Case Digest (G.R. No. 57257)
Facts:
The case involves the heirs of the late Pascual G. Berciles, a former District Judge of the Court of First Instance of Cebu, who died on August 21, 1979, at the age of sixty-six due to cardiac arrest caused by a cerebral vascular accident. Following his death, two families emerged claiming to be the lawful heirs entitled to his retirement benefits, which amounted to P311,460.00 under Republic Act No. 910, as amended. The first family, represented by Iluminada Ponce Berciles and her four legitimate children—Ilona Berciles Alvarez, Ellery P. Berciles, England P. Berciles, and Ione P. Berciles—asserted their claim based on their marriage to the deceased, which took place on January 20, 1941. The second family, represented by Flor Fuentebella and her four children—Pascual Voltaire, Maria Luisa, Mercy, and Rhoda—claimed that Flor was the first wife of Pascual Berciles, having allegedly married him on March 28, 1937. The case was initially filed as Administrative Matter No. 1337-Re...
Case Digest (G.R. No. 57257)
Facts:
Judge Pascual G. Berciles of the Court of First Instance of Cebu died in office on August 21, 1979, after serving the government for over 34 years, including 26 years in the judiciary. He was eligible for retirement benefits under Republic Act No. 910, as amended, and his heirs were entitled to survivor benefits totaling P311,460.00. Other benefits included unpaid salary, terminal leave pay, and transportation allowances, amounting to P60,817.52, to be paid by the Court as his last employer, and the return of retirement premiums totaling P9,700.00 from the Government Service Insurance System (GSIS).
Two families claimed to be his lawful heirs: (1) Iluminada Ponce Berciles and her four children, Ilona, Ellery, England, and Ione, and (2) Flor Fuentebella and her four children, Pascual Voltaire, Maria Luisa, Mercy, and Rhoda. Iluminada claimed to be the legal spouse married to Judge Berciles on January 20, 1941, while Flor claimed to have married him on March 28, 1937.
The GSIS initially approved Iluminada’s claim but later divided the benefits under Resolution No. 431, allocating shares to both families based on its determination of legitimate and illegitimate children. The GSIS considered Pascual Voltaire an acknowledged natural child and Maria Luisa, Mercy, and Rhoda as illegitimate children.
Issue:
- Whether the GSIS erred in dividing the retirement benefits as partly conjugal and partly exclusive, considering them subject to intestate succession.
- Whether the GSIS committed grave abuse of discretion in recognizing Pascual Voltaire as an acknowledged natural child and Maria Luisa, Mercy, and Rhoda as illegitimate children without substantial evidence of filiation.
- Whether the heirs of Judge Berciles are entitled to the unpaid salary, terminal leave pay, and other benefits under the law.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)