Only The RFAM (Rolando Florida Alfredo Myrna) )

WILLS
Title GR No. 108947

ROLANDO SANCHEZ, FLORIDA MIERLY SANCHEZ, ALFREDO Date: September 29, 1997
T. SANCHEZ and MYRNA T. SANCHEZ, petitioners, Ponente: Panganiban, J.
vs.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS, ROSALIA S. LUGOD,
ARTURO S. LUGOD, EVELYN LUGOD-RANISES and
ROBERTO S. LUGOD, respondents.
DOCTRINE
We maintain the view that requires strict compliance with the substantive requirements of the will, to ensure its
authenticity, but at the same time we believe that they should not be considered defects that, if taken into account,
could thwart the will of the testator. Legal formalities should not hinder the use of good common sense in considering
wills and frustrate the wishes of the deceased solemnly expressed in their wills, when there is not even a shadow of
bad faith or fraud.
Nature of the case:

Petition for review on certiorari before us assailing the November 23, 1992 Decision of the Court of Appeals
FACTS
Rosalia S. Lugod is the only child of spouses Juan C. Sanchez and Maria Villafranca while Arturo S. Lugod, Evelyn L. Ranises
and Roberto S. Lugod are the legitimate children of Rosalia. The names in bold in the preceding sentence are the PRIVATE
RESPONDENTS. Mnemonics: [REAR]
On the other hand, Rolando, Florida Mierly, Alfredo and Myrna, all surnamed Sanchez, are the illegitimate children of
Juan C. Sanchez. They are the PETITIONERS, and shall be referred to as [RFAM].
Following the death of her mother, Rosalia filed a petition for letters of administration over the estate of her mother and
the estate of her father, who was at the time in state of senility. Before the administration proceedings could formally be
closed, Juan died. Subsequently, RFAM, as heirs of Juan C. Sanchez, filed a petition for letters of administration over the
intestate estate of Juan, which petition was opposed by Rosalia. However, Rosalia and RFAM, assisted by their respective
counsels, executed a compromise agreement wherein they agreed to divide the properties enumerated therein of the late
Juan C. Sanchez. Rosalia was thereafter appointed and took her oath as the administratrix of her father’s intestate estate.
Rosalia and RFAM entered into and executed a memorandum of agreement which modified the compromise agreement.
The RTC rendered the following ruling:
1. The entire intestate estate of Maria Villafranca Sanchez consists of all her paraphernal properties and one-half (1/2) of
the conjugal properties which must be divided equally between Rosalia and Juan C. Sanchez;
2. The entire intestate estate of Juan C. Sanchez consists of all his capital properties, one-half (1/2) from the conjugal
partnership of gains and one-half (1/2) of the intestate estate of Maria Villafranca;
3. That one-half (1/2) of the entire intestate estate of Juan C. Sanchez shall be inherited by his only legitimate daughter,
Rosalia V. Sanchez de Lugod while the other one-half (1/2) shall be inherited and be divided equally by, between and
among the six (6) illegitimate children, namely: Patricia Alburo, Maria Ramuso Sanchez, Rolando Pedro T. Sanchez,
Florida Mierly T. Sanchez, Alfredo T. Sanchez and Myrna T. Sanchez (Take note: Patricia and Maria are not petitioners,
only the RFAM [Rolando Florida Alfredo Myrna])
Rosalia then filed a motion for reconsideration. RTC denied the MR. Thereafter, REAR elevated the case to the Court of
Appeals via a petition for certiorari. The CA ruled to set aside the trial court’s decision and to declare the modified
compromise agreement valid and binding. The compromise agreement agreed upon by REAR and RFAM contains a
different stipulation as to the division of the properties of the deceased. The content of the agreement is too long to be
included in this case digest.
RFAM contends that because the compromise agreement was executed during the pendency of the probate proceedings,
judicial approval is necessary to shroud it with validity. They stress that the probate court had jurisdiction over the
properties covered by said agreement.
ISSUE/S
Is the compromise agreement valid?
RATIO
No, the compromise agreement is invalid.
- Article 2028 of the Civil Code defines a compromise agreement as "a contract whereby the parties, by making
reciprocal concessions, avoid a litigation or put an end to one already commenced." Being a consensual contract,
it is perfected upon the meeting of the minds of the parties. Judicial approval is not required for its perfection. In
the case before us, it is ineludible that the parties knowingly and freely entered into a valid compromise
agreement. Adequately assisted by their respective counsels, they each negotiated its terms and provisions for
four months. To be valid, it is merely required under the law to be based on real claims and actually agreed upon
in good faith by the parties thereto.
- For a partition to be valid, Section 1, Rule 74 of the Rules of Court, requires the concurrence of the following
conditions: (1) the decedent left no will; (2) the decedent left no debts, or if there were debts left, all had been
paid; (3) the heirs and liquidators are all of age, or if they are minors, the latter are represented by their judicial
guardian or legal representatives; and (4) the partition was made by means of a public instrument or affidavit
duly filed with the Register of Deeds. 38 We find that all the foregoing requisites are present in this case.
- RFAM contends that Rosalia‘s alleged fraudulent acts, specifically her concealment of some of the decedent's
properties, attended the actual execution of the compromise agreement. This argument is debunked by the
absence of any substantial and convincing evidence on record showing fraud on her part. Not only did the parties
knowingly enter into a valid compromise agreement; they even amended it when they realized some errors in the
original. Such correction emphasizes the voluntariness of said deed.
RULING
WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DENIED and the assailed Decision of the Court of Appeals is AFFIRMED.
(CORPUZ)

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WILLS

Title GR No. 108947

Nature of the case:

The RTC rendered the following ruling:

No, the compromise agreement is invalid.

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