PHILIPPINE LAW SCHOOL

SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS

COURSE FACILITATOR: ATTY. JESTER KUTCH A. OLAYTA

GRADE BREAKDOWN :

Class Standing – 40%

Midterm Exam – 30%

Finals Exam – 30%

RECOMMENDED BOOK : SPECIAL PROCEEDING ESSENTIALS BY JUSTICE

MAGDANGAL DE LEON AND DIANA LOUISE WILWAYCO

I. Introduction
a. What is Special Proceedings? ( Art 1 Rule 72)
b. Distinguished from Civil Action
c. What are other special proceedings

II. Special Proceedings

A. Subject Matter and Applicability of General Rules

• Republic vs Merlinda L. Olaybar 10 February 2014 GR No.
189538
• Republic of the Philippines vs. Virgie (Virgel) L. Tipay G.R. 14
February 2018
• Matute vs. CA January 31, 1969 G.R. No. 26751
• Bunyi vs. Factor June 30, 2009 G.R. No. 172547
• Lim vs. CA January 24 2000 G.R. No. 124715

B. Settlement of Estate of Deceased Persons

➢ Jurisdiction and Venue
• Adelia C. Mendoza vs. Hon. Angelito C. The GR No. 122646,
March 14, 1997
• Patricia Natcher vs. Court of Appeals et. al. GR No. 133000,
October 2, 2001
• Aranas vs. Mercado 15 January 2014 GR No. 156407
 • Heirs of Magdaleno Ypon vs. Gaudioso Ponteras Ricaforte
and the Register of Deeds of Toledo City 08 July 2013 GR
198680
• Manuela Azucena Mayor vs Edwin Tiu and Damiana Charito
Marty 23 November 2016 GR No. 203770
• Leo C. Romero and David Amando C. Romero vs. CA 18 April
2012 GR No. 188921

➢ Venue in judicial settlement of estate

• De Borja vs. Tan 97 Phil 872 (1955)
• Fule vs. CA L-040502, November 29, 1976
• Eusebio vs. Eusebio 100 Phil 593 L-8409, December 28,
1956

➢ Extent of jurisdiction of probate court

• Lim vs. CA 323 SCRA 102 (2000)
• Heirs of Sandejas vs. Lina, February 15, 2001
• de Borja vs. de Borja, July 31, 1957
• Testate of the deceased Rudocindo Adapon, Pedro Adapon
vs. Felisa Maralit 69 Phil 383 (January 20, 1940)
• Paz vs. Madrigal, October 23, 1956
• Bernardo vs. CA, GR No. L-18148, February 28, 1963
• Nepomuceno vs. CA 139 SCRA 206 (1985)
• Acain vs. IAC 155 SCRA 100 (1987)
• Ajero vs. CA 236 SCRA 488 (1994)
• Anita Reyes-Mesugas vs. Alejandro Aquino Reyes, GR No.
174835, March 22, 2010
• Eduardo Agtarap vs. Sebastian Agtarap et al., GR No.
177099, June 8, 2011

➢ Powers and duties of probate court

• Bernardo vs. CA, GR No. L-18148, February 28, 1963
• Vda de Manalo vs. CA 349 SCRA 135 (2001)
• Vda de Ramos vs. CA 81 SCRA 393 (1978)
➢ Production and Probate of Will
1. Nature of probate proceeding
2. Who may petition for probate; persons entitled to notice
 • Alban vs. CA, GR No. 156021, September 23, 2005
• Nittsscher vs. Nittscher 20 November 2007 GR No. 160530
• Maninang vs CA 114 SCRA 478
• Aluad vs Aluad GR No. 176943 17 October 2008
• Ralla vs Judge Untalan 172 SCRA 858
• Fernandez vs Dimaguiba 21 SCRA 428
• Ajero vs CA 238 SCRA 488

➢ Allowance or Disallowance of Will

1. Contents of petition for allowance of will
2. Grounds for disallowing a will.
3. Reprobate; Requisites before will proved outside allowed in
the Philippines;
4. Effects of probate
• In Re: In the Mater of the Petition to approve the will of
Ruperta Palaganas vs. Ernesto Palaganas, GR No. 169144,
January 26, 2011
• Fluemer vs. Hix, GR No. L-32636, March 17, 1930
• Vda de Perez vs. Tolete 232 SCRA 722 (June 2, 1994)
• Cynthia C. Alaban et. al vs. CA GR NO. 156021 September
23 2005
• Iona Leriou, Eleptherios Longa and Stephen Longa vs.
Yohanna Frenesi S. Longa ( Minor) et, al represented by
Mary
Jane B. Sta Cruz GR No. 203923 October 08 2018
• Nuguid vs Nuguid 17 SCRA 445
• Iris Morales vs. Ana Maria Olondriz et al GR No. 198994
February 3, 2016

➢ Letters Testamentary and of Administration

1. When and to whom letters of administration granted
2. Order of preference
• Angeles vs. Maglaya, GR No. 153798, September 2, 2005
• San Luis vs. San Luis, GR No. 133743, February 6, 2007
3. Appointment of co-administrator
• Uy vs. CA, GR No. 167979, March 16, 2006, 484 SCRA 699
 • Gabriel vs. CA, GR No. 101512, August 7, 1992, 212 SCRA
413
• Delgado Vda. De dela Rosa vs. Heirs of Marciana Rustia Vda
de Damian, GR No. 155733, January 27, 2006, 480 SCRA
334
• In the Matter of the Intestate Estate Succession of Estate of
Cristina Aguinaldo-Suntay vs. Isabel Cojuangco-Suntay, GR
No. 183053, June 16, 2010
4. Opposition to issuance of letters testamentary; simultaneous
filing of petition for administration
• Sagunsin vs. Lidayag 6 SCRA 874
• San Luis vs San Luis GR 133743 February 6 2007

5. Powers and duties of Executors and Administrators;

restrictions on the powers
• Ancheta vs. Guersey-Dalaygon, GR No. 139868, June 8,
2006
• Estate of Hilario Ruiz vs. CA GR No. 118671 January 29,
1996
6. Appointment of Special Administrator
• Ocampo vs Ocampo GR No. 187879 July 5 2010
• Heirs of Belinda Dahlia-Castillo vs. Margarita Avila Loreto
and Florencia Avila Parreño GR No. 162934 November 11,
2005
• Tan vs. Gedorio GR No. 166520 March 14 2008
• Diosdado S. Manungas vs. Margarita Avila Loreto and
Florencia Avila Parreño GR No. 193161 August 22, 2011

7. Grounds for removal of administrator

• Mendiola vs. CA GR No. 929999 October 11 1990
• Pascual vs CA GR No. 120575 March 3 1999

➢ Claims against the Estate

• Stronghold Insurance Company, Inc. vs. Republic Asahi
Glass Corporation, GR No. 147561, June 2006
• Gabriel vs. Bilon, GR No. 146989, February 7, 2007
1. Time within which claims shall be filed; exceptions
• In the Matter of the Estate of Telesforo de Dios GR No. L-
7940, March 27, 1913
 2. Statutes of non-claims
3. Claim of executor or administrator against the estate
4. Payment of debts
• Montinola vs. Villanueva, GR No. L-26008, November 4,
1926
• Guevarra vs. del Rosario, GR No. L-49252, November 13,
1946

➢ Actions by and against executors and administrators

1. Actions that may be brought against executors and
administrators.
• Phil Trust Co. vs. Luzon Surety Co., GR No. L-13031, May
30, 1961
• Romualdez vs. Tiglao 105 SCRA 762 (1981)
• Saligumba vs. Palanog GR No. 143365 December 4, 2005
•
2. Requisites before creditor may bring an action for recovery of
property fraudulently conveyed by the deceased

➢ Distribution and Partition

1. Liquidation
2. Project of Partition
3. Remedy of an heir entitled to residue but not given his share
4. Instances when probate court may issue writ of execution

• Marcelo Investment Management Corp and Heirs of Edward

T. Marcelo T. Marcelo namely Katherine T. Marcelo et. al vs.
Jose T. Marcelo 26 November 2014 GR No. 209651
• Heirs of Marcelino Doronio vs. Heirs of Doronio et. al 27
December 2007 GR No. 169454
• Timbol vs Cano 29 April 1961 G.R. No. L-15445
• Reyes vs. RTC Makati 11 August 2008 GR No. 165744
• Quasha Ancheta Pena vs LCN Construction Corp. GR No.
174873 26 August 2008
• Divinagracia vs Rovira 72 SCRA 307

C. Summary Settlement of Estate

 ➢ Extrajudicial settlement by agreement between heirs, when
allowed
• Guevarra vs. Guevarra, 74 Phil 479 (1943
➢ Affidavit of self-adjudication by sole heir
• Portugal vs. Portugal-Beltran, GR No. 155555, August 16.
2005
• In the Matter of the Intestate Estate of Delgado, GR No.
155733, January 27, 2006
• Cua vs. Vargas, GR No. 156536, October 31, 2005
➢ Summary Settlement of estates of small value, when allowed
• Pereira vs. CA, GR No. 81147, June 20, 1989

➢ Remedies of aggrieved parties after extra-judicial settlement of

estate
➢ Two-year prescriptive period
• Philippine Economic Zone Authority vs. Fernandez et al., GR
No. 138971 (2001)
D. Escheat
➢ When to file
➢ Requisites for filing petition
➢ Remedy of respondent against petition; period for filing a claim
• Balais Mabanag vs. Registry of Deeds of Quezon City, GR No.
153142, March 29, 2010
• Republic of the Philippines vs. CA et al., GR No. 143483,
January 31, 2002
E. Guardianship
➢ General powers and duties of guardians
➢ Conditions of the bond of the guardian
➢ Rule on Guardianship over minor
• Cecilio C. Hernandez et al. vs. Jovita San Juan-Santos, GR
No. 166470 & 169217, August 7, 2009
• People of the Philippines vs. Isidro Flores vs. CA, GR No.
188315, August 25, 2010
• Jose Uy vs. CA, GR No. 109557, November 29, 2000
• Nelson Cabales and Rito Cabales vs. CA, GR No. 162421,
August 31, 2007
F. Trustees
➢ Distinguished from executor/administrator
 ➢ Conditions of the Board
➢ Requisites for the removal and resignation of a trustee
➢ Grounds for removal and resignation of a trustee
➢ Extent of authority of trustee
• Araneta vs. Perez 31 May 1962 GR No. L-16185
• Lorenzo Posadas 64 PHIL 353
• O’Lao vs. Co Chit 200 SCRA 656
• Torbela vs. Rosario 07 December 2011 GR No. 140528 &
140553
G. Adoption
➢ Distinguish domestic adoption from inter-country adoption
➢ Domestic adoption
❖ Effects of adoption
❖ Instances when adoption may be rescinded
❖ Effects of rescission of adoption

➢ 3.Inter-country adoption
❖ When allowed
❖ Functions of the RTC
❖ “best interest of minor” standard
• Department of Social Welfare & Development vs. Judge
Antonio M. Belen, A.M. No. RTJ-96-1362, July 18, 1997
• Republic vs. Hernandez, GR No. 117209, February 9, 1996
• In Re: Petition for Adoption of Michael Jude P. Lim, GR No.
168992- 93, May 21, 2009
• Anonymous vs. Emma Curamen, A.M. No. P-08-2549, June
18, 2010
• In the Matter of the adoption of Stephanie Nathy Astorga
Garcia Honorato B. Catindig, GR No. 148311, March 31,
2005
• Isabelita Lahom vs Jose Melvin Sibulo, GR No. 143989, July
14, 2003
• Diwata Ramos Landingin vs. Republic of the Philippines, GR
No. 164948, June 27, 2006
H. Writ of Habeas Corpus
➢ Contents of the petition
➢ Contents of the return
➢ Distinguish peremptory writ from preliminary citation
 ➢ When not proper/applicable
➢ When writ disallowed/discharged
➢ Distinguish from Writ of Amparo and Habeas Data
➢ Rules on Custody of Minors and Writ of Habeas Corpus in
Relation to Custody of Minors (AM No. 03-04-04-SC)

• Go vs. Dimagiba, GR No. 151876, June 21, 2005

• Vicente vs. Majaducon, AM No. RTJ-02-1698 (formerly OCA
IPI No. 00-1024-RTJ), June 23, 2005)
• In the Matter of the Petition for Habeas Corpus of Kunting,
GR No. 167193, April 19, 2006
• Salientes vs. Abanilla, GR No. 162734, August 29, 2006
• Moncupa vs. Enrile 225 Phil 191, 197 (1986)
• Go, Sr. vs. Ramos, GR No. 167569, September 4, 2009, 598
SCRA 266, 301
• In re: The Writ of Habeas Corpus for Reynaldo de Villa, GR
No. 158802, November 17, 2004, 442 SCRA 706, 719
• Veluz vs. Villanueva, GR No. 169482, January 29, 2008, 543
SCRA 63
• Nurhida Juhuri Ampatuan vs. Judge Virgilio vs. Macaraig,
GR No. 182497, June 29, 2010
• David E. So vs. Hon. Esteban A. Tacla, Jr., GR No. 190108,
October 19, 2010
• In the Matter of the Petition for Habeas Corpus of Cesar
Gonzales and Julius Mesa vs. Gen. Efren Abu et al., GR No.
170924, July 4, 2007

I. Change
of Name
• Alba vs. CA, GR No. 164041, July 29, 2005
• Ceruila vs. Delantar, GR No. 140305, December 9, 2005
• Republic vs. Merlyn Mercadera GR No. 186027 December 8,
2010
• Grace M. Grande vs. Patricio T. Antonio GR No. 206248
February 18, 2014
• Republic vs. Coseteng-Magpayo GR No. 189476 February 2,
2011
➢ Differences under Rule 103, RA 9048 and Rule 108
• Roselle Eloisa Bringas Bolante a.k.a. Maria Eloisa Bringas
 Bolante, GR No. 160597, July 20, 2006
• Re: Final Report on the Judicial Audit Conducted at the RTC
Branch 67, Paniqui, Tarlac, AM No. 06-07-414-RTC, October
19, 2007
• Republic of the Philippines vs. Merlyn Mercadera, GR No.
186027, December 8, 2010

➢ 2. Grounds for Change of Name

J. Absentees
➢ Purpose of the Rule
➢ Who may file, when to file

K. Cancellation or Correction of Entries in the Civil Registry

• Republic of the Philippines vs. Julian Edward Emerson
Coseteng Magpayo, GR No. 189476, February 2, 2011
• Gerbert Corpuz vs. Daisylyn Sto. Tomas, GR No. 186571,
August 11, 2010
• Republic vs. Cagandahan, G.R. No. 166676, September 12,
2008

L. Appeals in Special Proceedings

➢ Judgments and orders for which appeal may be taken
➢ When to appeal
➢ Modes of appeal

• Nancy Zayco and Remo Hinlo vs. Atty. Jesus V. Hinlo, Jr.,
GR No. 170243, April 16, 2008
• Republic vs. Nishina 15 November 2010
• Briones vs. Henson-Cruz GR 15930 22 August 2008

III. Prerogative Writs

 A. Writ of Amparo
• Tapuz vs. Del Rosario, 554 SCRA
• Canlas vs. Napico Homeowners Asso., 554 SCRA
• Castillo vs. Cruz, 605 SCRA
• Razon vs. Tagitis, 606 SCRA
• Roxas vs. GMA, 630 SCRA
• Burgos vs. Esperon, 715 SCRA, February 2014
• Republic vs. Cayanan, 844 SCRA 183 (2017)
• Gadian vs. Librado, 841 SCRA (2017)
• Lucena vs. Ilago, G.R. No. 252120, Sept. 15, 2020

B. Writ of Habeas Data

• Caram vs. Segui, August 5, 2014
• Vivares et Al. vs. St. Therese College, Sept. 29, 2014
• Meralco vs. Lim, 632 SCRA 4. Lee vs. Ilagan, 738 SCRA 59

C. Writ of Kalikasan
:
• Dolot vs. Paje, 703 SCRA (continuing Mandamus).
• Paje vs. Casino, 749 SCRA 39
• Arigo vs. Swift, 735 SCRA 102
• Resident Marine Mammals of the Protected Seascape Tanon
Strait vs. Angelo Reyes et Al., 756 SCRA 513, April 21, 2015
• West Tower Condominium vs. Phil. Ind. Corp., 758 SCRA
• Segovia vs. Climate Change Commission, 819 SCRA 543
March 7, 2017