EN BANC

July 6, 1918
G.R. No. 10806
MONICA BONA, petitioner-appellant,
!.
"O#$ICIO BRIONE#, E% A&., o'(e)tor!-appellee!.
Ra*on $i*entel +or appellant.
O)a*po an, -e la Ro!a +or appellee!.
%ORRE#, J..
Coun!el +or Moni)a Bona, t/e 0i,o0 'y t/e !e)on, *arria1e o+ t/e ,e)ea!e,
2ran)i!)o Brione! 0/o ,ie, on Au1u!t 13, 1914, applie, +or t/e pro'ate o+ t/e
0ill 0/i)/ t/e !ai, ,e)ea!e, /u!'an, on #epte*'er 16, 1911, e5e)ute, ,urin1
/i! li+eti*e6 +or t/e 75in1 o+ a ,ay +or t/e /earin1 an, pre!entation o+ ei,en)e
a+ter all t/e intere!te, partie! /a, 'een )ite,6 an, t/en +or t/e approal o+ t/e
partition /a, 'een )ite,6 an, t/en +or t/e approal o+ t/e partition property
*a,e 'y t/e te!tator in t/e !ai, 0ill. By an or,er ,ate, January 80, 1919,
Moni)a Bona:! petition 0a! 1rante, an, a ,ate !et +or t/e trial an, ot/er
ne)e!!ary pro)ee,in1! +or t/e pro'ate o+ !ai, 0ill.
Coun!el +or "o!pi)io, Gre1oria, an, Car*en, all !urna*e, Brione!, t/e
le1iti*ate )/il,ren 'y t/e 7r!t *arria1e o+ t/e te!tator, 'y a plea,in1 ,ate,
Mar)/ 9, 1919, oppo!e, t/e pro'ate o+ t/e 0ill pre!ente, 'y t/e 0i,o0 o+ t/e
,e)ea!e, Brione!, alle1in1 t/at t/e !ai, 0ill 0a! e5e)ute, 'e+ore t0o
0itne!!e! only an, un,er unla0+ul an, un,ue pre!!ure or in;uen)e e5er)i!e,
upon t/e per!on o+ t/e te!tator 0/o t/u! !i1ne, t/rou1/ +rau, an, ,e)eit6 an,
/e praye, t/at +or t/at rea!on t/e !ai, 0ill 'e ,e)lare, null an, o+ no alue,
0it/ )o!t! a1ain!t t/e petitioner!.
%/e trial o+ t/e )a!e opene, an, in t/e pre!en)e o+ )oun!el +or 'ot/ partie!,
Gre1orio Bu!tilla, one o+ t/e 0itne!!e! o+ t/e !ai, 0ill, 0a! e5a*ine, an, /e
!tate, un,er oat/. %/at /e a! 0ell a! #i5to Barra*e,a an, -o*in1o ,e la
2uente, 0a! a)tually pre!ent a! atte!tin1 0itne!! 0/en 2ran)i!)o Brione!
e5e)ute, /i! 0ill in t/e *ont/ o+ #epte*'er in /i! <Bu!tilla:!= /ou!e !ituate, in
t/e *uni)ipality o+ Bao, A*'o! Ca*arine!6 t/at 2ran)i!)o Brione! >no0in1 o+
t/e pre!en)e o+ notary -o*in1o ,e la 2uente in t/e /ou!e, /e 0ent up!tair!
an, announ)e, /i*!el+6 t/at on 'ein1 a!>e, 0/at /e 0ante,, Brione! !tate,
t/at /e 0ante, to e5e)ute /i! 0ill6 t/at a+ter Brione! an, t/e notary /a, tal>e,
0it/ ea)/ ot/er, t/e +or*er le+t an, a+ter a 0/ile returne, 'rin1in1 0it/ /i*
!o*e paper6 t/at t/en -o*in1o ,e la 2uente, un,er t/e ,ire)tion o+ 2ran)i!)o
Brione!, 'e1an to ,ra+t t/e 0ill, 0/i)/ 0/en 7ni!/e, 0a! !i1ne, 'y t/e latter in
t/e pre!en)e o+ t/e notary, o+ t/e ,e)larant, an, o+ anot/er 0itne!!, #i5to
Barra*e,a6 t/at t/en t/e t/ree 0itne!!e! ? t/e ,e)larant, ,e la 2uente, an,
Barra*e,a ? !i1ne, in t/e pre!en)e o+ ea)/ ot/er. %/e ,e)larant i,enti7e, t/e
!i1nature pla)e, on t/e 0ill 'y t/e te!tator Brione! an, t/o!e o+ t/e ot/er
0itne!!e! #i5to Barra*e,a an, -o*in1o ,ela 2uente, 0/o all !i1ne, in t/e
pre!en)e o+ t/e te!tator /i*!el+. "e !tate, +urt/er t/at t/e te!tator at t/at
*o*ent 0a! in /i! !oun, (u,1*ent an, not +or)e, to e5e)ute t/e 0ill. "e
i,enti7e, t/e ,o)u*ent E5/i'it A a! t/e 0ill e5e)ute, 'y 2ran)i!)o Brione! an,
t/e !i1nature o+ t/e latter a! t/e one pla)e, 'y t/e te!tator. By a1ree*ent o+
'ot/ partie! it 0a! *a,e to appear in t/e re)or, t/at, i+ t/e 0itne!!e! #i5to
Barra*e,a an, -o*in1o ,e la 2uente 0ere )alle,, t/ey 0oul, /ae te!ti7e, in
t/e !a*e ter*! a! 0itne!! Gre1orio Bu!tilla.
In ie0 o+ t/e a'oe, t/e (u,1e ren,ere, (u,1*ent, ,ate, Mar)/ 8@, 1919,
,enyin1 pro'ate to t/e 0ill E5/i'it A a! e5e)ute, 'y 2ran)i!)o Brione!. 2ro*
t/e (u,1*ent, )oun!el +or Moni)a Bona appeale, an, praye, to 'e allo0e, to
!ue +urt/er a! a pauper6 0/ereupon, 'y or,er o+ Mar)/ 41, 1919, t/e (u,1e
a,*itte, t/e appeal, or,ere, t/e ori1inal re)or,! to 'e 'rou1/t up, an,
reiterate, /i! or,er o+ -e)e*'er 88, 1914, ,e)larin1 Bona a! a pauper, +or t/e
purpo!e! o+ t/e appeal interpo!e,.
%/e 0/ole i!!ue ,i!)u!!e, 'y t/e partie! an, !u'*itte, +or t/e ,e)i!ion o+ t/i!
)ourt re!ole! it!el+ a! to 0/et/er or not in t/e e5e)ution o+ t/e 0ill in Aue!tion
t/e !ole*nitie! pre!)ri'e, 'y !e)tion 618 o+ A)t No. 190 /ae 'een o'!ere,.
But 'e+ore pro)ee,in1 +urt/er it i! in,i!pen!a'le to note t/at t/e 0ill in
Aue!tion 0a! e5e)ute, 'y 2ran)i!)o Brione! on #epte*'er 16, 1911, a!
alrea,y !tate, an, t/e or,er ,enyin1 pro'ate 0a! ren,ere, on Mar)/ 8@, 1919,
'ot/ ,ate, 'ein1 prior to t/at o+ A)t No. 8639 a*en,in1 !ai, !e)tion 618 an,
pro*ul1ate, on 2e'ruary 83, 1916, 0/i)/ too> eBe)t only +ro* July 7r!t o+ t/e
la!t na*e, year. !o t/at, in or,er to e5plain 0/et/er or not t/e a'oe-
*entione, 0ill 0a! e5e)ute, in a))or,an)e 0it/ t/e la0 t/en in +or)e, t/e la!t
na*e, la0 )annot 'e applie, an, t/e 0ill in Aue!tion !/oul, 'e e5a*ine, in
a))or,an)e 0it/, an, un,er t/e rule! o+, t/e la0 in +or)e at t/e ti*e o+ it!
e5e)ution.
%/e o+t-repeate, !e)tion 618 o+ A)t No. 190 !ay!.
No 0ill, e5)ept a! proi,e, in t/e pre)e,in1 !e)tion, !/all 'e ali, to pa!! any
e!tate, real or per!onal, nor )/ar1e or aBe)t t/e !a*e, unle!! it 'e in 0ritin1
an, !i1ne, 'y t/e te!tator, or 'y !o*e ot/er per!on in /i! pre!en)e, an, 'y /i!
e5pre!! ,ire)tion, an, atte!te, an, !u'!)ri'e, 'y t/ree or *ore )re,i'le
0itne!!e! in t/e pre!en)e o+ t/e te!tator an, o+ ea)/ ot/er. But t/e a'!en)e o+
!u)/ +or* o+ atte!tation !/all not ren,er t/e 0ill inali, i+ it i! proen t/at t/e
0ill 0a! in +a)t !i1ne, an, atte!te, a! in t/i! !e)tion proi,e,.
A *ere rea,in1 o+ t/e la!t +our para1rap/! or part! o+ t/e 0ill E5/i'it A !/o0!
in a )lear *anner t/at t/e !ai, 0ill in it! +or* an, )ontent! e5pre!!e! 0it/out
!/a,o0 o+ ,ou't t/e 0ill o+ t/e te!tator6 an, t/at in it! e5e)ution t/e
!ole*nitie! pre!)ri'e, 'y t/e a'oe-*entione, !e)tion 618 o+ A)t No. 190
/ae 'een o'!ere,.
Een t/ou1/ -o*in1o ,e la 2uente ,ra+te, t/e 0ill an, interene, in it!
preparation a! a notary, 'y t/e or,er an, un,er t/e e5pre!! ,ire)tion o+ t/e
te!tator, it i! neert/ele!! true t/at /e ,i, it a! a 0itne!! to t/e e5e)ution o+
t/e !ai, 0ill 0it/ po!itie an, )on)rete a)t!, 0/ile t/e t0o ot/er 0itne!!e!
Gre1orio Bu!tilla an, #i5to Barra*e,a *erely atte!te, all t/at appeare, in t/e
!e)on, o+ t/e +our para1rap/! *entione,6 +or in it! t/ey )erti+y t/at t/e
+ore1oin1 te!ta*ent )ontain! t/e la!t 0ill o+ t/e te!tator 2ran)i!)o Brione!6
t/at t/e latter tol, t/e* t/at 'e+ore an, at t/e ti*e t/at /e ,i)tate, /i! 0ill,
t/ere 0a! no in,u)e*ent nor t/reat 'y any'o,y6 an, t/at a! /e ,i, not >no0
/o0 to 0rite t/e #pani!/ lan1ua1e, !ai, te!tator reAue!te, -o*in1o ,e la
2uente to 0rite t/e 0ill, an, /e ,i, it a! it i! no0 ,ra+te,, )erti+yin1 al!o, t/at
t/e te!tator Brione! !i1ne, /i! 0ill oluntarily 0it/ /i! o0n /an,, in t/e
pre!en)e o+ t/e ,e)larant! 0/o, a! 0itne!!e!, !i1ne, t/e in!tru*ent on t/e
,ate e5pre!!e,. -o*in1o ,e la 2uente on /i! part ,e)lare, t/at t/e t0o !ai,
0itne!!e! +or*ally !0ore 'e+ore /i* on t/e )erti7)ation 0/i)/ pre)e,e! t/e
!ai, 0ill an,, a))or,in1 to t/i! te!ti*ony a! !/o0n in t/e re)or,! an, t/e
te!ti*ony o+ t/e a'oe-*entione, 0itne!!e!, t/e !ai, -o*in1o ,e la 2uente
0rote an, ,ra+te, t/e !ai, 0ill E5/i'it A 'y t/e or,er an, un,er t/e ,ire)tion o+
t/e te!tator 2ran)i!)o Brione!, 0/o !i1ne, in t/e pre!en)e o+ t/e 0itne!!e!,
Bu!tilla an, Barra*e,a an, o+ Notary -o*in1o ,e la 2uente, all o+ 0/o*
i**e,iately !i1ne, al!o in t/e pre!en)e o+ t/e te!tator, ea)/ ,oin1 it in t/e
pre!en)e o+ ea)/ ot/er. #o t/at, alt/ou1/ it i! not !/o0n e5pre!!ly t/at
-o*in1o ,e la 2uente 0a! an atte!tin1 0itne!! to t/e 0ill, yet it )annot 'e
,enie, t/at it 0a! /e 0/o 0rote it 'y t/e or,er an, un,er t/e ,ire)tion o+ t/e
te!tator6 t/at /e 0a! a 0itne!! to it! e5e)ution +ro* t/e 7r!t to it! la!t line6 an,
t/at /e 0a! per+e)tly a0are o+ t/e +a)t t/at all t/at /e /a, 0ritten in t/e
,o)u*ent E5/i'it A e5pre!!e! t/e 1enuine an, true 0ill o+ t/e te!tator. "e !a0
an, 0a! pre!ent 0/en t/e latter !i1ne, /i! 0ill, a! al!o 0/en t/e t0o
0itne!!e! Bu!tilla an, Barra*e,a aC5e, t/eir !i1nature!6 !ai, 0itne!!e! al!o
!a0 an, 0ere pre!ent 0/en -o*in1o ,e la 2uente !i1ne, at t/e en, o+ t/e
!ai, ,o)u*ent.
%/e na*e o+ -o*in1o ,e la 2uente appear! a! t/at o+ a notary 0/o )erti7e! a!
to t/e )ertainty o+ t/e 0ill *a,e 'y 2ran)i!)o Brione! an, o+ t/e !i1nature! o+
t/e te!tator a! 0ell a! o+ t/e 0itne!!e! at it! en,6 an, a! t/e la0 ,oe! not
reAuire t/at one o+ t/e 0itne!!e! *u!t ne)e!!arily 'e a notary, an, it )annot
'e ,enie, t/at -o*in1o ,e la 2uente atte!te, t/e e5e)ution an, t/e !i1nin1 o+
t/e 0ill not only 'y t/e te!tator 'ut al!o 'y t/e atte!tin1 0itne!!e!, it )annot
'ut 'e a,*itte, t/at -o*in1o ,e la 2uente interene,, atte!te,, an, !i1ne,
t/e te!ta*ent a! a 0itne!!.
%/i! i! a )a!e in 0/i)/ t/e (u,i)ial )riterion !/oul, 'e in!pire, in t/e !en!e t/at
it i! not ,e+eate,, an, i+ t/e 0i!/ o+ t/e te!tator i! !o *ani+e!t an, e5pre!! a!
in t/e in!tant )a!e, it i! not proper nor (u!t to inali,ate t/e 0ill o+ 2ran)i!)o
Brione! *erely 'e)au!e o+ !o*e !*all ,e+e)t in +or* 0/i)/ i! not e!!ential nor
o+ 1reat i*portan)e, !u)/ a! t/e +ailure to !tate t/erein t/at -o*in1o ,e la
2uente 0a! al!o a 0itne!! to t/e !ai, 0ill 0/en /e !i1ne, it t0i)e. A! a *atter
o+ a)t, /e un,er!too, t/e )ontent! o+ t/e 0ill 'etter t/an t/e t0o ot/er
atte!tin1 0itne!!e!, +or /e really 0a! a 0itne!! an, /e atte!te, t/e e5e)ution
o+ t/e 0ill ,urin1 it! *a>in1 until it 0a! ter*inate, an, !i1ne, 'y t/e te!tator,
'y t/e 0itne!!e!, an, 'y /i*!el+, een t/ou1/ /e ,i, it in t/e )apa)ity o+ a
notary.
%/e la!t para1rap/ o+ !e)tion 618 o+ A)t No. 190 !upplie! a le1al 'a!i! to
!upport t/e ali,ity o+ t/e 0ill in Aue!tion 0it/ t/e )on,ition! +or it! pro'ate
'e)au!e, not0it/!tan,in1 t/e e5i!ten)e o+ !u)/ ,e+e)t *erely in t/e +or* an,
not in t/e !u'!tan)e, t/e )erti7)ation o+ aut/enti)ity an, t/e ery te5t o+ t/e
0ill !/o0 in a )lear an, in,u'ita'le *anner t/at t/e 0ill E5/i'it A )ontain! t/e
la!t 0ill o+ t/e te!tator, an, t/at it 0a! !i1ne, 'y t/e latter an, atte!te, a!
'ein1 true an, le1iti*ate not only t/e t0o 0itne!!e! Bu!tilla an, Barra*e,a
'ut al!o 'y t/e one 0/o 0rote it, -o*in1o ,e la 2uente, 0/o 0a! al!o a
trut/+ul an, relia'le 0itne!!, een t/ou1/ /e 'e )alle, a notary pu'li).
%/e reAui!ite! e!ta'li!/e, 'y A)t No. 8639, 0/i)/ a*en,e, t/e o+t-repeate,
!e)tion 618 )annot 'e reAuire, in t/e pro'ate o+ t/e 0ill /ere, ina!*u)/ a! t/i!
,o)u*ent 0a! e5e)ute, in #epte*'er, 1911, 7e year! 'e+ore !ai,
a*en,atory la0 'e1an to ta>e eBe)t <July 1, 1916=, 0/ile t/e te!tator ,ie, on
Au1u!t 13, 1914, t0o year! an, !o*e *ont/! 'e+ore t/e en+or)e*ent o+ t/e
!ai, la06 an, !o, t/e only la0 appli)a'le to t/e pre!ent )a!e i! t/e proi!ion
)ontaine, in !e)tion 618 o+ A)t No. 190, an, in a))or,an)e 0it/ t/e proi!ion!
o+ t/i! !e)tion, t/e !ai, 0ill !/oul, 'e pro'ate,6 +or it /a! 'een pre!ente, to
t/e )ourt *any *ont/! 'e+ore t/e a*en,atory a)t 0ent into eBe)t.
It i! 0ell->no0n t/at t/e prin)iple t/at a ne0 la0 !/all not /ae retroa)tie
eBe)t only 1oern! t/e ri1/t! ari!in1 +ro* a)t! ,one un,er t/e rule o+ t/e
+or*er la06 'ut i+ t/e ri1/t 'e ,e)lare, +or t/e 7r!t ti*e 'y a !u'!eAuent la0 it
!/all ta>e eBe)t +ro* t/at ti*e een t/ou1/ it /a! ari!en +ro* a)t! !u'(e)t to
t/e +or*er la0!, proi,e, t/at it ,oe! not pre(u,i)e anot/er a)Auire, ri1/t o+
t/e !a*e ori1in.
It i! 0ell->no0n t/at /ere,itary ri1/t! are not 'orn nor ,oe! t/e 0ill pro,u)e
any eBe)t until t/e *o*ent o+ t/e ,eat/ o+ t/e per!on 0/o!e in/eritan)e i!
)on)erne,. <-e)i!ion ren,ere, in )a!!ation 'y t/e !upre*e )ourt o+ #pain on
June 83, 189@.=
In ie0 o+ t/e!e +a)t!, it +ollo0! t/at t/e (u,1*ent appeale, +ro* !/oul, 'e
reer!e, an, it !/oul, 'e ,e)lare, a! 0e /ere'y ,e)lare t/at t/e 0ill E5/i'it A
/a! 'een e5e)ute, in ,ue +or* 'y 2ran)i!)o Brione! on #epte*'er 16, 1911,
an, t/at t/e !ai, 0ill )ontain! an, e5pre!!e! t/e la!t 0ill an, te!ta*entary
0i!/e! o+ t/e ,e)ea!e, te!tator. Con!eAuently, let t/e re)or,! 'e returne, to
t/e )ourt 0/ere+ro* t/ey )a*e 0it/ a )erti7e, )opy o+ t/i! re!olution in or,er
t/at t/e (u,1e, upon petition 'y t/e proper party, *ay proi,e +or t/e
ne)e!!ary pro)ee,in1! 0it/ re!pe)t to t/e in/eritan)e, an, t/e )ler> o+ t/e
)ourt *ay i!!ue )erti7e, )opie! o+ t/e !ai, te!ta*ent6 0it/out any !pe)ial
rulin1 a! to )o!t!. !o or,ere,.