Philippine Supreme Court Resolutions > Year 2008 > March 2008 Resolutions > [G.R. No. 158252 : March 25, 2008] PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY VS. REMEDIOS ROSALES-BONDOC, ET AL.); G.R. NO. 166200 (PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY VS. HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS [SPECIAL SIXTEENTH DIVISION], ET AL.) AND G.R. NO. 173392 (PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY [PPA] VS. REMEDIOS ROSALES-BONDOC, ET AL :

Quoted hereunder, for your information, is a resolution of the Court En Banc dated  March 25, 2008

G.R. No. 158252 (Philippine Ports Authority vs. Remedios Rosales-Bondoc, et al.); G.R. No. 166200 (Philippine Ports Authority vs. Honorable Court of Appeals [Special Sixteenth Division], et al.) and G.R. No. 173392 (Philippine Ports Authority [PPA] vs. Remedios Rosales-Bondoc, et al.).- The Court Resolved to NOTE the Comment (on the Motion for Reconsideration), dated March 17, 2008 filed by counsel for respondents Felipe Acosta, et al.; in compliance with the resolution of February 5, 2008.

At the hearing of these cases this afternoon, Solicitor General Agnes VST Devanadera, Assistant Solicitors General Amparo Cabotaje-Tang and Roman G. Del Rosario, Associate Solicitors Aris Mejia, Melanie Quimbo, Christina Lim and Julie Mercurio appeared for public petitioner Philippine Ports Authority with Solicitor General Devanadera arguing. Attys. Cesar C. Cruz, Reynaldo Dimayacyac, Sr., Gregorio Ortega, Virna Emilene Z. Caringal, Jaime Padilla, Emmanuel D. Agustin and Ira Agustin appeared for the respondents with Attys. Cruz and Dimayacyac arguing. Atty. Beulah Coeli C. Fiel appeared for movants-intervenors VACC.

The counsels discussed the following issues as spelled out in the advisory issued by the Court:

1.    Whether the August 15, 2000 Order fixing the just compensation is an interlocutory order.

2.    As to the amount required to be paid as preliminary deposit or provisional just compensation, which between Republic Act No. 8974 and Administrative Order No. 50 dated February 17, 1999, applies to the expropriation of the lots in question.

3.    On the matter of determining just compensation, which between Rule 67 of the Rules of Court and Republic Act 8974 applies to the expropriation of the subject lots.

4.    (a) Whether the Batangas Regional Trial Court committed a reversible error in fixing the just compensation at Five Thousand Five Hundred (P5,500.00) pesos per square meter.

(b) Whether the expropriated lots are classified as residential, commercial or industrial lots under the BIR Revenue Regulations fixing the zonal valuations.

Solicitor General Devanadera was given twenty (20) minutes to argue. As agreed upon by counsels for respondents, Atty. Cruz tackled issues nos. (1), (2) and (3) for fifteen (15) minutes while Atty. Dimayacyac argued on issues 4(a) and 4(b) for five (5) minutes. The time allotted for the parties to argue and counter-argue was exclusive of the time for interpellation by the Court.

After hearing the issues and the arguments raised, in open court, parties were directed to SUBMIT simultaneously their respective MEMORANDA within a non-extendible period of thirty (30) days from date.

Thereafter, with or without the respective memoranda the case shall be deemed submitted for resolution.

Nachura, J. no part.