Facts:

• Juliana Bagtas is the plaintiff and appellee against Isidoro Paguio and others, the defendants and appellants.
• The case stems from an order by the Court of First Instance of Bataan, which admitted a document as the last will and testament of Pioquinto Paguio y Pizarro.
• The will was executed on April 19, 1908, in Pilar, Bataan, and Pioquinto died on September 28, 1909.
• Juliana Bagtas, the decedent's widow, propounded the will.
• Opponents included Pioquinto's son and several grandchildren from a previous marriage, contesting the will's validity.
• They argued that the will was not executed according to legal formalities and that the testator lacked mental capacity.
• Evidence showed Pioquinto suffered from paralysis for 14 to 15 years before his death, affecting his speech and hearing.
• Despite his ailments, he could use his right hand and communicate through signs.
• Four witnesses testified that Pioquinto wrote notes about his property, which were transcribed by an attorney.
• The will was read aloud to him, and he signed it in the presence of witnesses.
• The lower court found that the legal formalities were met, prompting the appeal by the opponents.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The court ruled that the will was executed in accordance with the required legal formalities.
• The court also ruled that the testator possessed the necessary men...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The court affirmed the lower court's judgment, stating that the formalities of the Code of Civil Procedure were fully complied with during the will's execution.
• Witness testimonies indicated that Pioquinto actively participated in creating the will, demonstrating his understanding of the proceedings.
• The burden of proof lies with those contesting the will to establish a lack of testamentary capacity.
• Testimonies from medical professionals did not conclusively prove Pioquinto was incapable of making a will; they acknowledged ...continue reading