November 2010 - Philippine Supreme Court Decisions/Resolutions

Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence

SECOND DIVISION

G.R. No. 183868 : November 22, 2010

COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, Petitioner, v. MARINA SALES, INC., Respondent.

D E C I S I O N

MENDOZA, J.:

In this petition for review on certiorari cralaw¹ under Rule 45, the Commissioner of Customs (Commissioner), represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), assails the April 11, 2008 Resolutioncralaw² of the Court of Tax Appeals En Banc (CTA-En Banc), in C.T.A. E.B. No. 333, dismissing his petition for review for his failure to file a motion for reconsideration before the Court of Tax Appeals Division (CTA-Division).

Respondent Marina Sales, Inc. (Marina) is engaged in the manufacture of Sunquick juice concentrates. It was appointed by CO-RO Food A/S of Denmark , maker of Sunquick Juice Concentrates, to be its manufacturing arm in thePhilippines . As such, Marina usually imports raw materials into the country for the purpose. In the past, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) assessed said type of importations under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 10 with a 1% import duty rate.cralaw³

On March 6, 2003, Marina's importation, labeled as Import Entry No. C-33771-03, arrived at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on board the vessel APL Iris V-111. Said Import Entry No. C-33771-03 consisted of a 1' x 20' container STC with a total of 80 drums: (a) 56 drums of 225 kilograms Sunquick Orange Concentrate; and (b) 24 drums of 225 kilograms of Sunquick Lemon Concentrate.cralaw⁴ It was supported by the following documents: (a) Bill of Lading No. APLU 800452452 dated February 2, 2003;cralaw⁵ and (b) CO-RO Food A/S of Denmark Invoice No. 1619409 dated January 27, 2003.cralaw⁶

Marina computed and paid the duties under Tariff Harmonized System Heading H.S. 2106.90 10 at 1% import duty rate.

This time, however, the BOC examiners contested the tariff classification of Marina's Import Entry No. C-33771-03 under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 10. The BOC examiners recommended to the Collector of Customs, acting as Chairman of the Valuation and Classification Review Committee (VCRC) of the BOC, to reclassify Marina's importation as Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50 (covering composite concentrates for simple dilution with water to make beverages) with a corresponding 7% import duty rate.

The withheld importation being necessary to its business operations, Marina requested the District Collector of the BOC to release Import Entry No. C-33771-03 under its Tentative Release System.cralaw⁷ Marina undertook to pay the reclassified rate of duty should it be finally determined that such reclassification was correct. The District Collector granted the request.

On April 15, 2003, the VCRC directed Marina to appear in a deliberation on May 15, 2003 and to explain why its shipment under Import Entry No. C-33771-03 should not be classified under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50 with import duty rate of 7%.cralaw⁸

On May 15, 2003, Marina, through its Product Manager Rowena T. Solidum and Customs Broker Juvenal A. Llaneza, attended the VCRC deliberation and submitted its explanation,cralaw⁹ dated May 13, 2003, along with samples of the importation under Import Entry No. C-33771-03.

On May 21, 2003, another importation of Marina arrived at the MICP designated as Import Entry No. C-67560-03. It consisted of another 1' x 20' container STC with a total of 80 drums: (a) 55 drums of 225 kilograms of Sunquick Orange Concentrate; (b) 1 drum of 225 kilograms of Sunquick Tropical Fruit Concentrate; (c) 17 drums of 225 kilograms of Sunquick Lemon Concentrate; (d) 3 drums of 225 kilograms of Sunquick Ice Lemon Concentrate; and (e) 4 drums of 225 kilograms Sunquick Peach Orange Concentrate. The said importation was accompanied by the following documents: (a) Bill of Lading No. KKLUCPH060291 dated April 17, 2003;cralaw¹⁰ and (b) CO-RO Foods A/S Denmark Invoice No. 1619746 dated April 15, 2003.cralaw¹¹

Again, the BOC examiners disputed the tariff classification of Import Entry No. C-67560-03 and recommended to the VCRC that the importation be classified at Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50 with the corresponding 7% duty rate.

In order for Import Entry No. C-67560-03 to be released, Marina once again signed an undertaking under the Tentative Release System.cralaw¹²

In a letter dated July 7, 2003, the VCRC scheduled another deliberation requiring Marina to explain why Import Entry No. C-67560-03 should not be classified under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50 at the import duty rate of 7%.cralaw¹³

On July 17, 2003, Marina again attended the VCRC deliberation and submitted its explanationcralaw¹⁴ dated July 17, 2003 together with samples in support of its claim that the imported goods under Import Entry No. C-67560-03 should not be reclassified under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50.

Thereafter, the classification cases for Import Entry No. C-33771-03 and Import Entry No. C-67560-03 were consolidated.

On September 11, 2003, as reflected in its 1^st Indorsement, the VCRC reclassified Import Entry No. C-33771-03 and Import Entry No. C-67560-03 under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50 at 7% import duty rate.cralaw¹⁵

On October 7, 2003, Marina appealed before the Commissioner challenging VCRC's reclassification.cralaw¹⁶

In its 1^st Indorsement of November 13, 2003,cralaw¹⁷ the VCRC modified its earlier ruling and classified Marina's Import Entry No. C-33771-03 and Import Entry No. C-67560-03 under Tariff Heading H.S. 2009 19 00 at 7% duty rate, H.S. 2009.80 00 at 7% duty rate and H.S. 2009.90 00 at 10% duty rate.

Apparently not in conformity, Marina interposed a petition for review before the CTA on February 3, 2004, which was docketed as CTA Case No. 6859.

On October 31, 2007, the CTA Second Division ruled in favor of Marinacralaw¹⁸ holding that its classification under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 10 was the most appropriate and descriptive of the disputed importations.cralaw¹⁹ It opined that Marina's importations were raw materials used for the manufacture of its Sunquick products, not ready-to-drink juice concentrates as argued by the Commissioner.cralaw²⁰ Thus, the decretal portion of the CTA - Second Division reads:chanrobles virtual law library

WHEREFORE, finding merit in petitioner's Petition for Review, the same is hereby GRANTED. Accordingly, the Resolution/Decision dated November 13, 2003 of the Valuation and Classification Review Committee of the Bureau of Customs is hereby SET ASIDE and petitioner's importation covered by Import Entry Nos. C-33771-03 and C-67560-03 are reclassified under Tariff Harmonized System Heading H.S. 2106.90 10 with an import duty rate of 1%.

SO ORDERED.

The Commissioner disagreed and elevated the case to the CTA-En Banc via a petition for review.cralaw²¹

In its Resolution of April 11, 2008, the CTA En Banc dismissed the petition. The pertinent portions of the decision including the fallo read:chanrobles virtual law library

A careful scrutiny of the record of this case showed that petitioner failed to file before the Second Division the required Motion for Reconsideration before elevating his case to the CTA En Banc.

Section 1, Rule 8 of the Revised Rules of the Court of Tax Appeals provided for the following rule, to wit:chanrobles virtual law library

RULE 8

PROCEDURE IN CIVIL CASES

SECTION 1. Review of Cases in the Court en banc.- In cases falling under the exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the Court en banc, the petition for review of a decision or resolution of the Court in Division must be preceded by the filing of a timely motion for reconsideration or new trial with the Division.

In statutory construction, the use of the word 'must' indicates that the requirement is mandatory. Furthermore, the word 'must' connote an imperative act or operates to simply impose a duty which may be enforced. It is true the word 'must' is sometimes construed as 'may' ' permissive ' but this is only when the context requires it. Where the context plainly shows the provision to be mandatory, the word 'must' is a command and cannot be construed as permissive, but must be given the signification which it imparts.

It is worthy to note that the Supreme Court ruled that a Motion for Reconsideration is mandatory as a precondition to the filing of a Petition for Review under Rule 43 of the Rules of Court.

WHEREFORE, applying by analogy the above ruling of the Supreme Court and taking into consideration the mandatory provision provided by Section 1 of Rule 8 of the Revised Rules of the Court of Tax Appeals and considering further that petitioner did not file a Motion for Reconsideration with the Second Division before elevating the case to the Court En Banc, which eventually deprived the Second Division of an opportunity to amend, modify, reverse or correct its mistake or error, if there be, petitioner's Petition for Review is hereby DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED.cralaw²²

The Commissioner sought reconsideration of the disputed decision, but the CTA En Banc issued a denial in its July 14, 2008 Resolution.cralaw²³

Hence, this petition.

In his Memorandum,cralaw²⁴ the Commissioner submits the following issues for resolution:chanrobles virtual law library

A.

WHETHER THE DISMISSAL BY THE COURT OF TAX APPEALS' EN BANC OF PETITIONER'S PETITION BASED ON MERE TECHNICALITY WILL RESULT IN INJUSTICE AND UNFAIRNESS TO PETITIONER.

B.

WHETHER THE CHALLENGED DECISION OF THE COURT OF TAX APPEALS' SECOND DIVISION HOLDING THAT RESPONDENT'S IMPORTATION ARE COVERED BY IMPORT ENTRY NOS. C-33771-03 AND C-67560-03 ARE CLASSIFIED UNDER TARIFF HARMONIZED SYSTEM HEADING H.S. 2106.90 10 WITH AN IMPORT DUTY RATE OF ONE PERCENT (1%) IS NOT CORRECT.cralaw²⁵

The Commissioner argues that the dismissal of his petition before the CTA-En Banc is inconsistent with the principle of the liberal application of the rules of procedure.cralaw²⁶ He points out that due to the dismissal of the petition, the government would only be collecting 1% import duty rate from Marina instead of 7%.cralaw²⁷ This, if sanctioned, would result in grave injustice and unfairness to the government.cralaw²⁸

The Commissioner also contends that the testimony of Marina's expert witness, Aurora Kimura, pertaining to Sunquick Lemon compound shows that it could be classified as 'heavy syrup'cralaw²⁹ falling under the category of H.S. 2190.90 50 with a 7% import duty rate.cralaw³⁰

The Court finds no merit in the petition.

On the procedure, the Court agrees with the CTA En Banc that the Commissioner failed to comply with the mandatory provisions of Rule 8, Section 1 of the Revised Rules of the Court of Tax Appealscralaw³¹ requiring that 'the petition for review of a decision or resolution of the Court in Division must be preceded by the filing of a timely motion for reconsideration or new trial with the Division.' The word "must" clearly indicates the mandatory -- not merely directory -- nature of a requirement.'cralaw³²

The rules are clear. Before the CTA En Banc could take cognizance of the petition for review concerning a case falling under its exclusive appellate jurisdiction, the litigant must sufficiently show that it sought prior reconsideration or moved for a new trial with the concerned CTA division. Procedural rules are not to be trifled with or be excused simply because their non-compliance may have resulted in prejudicing a party's substantive rights.cralaw³³ Rules are meant to be followed. They may be relaxed only for very exigent and persuasive reasons to relieve a litigant of an injustice not commensurate to his careless non-observance of the prescribed rules.cralaw³⁴

At any rate, even if the Court accords liberality, the position of the Commissioner has no merit. After examining the records of the case, the Court is of the view that the import duty rate of 1%, as determined by the CTA Second Division, is correct.

The table shows the different classification of Tariff import duties relevant to the case at bar:

TARIFF HEADING	IMPORT DUTY RATE	COVERAGE
H.S. 2106.90 10	1%	Covers flavouring materials, nes., of kind used in food and drink industries; other food preparations to be used as raw material in preparing composite concentrates for making beverages
H.S. 2106.90 50	7%	Covers composite concentrate for simple dilution with water to make beverages
H.S. 2009. 19 00	7%	Covers orange juice, not frozen
H.S. 2009.80 00	7%	Covers juice of any other single fruit or vegetable
H.S. 2009.90 00	10%	Covers mixtures of juices

The Commissioner insists that Marina's two importations should be classified under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 50 with an import duty rate of 7% because the concentrates are ready for consumption by mere dilution with water.

The Court is not persuaded.

As extensively discussed by the CTA Second Division, to fit into the category listed under the Tariff Harmonized System Headings calling for a higher import duty rate of 7%, the imported articles must not lose its original character. In this case, however, the laboratory analysis of Marina's samples yielded a different result.cralaw³⁵ The report supported Marina's position that the subject importations are not yet ready for human consumption. Moreover, Marina's plant manager, Rebecca Maronilla, testified that the juice compounds could not be taken in their raw form because they are highly concentrated and must be mixed with other additives before they could be marketed as Sunquick juice products. If taken in their unprocessed form, the concentrates without the mixed additives would produce a sour taste.cralaw³⁶ In other words, the concentrates, to be consumable, must have to lose their original character. To quote the CTA Second Division:chanrobles virtual law library

Verily, to fall under the assailed Tariff Harmonized System Headings, petitioner's (herein respondent) articles of importation, as fruit juices/mixtures, should not have lost its original character, in spite of the addition of certain 'standardizing agents/constituents.' Contrary thereto, We find the subject importations categorized as 'non-alcoholic composite concentrates' to have apparently lost their original character due to the addition of ingredients in such quantity that the concentrated fruit juice mixture only comprises a small percentage of the entire compound.

This was clearly explained by the VCRC in its subsequent Resolution/Decision ('1^st Indorsement') issued on February 17, 2005 pertaining to subsequent similar importations of petitioner, effectively correcting its findings in the assailed Resolution/Decision dated November 13, 2003 concerning the same party-importer, issues and articles of importation,cralaw³⁷ to wit:chanrobles virtual law library

SUB-GROUP OBSERVATIONS/FINDINGS:chanrobles virtual law library

The classification issue was divided into two regimes. The era under the old Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, while the other is the latest revised edition, the Asean Harmonized Tariff Nomenclature.

The previous committee resolution was promulgated technically not on the merit of the case but failure on the part of the importer to submit their position paper/arguments within the prescriptive period given by the committee.

Importer submitted samples of subject shipment for laboratory analysis to Philippine Customs laboratory to validate the veracity of product information given by the supplier and to determine the correct tariff classification.

xxx xxx xxx

Based on the report of the Laboratory Analysis, compound is made up to water 57.9%, Invert Sugar 34.34%, Citric Acid 2.94%, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) 105 mg.

Since the item is compound which is composed of water, sugar, concentrated juice, flavourings, citric acid, stabilizer, preservatives, vitamins C and colouring to produce beverage ready to drink. Consequently the concentrated citrus juice has lost its original character due to the fact that it comprises only 12% of the total compound .cralaw³⁸

Items (fruit juices) classifiable under HS 2009 are fruit juices generally obtained by pressing fresh, healthy and ripe fruit. Per item 4 of the Explanatory Notes to the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System apparently subject article has lost its original character as concentrated fruit juice drink to the compounding ingredients which reduces the fruit juices to 12% of the total compound.

In view of the foregoing subject article is classifiable under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 10 at 1% for entries filed under the old regime. For those filed under the new regime tariff heading AHTN 2106.90 51 at 1% where the item are specifically provided.

RESOLUTION: To apply sub-group recommendation which is to adopt H.S. 2106.90 10 at 1% for entries filed under the old regime and for those filed under the new regime, AHTN 2106.90 51 at 1% where the item are specifically provided .cralaw³⁹

To 'manufacture' is to 'make or fabricate raw materials by hand, art or machinery, and work into forms convenient for use.'cralaw⁴⁰ Stated differently, it is to transform by any process into another form suitable for its intended use. Marina, as the manufacturing arm of CO-RO Food A/S ofDenmark , transforms said juice compounds, being raw materials, into a substance suitable for human consumption. This is evident from the 'Commissioner's Report'cralaw⁴¹ of Executive Clerk of Court II, CTA, Jesus P. Inocando, Jr., who conducted an ocular inspection of Marina's manufacturing plant in Taguig City. Pertinent excerpts of the 'Commissioner's Report' are herein reproduced:

On our ocular inspection of the manufacturing plant of petitioner, Ms. Solidum and Mr. Domingo showed us the sample of the imported compounds (raw materials), showed to us the step by step manufacturing process of petitioner and even showed us the bottling and packaging of the finished product.

Per observation of the undersigned, the imported compounds (raw materials) are very sticky, the plant is clean and that the personnel of petitioner in the plant strictly following the manufacturing process as presented in Annex A and Annex B of this report.

Upon questioning by the counsel for respondent, Mr. Domingo said that while the imported compounds (raw materials) can be mixed with water and may be drinkable, he is not sure if the same is suitable for human consumption. None of us dared to taste the sample of imported compounds (raw materials) diluted in water. The imported compounds (raw materials) mixed with water produces bubbles on top of the mixture, not like the one that has gone through the manufacturing process. Counsel for respondent requested for the marking of Label of Sunquick Lemon (840 ml.), [Annex C], as Exhibit 1 for the respondent.cralaw⁴²

Contrary to the Commissioner's assertions, empirical evidence shows that the subject importations would have to undergo a laborious method, as shown by its manufacturing flowchartcralaw⁴³ and manufacturing process,cralaw⁴⁴ to achieve their marketable juice consistency. Accordingly, the 1% tariff import duty rate under Tariff Heading H.S. 2106.90 10 was correctly applied to the subject importations.

In any case, the VCRC in its 1^st Indorsementcralaw⁴⁵ of February 17, 2005 (a subsequent proceeding involving the same type of importation) rectified the disputed tariff reclassification rate. Thus, in Marina's succeeding importations, the VCRC already adopted the 1% import duty rate as paid by Marina in the past.

WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED.

SO ORDERED.

JOSE CATRAL MENDOZA
Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice
Chairperson

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTROcralaw*
Associate Justice

DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate Justice

ROBERTO A. ABAD
Associate Justice

A T T E S T A T I O N

I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court's Division.

ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice
Chairperson, Second Division

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution and the Division Chairperson's Attestation, I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court's Division.

RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice