J.A.B. Bulao & Associates

CASE 2016-0087: HON. PHILIP A. AGUINALDO, ET AL. VS. HIS EXCELLENCY PRESIDENT BENIGNO SIMEON C. AQUINO III, ET AL. (G.R. NO. 224302, 29 NOV 2016, LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.)

DISPOSITIVE:

“WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Court DISMISSES the instant Petition for Quo Warranto and Certiorari and Prohibition for lack of merit. The Court DECLARES the clustering of nominees by the Judicial and Bar Council UNCONSTITUTIONAL, and the appointments of respondents Associate Justices Michael Frederick L. Musngi and Geraldine Faith A. Econg, together with the four other newly-appointed Associate Justices of the Sandiganbayan, as VALID. The Court further DENIES the Motion for Intervention of the Judicial and Bar Council in the present Petition, but ORDERS the Clerk of Court En Banc to docket as a separate administrative matter the new rules and practices of the Judicial and Bar Council which the Court took cognizance of in the preceding discussion as Item No. 2: the deletion or non-inclusion in JBC No. 2016-1, or the Revised Rules of the Judicial and Bar Council, of Rule 8, Section 1 of JBC-009; and Item No. 3: the removal of incumbent Senior Associate Justices of the Supreme Court as consultants of the Judicial and Bar Council, referred to in pages 35 to 40 of this Decision. The Court finally DIRECTS the Judicial and Bar Council to file its comment on said Item Nos. 2 and 3 within thirty (30) days from notice.

SO ORDERED.”

SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

“Without notice, warning, or explanation to the Supreme Court En Banc, Chief Justice Sereno recently unceremoniously relieved Supreme Court Associate Justices Presbiterio J. Velasco, Jr. and Teresita J. LeonardoDe Castro as JBC consultants, and in their stead, the Chief Justice appointed retired Chief Justices Hilario G. Davide, Jr., Artemio V. Panganiban, and Reynato S. Puno as JBC consultants. The experience and wisdom of the three retired Chief Justices are undisputed. However, practicality and prudence also dictate that incumbent Associate Justices of the Court should be retained as JBC consultants since their interest in the Judiciary is real, actual, and direct. Incumbent Associate Justices of the Court are aware of the present state, needs, and concerns of the Judiciary, and consultants from the Court, even if they have no right to vote, have served, from the organization of the JBC, as the only link to the supervisory authority of the Court over the JBC under the 1987 Constitution. . . . . .”

……………………………………………………..

“These changes in settled rules and practices recently adopted by the JBC under Chief Justice Sereno are disconcerting. There appears to be a systematic move by the JBC, under Chief Justice Sereno to arrogate to itself more power and influence than it is actually granted by the Constitution and this Court, and at the same time, to ease out the Court from any legitimate participation in the nomination process for vacancies in the Judiciary, specifically, in the Supreme Court. This behooves the Court, through the exercise of its power of supervision over the JBC, to take a closer look into the new rules and practices of the JBC and ensure that these are in accord with the 1987 Constitution, the pertinent laws, and the governmental policies of transparency and accountability in the nomination process for vacancies in the Judiciary.”

……………………………………………………..

“The Court had recognized that “[ s ]upervision is not a meaningless thing. It is an active power. It is certainly not without limitation, but it at least implies authority to inquire into facts and conditions in order to render the power real and effective.”

“In the exercise of its power of supervision over the JBC, the Court shall take up the aforementioned Item Nos. 2 and 3 as a separate administrative matter and direct the JBC to file its comment on the same.”

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

scd-2016-0087-hon-philip-a-aguinaldo-et-al-vs-his-excellency-president-benigno-simeon-c-aquino-iii-et-al

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CASE 2016-0086: WILLIAM ENRIQUEZ AND NELIA-VELA ENRIQUEZ, PETITIONERS, -VERSUS ISAROG LINE TRANSPORT  AND VICTOR SEDENIO, RESPONDENTS (G.R. NO. 212008, 16 NOV 2016, PERALTA, J.) (SUBJECT/S: INDEMNITY FOR LOSS OF CAPACITY TO EARN; EVIDENCE NOT OBJECTED TO IS ADMISSIBLE.)  (BRIEF TITLE: SPOUSES ENRIQUEZ VS. ISAROG LINE TRANSPORT ET AL.)

DISPOSITIVE:

“WHEREFORE, IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, the Court GRANTS the petition and SETS ASIDE the Decision of the Court of Appeals dated June 13, 2013 and Resolution dated March 4, 2014 in CAG.R. CV No. 97376, and REINSTATES the Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Libmanan, Camarines Sur, Branch 29 dated February 24, 2011 in Civil Case No. L-896, with interest at six percent (6%)14 per annum of the amount of damages awarded from the time of the finality of this Decision until its full satisfaction.

SO ORDERED.”

SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

WHAT HAPPENED IN THIS CASE?

SONNY ENRIQUEZ WAS A PASSENGER OF  ISAROG LINE BUS. HE WAS KILLED WHEN THEIR BUS COLLIDED WITH ANOTHER BUS.

HIS PARENTS, THE PETITIONERS WERE CLAIMING FOR INDEMNITY FOR LOSS OF EARNING OF SONNY. RTC RULED THEY ARE ENTITLED TO P1,038,960.00. CA REVERSED RTC RULING. HENCE THIS CASE.

WHAT IS THE SOLE ISSUE TO BE RESOLVED?

WHETHER OR NOT THE SPOUSES ENRIQUEZ ARE ENTITLED TO THE AMOUNT OF PL,038,960.00 AS DAMAGES FOR THEIR SON’S LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY.

WHAT IS THE BASIS IN LAW OF PLAINTIFFS’ CLAIM FOR INDEMNITY?

UNDER ARTICLE 2206 OF THE CIVIL CODE, THE HEIRS OF THE VICTIM ARE ENTITLED TO INDEMNITY FOR LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY, THUS:

Article 2206. The amount of damages for death caused by a crime or quasi-delict shall be at least three thousand pesos, even though there may have been mitigating circumstances. In addition:

( 1) The defendant shall be liable for the loss of the earning capacity of the deceased, and the indemnity shall be paid to the heirs of the latter; such indemnity shall in every case be assessed and awarded by the court, unless the deceased on account of permanent physical disability not caused by the defendant, had no earning capacity at the time of his death;

xxx

WHAT IS THE NATURE OF SAID INDEMNITY?

COMPENSATION OF THIS NATURE IS AWARDED NOT FOR LOSS OF EARNINGS, BUT FOR LOSS OF CAPACITY TO EARN.

WHAT TYPE OF DAMAGES IS THIS INDEMNITY?

IT IS IN THE NATURE OF ACTUAL DAMAGES.

AS SUCH IT MUST BE DULY PROVEN BY COMPETENT PROOF AND THE BEST OBTAINABLE EVIDENCE THEREOF.

WHAT TYPE OF EVIDENCE MUST BE PRESENTED?

DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE EXCEPT WHEN:

 (1) THE DECEASED WAS SELF-EMPLOYED AND EARNING LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE UNDER CURRENT LABOR LAWS, IN WHICH CASE, JUDICIAL NOTICE MAY BE TAKEN OF THE FACT THAT IN THE DECEASED’S LINE OF WORK NO DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE IS AVAILABLE; OR

(2) THE DECEASED WAS EMPLOYED AS A DAILY WAGE WORKER EARNING LESS THAN THE MINIMUM WAGE UNDER CURRENT LABOR LAWS.

IN THIS CASE, PLAINTIFFS PRESENTED A CERTIFICATION FROM ASIAN SECURITY SYSTEMS INC DURING TRIAL SHOWING THAT SONNY WAS EARNING P185.00 PER DAY AS SECURITY GUARD. BUT C.A. SAID THIS HAS NO PROBATIVE VALUE BECAUSE THE SIGNATORY WAS NEVER PRESENTED TO TESTIFY. WAS CA CORRECT?

NO.  BECAUSE DEFENSE DID NOT OBJECT TO SAID EVIDENCE.  

THE RULE IS THAT EVIDENCE NOT OBJECTED TO IS DEEMED ADMITTED AND MAY BE VALIDLY CONSIDERED BY THE COURT IN ARRIVING AT ITS JUDGMENT.

HOW WAS THE P1,038,960.00 COMPUTED?

USING THE SETTLED FORMULA, THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY IS COMPUTED AS FOLLOWS:

NET EARNING CAPACITY= LIFE EXPECTANCY X GROSS ANNUAL I 13 L. . E NCOME -1VMG XPENSES = [2/3 (80 -AGE AT DEATH)] X GAI -[50% OF GAI] = [2/3 (80 -26)] X P57,720.00 -P28,860.00 = [2/3 (54)] X P28,860.00 = 36 X P28,860.00 NET EARNING CAPACITY= PL,038,960.00

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

scd-2016-0086-william-enriquez-and-nelia-vela-enriquez-vs-isarog-line-transport-inc-and-victor-sedenio

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CASE 2016-0085: REPUBLIC OF THE  PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY MA CT AN-CEBU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT  AUTHORITY (MCIAA), V. LIMBONHAI AND SONS, (G.R. NO. 217956, 16 NOVEMBER 2016,  PERALTA, J) (SUBJECT/S: EXPROPRIATION; EMINENT DOMAIN; LACHES; TORRENS SYSTEM; PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE) (BRIEF TITLE: REPUBLIC VS LIMBONHAI)

DISPOSITIVE:

“WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DENIED. The Court AFFIRMS the Decision promulgated on April 10, 2014 by the Court of Appeals.

SO ORDERED”

SUBJECTS/DOCTRINES/DIGEST:

HOW DO SC LOOK AT THE LOWER COURT’S FINDINGS?

IF AFFIRMED BY THE CA, THESE FINDINGS  ARE FINAL AND CONCLUSIVE?

WHY?

BECAUSE SC IS NOT A TRIER OF FACTS.

IT IS NOT THE FUNCTION OF SC TO ANALYZE OR WEIGH EVIDENCE ALL OVER AGAIN.

ARE THERE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE?

YES.

WHEN THERE IS A SHOWING THAT THE FINDINGS OF THE LOWER COURTS ARE ABSOLUTELY DEVOID OF EVIDENCE.

OR

ARE GLARINGLY ERRONEOUS AS TO CONSTITUTE PALPABLE ERROR OR GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION.

IN THIS CASE IS THERE A GROUND TO APPLY THE ABOVE EXCEPTIONS?

NONE.

THE FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF THE APPELLATE COURT ARE IN FULL ACCORD WITH THOSE OF THE TRIAL COURT.

WHAT IS THE RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN?

IT IS THE RIGHT OF THE SOVEREIGN POWER TO APPROPRIATE ANY PROPERTY WITHIN ITS TERRITORIAL SOVEREIGNTY FOR A PUBLIC PURPOSE.

WHAT IS THE  NATURE AND SCOPE OF SUCH POWER?

IT IS AN INDISPENSABLE ATTRIBUTE OF SOVEREIGNTY;

A POWER GROUNDED IN THE PRIMARY DUTY OF GOVERNMENT TO SERVE THE COMMON NEED AND ADVANCE THE GENERAL WELFARE.

MUST THE RIGHT OF EMINENT DOMAIN BE SUPPORTED BY CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION?

NO.

THE CONSTITUTION DOES NOT GRANT IT. IT ONLY LIMITS SUCH POWER OTHERWISE IT IS LIMITLESS.

IN OUR CONSTITUTION HOW IS IT LIMITED?

OUR CONSTITUTION PROVIDES THAT “PRIVATE  PROPERTY SHALL NOT HE TAKEN FOR PUBLIC USE WITHOUT JUST COMPENSATION.”

ALSO,  THE DUE PROCESS AND EQUAL PROTECTION CLAUSES ACT AS ADDITIONAL SAFEGUARDS AGAINST THE ARBITRARY EXERCISE OF THIS GOVERNMENTAL POWER.

HOW WILL THE EXERCISE OF SUCH POWER BE REGULATED?

A STRICT CONSTRUCTION WILL BE GIVEN AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT WHEN IT ASSERTS SUCH  POWER.

WHY IS THAT SO?

BECAUSE THAT POWER IS NECESSARILY IN DEROGATION OF PRIVATE RIGHTS.

IT IS ONE OF THE HARSHEST PROCEEDINGS KNOWN TO THE LAW.

WHO HAS THE BURDEN OF PROVING ALL THE ESSENTIALS NECESSARY TO SHOW THE RIGHT OF CONDEMNATION?

THE GOVERNMENT.

IT HAS THE BURDEN OF PROOF TO ESTABLISH THAT IT HAS COMPLIED WITH ALL THE REQUIREMENTS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR THE VALID EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT D0MAIN SUCH AS THE PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION.

 IN THIS CASE DID THE GOVERNMENT  PROVED THE PAYMENT OF JUST COMPENSATION?

NO.

WHAT IS LACHES?

IT IS THE FAILURE OR NEGLECT, FOR AN UNREASONABLE LENGTH OF TIME TO DO THAT WHICH BY EXERCISING DUE DILIGENCE COULD OR SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE EARLIER;

IT IS NEGLIGENCE OR OMISSION TO ASSERT A RIGHT WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME WARRANTING A PRESUMPTION THAT THE PARTY ENTITLED TO ASSERT IT HAS EITHER ABANDONED IT OR HAS DECLINED TO ASSERT IT.

IT HAS ALSO BEEN DEFINED AS SUCH NEGLECT OR OMISSION TO ASSERT A RIGHT TAKEN IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LAPSE OF TIME AND OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES CAUSING PREJUDICE TO AN ADVERSE PARTY.

WHAT IS THE BASIS OF LACHES?

EQUITY.

IS IT TO PENALIZE NEGLECT OR SLEEPING UPON ONE’S RIGHT?

NO.

IT IS TO AVOID RECOGNIZING A RIGHT WHEN TO DO SO WOULD RESULT IN A CLEARLY INEQUITABLE SITUATION.

IN THIS CASE IT DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE DEFENDANT’S TITLE, BUT ONLY WITH WHETHER OR NOT BY REASON OF THE PLAINTIFFS LONG INACTION OR INEXCUSABLE NEGLECT, HE SHOULD HE BARRED FROM ASSERTING THIS CLAIM AT ALL, BECAUSE TO ALLOW HIM TO DO SO WOULD HE INEQUITABLE AND UNJUST TO THE DEFENDANT.

WHAT IS THE BASIS OF THE DOCTRINE OF LACHES OR STALE DEMANDS?

PUBLIC POLICY.

FOR THE PEACE OF SOCIETY,.

IT  IS PRINCIPALLY A QUESTION OF THE INEQUITY OR UNFAIRNESS OF PERMITTING A RIGHT OR CLAIM TO BE ENFORCED OR ASSERTED.

IN THIS CASE THE GOVERNMENT’S INACTION IN PAYING THE JUST COMPENSATION FOR THE PROPERTY FOR MORE THAN 30 YEARS IS FATAL TO THEIR CAUSE OF ACTION AS LACHES HAS INDEED ALREADY SET IN.

HOW WILL THE APPLICATION OF LACHES BE DETERMINED?

IT IS  ADDRESSED TO THE SOUND DISCRETION OF THE COURT AS ITS APPLICATION IS CONTROLLED BY EQUITABLE CONSIDERATIONS.

IN THIS CASE  THE INACTION OF MCIAA FOR OVER 30 YEARS HAS REDUCED ITS RIGHT TO REGAIN POSSESSION OF THE SUBJECT PROPERTY TO A STALE DEMAND.

THE GOVERNMENT ARGUED THAT THE RESPONDENT CORPORATION ACTED IN BAD FAITH IN ACQURING TITLE OVER SUBJECT PROPERTY. IS THIS ARGUMENT CORRECT?

NO.

IT IS IMMATERIAL WHETHER THERE WAS BAD FAITH BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO TITLE TO SPEAK OF. IT DID NOT COMPLETE THE EXPROPRIATION PROCESS BY ITS FAILURE TO PAY JUST COMPENSATION.

SUPPOSE THE PROCUREMENT OF TITLE WAS TAINTED WITH FRAUD AND MISREPRESENATION, WILL SUCH DEFECTIVE TITLE BE THE SOURCE OF A VALID TITLE?

YES. WHERE  INNOCENT THIRD PERSONS, RELYING ON THE CORRECTNESS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE THUS ISSUED, ACQUIRE RIGHTS OVER THE PROPERTY.

THE COURT CANNOT DISREGARD SUCH RIGHTS AND ORDER THE TOTAL CANCELLATION OF THE CERTIFICATE.

THE EFFECT OF SUCH AN OUTRIGHT CANCELLATION WOULD BE TO IMPAIR PUBLIC CONFIDENCE IN THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE, FOR EVERYONE DEALING WITH PROPERTY REGISTERED UNDER THE TORRENS SYSTEM WOULD HAVE TO INQUIRE IN EVERY INSTANCE WHETHER THE TITLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY OR IRREGULARLY ISSUED.

THIS IS CONTRARY TO THE EVIDENT PURPOSE OF THE LAW AS EVERY PERSON DEALING WITH REGISTERED LAND MAY SAFELY RELY ON THE CORRECTNESS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF TITLE ISSUED THEREFOR AND THE LAW WILL IN NO WAY OBLIGE HIM TO GO BEHIND THE CERTIFICATE TO DETERMINE THE CONDITION OF THE PROPERTY. THEY ARE ONLY CHARGED WITH NOTICE OF THE LIENS AND ENCUMBRANCES ON THE PROPERTY THAT ARE NOTED ON THE CERTIFICATE.

WHAT IS THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE TORRENS SYSTEM?

TO AVOID POSSIBLE CONFLICTS OF TITLE TO REAL ESTATE

AND

TO FACILITATE TRANSACTIONS RELATIVE THERETO BY GIVING THE PUBLIC THE RIGHT TO RELY UPON THE FACE OF A TORRENS CERTIFICATE OF TITLE AND TO DISPENSE WITH THE NEED OF INQUIRING FURTHER, EXCEPT WHEN THE PARTY CONCERNED HAS ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF FACTS AND CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SHOULD IMPEL A REASONABLY CAUTIOUS MAN TO MAKE SUCH FURTHER INQUIRY.

IN CIVIL CASES, WHAT MUST BE ESTABLISHED?

THE PARTY HAVING THE BURDEN OF PROOF MUST ESTABLISH HIS CASE BY A PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE.

WHAT IS PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE?

IT IS THE WEIGHT, CREDIT, AND VALUE OF THE AGGREGATE EVIDENCE ON EITHER SIDE, AND IS USUALLY CONSIDERED TO BE SYNONYMOUS WITH THE TERM GREATER WEIGHT OF THE EVIDENCE OR GREATER WEIGHT OF THE CREDIBLE EVIDENCE.

PREPONDERANCE OF EVIDENCE IS A PHRASE THAT MEANS, IN THE LAST ANALYSIS, PROBABILITY OF THE TRUTH.

IT IS EVIDENCE THAT IS MORE CONVINCING TO THE COURT AS WORTHY OF BELIEF THAN THAT WHICH IS OFFERED IN OPPOSITION THERETO.

IN THE CASE AT BAR, MCIAA FAILED TO DISPENSE ITS BURDEN OF PROVING BY CLEAR AND CONVINCING EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS A RIGHT TO HAVE THE TCT ISSUED IN THE NAME OF RESPONDENT CORPORATION CANCELLED.

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

scd-2016-0085-republic-of-the-philippines-vs-limbonhai-and-sons

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