Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2016 > February 2016 Decisions > G.R. No. 194548, February 10, 2016 - JUANA VDA. DE ROJALES, SUBSTITUTED BY HER HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY CELERINA ROJALES-SEVILLA, Petitioner, v. MARCELINO DIME, SUBSTITUTED BY HIS HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY BONIFACIA MANIBAY, Respondent.:




G.R. No. 194548, February 10, 2016 - JUANA VDA. DE ROJALES, SUBSTITUTED BY HER HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY CELERINA ROJALES-SEVILLA, Petitioner, v. MARCELINO DIME, SUBSTITUTED BY HIS HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY BONIFACIA MANIBAY, Respondent.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

THIRD DIVISION

G.R. No. 194548, February 10, 2016

JUANA VDA. DE ROJALES, SUBSTITUTED BY HER HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY CELERINA ROJALES-SEVILLA, Petitioner, v. MARCELINO DIME, SUBSTITUTED BY HIS HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY BONIFACIA MANIBAY, Respondent.

D E C I S I O N

PERALTA, J.:

Challenged and sought to be set aside in this petition for review on certiorari dated December 9, 2010 of petitioner Juana Vda. de Rojales, substituted by her heirs Celerina Rojales, Reynaldo Rojales, Pogs Rojales, Olive Rojales and Josefina Rojales is the Decision1 dated August 16, 2010 of the Court of Appeals (CA), as reiterated in its Resolution2 dated November 15, 2010 in CA-G.R. CV No. 92228, reversing and setting aside the Decision3 dated May 7, 2008 of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Nasugbu, Batangas, Branch 14, which dismissed the petition for the consolidation of ownership and title over Lot 4-A covered by Transfer Certificate of Title (TCT) No. T-55726 in the name of the respondent Marcelino Dime.

The antecedents are as follows:

Petitioner Juana Vda. de Rojales owned a parcel of land (Lot 4-A) located at Barrio Remanente, Municipality of Nasugbu, Batangas consisting of 2,064 square meters covered by TCT No. T-55726.4chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In a petition dated May 30, 2000 filed before the RTC of Nasugbu, Batangas, Branch 14, respondent Marcelino Dime alleged that on May 16, 1999, petitioner conveyed under a pacto de retro contract Lot 4-A in favor of respondent for and in consideration of the sum of P2,502,932.10.5 Petitioner reserved the right to repurchase the property for the same price within a period of nine (9) months from March 24, 1999 to December 24, 1999.6 Despite repeated verbal and formal demands to exercise her right, petitioner refused to exercise her right to repurchase the subject property.7chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In her answer, petitioner denied the execution of the pacto de retro sale in favor of respondent and alleged that she had not sold the subject property.8 She claimed that the document presented by respondent was falsified since the fingerprint appearing therein was not hers and the signature of the Notary Public Modesto S. Alix was not his.9 She also averred that she filed falsification and use of falsified documents charges against respondent.10chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In her sworn statement attached to her Answer, petitioner alleged that she mortgaged the subject property with the Batangas Savings and Loan Bank for P100,000.00 when her daughter Violeta Rojales Rufo needed the money for application of overseas work; Antonio Barcelon redeemed the property and paid P260,000.00 for the debt plus the unpaid interest with the bank; when Barcelon entered the mayoralty race, he demanded payment of the debt, then mortgaged the title of the subject property with respondent; and the signatures appearing in the documents were falsified.11chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

During the pre-trial, the parties agreed that petitioner is the registered owner of the subject property, and that she once mortgaged the property with the Batangas Savings & Loan Bank in order to secure a loan of P200,000.00 from the bank.12 They also submitted the following issues for resolution: whether the pacto de retro sale was executed by petitioner; whether the consideration of the sale has been paid to petitioner; and whether the contract of sale con pacto de retro is genuine.13chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Upon the joint motion of the parties, the RTC issued an Order dated November 16, 2000 directing the questioned thumbmark be referred to the fingerprint expert of the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to determine whether the thumbmark appearing in the pacto de retro contract and the specimen thumbmark of the petitioner are the same.14chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

On April 16, 2001, the NBI submitted a copy of Dactyloscopic Report FP Case No. 2000-349 by Fingerprint Examiner Eriberto B. Gomez, Jr. to the court. It was concluded therein that the questioned thumbmark appearing on the original-duplicate copy of the notarized pacto de retro sale and the standard right thumbmark, taken by Police Officer Marcelo Quintin Sosing, were impressed by and belong to the same person, the petitioner.15chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Respondent passed away on June 22, 2002 before the trial on the merits of the case ensued. Being his compulsory heirs, respondent's estranged wife Bonifacia Dime and their children Cesario Antonio Dime and Marcelino Dime, Jr., substituted him in the suit.16chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

On July 11, 2006, the heirs of respondent filed a Manifestation and Motion to Dismiss the Complaint on the ground that it was Rufina Villamin, respondent's common law wife, who was the source of the fund in purchasing Lot 4-A.17 They alleged that the consolidation of ownership and title to respondent would be prejudicial to Villamin and would unjustly enrich them.18 Consequently, the RTC, through Judge Christino E. Judit, in an Order dated July 12, 2006, dismissed the case with prejudice on the ground that the case was not filed by an indispensable party, Villamin.19chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

However, on August 2, 2006, Atty. Pedro N. Belmi, the counsel of respondent, filed a Motion for Reconsideration praying to set aside the dismissal with prejudice on the ground that Villamin and the daughters of petitioner, Manilyn Rojales Sevilla and Olivia Rojales, tricked and manipulated the respondent's widow and her children to affix their signatures on the motion to dismiss.20 Atty. Belmi insisted that the RTC erred in giving credence to the motion without his verification that the motion was indeed freely and voluntarily executed by the parties.21chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Feeling that the respondent's counsel already lost his trust and confidence to his impartiality and lack of bias to resolve the case, Judge Judit inhibited himself from the case on January 25, 2007 without waiting for the petitioner to file a motion for inhibition against him.22 This Court designated Judge Wilfredo De Joya Mayor to replace Judge Judit.23chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

In an Order dated October 25, 2007, Judge Mayor set aside the order of dismissal of the case and set the hearing for further reception of evidence.24chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Thereafter, the RTC ruled in favor of the petitioner. The court a quo ratiocinated that it is a clear mistake to rule on the merits of the case knowing that such was not filed by the indispensable party, hence, the judgment will be void.25 The RTC considered the unverified motion for reconsideration filed by Atty. Belmi as an unsigned pleading.26 It further held that the manifestation and motion to dismiss deserved the presumption of validity since there was no sufficient proof that the compulsory heirs who substituted respondent were made to sign such motion without knowing its content.27 The fallo of the decision reads:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the above-captioned case is hereby DISMISSED for utterly lack of merit.

SO ORDERED.28chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Aggrieved, respondent assailed the decision before the CA. In a Decision dated August 16, 2010, the CA reversed and set aside the decision of the RTC. The dispositive portion of the decision reads:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant appeal is GRANTED and the herein assailed Decision of the trial court dated May 7, 2008 is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Accordingly, judgment is hereby rendered ordering the consolidation of ownership over the property (Lot 4-A) covered by TCT No. T-55726 in the name of the vendee a retro Marcelino Dime.

SO ORDERED.29chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
The CA rejected the ruling of the court a quo that Villamin was an indispensable party. It ruled that the person who provided the funds for the purchase of the property is not considered as an indispensable party in a case of consolidation of title filed by respondent, the vendee, in whose favor the petitioner sold the subject property under the contract of sale con pacto de retro.30chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Upon the denial of her Motion for Reconsideration by the CA, petitioner filed the instant petition raising the following issues:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
  1. THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN GIVING DUE COURSE TO THIS APPEAL DESPITE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE HEIRS OF MARCELINO DIME TO DISMISS THE CASE.

  2. THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT DISREGARDED THE NECESSITY OF VERIFICATION OF THE RESPONDENTS IN THE MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION FILED BEFORE THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT.

  3. THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN ALLOWING THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE TITLE DESPITE THE MANIFESTATION AND ADMISSION OF THE RESPONDENTS THAT CONTINUING SO WOULD CONSTITUTE UNJUST ENRICHMENT.

  4. THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED WHEN IT RULED THAT THE PETITIONERS FAILED TO OVERCOME THE PRESUMPTION OF REGULARITY OF THE SUBJECT PACTO DE RETRO SALE.
This Court finds the instant petition devoid of merit.

Bisecting the first and third issues, this Court notes that the petitioner basically argues that the CA erred in ordering the consolidation of ownership and title in the name of respondent Dime since his heirs have filed a motion to dismiss which admitted therein that a ruling of the trial court in respondent's favor is tantamount to unjust enrichment considering that Villamin provided the funds for the purchase of the subject property.

Relying on the principle that the client has the exclusive control of the cause of action on the claim or demand sued upon, petitioner insists that the filing of the manifestation reflected the intention of the heirs of respondent to enter into a settlement with the petitioner.31chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Settled is the rule that a client has an undoubted right to settle her litigation without the intervention of the attorney, for the former is generally conceded to have exclusive control over the subject matter of the litigation and may at anytime, if acting in good faith, settle and adjust the cause of action out of court before judgment, even without the attorney's intervention.32chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

While we agree with the petitioner that the heirs, as the client, has the exclusive control over the subject matter of litigation and may settle the case without the attorney's intervention, we deny the rationale of the filing of the motion to dismiss by the heirs. It was alleged that they would be unjustly enriched should the court order the consolidation of the title of Lot 4-A in the name of respondent since the source of the consideration was Villamin, respondent's common-law wife.

As relevant to the case at bar, Articles 1311 and 1607 of the Civil Code provide:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Article 1311. Contracts take effect only between the parties, their assigns and heirs, except in case where the rights and obligations arising from the contract are not transmissible by their nature, or by stipulation or by provision of law. The heir is not liable beyond the value of the property he received from the decedent.

If a contract should contain some stipulation in favor of a third person, he may demand its fulfillment provided he communicated his acceptance to the obligor before its revocation. A mere incidental benefit or interest of a person is not sufficient. The contracting parties must have clearly and deliberately conferred a favor upon a third person. (Emphasis supplied).

x x x x

Article 1607. In case of real property, the consolidation of ownership in the vendee by virtue of the failure of the vendor to comply with the provisions of article 1616 shall not be recorded in the Registry of Property without a judicial order, after the vendor has been duly heard.
We have consistently held that the parties to a contract are the real parties-in-interest in an action upon it.33 The basic principle of relativity of contracts is that contracts can only bind the parties who entered into it, and cannot favor or prejudice a third person, even if he is aware of such contract and has acted with knowledge thereof.34 Hence, one who is not a party to a contract, and for whose benefit it was not expressly made, cannot maintain an action on it.35 One cannot do so, even if the contract performed by the contracting parties would incidentally inure to one's benefit.36chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

As evidenced by the contract of Pacto de Retro sale,37 petitioner, the vendor, bound herself to sell the subject property to respondent, the vendee, and reserved the right to repurchase the same property for the same amount within a period of nine (9) months from March 24, 1999 to December 24, 1999.38 Therefore, in an action for the consolidation of title and ownership in the name of vendee in accordance with Article 161639 of the Civil Code, the indispensable parties are the parties to the Pacto de Retro Sale - the vendor, the vendee, and their assigns and heirs.

Villamin, as the alleged source of the consideration, is not privy to the contract of sale between the petitioner and the respondent. Therefore, she could not maintain an action for consolidation of ownership and title of the subject property in her name since she was not a party to the said contract.

Where there is no privity of contract, there is likewise no obligation or liability to speak about.40 This Court, in defining the word "privy" in the case of Republic vs. Grijaldo41 said that the word privy denotes the idea of succession, thus, he who by succession is placed in the position of one of those who contracted the judicial relation and executed the private document and appears to be substituting him in the personal rights and obligation is a privy.42chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

For not being an heir or an assignee of the respondent, Villamin did not substitute respondent in the personal rights and obligation in the pacto de retro sale by succession. Since she is not privy to the contract, she cannot be considered as indispensable party in the action for consolidation of title and ownership in favor of respondent. A cursory reading of the contract reveals that the parties did not clearly and deliberately confer a favor upon Villamin, a third person.

Petitioner alleges that the consolidation of the title should not be allowed since the heirs admitted that they would be unjustly enriched, Villamin being the source of the fund used for the purchase of the subject property.43chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Unjust enrichment exists when a person unjustly retains a benefit at the loss of another, or when a person retains money or property of another against the fundamental principles of justice, equity and good conscience.44 The prevention of unjust enrichment is a recognized public policy of the State, as embodied in Article 22 of the Civil Code which provides that "[e]very person who through an act of performance by another, or any other means, acquires or comes into possession of something at the expense of the latter without just or legal ground, shall return the same to him."45chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

This Court notes that the RTC relied on the bare assertions of the heirs in dismissing the case with prejudice. The records are bereft of evidence to support the allegation that Villamin has indeed provided the consideration. Not being a privy to the pacto de retro sale, Villamin cannot be considered to have been prejudiced with the consolidation of title in respondent's name. Assuming arguendo that she was indeed the source of the consideration, she has a separate cause of action against respondent. The legal obligation of respondent to her is separate and distinct from the contract of sale cow pacto de retro, thus, the award of consolidation of title in her name would be untenable.

Anent the issue on verification, Section 4, Rule 7 of the Rules of Court provides as follows:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Sec. 4. Verification. - Except when otherwise specifically required by law or rule, pleadings need not be under oath, verified or accompanied by affidavit.

A pleading is verified by an affidavit that the affiant has read the pleading and that the allegations therein are true and correct of his personal knowledge or based on authentic records.
We do not agree with petitioner's assertion that the motion for reconsideration should not have been allowed since the respondent failed to pose a reasonable explanation on the absence of verification.

Time and again, we have said that non-compliance with verification or a defect therein does not necessarily render the pleading fatally defective.46 Verification, like in most cases required by the rules of procedure, is a formal requirement, not jurisdictional.47 It is mainly intended to secure an assurance that matters which are alleged are done in good faith or are true and correct and not of mere speculation.48 Thus, when circumstances so warrant, "the court may simply order the correction of unverified pleadings or act on it and waive strict compliance with the rules in order that the ends of justice may thereby be served."49chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

The RTC waived the strict compliance for verification when it acted on the motion for reconsideration in the interest of justice and equity and allowed the further reception of evidence. Therefore, it is erroneous to dismiss the case based on the non-compliance of verification. As discussed earlier, Villamin is not privy to the pacto de retro sale between the petitioner and the respondent. Hence, the case should not have been dismissed because Villamin is not an indispensable party in an action for consolidation of ownership and title emanating from the contract of pacto de retro sale.

Petitioner's allegation that respondent should have executed affidavits in denying what was written in the manifestation and motion to dismiss based on Rule 8, Section 850 of the Rules of Court is unfounded. Such rule is applicable in contesting an action or defense based on a written instrument or document copied or attached to the pleading. In the case at bar, it is the motion to dismiss that is being contested and not a written instrument or document which an action or defense is based on.

Petitioner avers that the CA erred in relying on the NBI Fingerprint Examination. She alleges that the opinion of one claiming to be an expert is not binding upon the court.

There is nothing on record that would compel this Court to believe that said witness, Fingerprint Examiner Gomez, has improper motive to falsely testify against the petitioner nor was his testimony not very certain. His testimony is worthy of full faith and credit in the absence of evidence of an improper motive. His straightforward and consistent testimonies bear the earmarks of credibility.

Gomez testified during direct and cross examination, the process of examination of the fingerprints and his conclusion:51chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
ATTY: BELMI:
Q:
Will you kindly tell the court what was the result of your examination?
A:
After having thorough examination, comparison and analysis, the thumbmark appearing on the [Pacto] de Retro and the right thumbmark appearing on the original copy of PC/INP Fingerprint form taken by SPO3 Marcelo Quintin Sosing were impressed by one and the same person.
x x x x
Q:
How do you go about this comparison to determine whether that thumbmark were impressed by the same person?
A:
We must locate the three elements of comparing, the number 1 is type of fingerprint pattern.
x x x x
A:
There are three elements, after knowing the fingerprint pattern and they are of the same fingerprint the next step is to know the flow of the rages of the fingerprint pattern or the shape.
x x x x
Q:
Then what is next?
A:
After number 2, the last is the most important one because you must locate the number of ridges of characteristics and their relationship with each other because it is the basis of identification of the fingerprint.
Q:
Meaning the description of the ridges?
A:
Yes, sir, the identification features appearing on the fingerprint.
Q:
What did you see?
A:
I found that there were 13 identical points to warrant the positive identification.
Q:
[Those] 13 points [are] more than enough to determine whether those thumbmark[s] [are] done by one and the same person?
A:
Yes, sir.
x x x x
Q:
Where did you base your conclusion that the thumbprint on the Pacto de Retro Sale over and above the name Juana Vda. de Rojales is genuine thumbprint of the same person?
A:
Well, we only respon[d]ed to the request of the court to compare with the thumbprint appearing on the Pacto de Retro Sale to that of the fingerprint appearing on the thumbprint form.
Q:
You mean to say you were provided with the standard fingerprint of the subject?
A:
Yes. sir.
x x x x
COURT:
Q:
Now, with this photograph blown-up, you have here 13 points, will you please explain to the court how these 13 points agree from that standard to that questioned document?
A:
I found 2x4 bifurcation, it means that single rage splitting into two branches.
Q:
You pointed out?
A:
I found the bifurcation on the standard that corresponds exactly to the bifurcation which I marked number 1 in both photograph[s].
Q:
From the center?
A:
As to the number and location with respect to the core, I found that both questioned and standard coincide.
x x x x
Q:
Now, but the layer does not change in point 1, how many layer from the core?
A:
From the core, there are 4 intervening layers from number 1 to number 2 and it appears also the questioned 4 intervening layers between number 1 and number 2, so, the intervening rages between ends of this characteristics are all both in agreement.
x x x x
ATTY. SALANGUIT:
Q:
Can you say that based on the questioned thumbmark, you would be able to arrive an accurate evaluation between the questioned thumbmark and standard thumbmark?
A:
Yes, [ma'am].
Q:
Even if the questioned thumbmark is a little bit blurred as to the standard thumbmark?
A:
[Even though] the questioned thumbmark is a little bit blurred but still the ridge characteristics is still discernible.
Q:
You are telling us that among many people here in the world, nobody have the same thumbmark as another person and that include the thumbmark of a twins?
A:
Yes, [ma'am].
x x x
A meticulous perusal of the records reveals that during the trial, petitioner's lawyer manifested that the petitioner, through her former counsel, has bound herself with the result of the NBI Fingerprint Examination.52 It was further admitted in the court that there is no more issue about the authenticity and genuineness of the thumbmark.53 Petitioner's counsel manifested:54chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
ATTY. SALANGUIT:

Your honor, the nature of the testimony of the defendant is to prove the fact that she never really sold the property a retro to anybody. That is the property covered by Transfer Certificate of Title. That is at presently subject of the complaint.

COURT:

How about the documents which was turned out to be tampered?

ATTY. SALANGUIT:

Your honor, I understand that based on the records of the case[,] (petitioner's] counsel has already found himself to be bound by the result of the NBI investigation. Actually, your honor, there is no more issue about the authenticity and genuineness of the thumbmark of the defendant, so what we only prove today is that the defendant never really intentionally sold the property to anybody.

ATTY. BELMI:

With that manifestation, we will allow the defendant, in the interest of justice.

x x x
The CA ruled that the presumption of regularity accorded to a public document must stand in the presence of the evidence showing that the thumbmark in the contract belongs to the petitioner, and due to her failure to present clear and convincing evidence to overcome such legal presumption.

Settled is the rule that generally, a notarized document carries the evidentiary weight conferred upon it with respect to its due execution, and documents acknowledged before a notary public have in their favor the presumption of regularity.55 In other words, absent any clear and convincing proof to the contrary, a notarized document enjoys the presumption of regularity and is conclusive as to the truthfulness of its contents.56 Irregularities in the notarization of the document may be established by oral evidence of persons present in said proceeding.57chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

We rule that petitioner failed to present clear and convincing evidence to overcome such presumption of regularity of a public document. Petitioner submitted the specimen signature of the notary public but the same was never presented during the trial nor was authenticated. Records disclose that after she admitted to being bound with conclusion of the NBI regarding the issue on the thumbmark, petitioner did not present any evidence to rebut the due execution of the notarized contract of sale con pacto de retro. Instead, she presented her testimony and the testimony of her daughter Josefma Rojales to prove that she never intended to sell her property.

The inconsistencies in petitioner's claims cast doubt to the credibility of her testimonies. We note that petitioner admitted, as reflected in the pre-trial order,58 that she once mortgaged her property to the bank. However, she denied the same during the trial and further claimed that it was the respondent who mortgaged the title with the bank.59chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

To prove her lack of intention to sell the property, petitioner maintained that the respondent borrowed the title from her. She herself took the witness stand and testified during the direct and cross examination that,60chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
COURT:
Q:
Are you aware of any or were you shown a purported document wherein it was alleged that you sold that property to the plaintiff Marcelino Dime?
A:
No, sir, I am already old and I don't know.
x x x x
Q:
You mean to say that you did not bother to go to Marcelino Dime after a complaint was filed against you considering that he was a neighbor of yours?
A:
He just borrowed the title, sir, and I don't know.
Q:
You mean to say that [you have] a title over that property and that property was borrowed by Marcelino Dime, [is that] what you mean?
A:
Yes, sir.
x x x x
ATTY. BELMI:
Q:
Mrs. Witness, when Dime took from you the title, you asked him why he was taking the title?
A:
Yes, sir, he told me that he will just borrow the title.
x x x x
Q:
This property covered by the title was mortgaged with the Batangas Savings and Loan Bank?
A:
He (respondent) was the one who mortgaged the title but he did not give the money to us, sir.
Q:
So, when he took the title from you, Dime told you that he will mortgage the property with the bank?
A:
Yes, sir, he will use the money.
Q:
So, you mean to say that you were not the one who mortgaged the property with the bank?
A:
He (respondent) was the one who mortgaged the property, sir.
x x x x
COURT:
Q:
Are you aware that Marcelino Dime could not be able to mortgage the property to the bank if you [do not] have any document, a Special Power of Attorney authorizing Dime to mortgage the property with the bank?
A:
I did not give any authority, sir.
x x x x
Her daughter Josefina claimed otherwise. She averred that her mother has previously mortgaged the property with the bank and that it was Barcelon who redeemed the property from the bank.61 She admitted that Barcelon borrowed the title from her mother because there was already a buyer.62 She also alleged that Barangay Captain Esguerra and his secretary Laila Samonte, upon the instruction of Barcelon, took the title from them.63 Thus, her testimony contradicts her mother's claim that respondent borrowed the title from her.

We have consistently decreed that the nomenclature used by the contracting parties to describe a contract does not determine its nature.64 The decisive factor is their intention - as shown by their conduct, words, actions and deeds - prior to, during, and after executing the agreement.65 Thus, even if a contract is denominated as apacto de retro, the owner of the property may still disprove it by means of parole evidence,66 provided that the nature of the agreement is placed in issue by the pleadings filed with the trial court.67chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Petitioner failed to specifically allege in all her pleadings that she did not intend to sell her property to respondent, instead, she maintained that there was no pacto de retro sale because her thumbmark and the notary public's signature were falsified. She should have raised the issue that respondent merely borrowed the title from her and promised to pay her in her pleadings and not belatedly claimed the same after the NBI ruled that the thumbmark in the contract was hers.

In light of petitioner's inconsistent and bare allegations and the conflicting testimony of her other witness, we rule that petitioner failed to overcome the presumption of regularity of the notarized contract of Pacto de Retro sale. Moreover, this Court is unconvinced that petitioner has successfully proven that her agreement with respondent was not a pacto de retro sale but a contract of loan secured by a mortgage of the subject property.

WHEREFORE, the petition for review on certiorari dated December 9, 2010 of petitioner Juana Vda. de Rojales, substituted by her heirs Celerina Rojales, Reynaldo Rojales, Pogs Rojales, Olive Rojales and Josefina Rojales is hereby DENIED. The Decision and Resolution, dated August 16, 2010 and November 15, 2010, respectively, of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 92228 are hereby AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED.cralawlawlibrary

Velasco, Jr., (Chairperson), Perez, Reyes, and Jardeleza, JJ., concur.cralawlawlibrary

Endnotes:


1 Penned by Associate Justice Rosmari D. Carandang, with Associate Justices Ramon R. Garcia and Manuel M. Barrios, concurring; rollo pp. 20-33.

2Id. at 19.

3 Penned by Executive/Presiding Judge Wilfredo De Joya Mayor, id. at 36-46.

4Id. at 21.

5Id.

6 Records, p. 4.

7Rollo, p. 21.

8 Records, p. 12.

9Id.

10Id. at 13.

11Id. at 17.

12Id. at 51.

13Id. at 51-52.

14Id.at 60.

15Id. at 70.

16Rollo, p. 23.

17 Records, p. 290.

18Id.

19Id. at 292.

20Id. at 294.

21Id. at 295.

22Id. at 304.

23Id. at 306.

24Id. at 308.

25Id. at 45.

26Id. at 44-45.

27Supra note 25.

28Id. at 46.

29Supra note 1, at 33.

30Rollo pp. 29-30.

31Id.

32Malvar vs. Kraft Food Phils., Inc. et al., G.R. No. 183952, September 9, 2013, 705 SCRA 242, 262.

33Spouses Oco vs. Limbaring, 516 Phil. 691, 704 (2006).

34Philippine National Bank vs. Dee, G.R. No. 182128, February 19, 2014, 717 SCRA 14.

35Supra note 33.

36Id.

37 Records, p. 4.

38Id.

39 Article 1616. The vendor cannot avail himself of the right of repurchase without returning to the vendee the price of the sale, and in addition:

(1) The expenses of the contract, and any other legitimate payments made by reason of the sale;

(2) The necessary and useful expenses made on the thing sold.

40Spouses Borromeo v. Hon. Court of Appeals, 573 Phil. 400, 411-412 (2008).

41 122 Phil. 1060, 1069 (1965)

42Republic v. Grijaldo, supra.

43Id. at 15.

44Gonzalo vs. Tarnate, Jr., G.R. No. 160600, January 15, 2014

45Id.

46Fernandez vs. Villegas, G.R. No. 200191, August 20, 2014, 733 SCRA 548, 556.

47Heirs of Austino and Genoveva Mesina vs. Heirs of Fian, Jr., G.R. No. 201816, April 8, 2013.

48Id.

49Id.

50 Section 8. How to contest such documents. � When an action or defense is founded upon a written instrument, copied in or attached to the corresponding pleading as provided in the preceding section, the genuineness and due execution of the instrument shall be deemed admitted unless the adverse party, under oath specifically denies them, and sets forth what he claims to be the facts, but the requirement of an oath does not apply when the adverse party does not appear to be a party to the instrument or when compliance with an order for an inspection of the original instrument is refused.

51 TSN, October 28, 2003, rollo, pp. 4-8, 10-11 and TSN, July 27, 2004, rollo, p. 5.

52 TSN, January 17, 2005, rollo, p. 3.

53Id.

54Id. at 2-3.

55Lazaro et al. vs. Agustin. et al., 632 Phil. 310 (2010).

56Spouses Palada vs. Solidbank Corporation, 668 Phil. 172 (2011).

57Manzano Jr. vs. Garcia, 697 Phil. 376 (2011).

58Supra note 12.

59 Records, p. 244.

60 TSN, January 17, 2005, rollo, pp. 5, 10-11.

61 Records, p. 254.

62Id.

63Id. at 255.

64Ramos vs. Sarao, et al. 491 Phil. 288 (2005).

65Id.

66 Rules of Court. Rule 130, Section 9. Evidence of written agreements. � When the terms of an agreement have been reduced to writing, it is considered as containing all the terms agreed upon and there can be, between the parties and their successors in interest, no evidence of such terms other than the contents of the written agreement.

However, a party may present evidence to modify, explain or add to the terms of written agreement if he puts in issue in his pleading:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
(a) An intrinsic ambiguity, mistake or imperfection in the written agreement;

(b) The failure of the written agreement to express the true intent and agreement of the parties thereto;

(c) The validity of the written agreement; or

(d)The existence of other terms agreed to by the parties or their successors in interest after the execution of the written agreement.
The term "agreement" includes wills.

67Supra note 64.



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February-2016 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. 212878, February 01, 2016 - MARLOW NAVIGATION PHILS., INC., MARLOW NAVIGATION CO., LTD., W. BOCKSTLEGEL REEDEREI (GERMANY), ORLANDO D. ALIDIO AND ANTONIO GALVEZ, JR., Petitioners, v. WILFREDO L. CABATAY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213910, February 03, 2016 - VINSON* D. YOUNG A.K.A. BENZON ONG AND BENNY YOUNG A.K.A. BENNY ONG, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, AS REPRESENTED BY THE OFFICE OF THE SOLICITOR GENERAL, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 198994, February 03, 2016 - IRIS MORALES, Petitioners, v. ANA MARIA OLONDRIZ, ALFONSO JUAN OLONDRIZ, JR., ALEJANDRO MORENO OLONDRIZ, ISABEL ROSA OLONDRIZ AND FRANCISCO JAVIER MARIA OLONDRIZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181186, February 03, 2016 - SIGUION REYNA MONTECILLO AND ONGSIAKO LAW OFFICES, Petitioners, v. HON. NORMA CHIONLO-SIA, IN HER CAPACITY AS PRESIDING JUDGE OF BRANCH 56 OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF LUCENA CITY, AND THE TESTATE ESTATE OF DECEASED SUSANO RODRIGUEZ, REPRESENTED BY THE SPECIAL ADMINISTRATRIX, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-13-2361 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 13-4144-RTJ], February 02, 2016 - OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. PRESIDING JUDGE JOSEPH CEDRICK O. RUIZ, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 61, MAKATI CITY, Respondent.

  • OCA I.P.I. No. 13-4148-P, February 10, 2016 - SPS. JOSE AND MELINDA CAILIPAN, Complainants, v. LORENZO O. CASTA�EDA, SHERIFF IV, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 96, QUEZON CITY, Respondents

  • G.R. No. 205814, February 15, 2016 - SPOUSES ALFREDO TEA�O* AND VERONICA TEA�O, Petitioners, v. THE MUNICIPALITY OF NAVOTAS, REPRESENTED BY MAYOR TOBIAS REYNALD M. TIANGCO, AND MUNICIPAL TREASURER MANUEL T. ENRIQUEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 195145, February 10, 2016 - MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES SULPICIO AND PATRICIA RAMOS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 192075, February 10, 2016 - ROBERTO PALO Y DE GULA, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 194548, February 10, 2016 - JUANA VDA. DE ROJALES, SUBSTITUTED BY HER HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY CELERINA ROJALES-SEVILLA, Petitioner, v. MARCELINO DIME, SUBSTITUTED BY HIS HEIRS, REPRESENTED BY BONIFACIA MANIBAY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 218396, February 10, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. NESTOR ROXAS Y CASTRO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 208343, February 03, 2016 - SPOUSES CEFERINO C. LAUS AND MONINA P. LAUS, AND SPOUSES ANTONIO O. KOH AND ELISA T. KOH, Petitioners, v. OPTIMUM SECURITY SERVICES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 199194, February 10, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. JOSE B. SARE�OGON, JR., Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 7618, February 02, 2016 - SPOUSES JONATHAN AND ESTER LOPEZ, Complainants, v. ATTY. SINAMAR E. LIMOS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 199371, February 03, 2016 - PETRON LPG DEALERS ASSOCIATION AND TOTAL GAZ LPG DEALERS ASSOCIATION, Petitioners, v. NENA C. ANG, ALISON C. SY, NELSON C. ANG, RENATO C. ANG, AND/OR OCCUPANTS OF NATIONAL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208451, February 03, 2016 - MANILA MEMORIAL PARK CEMETERY, INC., Petitioner, v. EZARD D. LLUZ, NORMAN CORRAL, ERWIN FUGABAN, VALDIMAR BALISI, EMILIO FABON, JOHN MARK APLICADOR, MICHAEL CURIOSO, JUNLIN ESPARES, GAVINO FARINAS, AND WARD TRADING AND SERVICES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 190846, February 03, 2016 - TOMAS P. TAN, JR., Petitioner, v. JOSE G. HOSANA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 204970, February 01, 2016 - SPOUSES CLAUDIO AND CARMENCITA TRAYVILLA, Petitioners, v. BERNARDO SEJAS AND JUVY PAGLINAWAN, REPRESENTED BY JESSIE PAGLINAWAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 205764, February 03, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LEE QUIJANO ENAD, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 196651, February 03, 2016 - UWE MATHAEUS, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES ERIC AND GENEVIEVE MEDEQUISO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 207355, February 03, 2016 - JENNIFER A. AGUSTIN-SE AND ROHERMIA J. JAMSANI-RODRIGUEZ, Petitioners, v. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT, REPRESENTED BY EXECUTIVE SECRETARY PAQUITO N. OCHOA, JR., ORLANDO C. CASIMIRO, OVERALL DEPUTY OMBUDSMAN, OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, AND JOHN I.C. TURALBA, ACTING DEPUTY SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, OFFICE OF THE SPECIAL PROSECUTOR, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 209212, February 10, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plintiff and Appellee, v. ROMEL SAPITULA Y PACULAN, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 191185, February 01, 2016 - GUILBEMER FRANCO, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • A.M. OCA IPI No. 09-3210-RTJ, February 03, 2016 - JUVY P. CIOCON-REER, ANGELINA P. CIOCON, MARIVIT P. CIOCON-HERNANDEZ, AND REMBERTO C. KARAAN, SR., Complainants, v. JUDGE ANTONIO C. LUBAO, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 22, GENERAL SANTOS CITY, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 7594, February 09, 2016 - ADELPHA E. MALABED, Complainant, v. ATTY. MELJOHN B. DE LA PE�A, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207535, February 10, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RICARDO LAGBO A.K.A RICARDO LABONG Y MENDOZA, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 201073, February 10, 2016 - PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, INC. Petitioner, v. PAL EMPLOYEES SAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 180402, February 10, 2016 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. PILIPINAS SHELL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 208021, February 03, 2016 - OSCAR S. VILLARTA, Petitioner, v. GAUDIOSO TALAVERA, JR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 193748, February 03, 2016 - MERVIC REALTY, INC. AND VICCY REALTY, INC., Petitioners, v. CHINA BANKING CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181789, February 03, 2016 - GMA NETWORK, INC., Petitioner, v. NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION, CENTRAL CATV, INC., PHILIPPINE HOME CABLE HOLDINGS, INC., AND PILIPINO CABLE CORPORATION, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202978, February 01, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. VICTOR P. PADIT, Accused-Appellant.

  • A.C. No. 9807, February 02, 2016 - ERLINDA SISTUAL, FLORDELISA S. LEYSA, LEONISA S. ESPABO AND ARLAN C. SISTUAL, Complainants, v. ATTY. ELIORDO OGENA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 180642, February 03, 2016 - NUEVA ECIJA I ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE INCORPORATED (NEECO I), Petitioner, v. ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 194134, February 01, 2016 - JOSE ROMULO L. FRANCISCO, Petitioner, v. LOYOLA PLANS CONSOLIDATED INC., JESUSA CONCEPCION AND GERARDO B. MONZON, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 187417, February 24, 2016 - CHRISTINE JOY CAPIN-CADIZ, Petitioner, v. BRENT HOSPITAL AND COLLEGES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 170192, February 10, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiffs-Appellees, v. MARISSA BAYKER, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 202187, February 10, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. ELISEO D. VILLAMOR, Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 210542, February 24, 2016 - ROSALINA CARODAN, Petitioner, v. CHINA BANKING CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 215014, February 29, 2016 - REBECCA FULLIDO, Petitioner, v. GINO GRILLI, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 215107, February 24, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE TOLL REGULATORY BOARD, Petitioner, v. C.C. UNSON COMPANY, INC., Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-15-3300 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No.12-4011-P), February 10, 2016 - JOSEPHINE E. LAM, Complainant, v. NILA M. GARCIA, JUNIOR PROCESS SERVER, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT, SIATON, NEGROS ORIENTAL, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-16-3423 [Formerly A.M. No. 13-9-89-MTCC], February 16, 2016 - RE: CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION IRREGULARITY (IMPERSONATION) OF MS. ELENA T. VALDEROSO, CASH CLERK II, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES, ANTIPOLO CITY.

  • G.R. No. 210233, February 15, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. THE COURT OF APPEALS, SPOUSES RODOLFO SY AND BELEN SY, LOLITA SY, AND SPOUSES TEODORICO AND LEAH ADARNA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206256, February 24, 2016 - ALBERT C. AUSTRIA, Petitioner, v. CRYSTAL SHIPPING, INC., AND/OR LARVIK SHIPPING A/S, AND EMILY MYLA A. CRISOSTOMO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202695, February 29, 2016 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. GJM PHILIPPINES MANUFACTURING, INC., Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 5325, February 09, 2016 - NEMESIO FLORAN AND CARIDAD FLORAN, Complainants, v. ATTY. ROY PRULE EDIZA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 201927, February 17, 2016 - VICENTE D. CABANTING AND LALAINE V. CABANTING, Petitioners, v. BPI FAMILY SAVINGS BANK, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 184332, February 17, 2016 - ANNA TENG, Petitioner, v. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION (SEC) AND TING PING LAY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 198434, February 29, 2016 - HEIRS OF LEANDRO NATIVIDAD AND JULIANA V. NATIVIDAD, Petitioners, v. JUANA MAURICIO-NATIVIDAD, AND SPOUSES JEAN NATIVIDAD CRUZ AND JERRY CRUZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 182629, February 24, 2016 - MERCEDES N. ABELLA, MA. THERESA A. BALLESTEROS AND MARIANITO N. ABELLA, Petitioners, v. HEIRS OF FRANCISCA C. SAN JUAN namely: GLICERIA SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, BENIGNA SAN JUAN VASQUEZ, EVARISTO SAN JUAN, NIEVES SAN JUAN LUSTRE AND MATILDE SAN JUAN QUILONIO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 207389, February 17, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. FEDERICO DE LA CRUZ Y SANTOS, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 216566, February 17, 2016 - MAGELLAN AEROSPACE CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE AIR FORCE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 175760, February 17, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. SOGOD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 199537, February 10, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. ANDREA TAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 179287, February 01, 2016 - PCI JIMMY M. FORTALEZA AND SPO2 FREDDIE A. NATIVIDAD, Petitioners, v. HON. RAUL M. GONZALEZ IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE SECRETARY OF JUSTICE AND ELIZABETH N. OROLA VDA. DE SALABAS, Respondents.; G.R. NO. 182090 - ELIZABETH N. OROLA VDA. DE SALABAS, Petitioner, v. HON. EDUARDO R. ERMITA, HON. MANUEL B. GAITE, P/INSP. CLARENCE DONGAIL, P/INSP. JONATHAN LORILLA,1 PO3 ALLEN WINSTON HULLEZA AND PO2 BERNARDO CIMATU, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206758, February 17, 2016 - MARICEL S. NONAY, Petitioner, v. BAHIA SHIPPING SERVICES, INC., FRED OLSEN LINES AND CYNTHIA MENDOZA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 195026, February 22, 2016 - CENTRAL MINDANAO UNIVERSITY, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, DR. MARIA LUISA R. SOLIVEN, Petitioner, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 174462, February 10, 2016 - PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORPORATION (POTC), PHILIPPINE COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE CORPORATION (PHILCOMSAT), Petitioners, v. SANDIGANBAYAN (3rd DIVISION), REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES REPRESENTED BY PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT (PCGG), Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 199683, February 10, 2016 - ARLENE T. SAMONTE, VLADIMIR P. SAMONTE, MA. AUREA S. ELEPANO, Petitioners, v. LA SALLE GREENHILLS, INC., BRO. BERNARD S. OCA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 183486, February 24, 2016 - THE HONGKONG & SHANGHAI BANKING CORPORATION, LIMITED, Petitioner, v. NATIONAL STEEL CORPORATION AND CITYTRUST BANKING CORPORATION (NOW BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS), Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 194960, February 03, 2016 - PRO BUILDERS, INC., Petitioner, v. TG UNIVERSAL BUSINESS VENTURES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 203678, February 17, 2016 - CONCORDE CONDOMINIUM, INC., BY ITSELF AND COMPRISING THE UNIT OWNERS OF CONCORDE CONDOMINIUM BUILDING, Petitioner, v. AUGUSTO H. BACULIO; NEW PPI CORPORATION; ASIAN SECURITY AND INVESTIGATION AGENCY AND ITS SECURITY GUARDS; ENGR. NELSON B. MORALES, IN HIS CAPACITY AS BUILDING OFFICIAL OF THE MAKATI CITY ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT; SUPT. RICARDO C. PERDIGON, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CITY FIRE MARSHAL OF THE MAKATI CITY FIRE STATION; F/C SUPT. SANTIAGO E. LAGUNA, IN HIS CAPACITY AS REGIONAL DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PROTECTION-NCR, AND ANY AND ALL PERSONS ACTING WITH OR UNDER THEM, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 174481, February 10, 2016 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CRISTY DIMAANO Y TIPDAS, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 218867, February 17, 2016 - SPOUSES EDMOND LEE AND HELEN HUANG, Petitioners, v. LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 190534, February 10, 2016 - C.F. SHARP CREW MANAGEMENT, INC., RONALD AUSTRIA, AND ABU DHABI NATIONAL TANKER CO., Petitioners, v. LEGAL HEIRS OF THE LATE GODOFREDO REPISO, REPRESENTED BY HIS WIFE LUZVIMINDA REPISO, Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 10945 (Formerly CBD 09-2507), February 23, 2016 - ANGELITO RAMISCAL AND MERCEDES ORZAME, Complainants, v. ATTY. EDGAR S. ORRO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 208406, February 29, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. ALLAN RODRIGUEZ Y GRAJO, Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 177382, February 17, 2016 - VIVA SHIPPING LINES, INC., Petitioner, v. KEPPEL PHILIPPINES MINING, INC., METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY, PILIPINAS SHELL PETROLEUM CORPORATION, CITY OF BATANGAS, CITY OF LUCENA, PROVINCE OF QUEZON, ALEJANDRO OLIT, NIDA MONTILLA, PIO HERNANDEZ, EUGENIO BACULO, AND HARLAN BACALTOS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 203322, February 24, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. REMAN SARIEGO, Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 186102, February 24, 2016 - NATIONAL TRANSMISSION CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. HEIRS OF TEODULO EBESA, NAMELY: PORFERIA L. EBESA, EFREN EBESA, DANTE EBESA AND CYNTHIA EBESA, AND ATTY. FORTUNATO VELOSO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 192233, February 17, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff and Appellee, v. SPO1 CATALINO GONZALES, JR., Accused-Appellant.

  • A.M. No. P-15-3393 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 13-4055-P], February 23, 2016 - SEGUNDINA P. NOCES-DE LEON AND LEONOR P. ALAVE, Petitioners, v. TERENCIO G. FLORENDO, SHERIFF IV, BRANCH 21, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, VIGAN CITY, ILOCOS SUR, Respondent.

  • IPI No. 15-35-SB-J, February 23, 2016 - RE: VERIFIED COMPLAINT DATED JULY 13, 2015 OF ALFONSO V. UMALI, JR., Complainant, v. HON. JOSE R. HERNANDEZ, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-15-3361 [Formerly OCA IPI No. 10-3381-P], February 23, 2016 - ATTY. JOHN V. AQUINO, Petitioner, v. ELENA S. ALCASID, CLERK III, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, OFFICE OF THE CLERK OF COURT, OLONGAPO CITY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 185603, February 10, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. LOCAL SUPERIOR OF THE INSTITUTE OF THE SISTERS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS OF RAGUSA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 208404, February 24, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. VICENTE LUGNASIN AND DEVINCIO GUERRERO, Accused-Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 183529, February 24, 2016 - OFELIA C. CAUNAN, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 207816, February 24, 2016 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RAUL YAMON TUANDO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 171041, February 10, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. MOLDEX REALTY, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 188720, February 23, 2016 - QUEZON CITY PTCA FEDERATION, INC., Petitioner, v. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, REPRESENTED BY SECRETARY JESLI A. LAPUS, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 8037, February 17, 2016 - RE: DECISION DATED AUGUST 19, 2008, 3RD DIVISION, COURT OF APPEALS IN CA-G.R. SP NO. 79904 [HON. DIONISIO DONATO T. GARCIANO, ET AL. V. HON. PATERNO G. TIAMSON, ETC., ET AL.], Petitioner, v. ATTY. JOSE DE G. FERRER, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 220481, February 17, 2016 - VICTOR S. LIMLINGAN AND EMMANUEL A. LEYCO, Petitioners, v. ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, INC., Respondent.; G.R. No. 220503 - ASIAN INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, INC., Petitioner, v. VICTOR S. LIMLINGAN AND EMMANUEL A. LEYCO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208976, February 22, 2016 - THE HONORABLE OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. LEOVIGILDO DELOS REYES, JR., Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 10605, February 17, 2016 - BIENVENIDO T. CANLAPAN, Complainant, v. ATTY. WILLIAM B. BALAYO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 209180, February 24, 2016 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. REGHIS M. ROMERO II AND OLIVIA LAGMAN ROMERO, Respondents.; G.R. NO. 209253 - OLIVIA LAGMAN ROMERO, Petitioner, v. REGHIS M. ROMERO II, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 208948, February 24, 2016 - JOSE B. LURIZ, Petitioner, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 173921, February 24, 2016 - PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, INC., Petitioner, v. ISAGANI DAWAL, LORNA CONCEPCION, AND BONIFACIO SINOBAGO, Respondents.; G.R. No. 173952 - ISAGANI DAWAL, LORNA CONCEPCION, AND BONIFACIO SINOBAGO, Petitioners, v. NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS COMMISSION, PHILIPPINE AIRLINES, INC., AVELINO L. ZAPANTA, AND CESAR B. LAMBERTE, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. P-16-3419 [Formerly OCAIPI No. 11-3648-P], February 23, 2016 - AUGUSTO V. SANTOS, Complainant, v. SHERIFF IV ANTONIO V. LEA�O, JR., SHERIFF III BENJIE E. LACSINA, SHERIFF III ALVIN S. PINEDA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 184288, February 16, 2016 - ERIC N. ESTRELLADO AND JOSSIE M. BORJA, Petitioners, v. KARINA CONSTANTINO DAVID, THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, HIPOLITO R. GABORNI AND ROBERTO S. SE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 175210, February 01, 2016 - MARIO JOSE E. SERENO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ASSOCIATION OF PETROCHEMICAL MANUFACTURERS OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC. (APMP), Petitioner, v. COMMITTEE ON TRADE AND RELATED MATTERS (CTRM) OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (NEDA), COMPOSED OF THE DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE NEDA SECRETARIAT, THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, THE SECRETARIES OF TRADE AND INDUSTRY, FINANCE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AGRICULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, BUDGET AND MANAGEMENT, TRANSPORTATION AND COMMUNICATION, LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT, AGRARIAN REFORM, THE GOVERNOR OF THE BANGKO SENTRAL NG PILIPINAS AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE TARIFF COMMISSION, AND BRENDA R. MENDOZA IN HER CAPACITY AS DIRECTOR OF THE TRADE, INDUSTRY & UTILITIES STAFF, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 170631, February 10, 2016 - CARAVAN TRAVEL AND TOURS INTERNATIONAL, INC., Petitioner, v. ERMILINDA R. ABEJAR, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 8667, February 03, 2016 - INOCENCIO I. BALISTOY, Petitioner, v. ATTY. FLORENCIO A. BRON, Respondent.

  • IPI No. 14-222-CA-J, February 23, 2016 - RE: COMPLAINT OF ATTY. MARIANO R. PEFIANCO AGAINST JUSTICES MARIA ELISA SEMPIO DIY, RAMON PAUL L. HERNANDO, AND CARMELITA SALANDANAN-MANAHAN, OF THE COURT OF APPEALS CEBU.

  • G.R. No. 193176, February 24, 2016 - PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT, Petitioner, v. OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, RENATO D. TAYAG, ISMAEL M. REINOSO, GENEROSO TANSECO, MANUEL MORALES, RUBEN B. ANCHETA, GERONIMO Z. VELASCO, TROADIO T. QUIAZON, JR., FERNANDO MARAMAG, EDGARDO TORDESILLAS, ARTURO R. TANCO, JR., GERARDO SICAT, PANFILO O. DOMINGO, POTENCIANO ILUSORIO, MANUEL B. SYQUIO, RAFAEL M. ATAYDE, HONORIO POBLADOR, JR., GEORGE T. SCHOLEY,1 TIRSO ANTIPORDA, JR., CARLOS L. INDUCTIVO, AND TEODORO VALENCIA, Respondents.