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Estate of Ruiz v. Court of Appeals
Estate of Ruiz v. Court of Appeals
SYLLABUS
DECISION
PUNO, J : p
This petition for review on certiorari seeks to annul and set aside the decision dated
November 10, 1994 and the resolution dated January 5, 1995 of the Court of Appeals in CA-
G.R. SP No. 33045. Lex Lib
The facts show that on June 27, 1987, Hilario M. Ruiz 1 executed a holographic will
naming as his heirs his only son, Edmond Ruiz, his adopted daughter, private respondent
Maria Pilar Ruiz Montes, and his three granddaughters, private respondents Maria Cathryn,
Candice Albertine and Maria Angeline, all children of Edmond Ruiz. The testator
bequeathed to his heirs substantial cash, personal and real properties and named Edmond
Ruiz executor of his estate. 2
On April 12, 1988, Hilario Ruiz died. Immediately thereafter, the cash component of
his estate was distributed among Edmond Ruiz and private respondents in accordance with
the decedent's will. For unbeknown reasons, Edmond, the named executor, did not take any
action for the probate of his father's holographic will.
On June 29, 1992, four years after the testator's death, it was private respondent
Maria Pilar Ruiz Montes who filed before the Regional Trial Court, Branch 156, Pasig, a
petition for the probate and approval of Hilario Ruiz's will and for the issuance of letters
testamentary to Edmond Ruiz. 3 Surprisingly, Edmond opposed the petition on the ground
that the will was executed under undue influence.
On November 2, 1992, one of the properties of the estate — the house and lot at No.
2 Oliva Street, Valle Verde IV, Pasig which the testator bequeathed to Maria Cathryn,
Candice Albertine and Maria Angeline 4 — was leased out by Edmond Ruiz to third
persons.
On January 19, 1993, the probate court ordered Edmond to deposit with the Branch
Clerk of Court the rental deposit and payments totalling P540,000.00 representing the one-
year lease of the Valle Verde property. In compliance, on January 25, 1993, Edmond turned
over the amount of P348,583.56, representing the balance of the rent after deducting
P191,416.14 for repair and maintenance expenses on the estate. 5
In March 1993, Edmond moved for the release of P50,000.00 to pay the real estate
taxes on the real properties of the estate. The probate court approved the release of
P7,722.00. 6
On May 14, 1993, Edmond withdrew his opposition to the probate of the will.
Consequently, the probate court, on May 18, 1993, admitted the will to probate and ordered
the issuance of letters testamentary to Edmond conditioned upon the filing of a bond in the
amount of P50,000.00. The letters testamentary were issued on June 23, 1993.
On July 28, 1993, petitioner Testate Estate of Hilario Ruiz, with Edmond Ruiz as
executor, filed an "Ex-Parte Motion for Release of Funds." It prayed for the release of the
rent payments deposited with the Branch Clerk of Court. Respondent Montes opposed the
motion and concurrently filed a "Motion for Release of Funds to Certain Heirs" and "Motion
for Issuance of Certificate of Allowance of Probate Will." Montes prayed for the release of
the said rent payments to Maria Cathryn, Candice Albertine and Maria Angeline and for the
distribution of the testator's properties, specifically the Valle Verde property and the Blue
Ridge apartments, in accordance with the provisions of the holographic will.
On August 26, 1993, the probate court denied petitioner's motion for release of funds
but granted respondent Montes' motion in view of petitioner's lack of opposition. It thus
ordered the release of the rent payments to the decedent's three granddaughters. It further
ordered the delivery of the titles to and possession of the properties bequeathed to the
three granddaughters and respondent Montes upon the filing of a bond of P50,000.00.
Petitioner moved for reconsideration alleging that he actually filed his opposition to
respondent Montes' motion for release of rent payments which opposition the court failed to
consider. Petitioner likewise reiterated his previous motion for release of funds.
Despite petitioner's manifestation, the probate court, on December 22, 1993, ordered
the release of the funds to Edmond but only "such amount as may be necessary to cover
the expenses of administration and allowances for support" of the testator's three
granddaughters subject to collation and deductible from their share in the inheritance. The
court, however, held in abeyance the release of the titles to respondent Montes and the
three granddaughters until the lapse of six months from the date of first publication of the
notice to creditors. 8 The court stated thus:
After consideration of the arguments set forth thereon by the parties, the
court resolves to allow Administrator Edmond M. Ruiz to take possession of the
rental payments deposited with the Clerk of Court, Pasig Regional Trial Court, but
only such amount as may be necessary to cover the expenses of administration
and allowances for support of Maria Cathryn Veronique, Candice Albertine and
Maria Angeli, which are subject to collation and deductible from the share in the
inheritance of said heirs and insofar as they exceed the fruits or rents pertaining to
them.
As to the release of the titles bequeathed to petitioner Maria Pilar Ruiz-
Montes and the above-named heirs, the same is hereby reconsidered and held in
abeyance until the lapse of six (6) months from the date of first publication of
Notice to Creditors.
Petitioner assailed this order before the Court of Appeals. Finding no grave abuse of
discretion on the part of respondent judge, the appellate court dismissed the petition and
sustained the probate court's order in a decision dated November 10, 1994 10 and a
resolution dated January 5, 1995. 11
The issue for resolution is whether the probate court, after admitting the will to
probate but before payment of the estate's debts and obligations, has the authority: (1) to
grant an allowance from the funds of the estate for the support of the testator's
grandchildren; (2) to order the release of the titles to certain heirs and (3) to grant
possession of all properties of the estate to the executor of the will.
Petitioner alleges that this provision only gives the widow and the minor or
incapacitated children of the deceased the right to receive allowances for support during
the settlement of estate proceedings. He contends that the testator's three granddaughters
do not qualify for an allowance because they are not incapacitated and are no longer minors
but of legal age, married and gainfully employed. In addition, the provision expressly states
"children" of the deceased which excludes the latter's grandchildren.
It is settled that allowances for support under Section 3 of Rule 83 should not be
limited to the "minor or incapacitated" children of the deceased. Article 188 13 of the Civil
Code of the Philippines, the substantive law in force at the time of the testator's death, provides
that during the liquidation of the conjugal partnership, the deceased's legitimate spouse and
children, regardless of their age, civil status or gainful employment, are entitled to provisional
support from the funds of the estate. 14 The law is rooted on the fact that the right and duty to
support, especially the right to education, subsist even beyond the age of majority. 15
Be that as it may, grandchildren are not entitled to provisional support from the funds
of the decedent's estate. The law clearly limits the allowance to "widow and children" and
does not extend it to the deceased's grandchildren, regardless of their minority or
incapacity. 16 It was error, therefore, for the appellate court to sustain the probate court's
order granting an allowance to the grandchildren of the testator pending settlement of his
estate.
Respondent courts also erred when they ordered the release of the titles of the
bequeathed properties to private respondents six months after the date of first publication
of notice to creditors. An order releasing titles to properties of the estate amounts to an
advance distribution of the estate which is allowed only under the following conditions:
In the case at bar, the probate court ordered the release of the titles to the Valle
Verde property and the Blue Ridge apartments to the private respondents after the lapse of
six months from the date of first publication of the notice to creditors. The questioned order
speaks of "notice" to creditors, not payment of debts and obligations. Hilario Ruiz allegedly
left no debts when he died but the taxes on his estate had not hitherto been paid, much less
ascertained. The estate tax is one of those obligations that must be paid before distribution
of the estate. If not yet paid, the rule requires that the distributees post a bond or make
such provisions as to meet the said tax obligation in proportion to their respective shares in
the inheritance. 20 Notably, at the time the order was issued the properties of the estate had
not yet been inventoried and appraised.
It was also too early in the day for the probate court to order the release of the titles
six months after admitting the will to probate. The probate of a will is conclusive as to its
due execution and extrinsic validity 21 and settles only the question of whether the testator,
being of sound mind, freely executed it in accordance with the formalities prescribed by
law. 22 Questions as to the intrinsic validity and efficacy of the provisions of the will, the
legality of any devise or legacy may be raised even after the will has been authenticated. 23
inasmuch as his father's will included the estate of his mother and allegedly impaired his
legitime as an intestate heir of his mother. The Rules provide that if there is a controversy
as to who are the lawful heirs of the decedent and their distributive shares in his estate, the
probate court shall proceed to hear and decide the same as in ordinary cases. 26
Still and all, petitioner cannot correctly claim that the assailed order deprived him of
his right to take possession of all the real and personal properties of the estate. The right of
an executor or administrator to the possession and management of the real and personal
properties of the deceased is not absolute and can only be exercised "so long as it is
necessary for the payment of the debts and expenses of administration." 27 Section 3 of
Rule 84 of the Revised Rules of Court explicitly provides:
When petitioner moved for further release of the funds deposited with the clerk of court,
he had been previously granted by the probate court certain amounts for repair and
maintenance expenses on the properties of the estate, and payment of the real estate
taxes thereon. But petitioner moved again for the release of additional funds for the
same reasons he previously cited. It was correct for the probate court to require him to
submit an accounting of the necessary expenses for administration before releasing any
further money in his favor.
It was relevantly noted by the probate court that petitioner had deposited with it only
a portion of the one-year rental income from the Valle Verde property. Petitioner did not
deposit its succeeding rents after renewal of the lease. 29 Neither did he render an
accounting of such funds. c da
Petitioner must be reminded that his right of ownership over the properties of his
father is merely inchoate as long as the estate has not been fully settled and partitioned. 30
As executor, he is a mere trustee of his father's estate. The funds of the estate in his
hands are trust funds and he is held to the duties and responsibilities of a trustee of the
highest order. 31 He cannot unilaterally assign to himself and possess all his parents'
properties and the fruits thereof without first submitting an inventory and appraisal of all
real and personal properties of the deceased, rendering a true account of his
administration, the expenses of administration, the amount of the obligations and estate
tax, all of which are subject to a determination by the court as to their veracity, propriety
and justness. 32
IN VIEW WHEREOF, the decision and resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
SP No. 33045 affirming the order dated December 22, 1993 of the Regional Trial Court,
Branch 156, Pasig in SP Proc. No. 10259 are affirmed with the modification that those
portions of the order granting an allowance to the testator's grandchildren and ordering the
release of the titles to the private respondents upon notice to creditors are annulled and set
aside.
SO ORDERED.
Footnotes
10. CA-G.R. SP No. 33045, Annex "A" to the Petition; Rollo, pp. 36-42.
13. "Art. 188. From the common mass of property support shall be given to the surviving
spouse and to the children during the liquidation of the inventoried property and until
what belongs to them is delivered; but from this shall be deducted that amount received
for support which exceeds fruits or rents pertaining to them.
14. Santero v. Court of First Instance of Cavite, 153 SCRA 728 [1987].
15. Id., pp. 733-734; Article 290, Civil Code of the Philippines.
19. Castillo v. Castillo, 124 Phil. 485 [1966]; Edmands v. Philippine Trust Co., 87 Phil. 405
[1952].
22. Acain v. Intermediate Appellate Court, 155 SCRA 100 [1987]; Pastor v. Court of
Appeals, 122 SCRA 885 [1983]; Maninang v. Court of Appeals, 114 SCRA 478 [1982].
23. Maninang v. Court of Appeals, supra.; Sumilang v. Ramagosa, 21 SCRA 1369 [1967];
Cacho v. Udan, 13 SCRA 693 [1965]; Montanano v. Suesa, 14 Phil. 676, 679-680
[1909].
24. Reply to Opposition of Funds and Opposition to Omnibus Motion, pp. 1-3; Rollo, pp. 69-
71.
26. Rule 90, Section 1, paragraph 1; Pimentel v. Palanca, 5 Phil. 436 [1905]; II Regalado,
Remedial Law Compendium 88 [1989].