Spouses Mariano (A.K.A. Quaky) v. Roscef Zuñiga Bernarte

Summary

This case involves a property inheritance dispute over Lot No. 1-P in Rapu-Rapu, Albay. Roman Zuñiga Sr., who married twice and had 11 children total, acquired the property in 1948 while a widower. After his death in 1976, children from his first marriage (Flavia and Cresencia) sold their shares to spouses Bolaños, while children from his second marriage claimed co-ownership rights. The Supreme Court ruled that the property was Roman's capital, making all 11 children equal heirs under Civil Code succession provisions. The Court rejected claims that the property belonged only to first marriage children, finding such testimony incredible and unsupported. Petitioner-spouses were held to have acquired only 2/11 ideal shares through valid sales, not the entire property. The decision reinforced principles of intestate succession and co-ownership under Philippine civil law.