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EN BANC

G.R. No. L-15739 April 29, 1961

INTESTATE ESTATE OF THE LATE MARTIN LACSON, JR. EMILIANO LACSON, SR., administrator-appellee, vs. JACINTO DELGADO, reservee-claimant-appellant.

Luis G. Hofileña for administrator-appellee.
M. F. Zamora for reserves-claimant-appellant.

LABRADOR, J.:chanrobles virtual law library

Appeal from an order of the Court of First Instance of Iloilo, Hon. Pantaleon Pelayo, presiding, directing the administrator to sell any property belonging to the intestate within 30 days to pay the obligation of the estate, and from another extending above period to 60 days.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

These proceedings were instituted upon joint petition of Emiliano Lacson, Sr., father and heir of the intestate, and Jacinto Delgado, reservee of the properties left by the intestate, who had inherited the properties object of the proceedings from his mother Consolacion Delgado. The joint petition prayed for the appointment of Emiliano Lacson, Sr., as administrator. It also declares that the funeral expenses of intestate amounted to P9,345.00, P3,359.10 of which was furnished by Delgado, and P5,958.90 by Lacson. It was agreed in the joint petition that the said amounts "se pagaran proporcionalmente y anualmente por el oppositor en su concepto de administrador judicial, con las dos terceras partes del producto anual delos terrenos bajo administracion a partir de la cosecha de 1952-1953 y asi sucesivamente sin interruption hasta su completo pago." (R.A. pp. 2-5, 7-9).chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

The incidents immediately preceding the orders appealed from are as follows:chanrobles virtual law library

(1) On January 14, 1957 the administrator filed in account showing a balance of P1,073.64 in favor of the estate, which he proposed to apportion as follows: to himself, P477.17 and to Delgado, P238.59. Opposition to this account was presented by Delgado, who claimed that the total balance should be P4,948.69.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(2) In view of opposition, 'The court appointed a commissioner who found Delgado's objection to be well-founded, so that court ordered the administrator to amend his account accordingly. The commissioner had found that the balance in favor of the intestate is P4,948.69.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(3) Delgado moved for reconsideration, praying that the administrator should also be ordered to include rentals of a parcel of land of intestate occupied by a rice mill.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(4) The administrator filed another account on February 22, 1957 showing a balance of P4,014.89, which he had applied to himself in payment of his claim of P5,985.90. Opposition to this account, was presented by Delgado, calling attention to the report of commissioner that the balance is P4,948.69 and praying for the removal of administrator.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(5) The account of February 22, 1957 was approved by the court and the administrator ordered to file a project of partition. The order is dated March 18, 1957.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(6) On April 24, 1957 Delgado filed a petition to declare administrator in contempt.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(7) On April 29, 1957 the administrator filed a project of partition, adjudicating all the property of deceased to himself, subject to the claim of Delgado for P3,359.10.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(8) Delgado objected to the project of partition on the ground that the debts have not been paid.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

(9) On May 11, 1957 the Court entered the first order appealed from, i.e., ordering the sale of any property of the intestate to pay the debts and upon failure to do so, that he be removed. Another subsequent order extended the period to sell from 30 days to 90 days. It is these orders that are attacked on this appeal.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

In this court the appellant argues:

Esta actuacion del Juzgado es un burdo error. Con al sancion del Juzgado, ya se ha convenido por las partes la manera de pagar las reclamaciones contra el intestado. En vez el Juzgado de atenerse a lo convenido por las partes con respects al pago de dichas deudas y no tolerar al administrador a disponer a diestro y siniestro de los fondos de la administration para su uso y beneficio, caprichosamente opts por al venta de cualquiera propiedad del intestado a los efectos de pagar la deuda contraida al mismo reservatariore clamante lo cual es muy perjudicial para este por ser el finico heredero reservatario de todas y cada una de las propiedades del intestado. (pp. 28-29, Alegato del Apelante).

We find the above argument meritorious. The administrator should have been required to comply strictly with the agreement entered into by him with appellant upon the initiation of these proceedings, namely, dividing the net income between himself and appellant in proportion to their claims. This agreement is a sort of judicial compromise, which has the effect of a judgment of the court. (Article 2067, Civil Code of the Philippines).Conformably to the agreement no partition should be decreed until the claims of appellant shall have been paid, and no sale of any property of the estate should be ordered.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

WHEREFORE, the orders appealed from are hereby set aside and the court below is hereby enjoined to follow the compromise in question. No costs.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Bengzon, C.J., Padilla, Bautista Angelo, Concepcion, Reyes, J.B.L., Barrera and Dizon, JJ., concur.