8 Jison Vs CA

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VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 495

Jison vs. Court of Appeals
*
G.R. No. 124853. February 24, 1998.
FRANCISCO L. JISON, petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and

MONINA JISON, respondents.
Courts; Appeals; While it is a general rule that factual issues are not
within the province of the Supreme Court, such rule does not apply where
there are conflicting findings of facts of the trial court and the Court of
Appeals.—In issue is whether or not public respondent Court of Appeals
committed reversible error, which, in this instance, necessitates an inquiry
into the facts. While as a general rule, factual issues are not within the
province of this Court, nevertheless, in light of the conflicting findings of
facts of the trial court and the Court of Appeals, this case falls under an
exception to this rule.
Parent and Child; Paternity and Filiation; Family Code; The Family
Code has retroactive effect unless there be impairment of vested rights.—
Before addressing the merits of the controversy, we first dispose of
preliminary matters relating to the applicable law and the guiding principles
in paternity suits. As to the former, plainly, the Family Code of the
Philippines (Executive Order No. 209) governs the present controversy. As
correctly cited by the Court of Appeals, Uyguangco served as a judicial
confirmation of Article 256 of the Family Code regarding its retroactive
effect unless there
_______________
* FIRST DIVISION.
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be impairment of vested rights, which does not hold true here, it appearing
that neither the putative parent nor the child has passed away and the former
having actually resisted the latter’s claim below.
Same; Same; Illegitimate Children; Evidence; For the success of an
action to establish illegitimate filiation under the second paragraph of Art.
172 of the Family Code, a “high standard of proof” is required—
specifically, to prove open and continuous possession of the status of an
illegitimate child, there must be evidence of the manifestation of the
permanent intention of the supposed father to consider the child as his, by
continuous and clear manifestations of parental affection and care, which
cannot be attributed to pure charity.—For the success of an action to
establish illegitimate filiation under the second paragraph, which MONINA
relies upon given that she has none of the evidence mentioned in the first
paragraph, a “high standard of proof” is required. Specifically, to prove open
and continuous possession of the status of an illegitimate child, there must
be evidence of the manifestation of the permanent intention of the supposed
father to consider the child as his, by continuous and clear manifestations of
parental affection and care, which cannot be attributed to pure charity. Such
acts must be of such a nature that they reveal not only the conviction of
paternity, but also the apparent desire to have and treat the child as such in
all relations in society and in life, not accidentally, but continuously. By
“continuous” is meant uninterrupted and consistent, but does not require any
particular length of time.
Same; Same; Evidence; Rationale for the “High Standard of Proof”
Requirement in Filiation Proceedings.—The foregoing standard of proof
required to establish one’s filiation is founded on the principle that an order
for recognition and support may create an unwholesome atmosphere or may
be an irritant in the family or lives of the parties, so that it must be issued
only if paternity or filiation is established by clear and convincing evidence.
Same; Same; Same; Words and Phrases; Quantum of Evidence; The
concept of “preponderance of evidence” refers to evidence which is of
greater weight, or more convincing, that which is offered in opposition to it
—at bottom, it means probability of truth.—The foregoing discussion,
however, must be situated within the general rules on evidence, in light of
the burden of proof in civil cases, i.e., prepon-
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VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 497
derance of evidence, and the shifting of the burden of evidence in such

cases. Simply put, he who alleges the affirmative of the issue has the burden
of proof, and upon the plaintiff in a civil case, the burden of proof never
parts. However, in the course of trial in a civil case, once plaintiff makes out
a prima facie case in his favor, the duty or the burden of evidence shifts to
defendant to controvert plaintiff’s prima facie case, otherwise, a verdict
must be returned in favor of plaintiff. Moreover, in civil cases, the party
having the burden of proof must produce a preponderance of evidence
thereon, with plaintiff having to rely on the strength of his own evidence
and not upon the weakness of the defendant’s. The concept of
“preponderance of evidence” refers to evidence which is of greater weight,
or more convincing, that which is offered in opposition to it; at bottom, it
means probability of truth.
Same; Same; Same; Unlawful intercourse will not be presumed merely
from proof of an opportunity for such indulgence; Akin to the crime of rape
where, in most instances, the only witnesses to the felony are the
participants in the sexual act themselves, in deciding paternity suits, the
issue of whether sexual intercourse actually occurred inevitably redounds to
the victim’s or mother’s word, as against the accused’s or putative father’s
protestations.—FRANCISCO’s arguments in support of his first assigned
error deserve scant consideration. While it has been observed that unlawful
intercourse will not be presumed merely from proof of an opportunity for
such indulgence, this does not favor FRANCISCO. Akin to the crime of
rape where, in most instances, the only witnesses to the felony are the
participants in the sexual act themselves, in deciding paternity suits, the
issue of whether sexual intercourse actually occurred inevitably redounds to
the victim’s or mother’s word, as against the accused’s or putative father’s
protestations. In the instant case, MONINA’s mother could no longer testify
as to the fact of intercourse, as she had, unfortunately, passed away long
before the institution of the complaint for recognition. But this did not mean
that MONINA could no longer prove her filiation. The fact of her birth and
her parentage may be established by evidence other than the testimony of
her mother. The paramount question then is whether MONINA’s evidence is
coherent, logical and natural.
Same; Same; Same; Birth Certificates; Baptismal Certificates; A
certificate of live birth purportedly identifying the putative father is not
competent evidence as to the issue of paternity, when there is no
498
showing that the putative father had a hand in the preparation of said
certificates, and the Local Civil Registrar is devoid of authority to record
the paternity of an illegitimate child upon the information of a third person;
Lack of participation by the putative father in the preparation of the
baptismal certificates and school records renders such documents
incompetent to prove paternity, the former being competent merely to prove

the administration of the sacrament of baptism on the date so specified.—
MONINA’s reliance on the certification issued by the Local Civil Registrar
concerning her birth (Exhs. E and F) is clearly misplaced. It is settled that a
certificate of live birth purportedly identifying the putative father is not
competent evidence as to the issue of paternity, when there is no showing
that the putative father had a hand in the preparation of said certificates, and
the Local Civil Registrar is devoid of authority to record the paternity of an
illegitimate child upon the information of a third person. Simply put, if the
alleged father did not intervene in the birth certificate, e.g., supplying the
information himself, the inscription of his name by the mother or doctor or
registrar is null and void; the mere certificate by the registrar without the
signature of the father is not proof of voluntary acknowledgment on the
latter’s part. In like manner, FRANCISCO’s lack of participation in the
preparation of the baptismal certificates (Exhs. C and D) and school records
(Exhs. Z and AA) renders these documents incompetent to prove paternity,
the former being competent merely to prove the administration of the
sacrament of baptism on the date so specified. However, despite the
inadmissibility of the school records per se to prove paternity, they may be
admitted as part of MONINA’s testimony to corroborate her claim that
FRANCISCO spent for her education.
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; Where the birth certificate and the
baptismal certificate are per se inadmissible in evidence as proof of filiation,
they cannot be admitted indirectly as circumstantial evidence to prove the
same.—We likewise disagree with the ruling of the Court of Appeals that
the certificates issued by the Local Civil Registrar and the baptismal
certificates may be taken as circumstantial evidence to prove MONINA’s
filiation. Since they are per se inadmissible in evidence as proof of such
filiation, they cannot be admitted indirectly as circumstantial evidence to
prove the same.
Same; Same; Same; Evidence of Pedigree; Words and Phrases;
“Family Possessions,” Explained; Statutory Construction; Ejusdem
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VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 499
Generis; The enumeration contained in the second portion of Rule 130,

Section 40, in light of the rule of ejusdem generis, is limited to objects which
are commonly known as “family possessions,” or those articles which
represent, in effect, a family’s joint statement of its belief as to the pedigree
of a person.—We hold that the scope of the enumeration contained in the
second portion of this provision, in light of the rule of ejusdem generis, is
limited to objects which are commonly known as “family possessions,” or
those articles which represent, in effect, a family’s joint statement of its

belief as to the pedigree of a person. These have been described as objects
“openly exhibited and well known to the family,” or those “which, if
preserved in a family, may be regarded as giving a family tradition.” Other
examples of these objects which are regarded as reflective of a family’s
reputation or tradition regarding pedigree are inscriptions on tombstones,
monuments or coffin plates.
Same; Same; Same; Same; Same; “Common Reputation,” Explained;
It is the general repute, the common reputation in the family, and not the
common reputation in community, that is a material element of evidence
going to establish pedigree.—Plainly then, Exhibits S to V, as private
documents not constituting “family possessions” as discussed above, may
not be admitted on the basis of Rule 130, Section 40. Neither may these
exhibits be admitted on the basis of Rule 130, Section 41 regarding common
reputation, it having been observed that: [T]he weight of authority appears
to be in favor of the theory that it is the general repute, the common
reputation in the family, and not the common reputation in community, that
is a material element of evidence going to establish pedigree. x x x [Thus]
matters of pedigree may be proved by reputation in the family, and not by
reputation in the neighborhood or vicinity, except where the pedigree in
question is marriage which may be proved by common reputation in the
community.
Same; Same; Same; Notarial Law; Quantum of Evidence; The
standard to contradict a notarial document is clear and convincing
evidence, i.e., more than merely preponderant.—Indeed, if MONINA were
truly not FRANCISCO’s illegitimate daughter, it would have been
unnecessary for him to have gone to such great lengths in order that
MONINA denounce her filiation. For as clearly established before the trial
court and properly appreciated by the Court of Appeals, MONINA had
resigned from Miller & Cruz five (5) months prior to the execution of the
sworn statement in question, hence
500
negating FRANCISCO’s theory of the need to quash rumors circulating

within Miller & Cruz regarding the identity of MONINA’s father. Hence,
coupled with the assessment of the credibility of the testimonial evidence of
the parties discussed above, it is evident that the standard to contradict a
notarial document, i.e., clear and convincing evidence and more than merely
preponderant, has been met by MONINA.
Same; Same; Same; Denials; Perjurers usually confine themselves to
the incidents immediately related to the principal fact about which they
testify, and when asked about collateral facts by which their truthfulness
could be tested, their answers not infrequently take the stereotyped form of
such expressions as “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember.”—Two (2)
glaring points in FRANCISCO’s defense beg to be addressed: First, that his
testimony was comprised of mere denials, rife with bare, unsubstantiated
responses such as “That is not true,” “I do not believe that,” or “None that I
know.” In declining then to lend credence to FRANCISCO’s testimony, we
resort to a guiding principle in adjudging the credibility of a witness and the
truthfulness of his statements, laid down as early as 1921: The experience of
courts and the general observation of humanity teach us that the natural
limitations of our inventive faculties are such that if a witness undertakes to
fabricate and deliver in court a false narrative containing numerous details,
he is almost certain to fall into fatal inconsistencies, to make statements
which can be readily refuted, or to expose in his demeanor the falsity of his
message. For this reason it will be found that perjurers usually confine
themselves to the incidents immediately related to the principal fact about
which they testify, and when asked about collateral facts by which their
truthfulness could be tested, their answers not infrequently take the
stereotyped form of such expressions as “I don’t know” or “I don’t
remember.”
Laches; Elements; Doctrine of Stale Demands.—The last assigned
error concerning laches likewise fails to convince. The essential elements of
laches are: (1) conduct on the part of the defendant, or of one under whom
he claims, giving rise to the situation of which the complaint seeks a
remedy; (2) delay in asserting the complainant’s rights, the complainant
having had knowledge or notice of the defendant’s conduct as having been
afforded an opportunity to institute a suit; (3) lack of knowledge or notice
on the part of the defendant that the complaint would assert the right in
which he bases his
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suit; and (4) injury or prejudice to the defendant in the event relief is
accorded to the complainant, or the suit is not held barred. The last element
is the origin of the doctrine that stale demands apply only where by reason
of the lapse of time it would be inequitable to allow a party to enforce his
legal rights.
Same; Laches is based upon grounds of public policy which requires,
for the peace of society, the discouragement of stale claims, and is
principally a question of the inequity or unfairness of permitting a right or
claim to be enforced or asserted.—As FRANCISCO set up laches as an
affirmative defense, it was incumbent upon him to prove the existence of its
elements. However, he only succeeded in showing MONINA’s delay in

asserting her claim, but miserably failed to prove the last element. In any
event, it must be stressed that laches is based upon grounds of public policy
which requires, for the peace of society, the discouragement of stale claims,
and is principally a question of the inequity or unfairness of permitting a
right or claim to be enforced or asserted. There is no absolute rule as to what
constitutes laches; each case is to be determined according to its particular
circumstances. The question of laches is addressed to the sound discretion
of the court, and since it is an equitable doctrine, its application is controlled
by equitable considerations. It cannot be worked to defeat justice or to
perpetuate fraud and injustice. Since the instant case involves paternity and
filiation, even if illegitimate, MONINA filed her action well within the
period granted her by a positive provision of law. A denial then of her action
on ground of laches would clearly be inequitable and unjust.
PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the Court of

Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

Salonga, Hernandez & Mendoza for petitioner.
Apeles L. Padilla for private respondent.
DAVIDE, JR., J.:
This is a petition for review under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court of

the 27 April 1995 decision of the Court of Appeals
502

1
(CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 32860 which reversed the decision of
Branch 24 of the Regional
2
Trial Court (RTC) of Iloilo City in Civil
Case No. 16373. The latter dismissed the complaint of private
respondent Monina Jison (hereafter MONINA) for recognition as an
illegitimate child of petitioner Francisco Jison (hereafter
FRANCISCO).
In issue is whether or not public respondent Court of Appeals
committed reversible error, which, in this instance, necessitates an
inquiry into the facts. While as a general rule, factual issues are not
within the province of this Court, nevertheless, in light of the
conflicting findings of facts of the trial court and 3 the Court of
Appeals, this case falls under an exception to this rule.
4
In her complaint filed with the RTC on 13 March 1985,
MONINA alleged that FRANCISCO had been married to a certain
Lilia Lopez Jison since 1940. At the end of 1945 or the start of 1946,
however, FRANCISCO impregnated Esperanza F. Amolar (who was
then employed as the nanny of FRANCISCO’s daughter, Lourdes).
As a result, MONINA was born on 6 August 1946, in Dingle, Iloilo,

and since childhood, had enjoyed the continuous, implied
recognition as an illegitimate child of FRANCISCO by his acts and
that of his family. MONINA further alleged that FRANCISCO gave
her support and spent for her education, such that she obtained a
Master’s degree, became a certified public accountant (CPA) and
eventually, a Central Bank examiner. In view of FRANCISCO’s
refusal to expressly recognize her, MONINA prayed for a judicial
declaration of her illegitimate status and that FRANCISCO support
and treat her as such.
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1 Rollo, 65-80, per Jacinto, G.A., J., with Purisima, F.P. and Montoya, S.A., JJ.,
concurring.
2 Rollo, 84-91, per Judge Norberto E. Devera, Jr.
3 See Geagonia v. Court of Appeals, 241 SCRA 152, 160 [1995]; Consolidated
Bank and Trust Corporation (Solidbank) v. CA, 246 SCRA 193, 198 [1995]; and
Suntay v. Court of Appeals, 251 SCRA 430, 446 [1995].
4 Original Record (OR), vol. 1, 1-3.
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5
In his answer, FRANCISCO alleged that he could not have had
sexual relations with Esperanza Amolar during the period specified
in the complaint as she had ceased to be in his employ as early as
1944, and did not know of her whereabouts since then; further, he
never recognized MONINA, expressly or impliedly, as his
illegitimate child. As affirmative and special defenses, FRANCISCO
contended that MONINA had no right or cause of action against him
and that her action was barred by estoppel, laches and/or
prescription. He thus prayed for dismissal of the complaint and an
award of damages due to the malicious filing of the complaint.
6
After MONINA filed her reply, pre-trial was conducted where
the parties stipulated on the following issues:
1. Did Francisco Jison have any sexual relation[s] with

Esperanza Am[o]lar about the end of 1945 or the start of
1946?
2. Is Monina Jison the recognized illegitimate daughter of
Francisco Jison by the latter’s own acts and those of his
family?
3. Is Monina Jison barred from instituting or prosecuting the
present action by estoppel, laches and/or prescription?
7
4. Damages.
At trial on the merits, MONINA presented a total of eleven (11)

witnesses, namely: herself, Ruben Castellanes, Sr., Adela
Casabuena, Arsenio Duatin, Zafiro Ledesma, Danthea Lopez,
Romeo Bilbao, Rudy Tingson, Alfredo Baylosis, Dominador
Zavariz and Lope Amolar.
Ruben Castellanes, Sr., a 63-year old resident of Iloilo City,
testified that he had worked for FRANCISCO for a total of six (6)
years at Nelly Garden, FRANCISCO’s Iloilo residence. Towards the
end of the Japanese occupation, FRANCISCO’s
_______________
5 Id., 10-13.
6 Id., 14-16.
7 OR, vol. 1, 39.
504

wife suffered a miscarriage or abortion, thereby depriving

FRANCISCO of consortium; thereafter, FRANCISCO’s wife
managed a nightclub on the ground floor of Nelly Garden which
operated daily from 6:00 p.m. till 3:00 a.m. of the following day,
thereby allowing FRANCISCO free access to MONINA’s mother,
Esperanza Amolar, who was nicknamed Pansay.
Adela Casabuena, a 61-year old farmer, testified that she served
as the yaya (“nanny”) of Lourdes from July 1946 up to February
1947. Although Pansay had left Nelly Garden two (2) weeks before
Adela started working for the Jisons, Pansay returned sometime in
September 1946, or about one month after she gave birth to
MONINA, to ask FRANCISCO for support. As a result, Pansay and
Lilia Jison, FRANCISCO’s wife, quarreled in the living room, and
in the course thereof, Pansay claimed that FRANCISCO was the
father of her baby. To which, Lilia replied: “I did not tell you to
make that baby so it is your fault.” During the quarrel which lasted
from 10:30 till 11:00 a.m., FRANCISCO was supposedly inside the
house listening.
Arsenio Duatin, a 77-year old retired laborer, testified that from
1947 until 1977, he worked as FRANCISCO’s houseboy at the
latter’s house on 12th Street, Capitol Subdivision, Bacolod City.
Arsenio met MONINA in 1967, when Felipe Lagarto, the
bookkeeper at Nelly Garden, informed Arsenio that MONINA,
FRANCISCO’s daughter, would arrive at Bacolod City with a letter
of introduction from Lagarto.
Initially, Arsenio identified seven (7) black-and-white

8
photographs (Exhs. X-5 to X-11) of MONINA, and as he paid for
the telephone bills, he likewise identified six (6) telephone cards
(Exhs. G to L). Arsenio then declared that when MON-
_______________
8 Exhibit X-5 showed MONINA standing at the main entrance of FRANCISCO’s

house; Exhibit X-9 showed MONINA’s bedroom in FRANCISCO’s house; and
Exhibit X-11 showed MONINA standing on the lawn of FRANCISCO’s house. These
exhibits were offered to prove that MONINA had free use of FRANCISCO’s house in
Bacolod City and phone thereat.
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INA arrived in Bacolod City, she introduced herself to him as

FRANCISCO’s daughter. She stayed at FRANCISCO’s house, but
when the latter and his wife would come over, Arsenio would
“conceal the presence of MONINA because Mrs. Jison did not like
to see her face.” Once, Arsenio hid MONINA in the house of
FRANCISCO’s sister, Mrs. Luisa Jison Alano, in Silay City; another
time, at the residence of FRANCISCO’s cousin, Mrs. Concha Lopez
Cuaycong. Finally, Arsenio declared that the last time he saw
MONINA was when she left for Manila, after having finished her
schooling at La Salle College in Bacolod City.
On re-direct and upon questions by the court, Arsenio disclosed
that it was FRANCISCO who instructed that MONINA be hidden
whenever FRANCISCO and his wife were around; that although
FRANCISCO and MONINA saw each other at the Bacolod house
only once, they called each other “through long distance,” and that
MONINA addressed FRANCISCO as “Daddy” during their lone
meeting at the Bacolod house and were “affectionate” to each other.
Arsenio likewise declared that MONINA stayed at FRANCISCO’s
Bacolod house twice: first for a month, then for about a week the
second time. On both occasions, however, FRANCISCO and his
wife were abroad. Finally, Arsenio recalled that FRANCISCO
likewise bade Arsenio to treat MONINA like his (FRANCISCO’s)
other daughters.
The testimony of Zafiro Ledesma, a 74-year old banker and
former mayor of Iloilo City, initially touched on how he and his wife
were related to FRANCISCO, FRANCISCO’s wife and MONINA.
Zafiro first identified Exhibit R, a diagram of the family trees of the
Jison and Lopez families, which showed that former Vice-President
Fernando Lopez was the first cousin of FRANCISCO’s wife, then
told the court that the family of Vice-President Lopez treated
MONINA “very well because she is considered a relative x x x by

reputation, by actual perception.” Zafiro likewise identified Exhibits
X-13 to X-18, photographs taken at the 14 April 1985 birthday
celebration of Mrs. Fernando Lopez, which showed MONINA with
506

the former Vice-President and other members of the Lopez family.

Zafiro further testified that while MONINA lived with Mrs.
Cuaycong, the latter paid for some of MONINA’s school needs and
even asked MONINA to work in a hospital owned by Mrs.
Cuaycong; and that another first cousin of FRANCISCO’s wife, a
certain Remedios Lopez Franco, likewise helped MONINA with her
studies and problems, and even attended MONINA’s graduation in
1978 when she obtained a masteral degree in Business
Administration, as evidenced by another photograph (Exh. X-12).
Moreover, upon Remedios’ recommendation, MONINA was
employed as a secretary at Merchant Financing Company, which
was managed by a certain Danthea Lopez, the wife of another first
cousin of FRANCISCO’s wife, and among whose directors were
Zafiro himself, his wife and Danthea’s husband. In closing, Zafiro
identified MONINA’s Social Security Record (Exh. W), which was
signed by Danthea as employer and where MONINA designated
Remedios as the beneficiary.
Danthea Lopez, a 58-year old housekeeper, declared that
FRANCISCO was the first cousin of her husband, Eusebio D.
Lopez; and that she came to know MONINA in the latter part of
1965 when Remedios Franco recommended MONINA for
employment at Merchant Financing Co., which Danthea managed at
that time. Remedios introduced MONINA to Danthea “as being
reputedly the daughter of Mr. Frank Jison;” and on several occasions
thereafter, Remedios made Danthea and the latter’s husband
understand that MONINA was “reputedly the daughter of
[FRANCISCO].” While MONINA worked at Merchant Financing,
Danthea knew that MONINA lived with Remedios; however, in the
latter part of 1966, as Remedios left for Manila and MONINA was
still studying at San Agustin University, Danthea and her husband
invited MONINA to live with them. During MONINAs 6-month
stay with them, she was not charged for board and lodging and was
treated as a relative, not a mere employee, all owing to what
Remedios had said regarding MONINA’s filiation. As Danthea
understood, MONINA resigned from
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VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 507

Merchant Financing as she was called by Mrs. Cuaycong, a first

cousin of Danthea’s husband who lived in Bacolod City.
Romeo Bilbao, a 43-year old seaman, testified that he had
worked for FRANCISCO from 1969 up to 1980 at Nelly Garden in
various capacities: as a procurement officer, hacienda overseer and,
later, as hacienda administrator. Sometime in May, 1971, Romeo
saw and heard MONINA ask “her Daddy” (meaning FRANCISCO)
for the money he promised to give her, but FRANCISCO answered
that he did not have the money to give, then told MONINA to go see
Mr. Jose Cruz in Bacolod City. Then in the middle of September that
year, FRANCISCO told Romeo to pick up Mr. Cruz at the Iloilo pier
and bring him to the office of Atty. Benjamin Tirol. At said office,
Atty. Tirol, Mr. Cruz and MONINA entered a room while Romeo
waited outside. When they came out, Atty. Tirol had papers for
MONINA to sign, but she refused. Atty. Tirol said that a check
would be released to MONINA if she signed the papers, so
MONINA acceded, although Atty. Tirol intended not to give
MONINA a copy of the document she signed. Thereafter, Mr. Cruz
gave MONINA a check (Exh. Q), then MONINA grabbed a copy of
the document she signed and ran outside. Romeo then brought Mr.
Cruz to Nelly Garden. As to his motive for testifying, Romeo stated
that he wanted to help MONINA be recognized as FRANCISCO’S
daughter.
Rudy Tingson, a 45-year old antique dealer, testified that in 1963-
1964, he was employed by FRANCISCO’s wife at the Baguio
Military Institute in Baguio City; then in 1965, Rudy worked at
FRANCISCO’s office at Nelly Garden recording hacienda expenses,
typing vouchers and office papers, and, at times, acting as paymaster
for the haciendas. From the nature of his work, Rudy knew the
persons receiving money from FRANCISCO’s office, and clearly
remembered that in 1965, as part of his job, Rudy gave MONINA
her allowance from FRANCISCO four (4) times, upon instructions
of a certain Mr. Lagarto to give MONINA P15.00 a month. Rudy
likewise recalled that he first met MONINA in 1965, and that she
would go to Nelly Garden whenever FRANCISCO’s wife
508

was not around. On some of these occasions, MONINA would speak

with and address FRANCISCO as “Daddy,” without objection from
FRANCISCO. In fact, in 1965, Rudy saw FRANCISCO give
MONINA money thrice. Rudy further declared that in April 1965,

FRANCISCO’s office paid P250.00 to Funeraria Bernal for the
funeral expenses of MONINA’s mother. Finally, as to Rudy’s
motives for testifying, he told the court that he simply wanted to
help bring out the truth “and nothing but the truth,” and that
MONINA’s filiation was common knowledge among the people in
the office at Nelly Garden.
On re-direct, Rudy declared that the moneys given by
FRANCISCO’s office to MONINA were not reflected in the books
of the office, but were kept in a separate book, as Mr. Lagarto
explained that FRANCISCO’s wife and children “should not know
[of] this.” Rudy further revealed that as to the garden “meetings”
between FRANCISCO and MONINA, Rudy saw MONINA kiss
FRANCISCO on the cheek both upon arriving and before leaving,
and FRANCISCO’s reaction upon seeing her was to smile and say in
the Visayan dialect: “Kamusta ka iha?” (“How are you, daughter?”);
and that MONINA was free to go inside the house as the household
staff knew of her filiation, and that, sometimes, MONINA would
join them for lunch.
Alfredo Baylosis, a 62-year old retired accountant, testified that
he worked for FRANCISCO at Central Santos-Lopez in Iloilo from
1951 up to 1961, then at Nelly Garden from 1961 until 1972.
Alfredo first served FRANCISCO as a bookkeeper, then when Mr.
Lagarto died in 1967 or 1969, Alfredo replaced Mr. Lagarto as office
manager.
Alfredo knew MONINA since 1961 as she used to go to Nelly
Garden to claim her P15.00 monthly allowance given upon
FRANCISCO’s standing order. Alfredo further declared that
MONINA’s filiation was pretty well-known in the office; that he had
seen MONINA and FRANCISCO go from the main building to the
office, with FRANCISCO’s arm on MONINA’s shoulder; and that
the office paid for the burial expenses of Pansay, but this was not
recorded in the books in
509
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 509

order to hide it from FRANCISCO’s wife. Alfredo also disclosed

that the disbursements for MONINA’s allowance started in 1961 and
were recorded in a separate cash book. In 1967, the allowances
ceased when MONINA stopped schooling and was employed in
Bacolod City with Miller, Cruz & Co., which served as
FRANCISCO’s accountant-auditor. Once, when Alfredo went to the
offices of Miller, Cruz & Co. to see the manager, Mr. Atienza, and
arrange for the preparation of FRANCISCO’s income tax return,
Alfredo chanced upon MONINA. When Alfredo asked her how she
came to work there, she answered that “her Daddy,” FRANCISCO,

recommended her, a fact confirmed by Mr. Atienza. Alfredo then
claimed that Mr. Jose Cruz, a partner at Miller, Cruz & Co., was the
most trusted man of FRANCISCO.
Dominador Savariz, a 55-year old caretaker, testified that he
worked as FRANCISCO’s houseboy at Nelly Garden from
November 1953 up to 1965. One morning in April 1954, MONINA
and her mother Pansay went to Nelly Garden and spoke with
FRANCISCO for about an hour, during which time, Dominador was
vacuuming the carpet about six (6) to seven (7) meters away. Due to
the noise of the vacuum cleaner, FRANCISCO and MONINA spoke
in loud voices, thus Dominador overheard their conversation. As
FRANCISCO asked Pansay why they came, Pansay answered that
they came to ask for the “sustenance” of his child MONINA.
FRANCISCO then touched MONINA’s head and asked: “How are
you Hija?,” to which MONINA answered: “Good morning, Daddy.”
After FRANCISCO told Pansay and MONINA to wait, he pulled
something from his wallet and said to Pansay: “I am giving this for
the child.”
In May 1954, Dominador saw MONINA at Mr. Lagarto’s office
where Dominador was to get “the day’s expenses,” while MONINA
was claiming her allowance from Mr. Diasnes. The next month,
Dominador saw MONINA at Nelly Garden and heard in the office
that MONINA was there to get her allowance “from her Daddy.” In
December 1960, Dominador saw MONINA at Nelly Garden, in the
room of Don Vicente (father of FRANCISCO’s wife), where she
asked for a Christmas gift
510

“and she was calling Don Vicente, Lolo (grandfather).” At that time,
FRANCISCO and his wife were not around. Then sometime in
1961, when Dominador went to Mr. Lagarto’s office to get the
marketing expenses, Dominador saw MONINA once more claiming
her allowance.
Dominador further testified that in February 1966, after he had
stopped working for FRANCISCO, Dominador was at Mrs. Franco’s
residence as she recommended him for employment with her sister,
Mrs. Concha Cuaycong. There, he saw MONINA, who was then
about 15 years old, together with Mrs. Franco’s daughter and son.
Mrs. Franco pointed at MONINA and asked Dominador if he knew
who MONINA was. Dominador answered that MONINA was
FRANCISCO’s daughter with Pansay, and then Mrs. Franco
remarked that MONINA was staying with her (Mrs. Franco) and
that she was sending MONINA to school at the University of San

Agustin.
Lope Amolar, a 50-year old resident of Dingle, Iloilo, and the
younger brother of Esperanza Amolar (Pansay), testified that he
worked for FRANCISCO as a houseboy from March to November
1945 at Nelly Garden. Thereafter, FRANCISCO sent Lope to work
at Elena Apartments in Manila. By November 1945, Pansay was
also working at Elena Apartments, where she revealed to Lope that
FRANCISCO impregnated her. Lope then confronted FRANCISCO,
who told Lope “don’t get hurt and don’t cause any trouble, because I
am willing to support your Inday Pansay and my child.” Three (3)
days after this confrontation, Lope asked for and received
permission from FRANCISCO to resign because he (Lope) was
hurt.
On 21 October 1986, MONINA herself took the witness stand.
At that time, she was 40 years old and a Central Bank Examiner. She
affirmed that as evidenced by certifications from the Office of the
Local Civil Registrar (Exhs. E and F) and baptismal certificates
(Exhs. C and D), she was born on 6 August 1946 in Barangay
Tabugon, Dingle, Iloilo, to Esperanza Amolar (who passed away on
20 April 1965) and
511
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 511

9
FRANCISCO. MONINA first studied at Sagrado where she stayed
as a boarder. While at Sagrado from 1952 until 1955 (up to Grade
4), her father, FRANCISCO, paid for her tuition fees and other
school expenses. She either received the money from FRANCISCO
or from Mr. Lagarto, or saw FRANCISCO give money to her
mother, or Mr. Lagarto would pay Sagrado directly. After Sagrado,
10
MONINA studied in different schools, but FRANCISCO
continuously answered for her schooling.
For her college education, MONINA enrolled at the University of
Iloilo, but she later dropped due to an accident which required a
week’s hospitalization. Although FRANCISCO paid for part of the
hospitalization expenses, her mother shouldered most of them. In
1963, she enrolled at the University of San Agustin, where she
stayed with Mrs. Franco who paid for MONINA’s tuition fees.
However, expenses for books, school supplies, uniforms and the like
were shouldered by FRANCISCO. At the start of each semester,
MONINA would show FRANCISCO that she was enrolled, then he
would ask her to canvass prices, then give her the money she
needed. After finishing two (2) semesters at University of San
Agustin, as evidenced by her transcript of records (Exh. Z showing
that FRANCISCO was listed as Parent/Guardian [Exh. Z-1]), she
transferred to “De Paul College,” just in front of Mrs. Franco’s

house, and studied there for a year. Thereafter, MONINA enrolled at
Western Institute of Technology (WIT), where she obtained a
bachelor’s degree in Commerce in April 1967. During her senior
year, she stayed with Eusebio and Danthea Lopez at Hotel Kahirup,
owned by said couple. She passed the CPA board exams in 1974,
and took up an M.B.A. at De La Salle University as evidenced by
her tran-
_______________
9 Spelled “Esperanza Amador” and “Frank Heson” on Exhibits E and F, and

“Franque Jison” on Exhibit D.
10 Iloilo Central Elementary for Grade 5; Rizal Elementary School for Grade 6;
Negros Occidental Provincial High School up to her junior year in high school; and
Iloilo Provincial High School for her senior year in high school.
512

script (Exh. AA), wherein FRANCISCO was likewise listed as

“Guardian” (Exhs. AA-1 and AA-2).
MONINA enumerated the different members of the household
staff at Nelly Garden, to wit: Luz, the household cook; the
houseboys Silvestre and Doming; the housemaid Natang; the yaya
of the adopted triplets, Deling; the yaya of Lolo Vicente, Adelina;
and others. MONINA likewise enumerated the members of the
office staff (Messrs. Baylosis, Lagarto, Tingson, Diasnes, Jalandoni,
Supertisioso, Doroy, and others), and identified them from a
photograph marked as Exhibit X-2. She then corroborated the prior
testimony regarding her employment at Merchant Financing Co.,
and her having lived at Hotel Kahirup and at Mrs. Cuaycong’s
residence in Bacolod City, while working at the hospital owned by
Mrs. Cuaycong.
MONINA further testified that in March 1968, she went to
Manila and met FRANCISCO at Elena Apartments at the corner of
Romero and Salas Streets, Ermita. She told FRANCISCO that she
was going for a vacation in Baguio City with Mrs. Franco’s mother,
with whom she stayed up to June 1968. Upon her return from
Baguio City, MONINA told FRANCISCO that she wanted to work,
so the latter arranged for her employment at Miller & Cruz in
Bacolod City. MONINA went to Bacolod City, was interviewed by
Mr. Jose Cruz, a partner at Miller & Cruz, who told her she would
start working first week of September, sans examination. She
resigned from Miller & Cruz in 1971 and lived with Mrs. Cuaycong
at her Forbes Park residence in Makati. MONINA went to see
FRANCISCO, told him that she resigned and asked him for money
to go to Spain, but FRANCISCO refused as she could not speak
Spanish and would not be able find a job. The two quarreled and
FRANCISCO ordered a helper to send MONINA out of the house.
In the process, MONINA broke many glasses at the pantry and cut
her hand, after which, FRANCISCO hugged her, gave her medicine,
calmed her down, asked her to return to Bacolod City and promised
that he would give her the money.
MONINA returned to Bacolod City by plane, using a Filipinas
Orient Airways plane ticket (Exh. M) which FRANCISCO
513
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 513

gave. She called Mr. Cruz, then Atty. Tirol, as instructed by Mr.
Cruz. These calls were evidenced by PLDT long distance toll cards
(Exhs. G to L), with annotations at the back reading: “charged and
paid under the name of Frank L. Jison” and were signed by Arsenio
Duatin (Exhs. G-1 to L-1). PLDT issued a certification as to the
veracity of the contents of the toll cards (Exh. BB). Likewise
introduced in evidence was a letter of introduction prepared by Mr.
Cruz addressed to Atty. Tirol, on MONINA’s behalf (Exh. N).
MONINA also declared that Atty. Tirol then told her that she
would have to go to Iloilo and sign a certain affidavit, before Mr.
Cruz would turn over the money promised by FRANCISCO. She
went to Atty. Tirol’s office in Iloilo, but after going over the draft of
the affidavit, refused to sign it as it stated that she was not
FRANCISCO’s daughter. She explained that all she had agreed with
FRANCISCO was that he would pay for her fare to go abroad, and
that since she was a little girl, she knew about her illegitimacy. She
started crying, begged Atty. Tirol to change the affidavit, to which
Atty. Tirol responded that he was also a father and did not want this
to happen to his children as they could not be blamed for being
brought into the world. She then wrote a letter (Exh. O) to
FRANCISCO and sent it to the latter’s Forbes Park residence
(Bauhinia Place) by JRS courier service (Exhs. O-5 to O-7).
MONINA subsequently met FRANCISCO in Bacolod City where
they discussed the affidavit which she refused to sign. FRANCISCO
told her that the affidavit was for his wife, that in case she heard
about MONINA going abroad, the affidavit would “keep her peace.”
MONINA then narrated that the first time she went to Atty.
Tirol’s office, she was accompanied by one Atty. Fernando
11
Divinagracia, who advised her that the affidavit (Exh. P) would
“boomerang” against FRANCISCO “as it is contrary to law.”
MONINA returned to Bacolod City, then met with Atty. Tirol once
more to reiterate her plea, but Atty. Tirol did not relent. Thus, on the
morning of 20 or 21 September 1971,
_______________
11 Also marked as Exhibit 2 for FRANCISCO.
514

she signed the affidavit as she was jobless and needed the money to
support herself and finish her studies. In exchange for signing the
document, MONINA received a Bank of Asia check for P15,000.00
(Exh. Q), which was less than the P25,000.00 which FRANCISCO
allegedly promised to give. As Atty. Tirol seemed hesitant to give
her a copy of the affidavit after notarizing it, MONINA merely
grabbed a copy and immediately left.
MONINA then prepared to travel abroad, for which purpose, she
procured letters of introduction (Exhs. S and T) from a cousin, Mike
Alano (son of FRANCISCO’s elder sister Luisa); and an uncle,
Emilio Jison (FRANCISCO’s elder brother), addressed to another
cousin, Beth Jison (Emilio’s daughter), for Beth to assist MONINA.
Exhibit S contained a statement (Exh. S-1) expressly recognizing
that MONINA was FRANCISCO’s daughter. Ultimately though,
MONINA decided not to go abroad, opting instead to spend the
proceeds of the P15,000.00 check for her CPA review, board exam
and graduate studies. After finishing her graduate studies, she again
planned to travel abroad, for which reason, she obtained a letter of
introduction from former Vice President Fernando Lopez addressed
to then United States Consul Vernon McAnnich (Exh. V).
As to other acts tending to show her filiation, MONINA related
that on one occasion, as FRANCISCO’s wife was going to arrive at
the latter’s Bacolod City residence, FRANCISCO called Arsenio
Duatin and instructed Arsenio to hide MONINA. Thus, MONINA
stayed with Mrs. Luisa Jison for the duration of the stay of
FRANCISCO’s wife. MONINA also claimed that she knew Vice
President Fernando Lopez and his wife, Mariquit, even before
starting to go to school. Thus, MONINA asked for a
recommendation letter (Exh. U) from Mrs. Mariquit Lopez for
possible employment with Mrs. Rosario Lopez Cooper, another
second cousin of FRANCISCO. In Exhibit U, Mrs. Lopez expressly
recognized MONINA as FRANCISCO’s daughter. As additional
proof of her close relationship with the family of Vice President
Lopez, MONINA
515
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 515

identified photographs taken at a birthday celebration on 14 April

1985.
MONINA finally claimed that she knew the three (3) children of
FRANCISCO by wife, namely, Lourdes, Francisco, Jr. (Junior) and
Elena, but MONINA had met only Lourdes and Junior. MONINA’s
testimony dealt lengthily on her dealings with Junior and the two (2)
occasions when she met with Lourdes. The last time MONINA saw
FRANCISCO was in March 1979, when she sought his blessings to
get married.
In his defense, FRANCISCO offered his deposition taken before
then Judge Romeo Callejo of the Regional Trial Court of Manila,
Branch 48. As additional witnesses, FRANCISCO presented Nonito
Jalandoni, Teodoro Zulla, Iñigo Supertisioso, Lourdes Ledesma,
Jose Cruz and Dolores Argenal.
FRANCISCO declared that Pansay’s employment ceased as of
October, 1944, and that while employed by him, Pansay would sleep
with the other female helpers on the first floor of his residence, while
he, his wife and daughter slept in a room on the second floor. At that
time, his household staff was composed of three (3) female workers
and two (2) male workers. After Pansay left in October 1944, she
never communicated with him again, neither did he know of her
whereabouts. FRANCISCO staunchly denied having had sexual
relations with Pansay and disavowed any knowledge about
MONINA’s birth. In the same vein, he denied having paid for
MONINA’s tuition fees, in person or otherwise, and asserted that he
never knew that Mr. Lagarto paid for these fees. Moreover,
FRANCISCO could not believe that Lagarto would pay for these
fees despite absence of instructions or approval from FRANCISCO.
He likewise categorically denied that he told anyone, be it Danthea
Lopez, Zafiro Ledesma, Concha Cuaycong or Remedios Franco, that
MONINA was his daughter.
FRANCISCO also disclosed that upon his return from the United
States in 1971, he fired Alfredo Baylosis upon discovering that
Alfredo had taken advantage of his position during the former’s
absence. FRANCISCO likewise fired Rudy Tingson and Romeo
Bilbao, but did not give the reasons therefor.
516

Finally, FRANCISCO denied knowledge of MONINA’s long

distance calls from his Bacolod residence; nevertheless, when he
subsequently discovered this, he fired certain people in his office for

their failure to report this anomaly. As regards the caretaker of his
Bacolod residence, FRANCISCO explained that since MONINA
lived at Mrs. Cuaycong’s residence, the caretaker thought that he
could allow people who lived at the Cuaycong residence to use the
facilities at his (FRANCISCO’s) house.
Nonito Jalandoni, bookkeeper and paymaster at Nelly’s Garden
from 1963 up to 1974, then from 1980 up to 1986, the assistant
overseer of Hacienda Lopez, testified that he did not know
MONINA; that he learned of her only in June 1988, when he was
informed by FRANCISCO that MONINA had sued him; and that he
never saw MONINA at Nelly’s Garden, neither did he know of any
instructions for anyone at Nelly’s Garden to give money to
MONINA.
Teodoro Zulla, FRANCISCO’s bookkeeper and paymaster from
1951 up to 1986, testified that FRANCISCO dismissed Alfredo
Baylosis due to certain unspecified discrepancies; and that he never
saw MONINA receive funds from either Mr. Lagarto or Mr.
Baylosis. Upon questions from the trial court, however, Teodoro
admitted that he prepared vouchers for only one of FRANCISCO’s
haciendas, and not vouchers pertaining to the latter’s personal
expenses.
Iñigo Supertisioso testified that he worked for FRANCISCO at
Nelly’s Garden from 1964 up to 1984 as a field inspector, paymaster,
cashier and, eventually, officer-in-charge (OIC). He confirmed
Alfredo Baylosis’ dismissal due to these unspecified irregularities,
then denied that FRANCISCO ever ordered that MONINA be given
her allowance. Likewise, Iñigo never heard FRANCISCO mention
that MONINA was his (FRANCISCO’s) daughter.
Lourdes Ledesma, FRANCISCO’s daughter, testified that she
saw (but did not know) MONINA at the Our Lady of Mercy
Hospital, on the occasion of the birth of Lourdes’ first son, Mark.
Over lunch one day, Lourdes’ aunt casually introduced Lourdes and
MONINA to each other, but they were
517
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 517

referred to only by their first names. Then sometime in 1983 or

1984, MONINA allegedly went to Lourdes’ house in Sta. Clara
Subdivision requesting for a letter of introduction or referral as
MONINA was then job-hunting. However, Lourdes did not comply
with the request.
Jose Cruz, a partner at Miller, Cruz & Co., testified that
MONINA worked at Miller & Cruz from 1968 up to 1971, however,
he did not personally interview her before she was accepted for
employment. Moreover, MONINA underwent the usual screening

procedure before being hired. Jose recalled that one of the
accountants, a certain Mr. Atienza, reported that MONINA claimed
to be FRANCISCO’s daughter. Jose then told Mr. Atienza to speak
with MONINA and see if he (Mr. Atienza) could stop her from
spreading this rumor. Mr. Atienza reported that he spoke with
MONINA, who told him that she planned to leave for the United
States and needed P20,000.00 for that purpose, and in exchange, she
would sign a document disclaiming filiation with FRANCISCO.
Thus, Jose instructed Mr. Atienza to request that MONINA meet
with Jose, and at that meeting, MONINA confirmed Mr. Atienza’s
report. Jose then informed Atty. Tirol, FRANCISCO’s personal
lawyer, about the matter.
Atty. Tirol told Jose to send MONINA and her lawyer to his
(Atty. Tirol’s) office in Iloilo. Jose then wrote out a letter of
introduction for MONINA addressed to Atty. Tirol. Jose relayed
Atty. Tirol’s message to MONINA through Mr. Atienza, then later,
Atty. Tirol told Jose to go to Iloilo with a check for P15,000.00. Jose
complied, and at Atty. Tirol’s office, Jose saw MONINA, Atty. Tirol
and his secretary reading some documents. MONINA then
expressed her willingness to sign the document, sans revisions. Jose
alleged that he drew the P15,000.00 from his personal funds, subject
to reimbursement from and due to an understanding with
FRANCISCO.
Dolores Argenal, a househelper at Nelly Garden from May 1944
up to May 1946, testified that she knew that Pansay was Lourdes’
nanny; that Lourdes slept in her parents’ room; that she had not seen
FRANCISCO give special treatment to Pansay; that there was no
“unusual relationship” between
518

FRANCISCO and Pansay, and if there was any, Dolores would have
easily detected it since she slept in the same room as Pansay.
Dolores further declared that whenever FRANCISCO’s wife was out
of town, Pansay would bring Lourdes downstairs at nighttime, and
that Pansay would not sleep in the room where FRANCISCO slept.
Finally, Dolores declared that Pansay stopped working for
FRANCISCO and his wife in October, 1944.
The reception of evidence having been concluded, the parties
filed their respective memoranda.
It need be recalled that Judge Catalino Castañeda, Jr. presided
over trial up to 21 October 1986, thereby hearing only the
testimonies of MONINA’s witnesses and about half of MONINA’s
testimony on direct examination. Judge Norberto E. Devera, Jr.
heard the rest of MONINA’s testimony and those of FRANCISCO’s

witnesses.
12
In its decision of 12 November 1990 the trial court, through
Judge Devera, dismissed the complaint with costs against MONINA.
In the opening paragraph thereof, it observed:
This is a complaint for recognition of an illegitimate child instituted by

plaintiff Monina Jison against defendant Francisco Jison. This complaint
was filed on March 13, 1985 at the time when plaintiff, reckoned from her
death of birth, was already thirty-nine years old. Noteworthy also is the fact
that it was instituted twenty years after the death of plaintiff’s mother,
Esperanza Amolar. For the years between plaintiff’s birth and Esperanza’s
death, no action of any kind was instituted against defendant either by
plaintiff, her mother Esperanza or the latter’s parents. Neither had plaintiff
brought such an action against defendant immediately upon her mother’s
death on April 20, 1965, considering that she was then already nineteen
years old or, within a reasonable time thereafter. Twenty years more had to
supervene before this complaint was eventually instituted.
The trial court then proceeded to discuss the four issues stipulated at
pre-trial, without, however, summarizing the
_______________
12 Supra note 2.
519
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 519

testimonies of the witnesses nor referring to the testimonies of the

witnesses other than those mentioned in the discussion of the issues.
The trial court resolved the first issue in the negative, holding
that it was improbable for witness Lope Amolar to have noticed that
Pansay was pregnant upon seeing her at the Elena Apartments in
November 1945, since Pansay was then only in her first month of
pregnancy; that there was no positive assertion that “copulation did
indeed take place between Francisco and Esperanza”; and that
MONINA’s attempt to show opportunity on the part of
FRANCISCO failed to consider “that there was also the opportunity
for copulation between Esperanza and one of the several domestic
helpers admittedly also residing at Nelly’s Garden at that time.” The
RTC also ruled that the probative value of the birth and baptismal
certificates of MONINA paled in light of jurisprudence, especially
when the misspellings therein were considered.
The trial court likewise resolved the second issue in the negative,
finding that MONINA’s evidence thereon “may either be one of
three categories, namely: hearsay evidence, incredulous evidence, or

self-serving evidence.” To the first category belonged the
testimonies of Adela Casabuena and Alfredo Baylosis, whose
knowledge of MONINA’s filiation was based, as to the former, on
“utterances of defendant’s wife Lilia and Esperanza allegedly during
the heat of their quarrel,” while as to the latter, Alfredo’s conclusion
was based “from the rumors going [around] that plaintiff is
defendant’s daughter, from his personal observation of plaintiff’s
facial appearance which he compared with that of defendant’s and
from the way the two (plaintiff and defendant) acted and treated
each other on one occasion that he had then opportunity to closely
observe them together.” To the second category belonged that of
Dominador Savariz, as:
At each precise time that Esperanza allegedly visited Nelly’s Garden and
allegedly on those occasions when defendant’s wife, Lilia was in Manila,
this witness was there and allegedly heard pieces of conversation between
defendant and Esperanza related to the paternity of the latter’s child. x x x
520

The RTC then placed MONINA’s testimony regarding the acts of

recognition accorded her by FRANCISCO’s relatives under the third
category, since the latter were never presented as witnesses, for
which reason the trial court excluded the letters from
FRANCISCO’s relatives (Exhs. S to V).
As to the third issue, the trial court held that MONINA was not
barred by prescription for it was of “the perception . . . that the
benefits of Article 268 accorded to legitimate children may be
availed of or extended to illegitimate children in the same manner as
the Family Code has so provided;” or by laches, “which is [a]
creation of equity applied only to bring equitable results, and . . .
addressed to the sound discretion of the court [and] the
circumstances [here] would show that whether plaintiff filed this
case immediately upon the death of her mother Esperanza in 1965 or
twenty years thereafter in 1985, x x x there seems to be no
inequitable result to defendant as related to the situation of plaintiff.”
The RTC ruled, however, that MONINA was barred by estoppel
by deed because of the affidavit (Exh. P/Exh. 2) which she signed
“when she was already twenty-five years, a professional and . . .
under the able guidance of counsel.”
Finally, the RTC denied FRANCISCO’s claim for damages,
finding that MONINA did not file the complaint with malice, she
having been “propelled by an honest belief, founded on probable
cause.”
MONINA seasonably appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA-

G.R. CV No. 32860) and sought reversal of the trial court’s decision
on the grounds that:
THE TRIAL COURT WAS ERRONEOUSLY PREDISPOSED TO

ADJUDGE THIS CASE AGAINST APPELLANT DUE TO ITS
MISPERCEPTION THAT APPELLANT’S DELAY IN FILING HER
COMPLAINT WAS FATAL TO HER CASE.
521
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 521

II
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS REJECTION OF THE

TESTIMONIES OF APPELLANT’S WITNESSES AS TAILOR-MADE,
INADEQUATE AND INCREDIBLE.
III
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS REJECTION OF THE

ADMISSIBILITY OF THE CERTIFIED COPIES OF PUBLIC
DOCUMENTS PRESENTED BY APPELLANT AS PART OF HER
EVIDENCE.
IV
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN ITS REQUIREMENT THAT A

WITNESS TO THE ACTUAL ACT OF COPULATION BETWEEN THE
APPELLEE AND APPELLANT’S MOTHER SHOULD HAVE
POSITIVELY TESTIFIED TO SAID EFFECT.
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN REJECTING THE ADMISSIBILITY

OF THE DULY IDENTIFIED NOTES AND LETTER OF THE
RELATIVES OF THE APPELLEE AS HEARSAY.
VI
THE TRIAL COURT ERRED IN CONCLUDING THAT

APPELLANT’S AFFIDAVIT (EXH. P) SERVED AS A BAR AGAINST
HER CLAIM FOR RECOGNITION INSTEAD OF REINFORCING SAID
13
CLAIM.
Expectedly, FRANCISCO refuted these alleged errors in his

14
Appellee’s Brief.
15
15
In its decision of 27 April 1995, the Court of Appeals initially
declared that as no vested or acquired rights were affected, the
instant case was governed by Article 175, in rela-
_______________
13 OR, vol. 2, Annex “C,” Brief for Plaintiff-Appellant, 1-2.

14 OR, vol. 2, 192 et seq.
15 Supra note 1.
522

16
tion to Articles 172 and 173, of the Family Code. While the Court
of Appeals rejected the certifications issued by the Local Civil
Registrar of Dingle, Iloilo (Exhs. E and F) as FRANCISCO did not
sign them, said court focused its discussion on the other means by
which illegitimate filiation could be proved, i.e., the open and
continuous possession of the status of an illegitimate child or, by any
other means allowed by the Rules of Court and special laws, such as
“the baptismal certificate of the child, a judicial admission, a family
bible wherein the name of the child is entered, common reputation
respecting pedigree, admission by silence, testimonies of witnesses x
17
x x.” To the Court of Appeals, the “bottom line issue” was whether
or not MONINA established her filiation as FRANCISCO’s
illegitimate daughter by preponderance of evidence, as to which
issue said court found:
[N]ot just preponderant but overwhelming evidence on record to prove that

[MONINA] is the illegitimate daughter of [FRANCISCO] and that she had
continuously enjoyed such status by direct acts of [FRANCISCO] and/or his
relatives.
In so ruling, the Court of Appeals observed that the testimonies of

Lope Amolar, Adela Casabuena and Dominador Savariz were
already sufficient to establish MONINA’s filiation:
As adverted to earlier, the trial court discredited Lope Amolar’s testimony

by saying that Lope could not have detected Esperanza’s pregnant state in
November, 1945 since at that point in time [sic] she was still in the initial
stage of pregnancy. Apparently, the trial court paid more emphasis on the
date mentioned by Lope Amolar than on the tenor and import of his
testimony. As x x x Lope x x x was asked about an incident that transpired
more than 41 years back, [u]nder the circumstances, it is unreasonable to
expect that Lope could still be dead right on the specific month in 1945 that
[he] met and confronted his sister. At any rate, what is important is
_______________
16 Citing Uyguangco v. Court of Appeals, 178 SCRA 684 [1989].

17 Citing ALICIA SEMPIO-DIY, HANDBOOK ON THE FAMILY CODE 246 (1988 ed.)
(hereafter SEMPIO DIY).
523
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 523

not the month that they met but the essence of his testimony that his sister
pointed to their employer [FRANCISCO] as the one responsible for her
pregnancy, and that upon being confronted, [FRANCISCO] assured him of
support for Esperanza and their child. It would appear then that in an
attempt to find fault with Lope’s testimony, the trial court has fallen
oblivious to the fact that even [FRANCISCO], in his deposition, did not
deny that he was confronted by Lope about what he had done to Esperanza,
during which he unequivocally acknowledged paternity by assuring Lope of
support for both Esperanza and their child.
The Court of Appeals further noted that Casabuena and Savariz

“testified on something that they personally observed or witnessed,”
which matters FRANCISCO “did not deny or refute.” Finally, said
court aptly held:
Taking into account all the foregoing uncontroverted testimonies x x x let

alone such circumstantial evidence as [MONINA’s] Birth Certificates x x x
and Baptismal Certificates which invariably bear the name of
[FRANCISCO] as her father, We cannot go along with the trial court’s
theory that [MONINA’s] illegitimate filiation has not been satisfactorily
established.
xxx
Significantly, [MONINA’s] testimony finds ample corroboration from
[FRANCISCO’s] former employees, Arsenio Duatin, Rudy Tingson and
Alfredo Baylosis. x x x
xxx
Carefully evaluating appellant’s evidence on her enjoyment of the status
of an illegitimate daughter of [FRANCISCO] vis-a-vis [FRANCISCO’s]
controversion thereof, We find more weight in the former. The positive
testimonies of [MONINA] and [her] witnesses x x x all bearing on
[FRANCISCO’s] acts and/or conduct indubitably showing that he had
continuously acknowledged [MONINA] as his illegitimate daughter have
not been succeessfully [sic] refuted. In fact, [FRANCISCO] himself, in his
deposition, only casually dismissed [MONINA’s] exhaustive and detailed
testimony as untrue, and with respect to those given by [MONINA’s]
witnesses, he merely explained that he had fired [them] from their
employment. Needless to state, [FRANCISCO’s] vague denial is grossly
inadequate to overcome the probative weight of [MONINA’s] testimonial

evidence.
524

Even the affidavit (Exh 2) which [FRANCISCO] had foisted on the trial
court x x x does not hold sway in the face of [MONINA’s] logical
explanation that she at first did agree to sign the affidavit which contained
untruthful statements. In fact, she promptly complained to [FRANCISCO]
who, however explained to her that the affidavit was only for the
consumption of his spouse x x x. Further, the testimony of Jose Cruz
concerning the events that led to the execution of the affidavit x x x could
not have been true, for as pointed out by [MONINA], she signed the
affidavit x x x almost five months after she had resigned from the Miller,
Cruz & Co. x x x
At any rate, if [MONINA] were not his illegitimate daughter, it would
have been uncalled for, if not absurd, for [FRANCISCO] or his lawyer to
have secured [MONINA’s] sworn statement x x x On the contrary, in asking
[MONINA] to sign the said affidavit at the cost of P15,000, [FRANCISCO]
clearly betrayed his intention to conceal or suppress his paternity of
[MONINA]. x x x
In fine, We hold that [MONINA’s] filiation as [FRANCISCO’s]
illegitimate daughter has been conclusively established by the
uncontroverted testimonies of Lope Amolar, Adela Casabuena and
Dominador Savariz to the effect that appellee himself had admitted his
paternity of the appellee, and also by the testimonies of appellant; Arsenio
Duatin, Romeo Bilbao, Rudy Tingson and Alfredo Baylosis unerringly
demonstrating that by his own conduct or overt acts like sending appellant
to school, paying for her tuition fees, school uniforms, books, board and
lodging at the Colegio del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus, defraying appellant’s
hospitalization expenses, providing her with [a] monthly allowance, paying
for the funeral expenses of appellant’s mother, acknowledging appellant’s
paternal greetings and calling appellant his “Hija” or child, instructing his
office personnel to give appellant’s monthly allowance, recommending
appellant for employment at the Miller, Cruz & Co., allowing appellant to
use his house in Bacolod and paying for her long distance telephone calls,
having appellant spend her vacation in his apartment in Manila and also at
his Forbes residence, allowing appellant to use his surname in her scholastic
and other records (Exhs Z, AA, AA-1 to AA-5, W & W-5), appellee had
continuously recognized appellant as his illegitimate daughter. Added to
these are the acts of [FRANCISCO's] relatives acknowledging or treating
[MONINA] as [FRANCISCO’s] daughter (Exh U) or as their relative (Exhs
T & V). On this point, witness Zafiro Ledesma, former Mayor of Iloilo City,
whose spouse belongs to the Lopez clan just like [FRANCISCO], testified
that [MONINA] has been considered by the
525
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 525

Lopezes as a relative. He identified pictures of the appellee in the company

of the Lopezes (Exhs X-16 & X-17). Another witness, Danthea H. Lopez,
whose husband Eusebio Lopez is appellee’s first cousin, testified that
appellant was introduced to her by appellee’s cousin, Remedios Lopez
Franco, as the daughter of appellee Francisco Jison, for which reason, she
took her in as [a] secretary in the Merchant’s Financing Corporation of
which she was the manager, and further allowed her to stay with her family
free of board and lodging. Still on this aspect, Dominador Savariz declared
that sometime in February, 1966 appellee’s relative, Ms. Remedios Lopez
Franco pointed to appellant as the daughter of appellee Francisco Jison.
Finally, the Certifications of the Local Civil Registrar of Dingle (Exhs E
and F) as well as [MONINA’s] Baptismal Certificates (Exhs C & D) which
the trial court admitted in evidence as part of [MONINA’s] testimony, may
serve as circumstantial evidence to further reinforce [MONINA’s] claim that
she is [FRANCISCO’s] illegitimate daughter by Esperanza Amolar.
True it is that a trial judge’s assessment of the credibility of witnesses is
accorded great respect on appeal. But the rule admits of certain exceptions.
One such exception is where the judge who rendered the judgment was not
the one who heard the witnesses testify. [citations omitted] The other is
where the trial court had overlooked, misunderstood or misappreciated some
facts or circumstances of weight and substance which, if properly
considered, might affect the result of the case. [citations omitted] In the
present case, both exceptions obtain. All of [MONINA’s] witnesses x x x
whose testimonies were not given credence did not testify before the judge
who rendered the disputed judgment. x x x
The Court of Appeals then decreed:
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the judgment of the trial court is SET

ASIDE and another one is hereby entered for appellant Monina Jison,
declaring her as the illegitimate daughter of appellee Francisco Jison, and
entitled to all rights and privileges granted by law.
Costs against appellee.
SO ORDERED.
526

His motion for reconsideration having been denied by the Court of

18
Appeals in its resolution of 29 March 1996, FRANCISCO filed the
instant petition. He urges us to reverse the judgment of the Court of

Appeals, alleging that said court committed errors of law:
I.
. . . IN REVERSING THE DECISION OF THE TRIAL COURT AND

DECLARING PRIVATE RESPONDENT AS THE ILLEGITIMATE
CHILD OF PETITIONER, CONSIDERING [THE] IMPOSSIBILITY OF
SEXUAL CONTACT BETWEEN THE PETITIONER AND THE
PRIVATE RESPONDENT’S MOTHER AT THE TIME CONCEPTION
WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE OCCURRED.
II.
. . . IN REVERSING THE TRIAL COURT’S FINDING

CONSIDERING THAT PRIVATE RESPONDENT’S TESTIMONIAL
EVIDENCE OF PATERNITY AND FILIATION IS NOT CLEAR AND
CONVINCING.
III.
. . . IN GIVING CREDENCE TO DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE

PRESENTED BY THE PRIVATE RESPONDENT AS EVIDENCE OF
FILIATION CONSIDERING THAT THE SAME ARE HEARSAY, SELF-
SERVING AND CANNOT BIND THE PETITIONER UNDER THE
BASIC RULES OF EVIDENCE.
IV.
. . . IN INTERPRETING THE PRIVATE RESPONDENT’S SWORN

STATEMENT (EXH. “P”/EXH. “2”) IN A MANNER NOT IN
CONSONANCE WITH THE RULINGS OF THE HONORABLE
SUPREME COURT.
V.
. . . IN NOT CONSIDERING THE LONG AND UNEXPLAINED

DELAY IN THE FILING OF THE PRESENT PATERNITY SUIT AS
EQUIVALENT TO LACHES.
_______________
18 OR, vol. 2, 192 et seq.
527
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 527

As regards the first error, FRANCISCO insists that taking into

account the second paragraph of MONINA’s complaint wherein she
claimed that he and Pansay had sexual relations “by about the end of
1945 or the start of 1946,” it was physically impossible for him and
Pansay to have had sexual contact which resulted in MONINA’s
birth, considering that:
The normal period of human pregnancy is nine (9) months. If as claimed by

private respondent in her complaint that her mother was impregnated by
FRANCISCO “at the end of 1945 or the start of 1946,” she would have been
born sometime in late September or early October and not August 6, 1946 x
x x. The instant case finds factual and legal parallels in Constantino vs.
19
Mendez, thus: x x x
FRANCISCO further claims that his testimony that Pansay was no

longer employed by him at the time in question was unrebutted,
moreover, other men had access to Pansay during the time of or
even after her employment by him.
As to the second error, FRANCISCO submits that MONINA’s
testimonial evidence is “shaky, contradictory and unreliable,” and
proceeds to attack the credibility of her witnesses by claiming, in the
main, that: (a) Lope Amolar could not have detected Pansay’s
pregnancy in November 1945 when they met since she would have
been only one (1) month pregnant then; (b) Dominador Savariz did
not in fact witness the meeting between FRANCISCO, Pansay and
MONINA; (c) Zafiro Ledesma had an ulterior motive in testifying
for MONINA as he owned a bank in Iloilo which was then under
Central Bank supervision and MONINA was the Bank Examiner
assigned to Iloilo; and (d) Danthea Lopez was not related to him by
blood and whatever favorable treatment MONINA received from
Danthea was due to the former’s employment at Merchants’
Financing Company and additional services rendered at Kahirup
Hotel; besides, Danthea admitted that she had no personal
knowledge as to the issue of paternity and
_______________
19 209 SCRA 18, 23 [1992].
528

20
filiation of the contending parties, hence Sections 39 and 40 of
Rule 130 of the Rules of Court did not come into play.
FRANCISCO likewise re-echoes the view of the trial court as
regards the testimonies of Adela Casabuena and Alfredo Baylosis.
FRANCISCO further asserts that MONINA’s testimony that he
answered for her schooling was self-serving and uncorroborated by
any receipt or other documentary evidence; and assuming he did,

such should be interpreted as a manifestation of kindness shown
towards the family of a former household helper.
Anent the treatment given by his relatives to MONINA as his
daughter, FRANCISCO points to the fact that Pansay was the
former laundrywoman of Mrs. Franco; MONINA resided with the
families of Eusebio Lopez and Concha Cuaycong because she was
in their employ at Kahirup Hotel and Our Lady of Mercy Hospital,
respectively; MONINA failed to present Mrs. Franco, Eusebio
Lopez and Mrs. Cuaycong; and MONINA’s employment at the
accounting firm of Miller, Cruz & Co. was attributable to her
educational attainment, there being absolutely no evidence to prove
that FRANCISCO ever facilitated her employment thereat. Hence,
21
in light of Baluyot v. Baluyot, the quantum of evidence to prove
paternity by clear and convincing evidence, not merely a
preponderance thereof, was not met.
With respect to the third assigned error, FRANCISCO argues that
the Court of Appeals’ reliance on the certifications of the Local Civil
Registrar (Exhs. E and F) and Baptismal Certificates (Exhs. C and
D) as circumstantial evidence is misplaced. First, their genuineness
could not be ascertained as the persons who issued them did not
22
testify. Second, in light of Reyes v. Court of Appeals, the contents
of the baptismal certificates were hearsay, as the data was based only
_______________
20 Act or declaration about pedigree and family reputation or tradition regarding

pedigree, respectively.
21 186 SCRA 506 [1990].
22 135 SCRA 439 [1985].
529
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 529

on what was told to the priest who solemnized the baptism, who
likewise was not presented as a witness. Additionally, the name of
the father appearing therein was “Franque Jison,” which was not
FRANCISCO’s name. Third, in both Exhibits E and F, the names of
the child’s parents were listed as “Frank Heson” and “Esperanza
Amador” (not Amolar). FRANCISCO further points out that in
Exhibit F, the status of the child is listed as “legitimate,” while the
father’s occupation as “la-borer.” Most importantly, there was no
showing that FRANCISCO signed Exhibits E and F or that he was
the one who reported the child’s birth to the Office of the Local Civil
Registrar. As to MONINA’s educational records, FRANCISCO
23
invokes Bañas v. Bañas which recognized that school records are
prepared by school authorities, not by putative parents, thus

incompetent to prove paternity. And, as to the photographs presented
24
by MONINA, FRANCISCO cites Colorado v. Court of Appeals,
and further asserts that MONINA did not present any of the persons
with whom she is seen in the pictures to testify thereon; besides
these persons were, at best, mere second cousins of FRANCISCO.
He likewise assails the various notes and letters written by his
relatives (Exhs. S to V) as they were not identified by the authors.
Finally, he stresses that MONINA did not testify as to the telephone
cards (Exhs. G to L) nor did these reveal the circumstances
surrounding the calls she made from his residence.
Anent the fourth assigned error, FRANCISCO contends that the
Court of Appeals’ interpretation of MONINA’s affidavit of 21
25
September 1971 ran counter to Dequito v. Llamas, and overlooked
that at the time of execution, MONINA was more than 25 years old
and assisted by counsel.
As to the last assigned error, FRANCISCO bewails the Court of
Appeals’ failure to consider the long and unexplained delay in the
filing of the case.
_______________
23 134 SCRA 260 [1985].

24 135 SCRA 47 [1985].
25 66 SCRA 504 [1975].
530

In her comment, MONINA forcefully refuted FRANCISCO’s

arguments, leading FRANCISCO to file his reply thereto.
On 20 November 1996, we gave due course to this petition and
required the parties to submit their respective memoranda, which
they subsequently did.
A painstaking review of the evidence and arguments fails to
support petitioner.
Before addressing the merits of the controversy, we first dispose
of preliminary matters relating to the applicable law and the guiding
principles in paternity suits. As to the former, plainly, the Family
Code of the Philippines (Executive Order No. 209) governs the
present controversy. As correctly cited by the Court of Appeals,
26
Uyguangco served as a judicial confirmation of Article 256 of the
27
Family Code regarding its retroactive effect unless there be
impairment of vested rights, which does not hold true here, it
appearing that neither the putative parent nor the child has passed
away and the former having actually resisted the latter’s claim
below.
Under Article 175 of the Family Code, illegitimate filiation, such
as MONINA’s, may be established in the same way and on the same
evidence as that of legitimate children. Article 172 thereof provides
the various forms of evidence by which legitimate filiation is
established, thus:
ART. 172. The filiation of legitimate children is established by any of the

following:
(1) The record of birth appearing in the civil register or a final

judgment; or
(2) An admission of legitimate filiation in a public document or a
private handwritten instrument signed by the parent concerned.
_______________
26 Supra note 16.

27 This article provides:
This Code shall have retroactive effect insofar as it does not prejudice or impair vested or
acquired rights in accordance with the Civil Code or other laws.
531
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 531

In the absence of the foregoing evidence, the legitimate filiation shall be

proved by:
(1) The open and continuous possession of the status of a legitimate

child; or
(2) Any other means allowed by the Rules of Court and special laws.
This Article reproduces, with amendments, Articles 265, 266 and

267 of the Civil Code.
For the success of an action to establish illegitimate filiation
under the second paragraph, which MONINA relies upon given that
she has none of the evidence mentioned in the first paragraph, a
28
“high standard of proof” is required. Specifically, to prove open
and continuous possession of the status of an illegitimate child, there
must be evidence of the manifestation of the permanent intention of
the supposed father to consider the child as his, by continuous and
clear manifestations of parental affection and care, which cannot be
attributed to pure charity. Such acts must be of such a nature that
they reveal not only the conviction of paternity, but also the apparent
desire to have and treat the child as such in all relations in society
29
and in life, not accidentally, but continuously.
By “continuous” is meant uninterrupted and consistent, but does
30
not require any particular length of time.
The foregoing standard of proof required to establish one’s
filiation is founded on the principle that an order for recognition and
support may create an unwholesome atmosphere or may be an
irritant in the family or lives of the parties, so that it must be issued
only if paternity or filiation is established by clear and convincing
31
evidence.
_______________
28 See Baluyut v. Baluyut, supra note 21, at 513.

29 ARTURO M. TOLENTINO, 1 CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES:
COMMENTARIES AND JURISPRUDENCE 602-605 (1985); see Mendoza v. Court
of Appeals, 201 SCRA 675, 683 [1991].
30 SEMPIO-DIY, at 245-246.
31 Constantino v. Mendez, 209 SCRA 18, 23-24 [1992].
532

The foregoing discussion, however, must be situated within the

general rules on evidence, in light of the burden of proof in civil
cases, i.e., preponderance of evidence, and the shifting of the burden
of evidence in such cases. Simply put, he who alleges the affirmative
of the issue has the burden of proof, and upon the plaintiff in a civil
case, the burden of proof never parts. However, in the course of trial
in a civil case, once plaintiff makes out a prima facie case in his
favor, the duty or the burden of evidence shifts to defendant to
controvert plaintiff’s prima facie case, otherwise, a verdict must be
returned in favor of plaintiff. Moreover, in civil cases, the party
having the burden of proof must produce a preponderance of
evidence thereon, with plaintiff having to rely on the strength of his
own evidence and not upon the weakness of the defendant’s. The
concept of “preponderance of evidence” refers to evidence which is
of greater weight, or more convincing, that which is offered in
32
opposition to it; at bottom, it means probability of truth.
With these in mind, we now proceed to resolve the merits of the
instant controversy.
FRANCISCO’s arguments in support of his first assigned error
deserve scant consideration. While it has been observed that
unlawful intercourse will not be presumed merely from proof of an
33
opportunity for such indulgence, this does not favor FRANCISCO.
Akin to the crime of rape where, in most instances, the only
witnesses to the felony are the participants in the sexual act

themselves, in deciding paternity suits, the issue of whether sexual
intercourse actually occurred inevitably redounds to the victim’s or
mother’s word, as against the accused’s or putative father’s
protestations. In
_______________
32 See 7 VICENTE J. FRANCISCO, THE REVISED RULES OF COURT IN

THE PHILIPPINES, EVIDENCE (PART II, RULES 131-134), at 2-4, 542-543
[1973] (citations omitted) (hereafter FRANCISCO).
33 10 C.J.S., Bastards §81 and 10 AM. JUR. 2D Bastards §105, citing Walker v.
State, 74 NE 614 [1905], 86 NE 502 (1908) and State v. Breeden, 82 NE 1020 [1908].
533
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 533

the instant case, MONINA’s mother could no longer testify as to the

fact of intercourse, as she had, unfortunately, passed away long
before the institution of the complaint for recognition. But this did
not mean that MONINA could no longer prove her filiation. The fact
of her birth and her parentage may be established by evidence other
than the testimony of her mother. The paramount question then is
34
whether MONINA’s evidence is coherent, logical and natural.
The complaint stated that FRANCISCO had carnal knowledge of
Pansay “by about the end of 1945.” We agree with MONINA that
this was broad enough to cover the fourth quarter of said year, hence
her birth on 6 August 1946 could still be attributed to sexual
relations between FRANCISCO and MONINA’s mother. In any
event, since it was established that her mother was still in the
employ of FRANCISCO at the time MONINA was conceived as
determined by the date of her birth, sexual contact between
FRANCISCO and MONINA’s mother was not at all impossible,
especially in light of the overwhelming evidence, as hereafter
shown, that FRANCISCO fathered MONINA, has recognized her as
his daughter and that MONINA has been enjoying the open and
continuous possession of the status as FRANCISCO’s illegitimate
daughter.
We readily conclude that the testimonial evidence offered by
MONINA, woven by her narration of circumstances and events that
occurred through the years, concerning her relationship with
FRANCISCO, coupled with the testimonies of her witnesses,
overwhelmingly established the following facts:
1) FRANCISCO is MONINA’s father and she was conceived

at the time when her mother was in the employ of the
former;
2) FRANCISCO recognized MONINA as his child through
his overt acts and conduct which the Court of Appeals took
pains to enumerate, thus:
_______________
34 See Ilano v. Court of Appeals, 230 SCRA 242, 256-257 [1994].
534

[L]ike sending appellant to school, paying for her tuition fees, school
uniforms, books, board and lodging at the Colegio del Sagrado de Jesus,
defraying appellant’s hospitalization expenses, providing her with [a]
monthly allowance, paying for the funeral expenses of appellant’s mother,
acknowledging appellant’s paternal greetings and calling appellant his
“Hija” or child, instructing his office personnel to give appellant’s monthly
allowance, recommending appellant for employment at the Miller, Cruz &
Co., allowing appellant to use his house in Bacolod and paying for her long
distance telephone calls, having appellant spend her vacation in his
apartment in Manila and also at his Forbes residence, allowing appellant to
use his surname in her scholastic and other records (Exhs. Z, AA, AA-1 to
AA-5, W & W-5) . . .
3) Such recognition has been consistently shown and

35
manifested throughout the years publicly, spontaneously,
36
continuously and in an uninterrupted manner.
Accordingly, in light of the totality of the evidence on record, the

second assigned error must fail.
There is some merit, however, in the third assigned error against
the probative value of some of MONINA’s documentary evidence.
MONINA’s reliance on the certification issued by the Local Civil
Registrar concerning her birth (Exhs. E and F) is clearly misplaced.
It is settled that a certificate of live birth purportedly identifying the
putative father is not competent evidence as to the issue of paternity,
when there is no showing that the putative father had a hand in the
preparation of said certificates, and the Local Civil Registrar is
devoid of authority to record the paternity of an illegitimate child
37
upon the information of a third person. Simply put, if the alleged
father did
_______________
35 See Baluyot v. Baluyot, supra note 21; Alberto v. Court of Appeals, 232 SCRA
745, 757 [1994].
36 See Ong v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 95386, 29 May 1997, at 11.
37 See Fernandez v. Court of Appeals, 230 SCRA 130, 136-137 [1994], citing
Roces v. Local Civil Registrar, 102 Phil. 1050 (1958).
535
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 535

not intervene in the birth certificate, e.g., supplying the information

himself, the inscription of his name by the mother or doctor or
registrar is null and void; the mere certificate by the registrar without
the signature of the father is not proof of voluntary acknowledgment
38
on the latter’s part. In like manner, FRANCISCO’s lack of
participation in the preparation of the baptismal certificates (Exhs. C
and D) and school records (Exhs. Z and AA) renders these
documents incompetent to prove paternity, the former being
competent merely to prove the administration of the sacrament of
39
baptism on the date so specified. However, despite the
inadmissibility of the school records per se to prove paternity, they
may be admitted as part of MONINA’s testimony to corroborate her
claim that FRANCISCO spent for her education.
We likewise disagree with the ruling of the Court of Appeals that
the certificates issued by the Local Civil Registrar and the baptismal
certificates may be taken as circumstantial evidence to prove
MONINA’s filiation. Since they are per se inadmissible in evidence
as proof of such filiation, they cannot be admitted indirectly as
circumstantial evidence to prove the same.
As to Exhibits “S,” “T,” “U” and “V,” the various notes and
letters written by FRANCISCO’s relatives, namely Mike Alano,
Emilio Jison, Mariquit Lopez and Fernando Lopez, respectively,
allegedly attesting to MONINA’s filiation, while their due execution
40
and authenticity are not in issue, as MONINA witnessed the
authors signing the documents, nevertheless, under Rule 130,
Section 39, the contents of these documents may not be admitted,
there being no showing that the declarants-authors were dead or
unable to testify, neither was the relationship between the declarants
and MONINA
_______________
38 See Berciles v. GSIS, 128 SCRA 53, 77-78 [1984] (citations omitted).
39 See Fernandez v. CA, supra note 37; and Reyes v. Court of Appeals, supra note
22, at 450.
40 Rule 132, Section 20(a), Rules of Court.
536

41
shown by evidence other than the documents in question. As to the
admissibility of these documents under Rule 130, Section 40,
however, this requires further elaboration.
Rule 130, Section 40, provides:
Section 40. Family reputation or tradition regarding pedigree.—The

reputation or tradition existing in a family previous to the controversy, in
respect to the pedigree of any one of its members, may be received in
evidence if the witness testifying thereon be also a member of the family,
either by consanguinity or affinity. Entries in family bibles or other family
books or charts, engravings on rings, family portrait and the like, may be
received as evidence of pedigree. (italics supplied)
It is evident that this provision may be divided into two (2) parts: the
portion containing the first underscored clause which pertains to
testimonial evidence, under which the documents in question may
not be admitted as the authors thereof did not take the witness stand;
and the section containing the second underscored phrase. What
must then be ascertained is whether Exhibits S to V, as private
documents, fall within the scope of the clause “and the like” as
qualified by the preceding phrase “[e]ntries in family bibles or other
family books or charts, engravings on rights [and] family portraits.”
We hold that the scope of the enumeration contained in the
second portion of this provision, in light of the rule of ejusdem
generis, is limited to objects which are commonly known as “family
possessions,” or those articles which represent, in effect, a family’s
42
joint statement of its belief as to the pedigree of a person. These
have been described as objects “openly exhibited and well known to
43
the family,” or those “which, if
_______________
41 See Mendoza v. Court of Appeals, supra note 29, at 685 for requisites of
admissibility of an act or declaration regarding pedigree.
42 See FRANCISCO, at 498.
43 5 MANUEL V. MORAN, COMMENTS ON THE RULES OF COURT 329
[1980] (hereafter MORAN).
537
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 537

preserved in a family, may be regarded as giving a family

44
tradition.” Other examples of these objects which are regarded as
reflective of a family’s reputation or tradition regarding pedigree are
45 46
inscriptions on tombstones, monuments or coffin plates.
Plainly then, Exhibits S to V, as private documents not
constituting “family possessions” as discussed above, may not be
admitted on the basis of Rule 130, Section 40. Neither may these
exhibits be admitted on the basis of Rule 130, Section 41 regarding
47
common reputation, it having been observed that:
[T]he weight of authority appears to be in favor of the theory that it is the

general repute, the common reputation in the family, and not the common
reputation in community, that is a material element of evidence going to
establish pedigree. x x x [Thus] matters of pedigree may be proved by
reputation in the family, and not by reputation in the neighborhood or
vicinity, except where the pedigree in question is marriage which may be
48
proved by common reputation in the community.
Their inadmissibility notwithstanding, Exhibits “S” to “V,”

inclusive, may, in like manner as MONINA’s school records,
properly be admitted as part of her testimony to strengthen her claim
that, indeed, relatives of FRANCISCO recognized her as his
daughter.
_______________
44 5 RUPERTO G. MARTIN, RULES OF COURT IN THE PHILIPPINES WITH

NOTES AND COMMENTS 325 (3rd ed. 1974) (hereafter MARTIN).
45 Id.
46 MORAN, supra note 43.
47 The provision reads:
Section 41. Common reputation.—Common reputation existing previous to the
controversy, respecting facts of public or general interest more than thirty years old,
or respecting marriage or moral character, may be given in evidence. Monuments and
inscriptions in public places may be received as evidence of common reputation.
48 MORAN, supra note 43, at 328 and 336.
538

We now direct our attention to MONINA’s 21 September 1971

affidavit (Exh. P/Exh. 2), subject of the fourth assigned error, where
she attests that FRANCISCO is not her father. MONINA contends
that she signed it under duress, i.e., she was jobless, had no savings
and needed the money to support herself and finish her studies.
Moreover, she signed Exhibit P upon the advice of Atty.
Divinagracia that filiation could not be waived and that

FRANCISCO’s ploy would “boomerang” upon him. On the other
hand, FRANCISCO asserts that full credence should be afforded
Exhibit P as MONINA was already 25 years old at the time of its
execution and was advised by counsel; further, being a notarized
document, its genuineness and due execution could not be
questioned. He relies on the testimony of Jose Cruz, a partner at the
accounting firm of Miller & Cruz, who declared that he intervened
in the matter as MONINA was spreading rumors about her filiation
within the firm, which might have had deleterious effects upon the
relationship between the firm and FRANCISCO.
On this issue, we find for MONINA and agree with the following
observations of the Court of Appeals:
Even the affidavit (Exh 2) which [FRANCISCO] had foisted on the trial
court x x x does not hold sway in the face of [MONINA’s] logical
explanation that she at first did not agree to sign the affidavit which
contained untruthful statements. In fact, she promptly complained to
[FRANCISCO] who, however explained to her that the affidavit was only
for the consumption of his spouse x x x.
At any rate, if [MONINA] were not his illegitimate daughter, it would
have been uncalled for, if not absurd, for [FRANCISCO] or his lawyer to
have secured [MONINA’s] sworn statement x x x On the contrary, in asking
[MONINA] to sign the said affidavit at the cost of P15,000, [FRANCISCO]
clearly betrayed his intention to conceal or suppress his paternity of
[MONINA]. x x x
Indeed, if MONINA were truly not FRANCISCO’s illegitimate

daughter, it would have been unnecessary for him to have gone to
such great lengths in order that MONINA denounce her filiation. For
as clearly established before the trial
539
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 539

court and properly appreciated by the Court of Appeals, MONINA

had resigned from Miller & Cruz five (5) months prior to the
execution of the sworn statement in question, hence negating
FRANCISCO’s theory of the need to quash rumors circulating
within Miller & Cruz regarding the identity of MONINA’s father.
Hence, coupled with the assessment of the credibility of the
testimonial evidence of the parties discussed above, it is evident that
the standard to contradict a notarial document, i.e., clear and
49
convincing evidence and more than merely preponderant, has been
met by MONINA.
Plainly then, the burden of evidence fully shifted to

FRANCISCO.
Two (2) glaring points in FRANCISCO’s defense beg to be
addressed: First, that his testimony was comprised of mere denials,
rife with bare, unsubstantiated responses such as “That is not true,”
“I do not believe that,” or “None that I know.” In declining then to
lend credence to FRANCISCO’s testimony, we resort to a guiding
principle in adjudging the credibility of a witness and the
truthfulness of his statements, laid down as early as 1921:
The experience of courts and the general observation of humanity teach us

that the natural limitations of our inventive faculties are such that if a
witness undertakes to fabricate and deliver in court a false narrative
containing numerous details, he is almost certain to fall into fatal
inconsistencies, to make statements which can be readily refuted, or to
expose in his demeanor the falsity of his message.
For this reason it will be found that perjurers usually confine themselves
to the incidents immediately related to the principal fact about which they
testify, and when asked about collateral facts by which their truthfulness
could be tested, their answers not infre-
_______________
49 See Yturralde v. Azurin, 28 SCRA 407, 417 [1969], citing Mendezona v. Philippine Sugar
Estates Development Co., 41 Phil. 475, 493 [1921], in turn, citing Camacho v. Municipality of
Baliuag, 28 Phil. 466 [1914] and Centenera v. Garcia Palicio, 29 Phil. 470 [1915]; and Salame
v. Court of Appeals, 239 SCRA 356, 359 [1994].
540

quently take the stereotyped form of such expressions as “I don’t know” or

50
“I don’t remember.” x x x
Second, the reasons for the dismissals of Tingson, Baylosis and

Savariz were unspecified or likewise unsubstantiated, hence
FRANCISCO’s attempt to prove ill-motive on their part to falsely
testify in MONINA’s favor may not succeed. As may be gleaned, the
only detail which FRANCISCO could furnish as to the
circumstances surrounding the dismissals of his former employees
was that Baylosis allegedly “took advantage of his position” while
FRANCISCO was in the United States. But aside from this bare
claim, FRANCISCO’s account is barren, hence unable to provide
the basis for a finding of bias against FRANCISCO on the part of his
former employees.
As to FRANCISCO’s other witnesses, nothing substantial could
be obtained either. Nonito Jalandoni avowed that he only came to
51
51
know of MONINA in June 1988; that during his employment at
Nelly Garden from 1963 up to 1974, he did not recall ever having
seen MONINA there, neither did he know of any instructions from
FRANCISCO nor Mr. Lagarto (FRANCISCO’s office manager
before passing away) regarding the disbursement of MONINA’s
52
allowance. Teodoro Nulla corroborated Jalandoni’s testimony
regarding not having seen MONINA at Nelly Garden and
MONINA’s allowance; declared that Alfredo Baylosis was
dismissed due to discrepancies discovered after an audit, without
any further elaboration, however; but admitted that he never
prepared the vouchers pertaining to FRANCISCO’s personal
expenses, merely those intended for one of FRANCISCO’s
53
haciendas. Then, Iñigo Superticioso confirmed that according to
the report of a certain Mr. Atienza, Baylosis “was dismissed by Mr.
_______________
50 United States v. Burns, 41 Phil. 418, 428-429 [1921]; People v. Nemesio V.

Ganan, Jr., Harley S. Fabicon, G.R. No. 119722, 2 December 1996, at 25.
51 TSN, 15 November 1988, 10-11.
52 TSN, 15 November 1988, 14-17.
53 TSN, 16 January 1989, 8; 24-25.
541
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 541

Jison for irregularities,” while Superticioso was informed by

FRANCISCO that Tingson was dismissed for loss of confidence.
Superticioso likewise denied that MONINA received money from
FRANCISCO’s office, neither was there a standing order from
54
FRANCISCO to release funds to her.
It is at once obvious that the testimonies of these witnesses for
FRANCISCO are likewise insufficient to overcome MONINA’s
evidence. The former merely consist of denials as regards the latter’s
having gone to Nelly Garden or having received her allowance from
FRANCISCO’s office, which, being in the form of negative
55
testimony, necessarily stand infirm as against positive testimony;
bare assertions as regards the dismissal of Baylosis; ignorance of
FRANCISCO’s personal expenses incapable of evincing that
FRANCISCO did not provide MONINA with an allowance; or
hearsay evidence as regards the cause for the dismissals of Baylosis
and Tingson. But what then serves as the coup de grâce is that
56
despite Superticioso’s claim that he did not know MONINA, when
confronted with Exhibit H, a telephone toll ticket indicating that on
18 May 1971, MONINA called a certain “Eñing” at FRANCISCO’s
office, Superticioso admitted that his nickname was “Iñing” and that
57
there was no other person named “Iñing” in FRANCISCO’s office.
All told, MONINA’s evidence hurdled “the high standard of
proof” required for the success of an action to establish one’s
illegitimate filiation when relying upon the provisions regarding
“open and continuous possession” or “any other means allowed by
the Rules of Court and special laws”; moreover, MONINA proved
her filiation by more than mere preponderance of evidence.
The last assigned error concerning laches likewise fails to
convince. The essential elements of laches are: (1) conduct on
_______________
54 TSN, 17 April 1989, 6, 8, 10-12, 29.

55 People v. Antonio, 233 SCRA 283, 299 [1994]; Batiquin v. Court of Appeals,
258 SCRA 334, 343 [1996].
56 TSN, 17 April 1989, 13.
57 TSN, 17 April 1989, 29-31.
542

the part of the defendant, or of one under whom he claims, giving

rise to the situation of which the complaint seeks a remedy; (2) delay
in asserting the complainant’s rights, the complainant having had
knowledge or notice of the defendant’s conduct as having been
afforded an opportunity to institute a suit; (3) lack of knowledge or
notice on the part of the defendant that the complaint would assert
the right in which he bases his suit; and (4) injury or prejudice to the
defendant in the event relief is accorded to the complainant, or the
58
suit is not held barred. The last element is the origin of the doctrine
that stale demands apply only where by reason of the lapse of time it
59
would be inequitable to allow a party to enforce his legal rights.
As FRANCISCO set up laches as an affirmative defense, it was
incumbent upon him to prove the existence of its elements.
However, he only succeeded in showing MONINA’s delay in
asserting her claim, but miserably failed to prove the last element. In
any event, it must be stressed that laches is based upon grounds of
public policy which requires, for the peace of society, the
discouragement of stale claims, and is principally a question of the
inequity or unfairness of permitting a right or claim to be enforced
or asserted. There is no absolute rule as to what constitutes laches;
each case is to be determined according to its particular
circumstances. The question of laches is addressed to the sound
discretion of the court, and since it is an equitable doctrine, its
application is controlled by equitable considerations. It cannot be
60
60
worked to defeat justice or to perpetuate fraud and injustice. Since
the
_______________
58 Maneclang v. Baun, 208 SCRA 179, 193 [1992], citing Go Chi Gun v. Go Cho,
96 Phil. 622 [1955]; Abraham v. Recto-Kasten, 4 SCRA 298 [1962]; Vergara v.
Vergara, 5 SCRA 53 [1962]; Yusingco v. Ing Hing Lian, 42 SCRA 589 [1971]. See
also Z.E. Lotho, Inc. v. Ice and Cold Storage Industries of the Phils., Inc., 3 SCRA
744, 748 [1961].
59 Z.E. lotho v. Ice and Cold Storage Industries of the Phils., Inc., supra note 58,
citing 19 AM. JUR. 352.
60 Chavez v. Bonto-Perez, 242 SCRA 73, 80 [1995], citing Jimenez v. Fernandez,
184 SCRA 190 [1990].
543
VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 543

instant case involves paternity and filiation, even if illegitimate,

MONINA filed her action well within the period granted her by a
positive provision of law. A denial then of her action on ground of
laches would clearly be inequitable and unjust.
WHEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, the petition is
hereby DENIED and the challenged decision of the Court of
Appeals of 27 April 1995 in CA-G.R. CV No. 32860 is
AFFIRMED.
Costs against petitioner.
SO ORDERED.
Bellosillo, Vitug, Panganiban and Quisumbing, JJ., concur.
Petition denied; Challenged decision affirmed.
Notes.—The phrase “vested or acquired rights” under Article

256 is not defined by the Family Code, leaving it to the courts to
determine what it means as each particular issue is submitted to
them. (Aruego, Jr. vs. Court of Appeals, 254 SCRA 711 [1996])
In the absence of titles indicated in Art. 265 of the Civil Code,
the filiation of children may be proven by continuous possession of
the status of a legitimate child and by any other means allowed by
the Rules of Court or special laws. (Balogbog vs. Court of Appeals,
269 SCRA 259 [1997])
There is no presumption of the law more firmly established and
founded on sounder morality and more convincing reason than the
presumption that children born in wedlock are legitimate. (Tison vs.
Court of Appeals, 276 SCRA 582 [1997])
——o0o——
544
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10/18/2019 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 286

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 495

FRANCISCO L. JISON, petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and

496 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Jison vs. Court of Appeals

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 497

Jison vs. Court of Appeals

derance of evidence, and the shifting of the burden of evidence in such

498 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Jison vs. Court of Appeals

incompetent to prove paternity, the former being competent merely to prove

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 499

Jison vs. Court of Appeals

Generis; The enumeration contained in the second portion of Rule 130,

those articles which represent, in effect, a family’s joint statement of its

500 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Jison vs. Court of Appeals

negating FRANCISCO’s theory of the need to quash rumors circulating

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 501

Jison vs. Court of Appeals

elements. However, he only succeeded in showing MONINA’s delay in

PETITION for review on certiorari of a decision of the Court of

The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

DAVIDE, JR., J.:

This is a petition for review under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court of

502 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

As a result, MONINA was born on 6 August 1946, in Dingle, Iloilo,

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 503

1. Did Francisco Jison have any sexual relation[s] with

At trial on the merits, MONINA presented a total of eleven (11)

504 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

wife suffered a miscarriage or abortion, thereby depriving

Initially, Arsenio identiﬁed seven (7) black-and-white

8 Exhibit X-5 showed MONINA standing at the main entrance of FRANCISCO’s

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 505

INA arrived in Bacolod City, she introduced herself to him as

MONINA “very well because she is considered a relative x x x by

506 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

the former Vice-President and other members of the Lopez family.

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 507

Merchant Financing as she was called by Mrs. Cuaycong, a ﬁrst

508 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

was not around. On some of these occasions, MONINA would speak

MONINA money thrice. Rudy further declared that in April 1965,

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 509

order to hide it from FRANCISCO’s wife. Alfredo also disclosed

came to work there, she answered that “her Daddy,” FRANCISCO,

510 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

that she was sending MONINA to school at the University of San

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 511

transferred to “De Paul College,” just in front of Mrs. Franco’s

9 Spelled “Esperanza Amador” and “Frank Heson” on Exhibits E and F, and

512 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

script (Exh. AA), wherein FRANCISCO was likewise listed as

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 513

11 Also marked as Exhibit 2 for FRANCISCO.

514 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

VOL. 286, FEBRUARY 24, 1998 515

identiﬁed photographs taken at a birthday celebration on 14 April