Neri V Akutin Full Case

VOL.
74, MAY 21, 1943 185

Neri et al. vs. Akutin and Children
[No. 47799.May 21, 1943]
Administrative of the estate of Agripino Neri y Chavez.
ELEUTERIO NERI ET AL., petitioners, vs. IGNACIA AKUTIN AND
HER CHILDREN, respondents.
1.DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION; EFFECT OF PRETERITION.According to the
findings of fact in this case, the testator left all his property by
universal title to the children by his second marriage, and that
without expressly disinheriting the children by his first marriage, he
left nothing to them. Held: That this is a case of preterition govern
by article 814 of the Civil Code, which provides that the institution
of heirs shall be annulled and intestate succession should be
declared.
2.ID.; ID.; RESPECTIVE SCOPE OF ARTICLES 814, 817, AND 851 OF THE CIVIL
CODE.The folliwing example will make the question clearer: The
testator has two legistimate sons, A and B, and in his will he leaves
all his property to A, with total preterition of B. Upon these facts,
shall the court annul entirely the institution of heir in favor of A and
declare a total intestacy, or shall it merely refuse the bequest left to
A. giving him twothirds, that is, onethird of free disposal and one
third of betterments, plus onehalf of the other third as strict
legitime, and awarding B only the remaining onehalf of the strict
legitime? If the court does the first, it applies article 814; if the
second, it applies article 851 or 817. But article 851 applies only in
case of unfounded disinheritance, and all are agreed that the present
case is not one of disinheritance but of preterition. Article 817 is
merely a general rule inapplicable to specific cases provided by law,
such as that of pretertion or disinheritance.
3.ID.; ID.; ID.; LEGACIES AND BETTERMENTS SHOULD BE RESPECTED IN SO FAR
AS THEY ARE NOT INOFFICIOUS OR EXCESSIVE.The annulment of the
institution of heirs in cases of pretetion does not always carry with it
the ineffictiveness of the whole will. Neither Manresa nor Sanchez
Roman northis court has ever said so. If, aside from the institution
of heirs, there are in the will provisions leaving to the heirs so
instituted or to other persons some specific properties in the form of
legacies or mejoras, such testamentary provisions shall be effective
and the legacies and mejoras shall be respected in so far as they are
not inofficious or excessive, according to article 814. in the instant
case, however, no legacies or mejoras are provided in the will, the
whole property of the deceased having been left by universal title to
the children of the second marriage. The effect, therefore, of
annulling the institution of heirs will be necessaroly the opening of a
total intestacy.
4.ID.; ID.; ID.; INSTITUTION OF HEIRS DISTINGUISHED FROM LEGACIES AND
BETTERMENTS.The theory is advaced that the bequest made by
universal title in favor of the children by the second marraige should
be treated as legado and majora and, accordingly, it must not be
entirely annulled but merely reduced. This theory, if adopted, will
result in a complete abrogation of article 814 and 851 of the Civil
Code. If every case of institution of heirs maybe made to fall into the
concept of legacies and betterments reducing the bequest
accordingly, then the provisions of article 814 and 815 regarding
total or partial nullity of the institution, would be absolutely
meaningless and will never have any application at all. And the
remaining provisions contained in said article concerning the
reduction of inofficious legacies or betterments would be absorbed by
article 817. This, instead of construing, this visions of the Civil Code.
5.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.The distructive effect of the theory thus advanced is
due mainly to a failure to distinguish institution of heirs from
legacies and betterments, and a general from a special provision.
With reference to article 814, which is the only provition material to
the disposition of this case, it must be observed that the institution
of heirs is therein dealt with as a thing separate and distinct from
legacies or betterment. And they are separate and distinct not only
because they are distinctly and separately treated in said article but
beacuase they are in themselves different. Institution of heirs is a
bequest by universal title of property that is undetermined. Legacy
refers to pacific property bequeathed by a particular or special title.
The first is also different from a betterment which whould be made
expressly as such (article 828). The only instance of implied
betterment recognized by law is wher legacies are made which
cannot be included in the free portion (article 828). But again an
institution of heirs cannot be taken as a legacy.
6.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.It is clear, therefore, that article 814 referes to two
different things which are the two different objects of it s two
different provisions. One of these ob
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186 PHILIPPINE REPORTS ANNOTATED
jects cannot be made to merge in the other without mutilating the
whole article with all its multifarious connections with a great
number of provisions spread throughout the Civil Code on the
matter of succession. It should be borne in mind, further, that
althought article 814 contains two different provisions, its special
purpose is to establich a specific rule concerning a specific
testamentary provision; namely, the institution of heirs in a case of
preterition. Its other provision regarding the validity of legacies and
betterments if not inofficious is a mere reiteration of the general
rule contained in order provisions (article 815 and 817) and signifies
merely that it also applies in case of preterition.
7.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.As regards testamentary
dispositions in general, the general rule is that all "testamentary
dispositions which dimmish the legitime of the forced heirs shall be
reduced on petition of the same in so far as they are inofficious or
excessive" (article 817). But this general rule does not apply to the
specific instance of a testamentary disposition containing an
institution of heirs in a case of preterition, which is made the main
and specific subject of article 814. In such instance, according to
article 814, the testamentary disposition containing the institution
of heirs should be not only reduced but annulled in its entirely and
all the forced heirs, including the omitted ones, are entitled to
inherit in accordance with the law of intestate succession. It is thus
evident that, if, in construing arcticle 814, the institution of heirs
therein dealt with is to be treated as legacies or betterments, the
special object of said article would be destroyed, its specific purpose
completely defeated, and in that wise the special rule therein
established would be rendered nugatory. And this is contrary to the
most elementary rule of statutory construction. In construing
several provisions of a particular statute, such construction shall be
adopted as will give effect to all, and when general and particular
provisions are consistent the latter shall over the former. (Act No.
190, secs. 287 and 288.)
8.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; "HEREDERO" UNDER THE CIVIL CODE AND "HEIR" UNDER
THE CODE OF CIVIL PROCEDURE.It is maintained that the word
"heredero" under the Civil Code, is not synonymous with the term
"heir" under the Code of Civil Procedure, and that the "heir" under
the latter Code is no longer personally liable for the debts of the
deceased as was the "heredero" under the Civil Code, should his
acceptance be pure and simple, and from all these the conclusion is
drawn that the provisions of article 814 of the Civil Code regarding
the total nullity of the institution of heirs has become obsolete. This
conclusion is erroneous. It confuses form with substance. It must be
observed, in this connection, that in construing and applying a
provision of the Civil Code, such meaning of its words and phrases
as has been intended by the framers thereof shall be adopted. If thus
construed it is inconsistent with the provisions of the Code of Civil
Procedure, then it shall be deemed repealed; otherwise it is in force.
Repeals by implication are not favored by the court and when there
are two acts upon the same subject, effect should be given to both if
possible (Posadas vs. National City Bank, 296 U. S., 497).
9.ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.; ID.The word "heir" as used in article 814 of the
Civil Code may not have the meaning that it has under the Code of
Civil Procedure, but this in no wise can prevent a bequest from
being made by univesal title as is in substance the subject matter of
article 814 of the Civil Code. Again, it may also be true that heirs
under the Code of Civil Procedure may recieve the bequest only
after payment of debts left by the deceased and not before as under
the Civil Code, but this may have a bearing only upon the question
as to when succession becomes effective and can in no way destroy
the fact that succession may still be by universal or special title.
Since a bquest may still be made by universal title and with
pretetion of forced heirs, its nullity as provided in article 814 still
applies there being nothing inconsistent with it in the Code of Civil
Procedure. What is imporatant and is the basis for its nullity is the
nature and effect of the bequest and not its possible name nor the
moment of its effectiveness under the Code of Civil Procedure.
PETITION for review on certiorari.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the court.
Ozamis & Capistrano for petitioners.
Gullas, Leuterio, Tanner & Laput for respondents.
MORAN,J.:
This is the case where the testator in his will left all his
property by universal title to the children by his second
marriage,
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VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 187
the herein respondents, with preterition of the children by
his firts marriage, the herein retitioners. This Court
annulled the institution of heirs and declaired a total
intestacy.
A motion for reconsideration has been filed by the
respondents on the ground (1) that there is no pretetion as
to the children of the first marriage who have receive their
shares in the property left by the testator, and (2) that, even
assuming that there has been a pretetion, the effect would
not be the annulment of the institution of heirs but simply
the reduction of the bequest made to them.
1.The findings of the trial court and those of the Court of
Appealsarecontrarytorespondents'firstcontention.Thechildrenof
thefirstmarriageareEleuterio,Agripino,Agapita,Getulia(whodied
a little less than eight years before the death of her father Agripino
Neri,leavingsevenchildren),RosarioandCelerina.
As to Eleuterio, the trial court said that "it is not, therefore, clear
that Eleuterio has received his share out of the properties left by his
father." It is true that Eleuterio appears to have received, as
a donation from his father, parcel of land No. 4, but the
question of whether there has been a donation or not is
apparently left for decision in an independent action, and to
that effect Ignacia Akutin has been appointed special
administratrix for the purpose of instituing such action.
With respect to Agripino and Agapita, the parcels of land
which they have occupied, according to the trial Court, "are
a part of public land which had been occupied by Agripino
Neri Chaves, and, therefore, were not a part of the estate of
the latter."
Concerning Getulia who did about eight years before the
death of her father Agripino Neri, the trial Court found that
"neither Getulia nor her heirs received any share of the
properties."
And with respect to Rosario and Celerina, the trial Court
said that "it does not appear clear, therefore, that Celerina
and Rosario received their shares in the estate left by their
father Agripino Neri Chaves.
This is connection with the property, real or personal, left
by the deceased. As to money advances, the trial Court
found:
"It is contended, furthermore, that the children of Agripino Neri
Chaves in his first marriage received money from their father. It
appears that Nemesio Chaves is indebted in the amount of P1,000;
Agripino, in the amount of P500 as appears in Exhibits 14 and 15;
Getulia, in the amount of P155 as appears in Exhibits 16, 17 and
18; Celerina in the amount of P120 as appears in Exhibits 19, 19A
and 19B."
From these findings of the trial Court it is clear that
Agapita, Rosario and the children of Getulia had received
from the testator no property whatsoever, personal, real or
in cash.
But clause 8 of the will is invoked wherein the testator
made the statement that the children by his first marriage
had already received their shares in his property excluding
what he had given them as aid during their financial
trouble and the money they had borrowed from him which
he condoned in the will. Since, however, this is an issue of
fact tried by the Court of First Instance, and we are
reviewing the decision of the Court of Appeals upon a
question of law regarding that issue, we can rely only upon
the findings of fact made by the latter Court, which are as
follows:
"Since all the parcels that corresponded to Agripino Neri y
Chaves are now in the administrator's possession, as appears in the
inventory filed in court, it is clear that the property of the deceased
has remained intact and that no portion thereof has been given to
the children of the first marriage.
*******
"Its is stated by the court and practically admitted by the
appellants that a child of the first marriage named Getulia, or her
heirs after her death, did not receive any share of the property of
her father."
It is true that in the decision of the Court of Appeals
there is also the following paragraph:
"As regards that large parcel of land adjoining parcel No. 1, it is
contended that after the court had denied the registration thereof,
Agapino Neri y Chaves abandoned the said land and that later on some
of the children of
188
the first marriage possessed it, thereby acquiring title and interest
therein by virtue of occupation and not through inheritance. It is not
true that this parcel containing 182.6373 hectares is now assessed in
the name of some of the children of the first marriage, for as shown on
Tax Declaration No. 9395, Exhibit 11g, the owners of the property are
Agapita Neri de Chavez y Hermanos. Apparently, the said land is still
claimed to be the property not only of the children of the first marriage
but also of those of the second marriage."
This paragraph is but a corroboration of the finding
made by the Court of Appeals that no property has ever
been advanced by the testator to the children by his first
marriage. The large parcel of land adjoining parcel No. 1
was alleged by the children of the second marriage to have
been advanced by the testator to the children by his first
marriage; but the Court of Appeals belied this claim. "It is
not true," says that Court, " that this parcel containing
182.6373 hectares is now assessed in the names of some of
the children of the first marriage, for as shown on Tax
Declaration No. 9395, Exhibit 11g, the owners of the
property are Agapita Neri de Chaves y Hermanos," that is,
the children of both marriages. And the Court of Appeals
added that "apparently, the said land is still claimed to be
the property not only of the children of the first marriage
but alsso of those of the second marriage," which is another
way of stating that the property could not have been
advanced by the testator to the children by the first
marriage, for otherwise the children by the second marriage
would not lay a claim on it.
We conclude, therefore, that according to the findings of
fact made by the court of appeals, the testator left all his
property by universal title to the children by his second
marriage, and that without expressly disinheriting the
children by his first marriage, he left nothing to them or, at
least, some of them. this is, accordingly a case of preterition
governed by article 814 of the Civil Code, which provides
that the institution of heirs shall be annulled and intestate
succession should be declared open.
2.Upon the second question propounded in the motion for
reconsideration, respondents seems to agree that article 814 of the
CivilCodeisthelawapplicablebut,intheirdiscussionastotheeffect
of preterition, they confuse article 814 with article 817 and 851 and
otherarticlesoftheCivilCode.Thesethreearticlesread:
"ART. 814.The preterition of one or of all of the forced
heirs in the direct line, wether living at the execution of the
will or born after the death of the testator, shall annul the
institution of heirs; but the legacies and betterments shall
be valid in so far as they are not inofficious.
"The preterrition of the widower or widow does not annul
the institution; but the person omitted shall retain all the
rights granted to him by article 834, 835, 836, and 837 of
this Code.
"If the forced heirs omitted die before the testator, the
institution shall become operatives."
"ART. 817.Testamentary disposition which diminish the
legitime of the forced heirs shall be reduced on petition of
the same in so far as they are inofficious or excessive."
"ART. 851.Disinheritance made without a statement of
the cause, or for a cause the truth of which, if contested, is
not shown or which is not one of those stated in the four
following articles shall anul the institution of heirs in so far
as it is prejudicial to the disinherited persons; but the
legacies, betterments, and other testamentary dispositions
shall be valid in so far as they are not prejudicial to said
legitime."
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VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 189
disinheritance but of preterition. Article 817 is merely a
general rule inapplicable to specific cases provided by law,
such as that of preterition or disinheritance. The meaning of
article 814 and 851, their difference and philosophy, and
their relation to article 817, are lucidly explained by
Manresa in the following manner:
"Cuando la legitime no es usufructuaria, como ocurre en
los dems casos, la pretericin no puede menos de alterar
esencialmente la institucin de heredero. Esta ha de
anularse, pero en todo o en parte, esto es, slo en cuanto
perjudique el derecho del legitimario? El articulo 814 opta
por la primera solucin, ya que hemos de atenernos
estrictsmente al texto de la ley; mientras que el articulo 851,
en casos anlogos, opta por la segunda.
"En efecio; la desheredacin sin justa causa no produce el
efecto de desheredar. El heredero conserva derecho a su
legitima, pero nada ms que a su legitima. Los legados, las
mejoras, si las hay, y aun la institucin de heredero, son
vlidas en cuanto no perjudiquen al heredero forzoso.
"La diferencia se notar perfectamente con un ejemplo.
Un soltern, sin descendientes ni ascendientes legitimos,
hace testamento instituyendo por heredero a un pariente
lejano. Despus reconoce un hijo natural, o se casa y tiene
descendencia, y muere sin modificar su disposicin
testamentaria. A su muerte, el hijo natural, o los legitimos,
fundndose en la nulidad total de la institucin, con arreglo
al articulo 814, piden toda la herencia. En el caso del
articulo 851 slo podrian pedir su legitima. Preteridos,
adquieren derecho a todo; desheredados, slo les
corresponde un tercio o dos tercios, segn el caso.
"En el fondo la cuestin es idntica. El testador puede
siempre disponer a su arbitrio de la parte libre. El
legitimario, contra la voluntad expresa del testador, slo
tiene derecho a su legitima. Preterido o desheredado sin
justa causa la legitima es suya. Desheredado o preterido, la
porcin libre no le corresponde, cuando el testador la asigna
a otro. Lgicamente no cabe que el legitimario, en caso de
pretericin, reciba todos los bienes cuando el testador haya
dispuesto de ellos a titulo de fterencia, y no cuando haya
dispuesto del tercio libre a titulo de legado.
"Cul es la razn de esta diferencia? En la generalidad de
los casos puede fundarse el precepto en la presunta voluntad
del testa dor. Este, al desheredar, revela que existe alguna
razn o motivo que le impulsa a obrar as; podr no ser
bastante para privar al here dero de su legitima, pero
siempre ha de estimarse suficiente para privarle del resto de
la herencia, pues sobre sta no puede pretender ningn
derecho el desheredado. El heredero preterido no ha sido
privado expresamente de nada; el testador, en los casos
normales, obra s por descuido o por error. Hemos visto un
testamento en el que no se institua heredera a una hija
monja, por creer la testadora que no poda heredar. En otros
casos se ignora la existencia de un descendiente o de un
ascendiente. Cuando el preterido es una persona que ha
nacido despus de muerto el testador o despus de hecho el
testamento, la razn es an ms clara; la omisin ha de
presumirse involuntaria; el testador debe suponerse que
hubiera instituido heredero a esa persona si hubiera
existido al otorgarse el testamento, y no slo en cuanto a la
legtima, sino en toda la herencia, caso de no haber otros
herederos forzosos, y en iguales trminos que los dems
herederos no mejorados de un modo expreso.
"La opinin contraria puede tambin defenderse,
suponiendo que la ley anula el ttulo de heredero, mas no en
absolute la participacin en el caudal; que as como al
exceptuar la mejora se refiere a todo el tercio o a la parte de
1 que haya distribuido el causante, al ex ceptuar los legados
se refiere a la parte libre de que haya dispuesto el mismo
testador, considerando como un simple legatario de esa por
cin a la persona a quien el testador design como heredero.
Abonara esta solucin el articulo 817, al declarar que las
disposiciones testamentarias que menguan la legtima de
los herederos forzosos han de reducirse en cuanto fueren
inoficiosas, pues amparado en este articulo el heredero
voluntario, puede pretender que la disposicin a su favor sea
respetada en cuanto no perjudique a las legtimas.
"La jurisprudencia no ha resuelto de frente esta cuestin,
porque no se le ha presentado en los terminos propuestos;
pero ha demostrado su criterio.
"Hemos citado las Resoluciones de la Direccin de 30 de
octubre de 1896 y de 20 de mayo de 1898. En la primera se
decide con valenta, con arreglo al texto expreso del articulo
814; la institucin de heredero se anula en absolute, y se
abre para toda la herencia la sucesin intestada. En la
segunda se rehuye la cuestin, fundndose en
circunstancias secundarias. En el artculo siguiente
examinaremos la sentencia de 16 de enero de 1895.
"La interpretacin que rectamente se desprende del art. 814, es la de
que slo valen, y eso en cuanto no sean inoficiosas, las disposiciones
hechas a titulo de legado o mejora. En cuanto a la institucin de
heredero, se anula. Lo que se anula deja de existir, en todo, o en parte?
No se aade limitacin alguna, como en el articulo 851, en el que se
expresa que se anular la institucin de heredero en cuanto perjudique
a la legitima del desheredado. De
190
be, pues, entenderse que la anulacin es completa o total, y que este
articulo, como especial en el caso que le motiva, rige con preference al
817." (6 Manresa, 3.' ed., pgs. 351353.) (Italics supplied).
The following opinion of Snchez Ro man is to the same
effect and dispels all possible doubt on the matter:

"La consecuencia de la anulacin o nulidad de la institucin de
heredero por pretericin de uno, varios o todos los forzosos en linea
recta, es la apertura de la sucesin intestada, total o parcial. Ser
total, cuando el testador que comete la pretericin, hubiere dispuesto
de todos los bienes por titulo universal de herencia en favor de los
herederos instituidos, cuya institucin se anula, porque as lo exige
la generalidad del precepto legal del articulo 814, al determinar,
como efecto de la pretericin, el de que 'anular la institucin de
heredero'. Cierto es que la pretericin est mtroducida, como
remedio juridico, por sus efectos, en nombre y para garantia de la
integridad de la legitima de los herederos forzosos y como
consecuencia del precepto del 813, de que 'el testador no podra
privar a los herederos de su legitima, sino en los casos expresamente
determinados por la ley', que son los de desheredacin con justa
causa.
"Cierto es, tambin, que en la deshereda cin es muy otro el
criterio del Cdigo y que su frmula legal, en cuanto a sus efectos, es
de alcance ms limitado, puesto que, conforme al articulo 851, la
desheredacin hecha sin condiciones de validez, 'anular la
institucin de heredero', lo mismo que la pretericin, pero slo 'en
cuanto perjudique la desheredado': es decir, nada mas que en lo que
menoscabe o desconozca sus derechos a la legitima, y, por tanto en
la parte cuota o cantidad que represente en el caudal hereditario,
atendida la con dition de legitimario del desheredado de modo ilegal
e ineficaz; salvedad o limitacin de los efectos de nulidad de la
institucin hecha en el testamento, que no existe, segn se ha visto
en el 814, por el que se declara, en forma ge neral e indistinta, que
anulara la institucin de heredero sin ninguna atenuacin respecto
de que perjudique o no, total o parcialmente, la cuantia de la
legitima del heredero forzoso en linea recta, preterido.
"El resultado de ambos criterios y frmulas legates,
tnanifestamente distintas, tiene que ser muy diverse En el caso de
la pretericin, propiamente tal o totalpues si fuera parcial y se la
dejara algo al heredero forzoso por cualquier titulo, aunque ese
algo no fuere suficiente al pago de sus derechos de legitima, no
seria caso de pretericin, regulado por el articulo 814, sino de
complemento, regido por el 815 v la institucin no se anularia sino
que se modificara o disminuira en lo necesario para dicho
complementoo de institucin de he redero en toda la herencia, al
anularse la institucin, por efecto de la pretericin, se abre la
intestada en favor del preterido o preteridos, respecto de toda la
herencia, tambin; mientras que en el caso de desheredacin y de
institu cin en la totalidad de la herencia a favor de otra persona,
slo se anular en la parte precisa para no perjudicar la legitima del
deshe redado, que aun siendo en este caso la lata, si no hubo
mejoras, porque no se establecieron o porque los institudos eran
herederos voluntaries, dejaria subsistente la institucin en la parte
correspondiente al tercio de libre disposicin. As es que los
preteridos, en el supuesto indicado, suceden abintestate en todo, en
concurrence con los dems herederos forzosos o llamados por la ley
al abintestate; los desheredados, nicamente en dos tercios o en uno
tan slo, en la hiptesis de haberse ordenado mejoras.
"En cambio, ni por la desheredacin ni por la pretericin pierde
su fuerza el testamento, en cuanto a dicho tercio libre, si se trata de
descendientes; o la mitad, si se trata de ascendientes, ya
desheredados, ya preteridos, porque, ni por el uno ni por el otro
medio, se anula ms que la institucin de heredero, en general, y
totalmente por la pretericin, y slo en cuanto perjudique a la
legtima del desheredado por la desheredacin; pero subsistiendo, en
ambos casos, todas aquellas otras disposiciones que no se refieren a
la institucin de heredero y se hallen dentro del limite cuantitativo
del tercio o mitad de libre disposicin, segun que se trate de
descendientes o ascendientes, preteridos o desheredados.
"La invocacin del articulo 817 para modificar estos efectos de la
pretericin, procurando limitar la anulacion de la institucin de he
redero slo en cuanto perjudique a la legitima, fundndose en que
dicho artculo establece que 'las disposiciones testamentarias que
menguan la legitima de los herederos forzosos se reducirn, a
peticin de stos, en lo que fueren inoficiosas o excesivas,' no es
aceptable ni puede variar aquellos resultados, porque es un precepto
de carcter general en toda otra clase de disposiciones
testamentarias que produzcan el efecto de menguar la legtima, que
no puede anteponerse, en su aplicacin, a las de indole especial para
senalar los efectos de la pretericin o de la desheredacin, regulados
privativa y respectivamerite por los articulos 814 y 851.
"No obstante la pretericin, 'valdran las mandas y legados en
cuanto no sean inoficiosas.' El texto es terminante y no necesita
mayor explication, despus de lo dicho, que su propia letra, a no ser
para observar que constituye una confirmacin indudable de los
efectos de
191
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 191
la pretericin, en cuanto alcanzan slo, pero totalmente, a la
anulacion de la institucin de heredero, pero no a la de las mandas
y mejoras en cuanto no sean inoficwsas o perjudiquen a la legitima
de los preteridos; calificativo de tales, como sinonimo legal de
excesivas, que en otros artculos, como el 817, establece la ley." (6
Snchez Roman, Volumen 2.o pgs. 11401141.)
These comments should be read with care if we are to
avoid misunderstanding. Manresa, for instance, starts
expounding the meaning of the law with an illustration. He
says that in case of pretention (article 814), the nullity of the
institution of heirs is total, whereas in case of disinheritance
(article 851), the nullity is partial, that is, in so far as the
institution affects the le gitime of the disinherited heirs.
"Preteridos, adquieren derecho a todo; desheredados, slo les
corresponde un tercio o dos tercios, segn el caso." He then
proceeds to comment upon the wisdom of the distinction
made by law, giving two views thereon. He first lays the
view contrary to the distinction made by law, then the
arguments in support of the distinction, and lastly a possible
defense against said arguments. And after stating that the
Spanish jurisprudence has not as yet de cided squarely the
question, with an allu sion to two resolutions of the Spanish
Administrative Direction, one in favor of article 814 and
another evasive, he con cludes that the construction which
may rightly be given to article 814 is that in case of
preterition, the institution of heirs is null in toto whereas in
case of disin heritance the nullity is limited to that portion of
the legitime of which the disin herited heirs have been
illegally deprived. He further makes it clear that in cases of
preterition, the property bequeathed by universal title to
the instituted heirs should not be merely reduced according
to article 817, but instead, intestate succession should be
opened in connection therewith under article 814, the
reason being that article 814, "como especial en el caso que
le motiva, rige con preferencia al 817." Sanchez Roman is of
the same opinion when he said: "La invocacin del artculo
817 para modificar estos efectos de la pretericin,
procurando limitar la anu lacin de la institucin de
heredero slo en cuanto perjudique a la legtima, fun
dndose en que dicho artculo establece que 'las
disposiciones testamentarias que menguan la legitima de
los herederos forzosos se reduciran, a peticin de stos, en lo
que fueren inoficiosas o excesivas,' no es aceptable ni puede
variar aquellos resultados, porque es un precepto de
carcter general en toda otra clase de disposiciones
testamentarias que produzcan el efecto de menguar la
legtima, que no puede anteponerse, en su aplicacin, a las
de indole especial para sealar los efectos de la pretericin o
de la desheredacin, regulados privativa y respectivamente
por los artculos 814 y 851."
Of course, the annulment of the institution of heirs in
cases of preterition does not always carry with it the
ineffective ness of the whole will. Neither Manresa nor
Sanchez Roman nor this Court has ever said so. If, aside
from the institu tion of heirs, there are in the will provisions
leaving to the heirs so instituted or to other persons some
specific properties in the form of legacies or mejoras, such
testamentary provisions shall be effective and the legacies
and mejoras shall be re spected in so far as they are not
inofficious or excessive, according to article 814. In the
instant case, however, no legacies or mejoras are provided in
the will, the whole property of the deceased having been left
by universal title to the children of the second marriage.
The effect, there fore. of annulling the institution of heirs
will be necessarily the opening of a total intestacy.
192
sions of articles 814 and 851 regarding total or partial
nullity of the institution, would be absolutely meaningless
and will never have any application at all. And the
remaining provisions contained in said article concerning
the reduction of in officious legacies or betterments would be
a surplusage because they would be ab sorbed by article 817.
Thus, instead of construing, we would be destroying inte gral
provisions of the Civil Code.
The destructive effect of the theory thus advanced is due
mainly to a failure to distinguish institution of heirs from
legacies and betterments, and a general from a special
provision. With reference to article 814, which is the only
provision material to the disposition of this case, it must be
observed that the institution of heirs is therein dealt with as
a thing separate and distinct from legacies or betterment.
And they are separate and distinct not only because they
are distinctly and separately treated in said article but
because they are in themselves different. Institution of heirs
is a bequest by universal title of property that is undeter
mined. Legacy refers to specific property bequeathed by a
particular or special title. The first is also different from a
betterment which should be made expressly as such (article
828). The only instance of implied betterment recognized by
law is where legacies are made which cannot be included in
the free portion (article 828). But again an institution of
heirs cannot be taken as a legacy.
It is clear, therefore, that article 814 refers to two
different things which are the two different objects of its two
different provisions. One of these objects cannot be made to
merge in the other without mutilating the whole article
with all its multifarious connections with a great number of
provisions spread throughout the Civil Code on the matter
of succession. It should be borne in mind, further, that
although article 814 contains two different provisions, its
spe cial purpose is to establish a specific rule concerning a
specific testamentary provision. namely, the institution of
heirs in a case of preterition. Its other provision regarding
the validity of legacies and betterments if not inofficious is a
mere reiteration of the general rule contained in other
provisions (articles 815 and 817) and sig nifies merely that it
also applies in cases of preterition. As regards testamentary
dispositions in general, the general rule is that all
"testamentary dispositions which diminish the legitime of
the forced heirs shall be reduced on petition of the same in
so far as they are inofficious or excessive" (article 817). But
this general rule does not apply to the specific instance of a
testamentary disposition containing an institution of heirs
in a case of preterition, which is made the main and specific
sub ject of article 814. In such instance, according to article
814, the testamentary disposition containing the institution
of heirs should be not only reduced, but an nulled in its
entirety and all the forced heirs, including the omitted ones,
are entitled to inherit in accordance with the law of
intestate succession. It is thus evident that, if, in construing
article 814, the institution of heirs therein dealt with is to be
treated as legacies or betterments, the special object of said
article would be destroyed, its specific purpose completely
defeated, and in that wise the special rule therein
established would be rendered nu gatory. And this is
contrary to the most elementary rule of statutory
construction. In construing several provisions of a par
ticular statute, such construction shall be adopted as will
give effect to all, and when general and particular
provisions are inconsistent, the latter shall prevail over the
former. (Act No. 190, secs. 287 and 288.)
The question herein propounded has been squarely
decided by the Supreme Court of Spain in a case wherein a
be quest by universal title was made with preterition of heirs
and the theory was advanced that the instituted heirs
should be treated as legatarios. The Supreme Court of Spain
said:
"El articulo 814, que precepta en tales casos de pretericin la
nulidad de la institucin de heredero, no consiente interpretacin
alguna
193
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 193
favorable a la persona instituda en el sentido antes expuesto, aun
cuando parezca, y en algn caso pudiera ser, ms o menos equitativa,
porque una nulidad no significa en Derecho sino la suposicin de que el
hecho o el acto no se ha realizado, debiendo, por lo tanto, procederse
sobre tal base o supuesto, y consiguientemente, en un testamento
donde falte la institucin, es obligado llamar a los herederos forzosos en
todo caso, como habra que llamar a los de otra clase, cuando el testador
no hubiese distribudo todos sus bienes en legados, siendo tanto mas
obligada esta consecuencia legal cuanto que, en materia de
testamentos, sabido es, segn tiene declarado la jurisprudencia, con
repeticin, que no basta que sea conocida la voluntad de quien testa si
esta voluntad no aparece en la forma y en las condiciones que la ley ha
exigido para que sea vlido y eficaz, por lo que constituira una
interpretacin arbitraria, dentro del derecho positivo, reputar como
legatario a un heredero cuya institucin juese anulada con pretexto de
que sto se acomodaba mejor a la voluntad del testador, pues aun
cuando as fuese, ser esto razn para modificar la ley, pero que no
autoriza a una interpretacin contraria a sus trminos y a los principios
que informan la testamentificacin, pues no porque parezca mejor una
cosa en el terreno del Derecho constituyente, hay razn para convertir
este juicio en regla de inter pretacin, desvirtuando y anulando por este
procedimiento lo que el legislador quiere establecer." (6 Snchez
Roman, Volumen 2.o, p. 1138.)
It is maintained that the word "here dero" under the Civil
Code, is not syn onymous with the term "heir" under the
Code of Civil Procedure, and that the "heir" under the latter
Code is no longer personally liable for the debts of the de
ceased as was the "heredero" under the Civil Code, should
his acceptance be pure and simple, and from all these the
con clusion is drawn that the provisions of article 814 of the
Civil Code regarding the total nullity of the institution of
heirs has become obsolete. This conclusion is erroneous. It
confuses form with sub stance. It must be observed, in this
con nection, that in construing and applying a provision of
the Civil Code, such mean ing of its words and phrases as
has been intended by the framers thereof shall be adopted.
If thus construed it is incon sistent with the provisions of the
Code of Civil Procedure, then it shall be deemed repealed;
otherwise it is in force. Re peals by implication are not
favored by the courts and when there are two acts upon the
same subject, effect should be given to both' if possible
(Posadas vs. Na tional City Bank, 296 U. S., 497). The word
"heir" as used in article 814 of the Civil Code may not have
the meaning that it has under the Code of Civil Pro cedure,
but this in no wise can prevent a bequest from being made
by universal title as is in substance the subjectmatter of
article 814 of the Civil Code. Again, it may also be true that
heirs under the Code of Civil Procedure may receive the
bequest only after payment of debts left by the deceased and
not before as under the Civil Code, but this may have a
bearing only upon the question as to when succession
becomes effective and can in no way destroy the fact that
succession may still be by universal or special title. Since a
bequest may still be made by universal title and with
preterition of forced heirs, its nullity as provided in article
814 still applies there being nothing inconsistent with it in
the Code of Civil Procedure. What is important and is the
basis for its nullity is the nature and effect of the be quest
and not its possible name nor the moment of its effectiveness
under the Code of Civil Procedure.
Furthermore, there were in the Code of Civil Procedure
sections Nos. 755 and 756 which read:
"Sec. 755.Share of child born after making will.When a child of
a testator is born after the making of a will, and no provision is there in
made for him, such child shall have the same share in the estate of the
testator as if he had died intestate; and the share of such child shall be
assigned to him as in cases of intestate estates, unless it is apparent
from the will that it was the intention of the testator that no provision
should be made for such child."
"Sec 756.Share of child or issue of child omitted from will.When
a testator omits to provide in his will for any of his children, or for issue
of a deceased child, and it appears that such omission was made by
mistake, or accident, such child, or the issue of such child, shall have
the same share in the estate of the testator as if he had died intestate,
to be as

194
signed to him as m the case of intestate estates."
It is these provisions of the Code of Civil Procedure that
have affected sub stantially articles 814 and 851 of the Civil
Code, but they have been expressly re pealed by Act No.
2141, section 1 of which reads as follows :
"Sections seven hundred and fiftyfive, seven hundred and fifty
six, seven hundred and fiftyseven, seven hundred and fiftyeight,
and seven hundred and sixty of Act Numbered One hun dred and
ninety, entitled 'An Act providing a Code of Procedure in Civil
Actions and Special Proceedings in the Philippine Islands are here
by repealed and such provisions oj the Civil Code as may have been
amended or repealed by said sections are hereby restored to jull jorce
and effect." (Italics ours.)
Among the provisions of the Civil Code which are thus
expressly restored to full force are undoubtedly articles 814
and 851. There can be no possible doubt, therefore, that
those two articles are in force.
Article 1080 of the Civil Code that is also invoked
deserves no consideration except for the observation that it
has no relevancy in the instant case.
Our attention is directed to the case of Escuin vs. Escuin
(11 Phil., 332). We have never lost sight of the ruling laid
down in that case which has been reiterated in Eleazar vs.
Eleazar (37 Off. Gaz., p. 1782). In the Escuin case, the de
ceased left all his property to his natural father (not a forced
heir) and his wife with total preterition of an acknowledged
natural child; and, in the Eleazar case the deceased left all
his property to a friend with total preterition of his father
and wife. Without reconsidering the correctness of the
ruling laid down in these two cases, we will note that the
doctrine stands on facts which are different from the facts in
the present case. There is certainly a difference between a
case of preterition in which the whole property is left to a
mere friend and a case of pre tention in which the whole
property is left to one or some forced heirs. If the
testamentary disposition be annulled totally in the first
case, the effect would
be a total deprivation of the friend of his share in the
inheritance. And this is con trary to the manifest intention of
the testator. It may fairly be presumed that, under such
circumstances, the testator would at least give his friend the
portion of free disposal. In the second case, the total nullity
of the testamentary disposition would have the effect, not of
depriv ing totally the instituted heir of his share in the
inheritance, but of placing him and the other forced heirs
upon the basis of equality. This is also in consonance with
the presumptive intention of the testator. Preterition,
generally speaking, is due merely to mistake or
inadvertence without which the testator may be presumed
to treat alike all his children.
And specially is this true in the instant case where the
testator omitted the children by his first marriage upon the
erro neous belief that he had given them already more
shares in his property than those given to the children by
his second marriage. It was, therefore, the thought of the
testator that the children by his first marriage should not
receive less than the children by his second marriage, and to
that effect is the decision of this Court sought to be
reconsidered. Motion for reconsideration is hereby denied.
Yulo, C. J., I concur in the result.
Generoso, J., concurs.
OZAETA, J., concurring:

I concur in the majority opinion after mature reflection
on the two points discussed in Justice Bocobo's dissent.
195
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 195
also forced heirs of his, were completely ignored and omitted
in the will. In clauses 7 and 8 of his will, the testator
declared:
"Seventh.I declare that the children by my first wife have no
longer any participation in the property described above, as they
already received their corresponding shares in my exclusive
property as stated above, for if a proper partition is made, what I
have given out of my own property to each of my children by my
first wife must exceed what will correspond to each of my children
by my second wife.
"Eighth.I supplicated my children by my first wife that they
should not contest this my last will, as they have already received
their shares in my own property, much more than what I now give
to the children by my second wife, excluding yet what I have given
to them as aid during their financial troubles and what they have
borrowed, which they have not yet paid me and which I now
condone to them."
Both the trial court and the Court of Appeals found in
effect that these declara tions turned out to be unfounded in
fact, at least insofar as they referred to properties other than
money alleged to have been received by the children of the
first marriage. Be that as it may, I believe the deceased
Getulia was not compre hended in said declaration anyway.
When the testator said, "I declare that the children by my
first wife have no longer any participation in the property
described above," he referred only to his children who were
living at that time and who, he evidently expected, would
claim some participation in the property left by him; he
could not have referred to Getulia also because she, having
passed away, could no longer have or claim any
participation in his property. Neither did he refer to
Getulia's children, for he did not mention them at all. Again,
when the testator said, "I supplicated my children by my
first wife that they should not contest this my last will," he
could not have had Getu lia in mind, because he knew the
deceased could not contest his will; and if he had intended to
include Getulia's children, he would have mentioned them
as his grandchildren. The condonation of debts made by the
testator in clause 8 of his will re ferred to the debts of those
children of his whom he entreated to refrain from con testing
his will; and since Getulia could not have been entreated by
him, it is log ical to conclude that her petty debt of P155 was
not embraced within that condonation. Getulia having
passed away long before her father made his will, he had
evidently forgotten her as well as her petty debt.
The conclusion that Getulia and her children were not
included in the abovequoted declarations and that,
therefore, they were entirely omitted in the will, is further
strengthened by the undisputed fact that aside from the
small sum of P155 borrowed by her from him during her
lifetime, he had not given her or her children any portion of
his property. There fore, when the testator solemnly declared
in clause 7 of his will that his children by his first wife had
already received their corresponding share in his exclusive
property in excess even of what would corre spond to each of
his children by his second wife, he could not have had
Getulia or her children in mind, for it is indisputable that he
had not given her any property whatsoever. He could not
have had the P155 in mind (1) because it had not been
given but only loaned to her, and (2) be cause it was so
relatively trivial an amount that he could not have
considered it equal to the share he left to each of his
children by his second wife. His estate was assessed by the
committee on appraisals at P18,000, with a claim against it
of only P480.
In urging that the children of the first marriage be given
only a share in the short legitime, the minority opinion says
that the testator has made "a clear and explicit declaration
in his will that the children of the second marriage shall be
preferred." On the other hand, the ma jority opinion
maintains that the testator omitted the children of the first
marriage upon the erroneous belief on his part that he had
given them a greater share in his property than that left to
the children of the second marriage. From this the ma jority
infer that the testator did not in tend to discriminate against
his children by his first marriage by giving them less
196
than what he left to his children by his second marriage.
The majority view assumes that the declarations of the
testa tor in clauses 7 and 8 of his will, altho erroneous, were
made in good faith. On the other hand, the minority view
supposes that the testator intended to prefer his children by
his second wife by leaving to them all his property so that
the children by the first marriage are entitled only to their
share in the short legitime which by law the decedent could
not with hold from them. I think the minority view is
untenable. In the absence of proof it cannot be presumed
that the testator made the abovequoted declarations in bad
faiththat he made them knowing that it was not true that
he had given each of his surviving children by his first wife
at least an equal if not a greater share in his inheritance
than what he left to each of his children by his second wife.
But if he had made those declarations in bad faith or as a
subterfuge to deprive his children and grandchildren by his
first marriage of their legal share in his inheritance, he
could only have done so with the intention to frustrate their
right. In that case the preterition would only assume a
different form, voluntary instead of involuntary. But the
result would be the same. As stated by the Supreme Court of
Spain in its decision of June 17, 1908, the preterition of a
forced heir "puede ser debida a ignorancia de que existiera,
u olvido o propsito de burlar los derechos que la ley les
reconoce, supuestos todos que desvirtan la fuerza y eficacia
moral de aquella voluntad y que justifican la anulacin de
su expresin."

BOCOBO,J.,dissenting:
After a careful study of this case, I am constrained to
dissent from the resolution of the majority denying the
motion for reconsideration. I believe the judgment of the
Court of Appeals should be affirmed because:
First,there has been no preterition under article 814,
Civil Code.
Second,even supposing that there has been a
preterition, the children of the sec
ond marriage are, however, entitled to the third for free
disposal and to the third for mejora, in addition to their
shares in the strict or short legitime.
I
There Is No Pretention
There is no preterition because the findings of both the
Court of First Instance and of the Court of Appeals show
that all the children of the first marriage have received, in
property and in cash, a part of their short legitime. One of
the req uisites of preterition is that one or some of the heirs
of the direct line be totally deprived of their legitime. As
Manresa says (Vol. 6, pages 356357, 4th Ed.):
"Que la omisin sea complete.Esta condicin se deduce del
mismo artculo 814, y resulta con evidencia al relacionar este
artculo con el 815. El heredero forzoso a quien el testador deja algo
por cualquier ttulo en su testamento, no se halla propiamente
omitido, pues se le nombra y se le reconoce participacin en los
bienes hereditarios. Podri discutirse en el artculo 814, si era o no
necesario que se reeonociese el derecho del heredero como tal
heredero, pero el articulo 815 desvanece esta duda. Aqul se ocupa
de la privacin completa o total, tcita; este, de la privacin parcial.
Los efectos deben ser y son, como veremos, completamente distintos."
As to property, Eleuterio received parcel No. 4 by way of
donation. The trial court found that said parcel "appears to
have been donated by Agripino Neri to his son Eleuterio,
and which may be brought to the common mass." In the
judgment of the Court of First Instance, it is ordered that
said parcel No. 4 "should be brought to the common mass."
Moreover, there is a large parcel of land containing
182.6373 hectares which, according to a finding of the Court
of Appeals, "is still claimed to be the property not only of the
children of the first marriage but also of those of the second
marriage." The decision of the Court of Appeals makes these
findings of fact:
"As regards that large parcel of land adjoin ing parcel No. 1, it is
contended that after the court had denied the registration thereof, Agri
pino Neri y Chaves abandoned the said land
197
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 197
and that later on some of the children of the first marriage
possessed it, thereby acquiring title and interest therein by virtue of
occupation and not through inheritance. It is not true that this parcel
containing 182.6373 hec tares is now assessed in the names of some of
the children of the first marriage, for as shown on Tax Declaration No.
9395, Exhibit 11g, the owners of the property are Agapita Neri de
Chaves y Hermanos. Apparently, the said land u still claimed to be the
property not only of the children of the first marriage but also of those
of the second marriage." (Italics ours.)
It is true that according to the Court of Appeals, Getulia
or her heirs did not re ceive any share of the property of her
father, but the trial court found that Getulia was indebted to
her father in the amount of P155 which debt is condoned in
clause 8 of the will.
Furthermore, it is unquestioned that all the children of the
first marriage (ex cept Getulia whose debt of P155 has been
condoned in the will) had certain parcels in their names for
tax purposes. The fact that said parcels were either public
land occupied and developed by the testator, or did not
belong to him, cannot support the theory of pretention
because the essence of pretention is the omission of any
descendant or ascendant. If his right as an heir is
recognized in anyway, there is no pretention, and his
remedy is that pro vided in article 815, which is to have his
share completed in case he received less than his legitime.
In this case, the testator admits that his children of the first
marriage are also his lawful heirs but states they have
already received their respective shares.
As for the cash advances, the trial court found that of the
six children, three Agripmo, Getulia and Celerinawere
in debted to the testator in the amounts of P500, P155 and
P120, respectively. With regard to the other children,
Eleuterio. Agapita and Rosario, clause 8 of the will says:
"Eighth.I supplicated my children by my first wife that they
should not contest this my last will, as they have already received
thenshares in my own property, much more than what I now give
to the children by my second wife, excluding yet what I have given
to them as aid during their financial troubles and what they have
borrowed, which they have not yet paid me and which I now
condone to them." (Italics ours.)
It will be noticed that the testator in the above clause
speaks of two kinds of cash advances to his children: (1) aid
from their father during their financial trou bles; and (2)
amounts borrowed by them from their father. In the absence
of proof to the contrary, it may be presumed that the
testator was referring to all his children of the first marriage
when he stated: "excluding yet what I have given to them as
aid during their financial trou bles It is hard to believe that
during the whole lifetime of the testator, who was welltodo,
and lived to the advanced age of 86 years, any of his
children of the first marriage did not receive even a small
financial aid from the father.
All the children of the first marriage having received a
part of their short legitime, either in property or cash or
both, there is no preterition. The law applica ble is not article
814 but articles 815 and 817, Civil Code, which provide:
"ART.815.El heredero forzoso a quien el testador haya dejado
por cualquier ttulo menos de la legtima que le corresponda, podr
pedir el complemento de la misma."
"ART. 817.Las disposiciones testamentarias que menguen la
legtima de los herederos forzosos. se reducirn, a peticin de stos,
en lo que fueren inoficiosas o excesivas."
These articles govern where the heir has received, either
in the will or by donation inter vivos, a part of his legitime.
Commenting on article 815. Manresa says (Vol. 6, page
366):
"El espiritu del articulo 815 resulta evidente: cuando el heredero
forzoso no ha sido olvidado Dor el testador, cuando ha tornado algo de
los bienes hereditarios, slo puede reclamar que se le complete su
legtima. La letra del articulo, aunque aplicable especialmente a las
disposiciones testamentarias, no repugna su exten sin a todo acto dc
disposicin del testador por titulo lucrativo. Y adems, el prrafo 1. del
artculo 819, al decir que las donaciones hechas a los hijos imputan a su
legtima, demuestra que lo que los herederos forzosos reciben en vida
del testador de ste, se en
198
Neri et al. vs. Akutin
and Childrentiende como recibido por su legitima en el momento de su
muerte, y, por consiguiente, como dejado por el testador a titulo de he
rencia."
The children of the first marriage not having been
entirely forgotten, the will should be respected and carried
out, but the children of the first marriage should have their
respective shares in the strict legitime completed after
taking into account the amounts already received by them
from their father.
As for the concurring opinion, I find it difficult to believe
that the testator did not have in mind Getulia or her
children in clauses 7 and 8 of the will. My reasons are the
following:
1.The testator clearly intended that his will should not
be contested. When he said "I supplicated my children by
my first wife that they should not contest this my last will,"
it is not venturesome to presume that he also referred to the
children of Getulia because they, as the testator's
grandchildren, were also his heirs by right of representation
of their mother. It is most unlikely that the testator would
frown upon a contest by his children of the first mariage but
not upon a contest by said grandchildren.
2.In his condonation of the money advances to his
children of the first marriage in clause 8, it is improbable
that he had forgotten his daughter Getulia although she
had been dead for several years. Is the memory of a
deceased daughter blotted out in the father's mind precisely
at the moment when he is searching his own conscience as
he makes his will? More over, did not the presence of
Getulia's. children serve to remind the testator of their
mother?
Getulia's debt of P155 having been con doned in clause 8,
it follows that articles 815 and 817 of the Civil Code, supra,
are applicable. The children of Getulia are, therefore,
entitled to have their short legitime completed according to
the articles aforesaid, but they must return to the estate, by
way of collation, the amount of P155 under article 1038,
paragraph 1 of the Civil Code which provides thus:
"ART. 1038.Cuando los nietos sucedan al abuelo en
representation del padre, concurriendo con sus tos o primos,
colacionarn todo lo que debiera colacionar el padre si viviera, aun
que no lo hayan heredado."
II
The Mandas and Mejoras Are Valid

But granting that there was a preten tion because one or
some of the children of the first marriage never received, by
donation inter vivos or by will, anything from their father, it
is clear from the will in question that the children of the sec
ond marriage are entitled to the third for free disposal and
to the third for mejora (in addition to their share in the
strict legitime). That is to say, I think we should apply in
this case this provision of article 814 on preterit ion: "pero
valdrn las mandas y mejoras en cuanto no sean
inoficiosas."
The majority resolution relies upon quotations from
Manresa and Sanchez Roman to support the proposition
that the annulment of the "institucin de heredero" entirely
annuls the will. However, the majority is laboring under a
misunderstanding of the "institucin de heredero" under the
Spanish law. It is that misconception which had led the
majority into a wrong interpretation of what those two
Spanish jurists mean when they say that the annulment of
the "institucin de heredero" is total. It is to be noted, at this
juncture, that both authors, while stating that pretention
entirely annuls the "institucin de heredero," nevertheless
admit that "mandas" and "mejoras" which are not inofficious
are valid. Says Man resa (Vol. 6, pages 359, 360, 4th Ed.):
"En el fondo la cuestin es identca. El testador puede siempre
disponer a su arbitrio de la parte libre. El legitimario, contra la
voluntad expresa del testador, slo tiene derecho a su legitima.
Pretendo o desheredado sin justa causa, la legitima es suya.
Desheredado o pretendo, la porcin libre no le corresponde, cuando
el testador la asigna a otro. (Italics ours.)
"La interpretacin que rectamente se desprende del artculo 814,
es la de que slo valen, y eso en cuanto no sean inoficiosas, las
disposiciones hechas o ttulo de legado o me]ora.
199
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 199
En cuanto a la institucin de heredero, se anula. Lo que se anula
deja de existir, en todo, o en parte? No se aiiade limitation alguna,
como en el artculo 851, en el que se expresa que se anular la
institucin de heredero en cuanto perjudique a la legitima del
desheredado. Debe, pues, entenderse que la anulacin es completa o
total, y que este articulo, como especial en el caso que le motiva, rige
con preferencia al 817.
"Todas las dems disposiciones testamentarias rejerentes a los
bienes, como los legados y las mejoras, en su coso, continuarn
subsistentes, no obstante la pretericin, siempre que no sean
inoficiosas, esto es, siempre que las mejoras no excedan del tercio, y
los legados con las donaciones por causa de muerte, y las donaciones
colacionables, no excedan de la parte de herencia de libre
disposicin. Si excedieren, se reducirn por las reglas del Cdigo,
hasta dejar a salvo la legtima." (Italics ours.)
Further on (p. 363) Manresa adds:
"Estimada la accin, y anulada la institucin de heredero, se abre
la sucesin intestada respecto a la parte de bienes de que el
testador, dentro de la porcin libre no hubiese dispuesto en virtud de
legado, mejora o donacin."
Sanchez Roman also states:
"En cambio, in por la, desheredacin ni por la pretericin, pierde
su juerza el testamento, en cuanto a dicho tercio libre, si se trata de
idescendientes; o la mitad, si se trata de ascendientes, ya
desheredados, ya preteridos, porque, ni por el uno ni por el otro
medio, se anula ms que la institucin de heredero, en general, y
totalmente por la pretericin, y slo en cuanto perjudique a la
legitima del deshe redado por la desheredacin; pero subsistiendo, en
ambos casos, todas aquellas otras disposiciones que no se refieren a
la institucin de heredero y se hallen dentro del limite euantitativo
del tercio o mitad de libre disposicin, segn que se trate de
descendientes o ascendientes, preteridos o desheredados. (Italics
ours.)
*******
"No obstante la pretencin, 'valdrn las mandas y legados en
cuanto no sean inoficiosas'. El texto es terminante y no necesita
mayor explicacin, despus de lo dicho, que su propia letra, a no ser
para observar que constituye una confirmacin indudable de los
efectos de la pretericin, en cuanto alcanzan slo, pero totalmente, a
la anulacin de la institucin de heredero, pero no o la de las
mandas y mejorasen cuanto no sean inoficiosas o perjudiquen a la
legtima de los preteridos; calificativo de ta les, como sinnimo legal
de excesivas. que en otros artculos, como el 817, establece la ley." (6
Snchez Roman, Volumen 2,o, 11401141.)
4920 6

The seemingly selfcontradictory state ments of each of
these two eminent jurists are confusing,as they have
confused the majority,unless one examines the historic
background of the "institucin de heredero" in the Spanish
Civil Code.
Article 764 of the Civil Code provides:
"El testamento ser vlido aunque no contenga institucin de
heredero, o sta no comprenda la totalidad de los bienes, y aunque
el nombrado no acepte la herencia o sea incapaz de heredar.
"En estos casos se cumplirn las disposiciones testamentarias
hechas con arreglo a las leyes, y el remanente de los bienes pasar a
los herederos legtimos."
Manresa explains the development of the "institucin de
heredero" thus (vol. 6, pages 8586, 4th Ed.):
"La institucin de heredero es el acto en virtud del cual el
testador designa la persona o personas que han de sucederle en sus
derechos, acciones y obligaciones; y su importancia en la
testamentifaccin es indiscutible, puesto que de ella surge la
continuacin de la personalidad del testador, si bien con las
limitaciones impuestas por el mismo. En efecto, por virtud de dicha
institucin, la persona o personas institudas por herederas suceden
al causante en la untversalidad de sus derechos y obligaciones, en
los trminos que expusimos al comentar los artculos 659 y 660.
"Hoy esa importancia ha cedido algn tanto, aunque no ha
desaparecido por complete, puesto que no es necesaria la institucin
de herederos para la validez de la disposicin mortis causa; pero en
lo antiguo lleg a ser considerada como la cabeza y raz del testa
mento, dando lugar su falta a la nulidad e ineficacia del mismo.
"En las secciones precedentes hemos venido refirindonos con
repeticin a dos sistemas sucesorios distintos: uno formalista y
rituario, mantenido constantemente por el derecho romano aun en
los tiempos de mayor laxitud del mismo, y otro ms libre y
expansivo, cuya genuina representacin se halla en el
Ordenamiento de Alcal. Y ese dualismo profundo que entonces
observamos entre la legislacin romana y la germana, hubo de
manifestarse tambin claramente en la materia relativa a la
institucin de herederos.
"No hemos de repetir aqu ideas expuestas ya en la resea
historica con que encabezamos la introduccin al estudio del tratado
de sucesiones, pero conviene recordar, para la mejor inteligencia de
la reforma llevada a cabo en nuestras antiguas leyes, que la
naturaleza de los primitivos testamentos romanos. asi como
200
la organizaccin de la familia en aquella potente nacin, y
sus caracteres de universalidad y perpetuidad, impusieron
la necesidad de un heredero que continuase la personalidad
juridica del causante, revistiendo a su vez a dicha
institucin de las mismas condiciones de nece sidad,
universalidad y perpetuidad. Era necesaria la institucin
como cabeza y solemnidad interna del testamento: era
universal, puesto que tenia que ser hecha sobre todo el
patrimonio, no permitiendose testar sobre una parte de l y
no sobre el resto; y era, por ultimo, perpetua, porque siendo
el medio de la continuacin y subsistencia del testador, no
poda ser ordenada la institucin con limitacin de tiempo, y
el heredero, una vez aceptada la herencia, no poda dejar de
serlo.
"Por el contrario, ni en la legislacin castellana, ni en el Fuero
Juzgo, encarnacin del elemento godo; ni en los. Fueros
municipales, mspirados en el mismo espiritu; ni en el Fuero Viejo de
Castilla, ni aun en el Fuero Real, se encuentra disposicin alguna
que le atribuya dicho carcter, acusando en ellos la institucin de
herederos un concepto completamente diverso, hasta que las
Partidas, sin tener en cuenta los elementos distintos de nuestro
derecho y la diferente organizacin de la familia espaola, import
de piano la doctrina romana, y con ella todo el complicado organismo
de su sistema sucesorio. Segn tenemos dicho ya, el Ordenamiento
de Alcal hizo desaparecer ese rgimen tan en oposicin con el
derecho patrio, asignando a la institucin los carcteres de libertad e
independencia que ha conservado hasta la publicacin del Cdigo,
puesto que las leyes posteriores a dicho Ordenamiento no in
trodujeron modificacin alguna, manteniendo la libertad de la
institucin de herederos, sin ms limitaciones que el respeto a la
moral y a los derechos legitimarios, asi como mantuvo la
independencia absoluta entre dicha institu cin y el testamento,
hasta el punto de servlido ste, aunque no haya heredero o no se
haya dispuesto en el de la totalidad de la he rencia, lo cual permitia
que el causante muriese parte testado y parte intestado." (Italics
ours.)
Commenting on article 764, Manresa says (Vol. 6, page 93):
"Si a virtud de l no es necesaria ya para la validez de los
testamentos que en ellos conste la institucin de herederos, 1gica
deduccin de dicho principio es que el testamento no se invalide
aunque no contenga dicha institucin o no comprenda la totalidad
de los bienes, o no resulte eficaz la institucin, hecha, ya por no
aceptar la herencia el institudo, o por ser ste incapaz."
The only purpose, therefore, of the "institucin de heredero"
is to have someone continue the personality of the testator,
so that there may be someone who should be personally
liable for all the obligations of the testator and who succeeds
to all the rights of the decedent. But such "institucin de
heredero" is no longer essential, so that there may be a valid
will, according to article 764, although there is no
"institucin de heredero." As Manresa says, since the
Ordenamiento de Acal there is an absolute independence
between the "institucin de heredero" and the will. (Vol. 6,
page 86.)
Therefore, in the case under considera tion, the annulment
of the "institucin de heredero" on account of pretention
does not render the will ineffective.
That the pretention under article 814 does not entirely
invalidate the will is unanimously maintained by the
authors.
Sanchez Roman, supra, says that the effects of preterition,
"alcanzan solo, pero totalmente, a la anulacin de la
institucin de heredero, pero no a la de las mandas y
mejoras en cuanto no sean inoficiosas o perjudiquen a la
legtima de los preteridos."
Manresa states (Vol. 6, pages 362363):
"Para pedir la anulacin corresponde al heredero preterido una
accin, que siempre se ha llamado querella de inoficioso testamento.
* * * * * * *
"Estimada la accin, y anulada la institucin de heredero, se abre la
sucesin intestada respecto a la parte de bienes de que el testador,
dentro de la porcin libre no hubiese dispuesto en virtud de legado,
mejora o donacin." (Italics ours.)
Scaevola in Vol. XIV, page 383 of his work on the
Spanish Civil Code has this to say:
"Acciones defensivas de legtimaPrescripcin de las mismas.En
nuestro entender, no convive con el Cdigo en materia de pretericin la
tradicional querella de inoficioso testamento. Apoyamos nuestra opinin
en dos razones: primera, no nombrarla as el Cdigo, ni contener
doctrina equivalente, tanto en la seccin de legtimas, como en la de
prescripcin; segunda, sostener doctrina contraria a aquella de que
derivaba la sobredicha accin.
"La querella se encaminaba a destruir el testamento, en caso de
pretericin; el Cdigo, con conocimiento de causa, con conciencia de la
doctrina, precisamente en oposicin a ella, no
201
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 201
autoriza tal destruccin en cuanto consigna la nulidad de la institucin
hereditaria, pero la validez de las mandas y mejoras. No existiendo el
antecedente, no puede existir el consiguiente; derogado el principio
doctrinal que daba vida a la querella de inoficioso testamento,
desapareci st con l. Ha muerto al sucumbir la legislacin de la que
era elemento integrante, de cuyo cuerpo formaba parte.
"Hoy la accin se encamina a la nulidad de la institucin hereditaria
como medio para adquirir el heredero jorzoso la porcin que le seala.
la ley. Trtase sencillamente de una accin real, comun u ordinario, de
vida legal de treinta aos." (Italics ours.)

Goyena in his book on the Project of 1851, commenting
on article 644 of the same, which provides that preterition
"anula la institucin de heredero; pero valdrn las mandas y
mejoras en cuanto no sean inoficiosas" (the exact wording of
article 814 of the present Spanish Civil Code) observes (Vol.
2, pages 9495):
"La ley 24 de Toro, u 8, titulo 6, libro 10, Novisima Recopilacin,
dice: 'Cuando el testamento se rompiere o anulare por causa de
pretericin o exheredacion. etc., no por eso deje de valer la mejora
del tercio y quinto.' Ex causa exhaeredationis vel praeteritionis
irritum est testamentum cuantum ad institutiones, caetera nainque
firma permanent. Autntica. titulo 28, libro 6 del Cdigo.
"El articulo de mayor claridad y latitud, o por lo menos fijeza. a
estas disposiciones Patria y Romana.
"A pesar de la ley de Toro, se nos ha enseado en las escuelas,
que la pretericin anulaba enteramente el testamento, y que no
estaban corregidas por ella las leyes 3. ttulo 7, y 1, ttulo 8, Partida
6 que as lo declaraban: en Derecho Romano hemos aprendido como
inconcuso lo contrano de la autentica en el caso de pretencin de un
heredero suyo; y esto era lo cierto, por que la autntica fue tomada
de la Novela 115. capitulos 3 y 4, en la que de intento se trata de la
desheredacin y de sus causas, y de la rescisin del testa mento, por
la querella de inoficioso; de consiguiente, la desheredacin hace
referenda al padre; la pretericin a la madre, pues respecto de ella
constituye una desheredacin tcita.
"Sala en sus Instituciones RomanoHispanas, prrafo 5, titulo 13,
libro 2, est por las leyes de Partida; y en su Ilustracin, numero 3,
ttulo 5, libro 2, sostiene lo contrario, y en apoyo de la ley de Toro
cita la autntica. 'Lo establecieron asi (dice) las leyes Romanas, y lo
persuade la equidad, que no permite tenga lugar la pena mas alia
del particular en que ocurri la indignidad o sin razn que la
motiv.'
"Prescindiendo de todo esto, el articulo hace sencillo y claro lo que
hasta ahora ha sido embrollado y dudoso."
Finally, Prof. Nicasio Lopez R. Gomez of the University of
Valladolid says in his "Tratado Terico Legal del Derecho de
Sucesin," Vol. I, pages 316319:
"En Roma, la validez o nulidad de la institucin de heredero,
envolva la determinacin de los efectos jurdicolegales del
testamento, o su negacin, puesto que, si era la solemmdad interna
y necesaria del testamento, y por consecuencia, su cabeza y
fundamento, aqul no poda subsistir cuando en su esencia
concurriera un vicio de nulidad, o sta hubiera sido omitidaet sine
ilia non est testamentum Reconocido el principio de las legtimas y
desenvuelto con arreglo a la clasificacin de los herederos suyos,
suyos y necesarios y voluntarios, los dos primeros haban de ser
necesariamente institudos o justamente desheredados:, y por
ltimo la desheredacin "justa con causa legal y expresa privaba de
la legtima al heredero a quien se impona. La deshereda cin in
justa sin causa o con causa falsa no poda producir este efecto,
dejando completamente a salvo el derecho de legtima, y otorgaba al
desheredado la accin extraordinaria para reclamar contra la
institucin por inoficiosa, con el efecto absoluto de no referirse
solamente a la porcin legtima. sino que anulada la institucin
quedaban nulas todas las dems disposiciones del testamento.
"La pretericin de un heredero forzoso tambin produca el mismo
efecto de nulidad.
"Las Leyes de Partida al reproducir la doctrina romana con todo
su rigorismo y encadenamiento de las instituciones sucesorias,
importaron en nuestra legislacin todas las disposiciones referentes
a la queja de inoficioso testamento, su naturaleza, extension,
personas que podian ejercitarla en la linea recta ascendente y
descendente y en la colateral cuando la institucdn recayera en
persona torpe postergando a los hermanos y por ltimo en cuanto al
tiempo o plazo de su ejercicio.
"La L. del titulo 19 del Ordenamiento de Alcal, con su espiritu
de transicin regenerador del primitivo Derecho Espaol, llev a
cabo una transformacin completa e importantisima, pues al
declarar la independencia absoluta entre los efectos de la
institucin de heredero y los del testamento, la extensin de la queja
de la inoficiosidad de ste, qued limitada estrictamente a reclanxar
contra la institucin en cuanto juera inoficiosa, percibiendo el
desheredado o preterido la porcin legtima que le correspondiera,
subsistiendo la misma institucin en cuanto a los bienes que
tuvieran el concepto de libres, as como todas las dems clasulas del
testamento.
202
"Consecuencia de esto y de la declaracin de la L. 9, de Toro,
los descendientes y ascendientes, injustamente
desheredados o preteridos, podan entablar la accin o
querella de inoficioso testamento como herederos forzosos de
su causante, con el solo efecto de percepcin de su legtima,
sin anular el testamento ni aun la institucin de heredero
que nicamente se rescinda en cuanto a aquella porcin; y
con respecto a los colaterales o hermanos, perdieron el
derecho de ejercitar la citada accin desde el momento que
fueron privados del concepto de herederos forzosos, que
tenan en el nico caso de ser postergados a persona torpe,
por haber quedado sin efecto este calificativo y las
distinciones que hicieron las leyes romanas y de Partidas.
"Con estos brevsimos antecedentes histricos podemos
pasar a fijar el verdadero concepto de la queja de inoficioso
testamento para despus exponer la doctrina vigente acerca
de ella.
"Se entiende por queja o querella de inoficioso
testamento, la accin que compete a los herederos forzosos
preteridos o injustamente desheredados sin causa o con
expresin de ella siendo falsa, para reclamar la porcin de
bienes que como legitima les corresponde.
*******
"La impugnacin de la institucin hecha en testamento,
por el heredero desheredado o preterido, puede efectuarse de
dos maneras: por el ejercicio directo de la accin contra el
institudo para que reconozca y abone la legtima; o por
excepcin, cuando el desheredado se hallare en posesin de
la herencia y el institudo interpusiera la accin
correspondiente para percibirla.
"El efecto inmediato de la queja de inoficioso testamento
es anular la institucin de heredero en cuanto perjudique los
derechos legitimarios del actor." (Italics ours.)
Applying the above citations, what is the effect of
preterition in this case? Does it render the will of Agripino
Neri y Chavez entirely void, so that an intestate succession
must be declared as to all his property? The negative
answer is inescapable because of the true meaning of
"institucin de heredero" as already set forth, and the scope
of the "queja de inoficioso testamento" as explained by the
writers above quoted.
"Anular la institucin de heredero" does not mean that
the whole will is of no effect. It merely nullifies the clause
designating the children of the second marriage, as the only
"herederos" or continuers of the testator's personality and in
the place of such clause, article 814 orders that all the
children, of both marriages, shall be such continuers of
Agapito Neri's personality. This does not mean that all the
children shall divide the whole estate equally, by the rules
of intestacy. It simply signifies that the children of both
marriages become continuers of Neri's personality, and as
such liable personally for all of Neri's obligations, so that,
under the system of the Spanish Civil Code, which
distinguishes "herederos" from "legatarios," all the children
are liable personally for the debts of their father, even
beyond and in excess of the property received by each of
them. They are also entitled to all his rights, but the extent
of such rights is determined by the will. They are all
"residuary legatees" under the Code of Civil Procedure, so
that if there is any property undisposed of by his will, all the
children shall divide it equally.
With regard to the Spanish remedy of "queja de inoficioso
testamento," the au thorities already cited limit the effect of
the same, in case of preterition, under the Civil Code to the
recovery of the legitime pertaining to the heir who has been
omitted. This is in conformity with article 814 which says
that the mandas and mejoras are valid insofar as they are
not inofficious.
Have mandas and mejoras been given to the children of
the second marriage? It is plain that the intention of the
testator is to give to the children of the second marriage all
that remains of his property; the children of the first
marriage having already received from him their shares, in
addition to sums of money by way of aid and loan. This
being so, and inasmuch as the greater includes the less, his
disposition in favor of his younger children should be upheld
as to the twothirds of his remaining property, viz.: the one
third for free disposal and the onethird for mejora (in
addition to their share in the short legitimate).
First, as to the third for free disposal. The decision of this
Court says there is
203
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 203
no "legacy expressly made in their behalf consisting of the
third available for free disposal." I believe it is illogical to re
quire in this case that the will should ex pressly make a
"legacy" from the third for free disposal. It is enough that
the testator gives all his remaining property to his children
of the second marriage; from that it should not be hard to
declare that it was his intention to give them ot least the
third for free disposal. In legal concept anything given from
the third available for free disposal is a "manda" or "legado,"
whether it is so named or not.
Second,as for the third available for mejora, I agree
with the decision that there is no express mejora. But I
think there is a tacit mejora. Now, a tacit me jora is created
when the testator gives something to any of his children
which cannot be contained in the third available for free
disposal. Article 828 provides:
"ART. 828. La manda o legado hecho por el testador a uno de los
hijos o descendientes no se reputar mejora sino cuando el testador
haya declarado expresamente ser sta su voluntad, o cuando no
quepa en la parte libre."
Here again, we should not require that this portion
should be expressly called by the testator a "mejora" or a
"manda" because it would have been illogical and improper
to speak of "mejora" or "man da" when he was giving the
whole of his remaining property to his children of the second
marriage. Article 814 simply means that in case of
pretention, all testa mentary provisions are valid in so far as
they do not impair the legitime. The effect of the decision in
this case is to declare an intestate succession as to the entire
estate whenever there is no express mejora and express
legacy. Thus, there would be total intestacy, in spite of the
testamentary provisions to the contrary, in the preterition
under the following circumstances:
1.Where there is a tacit mejora, under article 828; or
2.When there can properly be no me jora, express or
implied, because a child or descendant is instituted as the
sole heir to the whole estate; or
3.When there can properly be neither express mejora
nor express legacy because two or more children or
descendants are instituted to take the whole estate equally
or without express designation of shares.
Such could not have been the intention of the legislator,
because the whole scheme of the Civil Code as to successions
is to respect testamentary provisions so long as the legitime
is not diminished. (Arts. 763, 764, 767, 777, 782, 792, 798,
813, 814, 815, 817, 820, 828, 1036, and 1037, Civil Code.)
Furthermore, it would appear to be violative of the law to
throw the entire will to the scrap heap and declare a total
intestate succession, when such will can and should be
enforced in so far as the short legitime of the children of the
first marriage is not lessened. True, to some it might seem
more equitable to divide the estate equally among all the
children of both marriages. But so long as the short legitime
is not impaired, the testator in this case was free to
distribute his property among his children as he saw fit and
fair. This is why even in case of preterition (article 814),
mandas and mejoras are valid to the extent that they are
not inofficious. If this minimum and obligatory portion
(short legitime) of each child is kept intact in the partition
under the will, the law does not admit of any interference
with the testator's wishes. He is the sole judge as to which
children should get more than the others. To hold that there
shall be an equal division of the whole estateapplying the
rules of intestacywhen the testator positively and
unmistakably stated that there shall be a different
distribution of the remain ing estate, is contrary to law.
Moreover, intestate succession is based upon the presumed
intention of the deceased. Sav ing, of course, the short
legitime of the children of the first marriage, we should not
resort to that presumed intention in the face of a clear and
explicit declaration in his will that the children of the
second marriage shall be preferred.
204
But granting, arguendo, that strictly speaking there are no
"mandas" and "mejoras" for the children of the second mar
riage, yet by the principle of construction by analogy, the
provision in article 814 that mandas and mejoras shall be
valid should be applied because the testator clearly
intended to give at least twothirds of his estate to such
children, inasmuch as he was giving all of it to them. And
he could dispose freely of said twothirds in favor of said
children of the second marriage, that is, onethird from the
portion for free disposal, and onethird from the portion
assigned by law to mejora. In other words, granting for the
sake of argument that there was neither a manda nor a
mejora in this case, nevertheless the present situation offers
a gap, not specifically foreseen by the lawmaker, which
should be filled by applying the words, "valdrn las mandas
y mejoras" through the principle of analogy in order not to
defeat the manifest intention of the testator.
The majority resolution lays stress on the supposed
difference between the effect of article 814 (pretention) and
of article 851 (disinheritance). Whatever may be the
distinction between the two articles in theory, the practical
result is, however, the same because both articles contain a
saving clause in regard to the mandas and mejoras which do
not impair the legitime. Article 814 says: "pero valdrn las
man das y mejoras en cuanto no sean inoficiosas," and article
851 also provides, "pero valdrn los legados, mejoras y
dems disposiciones testamentarias en lo que no
perjudiquen a dicha legitima." The identitv of ideas is plain.
True, article 851 (disinheritance) annuls the "institu cin de
heredero" in so far as it prejudices the person disinherited,
where article 814 simply says that the preterition "shall
annul the institution de heredero." However, the lack in
article 814 of the qualify ing words "in so far ns the omitted
person is prejudiced" is filled and supplied by the words
"pero valdrn las mandas y mejoras en cuanto no sean
inoficiosas," which immediately follow. In fact, the words "en
cuanto perjudique al desheredero" in article 851 are
superfluous and unnecessary because the very same
thought is conveyed by the words "pero valdrn los legados,
mejoras y dems disposiciones testamentarias en lo que no
perjudiquen a dicha legtima."
Up to this point I have discussed article 814, Civil Code,
purely from the standpoint of that code, without reference to
the Code of Civil Procedure. This latter code, however, has
abolished the distinction between "heredero" and "legatario"
under the Civil Code, and has changed the basis of liability
of persons,whether related or not to the deceased,who
re ceive any property from the estate. As stated by this Court
in the case of Suiliong & Co. v. Chio Taysan, 12 Phil. 13
(year 1908):
"An examination more especially of sections 597, 644, 695, 727,
729, 731, 733, and 749 of the Code of Civil Procedure, read together
with the remaining provisions for the administration of the estates
of deceased persons, clearly in dicates that the provisions of articles
660 and 661 of the Civil Code have been abrogated.
"These provisions of the new code clearly demonstrate that the
terms heredero and legatario, as denned in the Civil Code (article
660), are not synonymous with the words 'heir' and 'legatee,' as
used in the new code; the word 'heir' in the new code being
technically applicable only to a relative taking property of an
intestate by virtue of the laws of descent, devisee and legatee being
reserved for all persons whether relatives or not, taking respectively
real or personal property by virtue of a will; while heredero in the
Civil Code as applicable not only to one who would be called an
'heir,' under the provisions of the new code, but also to one, whether
relative or not, who took what might be called 'a residuary estate
under a will' (el que sucede a titulo universal).
"It appears also from an examination of these provisions that the
legislature has provided no machinery whereby an absolute right
on the part of the heir to succeed by the.mere fact of death to all the
rights and property of the deceased may be enforced, without
previous payment or provision for the payment of the debts; and on
the other hand, it has provided machinery for the enforcement of
the debts and other obligations of the deceased, not as debts or
obligations of the heir, but as debts
205
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 205
or obligations of the deceased, to the payment of which the property
of the deceased may be subjected wherever it be found. Thus section
597 expressly provides that, in those cases where settlement of an
intestate estate may be made without legal proceedings, either by a
family council, as known under the Spanish law, or by an
agreement in writing executed by all the heirs, the real estate of the
deceased remain charged with liability to creditors of the deceased
for two years after the settlement, 'notwithstanding any transfers
thereof that may have been made'; and we think the inference is
clear that the legislator in this section recog nizes and affirms the
doctrine that, prior to the date of such settlement, the real estate at
least was charged in like manner with the debts of the deceased. So
it will be found that, where legal proceedings are had looking to the
settlement of testate or intestate estates, provision is made for the
recovery of claims against the deceased, not by proceedings directed
against the heirs, but by proceedings looking directly to the
subjection of the property of the deceased to the payment of such
claims; the property both real and personal being, in ex press terms,
made chargeable with the pay ment of these debts, the executor or
administrator having the right to the possession of the real as well
as the personal property, to the exclusion of the heirs, so long as
may be necessary for that purpose (secs. 727 and 729).
"For practical purposes it may well be said that in the eye of the
law, where there is no remedy to enforce an alleged right when it is
invaded, the existence of the right may safely be denied; and where
the law furnishes a remedy whereby one may enforce a claim, that
claim is a right recognized and established by the law. The new
Code of Procedure furnishing rib remedy whereby the provisions of
article 661 of the Civil Code may be enforced, in so far as they
impose upon the heredero (heir) the duty of assuming as a personal
ob ligation all the debts of the deceased, at least to the extent of the
value of the property received from the estate; or in so far as they
give to the heredero the reciprocal right to receive the property of
the deceased, without such property being specifically subjected to
the payment of the debts of the deceased by the very fact of his
decease, these provisions of article 661 may properly be held to have
been abrogated; and the new code having provided a remedy
whereby the property of the deceased may always be subjected to
the payment of his debts in whatever hands it may be found, the
right of a creditor to a lien upon the property of the deceased, for
the payment of the debts of the deceased, created by the mere fact
of his death, may be said to be rebognized and created by the
provisions of the new code." (Pavia vs. De la Rosa, 8 Phil Rep., 70.)

The effect of such abolition between "heredero" and
"legatario" under the Spanish law is to render obsolete the
words "anular la institucin de heredero" in article 814 of
the Civil Code, because at present all devisees and legatees,
whether designated as "herederos," "legatarios," "devisees,"
"legatees," or any other name are to be treated alike in the
sense that none of them is personally liable for the
obligations of the testator, but the property assigned to each
of them is burdened with a lien in favor of the creditors of
the deceased. In other words, the "institucin de heredero"
under the Spanish law, whereby the "heredero" continues
the personality of the deceased and is personally liable for
all the obligations of the latter has disappeared from the
juridical scene. That being so, the words "anulara la
institucion de heredero" in article 814 have become useless,
anomalous and anachronistic, and should be absolutely
disregarded. The result in the instant case is that the
children of the first marriage should be merely added as
coparticipants in the short legitime, and the will shall be in
all other respects enforced. There fore, the short legitime
should be divided equally among the children of both mar
riages, while the children of the second marriage shall, in
addition, have the mejora and the onethird set aside by law
for free disposal.
There is another provision of law which should not be
overlooked. It is article 1080 of the Civil Code, which
provides:
"La particin hecha con pretericin de alguno de los herederos no
se rescindir, a no ser que se pruebe que hubo mala fe o dolo por
parte de los otros interesados; pero stos tendran la obligacin de
papar al preterido Ja parte que proporcionalmente le corresponda."
It is true that the above article ex pressly refers to
partition among the heirs, but the intention of the legislator
js clear, that in a preterition, the partition should
206
not be rescinded but the omitted heir should get his lawful
share. By analogy, the distribution made in the will by the
testator in the present case should not be disturbed, though
the children of the first marriage should get their portion
from the short legitime.
Finally, the principle which I herein maintain has been
established by this court in two decisions: Escuin vs. Escuin,
11 Phil, 332 (year 1908), and Eleazar vs. Eleazar, 37 Off.
Gaz., 1782 (year 1939). In the Escuin case, Emilio Antonio
Escuin de los Santos who had no legitimate children, made
a will instituting his natural father, Francisco Escuin, and
his (testa tor's) wife, Maria Teresa Ponce de Leon as his
universal heirs, who should divide the estate in equal
shares. After the testator's death, his acknowledged natural
son, Emilio Escuin y Batac, claimed the entire estate.
However, this Court held that he, the acknowledged natural
child, was only entitled to his legitime of onethird of the
estate under article 842, and that the will was "valid with
respect to the twothirds of the property which the testator
could freely dispose of." I quote from the decision in that
case, which was penned by Mr. Justice Torres:
"With respect to the questions which form the basis of this
litigation and refer to the second assignment of errors, it should be
noted that the late testator did not leave any legitimate descendants
or ascendants, but did leave a recognized natural child, the
appellant minor, and a widow; that the said minor, Emilio Escuin y
Batac, is the general heir of his natural father, the said testator,
who recognized him while living (article 807, Civil Code), and in the
present case is entitled to onethird of his estate, which amount
constitutes the legal portion of a natural child (article 842 of the
said code); and for the reason that the minor was ignored by his
natural father in his will, the designation of heirs made therein
was, as a matter of fact annulled by force of law, in so far as the
legal portion of the said minor was thereby impaired. Legacies and
betterments shall be valid, in so far as they are not illegal, for thr
reason that a testator cannot deprive the heirs of their legal
portions, except in the cases expn.vlv indicated by law. (Arts. 763,
KH. 814, Civ.I Code.)
"As has been seen, the testator wished to dispose of his property
in his will, designating as heirs his natural father, Francisco Escuin,
and his wife, Maria Teresa Ponce de Leon, altogether ignoring his
recognized natural child who is his general heir. In view thereof,
and for the reason that he exceeded his rights, the said designation
of heirs became void in so for as it impaired the right of his general
heir and deprived htm of his legal portion; the will, however, is valid
with respect to the twothirds of the property which the testator
could freely dispose of. (Arts. 763, 764, 806, 813, 842, Civil Code.)
"Notwithstanding the fact that the designa tion of heirs is
annulled and that the law recog nizes the title of the minor, Escuin y
Batac, to onethird of the property of his natural fa ther, as his
lawful and general heir, it is not proper to assert that the late Emilio
Escuin de los Santos died intestate in order to establish the
conclusion that his said natural recognized child is entitled to
succeed to the entire estate under the provisions of article 939 of the
Civil Code, inasmuch as in accordance with the law a citizen may
die partly testate and partly in testate (article 764, Civil Code). It is
clear and unquestionable that it was the wish of the testator to
favor his natural father and his wife with certain portions of his
property which, under the law, he had a right to dispose of by will,
as he has done, provided the legal portion of his general heir was
not thereby impaired, the two former persons being considered as
legatees under the will.
"The abovementioned will is neither null, void, nor illegal in so
far as the testator leaves twothirds of his property to his father and
wife; testamentary provisions impairing the legal portion of a
general heir shall be reduced in so far as they are illegal or
excessive." (Art. 817, Civil Code.) (Italics ours.)
The above decision is controlling au thority for the
proposition that preterition of an heir annuls the institution
of heirs only in so far as the legitime of the omitted heir is
impaired, and that, therefore, the will is valid with that
limitation and no more. The decision and resolution in the
instant case which set aside the entire will and divide the
estate equally among all the children on the basis of
intestacy is contrary to the doctrine of Escuin vs. Escuin.
It will be noted that in said case of Escuin us. Escuin, this
Court had in mind the intention of the testator, and upheld
207
VOL. 74, MAY 21, 1943 207
the will in so far as the natural child's legitime was not
curtailed, and this Court did not require that there should
be any express mejora or express legacy, as was done in the
decision and resolution in the instant case.
In the Eleazar case, the testator, Fran cisco Eleazar,
omitted in his will his father, Eusebio Eleazar, disinherited
his wife, Eulalia Nagar, and instituted Miguela Elea zar as
his universal heir. The father contended that the institution
of Miguela Eleazar as universal heir should be an nulled
and that he, the father, should be entitled to all the estate of
the deceased. But this court rejected the father's theory,
saying:
"The deceased, Francisco Eleazar, omitted in his last will and
testament his legitimate father, the appellant Eusebio Eleazar,
expressly disin herited his lawful wife, Eulalia Nagar, and instituted
the appellee herein, Miguela Elea zar, as his universal heir. The
lower court admitted the will to probate and adjudged appellant and
appellee each entitled to onehalf of the estate.
"Appellant maintains in this appeal that the institution of the
appellee as universal heir should be annulled and that he be
declared entitled to all the estate of the deceased.
"The will, in so far as it deprives the appellant, as legitimate
father of the deceased, of his legal portion, is null and void, but is
valid with respect to the other half which the testa tor could freely
dispose of and which should be considered as a legacy." (Escuin vs.
Escuin, 11 Phil., 332; Arts. 814, 817, and 809, Civil Code.) (Italics
ours.)
It will be noted that in the Eleazar case, the free half was
considered by this court "as a legacy" in favor of Miguela
Eleazar although it had not been so expressly designated in
the will because the whole estate had been given to her.
This is pre cisely my view in the present case, but the
majority now state, deviating from the ruling in the Eleazar
case, that as the whole property is bequeathed by universal
title to the children of the second marriage, "this is
inconsistent with the idea of legacy which essentially refers
to a spe cific property bequeathed by a particular or special
title."
But the majority tries to distinguish the present case
from the two cases above cited, by saying that there is a
difference between a case where the whole estate is given to
a mere friend, and a case where the whole property is left to
one or some forced heirs. This attempt to lay down a
distinction fails when it is considered:
1.That the law makes no difference between the two
kinds of pretention. In both instances of preterition,
therefore, on the authority of Escuin vs. Escuin, and
Eleazar vs. Eleazar, the will should be avoided only in part.
2.It is true that in the case of a friend, total annulment
of the v/ill would entirely deprive him of a share in the
inheritance, and that in the case of some forced heirs being
the sole beneficiaries in the will, they would participate
equally with the omitted forced heirs and would not be
totally excluded. But in this case, it was the evident
intention of the testator to give preference to his .children of
the second marriage. Moreover, I can not sub scribe to the
majority's reasoning when it believes that the testator
would be pre sumed to give the entire free third as a legacy
to a friend but not to some of his children. If we are to
indulge in any presumption at all, it should be that the
father would be at least as disposed to give the whole free
third as a legacy to some of his childrenwho are his own
flesh and bloodas to a friend.
3.Granting for the sake of argument that the basis of
such preference was the mistaken belief that the testator
had already given the children of the first marriage more
than the share given in the will to the children of the second
marriage, what solution would be warranted by law?
Certainly, not the scrapping of the entire will, because
article 814 positively ordains that "mandas" and "mejoras"
which are not inofficious shall be valid. It is too farfetched
to assume that had not the testator made a mistake, he
would have divided his whole property equally among all
his children. What supernatu ral powers does any court have
to divine
208
the inward sentiments of the testator to ward each and every
one of his children? Indeed, would not a socalled equal dis
tribution produce real and actual inequality on account of
the different conditions of the various children in respect to
fortune, age, mental capacity, moral character, attitude
toward the father, and so forth? This is the very reason why
the law allows the testator ample discretion to divide his
estate among his children, provided the law on the short
legitime is observed. I, for one, am not ready to violate the
sanctuary of the testator's conscience, except to safeguard
the short
legitime. So long as this portion is respected, the testator
may dispose of the mejora and the free third in favor of any
of his children.
In view of the foregoing, I believe the motion for
reconsideration should be granted, and the will should be
disre garded only in part, so that the children of both
marriages should divide the short legitime equally, but the
rest of the estate should go, in equal shares, to the children
of the second marriage, in accordance with the intention of
the testator expressed in the will.
Motion denied.

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VOL.

74, MAY 21, 1943 185

OZAETA, J., concurring:

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