
ssues.
)n ths case, t "as su+cent#y estab#she% that A%oracon "as an A!ercan ct5en
an% the #a" "hch &o(erns her "## sthe #a" of Pennsy#(ana, 91A, "hch s the natona#
#a" of the %ece%ent.
)t s a sett#e% ru#e that as re&ar%s the ntrnsc (a#%ty of the 'ro(sons of the "##, the
natona# #a" of the %ece%ent !usta''#y.
As to the ssue of ?urs%cton --
The sett#e!ent of estate of A%oracon ,a!'os "as correct#y :#e% "th the ,F)
of @an#a "here she ha% an estate snce t "as a##e&e% an% 'ro(en that A%oracon at the
t!e of her %eath "as a ct5en an% 'er!anent res%ent of Pennsy#(ana, 91A an% not a
usua# res%ent of ,a(te.
@oreo(er, 'ettoner s no" esto''e% fro! Euestonn& the ?urs%cton of the 'robate
court n the 'etton for re#ef. )t s a sett#e% ru#e that a 'arty cannot n(o2e the
?urs%cton of a court to secure a+r!at(e re#ef, a&anst hs o''onent an% after fa#n&
to obtan such re#ef, re'u%ate or Eueston that sa!e ?urs%cton.
)RANCI-CA AL-4A.+,33-! 16-,7* 6. +,33-! 16-, 8A5AR,3A! ,-3,+AN 7.
RA8IR,9! and 3*, R,"I-3,R 6) 5,,5- )6R AL+A: 7R6;INC,! etitioners!
vs.
C64R3 6) A77,AL-! A87AR6 AL-4A +4,N;IA1,! ),RNAN56 +4,N;IA1,!
),RNAN56 AL-4A! reresented b< his guardian! CL63IL5, -. AL-4A and
7A+L6 AL-4A! resondents.
)AC3-:
6o(. 25, 1989- /on *esus A#sua an% hs "fe, /oOIa F#orentna Re##a, to&ether "th a##
ther #(n& ch#%ren, Francsca, Pab#o ,Fernan%o A#sua thru ths ?u%ca# &uar%an ,#ot#%e
1a!son, an% A!'aro A#sua %e Cuen(a?e, entere% nto a %u#y notar5e% a&ree!ent, o(er
the e$stn&. abaca an% cacao #an%s an% urban #an%s re&stere% n the Pro(nce of A#bay
an% n the ,ty of @an#a. 3n *anuary 5, 1955, /on *esus an% /oOa F#orentnaA /oOa
Tnay Bse'arate#y e$ecute% ther res'ect(e ho#o&ra'hc "##s n "hch "ere n
confor!ty an% n !'#e!entaton of the e$tra?u%ca# 'artton of 6o(e!ber 25, 1989.
Ther ho#o&ra'hc "##s s!#ar#y 'ro(%e% for the nsttuton of the other to hs or her
share n the con?u&a# 'ro'ertes, the other ha#f of the con?u&a# assets ha(n& been
'arttone% to consttute ther #e&t!e a!on& ther four #(n& ch#%ren n the
.$tra?u%ca# Partton of 1989. The "&s a#so %ec#are% that n the e(ent of future
acEustons of other 'ro'ertes by ether of the!, one-ha#f "ou#% be#on& to the other
s'ouse, an% the other ha#f sha## be %(%e% eEua##y a!on& the four ch#%ren. /on *esus
A#sua e$ecute% a se'arate but s!#ar ho#o&ra'hc "## on the sa!e %ay, *an. 5, 1955 n
e$act#y the sa!e ter!s an% con%tons of the "## of hs "fe. 1'ouses /on *esus an%
/oOa Tnay :#e% before the ,F) of A#bay ther res'ect(e 'ettons for the 'robate of ther
res'ect(e ho#o&ra'hc "ns n t"o se'arate s'eca# 'rocee%n&s.
1'ouses then e$ecute% ther !utua# an% rec'roca# co%c#s a!en%n& an%
su''#e!entn& ther ho#o&ra'hc "##s n "hch the co%c# a#so 'ro(%e% that one ha#f of
a## the 'ro'ertesA con?u&a# an% 'ara'herna#B s ben& con(eye% to an% 'ortone% a!on&
the #e&t!ate hers, but they are reser(n& the other ha#f an% they rec'roca##y
beEueathe% to each other as "e## as the 'ro'ertes they are to acEure subseEuent#y
an% that the sur((n& s'ouse "ou#% be na!e% e$ecutor n 'ro'ertes or a%!nstrator.
/ona Tnay %e%, 9'on the %eath of /oOa Tnay /on *esus "as na!e% e$ecutor. /on
*esus cance##e% hs ho#o&ra'hc "## n the 'resence of hs boo22ee'erHsecretary -e
nstructe% hs ne" #a"yer to %raft a ne" "## %u#y s&ne% by /on *esus an% the attestn&
"tnesses . The "## ha% three essenta# features: AaB t e$'ress#y cance##e%, re(o2e% an%
annu##e% a## the 'ro(sons of /on *esus' ho#o&ra'hc "## of *anuary 5, 1955 an% hs
co%c# of Au&ust 18, 195<I AbB t 'ro(%e% for the co##aton of a## hs 'ro'ertes %onate%
to hs four #(n& ch#%ren by (rtue of .$tra?u%ca# A&ree!ent of 1989, an% that such
'ro'ertes be ta2en nto account n the 'artton of hs estate a!on& the ch#%renI an%
AcB t nsttute% hs ch#%ren as #e&ateesH%e(sees of certan s'ec:c 'ro'ertes, an% as to
the rest of the 'ro'ertes an% "hate(er !ay be subseEuent#y acEure% n the future,
before hs %eath, "ere to be &(en to Francsca an% Pab#o, na!n& Francesca as
e$ecutr$ to ser(e "thout a bon%.
After a## %ebts, funera# char&es an% other e$'enses of the estate of /oOa Tnay ha%
been 'a%, a## her hers nc#u%n& /on *esus, sub!tte% to the 'robate court for a''ro(a#
a %ee% of 'artton, the court a''ro(e% the 'artton of 1959 an% on *anuary <, 19<1
%ec#are% the ter!naton of the 'rocee%n&s on the estate of /oOa Tnay. /on *esus
A#sua %e%.
Francsca :#e% a 'etton for the 'robate of the ne" "##. )t "as o''ose% by her sb#n&s
Pab#o an% Fernan%o, on the &roun% that /on *esus "as not of soun% !n% at the t!e of
the e$ecuton of the "##. The "## "as %sa##o"e%. The %au&hter ar&ue% that the other
ch#%ren, Pab#o an% Fernan%o, are n esto''e# to Eueston the co!'etence of /on *esus
by (rtue of the a&ree!ent 're(ous#y entere%.
I--4,: D36 .sto''e# s a''#cab#e n 'robate 'rocee%n&sG
*,L5: N6. 3he rincile of estoel is not alicable in robate roceedings.
Probate 'rocee%n&s n(o#(e 'ub#c nterest, an% the a''#caton theren of the ru#e
of esto''e#, "hen t "## b#oc2 the ascertan!ent of the truth as to the crcu!stances,
surroun%n& the e$ecuton of a testa!ent, "ou#% see! n!ca# to 'ub#c 'o#cy.
The contro(ersy as to the co!'etency of /on *esus to e$ecute hs "## cannot be
%eter!ne% by the acts of hs sons to the "## n for!a##y a&reen& n "rtn& "th
Francsca that ther father be a''onte% by the court e$ecutor of the "## of ther !other
The res'on%ent court erre% n %enyn& 'robate to the "## of /on *esus %ate%
6o(e!ber 18, 1959I t erre% n ho#%n& that /on *esus ben& a 'arty to the e$tra?u%ca#
'artton of 1989 "as contractua##y boun% by the 'ro(sons thereof an% hence cou#% not
re(o2e hs 'artc'aton theren by the s!'#e e$'e%ence of !a2n& a ne" "## "th
contrary 'ro(sons or %s'ostons. )t s an error because the so-ca##e% e$tra?u%ca#
'artton of 1989 s (o% an% no'erat(e as a 'arttonI nether s t a (a#% or
enforceab#e contract because t n(o#(e% future nhertanceI t !ay on#y be &(en eKect
as a %onaton nter ((os of s'ec:c 'ro'ertes to the hers !a%e by the 'arents.
The 1, a##o"e% the 'robate of the "## u'on :n%n& that /on *esus co!'#e% "th the
reEure!ents of #a" as to the e$ecuton of the "##.
"on=ales v. Court of Aeals >CA? 5igest
"on=ales v. CA
".R. No. L.&'%@& 8a< $@! #2'2
Guerrero, J. (Ponente)
)acts: Pettoner R5a#na Gon5a#es an% Lut&ar%a 1anta&o APr(ate res'on%entB are the
neces of the %ecease% )sabe# Gabre# "ho %e% a "%o". A "## "as thereafter sub!tte%
to 'robate. The sa% "## "as ty'e"rtten, n Ta&a#o& an% a''eare% to ha(e been
e$ecute% n A'r# 19<1 or t"o !onths 'ror to the %eath of )sabe#. )t consste% of 5 'a&es
nc#u%n& the attestaton an% ac2no"#e%&!ent, "th the s&nature of testatr$ on 'a&e 8
an% the #eft !ar&n of a## the 'a&es.
Lut&ar%a "as na!e% as the un(ersa# her an% e$ecutor. The 'ettoner o''ose% the
'robate.
The #o"er court %ene% the 'robate on the &roun% that the "## "as not e$ecute% an%
atteste% n accor%ance "th #a" on the ssue of the co!'etency an% cre%b#ty of the
"tnesses.
Issue: Dhether or not the cre%b#ty of the subscrbn& "tnesses s !atera# to the
(a#%ty of a "##
R4LIN": 6o. The #a" reEures on#y that "tnesses 'osses the Eua#:catons un%er Art.
;27 A6,,B an% none of the %sEua#:catons of Art. ;72. There s no reEure!ent that
they are of &oo% stan%n& or re'utaton n the co!!unty, for trust"orthness, honesty
an% u'r&htness n or%er that hs test!ony s be#e(e% an% acce'te% n court. For the
test!ony to be cre%b#e, t s not !an%atory that e(%ence be estab#she% on recor%
that the "tnesses ha(e &oo% stan%n& n the the co!!unty. ,o!'etency s
%stn&ushe% fro! cre%b#ty, the for!er ben& %eter!ne% by Art. ;27 "h#e the #atter
%oes not reEure e(%ence of such &oo% stan%n&. ,re%b#ty %e'en%s on the con(ncn&
"e&ht of hs test!ony n court.