Title
Tabasondra vs. Spouses Constantino
Case
G.R. No. 196403
Decision Date
Dec 7, 2016
Heirs dispute property partition; SC affirms sale of co-owners' shares, limits partition to one-third, remands for proper division.

Case Digest (A.M. No. 20-08-05-SC)

Facts:

  • Co-ownership and parties
    • Siblings Cornelio, Valentina, and Valeriana Tabasondra were registered owners of three adjoining parcels in Dalayap, Tarlac City (totaling 100,352 sqm), covered by TCT No. 106012.
    • Cornelio died intestate in 1991; Valentina and Valeriana died intestate in 1990 and 1998, respectively, without partition. Their descendants (petitioners and respondents) occupied the land as co-owners.
  • Transactions and procedural history
    • On August 18, 1982, Valentina and Valeriana executed a Deed of Absolute Sale conveying their pro indiviso shares (each 33,450.66 sqm) to Tarcila and Sebastian Tabasondra for ₱10,000.
    • On August 22, 2002, heirs of Cornelio (petitioners) filed an action for partition and accounting over the entire 100,352 sqm.
    • On September 22, 2008, the RTC ordered partition of all three lots among heirs of Cornelio, Valentina, and Valeriana, allotting each heir 6,690 sqm.
    • On November 30, 2010, the CA modified the RTC decision, limiting partition and accounting to the unsold 33,450.66 sqm portion representing Cornelio’s share.
    • The CA denied petitioners’ motion for reconsideration on April 4, 2011. Petitioners then elevated the case to the Supreme Court.

Issues:

  • Whether the Deed of Absolute Sale by Valentina and Valeriana conveying their pro indiviso shares to Tarcila and Sebastian was valid and subsisting.
  • Whether the CA correctly limited partition and accounting to only 33,450.66 sqm (one-third share) instead of the entire 100,352 sqm.
  • Whether the rules on partition (Rule 69, Sections 2 & 11) and accounting (Civil Code Arts. 500, 1087) were properly applied.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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