Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 1958 > September 1958 Decisions > G.R. No. L-11153 September 30, 1958 - LEONARDO GARCIA v. FRANCISCO BONIFACIO and SIMPLICIO PEÑA

104 Phil 656:




PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

[G.R. No. L-11153. September 30, 1958.]

LEONARDO GARCIA, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. FRANCISCO BONIFACIO and SIMPLICIO PEÑA, Defendants-Appellees.

Villaluz & Tunay for Appellant.

Eliseo Caunca for defendant and appellee, F. Bonifacio.

Corona Villafuerte-Venal for appellee Simplicio Peña.


SYLLABUS


1. CERTIFICATE OF PUBLIC CONVENIENCE; SALE OF, WHEN OPERATIVE. — No sale of a certificate of public convenience shall be operative, without the approval of the Public Service Commission, which may be given even after the contract of sale is perfected. The consummation of the sale, however, takes place and the operation under the certificate begins, on the date to be fixed by the Commission in its decree of approval.

2. ID.; ID.; PURCHASER, MAY SECURE TRANSFER EVEN IF SALE IS DENIED. — Even if the seller of a certificate denies having made the sale, the purchaser may go to the Commission to secure the transfer of such certificate in his name.

3. ID.; ID.; DAMAGES DUE TO LOSS OF FARMING; WHEN RECOVERABLE. — Damages, by way of loss of earning, may only be recovered after the matter of the sale has been clarified and/or approved.


D E C I S I O N


BENGZON, J.:


Leonardo Garcia has appealed the order of the Manila court of first instance, dismissing his complaint whereby he attempted to recover damages and compel defendants to convey to him the certificate of public convenience issued by the Public Service Commission covering a certain jeepney. He claimed to have purchased both. The Hon. Bienvenido Tan, Judge, held that plaintiff had no rights enforceable before the courts — not even damages — since he had not secured the sale’s approval by the said Commission. Thither, he implied, plaintiff should go for relief.

Such certificate of public convenience plaintiff-appellant relates — "was issued by the Public Service Commission, to Eustacio Lazcano in PSC Case No. 63399 (Exhibit G). Lazcano sold this certificate to defendant Simplicio Peña on February 15, 1953 (Exhibit A), and Peña in turn sold it to defendant Francisco Bonifacio on June 19, 1953 (Exhibit B). Plaintiff acquired the said certificate from Bonifacio by deed of absolute sale dated February 27, 1956 (Exhibit F), together with one TPU jeepney."cralaw virtua1aw library

Subsequently, the plaintiff discovered that the certificate in the name of Lazcano which he bought from defendant Bonifacio "had already been cancelled" because defendant Peña presented to the Commission a false deed of sale by Lazcano to him of April 28, 1955, and obtained another certificate for himself, even as he requested for — and received — permission to drop from the service the very jeepney he (Peña) had previously transferred to Bonifacio (which plaintiff acquired). For that reason, plaintiff avers, he was prevented from operating the jeepney.

There are other circumstances, which defendants-appellees bring to our attention to explain their side, particularly to support their defense that upon plaintiff’s failure to secure the Commission’s approval, steps had to be taken to prevent the certificate’s cancellation through abandonment. But these need not be recounted, inasmuch as we agree that the courts were not the appropriate place wherein to obtain what the plaintiff desired: conveyance of the certificate, with the concomitant privilege to operate the jeepney as common carrier.

The law is quite clear and specific. No sale of a certificate of public convenience shall be operative. 1 without the approval of the Public Service Commission, which may be given even after the contract of sale is perfected. The consummation of the sale, however, takes place and the operation under the certificate begins, on the date to be fixed by the Commission in its decree of approval.

Here are the statutory provisions:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"SEC. 20. — Acts requiring the approval of the Commission Subject to established limitations and exceptions and saving provisions to the contrary, It shall be unlawful for any public service or for the owner, lessee or operator thereof, without the approval and authorization of the Commission previously had . . .

"(g) To sell, alienate, mortgage, encumber or lease its property franchises, certificates, privileges, or rights, or any part thereof, . . . The approval herein required shall be given, after notice to the public and after hearing the persons interested at a public hearing, if it be shown that there are just and reasonable grounds for making . . . the sale, alienation, lease, merger, or consolidation to be approved, and that the same are not detrimental to the public interest, and in case of a sale, the date on which the same is to be consummated shall be fixed in the order of approval: Provided, however, That nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent the transaction from being negotiated or completed before its approval. . ."cralaw virtua1aw library

Obviously, the Manila court had no authority to grant the relief demanded, because the sale had not been okayed by the Commission. Plaintiff admitted he never asked for such approval, which, by the way is not a mere formality that could be dispensed with or taken for granted. As the statute directs, the Commission must, before approving, be convinced after a hearing and notice, that the sale shall not hinder the public’s convenience.

"I could not properly go to the Commission" — argues appellant — "because there was a dispute as to the terms of the sale: whereas I claimed the whole certificate for three jeepneys, defendant Bonifacio asserted he had sold part only." "The Commission," he continues "can not be expected to act or a petition for approval of a sale if the vendor himself denies having made the sale."cralaw virtua1aw library

Herein lies the erroneous assumption, root and basis of plaintiffs, contentions.

In Del Rosario v. Vergara 2 the alleged seller denied having made the sale (of certificate) for which the approval of the Commission was requested by the purchaser. The Commission, after listening to both sides, approved the sale notwithstanding the seller’s objection. On appeal, we affirmed. Indeed, if as appellant represents the certificate sold to him was later illegally transferred to Peña, who now holds the Commission’s approval and certificate, there is no better place than the Commission itself to thresh out the respective rights of the parties, bearing in mind that said Commission is the only entity empowered to withdraw the certificate from Peña and to transfer it to herein plaintiff or grant him a new certificate. Of course, if the evidence and the law applicable thereto so warranted.

Again, appellant doubts the usefulness of a resort to the Commission, ‘because he wishes to collect monetary damages, which, he believes, that Body has no power to award.

Let us concede, for the moment, the alleged lack of authority on the Commission’s part — a point we do not decide.

Plaintiff’s amended complaint asked for:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph

"P-2a. Damages, by way of loss of earning, from February 28, 1956, up to the time the certificate of public convenience above referred to is finally conveyed to plaintiff, at the rate of P30.00 per day;

P-2b. Moral damages in the sum of P2,000.00;

P-2c. Attorneys fees in the sum of P1,000.00, plus the costs of this suit;

P-3. Ordering defendant Simplicio Peña to pay to plaintiff exemplary damages, by way of example or correction for the public good, in the sum of P1,000.00."cralaw virtua1aw library

The first item could not evidently be granted, because plaintiff had no right to operate the jeepney without having previously secured the approval of the Commission which he never asked. Therefore, he could claim no loss of earning. The moral and exemplary damages may only be recovered, if at all, after plaintiff’s position is upheld. Yet even if the sale be disapproved, perhaps plaintiff may recover, if such disapproval should rest on actionable acts of defendants, or one of them. At any rate, damages if any should be awarded only after the matter of the sale has been clarified, and/or approved.

As to attorney’s fees, when the complaint is dismissed — as in this case — the defendant could not obviously be charged with plaintiff’s counsel fees.

In view of the foregoing, and finding no reversible error in the appealed order, we hereby affirm it, with costs against Appellant.

Paras, C.J., Padilla, Montemayor, Reyes, A., Bautista Angelo, Concepcion, Reyes, J.B.L. and Endencia, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:



1. Cebu Autobus Co. v. Lozano, 66 Phil. 51.

2. L-11643 decided April 28, 1958.




Back to Home | Back to Main




















chanrobles.com





ChanRobles On-Line Bar Review

ChanRobles Internet Bar Review : www.chanroblesbar.com

ChanRobles MCLE On-line

ChanRobles Lawnet Inc. - ChanRobles MCLE On-line : www.chanroblesmcleonline.com






September-1958 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. L-11394 September 9, 1958 - MANUEL S. ARANETA v. JUAN ARREGLADO

    104 Phil 529

  • G.R. No. L-11181 September 17, 1958 - U.P. RECREATION CLUB, INC. v. ALTO SURETY & INSURANCE CO., ET AL.

    104 Phil 534

  • G.R. No. L-11587 September 17, 1958 - BACOLOD-MURCIA MILLING CO., INC. v. EULALIO DE LEON, ET AL.

    104 Phil 544

  • G.R. No. L-11813 September 17, 1958 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. JAIME SANTOS

    104 Phil 551

  • G.R. No. L-12129 September 17, 1958 - VISAYAN SURETY & INSURANCE CORPORATION v. CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHIL., ET AL.

    104 Phil 562

  • G.R. No. L-10654 September 23, 1958 - RAMON C. ROSALES, ET AL. v. MATEO V. TUPAZ, ET AL.

    104 Phil 570

  • G.R. No. L-12380 September 23, 1958 - APOLINARIO VALERIO v. SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES, ET AL.

    104 Phil 572

  • G.R. No. L-10666 September 24, 1958 - LIM HOA TING v. CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES

    104 Phil 573

  • G.R. No. L-11983 September 24, 1958 - ALFONSO ESGUERRA v. CECILIA MUÑOZ PALMA, ET AL.

    104 Phil 582

  • G.R. No. L-12536 September 24, 1958 - CONCEPCION G. BRIONES, ET AL. v. SERGIO OSMEÑA, ETC., ET AL.

    104 Phil 588

  • G.R. No. L-11786 September 26, 1958 - HARRY LYONS v. UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

    104 Phil 593

  • G.R. No. L-7731 September 29, 1958 - CENTRAL AZUCARERA DON PEDRO v. CENTRAL BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES

    104 Phil 598

  • G.R. No. L-11573 September 29, 1958 - VICENTE JAUCIAN v. PEDRO F. CALLOS

    104 Phil 603

  • G.R. No. L-11595 September 29, 1958 - DOMINGO DOCTOR v. JUSTICE OF THE PEACE, ET AL.

    104 Phil 609

  • G.R. No. L-11727 September 29, 1958 - GENATO COMMERCIAL CORPORATION v. COURT OF TAX APPEALS, ET AL.

    104 Phil 615

  • G.R. No. L-9733 September 30, 1958 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. PEDRO MASILUNGAN

    104 Phil 621

  • G.R. No. L-10055 September 30, 1958 - PAZ SCHULTZ v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHIL.

    104 Phil 636

  • G.R. No. L-10327 September 30, 1958 - UNITED EMPLOYEES WELFARE ASSOCIATION v. ISAAC PERAL BOWLINC ALLEYS

    104 Phil 640

  • G.R. No. L-10522 September 30, 1958 - J. M. TUASON & COMPANY v. RAMON VILLANUEVA, ET AL.

    104 Phil 643

  • G.R. No. L-10881 September 30, 1958 - EULOGIO DEL ROSARIO v. PRIMITIVO ABAD, ET AL.

    104 Phil 648

  • G.R. No. L-11092 September 30, 1958 - CENTRAL AZUCARERA DE TARLAC v. COLLECTOR OF INTERNAL REVENUE, ET AL.

    104 Phil 653

  • G.R. No. L-11153 September 30, 1958 - LEONARDO GARCIA v. FRANCISCO BONIFACIO and SIMPLICIO PEÑA

    104 Phil 656

  • G.R. No. L-11353 September 30, 1958 - MIGUEL FLORENDO, ET AL. v. COURT OF FIRST INSTANCE OF ILOCOS SUR, ET AL.

    104 Phil 661

  • G.R. Nos. L-12011-14 September 30, 1958 - PEOPLE OF THE PHIL. v. ALFONSO GATCHALIAN

    104 Phil 664

  • G.R. No. L-12560 September 30, 1958 - JOSE ROBLES v. ZAMBALES CHROMITE MINING COMPANY, ET AL.

    104 Phil 688