Archive for September, 2011


TRIVIA 0022: WHO IS GEN. NICANOR BARTOLOME?

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PERSONAL LIFE:

·                   BORN ON MARCH 16, 1957 IN GERONA, TARLAC.

·                   HE IS MARRIED TO DR. NOEMIA D. BARTOLOME. THE BARTOLOME COUPLE IS BLESSED WITH TWO CHILDREN, NICAR NOEMI AND NICANOR III.

·                   PROVINCE MATE OF PRESIDENT BENIGNO AQUINO III;

EDUCATION:

·                   MEMBER OF PMA, CLASS 1980.

·                   BARTOLOME IS A GRADUATE OF A DOCTORATE OF PHILOSOPHY IN CRIMINOLOGY AT THE PHILIPPINE COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY. HE IS ALSO A POST-GRADUATE MASTER IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AT THE PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

·                   VETERAN COMBAT OFFICER. HE  HONED HIS COMBAT SKILLS IN MAGUINDANAO AND COTABATO SHORTLY AFTER GRADUATION IN FORT  DEL PILAR IN 1980. HE WAS PROMOTED TO THE RANK OF POLICE DIRECTOR ON DECEMBER 9, 2010.

·                   BECAME PNP SPOKESMAN.

·                   2ND PNP SPOKESMAN TO BECOME PNP CHIEF, NEXT TO RETIRED DIR. GEN. ARTURO C. LOMIBAO.

·                   WAS ONCE HEAD OF PNP DIRECTORATE FOR INTELLIGENCE.

·                   WAS ONCE HEAD OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL REGION OFFICE.

·                   WAS THE CHIEF DIRECTORIAL STAFF OF THE PNP, THE 4TH HIGHEST POSITION IN THE 135,000-STRONG POLICE FOR EARLY THIS YEAR (2011).

·                   WILL RETIRE IN 2013.

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SOURCE: JOURNAL ONLINE

Bartolome will be 17th PNP chief

Published : Sunday, September 04, 2011 00:00

Article Views : 269

Written by : Alfred Dalizon
BARRING any tsunami-like events, former Metro Manila police chief Deputy Director General Nicanor A. Bartolome will be the 17th Philippine National Police chief vice Director General Raul M. Bacalzo who will retire on Friday, September 9.

“We’re already preparing for the turnover of command between Gen. Bacalzo and Gen. Bartolome which will be attended by President Benigno Aquino this coming Friday,” a highly-reliable Journal Group source said on condition of anonymity.

Bartolome, a member of Philippine Military Academy Class 1980, is a veteran combat officer who went on to become a PNP spokesman. His appointment would make him the 2nd PNP spokesman to become the PNP chief, next only to the 12th chief PNP now retired Director General Arturo C. Lomibao.

Lomibao was the head of the PNP Directorate for Intelligence when he was designated by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as the PNP chief Directorial Staff. Lomibao had barely gotten his 3rd star as PNP-TCDS when he was appointed as PNP chief.

Bartolome, an official with a baritone voice was the head of the National Capital Region Police Office before he was promoted as The Chief Directorial Staff of the PNP, the 4th highest position in the 135,000-strong police force early this year.

The position earned him his 3rd star and sent him as the strongest candidate to replace Bacalzo. The other candidates are PNP Deputy Chief for Administration, Deputy Director General Benjamin A. Belarmino Jr., a classmate of Bacalzo at PMA Class 1977 and Deputy Director General Raul L. Castaneda, a lawyer-member of PMA Class 1978 who is currently the PNP Deputy Chief for Operations.

Belarmino will be retiring on February next year while Castaneda opted to retire months ahead of his actual mandatory retirement on April 2012. Widely perceived as Bartolome’s real candidate for the post is Director Samuel D. Pagdilao Jr., a lawyer-member of PMA Class 1979 who is currently the head of the CIDG. However, Pagdilao and Bartolome almost have the same birthdays. Pagdilao will retire on February 2013 while Bartolome will retire on March 2013.

Senior PNP officials interviewed by the Journal Group agreed that ‘it’s already Nick Bartolome,’ citing signs from the Palace. “You just look at the developments after President Aquino assumed the presidency. Gen. Bartolome became the Calabarzon police chief and was promoted as NCRPO director a few months later before being designated as TCDS to earn him his 3rd star,” said a member of a PNP Directorial Staff who demanded anonymity.                 Bartolome told the Journal Group last Thursday that he will wait and respect whatever will be the decision of President Aquino.

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SOURCE: MANILA STANDARD TODAY, 11 SEPTEMBER 2011

 

Bartolome on top of shortlist for next National Police chief

DEPUTY Director Gen. Nicanor Bartolome is the favorite to replace National Police chief Raul Bacalzo, who retires on Sept. 15, a Palace source said Thursday.

“Bartolome is first on the list,” said the source who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Bartolome, a province mate of President Benigno Aquino 111, is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1980. He will reach retirement age in 2013.

Deputy presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte on Wednesday told reporters that Mr. Aquino already had a shortlist, but declined to say who was on it.

“President Aquino has not said anything about Bacalzo’s replacment,” she said.

Bartolome aside, the Palace was also considering Police Chief Supt. Samuel Pagdilao, who heads the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group, the Palace source said.

Pagdilao is a member of the Philippine Military Academy Class of 1979 and has served as regional director of the Calabarzon area.

Also on the list are two other three-star generals: Deputy Chief for Administration Deputy Director Gen. Benjamin Belarmino Jr., a classmate of Bacalzo at the PMA, and Deputy Chief for Operations Deputy Director Gen. Raul Castañeda of the PMA Class of 1978.

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SOURCE: JOURNAL ONLINE

06 JUNE 2011

Bartolome gets 3rd star

Published : Monday, June 06, 2011 00:00

Article Views : 515

Written by : Alfred Dalizon
MAMANG PULIS — PRESIDENT Benigno Simeon C. Aquino III has promoted Philippine National Police Chief Directorial Staff, Director Nicanor A. Bartolome to the rank of Deputy Director General, a rank equivalent to a Lieutenant General or a 3-star general in the Armed Forces.

Bartolome got his 3rd-star from the President last May 25 upon the recommendation of Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse M. Robredo and PNP chief, Director General Raul M. Bacalzo.

A seasoned combat officer known for being cool under pressure, Bartolome was the erstwhile National Capital Region Police Office chief before he was designated as the PNP’s fourth-highest official.

Bartolome was replaced as Metro Manila police chief by Chief Supt. Alan M. Purisima who is set to be promoted to the rank of Director or a Major General in the Armed Forces.

Born on March 16, 1957 in Gerona, Tarlac, Bartolome belongs to Philippine Military Academy Class 1980. He is married to Dr. Noemia D. Bartolome. The Bartolome couple is blessed with two children, Nicar Noemi and Nicanor III.

Bartolome is a graduate of a Doctorate of Philosophy in Criminology at the Philippine College of Criminology. He is also a post-graduate Master in Business Administration at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila.

The official honed his combat skills in Maguindanao and Cotabato shortly after graduation in Fort  del Pilar in 1980. He was promoted to the rank of Police Director on December 9, 2010.

 

CASE 2011-0179: ADVENT CAPITAL AND FINANCE CORPORATION VS. ROLAND YOUNG (G.R. NO. 183018, 03 AUGUST 2011, CARPIO, J.) SUBJECTS: REPLEVIN; CLAIM AGAINST REPLEVIN BOND.  (BRIEF TITLE: ADVENT CAPITAL VS. YOUNG).

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ADVENT CAPITAL FILED A REPLEVIN CASE AGAINST YOUNG AND SECURED A WRIT OF SEIZURE ORDERING YOUNG TO SURRENDER A MBENZ IN THE NAME OF ADVENT.  YOUNG SURRENDERED THE CAR TO ADVENT. RTC DISMISSED THE REPLEVIN CASE FOR FAILURE OF  ADVENT TO PROSECUTE. SUCH DISMISSAL ORDER BECAME FINAL. IS  YOUNG ENTITLED TO THE RETURN OF THE CAR?

 

YES. THIS IS THE NECESSARY CONSEQUENCE OF THE DISMISSAL OF THE REPLEVIN CASE. THE WRIT OF SEIZURE IS MERELY ANCILLARY IN NATURE. IT BECAME FUNCTUS OFFICIO AND SHOULD BE LIFTED.

 

We agree with the Court of Appeals in directing the trial court to return the seized car to Young since this is the necessary consequence of the dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute without prejudice. Upon the dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute, the writ of seizure, which is merely ancillary in nature, became functus officio and should have been lifted. There was no adjudication on the merits, which means that there was no determination of the issue who has the better right to possess the subject car. Advent cannot therefore retain possession of the subject car considering that it was not adjudged as the prevailing party entitled to the remedy of replevin.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

WHAT IS THE EFFECT OF THE DISMISSAL OF THE REPLEVIN CASE?

 

IT RESULTS TO THE RESTORATION OF THE PARTIES’ STATUS PRIOR TO LITIGATION, AS IF NO COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED AT ALL. ACCORDINGLY, THE PARTIES MUST BE REVERTED TO THEIR STATUS QUO ANTE. SINCE YOUNG POSSESSED THE SUBJECT CAR BEFORE THE FILING OF THE REPLEVIN CASE, THE SAME MUST BE RETURNED TO HIM, AS IF NO COMPLAINT WAS FILED AT ALL.

 

Contrary to Advent’s view, Olympia International Inc. v. Court of Appeals16 applies to this case. The dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute results in the restoration of the parties’ status prior to litigation, as if no complaint was filed at all. To let the writ of seizure stand after the dismissal of the complaint would be adjudging Advent as the prevailing party, when precisely no decision on the merits had been rendered. Accordingly, the parties must be reverted to their status quo ante. Since Young possessed the subject car before the filing of the replevin case, the same must be returned to him, as if no complaint was filed at all.

 

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AFTER THE DECISION IN THE REPLEVIN CASE BECAME FINAL, YOUNG FILED AN OMNIBUS MOTION PRAYING FOR DAMAGES UNDER THE REPLEVIN BOND. CAN CLAIM OF YOUNG PROSPER?

 

NO. THE APPLICATION TO BE FILED AT ANY TIME BEFORE THE JUDGMENT BECOMES EXECUTORY.20 IT SHOULD BE FILED IN THE SAME CASE THAT IS THE MAIN ACTION,21 AND WITH THE COURT HAVING JURISDICTION OVER THE CASE AT THE TIME OF THE APPLICATION.22

 

Section 10, Rule 60 of the Rules of Court19 governs claims for damages on account of improper or irregular seizure in replevin cases. It provides that in replevin cases, as in receivership and injunction cases, the damages to be awarded upon the bond “shall be claimed, ascertained, and granted” in accordance with Section 20 of Rule 57 which reads:

 

Sec. 20. Claim for damages on account of improper, irregular or excessive attachment. – An application for damages on account of improper, irregular or excessive attachment must be filed before the trial or before appeal is perfected or before the judgment becomes executory, with due notice to the attaching obligee or his surety or sureties, setting forth the facts showing his right to damages and the amount thereof. Such damages may be awarded only after proper hearing and shall be included in the judgment on the main case. e

 

If the judgment of the appellate court be favorable to the party against whom the attachment was issued, he must claim damages sustained during the pendency of the appeal by filing an application in the appellate court with notice to the party in whose favor the attachment was issued or his surety or sureties, before the judgment of the appellate court becomes executory. The appellate court may allow the application to be heard and decided by the trial court.

 

Nothing herein contained shall prevent the party against whom the attachment was issued from recovering in the same action the damages awarded to him from any property of the attaching obligee not exempt from execution should the bond or deposit given by the latter be insufficient or fail to fully satisfy the award.

 

The above provision essentially allows the application to be filed at any time before the judgment becomes executory.20 It should be filed in the same case that is the main action,21 and with the court having jurisdiction over the case at the time of the application.22

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In this case, there was no application for damages against Stronghold resulting from the issuance of the writ of seizure before the finality of the dismissal of the complaint for failure to prosecute. It appears that Young filed his omnibus motion claiming damages against Stronghold after the dismissal order issued by the trial court on 28 April 2005 had attained finality. While Young filed a motion for partial reconsideration on 10 June 2005, it only concerned the dismissal of his counterclaim, without any claim for damages against the replevin bond. It was only on 8 July 2005 that Young filed an omnibus motion seeking damages against the replevin bond, after the dismissal order had already become final for Advent’s non-appeal of such order. In fact, in his omnibus motion, Young stressed the finality of the dismissal order.23 Thus, Young is barred from claiming damages against the replevin bond.

 

In Jao v. Royal Financing Corporation,24 the Court held that defendant therein was precluded from claiming damages against the surety bond since defendant failed to file the application for damages before the termination of the case, thus:

 

The dismissal of the case filed by the plaintiffs-appellees on July 11, 1959, had become final and executory before the defendant-appellee corporation filed its motion for judgment on the bond on September 7, 1959. In the order of the trial court, dismissing the complaint, there appears no pronouncement whatsoever against the surety bond. The appellee-corporation failed to file its proper application for damages prior to the termination of the case against it. It is barred to do so now. The prevailing party, if such would be the proper term for the appellee-corporation, having failed to file its application for damages against the bond prior to the entry of final judgment, the bondsman-appellant is relieved of further liability thereunder.

 

Since Young is time-barred from claiming damages against the replevin bond, the dismissal order having attained finality after the application for damages, the Court of Appeals erred in ordering the trial court to set a hearing for the determination of damages against the replevin bond.

 

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SECOND DIVISION

 

 

ADVENT CAPITAL AND                                    G.R. No. 183018

FINANCE CORPORATION,

Petitioner,                                                              Present:

 

CARPIO, J., Chairperson,

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,*

– versus –                                                               BRION,

PEREZ, and

SERENO, JJ.

 

ROLAND YOUNG,                                              Promulgated:

Respondent.                                                                    August 3, 2011

x—————————————————————————————–x

 

 

D E C I S I O N

 

 

CARPIO, J.:

 

 

The Case

 

 

This petition for review1 assails the 28 December 2007 Decision2 and 15 May 2008 Resolution3 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 96266. The Court of Appeals set aside the 24 March 2006 and 5 July 2006 Orders4 of theRegionalTrialCourtofMakatiCity, Branch 147, and directed petitioner Advent Capital and Finance Corporation to return the seized vehicle to respondent Roland Young. The Court of Appeals denied the motion for reconsideration.

The Antecedents

 

 

The present controversy stemmed from a replevin suit instituted by petitioner Advent Capital and Finance Corporation (Advent) against respondent Roland Young (Young) to recover the possession of a 1996 Mercedes Benz E230 with plate number UMN-168, which is registered in Advent’s name.5

 

Prior to the replevin case, or on 16 July 2001, Advent filed for corporate rehabilitation with the RegionalTrialCourtofMakatiCity, Branch 142 (rehabilitation court).6

 

On 27 August 2001, the rehabilitation court issued an Order (stay order) which states that “the enforcement of all claims whether for money or otherwise, and whether such enforcement is by court action or otherwise, against the petitioner (Advent), its guarantors and sureties not solidarily liable with it, is stayed.”7

 

On 5 November 2001, Young filed his Comment to the Petition for Rehabilitation, claiming, among others, several employee benefits allegedly due him as Advent’s former president and chief executive officer.

 

On 6 November 2002, the rehabilitation court approved the rehabilitation plan submitted by Advent. Included in the inventory of Advent’s assets was the subject car which remained in Young’s possession at the time.

 

Young’s obstinate refusal to return the subject car, after repeated demands, prompted Advent to file the replevin case on 8 July 2003. The complaint, docketed as Civil Case No. 03-776, was raffled to theRegionalTrialCourtofMakatiCity, Branch 147 (trial court).

 

After Advent’s posting of P3,000,000 replevin bond, which was double the value of the subject car at the time, through Stronghold Insurance Company, Incorporated (Stronghold), the trial court issued a Writ of Seizure8 directing the Sheriff to seize the subject car from Young. Upon receipt of the Writ of Seizure, Young turned over the car to Advent,9 which delivered the same to the rehabilitation receiver.10

 

Thereafter, Young filed an Answer alleging that as a former employee of Advent, he had the option to purchase the subject car at book value pursuant to the company car plan and to offset the value of the car with the proceeds of his retirement pay and stock option plan. Young sought the (1) execution of a deed of sale over the subject car; and (2) determination and payment of the net amount due him as retirement benefits under the stock option plan.

 

Advent filed a Reply with a motion to dismiss Young’s counterclaim, alleging that the counterclaim did not arise from or has no logical relationship with the issue of ownership of the subject car.

 

After issues have been joined, the parties entered into pre-trial on 2 April 2004, which resulted in the issuance of a pre-trial order of even date reciting the facts and the issues to be resolved during the trial.

 

 

On 28 April 2005, the trial court issued an Order dismissing the replevin case without prejudice for Advent’s failure to prosecute. In the same order, the trial court dismissed Young’s counterclaim against Advent for lack of jurisdiction. The order pertinently reads:

 

It appears that as of July 28, 2003, subject motor vehicle has been turned over to the plaintiff, thru its authorized representative, and adknowledged by the parties’ respective counsels in separate Manifestations filed. To date, no action had been taken by the plaintiff in the further prosecution of this case. Accordingly, this case is ordered dismissed without prejudice on the ground of failure to prosecute.

 

Anent plaintiff’s Motion to Dismiss defendant Young’s counterclaim for benefits under the retirement and stock purchase plan, the Court rules as follows: The only issue in this case is who is entitled to the possession of the subject motor vehicle. This issue may have a connection, but not a necessary connection with defendant’s rights under the retirement plan and stock purchase plan as to be considered a compulsory counterclaim.

 

x x x

 

Notably, defendant’s claim is basically one for benefits under and by virtue of his employment with the plaintiff, and the subject vehicle is merely an incident in that claim. Said claim is properly ventilated, as it is resolvable by, the Rehabilitation Courtwhich has jurisdiction and has acquired jurisdiction, to the exclusion of this Court. Accordingly, plaintiff’s Motion To Dismiss defendant Young’s counterclaim is granted.11

 

 

On 10 June 2005, Young filed a motion for partial reconsideration of the dismissal order with respect to his counterclaim.

 

On 8 July 2005, Young filed an omnibus motion, praying that Advent return the subject car and pay him P1.2 million in damages “(f)or the improper and irregular seizure” of the subject car, to be charged against the replevin bond posted by Advent through Stronghold.

 

On 24 March 2006, the trial court issued an Order denying Young’s motion for partial reconsideration, viz:

 

In the instant case, defendant, in his counterclaim anchored her [sic] right of possession to the subject vehicle on his alleged right to purchase the same under the company car plan. However, considering that the Court has already declared that it no longer has jurisdiction to try defendant’s counterclaim as it is now part of the rehabilitation proceedings before the corporate court concerned, the assertions in the Motion for Reconsiderations (sic) will no longer stand.

 

On the other hand, the plaintiff did not file a Motion for Reconsideration of the same Order, dismissing the complaint for failure to prosecute, within the reglementary period. Hence, the same has attained finality.

 

Defendant alleged that the dismissal of the case resulted in the dissolution of the writ. Nonetheless, the Court deems it proper to suspend the resolution of the return of the subject vehicle. In this case, the subject vehicle was turned over to plaintiff by virtue of a writ of replevin validly issued, the latter having sufficiently shown that it is the absolute/registered owner thereof. This was not denied by the defendant. Plaintiff’s ownership includes its right of possession. The case has been dismissed without a decision on the merits having been rendered. Thus, to order the return of the vehicle to one who is yet to prove his right of possession would not be proper.

 

Accordingly, the Motion for Partial Reconsideration is denied.12

 

 

On 8 June 2006, Young filed a motion to resolve his omnibus motion.

 

In an Order dated 5 July 2006, the trial court denied the motion to resolve, to wit:

 

In the instant case, the Court suspended the resolution of the return of the vehicle to defendant Roland Young. It should be noted that the writ of replevin was validly issued in favor of the plaintiff and that it has sufficiently established ownership over the subject vehicle which includes its right to possess. On the other hand, the case (Olympia International vs. Court of Appeals) cited by defendant finds no application to this case, inasmuch as in the former the Court has not rendered judgment affirming plaintiff’s (Olympia) right of possession on the property seized. Moreover, the Court, in the Order dated April 28, 2005, has already denied defendant’s counterclaim upon which he based his right of possession on the ground of lack of jurisdiction. Accordingly, the Court reiterates its previous ruling that to order the return of the subject vehicle to defendant Young, who is yet to prove his right of possession before theRehabilitation Courtwould not be proper.

 

WHEREFORE, there being no new and substantial arguments raised, the Motion to Resolve is denied.13

 

 

 

Young filed a petition for certiorari and mandamus with the Court of Appeals seeking to annul the trial court’s Orders of 24 March 2006 and 5 July 2006.

 

The Court of Appeals’ Ruling

 

 

In his petition before the Court of Appeals, Young argued mainly that the trial court committed grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction in (1) not directing the return of the subject vehicle to him; (2) refusing to hold a hearing to determine the damages to be recovered against the replevin bond; and (3) dismissing his counterclaim.

 

The Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Young and annulled the assailed rulings of the trial court. The Court of Appeals held:

 

It is noteworthy that the case was dismissed by the court a quo for failure of Advent to prosecute the same. Upon dismissal of the case, the writ of seizure issued as an incident of the main action (for replevin) became functus officio and should have been recalled or lifted. Since there was no adjudication on the merits of the case, the issue of who between Advent and petitioner has the better right to possess the subject car was not determined. As such, the parties should be restored to their status immediately before the institution of the case.

 

The Supreme Court’s ruling in Olympia International, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals (supra) squarely applies to the present controversy, to wit:

 

“Indeed, logic and equity demand that the writ of replevin be cancelled. Being provisional and ancillary in character, its existence and efficacy depended on the outcome of the case. The case having been dismissed, so must the writ’s existence and efficacy be dissolved. To let the writ stand even after the dismissal of the case would be adjudgingOlympiaas the prevailing party, when precisely, no decision on the merits had been rendered. The case having been dismissed, it is as if no case was filed at all and the parties must revert to their status before the litigation.”

 

Indeed, as an eminent commentator on Remedial Law expounds:

 

 

 

 

“The plaintiff who obtains possession of the personal property by a writ of replevin does not acquire absolute title thereto, nor does the defendant acquire such title by rebonding the property, as they only hold the property subject to the final judgment in the action.” (I Regalado, Remedial Law Compendium, Eighth Revised Edition, p. 686)

 

Reversion of the parties to the status quo ante is the consequence ex proprio vigore of the dismissal of the case. Thus, in Laureano vs. Court of Appeals (324 SCRA 414), it was held:

 

“(A)lthough the commencement of a civil action stops the running of the statute of prescription or limitations, its dismissal or voluntary abandonment by plaintiff leaves the parties in exactly the same position as though no action had been commenced at all.”

 

By the same token, return of the subject car to petitioner pending rehabilitation of Advent does not constitute enforcement of claims against it, much more adjudication on the merits of petitioner’s counterclaim. In other words, an order for such return is not a violation of the stay order, which was issued by the rehabilitation court on August 27, 2001. x x x

 

Corollarily, petitioner’s claim against the replevin bond has no connection at all with the rehabilitation proceedings. The claim is not against the insolvent debtor (Advent) but against bondsman, Stronghold. Such claim is expressly authorized by Sec. 10, Rule 60, in relation to Sec. 20, Rule 57, id., x x x14

 

 

The dispositive portion of the Court of Appeals’ decision reads:

 

 

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is PARTLY GRANTED. The orders of the Regional Trial Court dated March 24, 2006 and July 5, 2006 are ANNULLED and SET ASIDE in so far as they suspended resolution of petitioner’s motion for, and/or disallowed, the return of the subject car to petitioner. Accordingly, respondent Advent Capital and Finance Corporation is directed to return the subject car to petitioner.

 

TheRegionalTrialCourtofMakatiCity(Branch 147) is directed to conduct a hearing on, and determine, petitioner’s claim for damages against the replevin bond posted by Stronghold Insurance Co.

 

SO ORDERED.15

 

 

Advent filed a motion for reconsideration, which was denied by the Court of Appeals in a Resolution dated 15 May 2008.

The Issue

 

 

The main issue in this case is whether the Court of Appeals committed reversible error in (1) directing the return of the seized car to Young; and (2) ordering the trial court to set a hearing for the determination of damages against the replevin bond.

 

 

The Court’s Ruling

 

 

The petition is partially meritorious.

 

 

On returning the seized vehicle to Young

 

We agree with the Court of Appeals in directing the trial court to return the seized car to Young since this is the necessary consequence of the dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute without prejudice. Upon the dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute, the writ of seizure, which is merely ancillary in nature, became functus officio and should have been lifted. There was no adjudication on the merits, which means that there was no determination of the issue who has the better right to possess the subject car. Advent cannot therefore retain possession of the subject car considering that it was not adjudged as the prevailing party entitled to the remedy of replevin.

 

Contrary to Advent’s view, Olympia International Inc. v. Court of Appeals16 applies to this case. The dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute results in the restoration of the parties’ status prior to litigation, as if no complaint was filed at all. To let the writ of seizure stand after the dismissal of the complaint would be adjudging Advent as the prevailing party, when precisely no decision on the merits had been rendered. Accordingly, the parties must be reverted to their status quo ante. Since Young possessed the subject car before the filing of the replevin case, the same must be returned to him, as if no complaint was filed at all.

 

Advent’s contention that returning the subject car to Young would constitute a violation of the stay order issued by the rehabilitation court is untenable. As the Court of Appeals correctly concluded, returning the seized vehicle to Young is not an enforcement of a claim against Advent which must be suspended by virtue of the stay order issued by the rehabilitation court pursuant to Section 6 of the Interim Rules on Corporate Rehabilitation (Interim Rules).17 The issue in the replevin case is who has better right to possession of the car, and it was Advent that claimed a better right in filing the replevin case against Young. In defense, Young claimed a better right to possession of the car arising from Advent’s car plan to its executives, which he asserts entitles him to offset the value of the car against the proceeds of his retirement pay and stock option plan.

 

Young cannot collect a money “claim” against Advent within the contemplation of the Interim Rules. The term “claim” has been construed to refer to debts or demands of a pecuniary nature, or the assertion to have money paid by the company under rehabilitation to its creditors.18 In the replevin case, Young cannot demand that Advent pay him money because such payment, even if valid, has been “stayed” by order of the rehabilitation court. However, in the replevin case, Young can raise Advent’s car plan, coupled with his retirement pay and stock option plan, as giving him a better right to possession of the car. To repeat, Young is entitled to recover the subject car as a necessary consequence of the dismissal of the replevin case for failure to prosecute without prejudice.

 

On the damages against the replevin bond

 

Section 10, Rule 60 of the Rules of Court19 governs claims for damages on account of improper or irregular seizure in replevin cases. It provides that in replevin cases, as in receivership and injunction cases, the damages to be awarded upon the bond “shall be claimed, ascertained, and granted” in accordance with Section 20 of Rule 57 which reads:

 

Sec. 20. Claim for damages on account of improper, irregular or excessive attachment. – An application for damages on account of improper, irregular or excessive attachment must be filed before the trial or before appeal is perfected or before the judgment becomes executory, with due notice to the attaching obligee or his surety or sureties, setting forth the facts showing his right to damages and the amount thereof. Such damages may be awarded only after proper hearing and shall be included in the judgment on the main case. e

 

If the judgment of the appellate court be favorable to the party against whom the attachment was issued, he must claim damages sustained during the pendency of the appeal by filing an application in the appellate court with notice to the party in whose favor the attachment was issued or his surety or sureties, before the judgment of the appellate court becomes executory. The appellate court may allow the application to be heard and decided by the trial court.

 

Nothing herein contained shall prevent the party against whom the attachment was issued from recovering in the same action the damages awarded to him from any property of the attaching obligee not exempt from execution should the bond or deposit given by the latter be insufficient or fail to fully satisfy the award.

 

The above provision essentially allows the application to be filed at any time before the judgment becomes executory.20 It should be filed in the same case that is the main action,21 and with the court having jurisdiction over the case at the time of the application.22

e remed

In this case, there was no application for damages against Stronghold resulting from the issuance of the writ of seizure before the finality of the dismissal of the complaint for failure to prosecute. It appears that Young filed his omnibus motion claiming damages against Stronghold after the dismissal order issued by the trial court on 28 April 2005 had attained finality. While Young filed a motion for partial reconsideration on 10 June 2005, it only concerned the dismissal of his counterclaim, without any claim for damages against the replevin bond. It was only on 8 July 2005 that Young filed an omnibus motion seeking damages against the replevin bond, after the dismissal order had already become final for Advent’s non-appeal of such order. In fact, in his omnibus motion, Young stressed the finality of the dismissal order.23 Thus, Young is barred from claiming damages against the replevin bond.

 

In Jao v. Royal Financing Corporation,24 the Court held that defendant therein was precluded from claiming damages against the surety bond since defendant failed to file the application for damages before the termination of the case, thus:

 

 

The dismissal of the case filed by the plaintiffs-appellees on July 11, 1959, had become final and executory before the defendant-appellee corporation filed its motion for judgment on the bond on September 7, 1959. In the order of the trial court, dismissing the complaint, there appears no pronouncement whatsoever against the surety bond. The appellee-corporation failed to file its proper application for damages prior to the termination of the case against it. It is barred to do so now. The prevailing party, if such would be the proper term for the appellee-corporation, having failed to file its application for damages against the bond prior to the entry of final judgment, the bondsman-appellant is relieved of further liability thereunder.

 

Since Young is time-barred from claiming damages against the replevin bond, the dismissal order having attained finality after the application for damages, the Court of Appeals erred in ordering the trial court to set a hearing for the determination of damages against the replevin bond.

 

WHEREFORE, the Court GRANTS the petition IN PART. The Court SETS ASIDE the portion in the assailed decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 96266 ordering the trial court to set a hearing for the determination of damages against the replevin bond.

 

SO ORDERED.

 

 

 

 

ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Associate Justice

 

WE CONCUR:

 

 

 

 

 

 

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO

Associate Justice

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ARTURO D. BRION JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ

Associate Justice Associate Justice

 

 

 

MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO

Associate Justice

 

ATTESTATION

I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

 

 

 

ANTONIO T. CARPIO

Associate Justice

Chairperson

 

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

 

 

 

RENATO C. CORONA

Chief Justice

* Designated Actimg Member per Special Order No. 1006 dated 10 June 2011.

1 Under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.

2 Rollo, pp. 37-48. Penned by Associate Justice Edgardo P. Cruz with Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Normandie B. Pizarro concurring.

3Id. at 50. Penned by Associate Justice Edgardo P. Cruz with Associate Justices Fernanda Lampas Peralta and Normandie B. Pizarro concurring.

4Id. at 90-91, 92. Penned by Judge Maria Cristina J. Cornejo.

5 Young admitted Advent’s ownership of the subject car.Id. at 159.

6 Docketed as Civil Case No. 01-1122.

7 Rollo, p. 66.

8Id. at 155.

9Id. at 156. In a Manifestation dated 8 August 2003, Young stated that he turned over the possession of the subject car to Atty. Gerald Soriano, an Associate of Advent’s counsel Atty. Edgardo L. de Jesus.

10Id. at 94-95. Atty. Johnny Y. Aruego, Jr. from the Office of the Rehabilitation Receiver wrote a letter, addressed to Verano Law Firm (Young’s counsel), confirming that the subject car was indeed in the possession, control and custody of Atty. Danilo L. Concepcion.

11Id. at 89.

12Id. at 91.

13Id. at 92.

14Id. at 43-45.

15Id. at 47.

16 259 Phil. 841 (1989).

17 Sec. 6. Stay Order. – If the court finds the petition to be sufficient in form and substance, it shall, not later than five (5) days from the filing of the petition, issue an Order (a) appointing a Rehabilitation Receiver and fixing his bond; (b) staying enforcement of all claims, whether for money or otherwise and whether such enforcement is by court action or otherwise, against the debtor, its guarantors and sureties not solidarily liable with the debtor; (c) prohibiting the debtor from selling, encumbering, transferring, or disposing in any manner any of its properties except in the ordinary course of business; x x x

18 Finasia Investments and Finance Corporation v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 107002, 7 October 1994, 237 SCRA 446, 450 cited in Panlilio v. Regional Trial Court, G.R. No. 173846, 2 February 2011.

19 Sec. 10 (Rule 60) Judgment to include recovery against sureties.
 

The amount, if any, to be awarded to any party upon any bond filed in accordance with the provisions of this Rule, shall be claimed, ascertained, and granted under the same procedure as prescribed in section 20 of Rule 57.

20 Carlos v. Sandoval, 508 Phil. 260, 277. .

21 Id. citing Paramount Insurance Corp. v. Court of Appeals, 369 Phil. 641 (1999).

22Id.

23 CA rollo, p. 75. Young alleged in his Omnibus Motion that “In an Order dated 28 April 2005, the [trial court] dismissed the case on the ground of failure to prosecute. To date and despite the lapse of more than fifteen (15) days from notice, Advent has not moved for reconsideration.”

24 No. L-16716, 28 April 1962, 4 SCRA 1210, 1215-1216.

 

LEGAL NOTE 0098: WHAT IS CAUSE OF ACTION? WHEN DOES A COMPLAINT STATES A CAUSE OF ACTION?

 

SOURCE: DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES VS. HON. SILVERIO Q. CASTILLO and CRISTINA TRINIDAD ZARATE ROMERO (G.R. NO. 163827, 17 AUGUST 2011, VILLARAMA, JR., J.) SUBJECT: CAUSE OF ACTION. (BRIEF TITLE: DBP VS. CASTILLO).

 

==================================

 

THE CASE STORY:

 

SIBLINGS CORAZON AND GONZALO CO-OWNED A REAL PROPERTY. THEY MORTGAGED THE PROPERTY TO DBP. FOR FAILURE TO PAY THE LOAN, DBP FORCLOSED THE MORTGAGE. CORAZON DIED. HER DAUGHTER CRISTINA FOUND OUT THAT THE PROPERTY IS ALREADY IN THE NAME OF DBP. SHE FILED A CASE FOR RECONVEYANCE ON THE GROUND THAT DBP AND GONZALO CONNIVED SO THE PROPERTY WILL BE OWNED SOLELY BY GONZALO. HER PROOFS: HER MOTHER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FORECLOSURE AND THUS WAS DEPRIVED OF HER RIGHT TO REDEEM; GONZALO EXECUTED BUY-BACK AGREEMENT WITH DBP OVER THE PROPERTY. SHE ASKED FOR TRO AND INJUNCTION TO PREVENT THE SALE OF THE PROPERTY AT PUBLIC AUCTION. DBP FILED MOTION TO DISMISS AND OPPOSED TRO AND INJUNCTION ON THE GROUND THAT THERE IS NO CAUSE OF ACTION BECAUSE WHEN CRISTINA BECAME HEIR THE PROPERTY WAS ALREADY IN THE NAME OF DBP. RTC GRANTED TRO AND LATER INJUNCTION AND DENIED MOTION TO DISMISS. DPB MOVED FOR RECON. RTC DENIED. DBP FILED AN ANSWER AD CAUTELAM AND ALSO FILED PETITIONS AT CA RE THE TRO, INJUNCTION AND DENIAL OF MOTION TO DISMISS.  CA DENIED PETITIONS FOR BEING FILED OUT OF TIME. CA ALSO DENIED THE MOTION TO DISMISS FOR BEING MOOT BECAUSE DBP SUBSEQUENTLY FILED AN ANSWER.

 

WAS THE DENIAL OF THE MOTION TO DISMISS CORRECT?

 

YES BUT NOT BECAUSE IT WAS MOOT BUT BECAUSE ITS WAS WITHOUT MERIT SINCE THE COMPLAINT OF CRISTINA STATES A CAUSE OF ACTION.

 

Evidently, all the above elements of a cause of action are alleged in the complaint: (1) the legal right of the respondent over the subject property foreclosed premised on the fact that she is the sole heir of one of the owners who is entitled to the right of redemption; (2) the correlative obligation of defendant DBP, as the foreclosing entity, to respect such right of redemption; and (3) the act or omission of the defendant in violation of the legal right, i.e., the act of DBP and its co-defendant Zarate to cause the ostensible foreclosure of the subject property and the subsequent execution of a deed of conditional sale between the defendants even prior to the lapse of redemption period to deprive respondent’s mother of her right over the property.

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

WHAT IS CAUSE OF ACTION?

 

A CAUSE OF ACTION IS THE ACT OR OMISSION BY WHICH A PARTY VIOLATES A RIGHT OF ANOTHER.[1][24]

 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

 

WHEN DOES A COMPLAINT STATES A CAUSE OF ACTION?

WHEN IT CONTAINS THREE ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS:

 

(1) A RIGHT IN FAVOR OF THE PLAINTIFF BY WHATEVER MEANS AND WHATEVER LAW IT ARISES;

 

(2) THE CORRELATIVE OBLIGATION OF THE DEFENDANT TO RESPECT SUCH RIGHT; AND

 

(3) THE ACT OR OMISSION OF THE DEFENDANT VIOLATES THE RIGHT OF THE PLAINTIFF. 

 

IF ANY OF THESE ELEMENTS IS ABSENT, THE COMPLAINT BECOMES VULNERABLE TO A MOTION TO DISMISS ON THE GROUND OF FAILURE TO STATE A CAUSE OF ACTION.[2][25]

A cause of action is the act or omission by which a party violates a right of another.[3][24]  A complaint states a cause of action when it contains three essential elements: (1) a right in favor of the plaintiff by whatever means and whatever law it arises; (2) the correlative obligation of the defendant to respect such right; and (3) the act or omission of the defendant violates the right of the plaintiff.  If any of these elements is absent, the complaint becomes vulnerable to a motion to dismiss on the ground of failure to state a cause of action.[4][25]

 

 

==================================

FIRST DIVISION

DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES,                             Petitioner,         G.R. No. 163827        Present:
 

– versus –

 

 

 

            CORONA, c.j.,

             Chairperson,

        LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,

        BERSAMIN,

        VILLARAMA, JR., and

        SERENO,* JJ.

HON. SILVERIO Q. CASTILLO and CRISTINA TRINIDAD ZARATE ROMERO,                             Respondents.    Promulgated:        August 17, 2011

x  – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – x

RESOLUTION

VILLARAMA, JR., J.:

Before us is a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, seeking to set aside the July 21, 2003 Decision[5][1] of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. SP No. 53825 dismissing petitioner’s petition for certiorari.

The antecedents follow:

Corazon Zarate Romero and his brother Gonzalo Zarate co-owned a property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 10070[6][2] of the Register of Deeds of Dagupan City.  The subject property, located inDagupanCity,Province ofPangasinan, is a 1,705-square-meter lot with a four-storey hotel erected thereon.

It appears that sometime in 1975, Corazon and Gonzalo obtained a loan from petitioner Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP).  As collateral, they executed a real estate mortgage[7][3] over the subject property in favor of DBP.  On the alleged failure of the two borrowers to pay their amortizations, DBP foreclosed the real estate mortgage onSeptember 15, 1983.  Purportedly, no redemption was made within one year, and thus, DBP consolidated ownership over the subject property.

In March 1993, when Corazon passed away, her sole heir, her daughter respondent Cristina Trinidad Zarate Romero, asserted ownership over the subject property to the extent of one-half thereof.  However, respondent discovered that the property was already registered as early as June 13, 1989in the name of DBP under TCT No. 54142,[8][4] with TCT No10070 in the names of her mother and uncle already cancelled.

Respondent filed before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of DagupanCitya complaint[9][5] for reconveyance, quieting of title and damages with prayer for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and writ of preliminary injunction to prevent DBP from conducting any auction sale on the subject property during the pendency of the case.  Respondent claimed that her uncle and DBP conspired in committing fraudulent acts relative to their true transaction and concealed the same from her mother, thereby depriving her of her right of redemption.

The RTC, after hearing, issued on November 24, 1998, a TRO[10][6] restraining DBP from proceeding with its scheduled auction of the disputed property onNovember 25, 1998.  The dispositive portion of the trial court’s order reads:

It appearing that plaintiff Cristina Trinidad Romero y Zarate is the sole heir of the late Maria Corazon Zarate Romero[,] co-owner of the ½ pro[-]indiviso of the property covered by TCT No. 10070 which at present is carried in TCT No.54142 inthe name of DBP[,] and to avoid irreparable damage that may arise [from] the auction sale (public bidding) scheduled on November 25, 1998[,] this Court hereby issues a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) AGAINST DEFENDANT Development Bank of the Philippines, Makati, Metro Manila from proceeding [with] the scheduled auction sale (public bidding) on November 25, 1998 at defendant’s head office at SAM BCG for a period of twenty (20) days from receipt of this order.

SO ORDERED.[11][7]

DBP moved to lift the TRO arguing that it violates Section 2[12][8] of Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 385[13][9] which prohibits the issuance of a restraining order, temporary or permanent, against government financing institutions like DBP to enjoin any action taken pursuant to the mandatory foreclosure clause of the decree.[14][10]

On December 14, 1998, the RTC denied DBP’s motion to lift the TRO and granted respondent’s plea for an injunctive writ.[15][11] The pertinent portions of the trial court’s order reads:

To the honest evaluation of this Court what is unrestrainable is the right of government financial institutions to foreclose mandatorily all loans with arrearages including interest and charges amounting to at least twenty (20%) percent of the total outstanding obligation.

x x x x

 To allay the fears of the plaintiff and to avoid any irreparable damage that may arise while the issues involved in the above case are still being resolved and determined by the Court in the light of the evidence so f[a]r presented, [considering that] there is a tendency on the part of the Development Bank of the Philippines of continuing the acts complained of (auction sale/Public bidding) and considering further [that] there [should] be no advantage … given to one [party] to the prejudice of the other while this case is still pending in Court, it is hereby ordered that a WRIT of Preliminary Injunction be issued against defendant Development Bank of the Philippines from conducting any auction sale of the property involved in the above case (formerly covered by TCT No. 10070 and at [present] covered by TCT No. 54142), upon posting  of a BOND by the plaintiff in the amount of P3 Million within five (5) days from receipt of this Order.[16][12]

On even date, DBP moved to reconsider[17][13] the December 14, 1998 Order and at the same time sought the dismissal of respondent’s complaint on the sole ground that the same states no cause of action.[18][14]

On December 23, 1998, the writ of preliminary injunction[19][15] was issued in favor of respondent.

On March 8, 1999, the RTC denied DBP’s motion for reconsideration of the denial of its motion for the lifting of the TRO.  The RTC likewise denied in the same order DBP’s motion to dismiss the complaint,[20][16] and ordered DBP to file an answer.

On March 23, 1999, DBP moved to reconsider the March 8, 1999denial of its motion to dismiss.[21][17]  But even before the RTC could resolve said motion, DBP filed its Answer[22][18] on April 5, 1999.  A manifestation[23][19] was later filed by DBP indicating that the answer it filed was a mere cautionary measure or what is known as an answer ad cautelam and thus without prejudice to any right of action it may take and without any waiver of any of the grounds for the dismissal of the complaint and any favorable resolution or order that a superior court may issue hereinafter.

On April 20, 1999, the RTC issued an order[24][20] denying DBP’s motion for reconsideration of itsMarch 8, 1999 Order.  The RTC in the same order emphasized that DBP already filed an answer thereby rendering the motion to dismiss moot and academic.

On June 23, 1999, DBP filed a petition for certiorari[25][21] before the CA assailing the following issuances of the RTC:

(1)              TRO datedNovember 24, 1998(received by DBP onNovember 24, 1998) issued against DBP enjoining it from proceeding with the scheduled auction sale of the disputed property;

(2)              Order datedDecember 14, 1998(received by DBP onDecember 16, 1998) denying its motion to lift the TRO and granting the respondents’ prayer for a writ of preliminary injunction;

(3)              Order datedMarch 8, 1999(received by DBP onMarch 18, 1999) denying DBP’s motion to dismiss and motion for reconsideration of theDecember 14, 1998Order; and

(4)              Order datedApril 20, 1999(received by DBP onApril 23, 1999) denying DBP’s motion for reconsideration of theMarch 8, 1999order.

In its assailed decision, the CA dismissed the petition on procedural grounds.  It held that the petition questioning the first three orders was filed late as the petition should have been filed within 60 days from receipt of the assailed orders.  The CA noted that as regards the third order, DBP was notified of the denial of its motion for reconsideration of the December 14, 1998 Order on March 18, 1999 and thus only had until May 17, 1999 to question the same.  The CA further stated that DBP’s subsequent filing of its Answer to the complaint rendered its motion to dismiss moot and academic.

Hence, the present appeal.

DBP raises the following issues for this Court’s consideration:

I.          WHETHER … THE COURT OF APPEALS GRAVELY ERRED IN AFFIRMING THE ORDER OF THE COURT A QUO … DENYING DBP’S MOTION TO DISMISS….

II.         WHETHER … THE COURT OF APPEALS GRAVELY ERRED IN AFFIRMING THE ORDER OF THE COURT A QUO … ISSUING THE TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND THE PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST PETITIONER DBP.

III.       WHETHER … THE RULES OF PROCEDURE [SHOULD NOT] BE APPLIED IN A VERY RIGID AND TECHNICAL SENSE SO AS NOT TO FRUSTRATE THE PROMOTION OF SUBSTANTIAL JUSTICE.[26][22]

DBP insists that it is evident from the face of the complaint that respondent failed to state a cause of action.  DBP contends that respondent’s allegation of conspiracy between DBP and Gonzalo is bare and has no factual basis to stand on.  Further, DBP claims that respondent has no legal right over the subject property as she did not inherit the same in the first place.  At the time of death of respondent’s mother, the property was not anymore owned by the latter and therefore not part of her estate.  Thus, respondent has no legal right over the property and has no cause of action against DBP.  And because she had no right to the property, the issuance of the TRO and injunctive writ were likewise improper.  DBP also points to the following provisions of P.D. No. 385 that were allegedly violated with the issuance of the TRO and injunctive writ:

Section 1.  It shall be mandatory for government financial institutions, after the lapse of sixty (60) days from the issuance of this Decree, to foreclose the collaterals and/or securities for any loan, credit, accommodation, and/or guarantees granted by them whenever the arrearages on such account, including accrued interest and other charges, amount to at least twenty percent (20%) of the total outstanding obligations, including interest and other charges, as appearing in the books of account and/or related records of the financial institution concerned.  This shall be without prejudice to the exercise by the government financial institutions of such rights and/or remedies available to them under their respective contracts with their debtors, including the right to foreclose on loans, credits, accommodations and/or guarantees on which the arrearages are less than twenty percent (20%).

Sec. 2. No restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction shall be issued by the court against any government financial institution in any action taken by such institution in compliance with the mandatory foreclosure provided in Section 1 hereof, whether such restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction is sought by the borrower(s) or any third party or parties, except after due hearing in which it is established by the borrower and admitted by the government financial institution concerned that twenty percent (20%) of the outstanding arrearages has been paid after the filing of foreclosure proceedings.

x x x x

Respondent, for her part, counters that the CA was correct in dismissing the petition for certiorari for having been filed beyond the sixty (60)-day reglementary period.  Also, respondent contends that the provisions of P.D. No. 385 relating to the proscription against the issuance of injunctive writs enjoining foreclosure sales are not applicable in the instant case.  She points out that what the RTC enjoined is not an auction sale arising from the foreclosure of mortgage as the subject property had long been foreclosed and title thereto consolidated in the name of DBP.  Rather, what the RTC enjoined was DBP’s sale of the subject property through ordinary public bidding which is not within the ambit of P.D. No. 385.

The petition should be denied.

As correctly ruled by the CA, the petition for certiorari assailing the orders pertaining to the grant of the TRO and the writ of injunction were filed out of time.  Notice of the issuance of the TRO was received by DBP on the same day it was granted,November 24, 1998; thus, the petition for certiorari should have been filed not later thanJanuary 23, 1999.  The denial of the motion for reconsideration of the order granting the writ of injunction, on the other hand, was received by DBP on March 18, 1999 and thus, it had only until May 17, 1999 to file the petition for certiorari.  DBP, however, filed its petition only onJune 23, 1999.

As to DBP’s motion to dismiss the complaint, we agree with the RTC and CA that the same should be denied, but not for the reason cited by said courts that it has been rendered moot and academic by DBP’s filing of its answer but because the same lacks merit.  Contrary to DBP’s submission, a perusal of the allegations of the complaint clearly reveals respondent’s cause of action against DBP.  The complaint states,

x x x x

1.1  Plaintiff is the sole heir and successor-in-interest of the late Ma. Corazon Zarate-Romero, who died intestate on6 March 1993.

x x x x

3.  During her lifetime, plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest was the erstwhile owner pro-indiviso of that parcel of land, together with improvements, located in Dagupan City, which property used to be covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. 10070 of the Registry of Deeds of Dagupan City….

4.  In or about the year 1975, defendant Zarate, who was co-owner of the subject property, secured various personal loan obligations from the defendant DBP in the aggregate amount of P2,000,000.00.

4.1  To secure such putative loan obligations of the defendant Zarate, the latter, who wielded moral ascendancy over his younger sister and herein plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest — Ma. Corazon Zarate-Romero, cajoled and prevailed upon the latter to mortgage the entirety of the subject property in favor of defendant DBP, including her one-half (1/2) pro-indiviso share in the same.

4.2  Accordingly, defendant Zarate assured the plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest that the mortgage would be for a brief period only and that he (defendant Zarate) would forthwith pay and settle in full all his personal loan obligations with the defendant DBP to ensure that said mortgage is cancelled in the soonest time possible.

5.  At some point in time during the effectivity of the mortgage, however, defendant Zarate apparently saw an opportunity to claim the entirety of the subject property for himself, to the exclusion of plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest.

5.1  Emboldened by, and taking advantage of, the complete trust and confidence reposed upon him by the plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest anent the subject property, defendant Zarate conspired with the defendant DBP for the ostensible foreclosure of the subject property, with the end in view, however, of subsequently reacquiring the same for himself as sole owner.

6.  Pursuant to such sinister plot hatched by defendants, defendant DBP foreclosed the subject property in September of 1983 and, thereafter, bought the same for itself in the sum of P2,253,101.00 during the auction sale conducted by the Deputy Sheriff of Pangasinan….

7.  Significantly enough, and even before the lapse of the mortgagors’ right of redemption over the subject property, the herein defendants entered into a Deed of Conditional Sale over the same, with the defendant DBP as seller, and the defendant Zarate as buyer….

7.1  Needless to state, all the aforedescribed dealings, transactions and proceedings concerning the subject property — from its fraudulent foreclosure up to the highly anomalous execution of the Deed of Conditional Sale over the same — were concealed from plaintiff’s predecessor-in-interest and even from the plaintiff herself after the death of her mother.

x x x x[27][23]

A cause of action is the act or omission by which a party violates a right of another.[28][24]  A complaint states a cause of action when it contains three essential elements: (1) a right in favor of the plaintiff by whatever means and whatever law it arises; (2) the correlative obligation of the defendant to respect such right; and (3) the act or omission of the defendant violates the right of the plaintiff.  If any of these elements is absent, the complaint becomes vulnerable to a motion to dismiss on the ground of failure to state a cause of action.[29][25]

Evidently, all the above elements of a cause of action are alleged in the complaint: (1) the legal right of the respondent over the subject property foreclosed premised on the fact that she is the sole heir of one of the owners who is entitled to the right of redemption; (2) the correlative obligation of defendant DBP, as the foreclosing entity, to respect such right of redemption; and (3) the act or omission of the defendant in violation of the legal right, i.e., the act of DBP and its co-defendant Zarate to cause the ostensible foreclosure of the subject property and the subsequent execution of a deed of conditional sale between the defendants even prior to the lapse of redemption period to deprive respondent’s mother of her right over the property.

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED for lack of merit.  The Decision dated July 21, 2003 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 53825 is AFFIRMED.

No costs.

SO ORDERED.

 

 

 

MARTIN S. VILLARAMA, JR.

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

RENATO C. CORONA

Chief Justice

Chairperson

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO

Associate Justice

LUCAS P. BERSAMIN

Associate Justice

MARIA LOURDES P. A. SERENO

Associate Justice

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

          Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution, I certify that the conclusions in the above Resolution had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

 

RENATO C. CORONA

Chief Justice

 


[1][24] Section 2, Rule 2, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended.

[2][25] See Heirs of Loreto C. Maramag v. Maramag, G.R. No. 181132, June 5, 2009, 588 SCRA 774, 784 and Bank of America NT & SA v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 120135,March 31, 2003, 400 SCRA 156, 167.

[3][24] Section 2, Rule 2, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended.

[4][25] See Heirs of Loreto C. Maramag v. Maramag, G.R. No. 181132, June 5, 2009, 588 SCRA 774, 784 and Bank of America NT & SA v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 120135,March 31, 2003, 400 SCRA 156, 167.

*       Designated additional member per Raffle datedAugust 8, 2011 in lieu of Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo who recused himself due to prior action in the Court of Appeals.

[5][1]   Rollo, pp. 36-46.  Penned by Presiding Justice Cancio C. Garcia (now a retired member of this Court) with Associate Justices Eloy R. Bello, Jr. and Mariano C. Del Castillo (now a member of this Court) concurring.

[6][2]   CA rollo, pp. 69-72.

[7][3]  Id. at 105-117.

[8][4]  Id. at 118-119.

[9][5]  Id. at 57-68.

[10][6]Id. at 38-41.

[11][7]Id. at 41.

[12][8] Sec. 2. No restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction shall be issued by the court against any government financial institution in any action taken by such institution in compliance with the mandatory foreclosure provided in Section 1 hereof, whether such restraining order, temporary or permanent injunction is sought by the borrower(s) or any third party or parties, except after due hearing in which it is established by the borrower and admitted by the government financial institution concerned that twenty percent (20%) of the outstanding arrearages has been paid after the filing of foreclosure proceedings.

                In case a restraining order or injunction is issued, the borrower shall nevertheless be legally obligated to liquidate the remaining balance of the arrearages, paying ten percent (10%) of the arrearages outstanding as of the time of foreclosure, plus interest and other charges, on every succeeding thirtieth (30th) day after the issuance of such restraining order or injunction until the entire arrearages have been liquidated.  These shall be in addition to the payment of amortizations currently maturing.  The restraining order or injunction shall automatically be dissolved should the borrower fail to make any of the above-mentioned payments on due dates, and no restraining order or injunction shall be issued thereafter.  This shall be without prejudice to the exercise by the government financial institutions of such rights and/or remedies available to them under their respective charters and their respective contracts with their debtors, nor should this provision be construed as restricting the government financial institutions concerned from approving, solely at its own discretion, any restructuring, recapitalization, or any other arrangement that would place the entire account on a current basis, provided, however, that at least twenty percent (20%) of the arrearages outstanding at the time of the foreclosure is paid.

                All restraining orders and injunctions existing as of the date of this Decree on foreclosure proceedings filed by said government financial institutions shall be considered lifted unless finally resolved by the court within sixty (60) days from date hereof.

[13][9] Requiring Government Financial Institutions to Foreclose Mandatorily All Loans with Arrearages, Including Interest and Charges, Amounting to at least Twenty Percent (20%) of the Total Outstanding Obligation.

[14][10]         CA rollo, pp. 93-104.

[15][11]        Id. at 42-53.

[16][12]        Id. at 49, 53.

[17][13]        Id. at 139-150.

[18][14]        Id. at 130-136.

[19][15]        Id. at 137-138.

[20][16]        Id. at 54-55.

[21][17]        Id. at 169-176.

[22][18]        Id. at 177-182.

[23][19]        Id. at 183-184.

[24][20]        Id. at 56.

[25][21]        Id. at 12-37.

[26][22]         Rollo, p. 286.

[27][23]         CA rollo, pp. 57-60.

[28][24]         Section 2, Rule 2, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended.

[29][25]         See Heirs of Loreto C. Maramag v. Maramag, G.R. No. 181132, June 5, 2009, 588 SCRA 774, 784 and Bank of America NT & SA v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 120135,March 31, 2003, 400 SCRA 156, 167.