But before this rule can be
successfully invoked to bar the introduction of testimonial evidence, it is
necessary that: 1. The witness is a party or assignor of a party to a case
or persons in whose behalf a case is prosecuted; 2. The action
is against an executor or administrator or other representative of a deceased
person or a person of unsound mind; 3. The
subject-matter of the action is a
claim or demand against the estate of such deceased person or against person of
unsound mind; and 4. His
testimony refers to any matter of
fact which occurred before the death of such deceased person or before such
person became of unsound mind.”
Well entrenched is the rule
that when it is the executor or administrator or representatives of the estate
that sets up the counterclaim, the
plaintiff, may testify to occurrences before the death of the deceased to
defeat the counterclaim. Moreover, as defendant in the counterclaim, respondent
is not disqualified from testifying as to matters of fact occurring before the
death of the deceased, said action not having been brought against but by the
estate or representatives of the deceased. (Sunga-Chan
vs. Chua [2001]).
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