IN RE SUMMARY SETTLEMENT OF THE ESTATE OF MELODIA FERRARIS.

FILOMENA ABELLANA DE BACAYO, petitioner-appellant,

v.
!AUDENCIA FERRARIS DE BORROMEO, CATALINA FERARIS DE "ILLE!AS,
#UANITO FERRARIS an$ CONCHITA FERRARIS, oppoitor-appellee.
Mateo C. Ba%alo an$ C. &intanar 'or petitioner-appellant.
!a($ioo So)e*a an$ C. To)a+in 'or oppoitor-appellee.
REYES, #.B.L., #.,
T-i i a pa(per. appeal, $ire%tl/ 0ro(1-t to t-i Co(rt on point o' la2, 'ro) a reol(tion, $ate$
Septe)0er 34, 5675, e8%l($in1 petitioner-appellant -erein, Filo)ena A0ellana $e Ba%a/o, a -eir in t-e
())ar/ ettle)ent o' t-e etate o' Melo$ia Ferrari, Spe%ial 9ro%ee$in1 No. 35::-R o' t-e Co(rt o'
Firt Intan%e o' Ce0(, T-ir$ Bran%-, a 2ell a 'ro) t-e or$er, $ate$ O%to0er 57, 5675, $en/in1 a
)otion to re%oni$er ai$ reol(tion.
T-e 'a%t o' t-i %ae are not $ip(te$ 0/ t-e partie.
Melo$ia Ferrari 2a a rei$ent o' Ce0( Cit/ (ntil 56;: 2-en -e tran'erre$ to Intra)(ro, Manila.
S-e 2a +no2n to -ave rei$e$ t-ere %ontin(o(l/ (ntil 56<<. T-erea'ter, (p to t-e 'ilin1 on De%e)0er
33, 5674 o' t-e petition 'or t-e ())ar/ ettle)ent o' -er etate, -e -a not 0een -ear$ o' an$ -er
2-erea0o(t are till (n+no2n. More t-an ten =54> /ear -avin1 elape$ in%e t-e lat ti)e -e 2a
+no2n to 0e alive, -e 2a $e%lare$ pre()ptivel/ $ea$ 'or p(rpoe o' openin1 -er (%%eion an$
$itri0(tin1 -er etate a)on1 -er -eir.
Melo$ia Ferrari le't propertie in Ce0( Cit/, %onitin1 o' one-t-ir$ =5?;> -are in t-e etate o' -er
a(nt, Roa Ferrari, val(e$ at 97,444.44, )ore or le, an$ 2-i%- 2a a$@($i%ate$ to -er in Spe%ial
9ro%ee$in1 No. 5;-" o' t-e a)e %o(rt.
T-e $e%eae$ Melo$ia Ferrari le't no (rvivin1 $ire%t $e%en$ant, a%en$ant, or po(e, 0(t 2a
(rvive$ onl/ 0/ %ollateral relative, na)el/, Filo)ena A0ellana $e Ba%a/o, an a(nt an$ -al'-iter o'
$e%e$ent. 'at-er, Ana%leto FerrariA an$ 0/ !a($en%ia, Catalina, Con%-ita, an$ #(anito, all (rna)e$
Ferrari, -er nie%e an$ nep-e2, 2-o 2ere t-e %-il$ren o' Melo$ia. onl/ 0rot-er o' '(ll 0loo$, Art(ro
Ferrari, 2-o pre-$e%eae$ -er =t-e $e%e$ent>. T-ee t2o %lae o' -eir %lai) to 0e t-e nearet
intetate -eir an$ ee+ to parti%ipate in t-e etate o' ai$ Melo$ia Ferrari.
T-e 'ollo2in1 $ia1ra) 2ill -elp ill(trate t-e $e1ree o' relation-ip o' t-e %onten$in1 partie to ai$
Melo$ia Ferrari,
Note, 9i%t(re
T-e ole i(e to 0e reolve$ in t-i %ae i, B-o -o(l$ in-erit t-e intetate etate o' a $e%eae$ peron
2-en -e or -e i (rvive$ onl/ 0/ %ollateral relative, to 2it an a(nt an$ t-e %-il$ren o' a 0rot-er 2-o
pre$e%eae$ -i) or -erC Ot-er2ie, 2ill t-e a(nt %on%(r 2it- t-e %-il$ren o' t-e $e%e$ent. 0rot-er in
t-e in-eritan%e or 2ill t-e 'or)er 0e e8%l($e$ 0/ t-e latterC
T-e trial %o(rt r(le$ t-at t-e oppoitor-appellee, a %-il$ren o' t-e onl/ pre$e%eae$ 0rot-er o' t-e
$e%e$ent, e8%l($e t-e a(nt =petitioner-appellant> o' t-e a)e $e%e$ent reaonin1 o(t t-at t-e 'or)er are
nearer in $e1ree =t2o $e1ree> t-an t-e latter in%e nie%e an$ nep-e2 (%%ee$ 0/ ri1-t o'
repreentation, 2-ile petitioner-appellant i t-ree $e1ree $itant 'ro) t-e $e%e$ent, an$ t-at ot-er
%ollateral relative are e8%l($e$ 0/ 0rot-er or iter or %-il$ren o' 0rot-er or iter o' t-e $e%e$ent
in a%%or$an%e 2it- arti%le 5446 o' t-e Ne2 Civil Co$e.
A1aint t-e a0ove r(lin1, petitioner-appellant %onten$ in t-e preent appeal t-at -e i o' t-e a)e or
eD(al $e1ree o' relation-ip a t-e oppoitor appellee, t-ree $e1ree re)ove$ 'ro) t-e $e%e$entA an$
t-at (n$er arti%le 6:E o' t-e Ne2 Civil Co$e no ri1-t o' repreentation %o(l$ ta+e pla%e 2-en t-e
nie%e an$ nep-e2 o' t-e $e%e$ent $o not %on%(r 2it- an (n%le or a(nt, a in t-e %ae at 0ar, 0(t rat-er
t-e 'or)er (%%ee$ in t-eir o2n ri1-t.
Be a1ree 2it- appellant t-at a an a(nt o' t-e $e%eae$ -e i a 'ar $itant a t-e nep-e2 'ro) t-e
$e%e$ent =t-ree $e1ree> in%e in t-e %ollateral line to 2-i%- 0ot- +in$ o' relative 0elon1 $e1ree are
%o(nte$ 0/ 'irt a%en$in1 to t-e %o))on an%etor an$ t-en $e%en$in1 to t-e -eir =Civil Co$e, Art.
677>. Appellant i li+e2ie ri1-t in -er %ontention t-at nep-e2 an$ nie%e alone $o not in-erit 0/ ri1-t
o' repreentation =i.e., per tripe> (nle %on%(rrin1 2it- 0rot-er or iter o' t-e $e%eae$, a
provi$e$ e8prel/ 0/ Arti%le 6:E,
ART. 6:E. B-en %-il$ren o' one or )ore 0rot-er or iter o' t-e $e%eae$ (rvive, t-e/ -all in-erit
'ro) t-e latter 0/ repreentation, i' t-e/ (rvive 2it- t-eir (n%le or a(nt. B(t i' t-e/ alone (rvive,
t-e/ -all in-erit in eD(al portion.
Nevert-ele, t-e trial %o(rt 2a %orre%t 2-en it -el$ t-at, in %ae o' inteta%/, nep-e2 an$ nie%e o'
t-e $e %(@( e8%l($e all ot-er %ollateral =a(nt an$ (n%le, 'irt %o(in, et%.> 'ro) t-e (%%eion. T-i
i rea$il/ apparent 'ro) arti%le 5445, 544<, 544E, an$ 5446 o' t-e Civil Co$e o' t-e 9-ilippine, t-at
provi$e$ a 'ollo2,
ART. 5445. S-o(l$ 0rot-er an$ iter or t-eir %-il$ren (rvive 2it- t-e 2i$o2 or 2i$o2er, t-e latter
-all 0e entitle$ to one--al' o' t-e in-eritan%e an$ t-e 0rot-er an$ iter or t-eir %-il$ren to t-e ot-er
-al'.
ART. 544<. S-o(l$ t-e onl/ (rvivor 0e 0rot-er an$ iter o' t-e '(ll 0loo$, t-e/ -all in-erit in
eD(al -are.
ART. 544E. S-o(l$ 0rot-er an$ iter (rvive to1et-er 2it- nep-e2 an$ nie%e, 2-o are t-e %-il$ren
o' t-e $e%e$ent. 0rot-er an$ iter o' t-e '(ll 0loo$, t-e 'or)er -all in-erit per %apita, an$ t-e latter
per tripe.
ART. 5446. S-o(l$ t-ere 0e neit-er 0rot-er nor iter nor %-il$ren o' 0rot-er or iter, t-e ot-er
%ollateral relative -all (%%ee$ to t-e etate.
T-e latter -all (%%ee$ 2it-o(t $itin%tion o' line or pre'eren%e a)on1 t-e) 0/ reaon o' relation-ip
0/ t-e 2-ole 0loo$.
Un$er t-e lat arti%le =5446>, t-e a0en%e o' 0rot-er, iter, nep-e2 an$ nie%e o' t-e $e%e$ent i a
pre%on$ition to t-e ot-er %ollateral =(n%le, %o(in, et%.> 0ein1 %alle$ to t-e (%%eion. T-i 2a alo
an$ )ore %learl/ t-e %ae (n$er t-e Spani- Civil Co$e o' 5FF6, t-at i))e$iatel/ pre%e$e$ t-e Civil
Co$e no2 in 'or%e =R.A. ;F7>. T-(, Arti%le 6E3 an$ 6E< o' t-e Co$e o' 5FF6 pre%ri0e$ a 'ollo2,
ART. 6E3. In t-e a0en%e o' 0rot-er, or iter an$ o' nep-e2 or nie%e, %-il$ren o' t-e 'or)er,
2-et-er o' t-e 2-ole 0loo$ or not, t-e (rvivin1 po(e, i' not eparate$ 0/ a 'inal $e%ree o' $ivor%e,
-all (%%ee$ to t-e entire etate o' t-e $e%eae$.
ART. 6E<. S-o(l$ t-ere 0e neit-er 0rot-er or iter, nor %-il$ren o' 0rot-er or iter, nor a (rvivin1
po(e, t-e ot-er %ollateral relative -all (%%ee$ to t-e etate o' $e%eae$.
T-e latter -all (%%ee$ 2it-o(t $itin%tion o' line or pre'eren%e a)on1 t-e) 0/ reaon o' t-e 2-ole
0loo$.
It 2ill 0e een t-at (n$er t-e pre%e$in1 arti%le, 0rot-er an$ iter an$ nep-e2 an$ nie%e in-erite$
a0 intetato a-ea$ o' t-e (rvivin1 po(e, 2-ile ot-er %ollateral (%%ee$e$ onl/ a'ter t-e 2i$o2er or
2i$o2. T-e preent Civil Co$e o' t-e 9-ilippine )erel/ pla%e$ t-e po(e on a par 2it- t-e nep-e2
an$ nie%e an$ 0rot-er an$ iter o' t-e $e%eae$, 0(t 2it-o(t alterin1 t-e pre'erre$ poition o' t-e
latter vi-a-vi t-e ot-er %ollateral.
Appellant D(ote para1rap- 3 o' Tolentino. %o))entarie to Arti%le 5446 o' t-e preent Civil Co$e a
$e%larin1 t-at Arti%le 5446 $oe not eta0li- a r(le o' pre'eren%e. B-i%- i tr(e a to Got-er
%ollateral,G in%e pre'eren%e a)on1 t-e) i a%%or$in1 to t-eir pro8i)it/ to t-e $e%e$ent, a eta0li-e$
0/ Arti%le 673, para1rap- 5.
ART. 673. In ever/ in-eritan%e, t-e relative nearet in $e1ree e8%l($e t-e )ore $itant one, avin1 t-e
ri1-t o' repreentation 2-en it properl/ ta+e pla%e.
B(t Tolentino $oe not tate t-at nep-e2 an$ nie%e %on%(r 2it- ot-er %ollateral o' eD(al $e1ree. On
t-e %ontrar/, in t-e 'irt para1rap- o' -i %o))entarie to Arti%le 5446 ="ol II, p. <;6> =2-i%- %o(nel
'or appellant -a$ (net-i%all/ o)itte$ to D(ote>, Tolentino e8prel/ tate,
Ot-er %ollateral. H T-e lat o' t-e relative o' t-e $e%e$ent to (%%ee$ in intetate (%%eion are t-e
%ollateral ot-er t-an 0rot-er or iter or %-il$ren o' 0rot-er or iter. T-e/ are, -o2ever, li)ite$ to
relative 2it-in t-e 'i't- $e1ree. Be/on$ t-i, 2e %an a'el/ a/ t-ere i -ar$l/ an/ a''e%tion to )erit
t-e (%%eion o' %ollateral. Un$er t-e la2, t-ere'ore, relative 0e/on$ t-e 'i't- $e1ree are no lon1er
%oni$ere$ a relative, 'or (%%eional p(rpoe.
Arti%le 5446 $oe not tate an/ or$er o' pre'eren%e. Ho2ever, t-i arti%le -o(l$ 0e (n$ertoo$ in
%onne%tion 2it- t-e 1eneral r(le t-at t-e nearet relative e8%l($e t-e 'art-er. Collateral o' t-e a)e
$e1ree in-erit in eD(al part, t-ere 0ein1 no ri1-t o' repreentation. T-e/ (%%ee$ 2it-o(t $itin%tion o'
line or pre'eren%e a)on1 t-e) on a%%o(nt o' t-e 2-ole 0loo$ relation-ip. =E)p-ai (pplie$>
Be, t-ere'ore, -ol$, an$ o r(le, t-at (n$er o(r la2 o' (%%eion, a $e%e$ent. (n%le an$ a(nt )a/
not (%%ee$ a0 intetato o lon1 a nep-e2 an$ nie%e o' t-e $e%e$ent (rvive an$ are 2illin1 an$
D(ali'ie$ to (%%ee$.
T-e $e%iion appeale$ 'ro), in o 'ar a it %on'or) to t-i r(le, i -ere0/ a''ir)e$. No %ot.
Ben1Ion, C.#., Con%ep%ion, DiIon, Re1ala, Ma+alintal, Ben1Ion, #.9., an$ Jal$ivar, ##., %on%(r.
Ba(tita An1elo, #., too+ no part.