THIRD DIVISION

[G.R. No. 136467. April 6, 2000]

ANTONIA ARMAS Y CALISTERIO, petitioner, vs. MARIETTA CALISTERIO, respondent. DECISION

IT!G, J." On 24 April 1992, Teodorico Calisterio died intestate, leaving several parcels o land !it" an esti#ated val$e o %&'4,()'*''* Teodorico !as s$rvived +, "is !i e, "erein respondent -arietta Calisterio* .s# Teodorico !as t"e second "$s+and o -arietta !"o "ad previo$sl, +een #arried to /a#es 0illia# 1o$nds on 12 /an$ar, 194& at Caloocan Cit,* /a#es 1o$nds disappeared !it"o$t a trace on 11 3e+r$ar, 194(* Teodorico and -arietta !ere #arried eleven ,ears later, or on '4 -a, 19)4, !it"o$t -arietta "aving priorl, sec$red a co$rt declaration t"at /a#es !as pres$#ptivel, dead* .s#sc On '9 Octo+er 1992, "erein petitioner Antonia Ar#as , Calisterio, a s$rviving sister o Teodorico, iled !it" t"e Regional Trial Co$rt 56RTC67 o 8$e9on Cit,, 1ranc" 1'4, a petition entitled, 6In t"e -atter o Intestate .state o t"e Deceased Teodorico Calisterio , Caca+elos, Antonia Ar#as, %etitioner,6 clai#ing to +e inter alia, t"e sole s$rviving "eir o Teodorico Calisterio, t"e #arriage +et!een t"e latter and respondent -arietta .spinosa Calisterio +eing allegedl, +iga#o$s and t"ere+, n$ll and void* S"e pra,ed t"at "er son Sin roniano C* Ar#as, /r*, +e appointed ad#inistrator, !it"o$t +ond, o t"e estate o t"e deceased and t"at t"e in"eritance +e ad:$dicated to "er a ter all t"e o+ligations o t"e estate !o$ld "ave +een settled* Respondent -arietta opposed t"e petition* -arietta stated t"at "er irst #arriage !it" /a#es 1o$nds "ad +een dissolved d$e to t"e latter;s a+sence, "is !"erea+o$ts +eing $n<no!n, or #ore t"an eleven ,ears +e ore s"e contracted "er second #arriage !it" Teodorico* Contending to +e t"e s$rviving spo$se o Teodorico, s"e so$g"t priorit, in t"e ad#inistration o t"e estate o t"e decedent*
.s##is

On ') 3e+r$ar, 1992, t"e trial co$rt iss$ed an order appointing :ointl, Sin roniano C* Ar#as, /r*, and respondent -arietta ad#inistrator and ad#inistratri=, respectivel,, o t"e intestate estate o Teodorico* On 1( /an$ar, 199&, t"e lo!er co$rt "anded do!n its decision in avor o petitioner Antonia> it ad:$dged? 60H.R.3OR., :$dg#ent is "ere+, rendered inding or t"e petitioner and against t"e oppositor !"ere+, "erein petitioner, Antonia Ar#as , Calisterio, is declared as t"e sole "eir o t"e estate o Teodorico Calisterio , Caca+elos*6
1@1A

1[1]

Rollo, p. 45.

Respondent -arietta appealed t"e decision o t"e trial co$rt to t"e Co$rt o Appeals, or#$lating t"atB 61* T"e trial co$rt erred in appl,ing t"e provisions o t"e 3a#il, Code in t"e instant case despite t"e act t"at t"e controvers, arose !"en t"e Ne! Civil Code !as t"e la! in orce* 62* T"e trial co$rt erred in "olding t"at t"e #arriage +et!een oppositorBappellant and t"e deceased Teodorico Calisterio is +iga#o$s or ail$re o t"e or#er to sec$re a decree o t"e pres$#ptive deat" o "er irst spo$se* 62* T"e trial co$rt erred in not "olding t"at t"e propert, sit$ated at No* 22 1atangas Street, San 3rancisco del -onte, 8$e9on Cit,, is t"e con:$gal propert, o t"e oppositorBappellant and t"e deceased Teodorico Calisterio* .s#so 64* T"e trial co$rt erred in "olding t"at oppositorBappellant is not a legal "eir o deceased Teodorico Calisterio* 6)* T"e trial co$rt erred in not "olding t"at letters o ad#inistration s"o$ld +e granted solel, in avor o oppositorBappellant*6
2@2A

On 21 A$g$st 1994, t"e appellate co$rt, t"ro$g" -r* /$stice Conrado -* VasC$e9, /r*, pro#$lgated its no! assailed decision, t"$s? 6IN VI.0 O3 ADD TH. 3OR.EOINE, t"e Decision appealed ro# is R.V.RS.D AND S.T ASID., and a ne! one entered declaring as ollo!s? 65a7 -arietta Calisterio;s #arriage to Teodorico re#ains valid> 65+7 T"e "o$se and lot sit$ated at F22 1atangas Street, San 3rancisco del -onte, 8$e9on Cit,, +elong to t"e con:$gal partners"ip propert, !it" t"e conco#itant o+ligation o t"e partners"ip to pa, t"e val$e o t"e land to Teodorico;s estate as o t"e ti#e o t"e ta<ing> 65c7 -arietta Calisterio, +eing Teodorico;s co#p$lsor, "eir, is entitled to one "al o "er "$s+and;s estate, and Teodorico;s sister, "erein petitioner Antonia Ar#as and "er c"ildren, to t"e ot"er "al >
-ses#

65d7 T"e trial co$rt is ordered to deter#ine t"e co#petence o -arietta .* Calisterio to act as ad#inistrator o Teodorico;s estate, and i so o$nd co#petent and !illing, t"at s"e +e appointed as s$c"> ot"er!ise, to deter#ine !"o a#ong t"e deceased;s ne=t o <in is co#petent and !illing to +eco#e t"e ad#inistrator o t"e estate*6
2@2A

On 22 Nove#+er 1994, t"e Co$rt o Appeals denied petitioner;s #otion or reconsideration, pro#pting "er to interpose t"e present appeal* %etitioner asseverates?
2[2] 3[3]

Rollo, pp. 29-30. Rollo, pp. 35-36.

6It is respect $ll, s$+#itted t"at t"e decision o t"e Co$rt o Appeals reversing and setting aside t"e decision o t"e trial co$rt is not in accord !it" t"e la! or !it" t"e applica+le decisions o t"is Honora+le Co$rt*6
4@4A

It is evident t"at t"e +asic iss$e oc$ses on t"e validit, o t"e #arriage +et!een t"e deceased Teodorico and respondent -arietta, t"at, in t$rn, !o$ld +e deter#inative o "er rig"t as a s$rviving spo$se* .=s# T"e #arriage +et!een t"e deceased Teodorico and respondent -arietta !as sole#ni9ed on '4 -a, 19)4* T"e la! in orce at t"at ti#e !as t"e Civil Code, not t"e 3a#il, Code !"ic" too< e ect onl, on '2 A$g$st 1944* Article 2)& o t"e 3a#il, Code itsel li#ited its retroactive governance onl, to cases !"ere it t"ere+, !o$ld not pre:$dice or i#pair vested or acC$ired rig"ts in accordance !it" t"e Civil Code or ot"er la!s*
)@)A

Veril,, t"e applica+le speci ic provision in t"e instant controvers, is Article 42 o t"e Ne! Civil Code !"ic" provides? G,le 6Art* 42* An, #arriage s$+seC$entl, contracted +, an, person d$ring t"e li eti#e o t"e irst spo$se o s$c" person !it" an, person ot"er t"an s$c" irst spo$se s"all +e illegal and void ro# its per or#ance, $nless? 6517 T"e irst #arriage !as ann$lled or dissolved> or 6527 T"e irst spo$se "ad +een a+sent or seven consec$tive ,ears at t"e ti#e o t"e second #arriage !it"o$t t"e spo$se present "aving ne!s o t"e a+sentee +eing alive, or i t"e a+sentee, t"o$g" "e "as +een a+sent or less t"an seven ,ears, is generall, considered as dead and +elieved to +e so +, t"e spo$se present at t"e ti#e o contracting s$c" s$+seC$ent #arriage, or i t"e a+sentee is pres$#ed dead according to articles 29' and 291* T"e #arriage so contracted s"all +e valid in an, o t"e t"ree cases $ntil declared n$ll and void +, a co#petent co$rt*6 Hnder t"e oregoing provisions, a s$+seC$ent #arriage contracted d$ring t"e li eti#e o t"e irst spo$se is illegal and void ab initio $nless t"e prior #arriage is irst ann$lled or dissolved* %aragrap" 527 o t"e la! gives e=ceptions ro# t"e a+ove r$le* 3or t"e s$+seC$ent #arriage re erred to in t"e t"ree e=ceptional cases t"erein provided, to +e "eld valid, t"e spo$se present (not the absentee spouse) so contracting t"e later #arriage #$st "ave done so in good ait"* 1ad ait" i#ports a dis"onest p$rpose or so#e #oral o+liC$it, and conscio$s doing o !rong B it parta<es o t"e nat$re o ra$d, a +reac" o a <no!n d$t, t"ro$g" so#e #otive o interest or ill !ill* T"e Co$rt does not ind t"ese circ$#stances to +e "ere e=tant* G,calr
&@&A (@(A

A :$dicial declaration o a+sence o t"e a+sentee spo$se is not necessar, as long as t"e prescri+ed period o a+sence is #et* It is eC$all, note!ort", t"at t"e
4@4A

4[4] 5[5]

Rollo, p. 15. Article 256. This Code shall have retroactive effect i sofar as it does ot pre!"dice or i#pair vested or ac$"ired ri%hts i accorda ce &ith the Civil Code or other la&s. 6[6] The %ood faith or 'ad faith of the other co tracti % part( to the s"'se$"e t #arria%e is ot all that co se$"e tial )*ee +ap", *( vs. -"fe#io, 43 *C.A 1//0. /[/] Co##issio er of 1 ter al .eve "e vs. Co"rt of Appeals, 26/ *C.A 55/. 2[2] 3o es vs. 4orti%"ela, 64 5hil. 1/9.

#arriage in t"ese e=ceptional cases are, +, t"e e=plicit #andate o Article 42, to +e dee#ed valid 6$ntil declared n$ll and void +, a co#petent co$rt*6 It ollo!s t"at t"e +$rden o proo !o$ld +e, in t"ese cases, on t"e part, assailing t"e second #arriage* Calr<, In contrast, $nder t"e 1944 3a#il, Code, in order t"at a s$+seC$ent +iga#o$s #arriage #a, e=ceptionall, +e considered valid, t"e ollo!ing conditions #$st conc$r> viz*? 5a7 T"e prior spo$se o t"e contracting part, #$st "ave +een a+sent or o$r consec$tive ,ears, or t!o ,ears !"ere t"ere is danger o deat" $nder t"e circ$#stances stated in Article 291 o t"e Civil Code at t"e ti#e o disappearance> 5+7 t"e spo$se present "as a !ellB o$nded +elie t"at t"e a+sent spo$se is alread, dead> and 5c7 t"ere is, $nli<e t"e old r$le, a :$dicial declaration o pres$#ptive deat" o t"e a+sentee or !"ic" p$rpose t"e spo$se present can instit$te a s$##ar, proceeding in co$rt to as< or t"at declaration* T"e last condition is consistent and in consonance !it" t"e reC$ire#ent o :$dicial intervention in s$+seC$ent #arriages as so provided in Article 41 , in relation to Article 4', o t"e 3a#il, Code* -es#
9@9A 1'@1'A

In t"e case at +ar, it re#ained $ndisp$ted t"at respondent -arietta;s irst "$s+and, /a#es 0illia# 1o$nds, "ad +een a+sent or "ad disappeared or #ore t"an eleven ,ears +e ore s"e entered into a second #arriage in 19)4 !it" t"e deceased Teodorico Calisterio* T"is second #arriage, "aving +een contracted d$ring t"e regi#e o t"e Civil Code, s"o$ld t"$s +e dee#ed valid not!it"standing t"e a+sence o a :$dicial declaration o pres$#ptive deat" o /a#es 1o$nds* T"e con:$gal propert, o Teodorico and -arietta, no evidence "aving +een add$ced to indicate anot"er propert, regi#e +et!een t"e spo$ses, pertains to t"e# in co##on* Hpon its dissol$tion !it" t"e deat" o Teodorico, t"e propert, s"o$ld rig"tl, +e divided in t!o eC$al portions BB one portion going to t"e s$rviving spo$se and t"e ot"er portion to t"e estate o t"e deceased spo$se* T"e s$ccessional rig"t in intestac, o a s$rviving spo$se over t"e net estate o t"e deceased, conc$rring !it" legiti#ate +rot"ers and sisters or nep"e!s and nieces 5t"e latter +, rig"t o representation7, is oneB"al o t"e in"eritance, t"e +rot"ers and sisters or nep"e!s and nieces, +eing entitled to t"e ot"er "al * Nep"e!s and nieces, "o!ever, can onl, s$cceed +, rig"t o representation in t"e presence o $ncles and a$nts> alone, $pon t"e ot"er "and, nep"e!s and nieces can s$cceed in t"eir o!n rig"t !"ic" is to sa, t"at +rot"ers or sisters e=cl$de nep"e!s and nieces e=cept onl, in representation +, t"e latter o t"eir parents !"o predecease or are incapacitated to s$cceed* T"e appellate co$rt "as t"$s erred in granting, in paragrap" 5c7 o t"e dispositive portion o its :$dg#ent, s$ccessional rig"ts, to petitioner;s c"ildren, along !it" t"eir o!n #ot"er Antonia !"o "ersel is invo<ing s$ccessional rig"ts over t"e estate o "er deceased +rot"er* Sl=
11@11A

9[9]

Article 41. A #arria%e co tracted '( a ( perso d"ri % the s"'siste ce of a previo"s #arria%e shall 'e "ll a d void, " less 'efore the cele'ratio of the s"'se$"e t #arria%e, the prior spo"se had 'ee a'se t for fo"r co sec"tive (ears a d the spo"se prese t had a &ell-fo" ded 'elief that the a'se t spo"se &as alread( dead. 1 case of disappeara ce &here there is da %er of death " der the circ"#sta ces set forth i the provisio s of Article 391 of the civil code, a a'se ce of o l( t&o (ears shall 'e s"fficie t. 6or the p"rpose of co tracti % the s"'se$"e t #arria%e " der the precedi % para%raph, the spo"se prese t #"st i stit"te a s"##ar( proceedi % as provided i this Code for the declaratio of pres"#ptive death of the a'se tee, &itho"t pre!"dice to the effect of reappeara ce of the a'se t spo"se. 10[10] Article 40. The a'sol"te "llit( of a previo"s #arria%e #a( 'e i vo7ed for p"rposes of re#arria%e o the 'asis solel( of a fi al !"d%#e t declari % s"ch previo"s #arria%e void. 11[11] 6irst ded"cti % to her favor her o e-half share of the co !"%al propert(.

#$ERE%ORE, t"e assailed :$dg#ent o t"e Coin o Appeals in CA E*R* CV No* )1)(4 is A33IR-.D e=cept inso ar onl, as it decreed in paragrap" 5c7 o t"e dispositive portion t"ereo t"at t"e c"ildren o petitioner are li<e!ise entitled, along !it" "er, to t"e ot"er "al o t"e in"eritance, in lie$ o !"ic", it is "ere+, D.CDAR.D t"at said oneB"al s"are o t"e decedent;s estate pertains solel, to petitioner to t"e e=cl$sion o "er o!n c"ildren* No costs* SO ORDERED. Melo, (Chairman), Panganiban, Purisima, and Gonzaga-Reyes, JJ., conc$r*