December 2007 - Philippine Supreme Court Decisions/Resolutions

Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence

G.R. No. 168030 - Aurelio Cabiqon, et al. v. Pepsi-Cola Products Phils., Inc.

FIRST DIVISION

[G.R. NO. 168030 : December 19, 2007]

AURELIO CABIGON, LORLIE N. ALESNA, MELANIE ALESNA, SOLOMON G. RIGONAN, LOLITA ARTEZUELA, EFREN GOCOTANO, ERLINDA ABAR, ALICA VENTURES, JUSTINIANO B. MENDEZ, EDELISA CODILLA, ROLINA BAGUIO, REBECCA SONGCADOS, ELENA A. DATAN, AGUIDO AÑOS, RODIGONDO INDOYON, LOURDES S. TUBALDE, ABUNDIO ALDAVE, GINA SINGSON, FEDERICA SUNGGAYAN, LUCRECIA QUINTILITISCA, FILEMON YAP, JOSEPHINE CANTON, ASTERIA ABALO, RONALD CABALLES, RIZALINA CABARRUBIAS, PIO TAN-AN, TEODORO LLORANDO, EDILBERTO VILLANUEVA, HONORIO COMILANG, LUCIA SALEM, belda Arthur castanas, CLAUDIA BEBITA, JOSEPH SUQUIB, REMEDIOS A. ATANACIO, LLOYD BACALSO, JETROGER CHAN, WALTER PANAL, THELMA TOQUERO, REYANALDO CABILAO, HILDA BACALSO, MERLYN SARANSAN, CASELDITA BUSTRILLO, NATIVIDAD FISULBON, MILAGROS ABAN, SILVANO COLARTE, ROGELIO RUIZO, CONCORDIA BOHOL, BONIFACIO DURANGPARANG, BERNARDINO VALLES, BENITO DURANGPARANG, GERMANO MINGO, AURELIO MIRANDA, NOEL BARGAMENTO, NELY TRAYA, GEORGE PADILLO, ROSALITA DELA PEÑA, GEMMA CAPITO, MARIANO BASLAN, LOURDES NARAL, JESUS SAYUD, JOSEFINA ARCHULETA, LOLITA FUENTES, JOEL POLLICAR, VICTORINO LUENGO, ALEX ABELLANA, LINDA HOLLERO, ANABELE TAUTHO, ELIZABETH MARTILLAN, LYDIA T. MANCAO, MYRNA TORREGOSA, EDUARDO COMMENDADOR, JOEVIC GUEVARRA, CONSTANTINO UBAL, MIGUEL APA, ALFONSO VILLARIN, APOLONIA CAPUNO, CATALINA WAMAR, JOSEPHINE NEGAPATAN, CARMELA PERPETUA, MATALISA GONZALES, PRIMA BUOT, ESTER INSAO, DOMINADOR ANGTUD, NARCISO CABURNAY, BIENVENIDO GEMPESAO, REBECCA GABUYA, LEONARD AMBOS, FAUSTINO EMPIS, JR., LAUDELINA ADEVA, EMERITA BUAYA, EDITH BABAO, CONCEPCION AWE, JOSE POLIGRATES, MARIO LAURON, LEONARDA BOLIVAR, NILO SULIB, RAMON BACLOHAN, DAMASO RAGANAS, FLOREDELIZA SUNGGAYAN, JULIETA ORLANES, JUAN ESPEDILLON, JR., GINA LAPUT, COSME BAYNOSA, DEDICACION BIHAG, CONCEPCION OPELARIO, BELINDA BASTISMO,¹ EVANGELINE MAHUSAY, TEODOCIOS BIRAO, ERNESTO JUMAO-AS, SR., JORGE SOCO, MELBA SANCHEZ, CORAZON ONG, MAXIMIANO CASTILLON, AVELINA CATAM-ISAM, ELISA LOPEZ, GRECIA R. TAN, LUCENA S. VELASCO, BEATRIZ JOSEPH, GUILLERMO N. PAPASIN, CRISPIN AMANCIO, AURELIO ALINABON, TEODOLO ABREGANA, TEODULO MONTECLARO, ANASTACIO ABELLA, JOSEFINA CO, GEMMA H. WASKIN, PEDRO SUQUIB, NARCISA MAMOGAY,TEOFILA C. PRAJES, ELEUTERIO CUIZON, BEATRIZ BIAÑO,² LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, ROSITA CHAN, ELENA HERA, LEONISA VILLEGAS, LOLITA HERRERA, REYNALDO B. PADILLO, JUDE THADDEUS ALENTON, ANTONIETO ESTOY, AMY COLLAMAT, ANGEL JAN CHIN, NICETORA GONZALES, CATALINA ENGLATERA, ROSARIO ALVAREZ, FELIX BELDAD, SR., RENE C. RIVERA, FLORENCIA ARRIESGADO, HILARIA BACALSO, MARIA GALACY, RUBEN BAS, TRINIDAD M. ECOJEDO, LORNA ORTALEZA, NORMAN TAN, LIBRALDO ANDALES, JAIME PARAS O. POLAN, ADONIS P. VARGAS, FELIPE TORINO CABALLERO, IGNACIO PATIGDAS, MARGARITO TAPAO, ALFREDO V. TAN, JR., LAURO H. ORBASE, DOMINGITO BRIGOLI, MILAGROS L. PADILLO, FIEL PLACIDO, JR., ANDRES DEGOMA, LEONISA BARRIOS, JUANITO D. VAEEOR, VICTORIO P. SALAPI, ANAGORITA DUALLO, RAUL ARRIENTOS, BELINDA PLACER, JOSE BOCOG, LIBRADO BELLITA, ANTONIO CABRERA, MARILOU MURILLO, FELISA PONPON, SIMEON DE LA CALZADA, SUSAN LEGITIMAS, IRVI G. AGUILAR, ANDREW V. MANUEL, HENRY LABUS, MATEA BARICUATRO, ERLINDA PANILAGAO, MARTIN C. PANILAGAO, MINVILUZ D. ABALO, ARTEMIO ORONCE, MATILDE MANGITNGIT, JOSEFINA JAKOSALEM, ALEJANDRA M. LAGWA-AN, MERLYNDA RIVERAL, TEODOCIOS BILAO, MARLO L. YAP, ALBERTO DAUGDAUG, CERILINA M. AGUELO, FRANCISCO CABANERO, MARILOU PANILAGAO, ARNEL B. BORROMEO, VIRSISIMA S. PLICANO, ARTEMIO SAYON, FELIX GETUABAN, EVA S. ABRENICA, CORAZON GLORITA SANCHEZ, FLORMINDA TAN, ROSALIO BARCOSO, NARCISA EMPIC, BEVERLY HOYLAR, ELMA V. ROFLO, CESAR MARANO, VALENTIN B. SUMALINOG, JEREMIAS CAPARIDA, DANTE RAMAS, JESUS R. MILMAO, PAZ C. DEL ROSARIO, MILAGROS DELA CERNA, REYNALDO V. KIAMCO, DANILO R. SULTAN, CONCORDIA DIONSON, ELVIRA C. TANGPUZ, LIRA D. VILLAS, PEDRO CAPISNON, EDILBERTO S. CANALITA, SERGIO TANJAY, EMMA A. MORALES, DESIDERIO ENERLAS, ADOLFO Q. LATO, VICENTA ALMENDRAS, FREDO CUIZON, PACITA FORTUNA, ANTONIA RONDINA, JUANITA SABERON, LOURDES NAVAL, HERACLEO S. CONCON, WILLIAM BONTIA, MARILOU COMILANG, JUANITA V. AGUILAR, FLORA OCHIA ELARCOSA, APOLONIA BARING, ELSA B. BUCAO, ISABEL OSMENA, EDUARDO N. CARAMPATANA, ANECITA A. GELLANGGAO, CESAR GABUTIN, REY NUNEZA, JESUS D. ATANACIO, DIONISIO CUBERO, MARLON E. ARANETA, JOSEPH RONDINA, MARINO V. BASLAN, MATRANILLO MANTUA, MA. CECILIA CABAYO, CLEOFE LUTAO, JOEL L. CABAHUG, EMMANUEL CABAHUG, ALEX CABAYO, FELICIANO CABAHUG, JESSICA C. GUNGOB, NOLITO TALISIC, ESTRELLA B. CABAHUG, DEMETRIO PEPITO, ROSAL QUINOPA, EPUGENIA L. ABERION, MARTALIZA L. GONZALES, HILARIO SAMEON, LILIBETH B. MISA, EUFRACIA C. HERANA, MERCEDES L. PEPITO, NARCISA MAGRO, BONIFACIO APAS, ROGELIO SUGUIB, RENE BUGTAI, PANFILO BACALLA, JR., LILIA S. PEPITO, JUANITO L. DILAO, ROSARIO B. BACALLA, RODOLFO B. TUSOY, FLORA S. QUERUBIN, RODELIO L. ARELA, CHARITO P. BONGO, PAQUITO A. BARBIEROS, ERLINDA ABANGAN, ESTRELLA A. ESTARTE, LEOVIGILDO A. RIZADA, SHERLITA M. AVILA, MARILYN PERALES, ALAN MARTIN GARCELLANO, MARIA T. BOHOL, DAVID LARSEN S. URSAL, ARLENE MORENO, ALAN B. ABRIL, VILMA OSABEL, ROQUINA G. DAVIDON, JOSEFA CAPADA, CECILIA D. LENIZO, QUILLANO V. VILLASOR, PRIMA JABONERO, WILMA L. EBALE, PAULITA CAPARROS, JEANETH DOLON, LUCITA LAMOSTE, TERESITA REGIDOR, ALICIA IGOY, REYNALDO PETILUNA, ALBERTO B. CARPESO, DANTE L. PERALES, RICARDO D. MONUNGOLH, MICHELLE A. CELESTE, PATRICIO PARDILLO, ANIONIO D. VAFLOR, MARILYN A. SECO, LOLITA FIGURACION, ROWENA ACEBUQUE, ANASTACIA MAHINAY, NATIVIDAD ABABA, LOURDES N. ANCAJAS and ANNABELLE L. LIBATAN, Petitioners, v. PEPSI-COLA PRODUCTS PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent.

R E S O L U T I O N

CORONA, J.:

This Petition for Review on Certiorari ³ seeks to set aside the decision⁴ of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 60137 and its resolution denying reconsideration.⁵

This case involves actions filed against respondent Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines, Inc. in connection with its 1992 "number fever promo." Petitioners, holders of non-winning 349 crowns,⁶ filed complaints for sum of money and damages,⁷ as well as specific performance and damages,⁸ against respondent in the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 7, Cebu City. They similarly alleged that respondent, by changing the winning combination and refusing to pay their prizes,⁹ was guilty of gross negligence or fraud in dealing with its customers.¹⁰

The RTC found that respondent caused "pain and suffering, mental anguish, broken dreams or hopes, serious anxiety, wounded feelings, moral shock, embarrassment and humiliation to its long-time patrons."¹¹ Thus, on December 15, 1997, it rendered a consolidated decision in favor of petitioners:¹²

Wherefore, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of [petitioners] and against [respondent] Pepsi Cola Products, Philippines, Inc. ordering said [respondent]:

1. To pay each [petitioner] (not for each "349" crown) in these two (2) civil cases the amount of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) by way of moral damages; andcralawlibrary

2. To pay each [petitioner] the amount of ten thousand (P10,000) by way of exemplary damages; andcralawlibrary

3. If the amount of prize money stated in a [petitioner's] crown is less than P30,000, then such [petitioner] shall be entitled to payment of not more than the exact amount so stated in his "349" crown, but if the amount stated in the "349" crown exceeds P30,000, then such [petitioner] shall be entitled only to the total herein ordered, which is P30,000 representing both moral and exemplary damages.

SO ORDERED.¹³

Aggrieved, respondent appealed¹⁴ to the CA.

In the assailed decision, the appellate court found that the confusion with regard to the winning and non-winning 349 crowns arose because respondent decided to extend the promo period. It explained:

There were three types of crowns for both the original and extension period of the [promo] - the winning, the non-winning and the unused crowns - with numbers from 000 to 999 and with appropriate security codes.

The number 349 bearing security code L-2560-FQ was used during the original promo period in non-winning crowns. For the extended promo period, the number 349 was inadvertently chosen as a winning number but the security code for these crowns were security codes for the extended period, not the L-2560-FQ used in the original promo period. The problem arose because the original 349 with L-2560-FQ was still in circulation during the extended promo period and were crowns picked out by the [petitioners] in the present case. It is on the basis of undisputed facts that we conclude that 349 crowns with security code L-2560-FQ were never winning crowns and were never intended to be so.¹⁵ chanrobles virtual law library

Nevertheless, respondent did not fail to emphasize the importance of the alpha-numeric security code in its promotional materials.¹⁶ It clearly stated that the code, printed on each crown, was its only means to verify the genuineness of the winning crown.¹⁷ Thus, it was not negligent in the conduct of its promo.

Accordingly, the CA granted respondent's petition and reversed the December 15, 1997 RTC decision.¹⁸ Because petitioners raised an identical cause of action and issue, and presented evidence similar to those in previous 349 number fever cases, the appellate court dismissed the petition pursuant to its decision in the cases of Rodrigo¹⁹ and Mendoza.²⁰

Petitioners moved for reconsideration²¹ but their motion was denied.²² Hence, this petition.

We deny the petition.

Over the past years, we have promulgated a number of cases²³ involving the 349 number fever promo. Thus, we are bound by our pronouncement in those cases.

The principle of stare decisis et non quieta movere holds that a point of law, once established by the court, will generally be followed by the same court and by all courts of lower rank in subsequent cases involving a similar legal issue.²⁴ This proceeds from the legal principle that, in the absence of powerful countervailing considerations, like cases ought to be decided alike.²⁵

We have consistently held (in previous 349 number fever promo cases) that the correct security code was an indispensable requirement to be entitled to the cash prize concerned.²⁶ Here, petitioners held 349 crowns bearing either security code L-2560-FQ or L-3560-FQ. These, however, were not the security codes for the 349 crowns issued during the extended period of the promo. Thus, petitioners were never entitled to any prize.

WHEREFORE, this petition is hereby DENIED. The February 24, 2004 decision and March 21, 2005 resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 60137 are hereby AFFIRMED.

Costs against petitioners.

SO ORDERED.

Endnotes:

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¹ Also referred to as Belinda Rastimo.

² Also referred to as Beatriz Beano.

³ Under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.

⁴ Penned by Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion (now Secretary of Labor) and concurred in by Associate Justices Salvador J. Valdez, Jr. (retired) and Josefina Guevara-Salonga. Dated February 24, 2004. Rollo, pp. 65-100.

⁵ Penned by Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion (now Secretary of Labor) and concurred in by Associate Justices Salvador J. Valdez, Jr. (retired) and Josefina Guevara-Salonga. Dated March 21, 2005. Id., pp. 107-108.

⁶ Refer to those 349 crowns which contained non-winning security codes L-2560-FQ and L-3560-FQ.

⁷ Docketed as Civil Case No. CEB-11758. Rollo, p. 41.

⁸ Docketed as Civil Case No. CEB-12609. Id.

⁹ Id., p. 45.

¹⁰ Id.

¹¹ Id., pp. 52-53.

¹² Penned by Judge Martin A. Ocampo. Id., pp. 41-54.

¹³ Id., pp. 53-54.

¹⁴ Under Rule 41 of the Rules of Court.

¹⁵ Rollo, pp. 91-92.

¹⁶ Id., p. 93.

¹⁷ Id.

¹⁸ Supra note 12.

¹⁹ Then docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 62837. The case was elevated to this Court via a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. The petition was docketed as G.R. No. 149411 and entitled Rodrigo v. Pepsi-Cola Products, Philippines, Inc. On October 1, 2001, the petition was denied because the Court found no reversible error in the CA decision. Rollo, pp. 89-90, 128-129.

²⁰ Then docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 53860. The case was later elevated to this Court via a Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. The petition was docketed as G.R. No. 153103 and entitled Mendoza v. Pepsi-Cola Products, Philippines, Inc. On July 24, 2002, the petition was denied because the Court found no reversible error in the CA decision. Id.

²¹ Id., pp. 102-105.

²² Supra note 5.

²³ See Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Patan, G.R. No. 152927, 14 January 2004, 419 SCRA 417; de Mesa v. Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc., G.R. NOS. 153063-70, 19 August 2005, 467 SCRA 433; Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Lacanilao, G.R. No. 146007 and No. 146295, 15 June 2006, 490 SCRA 615; Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Pagdanganan, G.R. No. 167866, 16 October 2006, 504 SCRA 549.

²⁴ Garcia v. JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation, G.R. No. 129925, 23 February 2007.

²⁵ Id.

²⁶ Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Pagdanganan, supra note 23 at 562-563.

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