CASE 2016-0063: NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION,  V. MISAMIS ORIENTAL I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE, INC.,  (G.R. 195138  , 24 AUGUST 2016, SERENO, CJ:) (SUBJECT/S: FINDINGS OF ADMIN BODIES ACCORDED GREAT RESPECT; CONTRACT PREVAILS AGAINST UNJUST ENRICHMENT ARGUMENT) (BRIEF TITLE: NTC VS. MORESCO)

 

DISPOSITIVE:

 

“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant Petition is hereby DENIED.

 

SO ORDERED.”

 

SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

 

PETITIONER INSTALLED NEW ELECTRIC METER FOR RESPONDENT. PETITIONER THOUGHT  IT INSTALLED AN ELECTRIC METER WITH 5,250 MULTIPLIER. BUT WHAT IT INSTALLED WAS ACTUALLY ONE WITH 3,500 MULTIPLIER. WHEN PETITIONER MADE ADDITIONAL BILLING TO RESPONDENT BASED ON A 5,250 MULTIPLIER, RESPONDENT REFUSED TO PAY. PETITIONER FILED CASE AT ERC WHICH RULED IN FAVOR OF RESPONDENT PURSUANT TO THE CONTRACT OF THE PARTIES. CA ALSO RULED IN FAVOR OF RESPONDENT. WAS THE RULING OF ERC CORRECT?

 

YES.

 

IT IS A WELL-ENTRENCHED RULE THAT “BY REASON OF THE SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE OF ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES OVER MATTERS FALLING UNDER THEIR JURISDICTION, THEY ARE IN A BETTER POSITION TO PASS JUDGMENT THEREON; THU~ THEIR FINDINGS OF FACT IN THAT REGARD ARE GENERALLY ACCORDED GREAT RESPECT, IF NOT FINALITY, BY THE COURTS.”29 THIS RULE HOLDS TRUE ESPECIALLY IN THIS CASE.
 

PETITIONER ARGUES THAT RESPONDENT WOULD BE UNJUSTLY  ENRICHED AT THEIR EXPENSE. IS THIS ARGUMENT?


NO. BECAUSE A CONTRACT EXISTS BETWEEN THE PARTIES, THE OBLIGATIONS ARISING THEREFROM HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW BETWEEN THE PARTIES AND MUST BE COMPLIED WITH IN GOOD FAITH.35

 

 TO READ THE DECISION, JUST CLICK/DOWNLOAD THE FILE BELOW.

 

scd-2016-0063-misamis-oriental-1-coop-inc 

 

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