Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1960 > December 1960 Decisions > G.R. No. L-14858 December 29, 1960 - MARIANO S. GONZAGA v. AUGUSTO CE DAVID

110 Phil 460:




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. L-14858. December 29, 1960.]

MARIANO S. GONZAGA, petitioner and appellee, v. AUGUSTO CE DAVID, as Registrar of the Motor Vehicles Office of Cagayan, respondent and Appellant.

Asst. Solicitor General Guillermo E. Torres and Solicitor E. D. Ignacio for Appellant.

Ventura V. Perez for Appellee.


SYLLABUS


MOTOR VEHICLE LAW; PAYMENT OF REGISTRATION FEES; MEANING OF TERM "LAST WORKING DAY" WHERE PAYMENT IS MADE BY POSTAL MONEY ORDER. — The last working day of August contemplated in section 8(1) of the Revised Motor Vehicle Law (Act 3992), as amended, until which payment of the second installment for registration fees may be made, should not necessarily mean the last working day for the Motor Vehicles Office. Under section 6(b) of the Act, providing for payment of the fees by mail, the date of cancellation of the postal stamps of the envelope containing the remittance is considered the date of application. Consequently, where the manner of payment falls under the said section, the law, in recognizing the date of cancellation as the date of application, impliedly permits remittances or payments within the last day of August that the Post Office may still effect cancellation, regardless of whether or not the Motor Vehicles Office, pursuant to Republic Act No. 1880, has office on the said last day.


D E C I S I O N


REYES, J. B. L., J.:


The essential antecedents of this case are not disputed. On February, 1957, Mariano Gonzaga, as owner, registered with the Motor Vehicles Office a cargo truck and a passenger bus, paying the first installment for registration fees due on said vehicles for 1957. To cover the second installment for registration fees, Gonzaga remitted to the Provincial Treasurer of Cagayan, by registered mail, P500.00, under postal money orders Nos. 18553, 18554 and 18555, purchased from and issued by the Post Office of Camalaniugan, Cagayan. The postal cancellation mark on the envelope containing the remittance of Gonzaga bears the date August 31, 1957; so does the postal cancellation mark on the face of the money orders.

The Registrar of the Motor Vehicles Office of Cagayan ruled that pursuant to Section 8(1), Act 3992, otherwise known as the Revised Motor Vehicle Law, the second installment for registration fees was payable on or before the last working day of August; that the last working day of August, 1957 was Friday, August 30, 1957; that consequently, the remittance of Gonzaga bearing postal cancellation mark dated August 31, 1957 was made beyond the time fixed by law. Accordingly, said official sought to impose a 50% delinquency penalty, or otherwise, threatened to confiscate the certificate of registration for the two trucks (Annexes "B" & "C").

Gonzaga brought this action in the Court of First Instance, which, upon a stipulation of facts, rendered judgment, the dispositive part reading —

"POR TANTO, el Juzgado dicta decision declarando, como por la presente declara, que el pago hecho con los giros postales Nos. 18553, 18554 y 18555, por el recurrente, se ha hecho dentro del plazo fijado por ley; y, por tanto, el recurrente no ha incurrido con morosidad en cuanto a dicho pago.

Se ordena al recurrido, sus agentes y representantes, que se abstengan de confiscar el certificado de registro de los dos trucks del recurrente, por la alegada morosidad del citado pago.

Sin costas.

ASI SE ORDENA."cralaw virtua1aw library

The only issue in this appeal is whether the remittance of petitioner-appellee covering the second installment of registration fees for 1957, made by registered mail with postal cancellation dated August 31, 1957, was within the time fixed by law.

The following are the pertinent provisions of Act 3992, as amended —

Sec. 8(I)." . . The registration fees provided in this Act for trucks may be payable in two equal installments, the first to be paid on or before the last working day of February, and the second to be paid on or before the last working day of August." (Italics supplied)

Sec. 6(b) "The date of cancellation of the postage stamps of envelopes containing money orders, checks, or cash shall be considered as the date of application. . . ."cralaw virtua1aw library

In support of its contention that August 30, and not August 31, was the last working day of August, 1957, respondent-appellant invokes Republic Act No. 1880, otherwise known as the "40-Hour Week Law", pursuant to which government offices are to hold office from Monday to Friday only, unless one of those expressly exempted therefrom.

As correctly held by the court below, the fact that, pursuant to Republic Act 1880, the Motor Vehicles Office in Tuguegarao, Cagayan, had no office on Saturday, August 31, 1957, is immaterial in the case. The last working day contemplated in Sec. 8(1) of Act 3992 as amended should not necessarily mean the last working day for the Motor Vehicle office. Under Sec. 6(b) of said Act, providing for payment of registration fees by mail, the date of cancellation of the postage stamps of the envelope containing the remittance is considered the date of application. Consequently, where the manner of payment falls under said Section 6(b), the law, in recognizing the date of cancellation as the date of application, impliedly permits of a remittance or payment within that last day of August that the Post Office may still effect cancellation; and the remittance, in fact, bears a postal cancellation, dated August 31, 1957. Moreover, it is not pretended by respondent-appellant that the Post Office ceased, or has ceased, to transact business and discharge its functions on Saturdays by reason alone of Republic Act No. 1880. Clearly, therefore, the remittance by petitioner-appellee was within the time fixed by law, as provided in Section 8(1), in connection with Section 6(b) of Act 3992, as amended.

The fact that August 31, 1957 was declared a special public holiday by Proclamation No. 437 (dated August 21, 1957) of the President of the Philippines did not have the effect of making the preceding day, August 30, the last day for paying registration fees without penalty. On the contrary, Section 31 of the Revised Administrative Code provides —

"Sec. 31. Pretermission of holiday. — Where the day, or the last day, for doing any act required or permitted by law falls on a holiday, the act may be done on the next succeeding business day."cralaw virtua1aw library

In Calano v. Cruz, 91 Phil., 247, we ruled as follows:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"The complaint filed by the petitioner herein was presented in the court a quo on November 23, 1951, exactly on the eighth day after the proclamation of the respondent as duly elected councilor for the municipality of Orion, Bataan. It happens, however, that November 22, 1951, the last day of the seven-day period prescribed by Section 173 of the Revised Election Code, was declared a "Special Public Holiday For National Thanksgiving" by Proclamation No. 290, series of 1951, of the President of the Philippines. The trial court held that the provisions of Section 1 of Rule 28 of the Rules of Court could not be applied to the case at bar because it is an election case (Rule 132, Rules of Court), and declared that the complaint was filed outside of the period provided for by law. Assuming that Section 1 of Rule 28 of the Rules of Court is not applicable, the law applicable is Section 31 of the Revised Administrative Code, which provides that "Where the day, or the last day, for doing any act required or permitted by law falls on a holiday, the act may be done on the next succeeding business day." The court a quo, therefore, committed an error in declaring that the complaint was filed out of time.’

The ruling is on all fours on the issue before us, and against Respondent-Appellant.

The decision appealed from is affirmed. Without costs.

Bengzon, Padilla, Bautista Angelo, Labrador, Concepción, Barrera, Gutiérrez David, Paredes and Dizon, JJ., concur.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






December-1960 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. L-14762 December 20, 1960 - UNION DE EMPLEADOS DE TRENES v. KAPISANAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA SA MRR, CO.

    110 Phil 308

  • G.R. No. L-13007 December 23, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. LOPE CUNANAN

    110 Phil 313

  • G.R. No. L-16283 December 27, 1960 - NEW ANGAT-MANILA TRANSPORTATION v. COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

    110 Phil 318

  • G.R. No. L-10121 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. BIENVENIDO BERGANIO

    110 Phil 322

  • G.R. No. L-10405 December 29, 1960 - WENCESLAO PASCUAL v. SECRETARY OF PUBLIC WORKS

    110 Phil 331

  • G.R. No. L-11037 December 29, 1960 - EDGARDO CARIAGA v. LAGUNA TAYABAS BUS COMPANY.

    110 Phil 346

  • G.R. No. L-11179 December 29, 1960 - BURGOS T. SAYOC v. ELLEN CHEN

    110 Phil 356

  • G.R. No. L-11665 December 29, 1960 - ENRIQUE MORALES v. CITY ENGINEER OF THE CITY OF CAVITE

    110 Phil 364

  • G.R. No. L-12087 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. DEMETRIO CAIMBRE

    110 Phil 370

  • G.R. No. L-12450 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ANASTACIO BOLIVAR

    110 Phil 372

  • G.R. No. L-12819 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ISIDRO GUARNES

    110 Phil 379

  • G.R. Nos. L-12860-61 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. IGMEDIO SANTIAGO

    110 Phil 385

  • G.R. No. L-13018 December 29, 1960 - ADELA ROSARIO v. MARIA S. F. ROSARIO

    110 Phil 394

  • G.R. No. L-13075 December 29, 1960 - CO CHIN LENG v. EUGENIO MINTU

    110 Phil 396

  • G.R. No. L-13083 December 29, 1960 - MANUEL R. OLAÑO v. MANUEL BERNARDO

    110 Phil 398

  • G.R. No. L-13292 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. WENCESLAO PAGULAYAN

    110 Phil 402

  • G.R. No. L-13308 December 29, 1960 - MANUEL PANGAN v. EVENING NEWS PUBLISHING CO.

    110 Phil 409

  • G.R. No. L-13401 December 29, 1960 - PRUDENTIAL BANK & TRUST CO. v. COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

    110 Phil 413

  • G.R. No. L-13695 December 29, 1960 - RCA COMMUNICATIONS, INC. v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE CO.

    110 Phil 420

  • G.R. No. L-13746 December 29, 1960 - ISIDRO BOFIL v. CATALINO P. CASIDSID

    110 Phil 426

  • G.R. No. L-14219 December 29, 1960 - MARIANO G. SISON v. FELICIANO MAZA

    110 Phil 433

  • G.R. No. L-14245 December 29, 1960 - SOLEDAD ABIJUELA v. HOSPICIA DOLOSA

    110 Phil 436

  • G.R. No. L-14377 December 29, 1960 - EAST PACIFIC MERCHANDISING CORP. v. DIRECTOR OF PATENTS

    110 Phil 443

  • G.R. No. L-14623 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. YAKANS ASPALIN

    110 Phil 454

  • G.R. No. L-14858 December 29, 1960 - MARIANO S. GONZAGA v. AUGUSTO CE DAVID

    110 Phil 460

  • G.R. No. L-14985 December 29, 1960 - FRANCISCO U. BUENASEDA v. BOWEN & CO., INC.

    110 Phil 464

  • G.R. No. L-15100 December 29, 1960 - IN RE: VICENTE TIU NAVARRO v. COMMISSIONER OF IMMIGRATION

    110 Phil 468

  • G.R. No. L-15118 December 29, 1960 - ERLANGER & GALINGER, INC. v. COURT OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

    110 Phil 470

  • G.R. No. L-15140 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JUAN DEROSARIO

    110 Phil 476

  • G.R. No. L-15154 December 29, 1960 - GIL VILLANUEVA v. FILOMENO GIRGED

    110 Phil 478

  • G.R. No. L-15155 December 29, 1960 - BOARD OF LIQUIDATORS v. EXEQUIEL FLORO

    110 Phil 482

  • G.R. Nos. L-15167-68 December 29, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ROSALIO PANCHO

    110 Phil 490

  • G.R. No. L-15182 December 29, 1960 - SANTIAGA BLANCO v. FRUCTUOSA ESQUIERDO

    110 Phil 494

  • G.R. No. L-15193 December 29, 1960 - MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY v. JUAN P. ENRIQUEZ

    110 Phil 499

  • G.R. No. L-15595 December 29, 1960 - MARTIN CAÑADA v. CANDIDO RUBI

    110 Phil 505

  • G.R. No. L-15654 December 29, 1960 - DELGADO BROTHERS, INC. v. COURT OF APPEALS

    110 Phil 511

  • G.R. No. L-15753 December 29, 1960 - JUANA REYES VDA. DE AREJOLA v. CAMARINES SUR REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL SCHOOL

    110 Phil 517

  • G.R. No. L-15800 December 29, 1960 - C. K. VASWANI v. P. TARACHAND BROS.

    110 Phil 521

  • G.R. No. L-15813 December 29, 1960 - GERMAN DE ORTUBE v. JUSTINIANO T. ASUNCION

    110 Phil 529

  • G.R. No. L-15978 December 29, 1960 - DAVAO GULF LUMBER CORP. v. N. BAENS DEL ROSARIO

    110 Phil 532

  • G.R. No. L-16153 December 29, 1960 - ESTRELLA E. SERRANO v. ANDRES REYES

    110 Phil 536

  • G.R. No. L-16285 December 29, 1960 - JOSE SETON v. JOSE S. RODRIGUEZ

    110 Phil 548

  • G.R. No. L-17512 December 29, 1960 - CLARO IBASCO v. MELQUIADES G. ILAO

    110 Phil 553

  • G.R. Nos. L-13012 & L-14876 December 31, 1960 - CITY OF CEBU v. EDMUNDO S. PICCIO

    110 Phil 558

  • G.R. Nos. L-13983-85 December 31, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. PERLITO SOYANG

    110 Phil 565

  • G.R. No. L-14921 December 31, 1960 - DOLORES B. GUICO v. PABLO G. BAUTISTA

    110 Phil 584

  • G.R. Nos. L-15024-25 December 31, 1960 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. FELIPE SACAYANAN

    110 Phil 588

  • G.R. No. L-15560 December 31, 1960 - INTERNATIONAL OIL FACTORY WORKERS UNION v. ARSENIO MARTINEZ

    110 Phil 595

  • G.R. No. L-16035 December 31, 1960 - THERESE VILLANUEVA v. PANTALEON A. PELAYO

    110 Phil 602

  • G.R. No. L-16521 December 31, 1960 - PORFIRIO DIAZ v. EMIGDIO NIETES

    110 Phil 606