GR L 1760; (August, 1949) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-1760; August 26, 1949
MARIA MOLATO, et al., petitioners, vs. CELEDONIA ARCOS, et al., respondents.
FACTS
Celedonio Arcos died intestate. His surviving spouse, Maria Molato, and their two children, Salvador and Alfredo Arcos, were in possession of his estate. Raymundo Arcos and others filed an action claiming to be legitimate children of Celedonio Arcos from a prior marriage to Severina Monarca and demanding a share in the estate. The defendants (Maria Molato, et al.) alleged that the plaintiffs were not Celedonio’s children but were instead the children of one Pedro Corate, and that Celedonio and Severina Monarca were never married. The Court of First Instance found in favor of the defendants. The Court of Appeals reversed this decision, finding that the plaintiffs were legitimate children of Celedonio Arcos and entitled to share in his estate.
ISSUE
Whether the Supreme Court can review the factual findings of the Court of Appeals regarding the legitimacy and filiation of the plaintiffs.
RULING
No. The Supreme Court dismissed the appeal. The questions presented were purely questions of fact, as they pertained to the evaluation of evidence to determine the legitimacy and filiation of the claimants. The Court of Appeals acted within its authority in construing and weighing the probative value of the evidence (Exhibits 1 to 8), and there was no showing of any departure from judicial procedure or violation of evidence rules. Under the principle that the Supreme Court reviews only questions of law, it could not re-examine the factual conclusions of the Court of Appeals. The appeal was dismissed with costs.
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