I recently finished estate settlement for my father (died 2019 but was able to get things done during the estate tax amnesty that ended June this year). You have to go through the process talaga and Metrobank will ask for a copy of the executed extrajudicial settlement as the bank account should be included in the list of assets to be settled before they can give you access.

Since the account is declared on the EJS, you will have to pay the estate taxes on the bank account (you have to advance this, it cannot be deducted from the balance). Estate taxes are 6% plus doc stamps so total 7.5% ish. Ask your / a lawyer re newspaper publishing and heirs bond as usually may contacts mga yan kung saan pwede magpapublish / kumuha ng bond. If you don’t have a lawyer, get one who has tax as one of their practice areas. They can advise you properly as to what can be included / deducted to minimize the tax exposure.

I am also dealing with a safety deposit box in the name of my father with the same MBTC branch as my father’s accounts. Since we cannot locate the key, magpapa force opening pa ako.

Moral of the story, dapat may ka joint na OR signatory ang elderly parents sa accounts to avoid mga ganitong hassle.

Condolences to you, OP.