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EN BANC

G.R. No. L-2242 December 1, 1906

HOUSTON B. PAROT, plaintiff-appellee,
vs.
CARLOS GEMORA, defendant-appellant.

JOHNSON, J.:

The plaintiff, as indorsee, brought this action in the Court of First Instance of the Province of Iloilo, against the defendant as one of the makers of the following promissory note:

CABANCALAN, NEGROS, OCCIDENTAL,
April 1, 1899.

Pagaremos juntos o separadamente en el pueblo de Cabancalan a la Sra. Tomasa Gemora, viuda de Perez, por si y como administradora judicial de los bienes de sus hijos mayores Sr. Isidro, Sras. Felisa, Concepcion, Pilar y Josefina Perez y Gemora, y tambien como tutora legal de los menores Vicente, Carmen, Santiago y Maria Perez y Gemora, la cantidad de cinco mil ochocientos cincuenta y siete pesos, el dia treinta y uno de Marzo del año mil novecientos tres, en monedas de plata española o mejicana en cuya forma la recibimos en calidad de prostamo gratuito y sin interos de ningun genero del Sr. Manuel Perez y Fernandez hoy difunto, esposo y padre respectivamente de la Sra. Tomasa y de sus hijos mencionados. Y para que asi conste donde convenga formalizamos este documento que formamos en Cabancalan a primero de Abril de mil ochocientos noventa y nueve. - Sobre raspado: o - vale. (Firmados) Carlos
Gemora - Asuncion Aguilar. - Y al margen se lee: Son $5,857.

The plaintiff alleges in his complaint that the said Asuncion Aguilar, one of the comakers, died in the month of February, 1901, which fact was admitted by the defendant in his answer.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The plaintiff also alleges that the said Tomasa Gemora, on the 20th day of February, 1901, sold and delivered, by proper indorsement, the said promissory note to the Lizarraga Hermanos.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The complaint further alleges that on the 16th day of January, 1903, the Lizarraga Hermanos sold and delivered, by proper indorsement, the said promissory note to the plaintiff herein.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The defendant, in his answer, admitted the execution and delivery of the said promissory note and alleged that he had paid the same.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Two assessors, Manuel S. Locsin and Numeriano Villalobos, assisted the judge in the trial of the said cause. At the close of the trial, after hearing the evidence and the arguments of the attorneys, the judge of the Court of First Instance of the Province of Iloilo, with the concurrence of the assessors, found the following facts to be true: chanrobles virtual law library

First. That the said note had been execute and delivered in the manner and form alleged by the plaintiff in his complaint.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Second. That the said note had been indorsed by the original payee to the Lizarraga Hermanos and the by latter to the plaintiff herein.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Third. That the said promissory note had not been paid as alleged by the defendant.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Fourth. That their was due to the plaintiff from the defendant on the said promissory note, on the 31st day of March, 1903, the sum of 5,857 pesos, Mexican currency, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent from the 31st day of March, 1903.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Fifth. That one peso, Philippine currency, was equal to one peso and six cents, Mexican currency.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The lower court after calculating the interest and allowing for the rate of exchange between Mexican and Philippine currency, rendered a judgment in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant for the sum of 5,845.30 pesos, Philippine currency, with costs. To this judgment the defendant duly excepted. There was no motion for a new trial in the court below.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The appellant makes three assignments of error in this court, as follows: chanrobles virtual law library

First. That the judge committed an error in rendering judgment against the defendant, Carlos Gemora, for the payment of the full amount of the debt of himself and his wife Asuncion Aguilar, the makers of the said promissory note.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Second. The court committed an error in declaring that "Exhibit 1" of the defendant was a false document.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Third. The court committed an error in declaring that Carlos Gemora has not paid Tomasa Gemora the debt evidenced by the said promissory note.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

The second and third assignments of error present questions of fact. Inasmuch as the defendant presented no motion for a new trial in the Court of First Instance this court can not examine the evidence presented during the trial for the purpose of ascertaining whether or not the findings of the judge upon these questions were supported thereby. (See Case No. 3242, Daniel Tanchoco vs. Simplicio Sanchez, ¹ 4 Off. Gaz., 652, and cases cited; also paragraph 3 of section 497 of the Code of Procedure in Civil Actions.) chanrobles virtual law library

With reference to the first assignment of error, the appellant claims that the inferior court committed an error in rendering a judgment against the defendant for the full amount of the said promissory note. The appellant claims that the phrase juntos o separadamente, used in the said promissory note, did not render each of the original makers of the said promissory note liable for the full amount thereof. The Civil Code provides that where two or more persons are obligated in a single contract, they shall be liable only pro rata, unless the contract by express terms makes them severally liable for the full amount of the obligation. (Articles 1137 and 1138 of the Civil Code.) chanrobles virtual law library

We are of the opinion, and so hold, that the phrase juntos o separadamente, used in his promissory note, is an express statement, making each of the persons who signed it individually liable for the payment of the full amount of the obligation contained therein. (Case No. 3242, Daniel Tanchoco vs. Simplicio Suarez.) chanrobles virtual law library

The phrase juntos o separadamente, used in a contract creates the same obligation as the phrase " mancomun o insolidum." The words " separadamente" and " insolidum" used in a contract in connection with the nature of the liability of the parties are sufficient to create an individual liability.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

In the State of Louisiana where there exists statutes similar to the above-quoted provisions of the Civil Code, the Supreme Court held that where a promissory note read "We promise to pay," etc., signed by two or more persons, without the use of any words to designate the character of the liability, that the signers of such promissory note were liable pro rata only. The same court held that where a promissory note contained the provision "I promise to pay," etc., signed by two or more persons, that they were individually liable for the payment of the full amount of the obligation. (Bank of Louisiana vs. Sterling et al., 2 La. Rep., 60.) chanrobles virtual law library

We find that the facts contained in the judgment of the lower court are sufficient to justify his conclusion. The judgment of the lower court is therefore affirmed, with interest at the rate of 6 per cent from the 18th of March, 1904, and costs.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

After the expiration of ten days let judgment be entered in accordance herewith, and ten days thereafter the case be returned to the lower court for execution. So ordered.chanroblesvirtualawlibrary chanrobles virtual law library

Arellano, C.J., Torres, Carson, Willard and Tracey, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:

1 6 Phil. Rep., 491.