Union Bank of The Philippines Vs Ariola
Union Bank of The Philippines Vs Ariola
Facts: Ariola filed her Answer and alleged that the loan documents did not bind her
since she was not a party thereto. Considering that the joint agreement
signed by her and her brother Edmund was not approved by the probate
court, it was null and void; hence, she was not liable to the petitioner under
On May 31, 1980, the First Countryside Credit Corporation (FCCC) and Efraim M. the joint agreement.
Santibañez entered into a loan agreement in the amount of ₱128,000.00. The amount
was intended for the payment of the purchase price of one (1) unit Ford 6600
Agricultural All-Purpose Diesel Tractor. In view thereof, Efraim and his son, Edmund, The trial court found that the claim of the petitioner should have been filed
executed a promissory note in favor of the FCCC, the principal sum payable in five with the probate court as the sum of money being claimed was an obligation
equal annual amortizations. In 1980, the FCCC and Efraim entered into another loan incurred by the said decedent.
agreement, this time in the amount of ₱123,156.00. It was intended to pay the
balance of the purchase price of another unit of Ford 6600 Agricultural All-Purpose Issue: 1st issue: Whether or not the partition in the Agreement executed by
Diesel Tractor. the heirs is valid? (No)
2nd Issue: whether the petitioner can hold the heirs liable on the obligation of
Again, Efraim and his son, Edmund, executed a promissory note for the said amount the deceased (No)
in favor of the FCCC. Aside from such promissory note, they also signed a Continuing
Guaranty Agreement for the loan. Held:
Sometime in February 1981, Efraim died, leaving a holographic will. 1st Issue: In our jurisdiction, the rule is that there can be no valid partition
Subsequently in March 1981, testate proceedings commenced before the among the heirs until after the will has been probated:
RTC of Iloilo City. Edmund, as one of the heirs, was appointed as the special
administrator of the estate of the decedent. During the pendency of the In testate succession, there can be no valid partition among the heirs until
testate proceedings, the surviving heirs, Edmund and his sister Florence after the will has been probated. The law enjoins the probate of a will and
Santibañez Ariola, executed a Joint Agreement dated July 22, 1981, the public requires it, because unless a will is probated and notice thereof
wherein they agreed to divide between themselves and take possession of given to the whole world, the right of a person to dispose of his property by
the three (3) tractors; Each of them was to assume the indebtedness of their will may be rendered nugatory.
late father to FCCC, corresponding to the tractor respectively taken by them.
It must be stressed that the probate proceeding had already acquired
Demand letters for the settlement of his account were sent by petitioner jurisdiction over all the properties of the deceased, including the three (3)
Union Bank of the Philippines (UBP) to Edmund, but the latter failed to heed tractors. To dispose of them in any way without the probate court’s approval
the same and refused to pay. Thus, on February 5, 1988, the petitioner filed is tantamount to divesting it with jurisdiction which the Court cannot
allow.Thus, in executing any joint agreement which appears to be in the
nature of an extra-judicial partition, as in the case at bar, court approval is as counterclaims in any action that the executor or administrator
imperative, and the heirs cannot just divest the court of its jurisdiction over may bring against the claimants. Where an executor or
that part of the estate. administrator commences an action, or prosecutes an action
already commenced by the deceased in his lifetime, the debtor
2nd Issue: may set forth by answer the claims he has against the decedent,
instead of presenting them independently to the court as herein
provided, and mutual claims may be set off against each other in
The question that now comes to fore is whether the heirs’
such action; and if final judgment is rendered in favor of the
assumption of the indebtedness of the decedent is binding. We rule
defendant, the amount so determined shall be considered the true
in the negative. Perusing the joint agreement, it provides that the
balance against the estate, as though the claim had been
heirs as parties thereto "have agreed to divide between themselves
presented directly before the court in the administration
and take possession and use the above-described chattel and
proceedings. Claims not yet due, or contingent, may be approved
each of them to assume the indebtedness corresponding to the
at their present value.
chattel taken as herein after stated which is in favor of First
Countryside Credit Corp." The assumption of liability was
conditioned upon the happening of an event, that is, that each heir The filing of a money claim against the decedent’s estate in the probate
shall take possession and use of their respective share under the court is mandatory.
agreement. It was made dependent on the validity of the partition,
and that they were to assume the indebtedness corresponding to Perusing the records of the case, nothing therein could hold private
the chattel that they were each to receive. The partition being respondent Florence S. Ariola accountable for any liability incurred by her
invalid as earlier discussed, the heirs in effect did not receive any late father. The documentary evidence presented, particularly the
such tractor. It follows then that the assumption of liability cannot promissory notes and the continuing guaranty agreement, were executed
be given any force and effect. and signed only by the late Efraim Santibañez and his son Edmund. As the
petitioner failed to file its money claim with the probate court, at most, it may
The Court notes that the loan was contracted by the decedent. The only go after Edmund as co-maker of the decedent under the said
petitioner, purportedly a creditor of the late Efraim Santibañez, promissory notes and continuing guaranty, of course, subject to any
should have thus filed its money claim with the probate court in defenses Edmund may have as against the petitioner.
accordance with Section 5, Rule 86 of the Revised Rules of Court,
which provides:
Section 5. Claims which must be filed under the notice. If not filed
barred; exceptions. — All claims for money against the decedent,
arising from contract, express or implied, whether the same be due,
not due, or contingent, all claims for funeral expenses for the last
sickness of the decedent, and judgment for money against the
decedent, must be filed within the time limited in the notice;
otherwise they are barred forever, except that they may be set forth