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Succession - 3rd - 4 Gallanosa v Arcangel

G.R. No. L-29300 June 21, 1978 2. On June 24, 1939 a petition for the probate of his will was filed in the Court of First Instance of
Sorsogon (Special Proceeding No. 3171). The notice of hearing was duly published. In that will,
PEDRO D. H. GALLANOSA, CORAZON GRECIA-GALLONOSA and ADOLFO FORTAJADA, Florentino bequeathed his one-half share in the conjugal estate to his second wife, Tecla
the deceased Pedro Gallanosa being substituted by his legal heirs, namely his above- Dollentas, and, should Tecla predecease him, as was the case, his one-half share would be
named widow and his children, ISIDRO GALLANOSA and LEDY GALLANOSA, and assigned to the spouses Pedro Gallanosa and Corazon Grecia, the reason being that Pedro,
grandchildren named IMELDA TECLA GALLANOSA and ROSARIO BRIGIDA Tecla's son by her first marriage, grew up under the care of Florentino; he had treated Pedro as
GALLANOSA, children of the late SIKATUNA GALLANOSA, son of Pedro D.H. his foster child, and Pedro has rendered services to Florentino and Tecla. Florentino likewise
GALLONOSA, Petitioners, vs. HON. UBALDO Y. ARCANGEL, Judge of Branch I of the bequeathed his separate properties consisting of three parcels of abaca land and parcel of
Court of First Instance of Sorsogon and FLORENTINO G. HITOSIS, CASIANO G. HITOSIS, riceland to his protege (sasacuyang ataman), Adolfo Fortajada, a minor.
TEOTIMO G. HITOSIS, VICTORIO G. HITOSIS, EMILIA G. HITOSIS VDA. DE CRUZ,
JOAQUIN R. HITOSIS VDA. DE CRUZ, JOAQUIN R. HITOSIS, FLORENTINO R. HITOSIS, 3. Opposition to the probate of the will was registered by the testator's legal heirs, namely, his
VIRGINIA R. MITOSIS, DEBORAH R. HITOSIS, EDILBERTO R. HITOSIS, LEONOR R. surviving brother, Leon, trial his nephews trial nieces. After a hearing, wherein the oppositors did
HITOSIS, NORMA R. HITOSIS-VILLANUEVA, LEONCIO R. HITOSIS, minors ANGEL R. not present any evidence in support of their opposition, Judge Pablo S. Rivera, in his decision of
HITOSIS and RODOLFO R. HITOSIS, represented by their legal guardian and mother October 27, 1939, admitted the will to probate and appointed Gallanosa as executor. Judge
LOURDES RELUCIO VDA. DE HITOSIS, PETRONA HITOSIS-BALBIDO, MODESTO Rivera specifically found that the testator executed his last will "gozando de buena salud y
HITOSIS-GACILO, CLETO HITOSIS, AGUSTIN HITOSIS-FORTES, TOMASA HITOSIS- facultades mentales y no obrando en virtud de amenaza, fraude o influencia indebida."
BANARES VDA. DE BORRAS, CONRADA HITOSIS-BANARES FRANCHE, RESTITUTO
HITOSIS-BANARES, DAMIAN HITOSIS-BANARES, FIDEL HITOSIS-BANARES, SUSANA 4. On October 24, 1941, the testamentary heirs, the Gallanosa spouses trial Adolfo Fortajada,
HITOSIS-BANARES RODRIGUEZ, JOSE HITOSIS, LOLITA HITOSIS-BANEGA, minors submitted a project of partition covering sixty-one parcels of land located in various parts of
MILAGROS HITOSIS-BANEGA, ALICIA HITOSIS-BANEGA AND ELISA HITOSIS-BANEGA, Sorsogon, large cattle trial several pieces of personal property which were distributed in
represented by their legal guardian and father ERNESTO BANEGA, FELICITAS HITOSIS- accordance with Florentino's will. The heirs assumed the obligations of the estate amounting to
PENAFLOR, GENOVEVA HITOSIS-ADRIATICO, MANUEL HITOSIS, PEDRO HITOSIS, P7,129.27 in the portion of P2,376.42 for Adolfo Fortajada and P4,752.85 for the Gallanosa
LIBRATA HITOSIS-BALMES, JUANITA HITOSIS-GABITO VDA. DE GABAS, MAURA spouses. The project of partition was approved by Judge Doroteo Amador in his order of March
HITOSIS-GABITO VDA. DE GANOLA and LEONA HITOSIS-GABITO GAMBA, Respondents. 13, 1943, thus confirming the heirs' possession of their respective shares. The testator's legal
heirs did not appeal from the decree of probate trial from the order of partition trial distribution.
Haile Frivaldo for petitioners.
5. On February 20, 1952, Leon Hitosis trial the heirs of Florentino's deceased brothers trial
Joaquin R Mitosis for private respondents. sisters instituted an action in the Court of First Instance of Sorsogon against Pedro Gallanosa for
the recovery of the said sixty-one parcels of land. They alleged that they, by themselves or
AQUINO, J.: through their predecessors-in-interest, had been in continuous possession of those lands en
concepto de dueño trial that Gallanosa entered those lands in 1951 trial asserted ownership over
the lands. They prayed that they be declared the owners of the lands trial that they be restored
In this special civil action of certiorari, filed on July 29, 1968, the petitioners seek to annul the
to the possession thereof. They also claimed damages (Civil Case No. 696).
orders of respondent Judge dated May 3 trial June 17, 1968, wherein he reconsidered his order
of January 10, 1968, dismissing, on the ground of prescription, the complaint in Civil Case No.
2233 of the Court of First Instance of Sorsogon. 6. Gallanosa moved to dismiss the above complaint for lack of cause of action trial on the ground
of bar by the prior judgment in the probate proceeding. Judge Anatolio C. Mañalac dismiss the
complaint on the ground of res judicata in his order of August 14, 1952 wherein he said:
The case involves the sixty-one parcels of land in Sorsogon left by Florentino Hitosis, with an
estimated value of P50,000, trial claims for damages exceeding one million pesos. The
undisputed facts are as follows: It also appears that the plaintiffs and/or their predecessors-in-interest had intervened in the
testate proceedings in Civil Case No. 3171 of this Court for- the purpose of contesting the
1. Florentino Hitosis executed a will in the Bicol dialect on June 19, 1938 when he was eighty probate of the will of (the) late Florentino Hitosis; trial had their opposition prospered trial the will
denied of probate, the proceedings would have been converted into one of intestacy (Art. 960
years old. He died on May 26, 1939 at Irosin, Sorsogon. A childless widower, he as survived by
Civil Code) and the settlement of the estate of the said deceased would have been made in
his brother, Leon Hitosis. His other brothers, named Juan, Tito (Juancito), Leoncio (Aloncio) trial
accordance with the provisions of law governing legal or intestate succession ... , in which case
Apolonio and only sister, Teodora, were all dead.
the said plaintiffs, as the nearest of kin or legal heirs of said Florentino Mitosis, would have
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succeeded to the ownership and possession of the 61 parcels of land in question forming part of The issue is whether, under the facts set forth above, the private respondents have a cause of
his estate (art. 1003, Civil Code). action the "annulment" of the will of Florentino Hitosis trial for the recovery of the sixty-one
parcels of land adjudicated under that will to the petitioners.
However, the derision of the Court was adverse to them, when it their opposition trial ordered the
probate of his will. From this decision (Annex K) legalizing the said will, the oppositors did not file We hold that the lower court committed a grave abuse of discretion in reconsideration its order of
any appeal within the period fixed by law, despite the fact that they were duly notified thereof, so dismissal trial in ignoring the 1939 testamentary case trial the 1952 Civil Case No. 696 which is
that the said decision had become final trial it now constitutes a bar to any action that the the same as the instant 1967 case.
plaintiffs may institute for the purpose of a redetermination of their rights to inherit the properties
of the late Florentino Hitosis. A rudimentary knowledge of substantive law trial procedure is sufficient for an ordinary lawyer to
conclude upon a causal perusal of the 1967 complaint that it is baseless trial unwarranted.
In other words, the said decision of this Court in Civil Case special ) No. 3171, in which the
herein plaintiffs or their predecessors-in-interest had intervened as parties oppositors, What the plaintiffs seek is the "annulment" of a last will trial testament duly probated in 1939 by
constitutes a final judicial determination of the issue that the said plaintiffs, as ordinary heirs, the lower court itself. The proceeding is coupled with an action to recover the lands adjudicated
have no legal rights to succeed to any of the properties of the late Florentino Hitosis; to the defendants by the same court in 1943 by virtue of the probated will, which action is a
consequently, their present claim to the ownership trial possession of the 61 parcels of land in resuscitation of The complaint of the same parties that the same court dismissed in 1952.
question is without any legal merit or basis.
It is evident from the allegations of the complaint trial from defendants' motion to dismiss that
7. The plaintiffs did not appeal from that order of dismissal which should have set the matter at plaintiffs' 1967 action is barred by res judicata, a double-barrelled defense, trial by prescription,
rest. But the same plaintiffs or oppositors to the probate of the will, trial their heirs, with a acquisitive trial extinctive, or by what are known in the jus civile trial the jus
persistence befitting a more meritorious case, filed on September 21, 1967, or fifteen years after gentium as usucapio, longi temporis possesio and praescriptio (See Ramos vs. Ramos, L-
the dismissal of Civil Case No. 696 trial twenty-eight years after the probate of the will another 19872, December 3, 1974, 61 SCRA 284).
action in the same court against the Gallanosa spouses trial Adolfo Fortajada for the
"annulment" of the will of Florentino Hitosis trial and for the recovery of the same sixty-one
Our procedural law does not sanction an action for the "annulment" of a will. In order that a will
parcels of land. They prayed for the appointment of a receiver.
may take effect, it has to be probated, legalized or allowed in the proper testamentary
proceeding. The probate of the will is mandatory (Art. 838, Civil Code; sec. 1, Rule 75, formerly
8. As basis of their complaint, they alleged that the Gallanosa spouses, through fraud trial deceit, sec. 1, Rule 76, Rules of Court; Guevara vs. Guevara, 74 Phil. 479; Guevara vs. Guevara, 98
caused the execution trial simulation of the document purporting to be the last will trial testament Phil. 249).
of Florentino Hitosis. While in their 1952 complaint the game plaintiffs alleged that they were in
possession of the lands in question, in their 1967 complaint they admitted that since 1939, or The testamentary proceeding is a special proceeding for the settlement of the testator's estate. A
from the death of Florentino Hitosis, the defendants (now the petitioners) have been in special proceeding is distinct trial different from an ordinary action (Secs. 1 trial 2, Rule 2 trial
possession of the disputed lands (Par. XIV of the complaint, p. 70, Rollo in Civil Case No. 555,
sec. 1, Rule 72, Rules of Court).
Gubat Branch, which was transferred to Branch I in Sorsogon town where Special Proceeding
No. 3171 trial Civil Case No. 696 were decided trial which was re-docketed as Civil Case No.
2233). We say that the defense of res judicata, as a ground for the dismissal of plaintiffs' 1967
complaint, is a two-pronged defense because (1) the 1939 trial 1943 decrees of probate trial
distribution in Special Proceeding No. 3171 trial (2) the 1952 order of dismissal in Civil Case No.
9. As already stated, that 1967 complaint, upon motion of the defendants, now the petitioners,
696 of the lower court constitute bars by former judgment, Rule 39 of the Rules of Court
was dismissed by respondent Judge. The plaintiffs filed a motion for reconsideration Respondent
provides:
Judge. granted it trial set aside the order of dismissal. He denied defendants' motion for the
reconsideration of his order setting aside that dismissal order.
SEC. 49. Effect of judgments. - The effect of a judgment or final order rendered by a court or
judge of the Philippines, having jurisdiction to pronounce the judgment or order, may be as
The petitioners or the defendants below contend in this certiorari case that the lower court has
follows:
no jurisdiction to set aside the 1939 decree of probate trial the 1952 order of dismissal in Civil
Case No. 696 trial that it acted with grave abuse of discretion in not dismissing private
respondents' 1967 complaint. (a) In case of a judgment or order against a specific thing, or in respect to the probate of a will or
the administration of the estate of a deceased person, or in respect to the personal, political, or
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legal condition or status of a particular person or his relationship to another, the judgment or trial as to the testamentary capacity of The testator. (See Austria vs. Heirs of Ventenilla. 99 Phil.
order is conclusive upon the title to the thing the will or administration, or the condition, status or 1069).
relationship of the person; however, the probate of a will or granting of letters of administration
shall only be prima facie evidence of the death of the testator or intestate; On the other hand, the 1943 decree of adjudication rendered by the trial court in the testate
proceeding for the settlement of the estate of Florentino Hitosis, having been rendered in a
(b) In other cases the judgment or order is, with respect to the matter directly adjudged or as to proceeding in rem, is under the abovequoted section 49(a), binding upon the whole world
any other matter that could have been raised in relation thereto, conclusive between the parties (Manalo vs. Paredes, 47 Phil. 938; In re Estate of Johnson, 39 Phil. 156; De la Cerna vs. Potot,
trial their successors in interest by title subsequent to the commencement of the action or special 120 Phil. 1361, 1364; McMaster vs. Hentry Reissmann & Co., 68 Phil. 142).
proceeding, litigating of the same thing trial under the same title trial in the same capacity;
It is not only the 1939 probate proceeding that can be interposed as res judicata with respect to
(c) In any other litigation between the same parties or their successors in interest, that only is private respondents' complaint, The 1952 order of dismissal rendered by Judge Mañalac in Civil
deemed to have been adjudged in a former judgment which appears upon its face to have been Case No. 696, a judgment in personam was an adjudication on the merits (Sec. 4, Rule 30, old
so adjudged, or which was actually trial necessarily included therein or necessary thereto. Rules of Court). It constitutes a bar by former judgment under the aforequoted section 49(b)
(Anticamara vs. Ong, L-29689. April 14, 1978).
The 1939 decree of probate is conclusive as to the due execution or formal validity of the will
(Sec. 625, Act 190, sec. 1, Rule 76, now sec. 1, Rule 75, Rules of Court; Last par. of art. 838, The plaintiffs or private respondents did not even bother to ask for the annulment of the
Civil Code). testamentary proceeding trial the proceeding in Civil Case No. 696. Obviously, they realized that
the final adjudications in those cases have the binding force of res judicata and that there is no
That means that the testator was of sound trial disposing mind at the time when he executed the ground, nor is it timely, to ask for the nullification of the final orders trial judgments in those two
will and was not acting under duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence; that the will was signed cases.
by him in the presence of the required number of witnesses, and that the will is genuine trial is
not a forgery. Accordingly, these facts cannot again be questioned in a subsequent proceeding, It is a fundamental concept in the organization of every jural system, a principle of public policy,
not even in a criminal action for the forgery of the will. (3 Moran's Comments on the Rules of that, at the risk of occasional errors, judgments of courts should become final at some definite
Court, 1970 Edition, p. 395; Manahan vs. Manahan, 58 Phil. 448). date fixed by law. Interest rei publicae ut finis sit litum. "The very object for which the courts were
constituted was to put an end to controversies." (Dy Cay vs. Crossfield and O'Brien, 38 Phil. 521:
After the finality of the allowance of a will, the issue as to the voluntariness of its execution Peñalosa vs. Tuason, 22 Phil, 303; De la Cerna vs. Potot, supra).
cannot be raised anymore (Santos vs. De Buenaventura, L-22797, September 22, 1966, 18
SCRA 47). After the period for seeking relief from a final order or judgment under Rule 38 of the Rules of
Court has expired, a final judgment or order can be set aside only on the grounds of (a) lack of
In Austria vs. Ventenilla, 21 Phil. 180, a "petition for annulment of a will" was not entertained jurisdiction or lack of due process of law or (b) that the judgment was obtained by means of
after the decree of probate had become final. That case is summarized as follows: extrinsic or collateral fraud. In the latter case, the period for annulling the judgment is four years
from the discovery of the fraud (2 Moran's Comments on the Rules of Court, 1970 Edition, pp.
Wills; Probate; Alledged Fraudulent Will; Appeal.- V. died. His will was admitted to probate 245-246; Mauricio vs. Villanueva, 106 Phil. 1159).
without objection. No appeal was taken from said order. It was admitted that due trial legal notice
had been given to all parties. Fifteen months after the date of said order, a motion was To hurdle over the obstacle of prescription, the trial court, naively adopting the theory of plaintiffs'
presented in the lower court to have said will declared null and void, for the reason that fraud counsel, held that the action for the recovery of the lands had not prescribed because the rule in
had been practised upon the deceased in the making of his will. article 1410 of the Civil Code, that "the action or defense for the declaration of the inexistence of
a contract does not prescribe", applies to wills.
Held: That under section 625 of Act No. 190, the only time given parties who are displeased with
the order admitting to probate a will, for an appeal is the time given for appeals in ordinary That ruling is a glaring error. Article 1410 cannot possibly apply to last wills trial testaments. The
actions; but without deciding whether or not an order admitting a will to probate will be opened trial court trial plaintiffs' counsel relied upon the case of Dingle vs. Guillermo, 48 0. G. 4410,
for fraud, after the time allowed for an appeal has expired, when no appeal is taken from an allegedly decided by this Court, which cited the ruling in Tipton vs. Velasco, 6 Phil. 67, that mere
order probating a will, the heirs can not, in subsequent litigation in the same proceedings, raise lapse of time cannot give efficacy to void contracts, a ruling elevated to the category of a codal
questions relating to its due execution. The probate of a will is conclusive as to its due execution provision in article 1410. The Dingle case was decided by the Court of Appeals. Even the trial
court did not take pains to verify the misrepresentation of plaintiffs' counsel that the Dingle case
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was decided by this Court. An elementary knowledge of civil law could have alerted the trial
court to the egregious error of plaintiffs' counsel in arguing that article 1410 applies to wills.

WHEREFORE, the lower court's orders of May 3 trial June 17, 1968 are reversed trial set aside
trial its order of dismissal dated January 10, 1968 is affirmed. Costs against the private
respondents.

SO ORDERED.

CASE DIGEST

FACTS: Florentino Gallanosa executed a will in 1938 when he was 80 years old. He owned 61
parcels of and at that time. He died in 1939 childless and survived by his brother Leon. In his
will, he bequethed his 1/2 share of the conjugal estate to his second wife Tecla and if she
predecease him (as what occurred), the said share shall be assigned to the spouses Gallanosa
(Pedro & Corazon). Pedro is Tecla’s son by her 1st marriage. He also gave 3 parcels of land to
Adolfo, his protege.

The said will was admitted to probate with Gallanosa as executor. In 1952, thjhe legal heirs filed
an action for the recovery of said 61 parcels of land. The action was dismissed on the ground of
res judicata. Then, 28 years after probate, another acton agaisnt Gallanosa for annulment of the
will, recovery of the lands alleging fraud and deceit, was filed. As a result, the lower court set
aide the 1939 decree of probate.

ISSUE: Whether or not a will which has been probated may still be annulled.

RULING: No. A final decree of probate is conclusive as to the due execution of the will. Due
execution means that the testator was of sound and disposing mind at the time of the execution
and that he was not acting under duress, menace, fraud or undue influence. Finally, that it was
executed in accordance with the formalities provided by law.

The period for seeking relief under Rule 38 has already expired, hence the judgment may only
be set aside on the grounds of, 1) lack of jurisdiction or lack of due process of law, and 2) the
judgment was obtained by means of extrinsic collateral fraud (which must be filed within 4 years
from the discovery). Finally, Art. 1410 cannot apply to wills and testament.