Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Uy V Ca 346 Scra 246
Uy V Ca 346 Scra 246
FACTS: This is an appeal via certiorari from the decision of CA and its resolution
denying reconsideration reversing that of the RTC declaring void the special
proceedings instituted therein by petitioners to authorize petitioner Gilda Jardeleza
in view of the comatose condition of her husband, Ernesto Jardeleza Sr., with
approval of the court, to dispose of their conjugal property in favor of co-petitioners,
their daughter and son-in-law, for the ostensible purpose of financial need in the
personal, business and medical expenses of her incapacitated husband
March 25, 1991 Ernesto Jardeleza suffered a stroke which left him comatose
and incapable of motor and mental functions.
June 6, 1991 Teodoro Jardeleza, Ernestos son, filed a petition for
guardianship of his father. He averred that due to Ernestos current
condition, he cannot competently administer his properties. In order to
prevent the loss and wasteful expenditure of Jardelezas real and personal
assets, there was a need for a court-appointed guardian to administer said
properties. He prayed that the guardianship be issued in favor of the wife
and that in the meantime, no property be negotiated, mortgaged or
alienated to third persons
June 13, 1991 The wife filed a petition declaring the incapacity of the
husband and assumption of sole powers of administration of conjugal
properties and prayed for authorization from the court to sell a parcel of land
(lot no. 4291) due pay for medical expenses of the husband
June 20, 1991 RTC rendered a decision in favor of the wifes petition
pursuant to Art. 124 FC; that the wife is the sole administrator due to the
husbands incapacity and authorize the sale of the lot in question to pay
medical bills
Son Teodoro opposed petition; assumption of sole administratorship and
authority to sell conjugal properties is essentially a petition for guardianship
of person and properties of Ernesto and as such it cannot be proceeded in
accordance with Art. 253 FC. It should follow the rules on special proceedings
set in ROC. Also, under NCC, Ernesto acquired vested rights as a conjugal
partner and such rights cannot be impaired or prejudiced without his consent.
Teodoro filed motion for reconsideration on the following grounds:
1. CPG has other assets to pay off financial obligations.
2. Medical bills can be offset since Ernesto can pay on installment since
he has stocks in the hospital
3. Two of his attending physicians are his own sons who are not charging
him anything
While motion for reconsideration was pending, the wife sold the said property
to daughter (Glenda Uy) for P 8M. July 23, 1991, the wife filed an urgent exparte motion for approval of the deed of absolute sale
December 19, 1991 RTC denied Teodoros motion for reconsideration and
approved the wifes motion for approval of the deed of absolute sale citing
that Teodoro does not have the personality to oppose the petition since the
property belongs to CPG and both spouses are still alive
December 9, 1992 CA reversed RTC decision and ordered RTC to declare
sale VOID.
ISSUE: Due to the comatose condition of the husband, can the wife assume sole
powers of administration over conjugal properties and dispose of a parcel of land
with the approval for the court?
HELD: CA ruled that due to the condition of the husband, the rules on summary
proceedings in relation to Art. 124 FC are not applicable. What Art. 124 covers are
situations where the spouse is absent, or separated in fact or has abandoned the
other, or the consent is withheld or cannot be obtained. SUCH RULES DO NOT
APPLY TO CASES WHERE THE NON-CONSENTING SPOUSE IS INCAPACITATED OR
INCOMPETENT TO GIVE CONSENT. In such case, the proper remedy is a judicial
guardianship under Rule 93 of 1964 ROC.
Even if the rules of summary judicial proceedings under FC applied to the wifes
administrative powers, the wife who assumes the sole powers of administration has
the same powers and duties as a guardian under the ROC
A spouse who desires to sell a real property as such administrator of CPG must
observe the procedure for the sale of the wards estate required of judicial
guardians under Rule 95 ROC, not summary judicial proceedings under FC
In the present case, RTC did not comply with the procedures under ROC and the
requirements of the summary judicial proceedings under FC: it did not serve notice
of the petition to the incapacitated spouse and it did not require him to show cause
why the petition should not be granted.
SABALONES V CA 230 SCRA 79
FACTS: As an ambassador petitioner Samson Sabalones was assigned to different
countries and as such, he left the administration of their conjugal properties to his
wife Remedios Gaviola-Sabalones
1985 Sabalones retired as ambassador to live in the Philippines but did not
return to his family. In 1989, he filed judicial authorization to sell their
Greenhills property. He alleged that he was 68 yrs old, very sick and living
alone with no income.
Remedies opposed the authorization and filed a counterclaim for
legal separation. She alleged that the Greenhills property was
occupied by her and their 6 children and they were dependent on
the rentals of their other properties. She also informed the court that
despite Sabalones retirement, he did not return to his legitimate family and
instead maintained a separate residence with Thelma Cumareng and their 3
children. Remedios prayed for a decree of legal separation and liquidation of
their conjugal properties, with forfeiture of her husbands share. Also prayed
for preventing the Sabalones from disturbing the tenants in the Forbes Park
property and disposing any of the conjugal properties
After trial, Judge Mariano Umali found that the petitioner had indeed
contracted a bigamous marriage on October 5, 1981 with Thelma Cumareng.
The court, then, decreed the legal separation of Sabalones and Remedios ,
forfeiture of his share in the conjugal properties and non-entitlement to
support
1991 The husband got a mistress and started to neglect his family. The wife
was forced to sell or mortgage their movables to support the family.
On his own, the husband wanted to dispose of the house and two lots to the
petitioners Patrocinia and Wilfredo Ravina. The wife opposed but the
husband still sold the property without the wifes consent and signature
July 5, 1991 While the wife and children were out, the husband and some
CAFGU members transferred all their belongings from the house to an
apartment. When they got home, the were prevented from entering the
house. Thus, the wife filed a complaint for the annulment of sale with
damages against the husband and the petitioners.
During the trial, the husband alleged that the house was built from his
exclusive funds
September 26, 1995 RTC ruled in favor of the wife, declaring that the sale of
lot 8 was void, being a conjugal property while the sale of lot 7 was valid
since it was the husbands exclusive property
CA declared that: sale of lot 7 to petitioners is valid but the sale of lot 8 is null
and void; that the husband is ordered to return the value of the consideration
for lot 8 to petitioners; that petitioners are ordered to reconvey the house and
lot to the wife
ISSUE: Whether or not the husband can sell a property which is part exclusive and
part conjugal
HELD: Art. 160 NCC provides that all property of the marriage is presumed to
belong to the conjugal partnership, unless it is proven that it pertains exclusively to
the husband or to the wife. Lot 7 is an exclusive property of the husband since it
was acquired prior to his marriage with the respondent. However lot 8 was acquired
in 1983 during the marriage of the spouses. There is no evidence proving that the
subject property was acquired through exchange or barter. The presumption of the
conjugal nature of the property subsists in the absence of and convincing evidence
to over come the presumption.
ISSUE: Whether or not the sale of the properties in question was valid without the
consent of the husband
HELD: The husband is the administrator of the conjugal partnership (Art. 165 NCC).
Subject to certain exceptions, the husband cannot alienate or encumber any real
property of the conjugal partnership without the wifes consent (Art. 166 NCC). And
the wife cannot bind the conjugal property without the husbands consent, except in
cases provided by law (Art. 172 NCC)
In the instant case, the wifes sale is not covered by the phrase except in cases
provided by law. THE SALE IS INVALID
Void or voidable? VOIDABLE
According to Art. 1390 NCC, among the voidable contracts are those where one of
the parties is incapable of giving consent to the contract (Par. 1). The wife had no
capacity to give consent to the contract of the sale. The capacity belonged not to
the husband alone but to both spouses. This is further supported by the
provision that contracts entered by the husband without the consent of the wife
when such consent is required, are annullable at her instance during the marriage
and within 10 years from the transaction questioned (Art. 173 NCC).
The voidable contract of the wife was subject to annulment by her husband only
during the marriage because he was the victim who had an interest in the contract.
The wife, who was the party responsible for the defect, could not ask for
its annulment. Their children could not likewise seek the annulment of the
contract while the marriage subsisted because they merely had an
inchoate right to the lands sold.
The termination of the marriage and the dissolution of the conjugal partnership by
the death of Maximo Aldon did not improve the situation the wife. After the death
of their father, they acquired the right to question the defective contract insofar as
it deprived them of their hereditary rights in their fathers share in the lands. The
father's share is one-half (1/2) of the lands and their share is two-thirds (2/3)
thereof, one-third (1/3) pertaining to the widow.
The Felipes were purchasers of bad faith as revealed in a testimony that sometime
in December 1970, Vicente Felipe (son of the petitioners) attempted to have the
wife (Gimena) sign a ready-made document claiming the sale of the land to them.
If sale was valid, why did they need a document of sale in their favor. Because they
knew the lots still did not belong to them. CA DECISION AFFIRMED. Petitioners are
ordered to give an accounting of the fruits corresponding to the share from 1959.
CHEESMAN V IAC 193 SCRA 93
June 4, 1974 a Deed of Sale and Transfer of Possessory Rights was executed
by Armando Altares, conveying a parcel of land in favor of Criselda
Cheesman, married to Thomas Cheesman. Thomas, although aware of the
deed, did not object to the transfer being made only to his wife. Tax
declarations for the said property were issued in the name of Criselda
Cheesman alone and she assumed exclusive management and administration
of the property
July 1, 1981 Criselda sold the property to Estelita Padilla without knowledge
and consent of Thomas
July 31, 1981 Thomas filed a suit for the annulment of the sale on the
ground that the transaction had been executed without his knowledge and
consent. Criselda filed an answer alleging that the property sold was
paraphernal, having purchased the property from her own money; that
Thomas, an American was disqualified to have any interest or right of
ownership in the land and; that Estelita was a buyer in good faith
During the trial, it was found out that the transfer of property took place
during the existence of their marriage as it was acquired on June 4, 1974
June 24, 1982 RTC declared the sale executed by Criselda void ab initio and
ordered the delivery of the property to Thomas as administrator of the
conjugal property
ISSUE: Whether or not the wife can dispose of the property in question; Whether or
not Cheesman, being an American citizen, can question the sale
HELD: Section 14, Art. XIV of 1973 Constitution provides that: save in cases of
hereditary succession, no private land shall be transferred or conveyed except to
individuals, corporations, or associations qualified to acquire or hold lands of the
public domain.
Thus, assuming that it was his intention that the lot in question be purchased by
him and his wife, he acquired no right whatsoever over the property by virtue of
that purchase; and in attempting to acquire a right or interest in land, he
was knowingly violating the Constitution. As such, the sale to him was null
and void.
At any rate, Cheesman had and has NO CAPACITY TO QUESTION THE SUBSEQUENT
SALE OF THE SAME PROPERTY BY HIS WIFE ON THE THEORY THAT IN SO DOING HE
IS MERELY EXERCISING THE PREROGATIVE OF A HUSBAND IN RESPECT OF
CONJUGAL PROPERTY.
To sustain such a theory would permit indirect
controversion of the Constitutional prohibition. If the property were to be
declared conjugal, this would accord to the alien husband a not insubstantial
interest and right over land, as he would then have a decisive vote as to its
transfer or disposition. This is a right that the Constitution does not permit
him to have.
Even if the wife did use conjugal funds to make the acquisition, his recovering and
holding the property cannot be warranted as it is against the constitution.
Consequently, Estelita is a purchaser in good faith since she knew that Thomas
cannot intervene in the sale or disposition of the said property. AFFIRMED
1 Art. 173. The wife may, during the marriage, and within ten years from the transaction
questioned, ask the courts for the annulment of any contract of the husband entered into
without her consent, when such consent is required, or any act or contract of the husband
which tends to defraud her or impair her interest in the conjugal partnership property.
Should the wife fail to exercise this right, she or her heirs, after the dissolution of the
marriage, may demand the value of property fraudulently alienated by the husband. (n)
Registration of sale with the Register of Deeds constitutes a notice to the whole
world. Since the deed of sale was registered on March 5, 1987, the wife is
presumed to have constructive notice of the sale form such date. CA DECISION
AFFIRMED.
VILLARANDA V SPOUSES VILLARANDA G.R. NO 153447 FEBRUARY 23, 2004
FACTS: This controversy revolves around a Deed of Exchange executed by and
between two brothers, petitioner Vincente Villaranda and respondent Honorio
Villaranda
A 471sqm lot was inherited by the two brothers from their parents. Estate
administrator Bebiano Luminarias leased 124 sqm to Honorio from May 1,
1976 to May 31, 1986. Vicente inherited 64.22sqm of the property that had
not been leased to Honorio
July 6, 1976 brothers executed Deed of Exchange, agreeing that Vicente will
convey his 64.22sqm portion to Honorio in exchange for the share in the
500sqm property in Macasandig covered by TCT 2138. Honorio took
posession of the 64.22sqm lot after and constructed improvements
April 6, 1992 subdivision plan for lot 448-B was completed. Vicentes
64.22sqm lot was designated as lot 448-B-7. Other heirs were issued their
own TCTs for their respective shares
Spouses Villaranda brought an action for specific performance before RTC to
compel Vicente to comply with his obligations under the Deed of Exchange,
alleging that they could not fully use or dispose of the Macasindig property
because Vicente has not yet identified his portion in the 500sqm property.
They also asked to Vincente to lot 448-B-7 to them in compliance with his
obligations under the deed
During the pendency of the case, Honorio conditionally sold the lot 448-B-7 to
Colorhouse Laboratories Inc
Vicente did not deny that he entered into a deed of exchange with his brother
but contended that he was not bound to it since the property had not been
delivered so the deed has not been consummated. Also, the deed was
revoked by both parties. According to him, he and the other co-heirs
requested Honorio to rescind the agreement since it was unfair. Honorio
agreed provided that certain conditions were met, which Vicente claimed to
have complied.
Vicente argues that the deed of exchange is void since the signature of
Honorios wife is missing in the instrument. Honorio argues that this does not
make the deed of exchange void, but MERELY VOIDABLE.
CA held that the provisions of NCC were applicable to the present case since
the deed of exchange has been entered into prior to the enactment of FC.
Thus, the absence of the wifes signature on the deed made it only voidable
not void. Also the wife had 10 years to seek for annulment of sale but
brought no action; her omission or refusal to rescind it. The spouses cause
of action had accrued not form the date of the execution of the deed but
only from the moment Vicente refused to cause the transfer of his
title to Honorio, 2 months prior to filing of the present case
ISSUE: Whether or not the deed of exchange entered into by the husband without
the wifes consent is void
HELD: Since the deed was entered into on July 6, 1976 prior to the effectivity of
FC, NCC provisions are applicable. The Macasindig lot was part of Honorio and
Anas conjugal properties.
Article 166. Unless the wife has been declared a non compos mentis or a
spendthrift, or is under civil interdiction or is confined in a leprosarium, the husband
cannot alienate or encumber any real property of the conjugal partnership without
the wifes consent. x x x
Article 173. The wife may, during the marriage, and within ten years from the
transaction questioned, ask the courts for the annulment of any contract of the
husband entered into without her consent, when such consent is required, or any
act or contract of the husband which tends to defraud her or impair her interest in
the conjugal partnership property. Should the wife fail to exercise this right, she or
her heirs, after the dissolution of the marriage, may demand the value of the
property fraudulently alienated by the husband.
According to Art 166, the husband cannot alienate or encumber any real property of
the CPG without the wifes consent. This provision must be read in conjunction with
Art. 173. The latter states that an action to annul an alienation or encumbrance
may be instituted by the wife during the marriage and within 10 years from the
transaction questioned. THE LACK OF CONSENT ON HER PART WILL NOT MAKE THE
HUSBANDS ALIENATION OR ENCUMBRANCE OF REAL PROPERTY OF CPG VOID BUT
MERELY VOIDABLE. Hence, the deed is valid until and unless annulled.
There is evidence that any action to annul the transfer made by Honorio was ever
brought by his wife within 10 years from the transaction questioned. Her right to
bring an action to invalidate the contract has prescribed.
In Papa v Montenegro, the SC explained that the legal prohibition against the
disposition of the conjugal property by the spouse without the consent of the other
has been established NOT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THIRD PERSONS BUT ONLY OF THE
OTHER SPOUSE for whom the law desires to save the conjugal partnership from
damages that might be caused. Vicente, not being the proper party, cannot avail
himself of the remedy prescribed by Art. 173. CA DECISION AFFIRMED.
AINZA V CA G.R. NO 165420 JUNE 30, 2005
FACTS: Concepcion alleged that spouses Padua owned a lot with unfinished building
in QC; sometime in 1987, she bought of the lot from the spouses for P100,000
No deed of sale was executed but cash payment was received by spouses
Padua and ownership was transferred to Ainza. Ainza authorized her
daughter (Natividad) and husband (Ceferino) to occupy the premises and
make improvements on the unfinished building
Thereafter, Padua had the lot partitioned into 3 and registered it under their
names
Respondent Antonio Padua claimed that he bought the lot in 1980 and
introduced the improvements thereon. Between 1989 and 1990, spouses
Padua allowed Natividad and Ceferino to occupy the premises temporarily. In
1994, they caused the subdivision of the property and 3 separate titles were
issued
Antonio requested Natividad to vacate the premises but the latter refused
and claimed that Concepcion owned the property. Antonio filed an ejectment
suit on April 1, 1999. Concepcion, through Natividad, filed a civil case for
partition of real property and annulment of titles and damages on May 4,
1999
Antonio claimed that his wife, Eugenia, admitted that Concepcion offered to
buy one third (1/3) of the property who gave her small amounts over several
years which totaled P100,000.00 by 1987 and for which she signed a receipt.
January 1, 2001 RTC rendered judgment in favor of Concepcion cancelling
TCTs and ordered the subdivision of the property into 2 lots and awarded to
Concepcion citing that the sale was consummated when both contracting
parties complied with their respective obligations
CA reversed RTC decision applying Art 124 FC that since the property is
conjugal, the written consent of the husband must be obtained for the sale to
be valid
ISSUE: Whether or not the sale between Concepcion and Eugenia is valid without
the written consent of Antonio
HELD: The verbal contract of sale did not violate the provisions of the Statute of
Frauds that a contract for the sale of real property shall be unenforceable unless the
contract or some note or memorandum of the sale is in writing abs subscribed by
the party charged or his agent. When the verbal contract has been completed,
executed or partially consummated, its enforceability will not be barred by
the Statute of Frauds. Where one party has performed his obligation, oral
evidence will be admitted to prove the agreement. The oral contract of sale
between Eugenia and Concepcion was evidenced by a receipt signed by Eugenia
and Antonios testimony that she sold the property to Concepcion.
It is clear that the subject property is conjugal and sold by the wife (Eugenia) in April
1987 prior to the effectivity of FC, in which Art. 254 repealed Title V Book I NCC on
property relations between husband and wife. However, Art. 256 limited its
retroactive effect only to cases where it would not prejudice or impair vested or
acquired rights in accordance with NCC or other laws. In the present case, the
vested rights of Concepcion will be impaired or prejudiced by the
application of the FC; hence, the provisions o f the NCC will be applied.
The consent of both husband and wife is necessary for the sale of the conjugal
property to be valid. The husbands consent cannot be presumed. Except in the
testimony of Natividad, there is no clear evidence that the husband participated or
consented to the sale of the conjugal property. The wife alone is incapable of
giving consent to the contract. Therefore, in the absence of the husbands consent,
the disposition made by the wife is VOIDABLE.
The contract of sale between Eugenia and Concepcion being an oral contract, the
action to annul the same must be commenced within 6 years from the time the
right of action accrued. Since the wife sold the property in April 1987, the husband
should have asked the courts to annul the sale on or before April 1993. No action
was made by the husband to annul the same, hence his right to seek its annulment
was extinguished by prescription.
Even if we were to apply the 10-year prescriptive period under Art. 173, the
husband is still barred from instituting an action to annul the same because since
April 1987, more than 10 years had already lapsed without any such action being
filed.
The sale of the conjugal property by the wife without the consent of the
husband is VOIDABLE. It is binding unless annulled. The husband failed
to exercise his right to ask for the annulment within the prescribed period,
hence, he is now barred from questioning the validity of the sale between
his wife and Concepcion.