G.R. NO.

129242 January 16, 2001

De Manalo vs CA
FACTS
Troadio Manalo, a resident of 1996 Maria Clara Street, Sampaloc, Manila died intestate on February 14, 1992. He
as sur!i!ed by "is ife, #ilar S. Manalo, and "is ele!en $11% c"ildren, namely& #urita M. 'ayme, (ntonio Manalo,
Mila)ros M. Terre, *elen M. +rillano, ,sabelita Manalo, -osalina M. (cuin, -omeo Manalo, -oberto Manalo,
(malia Manalo, +rlando Manalo and ,melda Manalo, "o are all of le)al a)e.1wphi1.nt
(t t"e time of "is deat" on February 14, 1992, Troadio Manalo left se!eral real properties located in Manila and in
t"e pro!ince of Tarlac includin) a business under t"e name and style Manalo.s Mac"ine S"op it" offices at /o. 19
Cala!ite Street, 0a 0oma, 1ue2on City and at /+. 43 4eneral Tinio Street, (rty Subdi!ision, 5alen2uela, Metro
Manila.
+n /o!ember 26, 1992, "erein respondents, "o are ei)"t $6% of t"e sur!i!in) c"ildren of t"e late Troadio Manalo,
namely7 #urita, Mila)ros, *elen -ocalina, -omeo, -oberto, (malia, and ,melda filed a petition
6
it" t"e respondent
-e)ional Trial Court of Manila
8
of t"e 9udicial settlement of t"e estate of t"eir late fat"er, Troadio Manalo, and for
t"e appointment of t"eir brot"er, -omeo Manalo, as administrator t"ereof.
: #etition as opposed by #ilar ;e Manalo and friends
!"A& ,n t"eir petition for improperly laid in S#. #-+C. /o. 92:6<6267 $2% t"e trial court did not ac=uire 9urisdiction
o!er t"eir persons7 $<% t"e s"are of t"e sur!i!in) spouse as included in t"e intestate proceedin)s7 $4% t"ere as
absence of earnest efforts toard compromise amon) members of t"e same family7 and $3% no certification of non:
forum s"oppin) as attac"ed to t"e petition. t"e same s"ould be dismissed under -ule 16, Section 1$9% of t"e
-e!ised -ules of Court "ic" pro!ides t"at a motion to dismiss a complaint may be filed on t"e )round t"at a
condition precedent for fillin) t"e claim "as not been complied it", t"at is, t"at t"e petitioners t"erein failed to a!er
in t"e petition in S#. #-+C. /o. 92:6<626, t"at earnest efforts toard a compromise "a!e been made in!ol!in)
members of t"e same family prior to t"e fillin) of t"e petition pursuant to (rticle 222
14
of t"e Ci!il Code of t"e
#"ilippines.
#ssue& >+/, t"e failure to a!er in t"e petition t"at earnest efforts toard a compromise "a!e made in!ol!in)
members of t"e same family prior to t"e fillin) of t"e petition.
Rul$n%
/o, t"e case is not applicable in a special proceedin) 9ust li?e t"e case at bar.
T&e rule
(rt. 222. /o suit s"all be filed or maintained beteen members of t"e same family unless it s"ould appear t"at
earnest efforts toard a compromise "a!e been made, but t"at t"e same "a!e failed, sub9ect to t"e limitations in
(rticle 2@<3$underscoring supplied%.
22
T"e abo!e:=uoted pro!ision of t"e la is applicable only to ordinary ci!il actions. T"is is clear from t"e term .suit.
t"at it refers to an action by one person or persons a)ainst anot"er or ot"er in a court of 9ustice in "ic" t"e plaintiff
pursues t"e remedy "ic" t"e la affords "im for t"e redress of an in9ury or t"e enforcement of a ri)"t, "et"er at
la or in e=uity.
2<
( ci!il action is t"us an action filed in a court of 9ustice, "ereby a party sues anot"er for t"e
enforcement of a ri)"t, or t"e pre!ention or redress of a ron).
24
,t must be emp"asi2ed t"at t"e oppositors $"erein petitioners% are not bein) sued in S#. #-+C. /o. 92:6<626 for any
cause of action as in fact no defendant as imploded t"erein. T"e #etition for issuance of letters of (dministration,
Settlement and ;istribution of Astate in S#. #-+C. /o. 92:6<626 is a special proceedin) and, as suc", it is a remedy
"ereby t"e petitioners t"erein see? to establis" a status, a ri)"t, or a particular fact.
26
t"e petitioners t"erein $pri!ate
respondents "erein% merely see? to establis" t"e fat of deat" of t"eir fat"er and subse=uently to be duly reco)ni2ed
as amon) t"e "eirs of t"e said deceased so t"at t"ey can !alidly eBercise t"eir ri)"t to participate in t"e settlement
and li=uidation of t"e estate of t"e decedent consistent it" t"e limited and special 9urisdiction of t"e probate
court.1wphi1.nt
>HA-AF+-A, t"e petition in t"e abo!e:entitled case, is ;A/,A; for lac? of merit, Costs a)ainst petitioners.