Title
Reyes vs. Mosqueda
Case
G.R. No. L-45262
Decision Date
Jul 23, 1990
Dr. Pascual's estate dispute: probate court provisionally excluded properties based on Ursula Pascual's donation claim, later ruled inter vivos.

Case Digest (G.R. No. L-45262)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

# Background of the Case

  • Dr. Emilio Pascual died intestate on November 18, 1972, without any children. He was survived by his sister, Ursula Pascual, and the children of his late sisters: Ruperto Reyes, Jose Reyes, Jose P. Reyes, Benito Reyes, Marina Reyes Manalastas, Augusto Reyes, Benjamin Reyes, and Pedro Dalusong.

# Administration of the Estate

  • On December 3, 1973, the heirs filed Special Proceedings No. 73-30-M in the Court of First Instance (CFI) of Pampanga for the administration of Dr. Pascual's estate. Atty. Marcela Macapagal was initially appointed as special administratrix but was later replaced by Reynaldo San Juan.

# Donation Mortis Causa

  • On February 12, 1976, Ursula Pascual filed a motion to exclude certain properties from the estate's inventory, claiming that Dr. Pascual had executed a "Donation Mortis Causa" in her favor on November 2, 1966, covering properties included in the estate. The trial court, on August 1, 1976, ordered the exclusion of these properties from the inventory, pending final determination in a separate action.

# Donation Inter Vivos to Ofelia Parungao

  • On May 15, 1969, Dr. Pascual executed a deed of donation inter vivos over Lot 24, Block No. 15, in favor of Ofelia D. Parungao, a minor, with her mother, Rosario Duncil, accepting the donation on her behalf. When Parungao reached majority, she attempted to register the donation but found the title missing. She successfully petitioned for reconstitution of the title and registered the deed, resulting in the issuance of Transfer Certificate of Title No. 129092 in her name.

# Sale of Property by Ursula Pascual

  • On September 23, 1976, Ursula Pascual sold the Tondo property to Benjamin, Oscar, Jose, and Emmanuel Reyes. Benjamin Reyes later filed a complaint for the nullity of Parungao's title, which was consolidated with Parungao's complaint for recovery of possession.

# Trial Court Decision

  • On June 3, 1982, the CFI ruled in favor of Benjamin Reyes, declaring Parungao's title null and void and dismissing her complaint for recovery of possession. The Intermediate Appellate Court affirmed this decision.

Issues:

  • Jurisdiction of the Probate Court: Whether the probate court had jurisdiction to exclude properties from the estate's inventory based on Ursula Pascual's claim of a "Donation Mortis Causa."
  • Nature of the Donation: Whether the 1966 "Donation Mortis Causa" executed by Dr. Pascual in favor of Ursula Pascual was actually a donation inter vivos.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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