G.R. No.

176943 October 17, 2008

DANILO ALUAD, LEONORA ALUAD, DIVINA ALUAD, PROSPERO ALUAD, !" #ONNIE
ALUAD, petitioners,
vs.
$ENAIDO ALUAD, respondent.
D E C I S I O N
#ARPIO %ORALES, J.&
Petitioners mother, Maria Aluad (Maria), and respondent enaido Aluad !ere raised "# the
$hildless spouses Matilde Aluad (Matilde) and Crispin Aluad (Crispin).
Crispin !as the o!ner o% si& lots identi%ied as 'ot Nos. ()*, ()+, ()(, ()), (,-, and (,. o% the
Pilar Cadastre, Capi/. A%ter Crispin died, his !i%e Matilde ad0udi$ated the lots to hersel%.
1
On Novem"er 1*, 12,1, Matilde e&e$uted a do$ument entitled 3Deed o% Donation o% 4eal
Propert# Inter 5ivos3
.
(Deed o% Donation) in %avor o% petitioners mother Maria
6
$overin7 all the
si& lots !hi$h Matilde inherited %rom her hus"and Crispin. 8he Deed o% Donation provided9
8hat, %or and in $onsideration o% the love and a%%e$tion o% the DONO4 :Matilde; %or the DONEE
:Maria;, the latter "ein7 adopted and hav:in7; "een "rou7ht up "# the %ormer the DONO4, "#
these presents, trans%er and $onve#, <= >A= O? DONA8ION, unto the DONEE the propert#
a"ove@des$ri"ed, to beco'e e((ect)*e +,o! t-e "et- o( t-e DONOR, b+t )! t-e e*e!t t-t
t-e DONEE .-o+/" ")e be(ore t-e DONOR, t-e ,re.e!t "o!t)o! .-// be "ee'e"
re.c)!"e" and :o%; no %urther %or$e and e%%e$tA Provided, ho!ever, that an#time durin7 the
li%etime o% the DONO4 or an#one o% them !ho should survive, the# $ould use:,; en$um"er or
even dispose o% an# or even all o% the par$els o% land herein donated.
*
(Emphasis and
unders$orin7 supplied)
On Septem"er 6-, 12,(, Ori7inal Certi%i$ates o% 8itle over 'ot Nos. ()* and ()( !ere issued in
Matildes name.
On Au7ust .(, 1221, Matilde sold 'ot No. ()( to respondent "# a Deed o% A"solute Sale o% 4eal
Propert#.
+
Su"seBuentl# or on Canuar# 1*, 122., Matilde e&e$uted a last !ill and testament,
(
devisin7 'ot
Nos. ()+, ()), (,., and (,- to Maria, and her 3remainin7 properties3 in$ludin7 'ot No. ()* to
respondent.
Matilde died on Canuar# .+, 122*, !hile Maria died on Septem"er .* o% the same #ear.
)
On Au7ust .1, 122+, Marias heirs@herein petitioners %iled "e%ore the 4e7ional 8rial Court (48C)
o% 4o&as Cit# a Complaint,
,
%or de$laration and re$over# o% o!nership and possession o% 'ot
Nos. ()* and ()(, and dama7es a7ainst respondent, alle7in79
8hat in 12),, plainti%%:s; possessed the t!o (.) par$els o% land a"ove@des$ri"ed until Canuar#
1221 !hen de%endant entered and possessed the t!o (.) par$els o% land $laimin7 as the
adopted son o% Crispin Aluad !ho re%used to 7ive "a$D possession until Matilde Aluad died in
:122*; and then retained the possession thereo% up to and until the present time, thus, deprivin7
the plainti%%s o% the en0o#ment o% said par$els o% land & & &A
8hat a%ter the death o% Matilde 4. Aluad, the plainti%%s su$$eeded "# inheritan$e "# ri7ht o%
representation %rom their de$eased mother, Maria Aluad !ho is the sole and onl# dau7hter o%
Matilde Aluad:.;
2
8o the $omplaint respondent alle7ed in his Ans!er.
1-
8hat 'ot ()* is o!ned "# the de%endant as this lot !as ad0udi$ated to him in the 'ast >ill and
8estament o% Matilde Aluad & & & !hile 'ot ()( !as pur$hased "# him %rom Matilde Aluad.
8hese t!o lots are in his possession as true o!ners thereo%.
11
(Enders$orin7 supplied)
Petitioners later %iled a Motion %or 'eave to Amend Complaint Alread# ?iled to Con%orm to
Eviden$e
1.
to !hi$h it anne&ed an Amended Complaint
16
!hi$h $ited the donation o% the si& lots
via Deed o% Donation in %avor o% their mother Maria. <ran$h 1+ o% the 48C 7ranted the motion
and admitted the Amended Complaint.
1*
4espondent %iled an Amended Ans!er
1+
$ontendin7, inter alia, that the Deed o% Donation is
%or7ed and %alsi%ied and petitioners $han7e o% theor# sho!ed that 3said do$ument !as not
e&istin7 at the time the# %iled their $omplaint and !as $on$o$ted "# them a%ter reali/in7 that their
%alse $laim that their mother !as the onl# dau7hter o% Matild:e; Aluad $annot in an#!a# "e
esta"lished "# them3A
1(
and that i% ever said do$ument does e&ist, the same !as alread#
revoDed "# Matilde 3!hen :she; e&er$ised all a$ts o% dominion over said properties until she sold
'ot ()( to de%endant and until her death !ith respe$t to the other lots !ithout an# opposition
%rom Maria Aluad.3
1)
8he trial $ourt, "# De$ision
1,
o% Septem"er .-, 122(, held that Matilde $ould not have
transmitted an# ri7ht over 'ot Nos. ()* and ()( to respondent, she havin7 previousl# alienated
them to Maria via the Deed o% Donation. 8hus it disposed9
>FE4E?O4E, in vie! o% the %ore7oin7, 0ud7ment is here"# rendered9
1. De$larin7 the plainti%%s as the ri7ht%ul o!ners o% the su"0e$t 'ots Nos. ()* and ()(, Pilar
CadastreA
.. Orderin7 the de%endant to deliver the possession o% the su"0e$t lots to the plainti%%sA
6. Orderin7 the de%endant to pa# the plainti%%s9
a. 8hirt# thousand pesos (P6-,---.--) as attorne#s %eesA
". 8!ent# thousand pesos (P.-,---.--), representin7 the in$ome %rom su"0e$t 'ot ()(, a #ear
%rom 1221 up to the time said lot is delivered to the plainti%%s, to7ether !ith the interest thereo% at
the le7al rate until %ull# paidA
$. 8en thousand pesos (P1-,---.--), representin7 the in$ome %rom the su"0e$t 'ot No. ()*, a
#ear %rom 1221 up to the time said lot is delivered to the plainti%%s, plus le7al interest thereo% at
the le7al rate until %ull# paidA and
d. 8he $osts o% the suit.
De%endants $ounter$laim is ordered dismissed %or la$D o% merit.
SO O4DE4ED.
12
On petitioners motion, the trial $ourt dire$ted the issuan$e o% a !rit o% e&e$ution pendin7
appeal.
.-
Possession o% the su"0e$t lots appears to have in %a$t "een taDen "# petitioners.
<# De$ision
.1
o% Au7ust 1-, .--(, the Court o% Appeals reversed the trial $ourts de$ision, it
holdin7 that the Deed o% Donation !as a$tuall# a donation mortis causa, not inter vivos, and as
su$h it had to, "ut did not, $ompl# !ith the %ormalities o% a !ill. 8hus, it %ound that the Deed o%
Donation !as !itnessed "# onl# t!o !itnesses and had no attestation $lause !hi$h is not in
a$$ordan$e !ith Arti$le ,-+ o% the Civil Code, readin79
Art. ,-+. Ever# !ill, other than a holo7raphi$ !ill, must "e su"s$ri"ed at the end thereo% "# the
testator himsel% or "# the testators name !ritten "# some other person in his presen$e, and "#
his e&press dire$tion, and attested and su"s$ri"ed "# three or more $redi"le !itnesses in the
presen$e o% the testator and o% one another.
8he testator or the person reBuested "# him to !rite his name and the instrumental !itnesses o%
the !ill shall, also si7n, as a%oresaid, ea$h and ever# pa7e thereo%, e&$ept the last on the le%t
mar7in and all the pa7es shall "e num"ered $orrelativel# in letters pla$ed on the upper part o%
ea$h pa7e.
8he attestation shall state the num"er o% pa7es used upon !hi$h the !ill is !ritten, and the %a$t
that that testator si7ned the !ill and ever# pa7e thereo%, or $aused some other person to !rite
his name, under his e&press dire$tion, in the presen$e o% the instrumental !itnesses, and that
the latter !itnessed and si7ned the !ill and all the pa7es thereo% in the presen$e o% the testator,
and o% one another.
I% the attestation $lause is in a lan7ua7e not Dno!n to the !itnesses, it shall "e interpreted to
them.
>hile the appellate $ourt de$lared respondent as the ri7ht%ul o!ner o% 'ot No. ()(, it did not so
de$lare !ith respe$t to 'ot No. ()*, as Matildes last !ill and testament had not #et "een
pro"ated. 8hus the Court o% Appeals disposed9
01ERE2ORE, %indin7 the instant petition !orth# o% merit, the same is here"# GRAN3ED and
the De$ision o% the 4e7ional 8rial Court o% 4o&as Cit#, <ran$h 1+, dated .- Septem"er 122(, in
Civil Case No. 5@((,( %or de$laration o% o!nership, re$over# o% o!nership and possession, and
dama7es is REVERSED and SE3 ASIDE.
A ne! one is entered in its stead de$larin7 de%endant@appellant as the la!%ul o!ner o% 'ot :No.;
()( o% the Pilar Cadastre. A$$ordin7l#, plainti%%s@appellees are dire$ted to return the possession
o% the said lot to the de%endant@appellant.
Moreover, plainti%%s@appellees are ordered to pa# P*-,---.-- to de%endant@appellant as
attorne#s %ees and liti7ation e&penses.
Costs a7ainst plainti%%s@appellees.
SO ORDERED.
..
(Emphasis in the ori7inalA unders$orin7 supplied)
8heir Motion %or 4e$onsideration
.6
havin7 "een denied,
.*
petitioners %iled the present Petition %or
4evie!,
.+
$ontendin7 that the Court o% Appeals erred
I
G G G >FEN I8 4E5E4SED 8FE DECISION O? 8FE COE48 <E'O> (48C, <ran$h 1+,
4o&as Cit#) FO'DINH 8FA8 8FE DEED O? DONA8ION IN8E4 5I5OS IN ?A5O4 O?
PE8I8IONE4S MO8FE4 IS IN ?AC8 A DONA8ION MO48IS CAESA.
II
G G G >FEN I8 4E'ED 8FA8 4ESPONDEN8 IS 8FE 4IHF8?E' O>NE4 O? 'O8 NO. ()(
AS 'O8 <E=E4 ON 8FE <ASIS O? A DEED O? SA'E EGECE8ED <= 8FE DONO4 >FO
FAD NO MO4E 4IHF8 8O SE'' 8FE SAME.
III
G G G >FEN I8 ?AI'ED 8O DEC'A4E PE8I8IONE4S 8FE 4IHF8?E' O>NE4 O? 'O8 NO.
()* A?8E4 FA5INH 4E'ED >FEN I8 FE'D 8FA8 4ESPONDEN8 CANNO8 <E DEC'A4ED
O>NE4 8FE4EO?.
I5
G G G >FEN I8 FE'D 8FA8 8FE ISSEANCE O? A >4I8 O? EGECE8ION PENDINH
APPEA' IS IN 5IO'A8ION O? PA4AH4APF (a) SEC8ION ., 4E'E 62, O? 8FE 4E'ES O?
COE48 (AND O4DE4INH PE8I8IONE4S 8O 4E8E4N POSSESSION O? 'O8 ()( 8O
4ESPONDEN8) AND O4DE4INH PE8I8IONE4S 8O PA= A88O4NE=S ?EES AND COS8:S;
O? SEI8.
.(
As did the appellate $ourt, the Court %inds the donation to petitioners mother one o% mortis
$ausa, it havin7 the %ollo!in7 $hara$teristi$s9
(1) It $onve#s no title or o!nership to the trans%eree be(ore the death o% the trans%eror A or !hat
amounts to the same thin7, that the trans%eror should retain the o!nership (%ull or naDed) and
$ontrol o% the propert# !hile aliveA
(.) 8hat "e%ore the death o% the trans%eror, the trans%er should "e revo$a"le "# the trans%eror at
!ill,ad nutumA "ut revo$a"ilit# ma# "e provided %or indire$tl# "# means o% a reserved po!er in
the donor to dispose o% the properties $onve#edA and
(6) 8hat the trans%er should "e void i% the trans%eror should survive the trans%eree.
.)
(Emphasis
and unders$orin7 supplied)
8he phrase in the earlier@Buoted Deed o% Donation 3to "e$ome e%%e$tive upon the death o% the
DONO43 admits o% no other interpretation than to mean that Matilde did not intend to trans%er
the o!nership o% the si& lots to petitioners mother durin7 her (Matildes) li%etime.
.,
8he statement in the Deed o% Donation readin7 3!4t)'e "+r)!5 t-e /)(et)'e o( t-e DONOR or
an#one o% them !ho should survive, the# $ould +.e, e!c+'ber or e*e! ").,o.e o( !4 or
e*e! // t-e ,rce/. o( /!" -ere)! "o!te"3
.2
means that Matilde retained o!nership o% the
lots and reserved in her the ri7ht to dispose them. ?or the ri7ht to dispose o% a thin7 !ithout
other limitations than those esta"lished "# la! is an attri"ute o% o!nership.
6-
8he phrase in the
Deed o% Donation 3or an#one o% them !ho should survive3 is o% $ourse out o% s#n$. ?or the Deed
o% Donation $learl# stated that it !ould taDe e%%e$t upon the death o% the donor, hen$e, said
phrase $ould onl# have re%erred to the donor Matilde. Petitioners themselves $on$ede that su$h
phrase does not re%er to the donee, thus9
& & & :I;t is !ell to point out that the last provision (senten$e) in the disputed para7raph should
onl# re%er to Matilde Aluad, the donor, "e$ause she !as the onl# survivin7 spouse at the time
the donation !as e&e$uted on 1* Novem"er 12,1, as her hus"and I Crispin Aluad :I; had lon7
"een dead as earl# as 12)+.
61
8he trial $ourt, in holdin7 that the donation !as inter vivos, reasoned9
& & & 8he donation in Buestion is su"0e$t to a resolutor# term or period !hen the donor provides
in the a%oreBuoted provisions, 3"ut in the event that the DONEE should die "e%ore the DONO4,
the present donation shall "e deemed res$inded and :o%; no %urther %or$e and e%%e$t3. >hen the
donor provides that should the 3DONEE3 &&& die "e%ore the DONO4, the present donation shall
"e deemed res$inded and :o%; no %urther %or$e and e%%e$t3 the lo7i$al $onstru$tion thereo% is
that a%ter the e&e$ution o% the su"0e$t donation, the same "e$ame e%%e$tive immediatel# and
shall "e 3deemed res$inded and :o%; no %urther %or$e and e%%e$t3 upon the arrival o% a resolutor#
term or period, i.e., the death o% the donee !hi$h shall o$$ur "e%ore that o% the donor.
Enderstanda"l#, the arrival o% this resolutor# term or period $annot res$ind and render o% no
%urther %or$e and e%%e$t a donation !hi$h has never "e$ome e%%e$tive, "e$ause, $ertainl# !hat
donation is there to "e res$inded and rendered o% no %urther %or$e and e%%e$t upon the arrival o%
said resolutor# term or period i% there !as no donation !hi$h !as alread# e%%e$tive at the time
!hen the donee diedJ
6.
(Enders$orin7 supplied)
A similar ratio in a $ase had "een "rushed aside "# this Court, ho!ever, thus9
& & & :P;etitioners $ontend that the stipulation on res$ission in $ase petitioners :donee; die
ahead o% :donor; Ca"atin7an is a resolutor# $ondition that $on%irms the nature o% the donation
as inter vivos.
Petitioners ar7uments are "ere%t o% merit.
66
& & & &
& & & 8he herein su"0e$t deeds e&pressl# provide that the donation shall "e res$inded in $ase
:donees; the petitioners prede$ease :the donor; Con$hita Ca"atin7an. As stated in Reyes v.
Mosqueda, one o% the de$isive $hara$teristi$s o% a donation mortis causa is that the trans%er
should "e $onsidered void i% the donor should survive the donee. 8his is e&a$tl# !hat
Ca"atin7an provided %or in her donations. I% she reall# intended that the donation should taDe
e%%e$t durin7 her li%etime and that the o!nership o% the properties donated to the donee or
independentl# o%, and not "# reason o% her death, she !ould not have e&pressed su$h proviso in
the su"0e$t deeds.
6*
(Enders$orin7 supplied)
As the Court o% Appeals o"served, 3& & & :t;hat the donation is mortis causa is %orti%ied "#
Matildes a$ts o% possession as she $ontinued to pa# the ta&es %or the said properties !hi$h
remained under her nameA appropriated the produ$eA and applied %or %ree patents %or !hi$h
OC8s !ere issued under her name.3
6+
8he donation "ein7 then mortis causa, the %ormalities o% a !ill should have "een o"served
6(
"ut
the# !ere not, as it !as !itnessed "# onl# t!o, not three or more !itnesses %ollo!in7 Arti$le ,-+
o% the Civil Code.
6)
?urther, the !itnesses did not even si7n the attestation $lause
6,
the e&e$ution o% !hi$h $lause is
a reBuirementseparate %rom the su"s$ription o% the !ill and the a%%i&in7 o% si7natures on the le%t@
hand mar7ins o% the pa7es o% the !ill. So the Court has emphasi/ed9
& & & Arti$le ,-+ parti$ularl# se7re7ates the reBuirement that the instrumental !itnesses si7n
ea$h pa7e o% the !ill %rom the reBuisite that the !ill "e 3attested and su"s$ri"ed "# :the
instrumental !itnesses;. 8he respe$tive intents "ehind these t!o $lasses o% si7nature:s; are
distin$t %rom ea$h other. 8he si7natures on the le%t@hand $orner o% ever# pa7e si7ni%#, amon7
others, that the !itnesses are a!are that the pa7e the# are si7nin7 %orms part o% the !ill. On the
other hand, the si7natures to the attestation $lause esta"lish that the !itnesses are re%errin7 to
the statements $ontained in the attestation $lause itsel%. Indeed, the attestation $lause is
separate and apart %rom the disposition o% the !ill. A! +!.)5!e" tte.tt)o! c/+.e re.+/t. )!
! +!tte.te" 6)//. Even i% the instrumental !itnesses si7ned the le%t@hand mar7in o% the pa7e
$ontainin7 the unsi7ned attestation $lause, su$h si7natures $annot demonstrate these
!itnesses undertaDin7s in the $lause, sin$e the si7natures that do appear on the pa7e !ere
dire$ted to!ards a !holl# di%%erent avo!al.
& & & It is the !itnesses, and not the testator, !ho are reBuired under Arti$le ,-+ to state the
num"er o% pa7es used upon !hi$h the !ill is !rittenA the %a$t that the testator had si7ned the !ill
and ever# pa7e thereo%A and that the# !itnessed and si7ned the !ill and all the pa7es thereo% in
the presen$e o% the testator and o% one another. 8he onl# proo% in the !ill that the !itnesses
have stated these elemental %a$ts !ould "e their si7natures on the attestation
$lause.
62
(Emphasis and unders$orin7 supplied)
?urthermore, the !itnesses did not a$Dno!led7e the !ill "e%ore the notar# pu"li$,
*-
!hi$h is not
in a$$ordan$e !ith the reBuirement o% Arti$le ,-( o% the Civil Code that ever# !ill must "e
a$Dno!led7ed "e%ore a notar# pu"li$ "# the testator and the !itnesses.
More. 8he reBuirement that all the pa7es o% the !ill must "e num"ered $orrelativel# in letters
pla$ed on the upper part o% ea$h pa7e !as not also %ollo!ed.
*1
8he Deed o% Donation !hi$h is, as alread# dis$ussed, one o% mortis $ausa, not havin7 %ollo!ed
the %ormalities o% a !ill, it is void and transmitted no ri7ht to petitioners mother. <ut even
assumin7 ar7uendo that the %ormalities !ere o"served, sin$e it !as not pro"ated, no ri7ht to 'ot
Nos. ()* and ()( !as transmitted to Maria.
*.
Matilde thus validl# disposed o% 'ot No. ()* to
respondent "# her last !ill and testament, su"0e$t o% $ourse to the Buali%i$ation that her
(Matildes) !ill must "e pro"ated. >ith respe$t to 'ot No. ()(, the same had, as mentioned
earlier, "een sold "# Matilde to respondent on Au7ust .(, 1221.
Petitioners nevertheless ar7ue that assumin7 that the donation o% 'ot No. ()* in %avor o% their
mother is indeedmortis causa, hen$e, Matilde $ould devise it to respondent, the lot should
nevertheless have "een a!arded to them "e$ause the# had a$Buired it "# a$Buisitive
pres$ription, the# havin7 "een in $ontinuous, uninterrupted, adverse, open, and pu"li$
possession o% it in 7ood %aith and in the $on$ept o% an o!ner sin$e 12),.
*6
Petitioners %ailed to raise the issue o% a$Buisitive pres$ription "e%ore the lo!er $ourts, ho!ever,
the# havin7 laid their $laim on the "asis o% inheritan$e %rom their mother. As a 7eneral rule,
points o% la!, theories, and issues not "rou7ht to the attention o% the trial $ourt $annot "e raised
%or the %irst time on appeal.
**
?or a $ontrar# rule !ould "e un%air to the adverse part# !ho !ould
have no opportunit# to present %urther eviden$e material to the ne! theor#, !hi$h it $ould have
done had it "een a!are o% it at the time o% the hearin7 "e%ore the trial $ourt.
*+
01ERE2ORE, the petition is DENIED.
SO ORDERED.
#ON#1I3A #ARPIO %ORALES
Associate Justice
>E CONCE49
LEONARDO A. 7UISU%8ING
Associate Justice
Chairperson
DAN3E O. 3INGA
Associate Justice
PRES8I3ERO 9. VELAS#O, 9R.
Associate Justice
AR3URO D. 8RION
Associate Justice
A88ES8A8ION
I attest that the $on$lusions in the a"ove De$ision had "een rea$hed in $onsultation "e%ore the
$ase !as assi7ned to the !riter o% the opinion o% the Courts Division.
LEONARDO A. 7UISU%8ING
Associate Justice
Chairperson
CE48I?ICA8ION
Pursuant to Se$tion 16, Arti$le 5III o% the Constitution, and the Division Chairpersons
Attestation, I $erti%# that the $on$lusions in the a"ove de$ision had "een rea$hed in $onsultation
"e%ore the $ase !as assi7ned to the !riter o% the opinion o% the Courts Division.
RE:NA3O S. PUNO
Chief Justice
2oot!ote.
1
E&hi"it 3H,3 4e$ords, pp. 1).@1)6.
.
E&hi"it 3A,3 id. at 1(*@1(+.
6
Maria Aluad, as donee, a$$epted the donation as e&pressl# stated in the deed and
$on%irmed "# her si7nature thereon (E&hi"it 3A@6,3 :vide note .;).
*
E&hi"it 3A@1,3 id. at 1(*.
+
E&hi"it 31,3 id. at ..1.
(
E&hi"it 3.,3 id. at ...@..6.
)
E&hi"its 3<3 I 3C,3 id. at 1((@1().
,
Id. at 1@(.
2
Id. at 6.
1-
Id. at 1+@.1.
11
Id. at 1,@12.
1.
Id. at 1-.@1-*.
16
Id. at 1-+@11-.
1*
Id. at 1.1@1...
1+
Id. at 16.@162.
1(
Id. at 16*.
1)
Id. at 16(@16).
1,
Id. at .6,@.*).
12
Id. at .*(@.*).
.-
Id. at .(-@.(1.
.1
Penned "# Court o% Appeals Asso$iate Custi$e Pris$illa <alta/ar@Padilla, !ith the
$on$urren$e o% Asso$iate Custi$es Pampio A. A"arintos and Marlene Hon/ales@SisonA
CA rollo, pp. 16-@1*(.
..
Id. at 1*+@1*(.
.6
Id. at 1++@1+2.
.*
Id. at 1((@1().
.+
Rollo, pp. 1,@+-.
.(
Id. at .2@6-.
.)
Maglasang v. Heirs of Corazon Cabatingan, *6. Phil. +*,, ++* (.--.)A Reyes v.
Mosqueda, H.4. No. *+.(., Cul# .6, 122-, 1,) SC4A ((1, ()-@()1A onsato, et al. v.
Court of Appeals, et al., 2+ Phil. *,1, *,) (12+*).
.,
I"id.
.2
E&hi"it 3A@1,3 re$ords, p. 1(*.
6-
!ide Civil Code, Arti$le *.,9 38he o!ner has the ri7ht to en0o# and dispose o% a thin7,
!ithout other limitations than those esta"lished "# la! & & &.3
61
Rollo, p. 6).
6.
4e$ords, pp. .*.@.*6.
66
Maglasang v. Heirs of Corazon Cabatingan, supra note .) at ++6@++*.
6*
Id. at ++(.
6+
CA rollo, p. 1*-.
6(
Civil Code, Arti$le ).,9
Donations !hi$h are to taDe e%%e$t upon the death o% the donor partaDe o% the
nature o% testamentar# provisions and shall "e 7overned "# the rules esta"lished
in the 8itle on Su$$ession.
Ale"andro v. Judge #eraldez, 1(, Phil. *-*, *1*@*1+ (12))).
6)
Civil Code, Arti$le ,-+.
6,
E&hi"it 3A,3 re$ords, p. 1(+.
62
Azuela v. Court of Appeals, H.4. No. 1..,,-, April 1., .--(, *,) SC4A 112, 1*1@
1*.. !ide Cagro v. Cagro, 2. Phil. 1-6., 1-66@1-6* (12+6).
*-
E&hi"it 3A,3 re$ords, p. 1(+.
*1
Id. at 1(*@1(+. !ide Civil Code, Arti$le ,-+.
*.
4ules o% Court, 4ule )+, Se$tion 1.
*6
Rollo, p. *6.
**
!ide #eneral Credit Cooperation v. Alsons $evelopment and %nvestment Corporation,
H.4. No. 1+*2)+, Canuar# .2, .--), +16 SC4A ..+, .6+@.6( ($itations omitted).
*+
!ide &hilippine &orts Authority v. City of %loilo, *+6 Phil. 2.), 26* (.--6) ($itation
omitted).
#ASE DIGES3
D!)/o A/+", Leo!or A/+", D)*)! A/+", Pro.,ero A/+", !" #o!!)e A/+"
*.. $e!)"o A/+"
?a$ts9
Maria Aluad and enaido Aluad !ere raised "# $hildless spouses Matilde and Crispin
Aluad. Crispin o!ned ( lots identi%ied as 'ot Nos. ()*, ()+, ()(, ()), (,-, and (,.. A%ter he
died, his !i%e Matilde ad0udi$ated the lots to hersel%.
Matilde e&e$uted a Deed o% Donation, $overin7 all ( lots inherited %rom Crispin, in %avor
o% Maria. 8he Deed provides that K%or and in $onsideration o% the love and a%%e$tion o% the
DONO4 :Matilde; %or the DONEE :Maria;, the latter "ein7 adopted and hav:in7; "een "rou7ht up
"# the %ormer the DONO4, "# these presents, trans%er and $onve#, <= >A= O? DONA8ION,
unto the DONEE the propert# a"ove@des$ri"ed, to "e$ome e%%e$tive upon the death o% the
DONO4, "ut in the event that the DONEE should die "e%ore the DONO4, the present donation
shall "e deemed res$inded and :o%; no %urther %or$e and e%%e$tA Provided, ho!ever, that an#time
durin7 the li%etime o% the DONO4 or an#one o% them !ho should survive, the# $ould use:,;
en$um"er or even dispose o% an# or even all o% the par$els o% land herein donated.L
Matilde su"seBuentl# sold 'ot ()( to enaido Aluad and e&e$uted a last !ill and
testament devisin7 'ot Nos. ()+, ()), (,., and (,- to Maria, and her 3remainin7 properties3
in$ludin7 'ot No. ()* to respondent. 8herea%ter, Matilde died.
8he petitioners, $hildred o% Maria Aluad, %iled "e%ore the 48C a Complaint %or de$laration
and re$over# o% o!nership and possession o% 'ot Nos. ()* and ()( a7ainst enaido Aluad.
48C 7ranted their petition "ut CA reversed the trial $ourts de$ision holdin7 that the Deed o%
Donation !as reall# a donation mortis $ausa "e$ause o% $ertain $lauses provided therein and
that it did not $ompl# !ith the %ormalities o% a !ill.
Issue9
>ON the donation mortis $ausa is valid.
4ulin79
No. 8he donation mortis $ausa !as not a valid !ill. Art. ,-+ provides that ever# !ill,
other than a holo7raphi$ !ill, must "e su"s$ri"ed at the end thereo% "# the testator himsel% or "#
the testators name !ritten "# some other person in his presen$e, and "# his e&press dire$tion,
and attested and su"s$ri"ed "# three or more $redi"le !itnesses in the presen$e o% the testator
and o% one another. And Arti$le ,-( provides that ever# !ill must "e a$Dno!led7ed "e%ore a
notar# pu"li$ "# the testator and the !itnesses. 8hese !as not %ollo!ed, hen$e the !ill !as
void.
Favin7 said these, the !ill transmitted no ri7ht to petitioners mother. <ut even assumin7
that the %ormalities !ere o"served, no ri7ht to 'ot Nos. ()* and ()( !as transmitted to Maria
sin$e the !ill !as not pro"ated. 8hus, the sale o% 'ot () !as proper. And 'ot ()* !as properl#
disposed to respondent "# the last !ill and testament, "ut su"0e$t o% $ourse to the Buali%i$ation
that Matildes !ill must "e pro"ated.