J.A.B. Bulao & Associates

CASE 2013-0002: ROMEO A. GONTANG, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS MAYOR OF GAINZA, CAMARINES SUR VS. ENGR. CECILIA ALA YAN (G.R. NO. 191691, 16 FEBRUARY 2013, PERLAS-BERNABE, J.) SUBJECT/S: AUTHORITY OF COUNSEL TO REPRESENT IN COURT A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL (BRIEF TITLE: GONTANG VS. YAN)

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DISPOSITIVE:

WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The assailed May 26, 2009 and March 22, 2010 Resolutiems of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CAG. R. SP No. 107366 are hereby SET ASIDE. The case is REMANDED to the CA for further proceedings.

SO ORDERED.

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SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

ENGR. YAN FILED A CASE FOR MANDAMUS AND DAMAGES AGAINST MAYOR GONTANG. RTC ISSUED WRIT OF EXECUTION AGAINST THE MAYOR. THE MAYOR ENGAGED THE SERVICES OF  PRIVATE LAWYERS TO FILE PETITION FOR CERTIORARI AT THE CA. THE CA DISMISSED THE PETITION ON THE GROUND THAT THE PRIVATE LAWYERS CANNOT REPRESENT THE MAYOR.  IS THE CA RULING CORRECT?

NO. THE DEAMAGES COULD HAVE RESULTED TO PERSONAL LIABILITY ON THE PART OF THE MAYOR. THUS HE CANNOT BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY REPRESENTED BY A PRIVATE COUNSEL.

The present case stemmed from Special Civil Action No. 2002-0019 for mandamus and damages.13The damages sought therein could have resulted in personal liability, hence,petitionercannot be deemed to have been improperly represented by private counsel.14 In Alinsug v. RTC Br. 58, SanCarlos City, Negros Occidental,15 the Court ruled that in instances like the present case where personal liability on the part of local government officials is sought, they may properly secure the services of private counsel, explaining:

The petition for mandamus, inter alia seeks “that respondent be held personally liable for the

amount of One Hundred Thousand Pesos (P100,000) by way of moral damages suffered by the

petitioner; Fifty Thousand Pesos (P50,000) by way of exemplary damages; Ten Thousand Pesos

(P10,000) as and for attorney’s fees; One Thousand Pesos (P1,000) per appearance; plus costs of the

suit amounting to not less than Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000) all in favor of the petitioner.”

It can happen that a government official, ostensibly acting in his

official capacity and sued in that capacity, is later held to have exceeded

his authority. On the one hand, his defense would have then been

underwritten by the people’s money which ordinarily should have been his

personal expense. On the other hand, personal liability can attach to him

without, however, his having had the benefit of assistance of a counsel of

his own choice. In Correa v. CFI, the Court held that in the discharge of

governmental functions, ‘municipal corporations are responsible for the

acts of its officers, except if and when, and only to the extent that, they

have acted by authority of the law, and in conformity with the

requirements thereof.

In such instance, this Court has sanctioned the representation by

private counsel. In one case, We held that where rigid adherence to the

law on representation of local officials in court actions could deprive a

party of his right to redress for a valid grievance, the hiring of a private

counsel would be proper. And in Albuera v. Torres, this Court also said

that a provincial governor sued in his official capacity may engage the

services of private counsel when “the complaint contains other allegations

and a prayer for moral damages, which, if due from the defendants, must

be satisfied by them in their private capacity.16 (Citations omitted)

Consequently Attys.Fandiño and Saulonhad the authority to represent

petitioner at the initial stages of the litigation and this authority continued

even up to his appeal17 and the filing of the petition for certiorari with the

CA respecting the execution of the RTC judgment.18It was therefore an error for the CA to have dismissed the said petition for certiorari on the ground of unauthorized representation.

TO READ THE DECISION, JUST DOWNLOAD THE FILE BELOW.

SCD-2013-0002- JAN 2013 – GONTANG

CASE 2013-0001: LETICIA DIONA, REPRESENTED BY HER ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, MARCELINA DIONA, VS. ROMEO A. BALANGUE, SONNY A. BALANGUE, REYNALDO A. BALANGUE, AND ESTEBAN A. BALANGUE, JR., (G.R. NO. 173559, 07 JANUARY 2013, CASTILLO J.) SUBJECT/S: ANNULMENT OF JUDGMENT UNDER RULE 47 OF THE RULES OF COURT  (BRIEF TITLE: DIONA VS. BALANGUE)

SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

FOR FAILURE TO FILE AN ANSWER RESPONDENT  WAS DECLARED IN DEFAULT. RTC RENDERED JUDGMENT AWARDING INTEREST OF 5% PER MONTH. BUT PETITIONER WAS ONLY ASKING FOR 12%.  WAS THE RTC CORRECT?

NO. IN DEFAULT CASES THE RELIEF GRANTED MUST NOT BE MORE THAN WHAT IS PRAYED FOR IN THE COMPLAINT.

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THE JUDGMENT BECAME FINAL AND EXECUTION SALE WAS HELD. RESPONDENT FILED MOTION TO AMEND JUDGMENT AND SET ASIDE EXECUTION SALE UNDER RULE 47. RTC AMENDED ITS JUDGMENT BY REDUCING THE INTEREST TO 12%. WAS RTC CORRECT?

NO. SINCE THE PORTION OF THE DECISION ON INTEREST WAS VOID, THE JUDGMENT CANNOT BE AMENDED. THAT PORTION ON INTEREST MUST  BE DECLARED VOID FIRST.

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WHAT IS ANNULMENT OF JUDGMENT UNDER RULE 47?

IT IS A REMEDY GRANTED ONLY UNDER EXCEPTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE A PARTY, WITHOUT FAULT ON HIS PART, HAS FAILED TO AVAIL OF THE ORDINARY REMEDIES OF NEW TRIAL, APPEAL, PETITION FOR RELIEF OR OTHER APPROPRIATE REMEDIES.

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CAN IT BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR A REMEDY WHICH WAS LOST DUE TO A PARTY’S NEGLECT OF PROMPTLY AVAILING SUCH REMEDY?

NO.

THE UNDERLYING REASON IS TRACEABLE TO THE NOTION THAT ANNULLING FINAL JUDGMENTS GOES AGAINST THE GRAIN OF FINALITY OF JUDGMENT. LITIGATION MUST END AND TERMINATE SOMETIME AND SOMEWHERE, AND IT IS ESSENTIAL TO AN EFFECTIVE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE THAT ONCE A JUDGMENT HAS BECOME FINAL, THE ISSUE OR CAUSE INVOLVED THEREIN SHOULD BE LAID TO REST.

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WHAT ARE THE GROUNDS IN AVAILING OF RULE 47?

THERE ARE TWO GROUNDS UNDER SECTION 2, RULE 47: EXTRINSIC FRAUD AND LACK OF JURISDICTION.

BUT  JURISPRUDENCE RECOGNIZES LACK OF DUE PROCESS AS ADDITIONAL GROUND TO ANNUL A JUDGMENT.

IN ARCELONA V. COURT OF APPEALS THIS COURT DECLARED THAT A FINAL AND EXECUTORY JUDGMENT MAY STILL BE SET ASIDE IF, UPON MERE INSPECTION THEREOF, ITS PATENT NULLITY CAN BE SHOWN FOR HAVING BEEN ISSUED WITHOUT JURISDICTION OR FOR LACK OF DUE PROCESS OF LAW.

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WAS THERE LACK OF DUE PROCESS IN THE CASE?

YES  IN THE GRANT OF 5% INTEREST WAY BEYOND THE 12% INTEREST SOUGHT IN THE COMPLAINT.

IT IS SETTLED THAT COURTS CANNOT GRANT A RELIEF NOT PRAYED FOR IN THE PLEADINGS OR IN EXCESS OF WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT BY THE PARTY. THEY CANNOT ALSO GRANT A RELIEF WITHOUT FIRST ASCERTAINING THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN SUPPORT THEREOF. DUE PROCESS CONSIDERATIONS REQUIRE THAT JUDGMENTS MUST CONFORM TO AND BE SUPPORTED BY THE PLEADINGS AND EVIDENCE PRESENTED IN COURT.

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WHY IS IT THAT IN DEFAULT CASES ONLY THE ALLEGATIONS OF A COMPLAINT MUST PROVIDE THE MEASURE OF RECOVERY?

TO PREVENT SURPRISE TO THE DEFENDANT.

THE RAISON D’ÊTRE IN LIMITING THE EXTENT OF RELIEF THAT MAY BE GRANTED IS THAT IT CANNOT BE PRESUMED THAT THE DEFENDANT WOULD NOT FILE AN ANSWER AND ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE DECLARED IN DEFAULT HAD HE KNOWN THAT THE PLAINTIFF WILL BE ACCORDED A RELIEF GREATER THAN OR DIFFERENT IN KIND FROM THAT SOUGHT IN THE COMPLAINT.

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BUT SUPPOSE THE DEFENDANT IS NOT DECLARED IN DEFAULT, CAN RELIEF BEYOND WHAT IS PRAYED FOR IN THE COMPLAINT BE GRANTED.

YES BECAUSE AMENDMENT TO CONFORM TO THE EVIDENCE PRESENTED IS ALLOWED.

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ASSUMING THAT 5% WAS PROPERTY ALLEGED AND PROVEN. IS JUDGMENT GRANTING 5% INTEREST PROPER?

NO. IT REMAINS UNCONSCIONABLY EXCESSIVE AND OUGHT TO BE EQUITABLY REDUCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH APPLICABLE JURISPRUDENCE. IN BULOS, JR. V.

YASUMA (G.R. NO. 164159, JULY 17, 2007, 527 SCRA 727, 742, G.R. NO. 173559),  THIS COURT HELD: IN THE CASE OF RUIZ V. COURT OF APPEALS, CITING THE CASES OF MEDEL V. COURT OF APPEALS, GARCIA V. COURT OF APPEALS, SPOUSES BAUTISTA V. PILAR DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE RECENT CASE OF SPOUSES SOLANGON V. SALAZAR, THIS COURT CONSIDERED THE 3% INTEREST PER MONTH OR 36% INTEREST PER ANNUM AS EXCESSIVE AND UNCONSCIONABLE. THEREBY, THE COURT, IN THE SAID CASE, EQUITABLY REDUCED THE RATE OF INTEREST TO 1% INTEREST PER MONTH OR 12% INTEREST PER ANNUM.

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RESPONDENT’S COUNSEL WAS NEGLIGENT IN HANDLING THE CASE. WHAT IS THE RULE ON NEGLIGENCE OF COUNSEL?

ORDINARILY, THE MISTAKE, NEGLIGENCE OR LACK OF COMPETENCE OF COUNSEL BINDS THE CLIENT. THIS IS BASED ON THE RULE THAT ANY ACT PERFORMED BY A COUNSEL WITHIN THE SCOPE OF HIS GENERAL OR IMPLIED AUTHORITY IS REGARDED AS AN ACT OF HIS CLIENT.

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IS THERE AN EXCEPTION TO THIS RULE?

YES. WHEN THE LAWYER IS  GROSSLY NEGLIGENT IN HIS  DUTY TO MAINTAIN HIS CLIENT’S CAUSE AND SUCH AMOUNTED TO A DEPRIVATION OF HIS  CLIENT’S PROPERTY WITHOUT DUE PROCESS OF LAW.  IN WHICH CASE, THE COURTS MUST STEP IN AND ACCORD RELIEF TO A CLIENT WHO SUFFERED THEREBY.

IN FINE, RESPONDENTS DID NOT LOSE THE REMEDIES OF NEW TRIAL, APPEAL, PETITION FOR RELIEF AND OTHER REMEDIES THROUGH THEIR OWN FAULT. IT CAN ONLY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THE GROSS NEGLIGENCE OF THEIR ERSTWHILE COUNSEL WHICH PREVENTED THEM FROM PURSUING SUCH REMEDIES.

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CAN RESPONDENTS BE BLAMED FOR RELYING TOO MUCH ON THEIR FORMER COUNSEL?

NO.

CLIENTS HAVE REASONABLE EXPECTATIONS THAT THEIR LAWYER WOULD AMPLY PROTECT THEIR INTEREST DURING THE TRIAL OF THE CASE.

HERE, RESPONDENTS ARE PLAIN AND ORDINARY PEOPLE X X X WHO ARE TOTALLY IGNORANT OF THE INTRICACIES AND TECHNICALITIES OF LAW AND LEGAL PROCEDURES. BEING SO, THEY COMPLETELY RELIED UPON AND TRUSTED THEIR FORMER COUNSEL TO APPROPRIATELY ACT AS THEIR INTEREST MAY LAWFULLY WARRANT AND REQUIRE.

TO READ THE DECISION, JUST DOWNLOAD THE FILE BELOW.

SCD-2013-0001- JAN 2013

CASE 2012-0075: REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE REGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, REGIONAL OFFICE NO. 3 VS. ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA; SAMAHANG KABUHAYAN NG SAN LORENZO KKK, INC., REPRESENTED BY ITS VICE PRESIDENT ZENAIDATURLA VS. ROMAN CATHOLIC ARHBISHOP OF MANILA (G.R. NO. 192975/ G.R. NO. 192975, 12 NOVEMBER 2012, PERLAS-BERNABE, J.) SUBJECT/S: MOTION TO DISMISS; EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL; REVERSION SUITS. (BRIEF TITLE: REPUBLIC VS. ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA).

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SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGESTS:

THE REPUBLIC FILED A CASE FOR ANNULMENT OF CERTAIN TITLES BELONGING TO THE ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHBISHOP OF MANILA (RCAM)  AND TO CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WHICH PURCHASED SUBJECT LOTS FROM THE RCAM.

RCAM MOVED TO DISMISS SINCE THE SUBJECT LOTS WERE GRANTED TO RCAM BY VIRTUE OF A DECISION OF AN RTC ACTING AS LAND REGISTRATION COURT AND THE  RTC CANNOT ANNUL A JUDGEMENT OF ANOTHER RTC. TRIAL COURT DENIED MOTION TO DISMISS. CA REVERSED TRIAL COURT’S ORDER ON THE GROUND THAT THE CASE SHOULD BE FILED AT CA SINCE IT (CA) ALONE CAN INVALIDATE RTC JUDGMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE STATE IS IN ESTOPPEL FOR NOT TAKING ACTION AFTER SO LONG A PERIOD OF TIME.

DOES RTC HAVE JURISDICTION OVER THE CASE?

YES.

IT IS AXIOMATIC THAT THE NATURE OF AN ACTION AND WHETHER THE TRIBUNAL HAS JURISDICTION OVER SUCH ACTION ARE TO BE DETERMINED FROM THE MATERIAL ALLEGATIONS OF THE COMPLAINT, THE LAW IN FORCE AT THE TIME THE COMPLAINT IS FILED, AND THE CHARACTER OF THE RELIEF SOUGHT IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE PLAINTIFF IS ENTITLED TO ALL OR SOME OF THE CLAIMS AVERRED.

THE MATERIAL AVERMENTS, AS WELL AS THE CHARACTER OF THE RELIEF PRAYED FOR BY PETITIONERS IN THE COMPLAINT BEFORE THE RTC, SHOW THAT THEIR ACTION IS ONE FOR CANCELLATION OF TITLES AND REVERSION, NOT FOR ANNULMENT OF JUDGMENT OF THE RTC. THE COMPLAINT ALLEGED THAT LOT NOS. 43 TO 50, THE PARCELS OF LAND SUBJECT MATTER OF THE ACTION, WERE NOT THE SUBJECT OF THE CFI’S JUDGMENT IN THE RELEVANT PRIOR LAND REGISTRATION CASE. HENCE, PETITIONERS PRAY THAT THE CERTIFICATES OF TITLE OF RCAM BE CANCELLED WHICH WILL NOT NECESSITATE THE ANNULMENT OF SAID JUDGMENT.

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THE CA  APPLIED EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL AGAINST THE STATE AND CONSIDERED IT BARRED FROM FILING A REVERSION SUIT. IT EXPLAINED THAT THE LOTS WERE ALREADY ALIENATED TO INNOCENT PURCHASERS FOR VALUE AND THE STATE FAILED TO TAKE ACTION TO CONTEST THE TITLE FOR AN UNREASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME. HENCE, THE CA ORDERED THE RTC TO GRANT RCAM’S MOTION TO DISMISS. WAS CA CORRECT?

NO.

IT IS PREMATURE AT THIS STAGE TO APPLY THE DOCTRINE OF EQUITABLE ESTOPPEL BECAUSE THE PARTIES HAVE NOT YET PRESENTED ANY EVIDENCE THAT WOULD SUPPORT SUCH FINDING.

TO READ THE DECISION JUST DOWNLOAD THE FILE BELOW.

SCD-2012-0075-REPUBLIC NOV 2012