Facts:

The case concerns the guardianship of Braulio Marcelino, an incapacitated veteran under the provisions of the World War Veterans Act of 1924. Braulio Marcelino, who served as a soldier in the United States Army, was recognized as a veteran and entitled to an annual pension of P611.17 due to his incapacity for military service. This pension was regularly disbursed to him until June 20, 1924, when it was suspended for reasons not revealed in the record, until payments resumed on August 27, 1927. Upon resumption, the accumulated pension payments covering four years were handed over to his appointed guardian, Marcela Ballesteros. Ballesteros filed a petition with the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte, seeking permission to use the funds to settle debts accrued for her ward's support during the four years of suspended payments. The Veterans Administration, represented by its manager, opposed this request on the grounds that the applicable law did not permit the satisfaction

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Facts:

Background of the Ward

• The ward, an incapacitated veteran, served as a soldier in the United States Army.
• His service qualified him as a veteran under the World War Veterans Act of 1924.
• Owing to his incapacitation for further military service, he was declared entitled to an annual pension of P 611.17.

Pension Payment History

• The pension was paid regularly until June 20, 1924.
• There was an unexplained suspension of the pension payments until August 27, 1927.
• Upon resumption, the accumulated fund for the four-year suspension period was delivered to his guardian.

Guardian’s Petition

• The guardian (Marcela Balesteros) sought authority from the Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte to use part of the accumulated funds.
• The purpose of the request was to pay off the debts the ward had incurred for his support and care during the four-year period when the pension was not paid.

Opposition and Lower Court Proceedings

• The Manager of the Veterans Administration opposed the petition on the ground that the law does not allow the ward’s indebtedness to be satisfied using his pension funds.
• The Court of First Instance of Ilocos Norte denied the guardian’s petition repeating the Manager’s contention.

Appeal to the Supreme Court

• The guardian appealed the decision, arguing that:
• The lower court erred in not authorizing the payment of obligations incurred for the ward’s support and that of his family from 1926 to 1929.
• The court should have given due consideration to the petition's merits.
• The case raised issues identical to those previously resolved in G.R. No. 45400 concerning similar guardianship proceedings.

Issue:

Legal Interpretation of Section 3 of the World War Veterans Act

• Whether the provisions of the World War Veterans Act allow the funds of guardianship for an incapacitated pensioner to be applied to pay off obligations incurred for the ward’s maintenance and care.

Applicability of Pension Funds to Settle Debts

• Whether it is legally and equitably permissible to use the accumulated guardianship funds to settle the debts incurred during the period when the pension was suspended.
• The question of fairness in preventing a pensioner from incurring necessary indebtedness for support under extenuating circumstances.

Requirement for Trial on the Guardian’s Petition

• Whether the lower court should have set the guardian’s petition for trial to ascertain if the expenses sought for payment were true, reasonable, and just.

Ruling:

• (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

• (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

• (Subscriber-Only)