G.R. No. L-8688; January 27, 1914
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC BISHOP OF NUEVA SEGOVIA, plaintiff-appellant, vs. JOSE PURUGGANAN, ET AL., defendants-appellees.

FACTS:
The Roman Catholic Bishop of Nueva Segovia (appellant) filed an action to recover 38,000 manojos of rice or its monetary value from Jose Purugganan and others (appellees), alleged to be the heirs of Doña Josefa de la Rosa. The appellant claimed that under Clause 24 of Doña Josefa de la Rosa’s will, executed in 1746, the appellees, as heirs and administrators of her estate, were obligated to deliver an annual quantity of rice from certain lands to the church. The appellant alleged that the appellees had failed to make these deliveries since 1903.

ISSUE:
Whether the appellees are legally obligated under the will of Doña Josefa de la Rosa to deliver the annual charge of rice to the appellant.

RULING:
The Supreme Court affirmed the trial court’s judgment in favor of the appellees. The Court held that the evidence presented by the appellant was insufficient to establish the alleged obligation. While the evidence showed that rice donations were received by the church in the latter half of the 19th century and credited under the will, it failed to prove: (1) that the appellees are the heirs of Doña Josefa de la Rosa; (2) that the lands they possess are the specific lands mentioned in the will; and (3) that they hold these lands subject to the perpetual charge imposed by Clause 24 of the will. Consequently, the appellant failed to substantiate the essential allegations of the complaint, and no judgment could be rendered against the appellees. The Court did not reach the issues regarding the construction of the will or the validity of a perpetual charge.