G.R. No. L-22005 May 3, 1968
JESUSA LACSON VDA. DE ARROYO, ET AL., petitioners, vs. EL BEATERIO DEL SANTISSIMO ROSARIO DE MOLO, ET AL., respondents.

FACTS

On July 2, 1924, Ignacio Arroyo partitioned his estate among his three children, Jose, Mariano, and Sor Rosario, via a public instrument, reserving a one-third portion for himself. On January 9, 1928, Ignacio Arroyo donated almost all of his reserved properties to the Beaterio del Santissimo Rosario de Molo. He executed a will on October 22, 1931, which reproduced and confirmed the prior partition. He died on January 8, 1935, and his will was probated. On March 13, 1958, the heirs of Jose Arroyo filed a complaint seeking to declare the 1928 donation to the Beaterio as inofficious and to recover the excess. Both the Court of First Instance of Iloilo and the Court of Appeals dismissed the complaint, holding that the plaintiffs failed to establish a fair and reliable basis to declare the donation inofficious.

ISSUE

Whether the Court of Appeals erred in its factual finding that the evidence presented by the petitioners was insufficient to declare the donation inofficious.

RULING

The Supreme Court affirmed the decision of the Court of Appeals. The sole issue raised by the petitioners was one of fact, concerning the sufficiency of their evidence to prove the donation was inofficious. The Supreme Court’s review is limited to errors of law; findings of fact by the Court of Appeals are conclusive. The petitioners’ arguments required an examination of the probative value of evidence, which is a factual inquiry. The Court held that the petitioners were essentially asking the Supreme Court to substitute its judgment on a question of fact, which it cannot do. The Court also addressed petitioners’ specific arguments regarding witness competency and testimony evaluation, reiterating that these are factual matters within the appellate court’s domain.