5th Batch Digest (Christensen, Bellis, Llorente)

7/25/2019 5th Batch Digest (Christensen, Bellis, Llorente)

1/14

TESTATE ESTATE OF EDWARD E. CHRISTENSEN vs. HELEN

CHRISTENSEN GARCIA, G.R. No. L-16749 Janua! "1, 196"

IN THE MATTER OF THE TESTATE ESTATE OF EDWARD E. CHRISTENSEN,DECEASED.

ADOLFO C. AZNAR, Executor and LUCY CHRISTENSEN, Her o! t"e decea#ed, ExecutorandHer$a%%e&&ee#, 'S. HELEN CHRISTENSEN (ARCIA, o%%o#tor$a%%e&&ant)anuar* +, -+

FACTS/Ed0ard E. C"r#ten#en, t"ou1" 2orn n Ne0 Yor3, 41rated to Ca&!orna, 0"ere "e re#ded andcon#e5uent&* 0a# con#dered a Ca&!orna ct6en. In -+, "e ca4e to t"e 7"&%%ne# 0"ere "e2eca4e a do4c&ar* unt& "# deat". Ho0e8er, durn1 t"e entre %erod o! "# re#dence n t"#countr* "e "ad a&0a*# con#dered "4#e&! a ct6en o! Ca&!orna. In "# 0&& executed on Marc"9, -9, "e n#ttuted an ac3no0&ed1ed natura& dau1"ter, Mara Luc* C"r#ten#en a# "# on&*

"er, 2ut &e!t a &e1ac* o! #u4 o! 4one* n !a8or o! He&en C"r#ten#en (arca 0"o 0a# renderedto "a8e 2een dec&ared ac3no0&ed1ed natura& dau1"ter. Coun#e& !or a%%e&&ant c&a4# t"atCa&!orna &a0 #"ou&d 2e a%%&ed: t"at under Ca&!orna &a0, t"e 4atter # re!erred 2ac3 to t"e &a0o! t"e do4c&e: t"at t"ere!ore 7"&%%ne &a0 # u&t4ate&* a%%&ca2&e: t"at !na&&*, t"e #"are o!He&en 4u#t 2e ncrea#ed n 8e0 o! t"e #ucce## ona& r1"t# o! &&e1t4ate c"&dren under7"&%%ne &a0. On t"e ot"er "and, coun#e& !or t"e "er o! C"r#ten#en contend# t"at na#4uc" a#t # c&ear t"at under Artc&e o! our C8& Code, t"e natona& &a0 o! t"e decea#ed 4u#t a%%&*,our court# 4u#t 44edate&* a%%&* t"e nterna& &a0 o! Ca&!orna on t"e 4atter: t"at underCa&!orna &a0 t"ere are no co4%uor* "er# and con#e5uent&* a te#tator cou&d d#%o#e o! an*%ro%ert* %o##e##ed 2* "4 n a2#o&ute do4non and t"at !na&&*, &&e1t4ate c"&dren not 2en1entt&ed to an*t"n1 and "# 0&& re4an und#tur2ed.

ISSUE/W"et"er or not t"e 7"&%%ne &a0 #"ou&d %re8a& n ad4n#tern1 t"e e#tate o! C"r#ten#en;

RULIN(/T"e court n decdn1 to 1rant 4ore #ucce##ona& r1"t# to He&en #ad n e!!ect t"at t"ere are t0oru&e# n Ca&!orna on t"e 4atter/ t"e nterna& &a0 0"c" #"ou&d a%%&* to Ca&!ornan# do4c&edn Ca&!orna: and t"e con!&ct ru&e 0"c" #"ou&d a%%&* to Ca&!ornan# do4c&ed out#de o!Ca&!orna. T"e Ca&!orna con!&ct ru&e #a*#/


2/14

TESTATE ESTATE OF AMOS (. >ELLIS, decea#ed, 7EO7LE?S >AN@ TRUSTCOM7ANY,executor, MARIA CRISTINA >ELLIS and MIRIAM 7ALMA >ELLIS, o%%o#tor#$a%%e&&ant#,'S.EDWARD A. >ELLIS, ET. AL., "er$a%%e&&ee#

(.R. No. L$B+ )une , -

FACTS/A4o# >e&, 2orn n Texa#, 0a# a ct6en o! t"e State o! Texa# and o! t"e Unted State#. He "ad 9&e1t4ate c"&dren 0t" "# 0!e, Mar* Ma&&en, 0"o4 "e "ad d8orced, + &e1t4ate c"&dren0t" "# Bnd 0!e, 'o&et @enned* and !na&&*, + &&e1t4ate c"&dren.

7ror to "# deat", A4o# >e& executed a 0&& n t"e 7"&%%ne# n 0"c" "# d#tr2uta2&e e#tate#"ou&d 2e d8ded n tru#t n t"e !o&&o0n1 order and 4anner/

a. BG,GGG to "# #t 0!e Mar* Ma&&en:

2. 7BG,GGG to "# + &&e1t4ate c"&dren at 7G,GGG eac":c. T"e re4ander #"a&& 1o to "# #ur88n1 c"&dren 2* "# #t and Bnd 08e#, n e5ua& #"are#.

Su2#e5uent&*, A4o# >e& ded a re#dent o! San Antono, Texa#, USA. H# 0&& 0a# ad4tted to%ro2ate n t"e 7"&%%ne#. T"e 7eo%&e?# >an3 and Tru#t Co4%an*, an executor o! t"e 0&&, %adt"e entre 2e5ue#t t"eren.

7re%arator* to c&o#n1 t# ad4n#traton, t"e executor #u24tted and !&ed t# e& !&ed t"er re#%ect8eo%%o#ton to t"e %roect %artton on t"e 1round t"at t"e* 0ere de%r8ed o! t"er &e1t4ate# a#&&e1t4ate c"&dren.

T"e &o0er court dened t"er re#%ect8e 4oton# !or recon#deraton.

ISSUE/W"et"er Texan La0 o! 7"&%%ne La0 4u#t a%%&*.

RULIN(/It # not d#%uted t"at t"e decedent 0a# 2ot" a natona& o! Texa# and a do4c&e t"ereo! at t"et4e o! "# deat". So t"at e8en a##u4n1 Texan "a# a con!&ct o! &a0 ru&e %ro8dn1 t"at t"e #a4e0ou&d not re#u&t n a re!erence 2ac3 ren8oJ to 7"&%%ne La0, 2ut 0ou&d #t&& re!er to Texa#La0.

Nonet"e&e##, ! Texa# "a# con!&ct ru&e ado%tn1 t"e #tu# t"eor* &ex re #taeJ ca&&n1 !or t"e


3/14

a%%&caton o! t"e &a0 o! t"e %&ace 0"ere t"e %ro%erte# are #tuated, ren8o 0ou&d ar#e, #nce t"e%ro%erte# "ere n8o&8ed are !ound n t"e 7"&%%ne#. In t"e a2#ence, "o0e8er o! %roo!# a# to t"econ!&ct o! &a0 ru&e o! Texa#, t #"ou&d not 2e %re#u4ed d!!erent !ro4 our a%%e&&ant#, %o#ton #t"ere!ore not re#ted on t"e doctrne o! ren8o.

T"e %arte# ad4t t"at t"e decedent, A4o# >e&, 0a# a ct6en o! t"e State o! Texa#, USA andt"at under t"e La0# o! Texa#, t"ere are no !orced "er# or &e1t4ate#. Accordn1&*, #nce t"entrn#c 8a&dt* o! t"e %ro8#on o! t"e 0&& and t"e a4ount o! #ucce##ona& r1"t# "a# to 2edeter4ned under Texa# La0, t"e 7"&%%ne La0 on &e1t4ate# can not 2e a%%&ed to t"e te#tateo! A4o# >e&.

LLORENTE vs. CA, G.R. No. 1'4"71. Nov$)*$ '", '+++

7AULA T. LLORENTE, %ettoner, 'S. COURT OF A77EALS and ALICIA F. LLORENTE,

re#%ondent#No8e42er B+, BGGG

FACTS/Loren6o L&orente and %ettoner 7au&a L&orente 0ere 4arred n -+ n t"e 7"&%%ne#. Loren6o0a# an ented #er8ce4an o! t"e US Na8*. Soon a!ter, "e &e!t !or t"e US 0"ere t"rou1"natura&6aton, "e 2eca4e a US Ct6en. U%on "# 8#taton o! "# 0!e, "e d#co8ered t"at #"e0a# &8n1 0t" "# 2rot"er and a c"&d 0a# 2orn. T"e c"&d 0a# re1#tered a# &e1t4ate 2ut t"ena4e o! t"e !at"er 0a# &e!t 2&an3. L&orente !&ed a d8orce n Ca&!orna, 0"c" &ater on 2eca4e!na&. He 4arred A&ca and t"e* &8ed to1et"er !or B9 *ear# 2rn1n1 + c"&dren. He 4ade "#&a#t 0&& and te#ta4ent #tatn1 t"at a&& "# %ro%erte# 0&& 2e 18en to "# #econd 4arra1e. He

!&ed a %etton o! %ro2ate t"at 4ade or a%%onted A&ca "# #%eca& ad4n#trator o! "# e#tate.>e!ore t"e%roceedn1 cou&d 2e ter4nated, Loren6o ded. 7au&a !&ed a &etter o! ad4n#traton o8erL&orente?# e#tate. T"e tra& 1ranted t"e &etter and dened t"e 4oton !or recon#deraton. Ana%%ea& 0a# 4ade to t"e Court o! A%%ea, 0"c" a!!r4ed and 4od!ed t"e ud14ent o! t"e Tra&Court t"at #"e 2e dec&ared co$o0ner o! 0"ate8er %ro%erte#, #"e and t"e decea#ed, 4a* "a8eac5ured durn1 t"er B9 *ear# o! co"a2taton.

ISSUE/W"et"er or not t"e Natona& La0 #"a&& a%%&*.

RULIN(/Loren6o L&orente 0a# a&read* an A4ercan ct6en 0"en "e d8orced 7au&a. Suc" 0a# ao t"e#tuaton 0"en "e 4arred A&ca and executed "# 0&&. A# #tated n Artc&e 9 o! t"e c8& code,a&en# 4a* o2tan d8orce# a2road, %ro8ded t"at t"e* are 8a&d&* re5ured n t"er Natona& La0.T"u# t"e d8orce o2taned 2* L&orente # 8a&d 2ecau#e t"e &a0 t"at 1o8ern# "4 # not 7"&%%neLa0 2ut "# Natona& La0 #nce t"e d8orce 0a# contracted a!ter "e 2eca4e an A4ercan ct6en.Furt"er4ore, "# Natona& La0 a&&o0ed d8orce.T"e ca#e 0a# re4anded to t"e court o! or1n !or deter4naton o! t"e ntrn#c 8a&dt* o!
http://philippinecasedigests.blogspot.com/2010/09/llorente-vs-ca-gr-no-124371-november-23.htmlhttp://philippinecasedigests.blogspot.com/2010/09/llorente-vs-ca-gr-no-124371-november-23.html


4/14

Loren6o L&orente?# 0&& and deter4naton o! t"e %arte#? #ucce##ona& r1"t# a&&o0n1 %roo! o!!ore1n &a0.

Ana vs. Ga&a 7 SCRA 9/0

7o#t under ca#e d1e#t#, C8& La0at Saturda*, Fe2ruar* B9, BGB7o#ted 2* Sc"6o%"renc Mnd

Fas2 Ed0ard C"r#ten#en?# ct6en o! t"e State o! Ca&!ornaJ0&& 0a# executed n Man&a 0"ere t %ro8de# t"at He&enC"r#ten#en (arca rece8e a %a*4ent o! 7+,GG and %ro%o#edt"at t"e re#due o! t"e e#tate 2e tran#!erred to "# dau1"ter MaraLuc* C"r#ten#en. He&en C"r#ten#en (arca o%%o#ed t"e %roecto! %artton o! Ed0ard?# e#tate c&a4n1 t"at #"e 0a# de%r8ed o!"er &e1t4e a# ac3no0&ed1ed natura& c"&d under t"e 7"&%%ne&a0.

Issu$2 W"et"er or not t"e Ca&!orna &a0 or t"e 7"&%%ne &a0#"ou&d a%%&* n t"e ca#e at 2ar.

H$%32 7"&%%ne &a0 #"ou&d 2e a%%&ed. T"e State o! Ca&!orna%re#cr2e# t0o #et# o! &a0# !or t# ct6en# re#dn1 t"eren and acon!&ct o! &a0 ru&e# !or t# ct6en# do4c&ed n ot"erur#dcton#. Art. - o! t"e Ca&!orna C8& Code #tate# t"at


5/14

Ed0ard?# 0&& de%r8n1 "# ac3no0&ed1ed natura& c"&d o!&atter?# &e1ac*, #"ou&d 2e 1o8erned 2* t"e 7"&%%ne &a0.

T"e dec#on a%%ea&ed !ro4 # re8er#ed and t"e ca#e returned tot"e &o0er court 0t" n#tructon t"at t"e %artton 2e 4ade a# t"e7"&%%ne &a0 on #ucce##on %ro8de#.

#$%%&s vs. #$%%&s '+ SCRA "/(0

7o#t under ca#e d1e#t#, C8& La0at Saturda*, Fe2ruar* B9, BGB7o#ted 2* Sc"6o%"renc Mnd

Fas2 A4o# (. >e&, a ct6en o! t"e State o! Texa#, ded are#dent o! Texa#. T"e 0&& "e "ad executed n t"e 7"&%%ne#drected t"at "# d#tr2uta2&e 7"&%%ne e#tate #"ou&d 2e d8dedn tru#t#. In t"e %roect o! %artton, t"e executor o! t"e 0&& K%ur#uant to t"e


6/14

%ro8#on# o! t"e 0&&: and dJ t"e ca%act* to #ucceed. Under t"e&a0# o! Texa#, t"ere are no !orced "er# or &e1t4e#.

PAULA T. LLORENTE,petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS and ALICIA F. LLORENTE,respondents.

D E C I S I O N

PARDO, J.:

The Case

The case raises a conflict of las iss!e.

"hat is #efore !s is an a$$eal fro% the decision of the Co!rt of A$$eals i&'(%odif)in*that of the Re*ional Trial Co!rt, Ca%arines S!r, +ranch -, Iri*a Cit) ii&(declarin*res$ondent Alicia F. Llorente /herinafter referred to as 0Alicia12, as co3oners ofhate4er $ro$ert) she and the deceased Loren5o N. Llorente /hereinafter referred to as0Loren5o12 %a) ha4e ac6!ired d!rin* the tent)3fi4e /-2 )ears that the) li4ed to*etheras h!s#and and ife.

The Facts

The deceased Loren5o N. Llorente as an enlisted ser4ice%an of the United StatesNa4) fro% 7arch '8, '9 to Se$te%#er 8, '9-. iii&(

On Fe#r!ar) , '9, Loren5o and $etitioner Pa!la Llorente /hereinafter referred to as0Pa!la12 ere %arried #efore a $arish $riest, Ro%an Catholic Ch!rch, in Na#!a,Ca%arines S!r.i4&;(

+efore the o!t#rea< of the Pacific "ar, Loren5o de$arted for the United States andPa!la sta)ed in the con=!*al ho%e in #arrio Anti$olo, Na#!a, Ca%arines S!r.4&-(

On No4e%#er 8, '9;, Loren5o as ad%itted to United States citi5enshi$ and

Certificate of Nat!rali5ation No. --9>'? as iss!ed in his fa4or #) the United StatesDistrict Co!rt, So!thern District of Ne @or


7/14

On Dece%#er ;, '9;-, Pa!la *a4e #irth to a #o) re*istered in the Office of the Re*istrarof Na#!a as 0Crisolo*o Llorente,1 ith the certificate statin* that the child as notle*iti%ate and the line for the fatherBs na%e as left #lan, Loren5o %arried Alicia F. Llorente in 7anila. iii&'(A$$arentl), Alicia

had no to '9>-, Loren5o and Alicia li4ed to*ether as h!s#and and ife. 4&'-(Theirtent)3fi4e /-2 )ear !nion $rod!ced three children, Ra!l, L!5 and +e4erl), alls!rna%ed Llorente.4i&'?(

On 7arch ', '9>', Loren5o eec!ted a Last "ill and Testa%ent. The ill asnotari5ed #) Notar) P!#lic Sal4ador 7. Occiano, d!l) si*ned #) Loren5o ith attestin*itnesses Francisco !*o, Francisco Nei#res and Tito Tra=ano. In the ill, Loren5o#e6!eathed all his $ro$ert) to Alicia and their three children, to it:

0/'2 I *i4e and #e6!eath to %) ife ALICIA R. FORTUNO ecl!si4el) %) residentialho!se and lot, located at San Francisco, Na#!a, Ca%arines S!r, Phili$$ines, incl!din*

ALL the $ersonal $ro$erties and other %o4a#les or #elon*in*s that %a) #e fo!nd oreistin* therein

0/2 I *i4e and #e6!eath ecl!si4el) to %) ife Alicia R. Fort!no and to %) children,Ra!l F. Llorente, L!5 F. Llorente and +e4erl) F. Llorente, in e6!al shares, all %) real


8/14

$ro$erties hatsoe4er and heresoe4er located, s$ecificall) %) real $ro$erties locatedat +aran*a) Aro3Aldao, Na#!a, Ca%arines S!r +aran*a) Palo)on, Na#!a, Ca%arinesS!r +aran*a) +aras, Sitio P!*a, Na#!a, Ca%arines S!r and +aran*a) Palo)on, SitioNalilidon*, Na#!a, Ca%arines S!r

0/2 I li, Loren5o filed ith the Re*ional Trial Co!rt, Iri*a, Ca%arinesS!r, a $etition for the $ro#ate and alloance of his last ill and testa%ent hereinLoren5o %o4ed that Alicia #e a$$ointed S$ecial Ad%inistratri of his estate. 4iii&'>(

On an!ar) '>, '9>;, the trial co!rt denied the %otion for the reason that the testator

Loren5o as still ali4e.i&'9(

On an!ar) ;, '9>;, findin* that the ill as d!l) eec!ted, the trial co!rt ad%itted theill to $ro#ate.&8(

On !ne '', '9>-, #efore the $roceedin*s co!ld #e ter%inated, Loren5o died. i&'(


9/14

On Se$te%#er ;, '9>-, Pa!la filed ith the sa%e co!rt a $etition ii&(for letters ofad%inistration o4er Loren5oBs estate in her fa4or. Pa!la contended /'2 that she asLoren5oBs s!r4i4in* s$o!se, /2 that the 4ario!s $ro$ert) ere ac6!ired d!rin* their%arria*e, /2 that Loren5oBs ill dis$osed of all his $ro$ert) in fa4or of Alicia and herchildren, encroachin* on her le*iti%e and 'G share in the con=!*al $ro$ert). iii&(

On Dece%#er ', '9>-, Alicia filed in the testate $roceedin* /S$. Proc. No. IR3--2, a$etition for the iss!ance of letters testa%entar). i4&;(

On Octo#er ';, '9>-, itho!t ter%inatin* the testate $roceedin*s, the trial co!rt *a4ed!e co!rse to Pa!laBs $etition in S$. Proc. No. IR3>>>. 4&-(

On No4e%#er ?, ' and 8, '9>-, the order as $!#lished in the nes$a$er 0+icolStar1.4i&?(

On 7a) '>, '9>, the Re*ional Trial Co!rt iss!ed a =oint decision, th!s:

0"herefore, considerin* that this co!rt has so fo!nd that the di4orce decree *ranted tothe late Loren5o Llorente is 4oid and ina$$lica#le in the Phili$$ines, therefore the%arria*e he contracted ith Alicia Fort!nato on an!ar) '?, '9-> at 7anila is li


10/14

0On the other %atters $ra)ed for in res$ecti4e $etitions for ant of e4idence co!ld not#e *ranted.

0SO ORDERED.14ii&(

In ti%e, Alicia filed ith the trial co!rt a %otion for reconsideration of the afore6!oteddecision.4iii&>(

On Se$te%#er ';, '9>, the trial co!rt denied AliciaBs %otion for reconsideration #!t%odified its earlier decision, statin* that Ra!l and L!5 Llorente are not children0le*iti%ate or otherise1 of Loren5o since the) ere not le*all) ado$ted #) hi%.i&9(

A%endin* its decision of 7a) '>, '9>, the trial co!rt declared +e4erl) Llorente as theonl) ille*iti%ate child of Loren5o, entitlin* her to one3third /'G2 of the estate and one3third /'G2 of the free $ortion of the estate. &8(

On Se$te%#er >, '9>, res$ondent a$$ealed to the Co!rt of A$$eals. i&'(

On !l) ', '99-, the Co!rt of A$$eals $ro%!l*ated its decision, affir%in* ith%odification the decision of the trial co!rt in this ise:

0"EREFORE, the decision a$$ealed fro% is here#) AFFIR7ED ith the7ODIFICATION that Alicia is declared as co3oner of hate4er $ro$erties she and thedeceased %a) ha4e ac6!ired d!rin* the tent)3fi4e /-2 )ears of coha#itation.

0SO ORDERED.1ii&(

On A!*!st -, '99-, $etitioner filed ith the Co!rt of A$$eals a %otion for

reconsideration of the decision.iii

&(

On 7arch ', '99?, the Co!rt of A$$eals, i4&;(denied the %otion for lac< of %erit.

ence, this $etition.4&-(

The Iss!e

Stri$$in* the $etition of its le*alese and sortin* thro!*h the 4ario!s ar*!%ents raised, 4i

&?(the iss!e is si%$le. "ho are entitled to inherit fro% the late Loren5o N. LlorenteH

"e do not a*ree ith the decision of the Co!rt of A$$eals. "e re%and the case to thetrial co!rt for r!lin* on the intrinsic 4alidit) of the ill of the deceased.

The A$$lica#le La

The fact that the late Loren5o N. Llorente #eca%e an A%erican citi5en lon* #efore andat the ti%e of: /'2 his di4orce fro% Pa!la /2 %arria*e to Alicia /2 eec!tion of his illand /;2 death, is d!l) esta#lished, ad%itted and !ndis$!ted.


11/14

Th!s, as a r!le, iss!es arisin* fro% these incidents are necessaril) *o4erned #) forei*nla.

The Ci4il Code clearl) $ro4ides:

0Art. '-. Las relatin* to fa%il) ri*hts and d!ties, or to the stat!s, condition and le*alca$acit) of $ersons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, e4en tho!*h li4in*a#road.

0Art. '?. Real $ro$ert) as ell as $ersonal $ro$ert) is s!#=ect to the la of the co!ntr)here it is sit!ated.

0oe4er, intestate and testa%entar) s!ccession, #oth ith res$ect to the order ofs!ccession and to the a%o!nt of s!ccessional ri*hts and to the intrinsic 4alidit) oftesta%entar) $ro4isions, shall be regulated by the national law of the person whosesuccession is under consideration, hate4er %a) #e the nat!re of the $ro$ert) and

re*ardless of the co!ntr) herein said $ro$ert) %a) #e fo!nd.1 /emphasis ours2

Tr!e, forei*n las do not $ro4e the%sel4es in o!r =!risdiction and o!r co!rts are nota!thori5ed to ta(

First, there is no s!ch thin* as one A%erican la. The Jnational laJ indicated in Article'? of the Ci4il Code cannot $ossi#l) a$$l) to *eneral A%erican la. There is no s!chla *o4ernin* the 4alidit) of testa%entar) $ro4isions in the United States. Each State ofthe !nion has its on la a$$lica#le to its citi5ens and in force onl) ithin the State. Itcan therefore refer to no other than the la of the State of hich the decedent as aresident.i&9(Second, there is no shoin* that the a$$lication of the renvoi doctrine is

called for or re6!ired #) Ne @or< State la.

The trial co!rt held that the ill as intrinsicall) in4alid since it contained dis$ositions infa4or of Alice, ho in the trial co!rtBs o$inion as a %ereparamour. The trial co!rtthre the ill o!t, lea4in* Alice, and her to children, Ra!l and L!5, ith nothin*.


12/14

The Co!rt of A$$eals also disre*arded the ill. It declared Alice entitled to one half/'G2 of hate4er $ro$ert) she and Loren5o ac6!ired d!rin* their coha#itation, a$$l)in*

Article ';; of the Ci4il Code of the Phili$$ines.

The hast) a$$lication of Phili$$ine la and the co%$lete disre*ard of the ill, alread)

$ro#ated as d!l) eec!ted in accordance ith the for%alities of Phili$$ine la, is fatal,especially in light of the factual and legal circumstances here obtaining.

Kalidit) of the Forei*n Di4orce

In Van Dorn v. Romillo, Jr.l&;8(e held that oin* to the nationalit) $rinci$le e%#odied inArticle '- of the Ci4il Code, onl) Phili$$ine nationals are co4ered #) the $olic) a*ainsta#sol!te di4orces, the sa%e #ein* considered contrar) to o!r conce$t of $!#lic $olic)and %oralit). In the sa%e case, the Co!rt r!led that aliens %a) o#tain di4orces a#road,$ro4ided the) are 4alid accordin* to their national la.

Citin* this land%ar< case, the Co!rt held in Quita v. Court of Appeals,li

&;'(that once$ro4en that res$ondent as no lon*er a Fili$ino citi5en hen he o#tained the di4orcefro% $etitioner, the r!lin* in Van Dorno!ld #eco%e a$$lica#le and $etitioner co!ld04er) ell lose her ri*ht to inherit1 fro% hi%.

In Pilapil v. Ibay!omera,lii&;(e reco*ni5ed the di4orce o#tained #) the res$ondent inhis co!ntr), the Federal Re$!#lic of er%an). There, e stated that di4orce and itsle*al effects %a) #e reco*ni5ed in the Phili$$ines insofar as res$ondent is concerned in4ie of the nationalit) $rinci$le in o!r ci4il la on the stat!s of $ersons.

For failin* to a$$l) these doctrines, the decision of the Co!rt of A$$eals %!st #e

re4ersed.liii

&;("e hold that the di4orce o#tained #) Loren5o . Llorente fro% his firstife Pa!la as 4alid and reco*ni5ed in this =!risdiction as a %atter of co%it). No, theeffects of this di4orce /as to the s!ccession to the estate of the decedent2 are %atters#est left to the deter%ination of the trial co!rt.

Kalidit) of the "ill

The Ci4il Code $ro4ides:

0Art. '. The forms and solemnitiesof contracts, ills, and other $!#lic instr!%entsshall #e *o4erned #) the las of the country in which they are executed.

0"hen the acts referred to are eec!ted #efore the di$lo%atic or cons!lar officials of theRe$!#lic of the Phili$$ines in a forei*n co!ntr), the sole%nities esta#lished #)Phili$$ine las shall #e o#ser4ed in their eec!tion.1 /underscorin" ours2

The clear intent of Loren5o to #e6!eath his $ro$ert) to his second ife and children #)her is *larin*l) shon in the ill he eec!ted. "e do not ish to fr!strate his ishes,


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since he as a forei*ner, not co4ered #) o!r las on 0fa%il) ri*hts and d!ties, stat!s,condition and le*al ca$acit).1li4&;;(

"hether the ill is intrinsicall) 4alid and ho shall inherit fro% Loren5o are iss!es #est$ro4ed #) forei*n la hich %!st #e $leaded and $ro4ed. "hether the ill as

eec!ted in accordance ith the for%alities re6!ired is ansered #) referrin* toPhili$$ine la. In fact, the ill as d!l) $ro#ated.

As a *!ide hoe4er, the trial co!rt sho!ld note that hate4er $!#lic $olic) or *oodc!sto%s %a) #e in4ol4ed in o!r s)ste% of le*iti%es, Con*ress did not intend to etendthe sa%e to the s!ccession of forei*n nationals. Con*ress s$ecificall) left the a%o!ntof s!ccessional ri*hts to the decedentMs national la. l4&;-(

a4in* th!s r!led, e find it !nnecessar) to $ass !$on the other iss!es raised.

The Fallo

WHEREFORE, the $etition is RANTED. The decision of the Co!rt of A$$eals in CA3. R. SP No. ';;? $ro%!l*ated on !l) ', '99- is SET ASIDE.

In lie! thereof, the Co!rt REKERSES the decision of the Re*ional Trial Co!rt andRECONIES as KALID the decree of di4orce *ranted in fa4or of the deceasedLoren5o N. Llorente #) the S!$erior Co!rt of the State of California in and for theCo!nt) of San Die*o, %ade final on Dece%#er ;, '9-.

F!rther, the Co!rt RE7ANDS the cases to the co!rt of ori*in for deter%ination of theintrinsic 4alidit) of Loren5o N. LlorenteBs ill and deter%ination of the $artiesB

s!ccessional ri*hts alloin* $roof of forei*n la ith instr!ctions that the trial co!rt shall$roceed ith all deli#erate dis$atch to settle the estate of the deceased ithin thefra%eor< of the R!les of Co!rt.

No costs.

SO ORDERED.

Da4ide, r., C.., /Chair%an2, P!no, a$!nan, and @nares3Santia*o, ., conc!r.


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Documents

5th Batch Digest (Christensen, Bellis, Llorente)