Agtarap vs Agtarap

Agtarap vs Agtarap (June 8, 2011) FACTS: Decedent Joaquin e!t (2) parces o! and "it# i$prove$ents% &e contracted (2) $arriages% "it# 'ucia (1), "#o died 12*+ t#ree c#idren, Jesus (), -iagros (), Jose () T#en "it# Caridad (2), "it# t#ree c#idren, .duardo, Se/astian, -ercedes Son .duardo (2) !ied petition !or sette$ent o! Joaquins intestate estate% TC TC issued resoution appointing .duardo as ad$inistrator% ad$inistrator% T#e TC issued an rder o! 3artition on ct 24, 2000 "#ic# rued t#at 5/u6 o! estate propert7  "ere acquired during t#e eistence o! 2 nd $arriage, TCTs s#o"ing Joaquin $arried to Caridad% .duardo, Se/astian, and oppositors Josep# 9 Teresa Teresa (Jose c#idren) !ied t#eir respective $otions !or reconsiderations% T#e TC o Denied .duardo 9 Se/astian -s o ranted - o! Josep# 9 Teresa Teresa o Decared 5rea properties /eonged to con;uga partners#ip o! Joaquin 9 'ucia< and directed ct 3artition to re!ect correct s#aring o! #eirs .duardo 9 Se/astian /ot# appeaed to CA /e!ore TC coud issue ne" order o! partition% T#e CA dis$issed t#e appeas and a!!ir$ed t#e TC resoution% T#e CA aso directed t#e partition o! Joaquins  properties% Aggrieved, Aggrieved, Se/astian and .duardo .duardo !ied separate -s "#ic# "#ic# "ere denied% T#e7 T#e7 !ied separate  petitions !or revie" "#ic# "#ic# "ere eventua7 consoidated% consoidated% Se/astian contended t#at o Josep# 9 Teresa !aied to esta/is# t#at t#e7 are egiti$ate #eirs o! Jose, and t#us o! t#eir grand!at#er Joaquin o Certi!icates o! tite o! su/;ect propert7 indicate 5Joaquin $arried to Caridad< "#ic# is concusive proo! o! o"ners#ip, and t#us not su/;ect to coatera attac6 .duardo aeged o CA erroneous7 setted Joaquins estate toget#er "it# t#e estates o! 'ucia, Jesus, Jose, -ercedes, oria and -iagros in one proceeding o .state o! -iagros cannot /e distri/uted, since a proceeding "as aread7 conducted in anot#er court !or t#e pro/ate o! -iagros "i, t#us vioating t#e rue on precedence o! testate over intestate proceedings% o TC, acting as an intestate court "it# i$ited ;urisdiction #as no ;urisdiction to deter$ine questions o! o"ners#ip "#ic# /eongs to anot#er court "it# genera ;ursdiction =SS>.: #et#er t#e TC as intestate court #as ;urisdiction to resove o"ners#ip o! rea properties? (Yes) @CA sette$ent sette$ent o! Joaquin estate toget#er "it# t#e estates o! t#e ot#er #eirs @'egiti$ac7 o! Josep# 9 Teresa

>'=: .duardos petition petition granted% Se/astians petition denied% CA a!!ir$ed "it# $odi!ication t#at t#e s#are a"arded in !avor o! -iagros s#a not /e distri/uted unti t#e !ina deter$ination o! t#e pro/ate o! t#e "i%

Se/astian to /e represented /7 "i!e and c#idren, given t#at Se/astian died on Januar7 1B, 2010% Case re$anded to TC !or !urt#er sette$ent o! Joaquins estate% &.'D: TC #as ;urisdiction to resove o"ners#ip o! t#e rea properties% en ue: Jurisdiction o! tria court, eit#er as pro/ate or intestate court, reates on7 to $atters #aving to do "it# pro/ate o! "i and or sette$ent o! estate o! deceased persons and does not etend to deter$ination o! questions o! o"ners#ip t#at arise during t#e proceedings% .ceptions, as ;usti!ied /7 epedienc7 and convenience: 3ro/ate court $a7 provisiona7 pass upon in intestate or testate proceeding t#e question o! incusion or ecusion, !ro$ inventor7 o! a piece o! propert7 "it#out pre;udice to !ina deter$ination in a separate action% =! interested parties are a #eirs or t#e question is one o! coation or advance$ent o! t#e parties consent to t#e assu$ption o! ;urisdiction /7 t#e court and t#e rig#ts o! t#ird persons are not i$paired% .state is setted and distri/uted a$ong #eirs on7 a!ter pa7$ent o! de/ts o! t#e estate, !unera c#arges, ad$inistrative epense, ao"ance to t#e "ido", and in#eritance ta% ecords s#o" t#ese "ere not co$pied "it# in1B% Se/astian did not present evidence to support aver$rnts to ecude Josep# and Teresa as #eirs% CA disposition reated on7 to t#e estate o! Joaquin% Sec 1 ue 0: TC granted ;urisdiction to deter$ine a"!u #eirs o! Joaquin as "e as t#eir respective s#ares in t#e pa7$ent o! o/igations% T#e incusion o! 'ucia, Jesus, -ercedes and oria "as $ere 7 a necessar7 consequence o! t#e sette$ent o! Joaquins estate, t#e7 /eing #is ega #eirs%

EDUARDO G. AGTARAP,  3etitioner, vs% SEBASTIAN AGTARAP, JOSEPH AGTARAP, TERESA AGTARAP, WALTER DE SANTOS, and ABELARDO DAGORO,  espondents%

 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ G.R. No. 1771! SEBASTIAN G. AGTARAP, 3etitioner, vs% EDUARDO G. AGTARAP, JOSEPH AGTARAP, TERESA AGTARAP, WALTER DE SANTOS, and ABELARDO DAGORO,  espondents% G.R. No. 177"

J#ne $, !"11

Facts: e!ore us are t#e consoidated petitions !or revie" on certiorari o! petitioners Se/astian % Agtarap (Se/astian) and .duardo % Agtarap (.duardo), assaiing t#e Decision dated ove$/er  21, 200 and t#e esoution dated -arc# 2E, 200E o! t#e Court o! Appeas (CA) in CA@%% C  o% E41% n Septe$/er 1B, 1*, .duardo !ied "it# t#e egiona Tria Court (TC), ranc# 11*, 3asa7 Cit7, a veri!ied petition !or t#e ;udicia sette$ent o! t#e estate o! #is deceased !at#er Joaquin Agtarap (Joaquin)% =t "as doc6eted as Specia 3roceedings o% *@*0BB% T#e petition aeged t#at Joaquin died intestate on ove$/er 21, 1* in 3asa7 Cit7 "it#out an7 6no"n de/ts or o/igations% During #is i!eti$e, Joaquin contracted t"o $arriages, !irst "it# 'ucia arcia ('ucia), and second "it# Caridad arcia (Caridad)% 'ucia died on Apri 2*, 12*% Joaquin and 'ucia #ad t#ree c#idrenGJesus (died "it#out issue), -iagros, and Jose (survived  /7 t#ree c#idren, na$e7, oria, Josep#, and Teresa)% Joaquin $arried Caridad on Fe/ruar7 , 12% T#e7 aso #ad t#ree c#idrenG.duardo, Se/astian, and -ercedes (survived /7 #er daug#ter Cecie)% At t#e ti$e o! #is deat#, Joaquin e!t t"o parces o! and "it# i$prove$ents in 3asa7 Cit7, covered /7 Trans!er Certi!icates o! Tite (TCT) os% 8E4@(482B*) and 8E*@(482BB)% Josep#, a grandson o! Joaquin, #ad /een easing and i$proving t#e said reaties and #ad /een appropriating !or #i$se! 32,000%00 per $ont# since Apri 1*% .duardo !urt#er aeged t#at t#ere "as an i$perative need to appoint #i$ as specia ad$inistrator  to ta6e possession and c#arge o! t#e estate assets and t#eir civi !ruits, pending t#e appoint$ent o! a reguar ad$inistrator% =n addition, #e pra7ed t#at an order /e issued (a) co n!ir$ing and decaring t#e na$ed co$pusor7 #eirs o! Joaquin "#o "oud /e entited to participate in t#e estate+ (/) apportioning and aocating unto t#e n a$ed #eirs t#eir aiquot s#ares in t#e estate in accordance "it# a"+ and (c) entiting t#e distri/utees t#e rig#t to receive and enter into  possession t#ose parts o! t#e estate individua7 a"arded to t#e

%$ n Septe$/er 2, 1*, t#e TC issued an order setting t#e petition !or initia #earing and directing .duardo to cause its pu/ication% n Dece$/er 28, 1*, Se/astian !ied #is co$$ent, genera7 ad$itting t#e aegations in t#e  petition, and conceding to t#e appoint$ent o! .duardo as specia ad$inistrator% Josep#, oria, and Teresa !ied t#eir ans"erHopposition% T#e7 aeged t#at t#e t"o su/;ect ots  /eong to t#e con;uga partners#ip o! Joaquin "it# 'ucia, and t#at, upon 'ucias deat# in Apri 12*, t#e7 /eca$e t#e pro indiviso o"ners o! t#e su/;ect properties% T#e7 said t#at t#eir residence "as /uit "it# t#e ecusive $one7 o! t#eir ate !at#er Jose, and t#e epenses o! t#e etensions to t#e #ouse "ere s#oudered / 7 oria and Teresa, "#ie t#e restaurant (-anongs estaurant) "as /uit "it# t#e ecusive $one7 o! Josep# an d #is /usiness partner% T#e7 opposed t#e appoint$ent o! .duardo as ad$inistrator on t#e !oo"ing grounds: (1) #e is not p#7sica7 and $enta7 !it to do so+ (2) #is interest in t#e o ts is $ini$a+ and (4) #e does not possess t#e desire to earn% T#e7 cai$ed t#at t#e /est interests o! t#e estate dictate t#at Josep# /e appointed as specia or reguar ad$inistrator% n Fe/ruar7 1, 1B, t#e TC issued a resoution appointing .duardo as reguar ad$inistrator o! Joaquins estate% Consequent7, it issued #i$ etters o! ad$inistration% n Septe$/er 1, 1B, A/eardo Dagoro !ied an ans"er in intervention, aeging t#at -ercedes is survived not on7 /7 #er daug#ter Cecie, /ut aso /7 #i$ as #er #us/and% &e aso averred t#at t#ere is a need to appoint a specia ad$inistrator to t#e estate, /ut cai$ed t#at .duardo is not t#e  person /est quai!ied !or t#e tas6% A!ter t#e parties "ere given t#e opportunit7 to /e #eard and to su/$it t#eir respective proposed  pro;ects o! partition, t#e TC, on cto/er 24, 2000, issued an rder o! 3artition,8 "it# t#e !oo"ing dispositionG  =n t#e ig#t o! t#e !iing /7 t#e #eirs o! t#eir respective proposed pro;ects o! partition and t#e  pa7$ent o! in#eritance taes due t#e estate as ear7 as 1B, and t#ere /eing no cai$ in Court against t#e estate o! t#e deceased, t#e estate o! JAI>= ATAA3 is no" consequent7  ripe   !or distri/ution a$ong t#e #eirs $inus t#e surviving spouse Caridad arcia "#o died on August 2B, 1% Considering t#at t#e /u6 o! t#e estate propert7 "ere acquired during t#e eistence o! t#e second $arriage as s#o"n /7 TCT o% (482B*) and TCT o% (482BB) "# ic# s#o"ed on its !ace t#at decedent "as $arried to Caridad arcia, "#ic# !act oppositors !aied to contradict /7 evidence ot#er t#an t#eir negative aegations, t#e greater pa rt o! t#e estate is per!orce accounted /7 t#e second $arriage and t#e co$pusor7 #eirs t#ereunde r% T#e Ad$inistrator, .duardo Agtarap rendered a true and ;ust accounting o! #is ad$inistration !ro$ #is date o! assu$ption up to t#e 7ear ending Dece$/er 41, 1 per Financia and Accounting eport dated June 2, 1E "#ic# "as approved /7 t#e Court% T#e accounting report incuded t#e inco$e earned and received !or t#e period and t#e epenses incurred in t#e

ad$inistration, sustenance and ao"ance o! t#e "ido"% =n accordance "it# said Financia and Accounting eport% .duardo, Se/astian, and oppositors Josep# and Teresa !ied t#eir respective $otions !or reconsideration% n August 2E, 2001, t#e TC issued a resoution den7ing t#e $otions !or reconsideration o! .duardo and Se/astian, and granting t#at o! Josep# and Teresa% =t aso decared t#at t#e rea estate properties /eonged to t#e con;uga partners#ip o! Joaquin and 'ucia% =t aso directed t#e $odi!ication o! t#e cto/er 24, 2000 rder o! 3artition to re!ect t#e correct s#aring o! t#e #eirs% &o"ever, /e!ore t#e TC coud issue a ne" order o! partition, .duardo and Se/astian /ot# appeaed to t#e CA% n ove$/er 21, 200, t#e CA rendered its Decision% T#e instant appeas "ere D=S-=SS.D !or  ac6 o! $erit% T#e assaied esoution dated August 2E, 2001 "as AFF=-.D% Aggrieved, Se/astian and .duardo !ied t#eir respective $otions !or reconsideration% =n its esoution dated -arc# 2E, 200E, t#e CA denied /ot# $otions% &ence, t#ese petitions =ssue: #et#er t#e TC, as an intestate court, #ad ;urisdiction to resove t#e issue on t#e o"ners#ip o! t#e su/;ect rea properties% (Yes) &ed: T#e %ene&a' &#'e s *a *e +#&sdon o- *e &a' o#&, e*e& as a &o/ae o& an nesae o#&, &e'aes on'0 o ae&s *a2n% o do 3* *e &o/ae o- *e 3'' and4o& se'een o*e esae o- deeased e&sons, /# does no e5end o *e dee&naon o- 6#esons oo3ne&s* *a a&se d#&n% *e &oeedn%s.  T#e patent rationae !or t#is rue is t#at suc# court $ere7 eercises specia and i$ited ;urisdiction% As #ed in severa cases, a pro/ate court or one in c#arge o! estate proceedings, "#et#er testate or intestate, cannot ad;udicate or deter$ine tite to properties cai$ed to /e a part o! t#e estate and "#ic# are cai$ed to /eong to outside parties, not /7 virtue o! an7 rig#t o! in#eritance !ro$ t#e deceased /ut / 7 tite adverse to t#at o! t#e deceased and #is estate% A t#at t#e said court coud do as regards said properties is to deter$ine "#et#er or not t#e7 s#oud /e incuded in t#e inventor7 o! properties to /e ad$inistered /7 t#e ad$inistrator% =! t#ere is no dispute, t#ere poses no pro/e$, /ut i! t#ere is, t#en t#e parties, t#e ad$inistrator, and t#e opposing parties #ave to resort to an ordinar7 action  /e!ore a court eercising genera ;urisdiction !or a !ina deter$ination o! t#e con!icting cai$s o!  tite% &o"ever, t#is %ene&a' &#'e s s#/+e o e5eons  as ;usti!ied /7 epedienc7 and convenience% First, t#e pro/ate court $a7 provisiona7 pass upon in an intestate or a testate proceeding t#e question o! incusion in, or ecusion !ro$, t#e inventor7 o! a piece o! propert7 "it#out pre;udice

to t#e !ina deter$ination o! o"ners#ip in a separate action% Second, i! t#e interested parties are a #eirs to t#e estate, or t#e question is one o! coation or advance$ent, or t#e parties consent to t#e assu$ption o! ;urisdiction /7 t#e pro/ate court and t#e rig#ts o! t#ird parties are not i$paired, t#en t#e pro/ate court is co$petent to resove issues on o"ners#ip% eri7, s  +#&sdon e5ends o ae&s ndena' o& o''ae&a' o *e se'een and ds&/#on o*e esae, s#* as *e dee&naon o- *e sa#s o- ea* *e& and 3*e*e& *e &oe&0 n *e n2eno&0 s on+#%a' o& e5'#s2e &oe&0 o- *e deeased so#se. T*e %ene&a' &#'e does no a'0 o *e nsan ase onsde&n% *a *e a&es a&e a'' *e&s o- Joa6#n and *a no &%*s o- *&d a&es 3'' /e a&ed /0 *e &eso'#on o- *e o3ne&s* ss#e % -ore i$portant7, t#e deter$ination o! "#et#er t#e su/;ect properties are con;uga is /ut coatera to t#e pro/ate courts ;urisdiction to sette t#e estate o! Joaquin%

3rior to t#e repace$ent o! Caridads na$e in TCT o% 4218*, 'ucia, upon #er de$ise, aread7 e!t, as #er estate, one@#a! (1H2) con;uga s#are in TCT o% 421 8*% 'ucias s#are in t#e propert7 covered /7 t#e said TCT "as carried over to t#e properties covered /7 t#e certi!icates o! tite derivative o! TCT o% 4218*, no" TCT os% 482B* and 482BB% And as !ound /7 /ot# t#e TC and t#e CA, 'ucia "as survived /7 #er co$pusor7 #eirs  Joaquin, Jesus, -iagros, and Jose% Section 2, ue E4 o! t#e ues o! Court provides t#at "#en t#e $arriage is dissoved /7 t#e deat# o! t#e #us/and or t#e "i!e, t#e co$$unit7 propert7 s#a /e inventoried, ad$inistered, and iquidated, and t#e de/ts t#ereo! paid+ in t#e testate or intestate proceedings o! t#e dece ased spouse, and i! /ot# spouses #ave died, t#e con;uga partners#ip s#a /e iquidated in t#e testate or intestate proceedings o! eit#er% T#us, t#e TC #ad ;urisdiction to deter$ine "#et#er t#e  properties are con;uga as it #ad to iquidate t#e con;uga partners#ip to deter$ine t#e estate o! t#e decedent% =n !act, s#oud Josep# and Teresa institute a sette$ent proceeding !or t#e intestate estate o! 'ucia, t#e sa$e s#oud /e consoidated "it# t#e sette$ent proceedings o! Joaquin,  /eing 'ucias spouse% According7, t#e CA correct7 distri/uted t#e estate o! 'ucia, "it# respect to t#e properties covered /7 TCT os% 482B* an d 482BB su/;ect o! t#is case, to #er co$pusor7 #eirs% Si$pe possession o! a certi!icate o! tite is not necessari7 concusive o! a # oders true o"ners#ip o! propert7% A certi!icate o! tite under t#e Torrens s7ste$ ai$s to protect do$inion+ it cannot /e used as an instru$ent !or t#e deprivation o! o"ners#ip% T#us, t#e !act t#at t#e  properties "ere registered in t#e na$e o! Joaquin Agtarap, $arried to Caridad arcia, is not su!!icient proo! t#at t#e properties "ere acquired during t#e spouses coverture% T#e p#rase K$arried to Caridad arciaK in t#e TCTs is $ere7 descriptive o! t#e civi status o! Joaquin as t#e registered o"ner, and does not necessari7 prove t#at t#e reaties are t#eir con;uga properties%  eit#er can Se/astians cai$ t#at Joaquins estate coud #ave aread7 /een setted in 1B a!ter t#e pa7$ent o! t#e in#eritance ta /e up#ed% 3a7$ent o! t#e in#eritance ta, per se, does not sette t#e estate o! a deceased person% As provided in Section 1, ue 0 o! t#e ues o! CourtG  S.CT= 1% #en order !or distri/ution o! residue $ade% @@ #en t#e de/ts, !unera c#arges, and epenses o! ad$inistration, t#e ao"ance to t#e "ido", and in#eritance ta, i! an7, c#argea/e to t#e estate in accordance "it# a", #ave /een paid, t#e court, on t#e appication o!

t#e eecutor or ad$inistrator, or o! a person interested in t#e estate, and a!ter #earing upon notice, s#a assign t#e residue o! t#e estate to t#e persons entited to t#e sa$e, na$ing t#e$ and t#e proportions, or parts, to "#ic# eac# is entited, and suc# persons $a7 de$and and recover t#eir respective s#ares !ro$ t#e eecutor or ad$inistrator, or an7 ot#er person #aving t#e sa $e in #is possession% =! t#ere is a controvers7 /e!ore t#e court as to "#o are t#e a"!u #eirs o! t#e deceased person or as to t#e distri/utive s#are to "#ic# eac# person is entited under t#e a", t#e controvers7 s#a /e #eard and decided as in ordinar7 cases%  o distri/ution s#a /e ao"ed unti t#e pa7$ent o! t#e o/igations a/ove $entioned #as /een $ade or provided !or, uness t#e distri/utees, or an7 o! t#e$, give a /ond, in a su$ to /e !ied /7 t#e court, conditioned !or t#e pa7$ent o! said o/igations "it#in suc# ti$e as t#e court directs% T#us, an estate is setted and distri/uted a$ong t#e #eirs on7 a!ter t#e pa7$ent o! t#e de/ts o! t#e estate, !unera c#arges, epenses o! ad$inistration, ao"ance to t#e "ido", and in#eritance ta% T#e records o! t#ese cases do not s#o" t#at t#ese "ere co$pied "it# in 1B % As regards t#e issue raised /7 Se/astian on t#e egiti$ac7 o! Josep# and Teresa, su!!ice it to sa7 t#at /ot# t#e TC and t#e CA !ound t#e$ to /e t#e egiti$ate c#idren o! Jose% T#e TC !ound t#at Se/astian did not present cear and convincing evidence to support #is aver$ents in #is $otion to ecude t#e$ as #eirs o! Joaquin, aside !ro$ #is negative aegations% T#e TC aso noted t#e !act o! Josep# and Teresa /eing t#e c#idren o! Jose "as never questioned /7 Se/astian and .duardo, and t#e atter t"o even ad$itted t#is in t#eir petitions, as "e as in t#e stipuation o! !acts in t#e August 21, 1B #earing% Furt#er$ore, t#e CA a!!ir$ed t#is !inding o! !act in its  ove$/er 21, 200 Decision% =t "as incu$/ent upon Se/astian to present co$petent evidence to re!ute #is and .duardos ad$issions t#at Josep# and Teresa "ere #eirs o! Jose, and t#us rig#t!u #eirs o! Joaquin, and to ti$e7 o/;ect to t#e participation o! ater de Santos and A/eardo Dagoro% >n!ortunate7, Se/astian !aied to do so% evert#eess, ater de Santos and A/eardo Dagoro #ad t#e rig#t to  participate in t#e estate in representation o! t#e Joaquins co$pusor7 #eirs, oria and -ercedes, respective7% T#is Court aso di!!ers !ro$ .duardos asseveration t#at t#e CA erred in setting, toget#er "it# Joaquins estate, t#e respective estates o! 'ucia, Jesus, Jose, -ercedes, and oria% A perusa o! t#e ove$/er 21, 200 CA Decision "oud readi7 s#o" t#at t#e disposition o! t#e properties reated on7 to t#e sette$ent o! t#e estate o! Joaquin% P#&s#an o Seon 1, R#'e " o- *e R#'es o- o#&, as ed a/o2e, *e RT 3as se-a''0 %&aned +#&sdon o dee&ne 3*o a&e *e 'a3-#' *e&s o- Joa6#n, as 3e'' as *e& &ese2e s*a&es a-e& *e a0en o*e o/'%aons o- *e esae,  as enu$erated in t#e said provision% T#e incusion o! 'ucia, Jesus, Jose, -ercedes, and oria in t#e distri/ution o! t#e s#ares "as $ere7 a necessar7 consequence o! t#e sette$ent o! Joaquins estate, t#e7 /eing #is ega #eirs%