Title
Bicomong vs. Almanza
Case
G.R. No. L-37365
Decision Date
Nov 29, 1977
Dispute over inheritance of Maura Bagsic's properties; plaintiffs, as collateral relatives of half blood, entitled to shares alongside sole niece of full blood, per Civil Code provisions.
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Case Digest (G.R. No. L-37365)

Facts:

Family Background and Lineage

  • Simeon Bagsic married Sisenanda Barcenas on June 8, 1859. They had three children: Perpetua Bagsic, Igmedia Bagsic, and Ignacio Bagsic.
  • Sisenanda Barcenas predeceased Simeon Bagsic, who then remarried Silvestra Glorioso on June 3, 1885. From this second marriage, two children were born: Felipa Bagsic and Maura Bagsic.
  • Simeon Bagsic died in 1901, and Silvestra Glorioso also passed away.
  • Ignacio Bagsic died on April 18, 1939, leaving Francisca Bagsic as his sole heir.
  • Igmedia Bagsic died on August 19, 1944, survived by her children Dionisio Tolentino, Maria Tolentino, and Petra Tolentino.
  • Perpetua Bagsic died on July 7, 1945, survived by her heirs Gaudencio Bicomong, Felicidad Bicomong, Salome Bicomong, and Gervacio Bicomong.
  • Maura Bagsic, a child from the second marriage, died on April 14, 1952, leaving no heirs as her husband predeceased her.
  • Felipa Bagsic, the other child from the second marriage, died leaving her husband Geronimo Almanza and daughter Cristeta Almanza. Cristeta died on July 23, 1959, leaving her husband Engracio Manese and father Geronimo Almanza.

Subject Properties

  • The dispute involves five parcels of land inherited by Maura Bagsic from her mother, Silvestra Glorioso. These properties are described as follows:
    1. A 1,071 sq. m. coconut land in San Ignacio, San Pablo City.
    2. A 9,455 sq. m. coconut land in San Ignacio, San Pablo City.
    3. An 11,739 sq. m. coconut land in San Ignacio, San Pablo City.
    4. A 153 sq. m. residential lot in San Pablo City.
    5. A 24,990 sq. m. coconut land in Buenavista, Candelaria, Quezon.

Legal Proceedings

  • Three sets of plaintiffs (the Bicomongs, Tolentinos, and Francisca Bagsic) filed a complaint on December 1, 1959, against Geronimo Almanza and Engracio Manese for the recovery of their shares in Maura Bagsic's properties.
  • Cristeta Almanza initially delayed the partition of the properties due to unpaid debts but later agreed to divide them. However, she died before the partition was completed, leaving the properties under the administration of the defendants.
  • The trial court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, awarding them a 10/24 share of the properties and ordering the defendants to pay P625 annually until the shares were delivered.

Issue:

  1. Whether the trial court correctly applied Articles 995, 1006, and 1008 of the New Civil Code in determining the plaintiffs' right to inherit Maura Bagsic's properties.
  2. Whether Felipa Bagsic, as the sole sister of full blood, should have exclusively inherited Maura Bagsic's estate under Article 1004 of the New Civil Code.
  3. Whether the plaintiffs, as nephews and nieces of half blood, are entitled to inherit alongside the sole niece of full blood.

Ruling:

The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court's decision, holding that:

  1. Articles 995, 1006, and 1008 of the New Civil Code were correctly applied.
  2. Felipa Bagsic predeceased Maura Bagsic, making her ineligible to inherit. The plaintiffs, as collateral relatives, are entitled to inherit Maura Bagsic's estate.
  3. The sole niece of full blood (Cristeta Almanza) is entitled to a share double that of the nephews and nieces of half blood, as provided under Articles 1006 and 1008.

Ratio:

  1. Inheritance by Collateral Relatives: Under Article 1003 of the New Civil Code, in the absence of descendants, ascendants, illegitimate children, or a surviving spouse, collateral relatives inherit the estate. Maura Bagsic died intestate without issue, and her husband and ascendants predeceased her. Thus, her collateral relatives (the plaintiffs) are entitled to inherit.
  2. Representation and Equal Shares: Article 975 allows nephews and nieces to inherit by representation if they survive with their uncles or aunts. If they alone survive, they inherit in equal portions. The plaintiffs, as nephews and nieces of half blood, are entitled to inherit alongside the sole niece of full blood.
  3. Distinction Between Full and Half Blood: Article 1006 provides that siblings of full blood inherit double the share of siblings of half blood. This principle extends to their descendants, meaning the sole niece of full blood inherits double the share of the nephews and nieces of half blood.
  4. Felipa Bagsic's Death: The appellant's argument that Felipa Bagsic should have exclusively inherited Maura Bagsic's estate is based on an erroneous assumption. Felipa died in 1945, predeceasing Maura, and thus could not inherit.

The Supreme Court found the trial court's judgment consistent with the law and jurisprudence, affirming the decision without costs.


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