THIRD DIVISION ROLANDOSASAN, SR., LEONILODAYDAY, MODESTOAGUIRRE,
ALEJANDROARDIMER, ELEUTERIOSACIL,WILFREDO JUEGOS, PETRONILO CARCEDO
and CESARPACIENCIA,Petitioners, -versus- NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS
COMMISSION 4THDIVISION, EQUITABLE-PCI BAN and HELPMATE, INC.,
Respondents.G.R. N!. "#$%4& Present: YNARES-SANTIAGO,
Chairperson,AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ,AZCUNA,CICO-NAZARIO, andNACURA,
Pro!"#$ated: O%to&er '(, )**+,- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -,
- E C I S I O N CICO-NAZARIO, J.: Assai#ed in this Petition .or
Re/ie0 "nder R"#e 12 o. the R"#es o.Co"rt are the -e%ision3'4 dated
)1 Apri# )**5 o. the Co"rt o. Appea#s inCA-G.R. SP No. (66'), 0hi%h
a7r!ed the -e%ision dated )) 8an"ar9 )**:o. the Nationa#;a&or
Re#ations Co!!ission ndin$ that e#p!ate, In%. #ed &9 the
petitioners. Respondent EB"itae-PCI Can@ #ed 0ith the
Ar&itration Cran%h o.the N;RC in Ce&" Cit9 separate
%o!p#aints3'14 a$ainst E-PCICan@ and I.or i##e$a# dis!issa#, 0ith
%#ai!s .or separation pa9, ser/i%e in%enti/e #ea/epa9, a##o0an%es,
da!a$es, attorne9Hs.eesand%osts. Their
%o!p#aints0eredo%@etedasN;RCRAC-GII CaseNo.
*(-':+'-)**'andraIedto;a&orAr&iter8oseG. G"tierreDnd !erit
in petitionersHprotestations a$ainst the do%"!entar9 e/iden%e
s"&!itted &9 I &e%a"sethe9 0ere !ere photo%opies.
E/ident#9, petitioners are in/o@in$ the &este/iden%er"#e,
espo"sedinSe%tion:, R"#e':*o. theR"#eso. Co"rt. Itpro/ides that:
Se%tion :. K,riginal -ocu!ent !ust e'ro-uce-. e/ce'tions. K Fhen
the s"&?e%t o. inB"ir9 isthe%ontents o. ado%"!ent,
noe/iden%esha## &ead!issie other than the ori$ina# do%"!ent
itse#. , ,,. The a&o/e pro/ision e,p#i%it#9 !andates that 0hen
the s"&?e%to. inB"ir9 is the %ontents o. a do%"!ent, no
e/iden%e sha## &e ad!issieother than the ori$ina# do%"!ent
itse#.. Nota, '()*+,(d *)-( '!.+(/ o.these do%"!ents, a%%eptae
"nder the R"#es o. Co"rt3::4 0ere ."rnishedto the petitioners. E/en
ass"!in$ that petitioners 0ere $i/en !erephoto%opies,a$ain, 0e
stress thatpro%eedin$s&e.ore the N;RC are not%o/ered &9 the
te%hni%a#r"#es o. e/iden%e and pro%ed"re as o&ser/ed inthe
re$"#ar %o"rts.Te%hni%a# r"#es o. e/iden%e do not app#9 i. the
de%isionto $rant the petition pro%eeds .ro! an e,a!ination o. its
s"7%ien%9 as 0e##as a %are."# #oo@ into the ar$"!ents %ontained in
position papers and otherdo%"!ents.3:14 Petitioners had !ore than
adeB"ate opport"nit9 0hen the9 >#edtheir !otion .or
re%onsideration &e.ore the N;RC, their Petition to the Co"rto.
Appea#sande/entothisCo"rt, tore."teor present their
%o"nter-e/iden%e to the do%"!entar9 e/iden%e presented &9 I.
a/in$ .ai#ed inthisrespe%t, petitioners%annot
no0&eheardto%o!p#aina&o"t
thesedo%"!entar9e/iden%espresented&9I
"pon0hi%htheN;RCandtheCo"rt o. Appea#s &ased its >ndin$ that
I is a #e$iti!ate ?o& %ontra%tor. Theessen%eo. d"epro%ess is
si!p#9anopport"nit9 to&eheard, or as app#ied to ad!inistrati/e
pro%eedin$s, a .air and reasonaeopport"nit9toe,p#ainoneTs side. It
is a#soanopport"nit9tosee@are%onsideration o. the a%tion or r"#in$
%o!p#ained o..It is not the denia# o.theri$ht to&eheard&"t
denia# o. theopport"nit9to&eheardthat%onstit"tes /io#ation o.
d"e pro%ess o. #a0. Petitioners herein 0ereaQorded e/er9
opport"nit9 to &e heard and to see@ re%onsideration o.
thead/erse ?"d$!ent a$ainst the!. The9 had e/er9 opport"nit9
tostren$then their positions &9 presentin$ their o0n
s"&stantia# e/iden%e to%ontro/ert those s"&!itted &9
E-PCICan@ and I &e.ore the N;RC, and e/en&e.oretheCo"rt o.
Appea#s. It %annot 0inits%ase&9!ere#9raisin$"ns"&stantiated
do"&t or re#9in$ on the 0ea@ness o. the ad/erse
partiesHe/iden%e. Feno0pro%eedtothereso#"tiono.
thes"&stanti/eiss"ess"&!itted &9 petitioners .or o"r
%onsideration, parti%"#ar#9, 0hether I is a#a&or-on#9 %onta%tor
and E-PCICan@ sho"#d &e dee!ed petitionersH prin%ipa#e!p#o9erA
and0hether petitioners 0ere i##e$a##9 dis!issed
.ro!theire!p#o9!ent. Per!issie ?o& %ontra%tin$ or
s"&%ontra%tin$ re.ers to anarran$e!ent 0here&9 aprin%ipa#
a$rees top"t o"t or .ar!o"t
toa%ontra%torors"&%ontra%tortheper.or!an%eor%o!p#etiono.
aspe%i>%?o&, 0or@ or ser/i%e 0ithin a de>nite or
predeter!ined period, re$ard#ess o.0hether s"%h ?o&, 0or@ or
ser/i%e is to &e per.or!ed or %o!p#eted 0ithinor o"tside the
pre!ises o. the prin%ipa#.3:24 Aperson is
%onsidereden$a$edin#e$iti!ate?o&%ontra%tin$ors"&%ontra%tin$i.
the.o##o0in$%onditions %on%"r: %ate states a!on$ other thin$s:
OCERTIJICATE OJ REGISTRATION N"!&ered GII-+26-')6(-*1+ is
iss"ed to E;PMATE, INCORPORATE- ::* N. Ca%a#so A/en"e, Ce&"
Cit9 .or ha/in$ %o!p#ied 0ith the reB"ire!ents aspro/ided .or "nder
the ;a&or Code, as a!ended, andits I!p#e!entin$ R"#es and
ha/in$ paid there$istration .ee in the a!o"nt o. ONE UN-RE-PESOS
%ation %arries0ith it the pres"!ption that it 0as iss"ed in the
re$"#ar per.or!an%e o.o7%ia# d"t9.3154In the a&sen%e o. proo.,
petitionerHs &are assertion %annotpre/ai# o/er this
pres"!ption. Moreo/er, the -O;E &ein$ the a$en%9pri!ari#9
responsie .or re$"#atin$ the &"siness o. independent
?o&%ontra%tors, 0e %an pres"!e in the a&sen%e o. e/iden%e
to the %ontrar9that it thoro"$h#9 e/a#"ated the reB"ire!ents
s"&!itted &9 I as apre%ondition to the iss"an%e o. the
Ceri>%ate o. Re$istration. Thee/iden%eonre%orda#sosho0sthat I
is%arr9in$onadistin%t and independent &"siness .ro! E-PCICan@.
The e!p#o9ees o. Iareassi$nedto%#ientstoper.or!?anitoria#
and!essen$eria#
ser/i%es,%#ear#9distin$"ishae.ro!the&an@in$ser/i%esin0hi%hE-PCICan@isen$a$ed.
-espite the a.ore-!entioned %o!p#ian%e &9 I 0ith thereB"isites
.or per!issie ?o& %ontra%tin$, ;a&or Ar&iter G"tierreD
sti##de%#ared that I 0as en$a$ed in prohi&ited #a&or-on#9
%ontra%tin$ &e%a"seit did not possess s"&stantia# %apita#
or in/est!ent to a%t"a##9 per.or! the?o&, 0or@ or ser/i%e "nder
its o0n a%%o"nt or responsi&i#it9.Coth the N;RCand the Co"rt o.
Appea#s r"#ed to the %ontrar9, and 0e a$ree. OS"&stantia#
%apita# or in/est!entP re.ers to %apita#sto%@s
ands"&s%ri&ed%apita#iDationinthe%aseo. %orporations, too#s,
eB"ip!ents,i!p#e!ents, !a%hineries and 0or@ pre!ises, a%t"a##9 and
dire%t#9 "sed &9the %ontra%tor or s"&%ontra%tor inthe
per.or!an%e or %o!p#etion o. the?o&, 0or@ or ser/i%e %ontra%ted
o"t.31(4 An independent %ontra%tor !"stha/e either s"&stantia#
%apita# or in/est!ent in the .or!o. too#s,eB"ip!ent, !a%hineries,
0or@ pre!ises, a!on$ others. The #a0 does notreB"ire &oth
s"&stantia# %apita# and in/est!ent in the .or!o.
too#s,eB"ip!ent, !a%hineries,etc.31+4 It is eno"$h that it has
s"&stantia#%apita#. In the %ase o. I, it has pro/en &oth.
Fe ha/ee,post"#ated that on%e it is estaished that an entit9s"%h as
in this %ase, I has s"&stantia# %apita#, it 0as no #on$er
ne%essar9to add"%e ."rther e/iden%e to pro/e that it does not .a##
0ithin the p"r/ie0o. O#a&or-on#9P %ontra%tin$.3164There is e/en
no need .or I to re."te the%ontention o. petitioners that so!e o.
the a%ti/ities the9 per.or!ed s"%has thoseo. !essen$eria# ser/i%es
aredire%t#9re#atedtotheprin%ipa#&"siness o. E- PCICan@. In an9
e/ent, 0e ha/e ear#ier de%#ared that 0hi#e these ser/i%esrendered
&9 the petitioners as ?anitors, !essen$ers and dri/ers are
%onsidered dire%t#9 re#ated to the prin%ipa# &"siness o. a
&an@, in this %aseE-PCICan@, ne/erthe#ess, the9 are not
ne%essar9 in the %ond"%t o. its tso. itspersonne# in%#"din$
0ithho#din$ ta,es.3214 As to the third reB"isite on the po0er to
%ontro# the e!p#o9eeHs%ond"%t, and the .o"rth reB"isite re$ardin$
the po0er o. dis!issa#, a$ain E-PCICan@ did not ha/e the po0er to
%ontro# petitioners 0ith respe%t to the!eans and!ethods
&90hi%htheir 0or@0as to&ea%%o!p#ished. It#i@e0ise had no
po0er o. dis!issa# o/er the petitioners.A## that E-PCICan@%o"#d do
0as to report to I an9 "nto0ard a%t, ne$#i$en%e, !is%ond"%t
or!a#.easan%e o. an9 e!p#o9ee assi$ned to the pre!ises. The
%ontra%t o.ser/i%es &et0een E-PCICan@ and I is note0orth9.It
states: 3I4 sha## ha/etheentire%har$e, %ontro#ands"per/isiono/era##
itse!p#o9ees0ho!a9&e>e#dedto3E-PCICan@4. Jor thisp"rpose,
3I4 sha##assi$n a re$"#ar s"per/isor o. its e!p#o9ees 0ho !a9&e
>e#ded to the Can@ and 0hi%h re$"#ar s"per/isorsha##
e,%#"si/e#9s"per/iseand%ontro# thea%ti/itiesand ."n%tions de>ned
in Se%tion ' hereo.., , ,.3224 A## these %ir%"!stan%es estaish that
I "ndertoo@ said%ontra%t on its a%%o"nt, "nder its o0n
responsi&i#it9, a%%ordin$ to its o0n!anner and !ethod, and .ree
.ro! the %ontro# and dire%tion o. E-PCICan@. Fhere the %ontro# o.
the prin%ipa# is #i!ited on#9 to the res"#t o. the 0or@,independent
?o& %ontra%tin$ e,ists. The ?anitoria# ser/i%e
a$ree!ent&et0een E-PCICan@ and I is de>nite#9 a %ase o.
per!issie ?o&%ontra%tin$. Considerin$ the.ore$oin$, p#"s ta@in$
?"di%ia# noti%e o. the$enera# pra%ti%einpri/ate, as 0e## as
in$o/ern!ent instit"tions andind"stries, o. hirin$ an independent
%ontra%tor to per.or! spe%ia# ser/i%es,3254 ran$in$ .ro!
?anitoria#, se%"rit9 and e/en te%hni%a# ser/i%es, 0e %anon#9
%on%#"de that I is a #e$iti!ate ?o& %ontra%tor.As s"%h
#e$iti!ate ?o&%ontra%tor, the #a0 %reates an e!p#o9er-e!p#o9ee
re#ationship &et0een Iand petitioners32(4 0hi%h renders I #iae
.or the #atterHs %#ai!s. In /ie0o. the pre%edin$ %on%#"sions,
petitioners 0i## ne/er&e%o!e re$"#ar e!p#o9ees o. E-PCICan@
re$ard#ess o. ho0 #on$ the9 0ere0or@in$ .or the #atter.32+4 Fe
."rther r"#e that petitioners 0ere not i##e$a##9 dis!issed &9I.
Upontheter!inationo. theContra%t o.Ser/i%e&et0eenI
andE-PCICan@, petitioners %annot insist to %ontin"e to 0or@ .or the
#atter.Theirp"##-o"t .ro!E-PCICan@didnot %onstit"tei##e$a#
dis!issa# sin%e,1rst,petitioners 0erenot e!p#o9ees o. E-PCICan@A
andsecon-, the9 0erep"##ed o"t .ro! said assi$n!ent d"e to the
non-rene0a# o. the Contra%t o.Ser/i%e &et0een I and
[email protected] the ti!e the9 >#ed their
%o!p#aints0iththe;a&orAr&iter,
petitioners0erenote/endis!issed&9IA the90ere on#9 OoQ-detai#P
pendin$ their re-assi$n!ent &9 I to another %#ient.
And0henthe90erea%t"a##9$i/enne0assi$n!ents&9I
0ithother%#ients,3264 petitioners e/en re."sed the sa!e. As the
N;RC prono"n%ed,petitionersH %o!p#aint .or i##e$a# dis!issa# is
apparent#9 pre!at"re. WHEREFORE, pre!ises %onsidered, the Petition
is -ENIE- .or #a%@o. !erit. The-e%isiondated)1Apri#
)**5andReso#"tiondated:'O%to&er )**5 o. the Co"rt o. Appea#s
are AJJIRME-. Costs a$ainstpetitioners. SO ORDERED. JIRST
-IGISIONG.R. N!. "#&%0% D('(12() 3, %&&$VETTE
INDUSTRIAL SALES CO., INC., ENNETH TAN, ESTRELLA CHENG, LUISITO
RAMOS, YVETTE TAN, ESSENTH CHENG, VEVETTE CHENG and FELESAVETTE
CHENG, petitioners, /s.SUI SOAN S. CHENGa.4.a. CHENG SUI SOAN,
respondent., ----------------------------------------------------
,G.R. N!. "#&0&" D('(12() 3, %&&$SUI SOAN S. CHENG
a.4.a. CHENG SUI SOAN, petitioner, /s.VETTE INDUSTRIAL SALES CO.,
INC., ENNETH TAN, ESTRELLA CHENG, LUISITO RAMOS, YVETTE TAN,
ESSENTH CHENG, VEVETTE CHENG and FELESAVETTE CHENG, respondents.- E
C I S I O NYNARES-SANTIAGO, J.5These %onso#idated Petitions .or
Re/ie0 on Certiorari'assai# the -e%ision)dated Septe!&er )),
)**2 o. the Co"rt o. Appea#s in CA-G.R. SP No. +++5:entit#ed,
UGette Ind"stria# Sa#es, Co!pan9, In%., Nenneth Tan, Estre##aChen$,
;"isitoRa!os, Y/etteTan, NessenthChen$, Ge/etteChen$,
andJe#esa/ette Chen$,Petitioners/ers"s on. Re$iona#Tria# Co"rt o.
Mani#a,Cran%h '(:, and S"i Soan S. Chen$ [email protected]. Chen$ S"i
Soan,Res'on-ents.UA#so assai#ed is the Reso#"tion:dated O%to&er
)(, )**2 den9in$petitionersH !otion .or partia# re%onsideration and
respondent S"iHs !otion.or re%onsideration.In his Co!p#aint1 .or
spe%i>% per.or!an%e and da!a$es >#ed a$ainst GetteInd"stria#
Sa#es Co!pan9, In%., Nenneth Tan, Estre##a Chen$, ;"isito
Ra!os,Y/ette Tan, Nessenth Chen$, Ge/ette Chen$, and Je#esa/ette
Chen$rst Order'*a##o0ed S"i to present e/iden%e e,-parte, 0hi#e the
se%ond Order'' re/o@edthe >rst order a.ter the tria# %o"rt noted
that U0hat 0as set .or%onsideration on -e%e!&er '5, )**: 0as
!ere#9 a !otion to set pre-tria#.UTh"s, thetria# %o"rt reset
thepre-tria# on8an"ar9'2, )**1&"t it 0aspostponed and !o/ed to
Ma9 )', )**1. On said date, S"i and his %o"nse#,Att9. Pedro M.
Jerrer #ed a Petition .or Certiorari): 0ith the Co"rt o.
Appea#s0hi%h $ranted the petition, th"s:UPONTEGIEFFETANEOJTISCASE,
TUS, the0rit app#ied.orispart#9 GRANTE-. The assai#ed orders !"st
&e, as the9 here&9 are,GACATE- and SET ASI-E, and another
here&9 iss"ed dis!issin$ the instant%o!p#aint, &"t U0itho"t
pre?"di%e.U This !eans that the %o!p#aint %an &eREINSTATE-.
Ontheother hand, petitionersarehere&9$i/en#ea/etopresent
&e.ore the Tria# Co"rt e/iden%e o. their %o"nter%#ai!. Fitho"t
%ostsin this instan%e.SO OR-ERE-.)1TheCo"rt o. Appea#snotedthat
&othAtt9. Jerrer andS"i 0erenot inattendan%e at the pre-tria#
%on.eren%eA that Se%tion 2 o. R"#e '+ !entionson#9 the eQe%t o. the
.ai#"re to appear on the part o. Uthe p#aintiQU &"t issi#ent on
the eQe%t o. .ai#"re o. the part9Hs %o"nse# to appear at the
pre-tria#A that
theMani.estationandMotion.orRe%onsideration)2!entionedon#9 the
reasons 0h9 Att9. Jerrer 0as a&sent 0itho"t statin$ that he
0as."##9a"thoriDedin0ritin$toenter intoana!i%aesett#e!ent, or
tos"&!it to a#ternati/e !odes o. disp"te reso#"tion, or to
enter intostip"#ations or ad!issions o. .a%ts and o. do%"!entsA and
that there 0asno e,p#anation .or S"iHs nonappearan%e. Th"s,
&ased on these%ir%"!stan%es, theCo"rt o. Appea#she#dthat
dis!issa# o. the%aseisproper &"t 0itho"t pre?"di%e to the
>#in$ o. a ne0 a%tion.)5Coth parties !o/ed .or re%onsideration
&"t the sa!e 0ere ?oint#9 denied ina Reso#"tion dated
O%to&er )(, )**2.en%e, these %onso#idated Petitions.In 2.R. No.
130242, petitioners raise the .o##o0in$ errors:I.TE COURT OJ
APPEA;S ERRE- IN NOT -ISMISSING TE COMP;AINT OJRESPON-ENT CENG IN
CIGI; CASE NO. *:-'*256' FIT
PRE8U-ICE.II.TECOURTOJAPPEA;SERRE-INCONC;U-INGTATRESPON-ENTHSCOUNSE;
JAI;E- TO APPRECIATE TE CASIC RU;ES ON
PRE-TRIA;.III.TECOURTOJAPPEA;SERRE-INNOTCONSI-ERINGTEMISTANEORNEG;IGENCE
OJ RESPON-ENTHS COUNSE; AS CIN-ING ON TERESPON-ENT IMSE;J.IG.TE
COURT OJ APPEA;S ERRE-INAPP;YINGTE RU;INGS OJ TEONORAC;E COURT IN
TE -E ;OS REYES GS. CAPU;E 5102 PHIL. 4647 AN-SUAREZ GS. COURT OJ
APPEA;S 5220 #CR) 2347
CASES.G.TECOURTOJAPPEA;SERRE-INNOTCONSI-ERINGRESPON-ENTHSMANIJESTATIONAN-MOTIONJORRECONSI-ERATION-ATE-MAY
)',)**1 JI;E- CEJORE TE TRIA; COURT AS A MERE SCRAP, AN- A
USE;ESSPIECE, OJ PAPER AN- IN NOT CONSI-ERING TE OR-ER -ATE- MAY
)',)**1 OJ TE TRIA; COURT AS A;REA-Y JINA; IN GIEF OJ TEPROCE-URA;
INGA;I-ITYE-EJECTIGENESS ned as the%apri%io"s and 0hi!si%a#
e,er%ise o. ?"d$!ent as is eB"i/a#ent to #a%@ o.?"risdi%tion. An
error o. ?"d$!ent %o!!itted in the e,er%ise o. its#e$iti!ate
?"risdi%tion is not the sa!e as U$ra/e a&"se o. dis%retion.U
Ana&"se o. dis%retion is not s"7%ient &9 itse#. to ?"sti.9
the iss"an%e o. a 0rito. %ertiorari. The a&"se !"st &e
$ra/e and patent, and it !"st &e sho0nthat the dis%retion 0as
e,er%ised ar&itrari#9 and despoti%a##9.As a $enera#r"#e, a
petition .or %ertiorari0i##not #ie i. an appea#is theproper re!ed9
thereto s"%h as 0hen an error o. ?"d$!ent as 0e##as o.pro%ed"re are
in/o#/ed. As #on$ as a %o"rt a%ts 0ithin its ?"risdi%tion anddoes
not $ra/e#9 a&"se its dis%retion in the e,er%ise thereo., an9
s"pposederror %o!!itted &9 it 0i## a!o"nt to
nothin$!orethananerror o.?"d$!ent re/ie0ae &9 a ti!e#9
appea#and not assai#ae &9 a spe%ia#%i/i# a%tion o. %ertiorari.
o0e/er, in %ertain e,%eptiona# %ases, 0here theri$id app#i%ation o.
s"%h r"#e 0i## res"#t in a !ani.est .ai#"re or !is%arria$eo.
?"sti%e, thepro/isions o.theR"#eso. Co"rt0hi%h arete%hni%a#
r"#es!a9 &e re#a,ed. Certiorari has &een dee!ed to &e
?"sti>ed, .or instan%e, inorder to pre/ent irreparae da!a$e and
in?"r9 to a part9 0here the tria#?"d$e has %apri%io"s#9 and
0hi!si%a##9 e,er%ised his ?"d$!ent, or 0herethere !a9 &e dan$er
o. %#ear .ai#"re o. ?"sti%e, or 0here an ordinar9 appea#0o"#d
si!p#9 &e inadeB"ate to re#ie/e a part9 .ro! the in?"rio"s
eQe%ts o.the ?"d$!ent %o!p#ained o..:* #e his opposition to it.
These %ir%"!stan%es %#ear#9 ?"sti.9 adepart"re .ro! the #itera#
app#i%ation o. the noti%e o. hearin$ r"#e. In other%ases, a.ter
thetria# %o"rt #earnsthat a!otion#a%@ss"%hnoti%e, thepro!pt
resettin$ o. the hearin$ 0ith d"e noti%e to a## the parties is he#d
toha/e %"red the de.e%t.Geri#9, the noti%e reB"ire!ent is not a
rit"a# to &e .o##o0ed ind#9.Pro%ed"ra#
d"epro%essisnot&asedso#e#9ona!e%hanisti%and#itera#app#i%ation
that renders an9 de/iation ine,ora .ata#. Instead,
pro%ed"ra#r"#esare#i&era##9%onstr"edtopro!otetheiro&?e%ti/eandtoassist
ino&tainin$ a ?"st, speed9 and ine,pensi/e deter!ination o. an9
a%tion andpro%eedin$. Jor the .ore$oin$ reasons, 0e &e#ie/e
that Respondent Co"rt%o!!itted re/ersie error in ho#din$ that the
Motion .or Re%onsideration0as a !ere s%rap o. paper.:( #es a
rep#9.:+These %ir%"!stan%es ?"sti.9 a depart"re .ro! the
#itera#app#i%ation o. the r"#e &e%a"se petitioners 0ere $i/en
the opport"nit9 tost"d9 and ans0er the ar$"!ents in the
!otion.PetitionersH%#ai! that S"i.ai#ed to atta%h proo. o. ser/i%e
in /io#ation o.Se%tion 5, R"#e '2 o. the R"#e, !"st .ai#. In Rep"i%
o. the Phi#ippines /.Co"rt o. Appea#s,:6 0e he#d, th"s:Nonethe#ess,
%onsiderin$ the B"estion raised in the appea# o. the$o/ern!ent and
the a!o"nt in/o#/ed in this %ase, 0e thin@ the Co"rt o.Appea#s
sho"#d ha/e %onsidered the s"&seB"ent ser/i%e o. the !otion
.orre%onsiderationto&eas"&stantia#
%o!p#ian%e0iththereB"ire!ent inR"#e '2, W5. In -e Rapis"ra /.
Ni%o#as, the !o/ant a#so .ai#ed to atta%h
tohis!otion.orre%onsiderationproo. o. ser/i%eo. a%op9thereo.
totheother part9. Nonethe#ess, this Co"rt he#d the .ai#"re not
.ata# as the ad/ersepart9 had a%t"a##9 re%ei/ed a %op9 o. the
!otion and 0as in .a%t present in%o"rt 0henthe !otion0as heard. It
0as he#dthat thede!ands o.s"&stantia# ?"sti%e 0ere satis>ed
&9 the a%t"a# re%eipt o. said !otion "nderthose
%onditions.1*Petitioners ad!itted that the9 re%ei/ed a %op9 o.
S"iHs Mani.estation andMotion .or Re%onsideration. In .a%t, the9
had the opport"nit9 to oppose thesa!e. Under these %ir%"!stan%es,
0e >nd that the de!ands o. s"&stantia#?"sti%e and d"e
pro%ess 0ere satis>ed.It is the po#i%9 o. the Co"rt to aQord
part9-#iti$ants the a!p#est opport"nit9to enae the!to ha/e their
%ases ?"st#9 deter!ined, .ree .ro!the%onstraints o.
te%hni%a#ities.1'It sho"#d &e re!e!&ered that r"#es
o.pro%ed"reare&"t too#sdesi$nedto.a%i#itatetheattain!ent o.
?"sti%e,s"%h that 0hen ri$id app#i%ation o. the r"#es tend to
.r"strate rather thanpro!otes"&stantia# ?"sti%e, this Co"rt is
e!po0eredtos"spendtheiroperation.1)FEREJORE, in /ie0 o. the
.ore$oin$, the -e%ision dated Septe!&er )),)**2 and the
Reso#"tion dated O%to&er )(, )**2 o. the Co"rt o. Appea#s
inCA-G.R. SPNo. +++5:isREGERSE-andSETASI-E. TheOrder o. theRe$iona#
Tria# Co"rt in Ci/i# Case No. *:-'*256', #i.tin$ its pre/io"s order
o.dis!issa# is REINSTATE- and AJJIRME-.SO OR-ERE-.Panganian, C.J.
5C0air'erson7, )ustria-8artine9, Calle:o, #r., an-C0ico-Na9ario,
JJ., %on%"r.FIRST DIVISION HEIRS OF RODOLFO CRISOSTOMO 6EUPROCINIA,
ROYCEand IRISHCRISOSTOMO7,Petitioners, - versus - RUDE8
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION,Respondent.G.R. N!. "#$"%9
Present: CORONA, Chairperson, ;EONAR-O--E CASTRO, CERSAMIN, -E;
CASTI;;O, and GI;;ARAMA, Pro!"#$ated: A"$"st )1, )*'', - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - , D E C I S I O N LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.5
ThisP(*+*+!n:!)R(;+(#edoneda9&e9ondthe'2-da9e,tendedperiod$ranted&9theCo"rt
o. Appea#s.Petitioners E"pro%inia, Ro9%e, and Irish, are the 0i.e
and%hi#dren, respe%ti/e#9, o. the#ate%o!p#ainant,
Rodo#.oCrisosto!o, 0hodied d"rin$ the penden%9 o. the %ase. 314 The
respondent, R"de, Internationa#-e/e#op!ent Corporation,is a
do!esti% %orporation en$a$ed in the rea# estate &"siness.324 On
-e%e!&er '(, )**', the Crisosto!o spo"ses 0ere oQered
aho"seand#ot at Patri%ia So"thGi##a, as"&di/isionde/e#oped
&9therespondent in Ana&" II-J, I!"s, Ca/ite. A.ter seein$
the !ode# ho"se onC#o%@+, ;ot :,
theCrisosto!osde%idedto&"9thepropert9pri%edat+::,***.** on
insta##!ent &asis.On the sa!e da9, the9 paid '*,***.**as do0n
pa9!ent and si$ned a Reser/ation A$ree!ent.On -e%e!&er )',)**',
the%o"p#epaidanadditiona#2*,***.**, e,e%"tedapro!issor9note, and
iss"ed :5 postdated %he%@s to %o/er the !onth#9 a!ortiDationson the
propert9.The Crisosto!os 0ere then $i/en a Ne9 A%%eptan%e,
Fa#@Thro"$h, and Jina# T"rno/er Certi>%ate.354 On Je&r"ar9
'*, )**), the Crisosto!o .a!i#9 !o/ed in to theirne0 ho"seA
ho0e/er, the9 started to noti%e se/era# %onstr"%tion de.e%ts onthe
ho"se and inadeB"ate .a%i#ities in the s"&di/ision.Th"s, on
Mar%h )),)**), the #ate Rodo#.o as@ed his 0i.e E"pro%inia to
dis%ontin"e pa9in$ their!onth#9 a!ortiDations and to as@ .or a
res%ission o. the %ontra%t.On Ma9'(, )**), Rodo#.o persona##9
de#i/ered a #etter o. %o!p#aint to therespondent, 0herein he
res%inded theirC!n*)a'* *! S(==, de!anded there."nd o. a## the
pa9!ents he had !ade, and reiterated that he 0o"#d no#on$er pa9 the
!onth#9 a!ortiDations.3(4 On Ma9 )(, )**), Rodo#.o >#ed a
C!1.=a+n*3+4 .or /io#ation o.Presidentia#-e%ree Nos. ':11 and 62(,
and Coard Reso#"tion No. 2(6 o.'662, &e.ore the o"sin$ and ;and
Use Re$"#ator9 Coard ndin$s ?"sti>ed the ri$ht o. Rodo#.o to
de!and res%ission o. his%ontra%t 0ith the respondent.Th"s, on 8"#9
(, )**:, the HLURB iss"ed itsJ-d>1(n* 2? D(:a-=*,3'*4 the
dispositi/e portion o. 0hi%h reads: WHEREFORE, pre!ises
%onsidered,?"d$!ent is here&9 rendered de%#arin$ the
res%issiono. the %ontra%t to se## as /a#id and orderin$
therespondent to re."nd the tota# pa9!ents in thea!o"nt o.
P(',52*.** 0ith interest at ')Rperann"!.ro!the >#in$ o. the
%o!p#aint "nti# ."##pa9!ent. A.ter ."## pa9!ent, %o!p#ainant is
dire%tedto pea%e."##9 s"rrender the s"&?e%t propert9 in .a/oro.
the respondent. J"rther, respondent is dire%ted to
pa9%o!p#ainantP2,***.** as attorne9Hs .ees and to pa9this
CoardP'*,***.** &9 0a9 o. ad!inistrati/e >ne.or /io#ation o.
Se%tion )* in re#ation to Se%tion :+ o.P.-. 62(.3''4 On A"$"st )5,
)**:, the respondent as@ed the ;URC to re/ie03')4its 8"#9 (, )**:
-e%ision. It a##e$ed that Rodo#.oHs a##e$ations 0ere%on%o%ted to
$et o"t o. their %ontra%t &e%a"se he %o"#d no #on$er pa9
his!onth#9 a!ortiDations on the propert9.On A->-/* "#,
%&&4, the HLURBrendered a D('+/+!n3':4 on respondentHs
Petition .or Re/ie0, to 0it: Fhere.ore,thede%ision o.the o7%e
&e#o0 ishere&9 !odi>ed to read as .o##o0s:
Fhere.orepre!ises%onsidered, ?"d$!entis here&9 res%indin$the
reser/ation a$ree!ent o.parties and s"&?e%t to #e$a#
%o!pensation oroQsettin$, orderin$ respondent to
re."ndthetota#pa9!ents in the a!o"nt o.P(',52*.** 0ith interestat
#e$a# interest .ro!theti!eo. the>#in$o. the%o!p#aintA orderin$
%o!p#ainant to t"rn o/erpossession o. the "nit to the respondent
and orderin$%o!p#ainant to pa9 respondent reasonae%o!pensation .or
the "se o. the "nit in the a!o"nt o.P1,***.**per!onth"nti#
possessiono. the"nit ist"rned o/er to the respondent. J"rther,
respondent is dire%ted to pa9%o!p#ainantP2,***.** as attorne9Hs
.ees and to pa9this&oardP'*,***.**&9 0a9 o.
ad!inistrati/e>ne.or /io#ation o. se%tion )* in re#ation to
se%tion :+ o.P.-. 62(.3'14 This 0as appea#ed3'24 &9 the
petitioners, 0ho s"&stit"tedRodo#.o "pon his death, to the O@'(
!: *A( P)(/+d(n*.On No/e!&er '+,)**2, the O7%e o. the President
de%ided3'54in their .a/or, as .o##o0s: WHEREFORE,pre!ises
%onsidered, the-e%ision o. the ;URC Coard o. Co!!issioners
datedA"$"st):, )**1ishere&9re/ersedandset aside. 8"d$!ent is
here&9 rendered: a.-e%#arin$ the %ontra%t o.
sa#eenteredinto&et0eenthepartiesasres%indedA&.Appe##ants
are here&9 ordered to t"rno/er possession o. the propert9 to
theAppe##eeA%. Appe##ee is here&9 ordered o. re."ndto the
appe##ants the #atterHs tota#pa9!ent in the a!o"nt o.
P(',52*.**0ith interest at ')R per ann"! .ro!8"ne '*, )**) #in$ o.
the%o!p#aint=Ad. Appe##eeis#i@e0iseorderedtopa9appe##antsP)2,***.**
as !ora#da!a$es andP)2,***.** ase,e!p#ar9 da!a$esAe. Appe##ee is
ordered to pa9 appe##antsP2,***.** as attorne9Hs .eesA
and..Appe##ee is ordered to pa9ad!inistrati/e>neinthea!o"nt
o.P'*,***.**.3'(4 The respondent as@ed .or a re%onsideration3'+4 o.
this de%isionandonMa96, )**5, theO7%eo. thePresident
$rantedrespondentHs!otion and )(+n/*a*(d *A( A->-/* "#,
%&&4 d('+/+!n !: *A( HLURB.3'64 The O7%e o. the President,
in reso#/in$ the iss"e o. 0hether
itproper#9de#etedthepre/io"sa0ardo. renta#s&9the;URC,
he#dthatOP.-.3No.462( does not a"thoriDe oppression o. per%ei/ed
"ns%r"p"#o"ss"&di/ision de/e#opers, ea%h ti!e a ho!e &"9er
%ries .o"# or a##e$es an9in>r!it9 on the .or!er.P3)*4 A$reein$
0ith the respondent that thede#etion o. thea0ardo. renta#s
0o"#dres"#t in"nd"#9enri%hin$thepetitioners, the O7%e o. the
President he#d: C9 sta9in$ at the B"estioned pre!ises
.or.reeand0itho"t %o!pensation, tothepre?"di%eo.3respondent4, it is
%#ear that 3petitioners4 "nd"#9enri%hed the!se#/es at the e,pense
o. another. Renta# pa9!entsare#e$a##9s"pported&9/irt"e o. the
do%trine o. "n?"st enri%h!ent. E/entho"$hthesa!eis not pra9ed.or
&9hereinappe##ee, it %o"#d sti## &e re%o$niDed and a0arded
&9o"r O7%e %onsiderin$ that said iss"e, or a0ardthereo., is
ine,tri%a #in@ed to the iss"es in/o#/ed as0e## as the .a%ts pro/en
in the %ase, and it isne%essar9.ora?"standeB"itaedeter!inationo.the
%ase.3)'4 Thepetitionersso"$ht.orare%onsideration3))4
o.thisOrder,3):4 &"t this 0as denied &9 the O7%e o. the
President on A"$"st ), )**5. On Septe!&er'2,)**5, the
petitioners>#ed theirPetition.orRe/ie0 &e.ore the Co"rt o.
Appea#s.o0e/er, this 0as dis!issed o"tri$htin a Reso#"tion3)14 .or
&ein$ >#ed o"t o. ti!e, the dead#ine &ein$Septe!&er
'1, )**5. The Co"rt o. Appea#s said that the petitioners
0erea#read9 $ranted a '2-da9 e,tension and 9et no ?"sti>%ation
or reason 0as$i/en to e,p#ain 0h9 the9 sti## >#ed &e9ond the
e,tended period.The Co"rto. Appea#s he#d: Fe ha/e no !ore
?"risdi%tion to entertain the Petition!"%h #esstoa#ter the
?"d$!ent0hi%hhas &e%o!e>na# and e,e%"tor9. Fe on#9 ha/e the
po0er todis!iss the appea# in the a&sen%e o.
e,%eptiona#%ir%"!stan%es to 0arrant s"%h de#a9.3)24 The petitioners
so"$ht re%onsideration o. this dis!issa# &"t the Co"rto.
Appea#s .o"nd their !otion to &e O&ere.t o. !erit.P3)54
Thepetitionersareno0&e.ore"s, see@in$noton#9that0e$i/etheir
petition d"e %onsideration, &"t a#so that 0ede%#are the
;URCA"$"st '(, )**1-e%isionasn"## and/oid. The9s"&!it
the.o##o0in$iss"es .or o"r reso#"tion: 2.'.AN APPEA; IS AN
ESSENTIA; PART OJOUR8U-ICIA; SYSTEMAN-TECOURTS
SOU;-PROCEE-FITCAUTION, SOASNOTTO-EPRIGETE PETITIONERS OJ TE RIGT
TO APPEA;,PARTICU;AR;Y, IJ TE APPEA; IS MERITORIOUS.
2.).TE;URCAPPEA;COAR-ASNO8URIS-ICTIONMO-IJYING TE8U-GMENT
OJ;URCPROPER GRANTING RE;IEJ FIC FAS NOT PRAYE-JOR A;;EGE- IN TE
P;EA-INGS, AN- NO EGI-ENCEFAS PRESENTE-. 2.:.TE ;URC APPEA; COAR-
ASNO8URIS-ICTION FEN IT MO-IJIE- TE 8U-GMENT CY-EJAU;T OJ ;URC
PROPER, AN- TE OJJICE OJ TEPRESI-ENT, ;INEFISE AS ACTE-, IN EMCESS
OJ8URIS-ICTION FEN IT AJJIRME-&N ;,;,TE-ECISION OJ TE ;URC
APPEA; COAR-.3)(4 Discussion Fe sha## #i!it o"r dis%"ssion to the
%ore iss"e o. 0hether or
nottheCo"rto.Appea#serredindis!issin$thepetition.orre/ie0>#ed&9petitioners
&e.ore it, on the $ro"nd that the petition 0as >#ed #ate.
Thepetitionersare%#ai!in$that their one-da9de#a9in>#in$their
petition &e.ore the Co"rt o. Appea#s %onstit"tes e,%"sae
ne$#i$en%einthea&sen%eo. anintent tode#a9thead!inistrationo.
?"sti%e. Thepetitioners e,p#ained that their petition 0as read9 as
ear#9 as Septe!&er':, )**5, 0ith on#9 the anne,es to &e
atta%hed. Their %o"nse#assi$nedher se%retar9 to arran$e and atta%h
these anne,es &"t 0itho"t their%o"nse#Hs @no0#ed$e, the
se%retar9 did this in a /a%ant roo! o"tside theiro7%e.
The.o##o0in$da9, these%retar9, asin$#e!other o. t0os!a##%hi#dren,
.ai#ed to report .or 0or@ &e%a"se she had to ta@e her @ids to
ado%tor as the9 had &een si%@ sin%e she .o"nd the! ho!e,
a&andoned &9their nann9, the ni$ht &e.ore. It 0as on#9
#ate in the a.ternoon that these%retar9re!e!&eredthat she.or$ot
to#ea/einstr"%tions a&o"t thepetition in their o7%e.3)+4
Thepetitioners areas@in$that thisCo"rt
e,er%iseitseB"it9?"risdi%tion sin%e their de#a9 0as neither
intended nor pre?"di%ia# torespondent.3)64 Ruling of this Court Fe
$rant the petition. This Co"rt has e,p#ained that the p"rpose in
#i!itin$ the periodo. appea# is to .oresta## or a/oid an "nreasonae
de#a9 in thead!inistrationo. ?"sti%eandtop"tanendto%ontro/ersies.
Fherenoe#e!ent o. intent to de#a9 the ad!inistration o. ?"sti%e
%o"#d &e attri&"tedto petitioners, a one-da9 de#a9 does not
?"sti.9 their petitionHs dis!issa#.3:*4 In *e'art!ent of Justice
#ecretar$ Raul 8. 2on9ales v. Pennisi,3:'4 this Co"rt e#"%idated on
the r"#es on re$#e!entar9 periods, to 0it: The $enera# r"#e is that
the per.e%tion o. anappea# in the !anner and 0ithin the
periodpres%ri&ed &9 #a0 is, not on#9 !andator9,
&"t?"risdi%tiona#, and .ai#"re to %on.or! to the r"#es
0i##render the ?"d$!ent so"$ht to &e re/ie0ed >na#
and"nappea#ae. C9 0a9 o. e,%eption,
"nintended#apsesaredisre$ardedsoasto$i/ed"e%o"rsetoappea#s >#ed
&e9ond the re$#e!entar9 period on the&asis o. stron$ and
%o!pe##in$ reasons, s"%h asser/in$theendso.
?"sti%eandpre/entin$a$ra/e!is%arria$e thereo.. The p"rpose
&ehind the#i!itation o. the period o. appea# is to a/oid
an"nreasonaede#a9inthead!inistrationo. ?"sti%eand to p"t an end to
%ontro/ersies.3:)4 In #a!ala v. Court of )''eals,3::4 0e said: The
r"#es o. pro%ed"re are !ere too#sdesi$ned to .a%i#itate the
attain!ent o. ?"sti%e.Theirstri%t and ri$id app#i%ation espe%ia##9
on te%hni%a#!atters, 0hi%h tends to .r"strate rather than
pro!otes"&stantia# ?"sti%e, !"st &e a/oided. E/en
theRe/ised R"#es o. Co"rt en/ision this #i&era#it9.
Te%hni%a#it9, 0hen it deserts its proper o7%e as an aidto ?"sti%e
and &e%o!es its $reat hindran%e and %hie.ene!9, deser/es s%ant
%onsideration .ro! the %o"rts.3:14 Inthis %ase,the#astda9.or
>#in$thepetition.orre/ie0 0as onSepte!&er ':, )**5. The
petitioners entr"sted the dra.tin$ o. theirpetition0iththeir
%o"nse#, 0hoint"rnentr"stedtheatta%hin$o. thereB"ired anne,es to
the petition 0ith her se%retar9.The se%retar9 resi$ned.ro! her
?o& so!eti!e #ater to a/oid $i/in$ her e!p#o9er Oproe!s
.or"ne,pe%ted a&sen%es in the ."t"re.P3:24 Aside .ro! this, the
petitionersa#so s"&!itted an A7da/it3:54 .ro! the se%retar9,
0ho narrated her ordea#that da9 and 0h9 she 0as not ae to in.or!her
e!p#o9er o. the0herea&o"ts o. the petition. A %erti>%ation
.ro! the do%tor o. one o. these%retar9Hs %hi#dren 0as a#so
s"&!itted to pro/e that the se%retar9 indeed&ro"$ht her
%hi#dren to the do%tor on Septe!&er '1, )**5, the dead#ine
.or>#in$ the petition .or re/ie0 0ith the Co"rt o. Appea#s. In
#i$ht o. the .ore$oin$, 0e are in%#ined to $i/e the
sa!e%onsideration in this %ase p"rs"ant to the r"#es on ?"sti%e,
eB"it9, and .airp#a9. WHEREFORE,the petition is GRANTED. The
O%to&er 5, )**5and 8an"ar9 2, )**( Reso#"tions o. the Co"rt o.
Appea#s in CA-G.R. SP No.626)* are here&9 REVERSED andSET
ASIDE. CA-G.R. SP No. 626)* isordered REINSTATED and REMANDED to
the Co"rt o. Appea#s .or ."rtherpro%eedin$s. SO ORDERED. TERESITA
J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO Asso%iate 8"sti%e G.R. NO. "4%$%B F(2)-a)? $,
%&SPRINGFIELD DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, INC. and HEIRS OF PETRA
CAPISTRANO PIIT, Petitioners, /s.HONORABLE PRESIDING JUDGE OF
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF MISAMIS ORIENTAL, BRANCH4&, CAGAYAN DE
ORO CITY, DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD 6DARAB7,
DAR REGION 8 DIRECTOR, ROSALIO GAMULO, FORTUNATO TELEN, EMERITA
OLANGO, THERESA MONTUERTO, DOMINGO H. CLAPERO, JOEL U. LIM,
JENEMAIR U. POLLEY, FIDELA U. POLLEY, JESUS BATUTAY, NICANOR UCAB,
EMERIA U. LIM, EMILITO CLAPERO, ANTONINA RIAS, AURILLIO ROMULO,
ERWIN P. CLAPERO, EVELITO CULANGO, VILMACCRUISINE ALONG, EFREN
EMATA, GREGORIO CABARIBAN, and SABINA CANTORANA, Respondents.- E C
I S I O NAUSTRIA-MARTINED, J.:Ce.ore the Co"rt is a petition .or
re/ie0 on %ertiorari "nder R"#e 12 o. theR"#es o. Co"rt. The
prin%ipa# iss"e presented .or reso#"tion is 0hether
theRe$iona#Tria#Co"rt na# ?"d$!ent o. the-epart!ent o. A$rarian
Re.or! Ad?"di%ation Coard na# and e,e%"tor95and
Sprin$>e#dpro%eeded to de/e#op the propert9.(The -AR Re$iona#
-ire%tor then >#ed a petition .or re#ie. .ro! ?"d$!ent
o.the-ARAC-e%ision, do%@etedas-ARACCaseNo. *222.
Inits-e%isiondatedO%to&er 2, '662,
the-ARAC$rantedthepetitionand$a/ed"e%o"rse to the Noti%e o.
Co/era$e. It a#so dire%ted the M"ni%ipa#A$rarianRe.or!O7%e to
pro%eed 0ith the do%"!entation, a%B"isition, anddistri&"tion o.
the propert9 to the tr"e and #a0."# &ene>%iaries.+The -ARAC
a#so iss"ed an Order dated Ma9 )), '66(, orderin$ the heirs o.Piit
and Sprin$>e#d to pa9 the .ar!er-&ene>%iaries the a!o"nt
o. T0e#/eMi##ion, Three "ndred Jort9 Tho"sand, Ei$ht "ndred
Pesos#ed 0ith the Co"rt o. Appea#s #ed 0ith the -ARAC-Re$ion M,
andit appearin$that thepetition.orre#ie.
.ro!?"d$!entanditspertinentre%ords 0ere .or0arded to the -ARAC
Centra# O7%e, the CA iss"ed anotherReso#"tion on -e%e!&er )*,
'666,'5 reB"irin$ the -ARAC Centra# O7%e to.or0ard the re%ords o.
the %ase. C"t a.ter re%eipt o. the re%ords,the CAsi!p#9 denied
petitionersT !otion .or re%onsideration per
Reso#"tion'(datedJe&r"ar9):, )***0itho"t
spe%i>%a##9reso#/in$theiss"esraised%on%ernin$ the pra9er .or a
0rit o. prohi&ition.en%e, the present petition on the .o##o0in$
$ro"nds:ITE COURT OJ APPEA;S COMMITTE- A C;EAR ERROR OJ ;AF IN
APP;YINGTE PRINCIP;E OJ 8U-ICIA; STACI;ITY TO 8USTIJY ITS
CONC;USION-IGESTING TE REGIONA; TRIA; COURT OJ ITS 8URIS-ICTION
GESTE- CY;AF OGER CASES FERE TE EMC;USIGE 8URIS-ICTION FAS
NOTEMPRESS;Y GRANTE-TOANY OTERCOURTS3SIC4 ORTRICUNA;, INEJJECT,
MO-IJYING TE APP;ICAC;E ;AF ON TE MATTER.IITE COURT OJAPPEA;S
IRREGU;AR;Y -ISMISSE- PETITIONERSTMOTIONJOR RECONSI-ERATION AJTER
IT A- RESO;GE- TO ENTERTAINPETITIONERST
PETITIONJORPROICITIONAN-TOREGIEFTE-ARACPROCEE-INGS, TERECY
-EPARTING JROM TE USUA; COURSE OJ8U-ICIA; PROCEE-INGS.IIITE
ONORAC;E SUPREME COURT, CEING TE IGEST TEMP;E OJRIGTS, AN- TO AGOI-
SERIOUS MISCARRIAGE OJ 8USTICE AN- NEE-;ESS-E;AYS,
ISMOSTRESPECTJU;;YURGE-TOTANECOGNIZANCEOJTEPETITION JI;E- IN
CA-G.R. SP No. 1125: IN TE EMERCISE OJ ITSCONCURRENT 8URIS-ICTION,
AS IJ TE PETITION FAS ORIGINA;;Y ;O-GE-CEJORE IT.'+Petitioners
ar$"e that "nder Catas Pa!&ansa na# ?"d$!ent o. the -ARAC.Note
!"st &e !ade that the petition .or ann"#!ent o. the -ARAC
de%ision0as >#ed 0ith the RTC on 8"ne ':, '66(, &e.ore the
ad/ent o. the '66(R"#es o. Ci/i# Pro%ed"re, 0hi%htoo@eQe%t on8"#9',
'66(. Th"s, theapp#i%ae #a0 is C.P. C#$. ')6 or the 8"di%iar9
Reor$aniDation A%t o. '6+*,ena%ted on A"$"st '*, '6+'.It is a#so
0orth9 o. note that &e.ore the eQe%ti/it9 o. C.P. C#$. ')6, a
%o"rto. >rst instan%e has the a"thorit9 to ann"# a >na# and
e,e%"tor9 ?"d$!entrendered&9another%o"rto.
>rstinstan%eor&9another&ran%ho.thesa!e %o"rt. This 0as
the Co"rtTs r"#in$ in -"#ap /. Co"rt o. Appea#s.)* Yet,in
s"&seB"ent %ases,)' the Co"rt he#d that the &etter po#i%9,
as a !atter o.%o!it9 or %o"rteo"s intera%tion&et0een %o"rts o.
>rst instan%e and the&ran%hes thereo., is .or the ann"#!ent
%ases to &e tried &9 the sa!e %o"rtor &ran%h 0hi%h
heard the !ain a%tion.The .ore$oin$ do%trines 0ere !odi>ed in
N$o C"n Tion$ /. Sa9o,))0heretheCo"rt e,pressedthat p"rs"ant
tothepo#i%9o. ?"di%ia# sta&i#it9, thedo%trineo.
non-inter.eren%e&et0een%on%"rrent
and%oordinate%o"rtssho"#d&ere$ardedashi$h#9i!portant
inthead!inistrationo. ?"sti%e0here&9the?"d$!ent o. a%o"rt o.
%o!petent ?"risdi%tion!a9not &eopened, !odi>ed or /a%ated
&9 an9 %o"rt o. %on%"rrent ?"risdi%tion.Fith the introd"%tion
o. C.P. C#$. ')6,): the r"#e on ann"#!ent o. ?"d$!ents0as
spe%i>%a##9 pro/ided in Se%tion 6rst instan%e= to ann"#>na#
?"d$!ents.)5en%e, 0hi#e it is tr"e, as petitioners %ontend, that
theRTC had the a"thorit9 to ann"#>na#?"d$!ents, s"%h a"thorit9
pertainedon#9to>na# ?"d$!entsrendered&9in.erior
%o"rtsandE-a/+-F-d+'+a=2!d+(/ !: (E-a= )an4+n> ned to de%isions
o. the Re$iona# Tria# Co"rton the $ro"nd o. e,trinsi% .ra"d and
#a%@ o. ?"risdi%tion , , ,.U The Co"rt."rther r"#ed, /iD.:A#tho"$h
the $ro"nds set .orth in the petition .or ann"#!ent o.
?"d$!entare.ra"dand#a%@o. ?"risdi%tion, saidpetition%annot prosper
.or thesi!p#e reason that*A(d('+/+!n/!->A* *!2(ann-==(d+!na=
T)+a= C!-)* 2-* 2?anad1+n+/*)a*+;(a>(n'? 6HLU A)2+*() and O@'(
!: *A( P)(/+d(n*7, A(n'(, n!* 1(n* !: *A(HLURB!) *A(O@'(!:
*A(P)(/+d(n*. Ass"!in$ ar$"endo that the ann"#!ent petition %an
&e treatedas a petition .or re/ie0 "nder R"#e 1: o. the '66(
R"#es o. Ci/i# Pro%ed"re,the sa!e sho"#d ha/e &een dis!issed
&9 the Co"rt o. Appea#s, &e%a"se noerror o. ?"d$!ent 0as
i!p"ted to the ;URCand the O7%e o. thePresident. Jra"d and #a%@ o.
?"risdi%tion are &e9ond the pro/in%e o.petitions "nder R"#e 1:
o. the R"#es o. Co"rt, as it %o/ers on#9 errors o.?"d$!ent. A
petition.or ann"#!ent o. ?"d$!entisan initiator9 re!ed9,hen%e no
error o. ?"d$!ent %an &e the s"&?e%t thereo.. Cesides, the
Ar&iterand the O7%e o. the President indisp"ta ha/e
?"risdi%tion o/er the %ases&ro"$ht &e.ore the! in #ine 0ith
o"r r"#in$ in Jran%is%o S9%ip, 8r. /s. Co"rto. Appea#s, pro!"#$ated
on Mar%h '(, )***, 0here the a$$rie/edto0nho"se &"9ers !a9 see@
prote%tion .ro! the ;URC "nder Presidentia#-e%ree No. 62(,
other0ise @no0n as US"&di/ision and Condo!ini"!C"9ersT
Prote%ti/e -e%ree.U:: na# orders andreso#"tions o. the
O!&"ds!an in ad!inistrati/e %ases %annot &e ann"##ed&9
the CA, !ore so, sin%e The O!&"ds!an A%t spe%i>%a##9 dea#s
0ith there!ed9 o. an a$$rie/ed part9 .ro! orders, dire%ti/es and
de%isions o. theO!&"ds!aninad!inistrati/edis%ip#inar9%aseson#9,
andtheri$ht toappea# is not to &e %onsidered $ranted to parties
a$$rie/ed &9 orders andde%isions o. the O!&"ds!an in
%ri!ina# or non-ad!inistrati/e %ases.Fhi#e these %ases in/o#/e
ann"#!ents o. ?"d$!ents "nder the '66( R"#eso. Ci/i# Pro%ed"re, as
a!ended, sti##, the9sti## >ndapp#i%ationinthepresent %ase, as
the pro/isions o. C.P. C#$. ')6 and the '66( R"#es o.
Ci/i#Pro%ed"re, as a!ended, on ann"#!ent o. ?"d$!ents are
identi%a#.ConseB"ent#9, the si#en%e o. C.P. C#$. ')6 on the
?"risdi%tion o. the CA toann"# ?"d$!ents or >na# orders and
reso#"tions o. B"asi-?"di%ia# &odies #i@ethe -ARAC indi%ates
its #a%@ o. s"%h a"thorit9.J"rther, petitioners are a#so as@in$ the
Co"rt to ta@e %o$niDan%e o. theirpra9er .or the iss"an%e o. a 0rit
o. prohi&ition, 0hi%h the9 %#ai! 0as nota%ted "pon &9 the
CA, %itin$ the Co"rtTs a%tion in Jorti%h /. Corona:2 0herethe Co"rt
too@ %o$niDan%e o. the petition pre/io"s#9 >#ed 0ith the CA
d"eto %o!pe##in$ reasons. The Co"rt is not pers"aded to do
so.Jorti%h in/o#/ed a '11-he%tare #and #o%ated at San Gi%ente,
S"!i#ao,C"@idnon, o0ned &9 the Nor&erto V"is"!&in$, Sr.
Mana$e!ent and-e/e#op!ent Corporation#e an appea# 0ith the OP,
0hi#eNVSRM-C >#ed 0ith the CA a petition .or %ertiorari, and
prohi&ition 0ithpre#i!inar9 in?"n%tion.The OP then iss"ed a
-e%ision dated Mar%h )6, '665 re/ersin$ the -ARSe%retar9Ts de%ision
and appro/in$ the app#i%ation .or %on/ersion.E,e%"ti/e Se%retar9
R"&en -. Torres denied the -ARTs !otion .orre%onsideration .or
ha/in$ &een >#ed &e9ond the re$#e!entar9 period o.
'2da9s, and it 0as a#so de%#ared that the OP -e%ision dated Mar%h
)6, '665had a#read9 &e%o!e >na# and e,e%"tor9.Ce%a"se o.
this, the .ar!er-&ene>%iaries sta$ed a h"n$er stri@e on
O%to&er6, '66(, protestin$ the OPTs de%ision. In order to
reso#/e the stri@e, the OPiss"ed a so-%a##ed UFinEFinU reso#"tion
on No/e!&er (, '66(,!odi.9in$the de%ision in that NVSRM-CTs
app#i%ation .or %on/ersion is appro/ed on#90ith respe%t to the
appro,i!ate#9 11-he%tare portion o. the #and ad?a%entto the
hi$h0a9, as re%o!!ended &9 the -epart!ent o. A$ri%"#t"re,
0hi#ethe re!ainin$ appro,i!ate#9 '** he%tares tra/ersed &9 an
irri$ation %ana#and.o"ndto&es"itae.ora$ri%"#t"resha##
&edistri&"tedtoB"a#i>ed.ar!er-&ene>%iaries.1a"'0i1.netA
petition .or %ertiorari and prohi&ition "nder R"#e 52 o. the
Re/ised R"#eso. Co"rt:5 0as then >#ed 0ith the Co"rt, 0hi%h 0as
%ontested &9 the O7%eo. the So#i%itor Genera# on the $ro"nd
that the proper re!ed9 sho"#d ha/e&een to >#e a petition .or
re/ie0 dire%t#9 0ith the CA in a%%ordan%e 0ithR"#e 1: o. the
Re/ised R"#es o. Co"rt.Inreso#/in$theiss"e, theCo"rt
re%o$niDedther"#ethat theS"pre!eCo"rt, CA and RTC ha/e ori$ina#
%on%"rrent ?"risdi%tion to iss"e a 0rit o.%ertiorari,
prohi&ition, and !anda!"s. o0e/er, d"e to %o!pe##in$ reasonsand
in the interest o. speed9 ?"sti%e, the Co"rt reso#/ed to ta@e
pri!ar9?"risdi%tion o/er the petition in the interest o. speed9
?"sti%e, a.ter 0hi%hthe Co"rt n"##i>ed the a%t o. the OP in
re-openin$ the %ase ands"&stantia##9!odi.9in$itsMar%h)6,
'665-e%ision0hi%hhada#read9&e%o!e >na# and e,e%"tor9, as it
0as in $ross disre$ard o. the r"#es and&asi% #e$a# pre%ept that
a%%ord >na#it9 to ad!inistrati/e deter!inations.It !"st &e
stressed at this point that the Co"rt, as a r"#e, 0i## not
entertaindire%t resort toit "n#esstheredressdesired%annot
&eo&tainedintheappropriate %o"rts, and e,%eptiona# and
%o!pe##in$ %ir%"!stan%es, s"%h as%ases o. nationa# interest and o.
serio"s i!p#i%ations, ?"sti.9 the a/ai#!ento. the e,traordinar9
re!ed9 o. 0rit o. %ertiorari, prohi&ition, or
!anda!"s%a##in$.or thee,er%iseo. itspri!ar9?"risdi%tion.:(TheCo"rt
>ndsno%o!pe##in$ %ir%"!stan%es in this %ase to 0arrant a
re#a,ation o. the.ore$oin$r"#e.
TheJorti%h%aseisnotana#o$o"s0iththepresent %ases"%hthat theCo"rt is
not &o"ndtoa&andon a## r"#es, ta@e pri!ar9?"risdi%tion, and
reso#/e the !erits o. petitionersT app#i%ation .or a 0rit
o.prohi&ition.In the present %ase, the assai#ed -ARAC -e%ision
dated O%to&er 2, '662$rantin$ the petition .or re#ie. .ro!
?"d$!ent and $i/in$ d"e %o"rse to theNoti%e o. Co/era$e 0as !ade
p"rs"ant to a petition .or re#ie. .ro!?"d$!ent >#ed &9 the
-AR, a#&eit petitioners are %ontestin$ the /a#idit9
o.thepro%eedin$s he#dthereon. Ontheother hand, inJorti%h,
theOPTsUFinEFinU reso#"tion dated No/e!&er (, '66( 0as !ade
!ot" proprio, asa res"#t o. the h"n$er stri@e sta$ed &9 the
.ar!er-&ene>%iaries.J"rther, theOPTsUFinEFinU
Reso#"tiondatedNo/e!&er (, '66(intheJorti%h %ase is a patent#9
/oid ?"d$!ent sin%e it 0as e/ident that there 0asa#read9 an
e,istin$ >na# and e,e%"tor9 OP -e%ision dated Mar%h )6, '665.In
this %ase, the assai#ed -ARAC -e%ision dated O%to&er 2, '662
appearsto &e re$"#ar on its .a%e, and .or its a##e$ed n"##it9
to &e reso#/ed, the Co"rt!"st de#/e into the re%ords o. the
%ase in order to deter!ine the /a#idit9 o.petitionersT ar$"!ent o.
#a%@ o. d"e pro%ess, a&sent noti%e and hearin$.Moreo/er,the
prin%ip#e o.hierar%h9o.%o"rts app#ies$enera##9to%asesin/o#/in$
.a%t"a#B"estions. As it is not a trier o. .a%ts, the Co"rt
%annotentertain%ases in/o#/in$.a%t"a# iss"es.:+TheB"estiono.
0hether the-ARAC -e%ision dated O%to&er 2, '662 is n"##and /oid
and en.or%eaea$ainst petitioners .or ha/in$ &een rendered
0itho"t aQordin$ petitionersd"e pro%ess is a .a%t"a# B"estion 0hi%h
reB"ires a re/ie0 o. the re%ords o.this %ase .or it to &e
?"di%io"s#9 reso#/ed.The Co"rt notes that the CA, indeed, .ai#ed to
reso#/e petitionersT pra9er .orthe iss"an%e o. the 0rit o.
prohi&ition, 0hi%h, si$ni>%ant#9, .o%"ses on thea##e$ed
n"##it9 o. the -ARAC -e%ision dated O%to&er 2, '662. On this
s%ore,the CA .o"nd that the app#i%ation .or the iss"an%e o. the
0rit o. prohi&ition0as a%t"a##9 a %o##atera# atta%@ on the
/a#idit9 o. the -ARAC de%ision. C"t,a >na#and e,e%"tor9 ?"d$!ent
!a9 &e set aside in three 0a9sA:6and a%o##atera# atta%@,
0here&9 in an a%tion to o&tain a diQerent re#ie., an
atta%@on the ?"d$!ent is ne/erthe#ess !ade as an in%ident
thereo.,1*is one o.these.
Thistenetis&ased"pona%o"rtTsinherenta"thorit9toe,p"n$e/oid a%ts
.ro!its re%ords.1'-espite re%o$niDin$ the need to
reso#/epetitionersT app#i%ation.orthe0rito.
prohi&itioninitsReso#"tiondated8an"ar9 '), '666, the CA
nonethe#ess s"!!ari#9 denied petitionersT!otion.or
re%onsiderationinitsReso#"tiondatedJe&r"ar9):, )***,1)#ea/in$
the !atter han$in$ and "nreso#/ed.At >rst, the Co"rt %onsidered
reso#/in$ the !erits o. petitionersT !otion .orre%onsideration
%on%ernin$ their app#i%ation .or a 0rit o. prohi&ition
a$ainsten.or%in$ the -ARAC -e%ision dated O%to&er 2, '662.
Th"s, in a Reso#"tiondated 8"ne 2, )**5, the Co"rt dire%ted the CA
to trans!it the re%ords o.-ARACCaseNo. *222,
0hi%h0aspre/io"s#9reB"ired&9theCAto&e.or0arded to it per
Reso#"tion dated -e%e!&er )*, '666.1: o0e/er, as o.e/en date,
theCA has not%o!p#ied0iththeCo"rtTsReso#"tion. Fitha#,"pon
re-e,a!ination o. the iss"es in/o#/ed in this %ase, the Co"rt dee!s
it!ore ?"di%io"s to re!and this %ase to the CA .or i!!ediate
reso#"tion o.petitionersT !otion .or re%onsideration, re: their
app#i%ation .or the 0rit o.prohi&ition.Moreo/er, the
radi%a#%onSi%t in the >ndin$s o. the Pro/in%ia#Ad?"di%atorand
the -ARAC as re$ards the nat"re o. the s"&?e%t propert9
ne%essitatesa re/ie0 o. the present %ase. In this re$ard, the CA is
in a &etter position to."##9 ad?"di%ate the %ase .or it %an
de#/e into the re%ords to deter!ine thepro&ati/e /a#"e o. the
e/iden%e s"pportin$ the >ndin$s o. the Pro/in%ia#Ad?"di%ator
ando. the-ARAC. Inaddition, theCAise!po0ered&9itsinterna# r"#es
to reB"ire parties to s"&!it additiona# do%"!ents, as it
!a9>nd ne%essar9 to pro!ote the ends o. s"&stantia# ?"sti%e,
and ."rther orderthe trans!itta# o. the proper re%ords .or it to
."##9 ad?"di%ate the %ase. A.tera##, it is an a/o0ed po#i%9 o. the
%o"rts that %ases sho"#d &e deter!ined onthe !erits, a.ter ."##
opport"nit9 to a## parties .or /enti#ation o. their %a"sesand
de.enses, rather than on te%hni%a#it9 or so!e
pro%ed"ra#i!per.e%tions. In that 0a9, the ends o. ?"sti%e 0o"#d
&e ser/ed &etter.11WHEREFORE, the petition is PARTLY
GRANTED. This %ase is REMANDEDto the Co"rt o. Appea#s 0hi%h is
DIRECTEDto reso#/e petitionersT pra9er.or the iss"an%e o. the 0rit
o. prohi&ition in their Motion .orRe%onsideration.Upon
>na#it9 o. this -e%ision, #et the re%ords &e re!anded
.orth0ith to the Co"rt o. Appea#s.No prono"n%e!ent as to %osts.SO
ORDERED.FIRST DIVISION FERDINAND A. CRUD,G.R. N!.
"#&4&4Petitioner,Present: - /ers"s - ;EONAR-O--E CASTRO
)cting C0air'ersonCERSAMIN,JUDGE HENRIC F. GINGOYON, -E;
CASTI;;O,HD('(a/(dI, PEREZ, an-JUDGE JESUS B. MUPAS, A'*+n>
MEN-OZA,P)(/+d+n> J-d>(, R(>+!na= T)+a= C!-)*B)an'A ""#,
Pa/a? C+*?, Pro!"#$ated:Res'on-ent. Septe!&er )+, )*'', - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -, D E C I
S I O N DEL CASTILLO, J.5 Fhi#e there are re!edies a/ai#ae to a
part9 ad?"d$ed in %onte!pt o.%o"rt, sa!e !a9 on#9 &e a/ai#ed o.
0hen the pro%ed"res #aid do0n .or its a/ai#!entare satis>ed. C9
this Petition .or Certiorari,3'4 petitioner Jerdinand A. Cr"D %a##9
this Presidin$ 8"d$e, has notseen the .aintest o. shado0 o. the
de.endant or heard e/enan e%ho o. his /oi%e "p to the present.
P#aintiQ JerdinandCr"D is there.ore dire%ted to s"&stantiate
his serio"s %har$ethat he O0as een co!!unicating "it0 t0e -efen-ant
o< t0erecor-, given t0at t0e latter 0as alrea-$ een -eclare-
in-efaultP. e is there.ore ordered to sho0%a"se onNo/e!&er '+,
)**2, 0h9 he sho"#d not &e p"nished .or%onte!pt o. %o"rt .or
%o!!ittin$ i!proper %ond"%t tendin$dire%t#9 or indire%t#9 to
de$rade the ad!inistration o. ?"sti%e.3'14 On No/e!&er '+,
)**2, petitioner, ho0e/er, did not appear. 8"d$eGin$o9on then!otu
'ro'rio iss"ed an Order3'24 in open %o"rt to $i/e petitioneranother
'* da9s to sho0 %a"se.The Order reads: In his Motion .or
Re%onsideration, p#aintiQJerdinand Cr"D spe%i>%a##9 pra9ed that
he is s"&!ittin$ hisMotion .or Reso#"tion and Appro/a# o. this
%o"rt toda9, Jrida9,No/e!&er '+, )**2, at +::* A.M. Jrida9s
ha/e a#0a9s &eenear!ar@ed .or %ri!ina#%ases on#9. Moreo/er,
#on$ &e.orep#aintiQ >#ed his !otion .or re%onsideration,
this %o"rt no#on$er s%hed"#ed hearin$s .or No/e!&er '+, )**2
&e%a"sethere 0i## &e no Prose%"tors on this date as the9
0i## &eho#din$ their Nationa# Con/ention. Ne/erthe#ess, sin%e
it isthe spe%i>% pra9er o. the p#aintiQ that he 0i## &e
s"&!ittin$his !otion .or reso#"tion and appro/a# &9 the
%o"rt on saiddate, the %o"rt 9ie#ded to his 0ish and set his !otion
.orhearin$ on his pre.erred date. Fhen this %ase 0as %a##ed .or
hearin$ toda9,p#aintiQ did not appear. The %o"rt 0aited "nti# 6:12
A.M. &"tsti## no appearan%e 0as entered &9 the p#aintiQ or
an9 person0ho !i$ht represent hi!se#. as an a"thoriDed
representati/eo. the p#aintiQ.Instead it 0as the de.endant and his
%o"nse#0ho appea#ed and 0ho ear#ier >#ed an Opposition to
Motion.or Re%onsideration. , , , , In /ie0 o. the .ai#"re o. the
p#aintiQ to appear intoda9Hs hearin$, the %o"rt %onsiders the
!otion .orre%onsideration s"&!itted .or reso#"tion. As .or the
Order o.this %o"rt .or the p#aintiQ to sho0 %a"se 0h9 he sho"#d not
&ep"nished .or %onte!pt o. %o"rt, the %o"rt=!otu
'ro'rio>$rants p#aintiQ #ast ten activities t0at t0e in0aitants
of interior &-ang -o in relation to t0e alle$, "0ent0e
-efen-ant "as 0el- in -efault an- asent 'lainti#edPetition .or
Certiorari 0ith the S"pre!e Co"rt.The respondent %o"rt he#d that
"n#esspetitioner has sho0n proo. o. >#in$ said petition .or
certiorari, he %annot a/ai# o. there!ed9 pro/ided in Se%tion ),
R"#e (' o. the R"#es o. Co"rt. Mean0hi#e, 8"d$e Gin$o9on 0as s#ain
on -e%e!&er :', )**2. In aReso#"tion3)14 dated Je&r"ar9 ',
)**5, this Co"rt dire%ted the in%"!&ent 8"d$e o.Cran%h ''(, RTC
o. Pasa9 Cit9, 8"d$e 8es"s C. M"pas, to s"&!it a %o!!ent on
thepetition Oinas!"%h as dire%t or indire%t %onte!pt pertains to
the !is&eha/ior ordisrespe%t %o!!ittedto0ardsthe%o"rt andnot
to?"d$esintheir persona#%apa%ities.P3)24 I//-(/ Petitioner raises
the .o##o0in$ iss"es: A.FETER M M M PETITIONER 3IS4 GUI;TY OJ
CONTEMPT OJCOURT. C.FETERRESPON-ENTCOURTASENOUGJACTUA;CASIS JOR
CITING PETITIONER IN CONTEMPT. C.FETER TE RESPON-ENT COURT ACUSE-
ITS-ISCRETIONIN-ENYINGPETITIONERHSMOTIONTOJIMCON-.3)54 The iss"es
!a9 &e s"!!ed "p as .o##o0s: 0hether the respondent
%o"rtproper#9 ad?"d$ed petitioner in dire%t %onte!pt o. %o"rt and
0hether a&"se o.dis%retion 0as %o!!itted &9 respondent
%o"rt in den9in$ the &/-Parte Motion. Petitioner %ontends that
the a##e$ed %ont"!a%io"s re!ar@ is !ere#9 a .airo&ser/ation or
%o!!entanda #o$i%a#%on%#"sion !ade &ased on the
detai#eddes%ription $i/en &9 the respondent %o"rt o. 0hat has
&een happenin$ in the a##e9s"&?e%t o. the %i/i#
%ase.Petitioner a/ers that no other %on%#"sion %an &e had
e,%eptthat 8"d$e Gin$o9on 0as %o!!"ni%atin$ 0ith the de.endant oQ
the re%ord, sin%e thee,a%t des%ription o. 0hat 0as happenin$ in the
a##e9 0as not add"%ed in e/iden%ed"rin$ tria#.J"rther, petitioner
%ontends that .air and #o$i%a# %on%#"sion .o"nded on%ir%"!stan%es
o. the %ase %annot &e %onsidered %onte!pt"o"s. Petitioner
#i@e0ise insists that the respondent %o"rt a&"sed its
dis%retion0hen it denied his !otion to >, &ond, there.ore
/io#atin$ d"e pro%ess. O-) R-=+n> Fe >nd the petition
"n!eritorio"s.) 'lea-ingcontaining-erogator$,o#ed &9 petitioner
0ith the respondent%o"rt %ontained a serio"s a##e$ation that 8"d$e
Gin$o9on has &een %o!!"ni%atin$0ith the de.endant oQ the
re%ord, 0hi%h is %onsidered as a $ra/e oQense. Thisa##e$ation is
"ns"&stantiated and tota##9 &ere.t o. .a%t"a# &asis.In
.a%t, 0hen as@edto add"%e proo. o. the a##e$ation, petitioner 0as
not ae to $i/e an9, &"t repeated#9ar$"ed that it is his O.air
o&ser/ation or %on%#"sion.P3)64 Petitioner /ehe!ent#9 stood
&9 his s"spi%ion and repeated the a##e$ationin the Co!p#ian%e
to the sho0-%a"se Order dated No/e!&er '', )**2 0hi%h he
>#ed0ith the respondent %o"rt. The a##e$ation 0as repeated
despite 8"d$e Gin$o9onHso"tri$ht denia# o.
%o!!"ni%atin$0iththede.endant ande,p#anationintheOrder3:*4 dated
No/e!&er )2, )**2 that 8"d$e Gin$o9on 0as .a!i#iar 0ith the
areaas he 0as detai#ed in Pasa9 Cit9 sin%e '66' as State
Prose%"tor, and therea.ter, as?"d$e sin%e '66(. Instead o. sho0in$
proo. o. the a##e$ed %o!!"ni%ation &et0een 8"d$eGin$o9on and
the de.endant oQ the re%ord, petitioner st"&&orn#9 insisted
that there isnothin$ %ont"!a%io"s a&o"t his a##e$ation a$ainst
the 8"d$e as he 0as ?"st $i/in$ hisfair and logical
o&ser/ation.C#ear#9, petitioner open#9 a%%"sed 8"d$e Gin$o9on
o.0ron$doin$ 0itho"t .a%t"a# &asis.S"7%e it to sa9 that this
a%%"sation is a dan$ero"sone as it e,poses 8"d$e Gin$o9on to se/ere
repri!and and e/en re!o/a# .ro! o7%e. On the other hand, a %are."#
per"sa# o. the des%ription as pro/ided &98"d$e Gin$o9on in the
-e%ision sho0s &"t a $enera# des%ription o. 0hat is
nor!a##9seen and 0hat nor!a##9 happens in p#a%es s"%h as Edan$
Street, to 0it:?/ / / 'laceis ursting "it0 'eo'le !ost of "0o! live
in cra!'e- tene!ents "it0 no 'lace tos'are for recreation, to la9e
aroun- or =-o> t0eir -ail$ 0ouse0ol- c0ores / / /. ;0ealle$s
eco!e t0e groun-s "0ere c0il-ren run aroun- an- 'la$, t0e venue
"0erea-ults -o all sorts of t0ings to entertain =t0e!selves> or
'ass t0e ti!e, t0eir "as0area or even a 'lace to cooD foo- in / /
/. )!ulant ven-ors "0o -is'la$ t0eir"ares in t0e alle$ an- t0eir
custo!ers t0at !ill aroun- t0e!. / / / c0il-ren c0asing eac0 ot0er,
-o-gingan-=-ucDing> fro!a"nings or cano'ies. / / /clot0eslines
full of -ri''ing clot0es t0at encroac0 =on> t0e alle$s / /
/.B3:'4 The a%t o. petitioner in open#9 a%%"sin$ 8"d$e Gin$o9on
o.%o!!"ni%atin$ 0ith the de.endant oQ the re%ord, 0itho"t .a%t"a#
&asis, &rin$s the%o"rt into disrep"te.The a%%"sationin
theMotion.orRe%onsiderationandtheCo!p#ian%e s"&!itted&9 the
petitionerto therespondent %o"rtisdero$ator9,oQensi/e and
!a#i%io"s. The a%%"sation taints the %redi&i#it9 and the
di$nit9 o. the%o"rt and B"estions its i!partia#it9.It is a dire%t
aQront to the inte$rit9 and a"thorit9o. the %o"rt, s"&?e%tin$
it to #oss o. p"i% respe%t and %on>den%e, 0hi%h "#ti!ate#9aQe%ts
the ad!inistration o. ?"sti%e. J"rther!ore, ass"!in$ that the
%on%#"sion o. petitioner is ?"sti>ed &9 the.a%ts, it is
sti## not a /a#id de.ense in %ases o. %onte!pt.OFhere the !atter is
a&"si/eor ins"#tin$,e/iden%e that the #an$"a$e "sed 0as
?"sti>ed &9the .a%ts is notad!issie as a de.ense.Respe%t .or
the ?"di%ia# o7%e sho"#d a#0a9s &e o&ser/edand
en.or%ed.P3:)4 Moreo/er, the %har$e o. partia#it9 is "n%a##ed .or,
and there &ein$ nos%inti##a o. proo. that 8"d$e Gin$o9on did
the a%t %o!p#ained o., petitionerHs a%ta!o"nts to dire%t %onte!pt
o. %o"rt.3::4 *enial of t0e&/-Parte8otion toPost %on-an-
Euas0Carrant of)rrest is'ro'er.t0ere is noause of-iscretion ont0e
'art ofres'on-entcourt. Petitioner a/ersthat therespondent %o"rt
a&"seditsdis%retioninden9in$ his &/-Parte Motion.Petitioner
insists that the respondent %o"rt sho"#d ha/e$ranted his
&/-Parte Motion sin%e he a#read9 >#ed a Petition .or
Certiorari &e.ore thisCo"rt p"rs"ant to R"#e (' o. the R"#es o.
Co"rt.e ."rther a/ers that respondent%o"rt /io#ated his ri$ht to
d"e pro%ess &9 >,in$ the &ond on#9 on -e%e!&er 2,
)**2or '* da9s a.ter the Orders o. %onte!pt and arrest 0ere iss"ed.
PetitionerHs %ontention #a%@s !erit. The respondent %o"rt 0as 0e##
0ithinthe&o"nds o. its a"thorit90hen itdenied petitionerHs
&/-Parte Motion. A person !a9 &e ad?"d$ed in dire%t
%onte!pt o. %o"rt p"rs"ant toSe%tion ', R"#e (' o. the R"#es o.
Co"rt3:14 0itho"t need o. a hearin$ &"t !a9therea.ter a/ai# o.
the re!edies o. certiorari or prohi&ition.3:24 Se%tion ), R"#e
(' o. the R"#es o. Co"rt pro/ides:
Se%tion).Re!e-$t0erefro!.KThepersonad?"d$ed in dire%t %onte!pt
&9 an9 %o"rt !a9 not appea#there.ro!, &"t !a9 a/ai# hi!se#.
o. the re!edies o. certiorarior prohi&ition.;0ee/ecutionof
t0e:u-g!ent s0all esus'en-e-'en-ingresolutionof suc0'etition,
'rovi-e-suc0 'erson 1les a on- 1/e- $ t0e court "0ic0 ren-ere-t0e
:u-g!ent an- con-itione- t0at 0e "illai-e $ an-'erfor! t0e :u-g!ent
s0oul- t0e 'etition e -eci-e- against0i!. #ed a petition
.orcertiorari. Nota, the&/-ParteMotion 0as >#ed 0ith the
respondent %o"rt on-e%e!&er ', )**2 at '*:** A.M.3:54 and
therein petitioner stated that he a#read9>#ed a Petition .or
Certiorari 0ith this Co"rt.o0e/er, per"sa# o. the re%ords 0o"#dsho0
that the Petition .or Certiorari 0as >#ed 0ith the S"pre!e Co"rt
on the sa!eda9 &"t at ':*5 P.M.3:(4 C#ear#9, 0hen the !otion
0as >#ed 0ith the respondent%o"rt, it %annot &e a%%"rate#9
said that a petition .or certiorari 0as a#read9 d"#9 >#ed0ith
this Co"rt.Si$ni>%ant#9, the re%ords sho0 that respondent %o"rt
0as ."rnished a%op9 o. the Petition .or Certiorari &9
re$istered !ai# and 0hi%h 0as re%ei/ed on#9 on-e%e!&er 2,
)**2.3:+4It is there.ore %#ear that at the ti!e that petitioner
>#ed the&/-Parte Motion 0ith the respondent %o"rt, he has
not 9et a/ai#ed o. the re!ed9 o.certiorari.In .a%t, it 0as on#9
after >#in$ the &/- Parte Motion 0ith respondent %o"rtthat
petitioner >#ed the Petition .or Certiorari 0ith the S"pre!e
Co"rt.This e,p#ained0h9 no proo. o. s"%h >#in$ 0as presented
&9 petitioner to the respondent %o"rt th"spro!ptin$ it to
de%#are that "n#ess petitioner has sho0n proo. o. >#in$ said
petition .orcertiorari, he %annot a/ai# o. the re!ed9 pro/ided in
Se%tion ), R"#e (' o. the R"#es o.Co"rt.3:64 Petitioner th"s%annot
attri&"tea&"seo. dis%retiononthepart o.respondent %o"rt in
den9in$ the &/-Parte Motion.To reiterate, at the ti!e the
said&/-Parte Motion 0as >#ed and a%ted "pon &9 the
respondent %o"rt, petitioner 0as not9et entit#ed to the re!ed9
pra9ed .or.C#ear#9, the respondent %o"rt did not %o!!iterror, nor
did it o/erstep its a"thorit9 in den9in$ petitionerHs &/-Parte
Motion. A## to#d, 0e ta@e a si!i#ar stand as 8"d$e Gin$o9on and
a7r! the Orderad?"d$in$ petitioner $"i#t9 o. dire%t
%onte!pt.o0e/er, as to the pena#t9 i!posed"ponpetitioner,
0e>ndthe>neo.P),***.**%o!!ens"rate0iththea%ts%o!!itted.
Fea#so>ndthene%essit9toe!phasiDestri%t o&ser/an%eo.
thehierar%h9 o. %o"rts. OA &e%o!in$ re$ard .or that ?"di%ia#
hierar%h9 !ost %ertain#9indi%ates that petitions .or the iss"an%e
o. e,traordinar9 0rits a$ainst >rst #e/e##ed 0ith the 3RTC4, and
those a$ainst the #atter, 0ith theCo"rt o. Appea#s % a%tion .or the
0ritHs pro%"re!ent !"st&e presented.P3114In %onseB"en%e, the
instant petition sho"#d ha/e &een >#ed 0iththe CA as there
is no a##e$ation o. an9 spe%ia# or %o!pe##in$ reason to 0arrant
dire%tre%o"rse to this Co"rt. o0e/er, to a/oid ."rther de#a9, 0e
dee! it pra%ti%a# toreso#/e the %ontro/ers9. Jina##9,
it!"st&epointedo"tthatonApri# )+, )*'*, 0edire%tedpetitioner to
%a"se the entr9 o. appearan%e o. his %o"nse#3124 0ithin '2 da9s
.ro!noti%e. Petitioner .ai#ed to %o!p#9 hen%e 0e dire%ted hi! to
sho0 %a"se 0h9 hesho"#d not &e dis%ip#inari#9 dea#t 0ith in o"r
Reso#"tion dated Septe!&er 5, )*'*.3154Sti##, petitioner .ai#ed
to %o!p#9 hen%e he 0as >ned P',***.** in o"r Reso#"tiondated
8an"ar9 '(, )*''31(4 0hi%h 0as in%reased to P:,***.** in o"r
Reso#"tion o.8"ne )6, )*''. ConseB"ent#9, petitioneris here&9
dire%ted to pa9 said>ne o.P:,***.** other0ise he 0o"#d &e
dea#t 0ith !ore se/ere#9. WHEREFORE, the Petition
.orCertiorariisDISMISSED. The Orderdated No/e!&er )2, )**2 o.
Cran%h ''( o. the Re$iona# Tria# Co"rt o. Pasa9 Cit9>ndin$
petitioner Jerdinand A. Cr"D $"i#t9 o. dire%t %onte!pt is AFFIRMED
ne o.P),***.**. Inaddition, petitioner is ordered to PAY a >ne
o. P:,***.** .or his repeated .ai#"re toheed the dire%ti/es o. this
Co"rt.Petitioner is STERNLY WARNED that a repetitiono. the sa!e or
si!i#ar a%t sha## &e dea#t 0ith !ore se/ere#9. SO ORDERED. G.R.
N!. "%0&3&.Jan-a)? %&, "999ISUICO INDUSTRIAL
CORPORATION, SPS. ESMERALDO andELIDABETHSUICO,petitioners, vs.
COURTOFAPPEALSand PDCP DEVELOPMENT BAN, INC., respondents.D E C I S
I O NMARTINED, J.5On 8an"ar9 '6, '6+(, petitioner S"i%o Ind"stria#
Corporation,represented &9 Es!era#do S"i%o, its President,
se%"red a #oan o.P),2**,***.** pa9ae in >/e #ed 0ith theRe$iona#
Tria# Co"rt #ed 0ith the Co"rt o. Appea#s on 8"ne)5, '662,
respondent P-CP Can@ pra9ed that the Order dated 8an"ar9 '(,'662
$rantin$ the 0rit o. pre#i!inar9 in?"n%tion &e set aside,
de%#ared /oidand 0itho"t an9 ."rther .or%e and eQe%t.It #i@e0ise
pra9ed that the sheriQo. Manda"e Cit9 &e ordered to i!p#e!ent
the 0rit o. possession.OnA"$"st )+, '662, respondent Co"rt o.
Appea#s renderedthe%ha##en$ed de%ision364 0hi%h r"#ed that RTC
Cran%h 25 e,%eeded its?"risdi%tion 0hen it iss"ed the 0rit o.
in?"n%tion a$ainst the en.or%e!ent o.the0rit o. possession $ranted
&9 RTC Cran%h )+. It ratio%inated in this0ise:OIn a Petition
.or Certiorari, the %o"rt !"st %on>ne itse#. to the iss"e o.
0hether or not the respondent %o"rt #a%@ed or e,%eeded its
?"risdi%tion or %o!!itted $ra/e a&"se o. dis%retion #ed
&e.ore RTC Cran%h 25 that the9 had a$reedonap#an0ithrespondent
P-CPCan@tointentiona##9de.a"#t intheirpa9!ents so that a
.ore%#os"re o. !ort$a$e %an &e eQe%ted and tit#e to thepar%e#s
o. #and 0o"#d e/ent"a##9 &e %onso#idated in the na!e
o.respondent P-CP [email protected], respondent P-CP Can@ 0as
s"pposedto a##o0 the! to p"r%hase the properties .or P2,***,***.**
thr" the #atterHsre%o!!ended &"9er. The re%o!!endees o.
petitioners 0ere re?e%ted &9respondentP-CPCan@. The
se##in$pri%ethereo.0asin%reased there&9pre/entin$ petitioners
.ro!redee!in$ the properties. In this re$ard,petitioners so"$ht to
en?oin the respondents P-CP Can@ .ro! se##in$ thesaid !ort$a$ed
properties to persons not re%o!!ended &9 petitioners and.ro!
ta@in$ ph9si%a# possession thereo. d"rin$ the penden%9 o. the
%ase.Th"s, petitionersno0see@to"pho#dthepropriet9o. the0rit
o.in?"n%tion iss"ed &9 the RTC Cran%h 25 en?oinin$ the
en.or%e!ent o. the0rit o. possession $ranted &9 RTC Cran%h
)+.The petition does not deser/e !erit.F+)/*.RTC Cran%h 25 a%ted
0ith $ra/e a&"se o. dis%retion .or ha/in$iss"edthe0rit o.
in?"n%tion0hi%hpre/entedthei!p#e!entationo.the0rit o. possession
iss"ed &9 RTC Cran%h )+. The iss"an%e o. the 0rit o.in?"n%tion
0as not proper in the a&sen%e o. an9 #e$a# ri$ht on the part
o.petitioners to en?oin the en.or%e!ent o. the 0rit o. possession
in .a/or o.respondent P-CP [email protected] espo"sed in Ar%e$a /. Co"rt o.
Appea#s3')4 that:OJor the iss"an%e o. the 0rit o. pre#i!inar9
in?"n%tion to &e proper, it !"st &e sho0n that the in/asion
o. the ri$ht so"$ht to &e prote%ted is !ateria# and
s"&stantia#, that the ri$ht o. %o!p#ainant is %#ear and
"n!ista@ae and there is an "r$ent and para!o"nt ne%essit9 .or the
0rit to pre/ent serio"s da!a$e.P3':4UIn the a&sen%e o. a %#ear
#e$a# ri$ht, the iss"an%e o. the in?"n%ti/e 0rit %onstit"te $ra/e
a&"se o. dis%retion.3'14 In?"n%tion is not desi$ned to prote%t
%ontin$ent or ."t"re ri$hts,Fhere the %o!p#ainants ri$ht or tit#e
isdo"&t."# or disp"ted, in?"n%tion is not proper.3'24 The
possi&i#it9 o. irreparae da!a$e 0itho"t proo. o. a%t"a#
e,istin$ ri$ht is no $ro"nd .or an in?"n%tion.P3'54Fhen petitioners
.ai#ed to pa9 the &a#an%e o. the #oan and
therea.ter.ai#edtoredee!theproperties,
tit#etothepropert9hada#read9&eentrans.erred to respondent P-CP
Can@. Respondent P-CPCan@Hs ri$ht topossess the propert9 is %#ear
and is &ased on its ri$ht o. o0nership as ap"r%haser o. the
properties in the .ore%#os"re sa#e to 0ho! tit#e has
&een%on/e9ed.3'(4Under Se%tion ( o. A%t No. :':2 and Se%tion :2
o. R"#e :6,the p"r%haser in a .ore%#os"re sa#e is entit#ed to
possession o. the propert9.3'+4 Respondent P-CPCan@hasa&etter
ri$ht topossessthes"&?e%tpropert9 &e%a"se o. its tit#e o/er
the sa!e.3'64J"rther!ore, petitioners "ndertoo@ apro%ed"ra#
!isstep0henit>#edas"it.orspe%i>%per.or!an%e,
in?"n%tionandda!a$es&e.oretheRTC Cran%h 25 instead o. a
petition to set aside the sa#e and %an%e##ation o.the 0rit o.
possession as pro/ided "nder Se%tion + o. A%t :':2:GSec. 8.The
de&tor !a9, in the pro%eedin$s in 0hi%h possession 0as
reB"ested, &"t not #ater than thirt9 da9s a.ter the p"r%haser
0as $i/en possession, petition that the sa#e &e set aside and
the 0rit o. possession %an%e##ed, spe%i.9in$ the da!a$es s"Qered
&9 hi!, &e%a"se the !ort$a$e 0as not /io#ated or the sa#e
0as not !ade in a%%ordan%e 0ith the pro/isions hereo., and the
%o"rt sha## ta@e %o$niDan%e o. this petition in a%%ordan%e 0ith the
s"!!ar9 pro%ed"re pro/ided .or in se%tion one h"ndred and t0e#/e o.
A%t N"!&er Jo"r "ndred and ninet9 si,A and i. it >nds the
%o!p#aint o. the de&tor ?"sti>ed, it sha## dispose in his
.a/or o. a## or part o. the &ond ."rnished &9 the person
0ho o&tained possession.Either o. the parties !a9 appea# .ro!
the order o. the ?"d$e in a%%ordan%e 0ith se%tion .o"rteen o. A%t
N"!&ered Jo"r h"ndred and ninet9-si,A &"t the order o.
possession sha## %ontin"e in eQe%t d"rin$ the penden%9 o. the
appea#.P3)*4S('!nd.Indeed, it is the !inisteria# d"t9 o. the tria#
%o"rt to $rants"%h 0rit o. possession.In S"#it /. Co"rt o.
Appea#s,3)'4 the r"#e 0as app#ied in this !anner:ONo dis%retion
appears to &e #e.t to the Co"rt.An9 B"estion re$ardin$ the
re$"#arit9 and /a#idit9 o. the sa#e, as 0e## as the %onseB"ent
%an%e##ation o.the 0rit is to &e deter!ined in a s"&seB"ent
pro%eedin$ as o"t#ined in Se%tion +, and it %annot &e raised as
a ?"sti>%ation .or opposin$ the iss"an%e o. the 0rit o.
possession sin%e, "nder the A%t, the pro%eedin$ .or this is e/
'arte.3))4 S"%h re%o"rse is a/ai#ae o. the !ort$a$ee, 0ho eQe%ts
the e,tra?"di%ia# .ore%#os"re o. the !ort$a$e, e/en &e.ore the
e,piration o. the period o. rede!ption pro/ided &9 #a0 and the
R"#es o. Co"rt.P3):4This is stateda#soinA.G. -e/e#op!ent
Corporation/. Co"rt o.Appea#sH3)14OA 0rit o. possession is
$enera##9 "nderstood to &e an order 0here&9 the sheriQ is
%o!!anded to p#a%e a person in possession o. a rea# or persona#
propert9,3)24 s"%h as 0hen a propert9 is e,tra?"di%ia##9
.ore%#osed.3)54 In this re$ard, the iss"an%e o. a 0rit o.
possession to a p"r%haser in an e,tra?"di%ia# .ore%#os"re is !ere#9
a !inisteria# ."n%tion.3)(4 As s"%h, the Co"rt neither e,er%ises
its o7%ia# dis%retion nor ?"d$!ent.P3)+4TA+)d.The stat"te &oo@s
are rep#ete 0ith ?"rispr"den%e to the eQe%tthat tria# %o"rts ha/e
no po0er to inter.ere &9 in?"n%tion 0ith the orders or?"d$!ents
iss"ed &9 another %o"rt o. %on%"rrent or %oordinate
?"risdi%tion.3)64 In this re$ard, RTC Cran%h 25 there.ore has no
po0er nor a"thorit9 ton"##i.9 or en?oin the en.or%e!ent o. the 0rit
o. possession iss"ed &9 RTCCran%h )+.WHEREFORE,
thepetitionis-ENIE-. The-e%isiondatedA"$"st)+, '662 and the
Reso#"tion dated -e%e!&er '), '662 o. respondent Co"rto.
Appea#s are here&9 AJJIRME-.Costs a$ainst petitioners.SO
ORDERED.*avi-e, Jr., C.J., 5C0air!an7, 8elo, Ia'unan, and Par-o,
JJ., %on%"r.