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EN BANC

G.R. No. L-1560             October 25, 1949

DEMETRIA ESTRADA, Plaintiff-Appellant, vs. ULDARICO CASEDA, Defendant-Appellee.

San Juan, Africe, Yñquez and Benedicto and Enrique M. Fernando for appellant.
Jose E. Erfe for appellee

TUASON, J.: chanrobles virtual law library

This case is before this Court for review of a decision of the Court of First Instance of Manila reversing the judgment of the municipal court and declaring that "the plaintiff may not eject the defendant from the premises in question." chanrobles virtual law library

It appears that on September 5, 1945, plaintiff brought this suit, for unlawful detainer, alleging that defendant leased from her a part of a dwelling at a monthly rental of P26; that on August 11, 1945, plaintiff notified defendant in writing to vacate the premises under lease, because one of her married daughters was going to occupy them by the first of the following month; that defendant refused to leave.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

On October 13, 1945, Judge Mariano Nable, then of the municipal court, gave judgment for plaintiff with order for defendant to pay the rent from October 1, 1945, at the rate of P26 a month.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

On the case being appealed to the Court of First Instance, defendant filed an answer alleging as special defense, among others not necessary to the solution of this appeal, "that the main motive of the plaintiff in bringing the present action is to oust the defendant and lease the same premises to third parties who are willing to pay the black market rental."chanrobles virtual law library

In reversing the judgment of the municipal court, the Court of First Instance of Manila, Judge Rafael Dinglasa presiding, said that "Commonwealth Act No. 689, as amended only provides three grounds for rejecting a lessee or occupant from a building destined solely for dwelling, namely (1) for willful and deliberate non-payment of rents, (2) when the lessor has to occupy the building leased, and (3) when the lessee shall have subleased the building or any part thereof as dwelling or for dwelling purpose without the written consent of the proprietor." None of these conditions, according to the court, was alleged much less proved. The court correctly held that the fact that the premises under lease were needed by plaintiff's married daughter was not comprehended in the second ground.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The above requirements were provided in Commonwealth Act No. 689, which was approved October 15, 1945. Section 14 of that Act provided that the same "shall be in force for a period of two years after its approval." Republic Act No. 66, approved October 18, 1946, amended section 14 of Commonwealth Act No. 689 so as to read as follows: "Section 14. This Act shall be in force for a period of four years after its approval."chanrobles virtual law library

When did this four-year period commence to run? Is the present lease still within his period?chanrobles virtual law library

An amended act is ordinarily to be construed as if the original statute had been repealed, and a new and independent act in the amended form had been adopted in its stead; or, as frequently stated by the courts, so far as regards any action after the adoption of the amendment, as if the statute had been originally enacted in its amended form. The amendment becomes a part of the original statute as if it had always been contained therein, unless such amendment involves the abrogation of contractual relations between the state and others. Where an amendment leaves certain portions of the original act unchanged, such portions are continued in force, with the same meaning and effect they had before the amendment. So where an amendatory act provides that are existing statute shall be amended to read as recited in the amendatory act, such portions of the existing law as are retained, either literally or substantially, are regarded as a continuation of the existing law, and not as a new enactment. (59 C. J., 1096, 1097.)chanrobles virtual law library

In accordance with this rule, the provision of Republic Act No. 66 amending section 14 of Commonwealth Act No. 689, related back to, and should be computed from the date of the approval of the amended act, that is October 15, 1945. The period as thus construed expired on October 15, 1949.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The judgment of Judge Dinglasan was correct, but, the period reckoned by the trial court being now over, our decision is that judgment shall be rendered ejecting defendant from the house described in the complaint and ordering him to pay rent at the rate of P26 a month from October 1, 1945. It is so ordered, without costs.

Ozaeta, Paras, Feria, Montemayor, Reyes and Torres, JJ., concur.
Moran, C.J., Mr. Justice Bengzon voted in conformity with this decision.

Separate Opinions

PADILLA, J., concurring:chanrobles virtual law library

I concur in the result. Commonwealth Act No. 689, as amended by Republic Act No. 66, cannot be given retroactive effect. The cause of action in the case at bar arose before the passage of the Acts.