SUCCESSION CASE SUMMARIES | 3-MANRESA 2018-2019 1

MALOLES v PHILLIPS

GR 129505, January 31, 2000

Digest by Ergel Rosal

Facts: On July 20, 1995, Dr. Arturo de Santos filed a petition

for the probate of his will. He alleged that he had no
compulsory heirs and that he named in his will as sole legatee
and devisee the Arturo de Santos Foundation, Inc. He also
named here in private respondent Pacita de los Reyes Phillips
as executrix. The court later granted the petition. Shortly
after the probate of his will, Dr. De Santos died. Pacita, as
executrix, filed a motion for the issuance of letters
testamentary.

Ocativio Maloles II filed a motion for intervention, claiming

gather he was the sole full-blooded nephew and nearest of
kin of Dr. De Santos. He likewise alleged that he was a
creditor of the testator. He thus prayed for the
reconsideration of the order allowing the will and the issuance
of letters of administration in his name.

Issue: WON Maloles has a right to intervene and oppose the

petition for issuance of letters testamentary – No.

Held: As correctly held by the CA, Maloles is not an heir or

legatee under the will of the decedent. Neither is he a
compulsory heir of the latter. As the only and nearest
collateral relative of the decedent, he can inherit from the
latter only in case of intestacy. Since the decedent has left a
will which has already been probated, Maloles can inherit only
of the said will is annulled. His interest in the decedent's
estate is, therefore, not direct or immediate.

His claim to being a creditor is a belated one, having been

raised for the first time only in his reply to the opposition to
his motion to intervene, and, as far as the records show, not
supported by evidence.

The opposition must come from one with a direct interest in

the estate or the will, and Malones has none.

Under Rule 79, Section 1, an "interested person" Is one who

would be benefitted by the estate, such as an heir, or one
who has a claim against the estate, such as a creditor, and
whose interest is material and direct, not merely incidental or
contingent.

Even if Malones is the nearest next of kin of Dr. De Santos,

he cannot be considered an "he or" Of the testator. It is a
fundamental rule of testamentary succession that one who
has no compulsory or forced heirs may dispose of his entire
estate by will (Art. 842).

Petitioner, as nephew of the testator, is not a compulsory heir

who may have been preterited in the testator's with.