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Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2015 > August 2015 Decisions > A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC, August 18, 2015 - RE: REQUEST OF RETIRED SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES FOR INCREASE/ADJUSTMENT OF THEIR DECEMBER 1998 PENSIONS:




A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC, August 18, 2015 - RE: REQUEST OF RETIRED SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES FOR INCREASE/ADJUSTMENT OF THEIR DECEMBER 1998 PENSIONS

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

EN BANC

A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC, August 18, 2015

RE: REQUEST OF RETIRED SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES FOR INCREASE/ADJUSTMENT OF THEIR DECEMBER 1998 PENSIONS

R E S O L U T I O N

LEONEN, J.:

The Court of Tax Appeals Presiding Justice Roman G. Del Rosario (Presiding Justice Del Rosario), through a letter,1 requests this court to grant retired Court of Tax Appeals justices the retirement benefits and other privileges given to retired Court of Appeals justices, specifically the annual year-end bonus and cash gift.

The letter request was prompted by the letter2 sent by retired Court of Tax Appeals Justices Ernesto D. Acosta (Justice Acosta) and Olga Palanca-Enriquez (Justice Palanca-Enriquez) to Presiding Justice Del Rosario. They requested for entitlement to the annual year-end bonus and cash gift while they have yet to receive their monthly pensions from this court.

To support their request, Justice Acosta and Justice Palanca-Enriquez cited the Resolution dated January 16, 2001 in A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC and Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9282.3 They also pointed out that retired Sandiganbayan justices enjoy the same retirement benefits given to retired Court of Appeals justices.4 Being of the same rank as Court of Appeals justices, retired Court of Tax Appeals justices should be given the same retirement benefits.5

The issue we are asked to resolve is whether retired Court of Tax Appeals justices are entitled to the annual year-end bonus and cash gift pending receipt of their monthly pensions from this court.

I

Republic Act No. 66866 as amended by Republic Act No. 8441,7 Department of Budget and Management Budget Circular Nos. 2003-028 and 2010-1,9 and Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-00110 provide the guidelines for the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift.

Republic Act No. 6686, also known as An Act Authorizing Annual Christmas Bonus to National and Local Government Officials and Employees Starting CY 1988, states:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SECTION 1. All officials and employees of the National Government who have rendered at least four months of service from January 1 to October 31 of each year and who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year shall each receive a Christmas bonus equivalent to one month basic salary and additional cash gift of One thousand pesos (P1,000.00). (Emphasis supplied)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Republic Act No. 8441 amended Republic Act No. 6686 and increased the amount of cash gift to P5,000.00. Nonetheless, the clause, "who have rendered at least four months of service from January 1 to October 31 of each year and who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year[,]" was maintained.

Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-001 dated June 14, 2012 provides the documentary requirements for the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift. Paragraph 5.11 of Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-001 states:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
5.11 Year-End Bonus (YEB) and Cash Gift (CG)
General Guidelines

The guidelines on the grant of YEB and CG are provided under DBM Budget Circular No. 2010-1 dated April 28, 2010 which is applicable for FY 2010 and years thereafter.

Documentary Requirements

For Individual Claims
  • Clearance from money, property and legal accountabilities

  • Certification from head of Office that the employee is qualified to receive the YEB and CG benefits pursuant to DBM Budget Circular No. 2003-2 dated May 9, 2003
General Claims
  • YEB and CG Payroll

  • Payroll register (hard and soft copy)

  • Letter to the Bank to credit employees account of their YEB and CG claims

  • Deposit slips
Department of Budget and Management Budget Circular No. 2003-002 dated January 1, 2003 states:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
2.0 Coverage

All officials and employees whether permanent, temporary or emergency in nature and contractual personnel whose employment is in the nature of a regular employee, appointive or elective, now existing or hereafter created in all national government agencies, state universities and colleges, government-owned and controlled corporations, government financial institutions and local government units.

. . . .chanrobleslaw

4.0

Pro-rated Share of the Remaining Balance of Cash Gift


4.1 All government personnel who have rendered more than four (4) months of service in a given year before their retirement/separation from the service may receive a proportionate share of the remaining balance of the cash gift in addition to the benefit provided under Item 3 hereof.ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Department of Budget and Management Budget Circular No. 2010-1 dated April 28, 2010 states that it covers the following:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
3.0 Coverage

The following personnel are covered by this Circular:

3.1
Civilian government personnel occupying regular, contractual, or casual positions; appointive or elective; rendering services on full-time or part-time basis;
3.2
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of National Defense; and uniformed personnel of the Philippine National Police, Bureau of Fire Protection, and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology under the Department of the Interior and Local Government; Philippine Coast Guard; and the National Mapping and Resource Information Authority; and
3.3
Barangay officials and employees.
These laws and circulars do not provide that retirees are entitled to the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift pending receipt of their monthly pensions. At most, retirees are entitled to the year-end bonus and cash gift during the year of retirement. Paragraph 6.4 of Department of Budget and Management Budget Circular No. 2010-1 provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
6.0
Grant of Year-End Bonus (Based on Basic Pay) and Cash Gift
. . . .
6.4
Personnel with a total or an aggregate of four (4) months of service, including leaves of absence with pay, and who retires or is separated without cause before October 31 of the year, shall be granted a proportionate share of the remaining half or balance of the Year-End Bonus and Cash Gift based on the following scheme, to be paid within the month of retirement/separation. The basic pay immediately prior to retirement/separation shall be the basis for the remaining half or balance of the Year-End Bonus. (Emphasis supplied)

Month of Retirement/Separation from the Service
Percentage of Remaining Half or Balance of the Year-End Bonus and Cash Gift
May
15%
June
30%
July
45%
August
60%
September
75%
October
90%
Based on the foregoing, retired justices are not entitled to the annual year-end bonus and cash gift. However, a special law governs the retirement benefits of members of the judiciary.

II

Prior to its amendment, Republic Act No. 91011 provided retirement benefits for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 910 originally reads:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SEC. 3. Upon retirement a Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeals shall be automatically entitled to a lump sum payment of the monthly salary that said Justice was receiving at the time of his retirement for five years, and thereafter upon survival after the expiration of this period of five years, to a further annuity payable monthly during the residue of his natural life equivalent to the amount of the monthly salary he was receiving on the date of his retirement.ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Republic Act No. 105712 amended Republic Act No. 910 and inserted Section 3-A, which provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SEC. 2. Republic Act Numbered Nine hundred and ten is hereby further amended by inserting between its sections three and four a new section to be known as section Three-A thereof, and which shall read as follows:

"SEC. 3-A. In case the salary of Justices of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeals is increased or decreased such increased or decreased salary shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be the salary which a Justice who ceased to be such to accept another position in the Government was receiving at the time of his cessation in office: Provided, That any benefits that have already accrued prior to such increase or decrease shall not be affected thereby."ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Republic Act No. 179713 amended Section 3-A of Republic Act No. 910 to read as:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Section 3-A. In case the salary of Justices of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeals is increased or decreased, such increased or decreased salary shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be the salary or the retirement pension which a Justice who as of June twelve, nineteen hundred fifty-four had ceased to be such to accept another position in the Government or who retired was receiving at the time of his cessation in office: Provided, That any benefits that have already accrued prior to such increase or decrease shall not be affected thereby. (Emphasis supplied)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Presidential Decree No. 143814 amended Republic Act No. 910 to include all retired justices and judges. This was further amended by Republic Act No. 9946.15 At present, the following justices and judges are entitled to the retirement benefits under Republic Act No. 910:

(1)
Justices of this court;
(2)
Justices of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan, and the Court of Tax Appeals;
(3)
Judges of Regional Trial Courts, Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, Shari'a District Courts, and Shari'a Circuit Courts; and
(4)
Judges of any other court established after the passage of Republic Act No. 9946.16

Section 3 of Republic Act No. 910, as amended by Republic Act No. 9946, now reads:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SEC. 3. Upon retirement, a Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan or of the Court of Tax Appeals, or a Judge of the regional trial court, metropolitan trial court, municipal trial court in cities, municipal trial court, municipal circuit trial court, shari'a district court, shari'a circuit court, or any other court hereafter established shall be automatically entitled to a lump sum of five (5) years' gratuity computed on the basis of the highest monthly salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of transportation, representation and other allowances such as personal economic relief allowance (PERA) and additional compensation allowance he/she was receiving on the date of his/her retirement and thereafter upon survival after the expiration of five (5) years, to further annuity payable monthly during the residue of his/her natural life pursuant to Section 1 hereof: Provided, however, That if the reason for the retirement be any permanent disability contracted during his/her incumbency in office and prior to the date of retirement, he/she shall receive a gratuity equivalent to ten (10) years' salary and the allowances aforementioned: Provided, further, That should the retirement under Section 1(a) hereof be with the attendance of any partial permanent disability contracted during his/her incumbency and prior to the date of retirement, he/she shall receive an additional gratuity equivalent to two (2) years lump sum that he/she is entitled to under this Act; Provided, furthermore, That if he/she survives after ten (10) years or seven (7) years, as the case may be, he/she shall continue to receive a monthly annuity as computed under this Act during the residue of his/her natural life pursuant to Section 1 hereof: Provided, finally, That those who have retired with the attendance of any partial permanent disability five (5) years prior to the effectivity of this Act shall be entitled to the same benefits provided herein.

Upon the death of a Justice or Judge of any court in the Judiciary, if such Justice or Judge has retired, or was eligible to retire optionally at the time of death, the surviving legitimate spouse shall be entitled to receive all the retirement benefits that the deceased Justice or Judge would have received had the Justice or Judge not died. The surviving spouse shall continue to receive such retirement benefits until the surviving spouse's death or remarriage.ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Section 4 of Republic Act No. 9946 inserted17 Section 3-A to Republic Act No. 910. Section 3-A provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SEC. 3-A. All pension benefits of retired members of the Judiciary shall be automatically increased whenever there is an increase in the salary of the same position from which he/she retired.ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
III

The grant of the annual year-end bonus and cash gift to retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices was settled in A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC - Re: Request of retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices for increase/adjustment of their December 1998 pensions.

In the letter18 dated June 17, 1999, several retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices wrote to then Chief Justice Hilario G. Davide, Jr. (Former Chief Justice Davide, Jr.) to request an adjustment in their retirement pensions/annuities to include the "bonus" and "gift" granted under Republic Act No. 6686, in relation to Republic Act No. 910, as amended by Republic Act No. 1797.

To support their request, the retired justices quoted the dispositive portion of A.M. No. 91-8-225-CA,19 which states:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Under the law, therefore, from the moment a member of this Court or the Court of Appeals retirees and . . . during the residue of his or [her] natural life, he or she should not receive an amount less than what an incumbent receives as salary and RATA. It, of course, follows that he or she cannot receive more.

WHEREFORE, the request of the retired Justices who qualify under Republic Act No. 910, as amended, is approved as follows:

1. Upon retirement, a five-year lump sum payment computed on the basis of the highest monthly salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of transportation, living, and representation allowances received by him as such Justice shall be automatically paid to the retiree.

2. In case the salary or representation, living and transportation allowances or both, of an incumbent Justice are increased, such increased salary and representation, living and transportation allowances shall be deemed to be the retirement benefit of the retired Justice, effective upon the date of said increases.

3. For purposes of retirement benefits, longevity pay forms part of basic salary.20 (Underscoring in the original)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
The retired justices argued that although public officials or employees who retired before October 31 of a given year were excluded from the coverage of Republic Act No. 6686, the same rule should not apply to Supreme Count and Court of Appeals justices since Republic Act No. 910 governs their retirement benefits.21

They further argued that Republic Act No. 6686:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
is relevant only insofar as it has increased the December salary or compensation of the incumbent Justices, which inures to the benefit of the retired Justices in accordance with their special retirement law. It bears emphasis, at this juncture, to say that we are not asking for the December bonus and gift granted by R.A. 6686 but pension differentials mandated by R.A. 1797 which form or become part of our pensions/annuities.22 (Emphasis supplied, underscoring omitted)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
In other words, the year-end bonus and cash gift are increases in the salaries of incumbent justices; hence, retired justices should receive an equivalent amount in their pensions.

This request was granted in the Resolution23 dated August 10, 1999, which reads:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC. - Re: Report of Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices for increase/adjustment of their December 1998 pensions. - The Court Resolved to (a) GRANT the request of the retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices for the increase/adjustment of their pensions by an amount equivalent to the annual year-end bonus and gift effective December 1998; and (b) AUTHORIZE/DIRECT the Fiscal Management and Budget Office, this Court, to recompute/adjust said pensions and pay the pension differentials.24 (Underscoring in the original)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
In the letter dated December 13, 1999,25 Adoracion S. Yulo, Former Chief of the Finance Division of this court, requested clarification with regard to the payment of the year-end bonus and cash gift if the pensioner is re-employed either in an elective office or by appointment. She also inquired whether the year-end bonus and cash gift should be divided into 12 months and included in the monthly pension.26

Pursuant to the request for clarification, this court issued the Resolution27 dated March 28, 2000 providing the guidelines to the August 10, 1999 Resolution. It resolved that:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
(1)
the increase/adjustment in these benefits effective December 1998 shall be divided by twelve (12) months and the quotient (the resulting amount) shall be released and tacked to their monthly pensions;
(2)
and, the payment of these additional benefits to retired Justices who have been elected to public office shall be subject to the provisions of Section 1 of Republic Act No. 910, as amended by Republic Act No. 5095, the last sentence of which reads:
... It is also a condition of the pensions provided for herein that when a member of the judiciary entitled to the benefits of this Act shall assume an elective public office, he shall not, upon assumption of office and during his term, receive the monthly pension due him.28ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Subsequently, Former Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Salome A. Montoya, through the letter29 dated December 5, 2000, inquired with this court whether "retired Justices who have not yet outlived the 5[-] or 10-year period after retirement as the case may be, and are not receiving their monthly pensions from the Court, are also entitled to the annual year-end bonus and gift."30

Regarding Former Presiding Justice Salome A. Montoya's letter, Atty. Edna E. Di�o submitted a memorandum31 and recommended that Court of Appeals justices are entitled to receive the year-end bonus and cash gift beginning December 1998. She also discussed:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
The phrase "who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year" which is merely reproduced by Rep. Act No. 8441 from Section 1 of Rep. Act No. 6686, reflects the intent of the law to grant the benefits subject therein only to incumbent officials. Thus, a strict interpretation of the law would exclude all retired Justices from its coverage.

However, in clear implementation of the constitutionally mandated fiscal autonomy of the Judiciary and the policy of liberal interpretation of retirement laws and other laws granting monetary benefits to retired Justices
, the Court approved the request of retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices for increase/adjustment of their December 1998 pensions in the Resolution of 28 March 2000 in A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC. In that Resolution, the Court directed the Fiscal Division of the Fiscal Management and Budget Office (FMBO) that "the increase/adjustment in these benefits effective December 1998 shall be divided by twelve (12) months and the quotient (the resulting amount) shall be released and tacked to their monthly pensions."32 (Emphasis supplied)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
In the Resolution33 dated January 16, 2001, this court granted the request of Former Presiding Justice Salome A. Montoya. The Resolution reads:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
The Court Resolved to:

(a) NOTE the Memorandum dated 22 December 2000 of Atty. Edna E. Di�o, Chief, Office of the Chief Attorney, this Court, re: Entitlement of Retired Court of Appeals Justices who are not yet receiving monthly pensions to annual year-end bonus and cash gift;cralawlawlibrary

(b) RULE that all retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices shall receive equal pay/pension as the incumbents and that all new benefits granted the latter should likewise be granted the former; and

(c)� GRANT the request of Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Salome A. Montoya that retired Justices "who have not yet outlived the 5[-] or 10-year period after retirement" and "are not receiving their monthly pensions from the Court" be entitled to the annual year-end bonus and gift.34ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
However, the issue of the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift to retired justices did not end there. In the memorandum35 dated December 13, 2002, Former Chief Justice Davide, Jr. requested Atty. Edna E. Di�o to "study the legality of a grant of Christmas bonus, to retired Justices and Judges, chargeable against the Fiscal Autonomy Account or the savings in appropriations of the Supreme Court and the Lower Courts."36 He also inquired whether the power of augmentation could be used to justify the grant.37

Atty. Edna E. Di�o replied to the queries of Former Chief Justice Davide, Jr. in the memorandum38 dated December 18, 2002. She discussed that the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift to retired justices was based on A.M. No. 91-8-225-CA,39 which interpreted Section 3-A of Republic Act No. 910 in the following manner:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Sec. 3-a of the retirement law is sufficiently clear that whenever the salary of an incumbent Justice is increased, such increased salary shall be deemed to be the salary or the retirement pension which a Justice who retired was receiving at the time of his cessation in office. In other words, the increased salary of the incumbent becomes the basis of the salary of the retiree at the time of his cessation in office.40ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
In 1997, Republic Act No. 8441 was passed. It states:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 6686 is hereby amended to read as follows:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SECTION 1. All officials and employees of the National Government who have rendered at least four months of service from January 1 to October 31 of each year and who are employed in the government service as of October 31 of the same year shall each receive a Christmas bonus equivalent to one month basic salary and additional cash gift of Five thousand pesos (P5,000) to be implemented over a period of three (3) years[.] (Emphasis supplied)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Thus, A.M. No. 91-8-225-CA appeared to have been superseded by Republic Act No. 8441. From the law itself, only the incumbents as of October 31 of a given year would be entitled to the year-end bonus and cash gift.

However, in A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC dated August 10, 1999, this court granted "the request of the retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices for the increase/adjustment of their pensions by an amount equivalent to the annual year-end bonus and gift effective December 1998."41

In A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC dated January 16, 2001, this court ruled that:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
all retired Supreme Court and Court of Appeals Justices shall receive equal pay/pension as the incumbents and that all new benefits granted the latter should likewise be granted the former[.]42ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
The Resolution dated January 16, 2001 became the basis "for the grant of Christmas bonus to retired Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals[,] and the Sandiganbayan."43 However, retired judges of the lower courts were not entitled to the same benefit since Republic Act No. 910 only clearly stated Supreme Court and Court of Appeals justices.44

On whether the Chief Justice could use his or her power of augmentation for the grant of the bonus, Atty. Edna E. Di�o stated that pursuant to the General Appropriations Act of 2002, the Chief Justice may exercise his or her power of augmentation and use this court's savings for the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift.45

On March 11, 2003, this court issued another Resolution46 pertaining to A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC, directing the Fiscal Management and Budget Office:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
to observe the rule that retired Justices of the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan who are re-appointed to the Judiciary shall be entitled to one Christmas bonus only provided that should the justice concerned be entitled by law to two or more such bonuses, he/she shall receive whichever is higher or highest in amount.47ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
At that time, Section 3-A of Republic Act No. 910 had not yet been amended to include all members of the judiciary. Thus, retired judges of the first- and second-level courts were not entitled to the annual year-end bonus and cash gift.

IV

At present, Republic Act No. 9946 has amended Section 3-A of Republic Act No. 910 to state "retired members of the judiciary" instead of "justices of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeals." From the provision of law, Court of Tax Appeals justices are now included.

Considering that incumbent justices receive the annual year-end bonus and cash gift every December and that such grant is deemed an increase in the monthly salary for December, retired members of the judiciary are entitled to receive the same amount, with the caveat that this grant is only for the period when they have yet to receive their monthly pensions from this court.

The five-year lump sum amount that a member of the judiciary receives at the time of retirement does not include the year-end bonus and cash gift because doing so would mean that the retirees benefit earlier than the incumbents. However, once the retirees receive their monthly pensions, the equivalent of the year-end bonus and cash gift shall form part of their pension and be released to them at the same time that the incumbents receive the year-end bonus and cash gift.48

Further, retirement benefits are liberally construed in favor of the retiree. In A.M. No. 14155-Ret.,49 this court discussed the rationale for the grant of retirement benefits:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Retirement laws are social legislation. In general, retirement laws provide security to the elderly who have given their prime years in employment whether in the private sector or in government. These laws ensure the welfare of individuals who are approaching their twilight years and have limited opportunities for productive employment that give them a steady income stream. . . .

In government, lucrative retirement benefits are used as an incentive mechanism to encourage competent individuals to have careers in government. This Court often states:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
[Retirement benefits receivable by public employees are valuable parts of the consideration for entrance into and continuation in public office or employment. They serve a public purpose and a primary objective in establishing them is to induce competent persons to enter and remain in public employment and render faithful and efficient service while so employed. (Emphasis in the original)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
. . . On several occasions, this Court has liberally interpreted retirement laws in keeping with its purpose. In Government Service Insurance System v. De Leon:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Retirement laws, in particular, are liberally construed in favor of the retiree because their objective is to provide for the retiree's sustenance and, hopefully, even comfort, when he no longer has the capability to earn a livelihood. The liberal approach aims to achieve the humanitarian purposes of the law in order that efficiency, security, and well-being of government employees may be enhanced. Indeed, retirement laws are liberally construed and administered in favor of the persons intended to be benefited, and all doubts are resolved in favor of the retiree to achieve their humanitarian purpose.ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
This general principle for retirement benefits applies to members of the Judiciary. However, Congress made a special law specifically for retiring justices and judges. This law on "retirement pensions of Justices arise[s] from the package of protections given by the Constitution to guarantee and preserve the independence of the Judiciary." Aside from guaranteeing judicial independence, a separate retirement law for justices and judges is designed to attract intelligent members of the Bar to join the Judiciary. It compensates for the opportunity cost of having profitable private practices.50ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
V

Although Republic Act No. 6686 as amended by Republic Act No. 8441, Department of Budget and Management Budget Circular Nos. 2003-2 and 2010-1, and Commission on Audit Circular No. 2012-001 do not include retirees, this court's interpretation of the retirement laws is part of its fiscal autonomy.

Fiscal autonomy has been defined as "freedom from outside control."51 It guarantees full flexibility in the utilization of funds and resources.52 The Constitution grants fiscal autonomy to the judiciary to ensure its independence. As explained in Bengzon v. Drilon:53
The Judiciary, the Constitutional Commissions, and the Ombudsman must have the independence and flexibility needed in the discharge of their constitutional duties. The imposition of restrictions and constraints on the manner the independent constitutional offices allocate and utilize the funds appropriated for their operations is anathema to fiscal autonomy and violative not only of the express mandate of the Constitution but especially as regards the Supreme Court, of the independence and separation of powers upon which the entire fabric of our constitutional system is based.54ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
In A.M. No. 11-7-10-SC,55 this court discussed that one aspect of the constitutional grant of fiscal autonomy is administrative supervision over courts and its personnel, thus:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
The Judiciary's fiscal autonomy is realized through the actions of the Chief Justice, as its head, and of the Supreme Court En Banc, in the exercise of administrative control and supervision of the courts and its personnel. . . . . .

. . . .

Thus, under the guarantees of the Judiciary's fiscal autonomy and its independence, the Chief Justice and the Court En Banc determine and decide the who, what, where, when[,] and how of the privileges and benefits they extend to justices, judges, court officials and court personnel within the parameters of the Court's granted power; they determine the terms, conditions and restrictions of the grant as grantor.

. . . .

. . . Any kind of interference on how these retirement privileges and benefits are exercised and availed of, not only violates the fiscal autonomy and independence of the Judiciary, but also encroaches upon the constitutional duty and privilege of the Chief Justice and the Supreme Court En Banc to manage the Judiciary's own affairs.56 (Emphasis in the original)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Hence, the power to decide "who, what, where, when[,] and how"57 to grant retirement benefits is within this court's exercise of administrative supervision over courts and its personnel. Any outside interference would violate this court's fiscal autonomy.

Republic Act No. 9946 specifies what is included in the pension of retired members of the judiciary as follows:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SEC. 3. Upon retirement, a Justice of the Supreme Court or of the Court of Appeals, the Sandiganbayan or of the Court of Tax Appeals, or a Judge of the regional trial court, metropolitan trial court, municipal trial court in cities, municipal trial court, municipal circuit trial court, shari'a district court, shari'a circuit court, or any other court hereafter established shall be automatically entitled to a lump sum of five (5) years' gratuity computed on the basis of the highest monthly salary plus the highest monthly aggregate of transportation, representation and other allowances such as personal economic relief allowance (PERA) and additional compensation allowance he/she was receiving on the date of his/her retirement and thereafter upon survival after the expiration of five (5) years, to further annuity payable monthly during the residue of his/her natural life pursuant to Section 1 hereof[.] (Emphasis supplied)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
The enumeration under Section 3 of Republic Act No. 9946 admittedly does not include the year-end bonus and cash gift. Nevertheless, the interpretation of retirement laws is part of this court's fiscal autonomy. In addition, the grant of the year-end bonus and cash gift is based on A.M. No. 91-8-225-CA and A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC.

VI

Republic Act No. 9282 elevated the rank of a Court of Tax Appeals justice to that of a Court of Appeals justice. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 9282 provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SECTION 1. Section 1 of Republic Act No. 1125, as amended, is hereby further amended to read as follows:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
SECTION 1. Court; Justices; Qualifications; Salary; Tenure. - There is hereby created a Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) which shall be of the same level as the Court of Appeals, possessing all the inherent powers of a Court of Justice, and shall consist of a Presiding Justice and five (5) Associate Justices. . . . They shall have the same qualifications, rank, category, salary, emoluments and other privileges, be subject to the same inhibitions and disqualifications, and enjoy the same retirement and other benefits as those provided for under existing laws for the Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals.

Whenever the salaries of the Presiding Justice and the Associate Justices of the Court of Appeals are increased, such increases in salaries shall be deemed correspondingly extended to and enjoyed by the Presiding Justice and Associate Justices of the CTA. (Emphasis supplied)ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
Since part of the retirement benefits granted to the retired Court of Appeals justices is the annual year-end bonus and cash gift pending receipt of monthly pensions, retired Court of Tax Appeals justices are entitled to the same.

Considering that the payment of the year-end bonus and cash gift is deemed part of the retirement benefits of retired members of this court, the Court of Appeals, the Court of Tax Appeals, and the Sandiganbayan, the funds for this purpose should come from the appropriations for Pension Benefits.

WHEREFORE, this court resolves to GRANT the request of Court of Tax Appeals Presiding Justice Roman G. Del Rosario that retired Court of Tax Appeals Justices Ernesto D. Acosta and Olga Palanca-Enriquez shall be given their annual year-end bonus and cash gift while they have yet to receive their monthly pensions from this court. This grant shall be subject to the availability of funds under Pension Benefits and not from the Judiciary's savings.

SO ORDERED.chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary

Sereno, C.J., Carpio, Velasco, Jr., Leonardo-De Castro, Brion, Peralta, Bersamin, Del Castillo, Perez, Mendoza, Perlas-Bernabe, and Jardeleza, JJ., concur.
Villarama, Jr., J., on official leave.
Reyes, J., on leave.

Endnotes:


1Rollo, pp. 136-137.

2 Id. at 138-139.

3 An Act Expanding the Jurisdiction of the Court of Tax Appeals (CTA), Elevating its Rank to the Level of a Collegiate Court with Special Jurisdiction and Enlarging its Membership, Amending for the Purpose Certain Sections of Republic Act No. 1125, As Amended, Otherwise Known as the Law Creating the Court of Tax Appeals, and for Other Purposes (2004).

4Rollo, p. 139.

5 Id.

6 An Act Authorizing Annual Christmas Bonus to National and Local Government Officials and Employees starting CY 1988 (1988).

7 An Act Increasing the Cash Gift to Five Thousand Pesos (P5,000.00), Amending for the Purpose Certain Sections of Republic Act Numbered Six Thousand Six Hundred Eighty-Six, and for Other Purposes (1997).

8 Liberalization of the Rules and Regulations on the Payment of Year-End Bonus and Cash Gift (2003).

9 Rules and Regulations on the Grant of the Year-End Bonus and Cash Gift for FY 2010 and Years Thereafter (2010).

10 Prescribing the Revised Guidelines and Documentary� Requirements for Common Government Transactions (2012).

11 An Act to Provide for the Retirement of Justices of the Supreme Court and of the Court of Appeals, for the Enforcement of the Provisions hereof by the Government Service Insurance System, and to Repeal Commonwealth Act "Numbered Five Hundred and Thirty-Six (1953).

12 An Act to Amend Republic Act Numbered Nine Hundred and Ten entitled "An Act to Provide for the Retirement of Justices of the Supreme Court and of the Court of Appeals, for the Enforcement of the Provisions hereof by the Government Service Insurance System, and to Repeal Commonwealth Act Numbered Five Hundred and Thirty-Six" and for Other Purposes (1954).

13 An Act to Amend Section Three-A of Republic Act Numbered Nine Hundred and Ten, as amended, and to Appropriate Funds to Implement its Provisions (1957).

14 Amending Republic Act 910 Providing for the Retirement of Justices and All Judges in the Judiciary as amended (1978).

15 An Act Granting Additional Retirement, Survivorship, and Other Benefits to Members of the Judiciary, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 910, as amended, Providing Funds Therefor and for Other Purposes (2010).

16 Rep. Act No. 9946 (2010), sec. 1.

17 Although sec. 4 of Rep. Act No. 9946 uses the word "inserted," Rep. Act No. 910 already had sec. 3-A pursuant to Rep. Act No. 1057. However, Pres. Decree No. 644 repealed sec. 3-A from Rep. Act No. 910. In A.M. No. 91-8-225-CA, which was consolidated with Bengzon v. Drilon, G.R. No. 103524, April 15, 1992, 208 SCRA 133, 138 [Per J. Gutierrez, Jr., En Banc], this court cited the argument of the retired justices that Pres. Decree No. 644 "did not become law as there was no valid publication pursuant to Ta�ada v. Tuvera, (G.R. No. 63915 136 SCRA 27 [1985] and 146 SCRA 446 [1986])."

18Rollo, pp. 1-4.

19 The Resolution is dated October 24, 1995.

20Rollo, pp. 1-2.

21 Id. at 2.

22 Id. at 2-3.

23 Id. at 17.

24 Id.

25 Id. at 19.

26 Id.

27 Id. at 66-67.

28 Id. at 66.

29 Id. at 76.

30 Id.

31 Id. at 72-74.

32 Id. at 73.

33 Id. at 78.

34 Id.

35 Id. at 90.

36 Id.

37 Id.

38 Id. at 81-89.

39 Re: Request of the Retired Justices of the Court of Appeals for Re-Adjustment of their Monthly Pension.

40Rollo, p. 83.

41 Id. at 83-84.

42 Id. at 84.

43 Id.

44 Id.

45 Id. at 88.

46 Id. at 102.

47 Id.

48 Id. at 71. This is pursuant to the Resolution dated August 1, 2000 in A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC.

49Re: Application for Survivorship Pension Benefits Under Republic Act No. 9946 of Mrs. Pacita A. Gruba, Surviving Spouse of the late Manuel K. Gruba, Former CTA Associate Judge, A.M. No. 14155-Ret., November 19, 2013, 709 SCRA 603 [Per J. Leonen, En Banc].

50 Id. at 612-613, citing Profeta v. Drilon, G.R. No. 104139, December 22, 1992, 216 SCRA 777, 782-783 [Per J. Padilla, En Banc], citing in turn Ortiz v. COMELEC, 245 Phil. 780, 789 (1988) [Per J. Fernan, En Banc]; Government Service Insurance System v. De Leon, G.R. No. 186560, November 17, 2010, 635 SCRA 321, 330-331 [Per J. Nachura, Second Division]; and Bengzon v. Drilon, G.R. No. 103524, April 15, 1992, 208 SCRA 133, 153 [Per J. Gutierrez, Jr., En Banc].

51Bengzon v. Drilon, G.R. No. 103524, April 15, 1992, 208 SCRA 133, 150 [Per J. Gutierrez, Jr., En Banc].

52 Id.

53 G.R. No. 103524, April 15, 1992, 208 SCRA 133 [Per J. Gutierrez, Jr., En Banc].

54 Id. at 150.

55Re: COA Opinion on the Computation of the Appraised Value of the Properties Purchased by the Retired Chief/Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, 692 Phil. 147 (2012) [Per Curiam, En Banc].

56 Id. at 161-163.

57 Id. at 162.



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August-2015 Jurisprudence                 

  • G.R. No. 197709, August 03, 2015 - JOSE YULO AGRICULTURAL CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES PERLA CABAYLO DAVIS AND SCOTT DAVIS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 200969, August 03, 2015 - CONSOLACION D. ROMERO AND ROSARIO S.D. DOMINGO, Petitioners, v. ENGRACIA D. SINGSON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213847, August 18, 2015 - JUAN PONCE ENRILE, Petitioner, v. SANDIGANBAYAN (THIRD DIVISION), AND PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 8708 (CBD Case No. 08-2192), August 12, 2015 - SPOUSES BYRON AND MARIA LUISA SAUNDERS, Complainants, v. ATTY. LYSSA GRACE S. PAGANO-CALDE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 177803, August 03, 2015 - SPOUSES EMILIANO L. JALBAY, SR. AND MAMERTA C. JALBAY, Petitioners, v. PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 201365, August 03, 2015 - THE PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MANUELA FLORES Y SALAZAR @ WELLA Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 198908, August 03, 2015 - VIRGINIA OCAMPO, Petitioner, v. DEOGRACIO OCAMPO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 195175, August 10, 2015 - COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Petitioner, v. TOLEDO POWER COMPANY, Respondent.; G.R. NO. 199645 - TOLEDO POWER COMPANY, Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213233, August 05, 2015 - BLISS DEVELOPMENT CORP./HOME GUARANTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. MONTANO DIAZ, DOMINGO TAPAY, AND EDGAR H. ARREZA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 197953, August 05, 2015 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. SANDIGANBAYAN (2ND DIVISION), QUINTIN SALUDAGA Y BORDEOS, ARTHUS ADRIATICO Y ERUDA AND ROMEO DE LUNA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 187524, August 05, 2015 - SPOUSES MARIA BUTIONG AND FRANCISCO VILLAFRIA, SUBSTITUTED BY DR. RUEL B. VILLAFRIA, Petitioners, v. MA. GRACIA RI�OZA PLAZO AND MA. FE RI�OZA ALARAS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 209447, August 11, 2015 - PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT (PCGG), Petitioner, v. HON. WINLOVE M. DUMAYAS, PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 59, MAKATI CITY AND UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS BANK (UCPB), Respondents.; G.R. NO. 210901 - PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT (PCGG), Petitioner, v. HON. WINLOVE M. DUMAYAS, PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 59, MAKATI CITY AND UNITED COCONUT PLANTERS LIFE ASSURANCE CORPORATION (COCOLIFE), Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 188739, August 05, 2015 - BENJAMIN E. RAVAGO, Petitioner, v. METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY, SUBSTITUTED BY BRIGHT VENTURES REALTY, INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 215714, August 12, 2015 - OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. EFREN BASAL CAYAS, Accused-Appellant.

  • A.M. No. 11238-Ret., August 18, 2015 - IN RE: EXPIRATION OF FIXED TERM OF OFFICE OF ATTY. SAADUDDIN A. ALAUYA, OFFICE OF THE JURISCONSULT, ZAMBOANGA CITY

  • G.R. No. 167838, August 05, 2015 - JOSE V. TOLEDO, GLENN PADIERNOS AND DANILO PADIERNOS, Petitioner, v. COURT OF APPEALS, LOURDES RAMOS, ENRIQUE RAMOS, ANTONIO RAMOS, MILAGROS RAMOS AND ANGELITA RAMOS AS HEIRS OF SOCORRO RAMOS, GUILLERMO PABLO, PRIMITIVA CRUZ AND A.R.C. MARKETING CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT, ALBERTO C. DY, Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 10635, August 26, 2015 - NOEL S. SORREDA, Complainant, v. ATTY. DAVID L. KHO, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-14-3253, August 19, 2015 - NICETAS TANIEZA-CALAYOAN, Complainant, v. ELMER JERRY C. CALAYOAN, PROCESS SERVER, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 2, BANGUED, ABRA, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 8084, August 24, 2015 - PATROCINIA H. SALABAO, Complainant, v. ATTY. ANDRES C. VILLARUEL, JR., Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 9834, August 26, 2015 - SAMUEL B. ARNADO, Complainant, v. ATTY. HOMOBONO A. ADAZA, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 7314, August 25, 2015 - MARY ANN T. FLORES, Complainant, v. ATTY. JOVENCIO LL. MAYOR, JR., Respondent.

  • A.M. No. CA-12-26-P, August 17, 2015 - OFFICE OF THE COURT ADMINISTRATOR, Complainant, v. ANA MARIE ABARENTOS, RECORDS OFFICER IV, COURT OF APPEALS, CEBU CITY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206220, August 19, 2015 - LUIS UY, SUBSTITUTED BY LYDIA UY VELASQUEZ AND SHIRLEY UY MACARAIG, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES JOSE LACSAMANA AND ROSAURA* MENDOZA, SUBSTITUTED BY CORAZON BUENA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 214865, August 19, 2015 - ROSVEE C. CELESTIAL, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 201822, August 12, 2015 - MARINA PORT SERVICES, INC., Petitioner, v. AMERICAN HOME ASSURANCE CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202967, August 05, 2015 - ALICIA Y. LAUREL, SUBSTITUTED BY HER SOLE HEIR AND LEGAL REPRESENTATIVE JUAN MIGUEL Y. LAUREL, Petitioner, v. FERDINAND M. VARDELEON, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 183869, August 03, 2015 - LEONARDO L. VILLALON, Petitioner, v. RENATO E. LIRIO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 179751, August 05, 2015 - HERMINIA L. MENDOZA, IN HER CAPACITY AS OIC OF THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF LUCENA CITY, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES ARMANDO AND ANGELA GARANA AND FAR EAST BANK & TRUST CO., INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208320, August 19, 2015 - GRACE DAVID Y CESAR, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 174542, August 03, 2015 - KAREN GO, Petitioner, v. LAMBERTO ECHAVEZ, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 196875, August 19, 2015 - TEDDY MARAVILLA, Petitioner, v. JOSEPH RIOS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 205113, August 26, 2015 - HONORLITA ASCANO-CUPINO AND FLAVIANA ASCANO-COLOCADO, Petitioners, v. PACIFIC REHOUSE CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 205823, August 17, 2015 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Appellee, v. REGIE BREIS Y ALVARADO AND GARY YUMOL Y TUAZON,* Appellants.

  • G.R. No. 198643, August 19, 2015 - MARSMAN & COMPANY AND QUIRINO R. ILEDAN, Petitioners, v. ARTEMIO M. LIGO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 214054, August 05, 2015 - NG MENG TAM, Petitioner, v. CHINA BANKING CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. P-11-2982 (Formerly O.C.A. IPI No. 08-2913-P), August 17, 2015 - FORMER JUDGE FERNANDO VIL PAMINTUAN, Complainant, v. SALVADOR G. COMUYOG, JR., CLERK III, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 187882, August 24, 2015 - PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES HIPPOCRATES AND MELANIE PIMENTEL, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 190984, August 19, 2015 - ACOMARIT ACOMARIT LIMITED, PHILS., AND/OR HONGKONG, Petitioners, v. GOMER L. DOTIMAS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 170706, August 26, 2015 - PRUDENCIO CARANTO, Petitioner, v. BERGESEN D.Y. PHILS. AND/OR BERGESEN D.Y. A.S.A., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 194617, August 05, 2015 - LA TONDE�A, INC., Petitioner, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206612, August 17, 2015 - TOYOTA ALABANG, INC., Petitioner, v. EDWIN GAMES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 203142, August 26, 2015 - THE PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY (PPA), Petitioner, v. COALITION OF PPA OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTED BY HECTOR E. MIOLE, ET AL., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 182157, August 17, 2015 - ANLUD METAL RECYCLING CORPORATION, AS REPRESENTED BY ALFREDO A. DY, Petitioner, v. JOAQUIN ANG, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 5161, August 25, 2015 - RE: IN THE MATTER OF THE PETITION FOR REINSTATEMENT OF ROLANDO S. TORRES AS A MEMBER OF THE PHILIPPINE BAR.

  • G.R. Nos. 191370-71, August 10, 2015 - RODOLFO BASILONIA, LEODEGARIO CATALAN AND JOHN BASILONIA, Petitioners, v. HON. DELANO F. VLLLARUZ, ACTING IN HIS CAPACITY AS PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, ROXAS CITY, BRANCH 16, AND DIXON ROBLETE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 165146, August 12, 2015 - SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND VERNETTE G. UMALI, Petitioners, v. BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB CORPORATION, Respondent.; G.R. N0. 165209 - RAMON K. ILUSORIO AND ERLINDA K. ILUSORIO, Petitioners, v. BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB CORPORATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 203066, August 05, 2015 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RODELIO LLOBERA Y OFIZA, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 190892, August 17, 2015 - VICENTE H. MANULAT, JR., Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 183370, August 17, 2015 - NATION PETROLEUM GAS, INCORPORATED, NENA ANG, MARIO ANG, ALISON A. SY, GUILLERMO G. SY, NELSON ANG, LUISA ANG, RENATO C. ANG, PAULINE T. ANG, RICKY C. ANG,1 AND MELINDA ANG, Petitioners, v. RIZAL COMMERCIAL BANKING CORPORATION, SUBSTITUTED BY PHILIPPINE ASSET GROWTH ONE, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213455, August 11, 2015 - JUAN PONCE ENRILE, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, HON. AMPARO M. CABOTAJE-TANG, HON. SAMUEL R. MARTIRES, AND HON. ALEX L. QUIROZ OF THE THIRD DIVISION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 201405, August 24, 2015 - LIWAYWAY ANDRES, RONNIE ANDRES, AND PABLO B. FRANCISCO, Petitioners, v. STA. LUCIA REALTY & DEVELOPMENT, INCORPORATED, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 153810, August 12, 2015 - WINSTON R. GARCIA, IN HIS CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER OF THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE INSURANCE SYSTEM (GSIS), Petitioners, v. ANGELITA TOLENTINO, EDELITO ZOLLO EDRALINDA, KATHLYN A. UMALI, VIVIAN ROSIELLE CERVANTES, EDITH MEDINA, ROMELO CABANGON, ET AL., Respondents.; G.R. NO. 167297 - MELINA I. GARCIA, CECILIA V. LAS, NIMFA PENALOSA, ROSANA R. ZEPEDA, RACHELLE L. JACOB, MARIBEL B. TENA, AND EDUVIGIS S. ANGELES (IN LIEU OF ANGELITA TOLENTINO FOR THE NATIONAL FORESTATION DEVELOPMENT OFFICE-DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, ET AL.), Petitioners, v. WINSTON GARCIA, ET AL., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 192943, August 12, 2015 - UNITED DUMANGAS PORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE PORTS AUTHORITY, ATTY. OSMAR M. SEVILLA, GENERAL MANAGER, ATTY. FERNANDO B. CLAVERINA, PORT MANAGER, PORT MANAGEMENT OFFICER-ILOILO; AND RAUL T. SANTOS, PORT DISTRICT MANAGER, PORT DISTRICT OFFICE-VISAYAS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 200114, August 24, 2015 - SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM, Petitioner, v. DEBBIE UBA�A, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 177168, August 03, 2015 - NAVY OFFICERS' VILLAGE ASSOCIATION, INC. (NOVAI), Petitioner, v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 163598, August 12, 2015 - AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES ASSOCIATION (ARBA), AS REPRESENTED BY ISAIAS "ACE" NICOLAS IN HIS CAPACITY AS PRESIDENT, VIOLETA BATADHAY, JESUS F. DANAO, DOMINADOR RIOSA, EVA I. FLORIDO, VIRGINIA CARIAS, WILLIAM D. DORONELA, ELSA MENGOLIO, FEDELINA AMENGYAO, REBECCA REBAMBA, MELANI CADAG, SOFRONIA SABORDO, MYRNA SANTIAGO, JOSELYNDA MANALANZAN, NORA I. REBUZANO, NATIVIDAD PLACIDO, ALGERICO L. GAEGUERA, RUBEN G. ACEBEDO, MARGIE M. VALDEZ, HELEN S. BUNI, EMELINDA FERNANDEZ, JULIETA J. AVENGONZA, VIOLETA C. ASIS, CARINA C. CABRERA, EDUARDO M. DILAY, SIMEONA V. ROLEDA, EVELYN SANTO ELEUTERIA A. NOLASCO, TERESA CRUZ, MELBA ABRENICA, BESAME VILLACORTA, ROSALINA HERNANDEZ, VERONICA DOMULOT, LUCIA SOUN, ILUMENADA RONQUILLO, REGINA LOPEZ, AMPARO GREY, HIPOLITO MANDAO, JUAN DELA VEGA, PRESCILIANA LLEMIT, LEBERETA IGNACIO, FRANCISCO VALDEMOR, Petitioners, v. FIL-ESTATE INC., PROPERTIES, Respondent.; G.R. NO. 164660 - THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD (DARAB), AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES, INC., ET AL., Petitioners, v. KINGSVILLE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORP. AND JOHNSON ONG, Respondents.; G.R. NO. 164779 - AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARIES ASSOCIATION (ARBA), VIOLETA BATADHAY, NATIVIDAD PLACIDO, JESUS F. DANAO, EVA I. FLORIDO, VIRGINIA CARIAS, WILLIAM D. DORONELA, ELSA MENGOLIO, ROBERTO ISIP, REBECCA REBAMBA, SOFRONIA SABORDO, MYRNA SANTIAGO, JOSELYNDA MANALANZAN, NORA I. REBUZANO, ALGERICO L. GALQUERA, RUBEN G. ACEBEDO, MARGIE M. VALDEZ, HELEN S. BUNI, JULIETA J. AVENGONZA, VIOLETA C. ASIS, CARINA C. CABRERA, EDUARDO M. DILAY, ELEUTERIA A. NOLASCO, TERESA CRUZ, MELBA ABRENICA, VERONICA DOMULOT, LUCIA SUN, ILUMENADA RONQUILLO AND PRESCILIANA LLEMIT, Petitioners, v. KINGSVILLE CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND JOHNSONONG, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 164974, August 05, 2015 - CHARLIE TE, Petitioner, v. HON. AUGUSTO V. BREVA, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, 11TH JUDICIAL REGION, BRANCH 10, DAVAO CITY; U R. BAHINTING, IN HIS CAPACITY AS SPECIAL INVESTIGATOR OF THE NATIONAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION, SARANGGANI DISTRICT OFFICE; AND PRYCE GASES, INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 211302, August 12, 2015 - PHILIPPINE TRANSMARINE CARRIERS, INC., CARLOS C. SALINAS, AND NORWEGIAN CREW MANAGEMENT A/S, Petitioners, v. CESAR C. PELAGIO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 210164, August 18, 2015 - ROMMEL C. ARNADO, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS AND FLORANTE CAPITAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 211649, August 12, 2015 - AQA GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION, INC., Petitioner, v. PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK, Respondent.; G.R. No. 211742 - JE-AN SUPREME BUILDERS AND SALES CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. PLANTERS DEVELOPMENT BANK, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 203355, August 18, 2015 - LEO R. ROSALES, EDGAR SOLIS JONATHAN G. RANIOLA, LITO FELICIANO, RAYMUNDO DIDAL, JR., NESTOR SALIN, ARNULFO S. ABRIL, RUBEN FLORES, DANTE FERMA AND MELCHOR SELGA, Petitioners, v. NEW A.N.J.H. ENTERPRISES & N.H. OIL MILL CORPORATION, NOEL AWAYAN, MA. FE AWAYAN, BYRON ILAGAN, HEIDI A. ILAGAN AND AVELINO AWAYAN, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-14-2383 (Formerly A.M. OCA I.P.I No. 05-2301-RTJ), August 17, 2015 - DR. CORAZON D. PADERANGA, DULCE P. GUIBELONDO, PATRIA P. DIAZ, CARMENCITA P. ORSENO, AND DR. AMOR P. GALON, Complainants, v. HONORABLE RUSTICO D. PADERANGA, IN HIS CAPACITY AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 28, IN MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN, Respondent.; A.M. No. RTJ-07-2033 (FORMERLY A.M. OCA I.P.I No. 06-2485-RTJ) - PATRIA PADERANGA DIAZ, Complainant, v. HON. RTC JUDGE RUSTICO D. PADERANGA, AS THE PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 28, IN MAMBAJAO, CAMIGUIN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 160924, August 05, 2015 - TERELAY INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. CECILIA TERESITA J. YULO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213286, August 26, 2015 - MAMERTA LOPEZ CLAUDIO, EDUARDO L. CLAUDIO, ASUNCION CLAUDIO-CONTEGINO, ANA CLAUDIO-ISULAT, DOLORES CLAUDIO-MABINI, AND FERMIN L. CLAUDIO, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES FEDERICO AND NORMA SARAZA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 200295, August 19, 2015 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. EDGAR BOLO Y FRANCO, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 209331, August 24, 2015 - DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, REPRESENTED BY HON. CESAR V. PURISIMA IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS SECRETARY, AND THE BUREAU OF CUSTOMS, REPRESENTED BY HON. ROZZANO RUFINO B. BIAZON, IN HIS OFFICIAL CAPACITY AS COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS, Petitioners, v. HON. MARINO M. DELA CRUZ, JR., IN HIS CAPACITY AS EXECUTIVE JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, MANILA, HON. FELICITAS O. LARON-CACANINDIN, IN HER CAPACITY AS PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, MANILA, BRANCH 17, RONNIE C. SILVESTRE, EDWARD P. DELA CUESTA, ROGEL C. GATCHALIAN, IMELDA D.CRUZ, LILIBETH S. SANDAG, RAYMOND P. VENTURA, MA. LIZA S. TORRES, ARNEL C. ALCARAZ, MA. LOURDES V. MANGAOANG, FRANCIS AGUSTIN Y. ERPE, CARLOS T. SO, MARIETTA D. ZAMORANOS, CARMELITA M. TALUSAN,1] AREFILES H. CARREON,2] AND ROMALINO G. VALDEZ, Respondents.

  • A.C. No. 6738, August 12, 2015 - GABRIELA CORONEL, Petitioner, v. ATTY. NELSON A. CUNANAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 170671, August 19, 2015 - FILADELFA T. LAUSA, LORETA T. TORRES, PRIMITIVO TUGOT AND ANACLETO T. CADUHAY, Petitioners, v. MAURICIA QUILATON, RODRIGO Q. TUGOT, PURIFICACION T. CODILLA, TEOFRA T. SADAYA, ESTRELLITA T. GALEOS AND ROSITA T. LOPEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202322, August 19, 2015 - LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT AUTHORITY, Petitioner, v. ROMULO S. MENDOZA, FRANCISCO S. MERCADO, ROBERTO M. REYES, EDGARDO CRISTOBAL, JR., AND RODOLFO ROMAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 198751, August 19, 2015 - FLOR CA�AS-MANUEL, Petitioner, v. ANDRES D. EGANO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181111, August 17, 2015 - JACKSON PADIERNOS Y QUEJADA, JACKIE ROXAS Y GERMAN AND ROLANDO MESINA Y JAVATE, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202645, August 05, 2015 - FORTUNATO R. BARON, MANOLO B. BERSABAL, AND RECTO A. MELENDRES, Petitioners, v. EPE TRANSPORT, INC. AND/OR ERNESTO P. ENRIQUEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 211263, August 05, 2015 - OKS DESIGNTECH, INC. REPRESENTED BY ZAMBY O. PONGAD, Petitioner, v. MARY JAYNE L. CACCAM, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 175098, August 26, 2015 - ISMAEL V. CRISOSTOMO, Petitioner, v. MARTIN P. VICTORIA, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. CA-15-33-P [Formerly OCA IPI No. 13-207-CA-P], August 24, 2015 - TERESITA R. MARIGOMEN, CLERK OF COURT, COURT OF APPEALS, MANILA, Complainant, v. RONELO G. LABAR, DRIVER, MAILING AND DELIVERY SECTION, COURT OF APPEALS, CEBU STATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 168157, August 19, 2015 - HILARIO P. SORIANO, Petitioner, v. DEPUTY OMBUDSMAN FOR LUZON VICTOR C. FERNANDEZ, FLORIZA A. BRIONES, GRAFT INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OFFICER II, DONNA B. PASCUAL, GRAFT INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OFFICER II, AND ATTY. ADONIS C. CLEOFE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 200841-42, August 26, 2015 - CE LUZON GEOTHERMAL POWER COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 171582, August 19, 2015 - ALBERTO T. LASALA, PREVIOUSLY DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE STYLE PSF SECURITY AGENCY, Petitioner, v. THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 169343, August 05, 2015 - SAN MIGUEL PROPERTIES, INC., Petitioner, v. BF HOMES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 166102, August 05, 2015 - MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY, Petitioner, v. THE CITY ASSESSOR AND CITY TREASURER OF LUCENA CITY, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC, August 18, 2015 - RE: REQUEST OF RETIRED SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES FOR INCREASE/ADJUSTMENT OF THEIR DECEMBER 1998 PENSIONS

  • A.M. No. RTJ-15-2439 (Formerly: OCA I.P.I. No. 12-3989-RTJ), August 26, 2015 - ARIEL "AGA" MUHLACH, Complainant, v. EXECUTIVE JUDGE MA. ANGELA ACOMPA�ADO-ARROYO, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, SAN JOSE CITY, CAMARINES SUR, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 169385, August 26, 2015 - TEOFILO GIANGAN, SANTOS BONTIA (DECEASED), AND LIBERATO DUMAIL (DECEASED), Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 205722, August 19, 2015 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT, Petitioners, v. LEGAL HEIRS OF JOSE L. AFRICA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 169710, August 19, 2015 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. JOSE ALBERTO ALBA, REPRESENTED BY HIS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, MANUEL C. BLANCO, JR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 162692, August 26, 2015 - NILO V. CHIPONGIAN, Petitioner, v. VICTORIA BENITEZ-LIRIO, FEODOR BENITEZ AGUILAR, AND THE COURT OF APPEALS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206032, August 19, 2015 - JOSE RUDY L. BAUTISTA, Petitioner, v. ELBURG SHIPMANAGEMENT PHILIPPINES, INC., AUGUSTEA SHIPMANAGEMENT ITALY, AND/OR CAPTAIN ANTONIO S. NOMBRADO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208354, August 26, 2015 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RICARDO BACUS, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 168258, August 17, 2015 - RICARDO V. QUINTOS, Petitioner, v. DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES AND PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 181111, August 17, 2015 - JACKSON PADIERNOS Y QUEJADA, JACKIE ROXAS Y GERMAN AND ROLANDO MESINA Y JAVATE, Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202645, August 05, 2015 - FORTUNATO R. BARON, MANOLO B. BERSABAL, AND RECTO A. MELENDRES, Petitioners, v. EPE TRANSPORT, INC. AND/OR ERNESTO P. ENRIQUEZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 175098, August 26, 2015 - ISMAEL V. CRISOSTOMO, Petitioner, v. MARTIN P. VICTORIA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 211263, August 05, 2015 - OKS DESIGNTECH, INC. REPRESENTED BY ZAMBY O. PONGAD, Petitioner, v. MARY JAYNE L. CACCAM, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. CA-15-33-P [Formerly OCA IPI No. 13-207-CA-P], August 24, 2015 - TERESITA R. MARIGOMEN, CLERK OF COURT, COURT OF APPEALS, MANILA, Complainant, v. RONELO G. LABAR, DRIVER, MAILING AND DELIVERY SECTION, COURT OF APPEALS, CEBU STATION, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 168157, August 19, 2015 - HILARIO P. SORIANO, Petitioner, v. DEPUTY OMBUDSMAN FOR LUZON VICTOR C. FERNANDEZ, FLORIZA A. BRIONES, GRAFT INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OFFICER II, DONNA B. PASCUAL, GRAFT INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OFFICER II, AND ATTY. ADONIS C. CLEOFE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 200841-42, August 26, 2015 - CE LUZON GEOTHERMAL POWER COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 171582, August 19, 2015 - ALBERTO T. LASALA, PREVIOUSLY DOING BUSINESS UNDER THE STYLE PSF SECURITY AGENCY, Petitioner, v. THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 169343, August 05, 2015 - SAN MIGUEL PROPERTIES, INC., Petitioner, v. BF HOMES, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 166102, August 05, 2015 - MANILA ELECTRIC COMPANY, Petitioner, v. THE CITY ASSESSOR AND CITY TREASURER OF LUCENA CITY, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. RTJ-15-2439 (Formerly: OCA I.P.I. No. 12-3989-RTJ), August 26, 2015 - ARIEL "AGA" MUHLACH, Complainant, v. EXECUTIVE JUDGE MA. ANGELA ACOMPA�ADO-ARROYO, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, SAN JOSE CITY, CAMARINES SUR, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. 99-7-01-SC, August 18, 2015 - RE: REQUEST OF RETIRED SUPREME COURT AND COURT OF APPEALS JUSTICES FOR INCREASE/ADJUSTMENT OF THEIR DECEMBER 1998 PENSIONS

  • G.R. No. 169385, August 26, 2015 - TEOFILO GIANGAN, SANTOS BONTIA (DECEASED), AND LIBERATO DUMAIL (DECEASED), Petitioners, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 205722, August 19, 2015 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON GOOD GOVERNMENT, Petitioners, v. LEGAL HEIRS OF JOSE L. AFRICA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 169710, August 19, 2015 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. JOSE ALBERTO ALBA, REPRESENTED BY HIS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, MANUEL C. BLANCO, JR., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 162692, August 26, 2015 - NILO V. CHIPONGIAN, Petitioner, v. VICTORIA BENITEZ-LIRIO, FEODOR BENITEZ AGUILAR, AND THE COURT OF APPEALS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 206032, August 19, 2015 - JOSE RUDY L. BAUTISTA, Petitioner, v. ELBURG SHIPMANAGEMENT PHILIPPINES, INC., AUGUSTEA SHIPMANAGEMENT ITALY, AND/OR CAPTAIN ANTONIO S. NOMBRADO,* Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208354, August 26, 2015 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RICARDO BACUS, Accused-Appellant.

  • G.R. No. 200751, August 17, 2015 - MONICO LIGTAS, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 168258, August 17, 2015 - RICARDO V. QUINTOS, Petitioner, v. DEVELOPMENT BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES AND PHILIPPINE NATIONAL BANK, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 215568, August 03, 2015 - RICHARD N. RIVERA, Petitioner, v. GENESIS TRANSPORT SERVICE, INC. AND RIZA A. MOISES, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 172301, August 19, 2015 - PHILIPPINE NATIONAL CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. ASIAVEST MERCHANT BANKERS (M) BERHAD, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 210554, August 05, 2015 - DAVID YU KIMTENG, MARY L. YU, WINNIE L. YU, VIVIAN L. YU, ROSA GAN, LILIAN CHUA WOO YUKIMTENG, SANTOS YU, MARCELO YU, AND SIN CHIAO YU LIM, Petitioners, v. ATTY. WALTER T. YOUNG, ANASTACIO E. REVILLA, JR., ATTY. JOVITO GAMBOL, AND ATTY. DAN REYNALD R. MAGAT, PRACTICING LAW UNDER THE FIRM NAME, YOUNG REVILLA GAMBOL & MAGAT, AND JUDGE OFELIA L. CALO, PRESIDING JUDGE OF BRANCH 211 OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, MANDALUYONG CITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 171804, August 05, 2015 - THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF NEGROS OCCIDENTAL AND THE NATIONAL TREASURER OF THE REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioners, v. OSCAR ANGLO, SR., AND ANGLO AGRICULTURAL CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY OSCAR ANGLO, JR., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 205705, August 05, 2015 - DOMINADOR M. APIQUE, Petitioner, v. EVANGELINE APIQUE FAHNENSTICH, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 195990, August 05, 2015 - HEIRS OF RAFAEL GOZO REPRESENTED BY CASTILLO GOZO AND RAFAEL GOZO, JR., Petitioners, v. PHILIPPINE UNION MISSION CORPORATION OF THE SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH (PUMCO), SOUTH PHILIPPINE UNION MISSION OF SDA (SPUMCO) AND SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH AT SIMPAK, LALA, LANAO DEL NORTE REPRESENTED BY BETTY PEREZ , Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 163504, August 05, 2015 - BERLINDA ORIBELLO, Petitioner, v. COURT OF APPEALS (SPECIAL FORMER TENTH DIVISION), AND REMEDIOS ORIBELLO, Respondents.