Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence


Philippine Supreme Court Jurisprudence > Year 2017 > April 2017 Decisions > G.R. No. 202454, April 25, 2017 - CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, INC., Respondent.:




G.R. No. 202454, April 25, 2017 - CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, INC., Respondent.

PHILIPPINE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS

FIRST DIVISION

G.R. No. 202454, April 25, 2017

CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, INC., Respondent.

D E C I S I O N

SERENO, C.J.:

Before us is a Petition for Review on Certiorari assailing the Decision1 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 94409, which denied the appeal filed by California Manufacturing Company, Inc. (CMCI) from the Decision2 of Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pasig City, Branch 268, in the Complaint for Sum of Money3 filed by Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. (ATSI) against the former.

The RTC ordered CMCI to pay ATSI the amount of P443,729.39 for the unpaid rentals for a Prodopak machine, plus legal interest from the date of extra-judicial demand until full payment; 30% of the judgment award as attorney's fees; and the costs of litigation. The CA affirmed the trial court's decision, but it deleted the award of attorney's tees for Jack of tactual and legal basis and ordered CMCI to pay the costs of litigation.

THE ANTECEDENT FACTS

Petitioner CMCI is a domestic corporation engaged in the food and beverage manufacturing business. Respondent ATSI is also a domestic corporation that fabricates and distributes food processing machinery and equipment, spare parts, and its allied products.4

In August 2001, CMCI leased from ATSI a Prodopak machine which was used to pack products in 20-ml. pouches.5 The parties agreed to a monthly rental of P98,000 exclusive of tax. Upon receipt of an open purchase order on 6 August 2001, ATSI delivered the machine to CMCI's plant at Gateway Industrial Park, General Trias, Cavite on 8 August 2001.

In November 2003, ATSI filed a Complaint for Sum of Money6 against CMCI to collect unpaid rentals for the months of June, July, August, and September 2003. ATSI alleged that CMCI was consistently paying the rents until June 2003 when the latter defaulted on its obligation without just cause. ATSI also claimed that CMCI ignored all the billing statements and its demand letter. Hence, in addition to the unpaid rents ATSI sought payment for the contingent attorney's fee equivalent to 30% of the judgment award.

CMCI moved for the dismissal of the complaint on the ground of extinguishment of obligation through legal compensation. The RTC, however, ruled that the conflicting claims of the parties required trial on the merits. It therefore dismissed the motion to dismiss and directed CMCI to file an Answer.7

In its Answer,8 CMCI averred that ATSI was one and the same with Processing Partners and Packaging Corporation (PPPC), which was a toll packer of CMCI products. To support its allegation, CMCI submitted copies of the Articles of Incorporation and General Information Sheets (GIS)9 of the two corporations. CMCI pointed out that ATSI was even a stockholder of PPPC as shown in the latter's GIS.10

CMCI alleged that in 2000, PPPC agreed to transfer the processing of CMCI's product line from its factory in Meycauayan to Malolos, Bulacan. Upon the request of PPPC, through its Executive Vice President Felicisima Celones, CMCI advanced P4 million as mobilization fund. PPPC President and Chief Executive Officer Francis Celones allegedly committed to pay the amount in 12 equal instalments deductible from PPPC's monthly invoice to CMCI beginning in October 2000.11 CMCI likewise claims that in a letter dated 30 July 2001,12 Felicisima proposed to set off PPPC's obligation to pay the mobilization fund with the rentals for the Prodopak machine.

CMCI argued that the proposal was binding on both PPPC and ATSI because Felicisima was an officer and a majority stockholder of the two corporations. Moreover, in a letter dated 16 September 2003,13 she allegedly represented to the new management of CMCI that she was authorized to request the offsetting of PPPC's obligation with ATSI's receivable from CMCI. When ATSI filed suit in November 2003, PPPC's debt arising from the mobilization fund allegedly amounted to P10,766,272.24.

Based on the above, CMCI argued that legal compensation had set in and that ATSI was even liable for the balance of PPPC's unpaid obligation after deducting the rentals for the Prodopak machine.

After trial, the RTC rendered a Decision in favor of ATSI with the following dispositive portion:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
WHEREFORE, foregoing premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of plaintiff and against the defendant, ordering the latter to pay the former, the following sums:

1. Php443,729.39 representing the unpaid rental for the prodopak machine plus legal interest from the date of extra judicial demand (October 13, 2003 - Exh. "E") until satisfaction of this judgment;

2. 30% of the judgment award as and by way of attorney's fees; and

3. costs of litigation.14
The trial court ruled that legal compensation did not apply because PPPC had a separate legal personality from its individual stockholders, the Spouses Celones, and ATSI. Moreover, there was no board resolution or any other proof showing that Felicisima's proposal to set-off the unpaid mobilization fund with CMCI 's rentals to ATSI for the Prodopak Machine had been authorized by the two corporations. Consequently, the RTC ruled that CMCI's financial obligation to pay the rentals for the Prodopak machine stood and that its claim against PPPC could be properly ventilated in the proper proceeding upon payment of the required docket fees.15

On appeal by CMCI, the CA affirmed the trial court's ruling that legal compensation had not set in because the element of mutuality of parties was lacking. Likewise, the appellate court sustained the trial court's refusal to pierce the corporate veil. It ruled that there must be clear and convincing proof that the Spouses Celones had used the separate personalities of ATSI or PPPC as a shield to commit fraud or any wrong against CMCI, which was not existing in this case.16

Aside from the absence of a board resolution issued by ATSI, the CA observed that the letter dated 30 July 2001 clearly showed that Felicisima's proposal to effect the offsetting of debts was limited to the obligation of PPPC.17 The appellate court thus sustained the trial court's finding that ATSI was not bound by Felicisima's conduct.

Moreover, the CA rejected CMCI's argument that ATSI is barred by estoppel as it found no indication that ATSI had created any appearance of false fact.18 CA also held that estoppel did not apply to PPPC because the latter was not even a party to this case.

The CA, however, deleted the trial court's award of attorney's fees and costs of litigation in favor of ATSI as it found no discussion in the body of the decision of the factual and legal justification for the award.

CMCI filed a Motion for Reconsideration of the CA Decision, but the appellate court denied the motion for lack of merit.19 Hence, this petition.20

THE ISSUE

The assignment of errors raised by CMCI all boil down to the question of whether the CA erred in affirming the ruling of the RTC that legal compensation between ATSI's claim against CMCI on the one hand, and the latter's claim against PPPC on the other hand, has not set in.

OUR RULING

We affirm the CA Decision in toto.

CMCI argues that both the RTC and the CA overlooked the circumstances that it has proven to justify the piercing of corporate veil in this case, i.e., (1) the interlocking board of directors, incorporators, and majority stockholder of PPPC and ATSI; (2) control of the two corporations by the Spouses Celones; and (3) the two corporations were mere alter egos or business conduits of each other. CMCI now asks us to disregard the separate corporate personalities of ATSI and PPPC based on those circumstances and to enter judgment in favor of the application of legal compensation.

Whether one corporation is merely an alter ego of another, a sham or subterfuge, and whether the requisite quantum of evidence has been adduced to warrant the puncturing of the corporate veil are questions of fact.21 Relevant to this point is the settled rule that in a petition for review on certiorari like this case, this Court's jurisdiction is limited to reviewing errors of law in the absence of any showing that the factual findings complained of are devoid of support in the records or are glaringly erroneous.22 This rule alone warrants the denial of the petition, which essentially asks us to reevaluate the evidence adduced by the parties and the credibility of the witnesses presented.

We have reviewed the evidence on record and have found no cogent reason to disturb the findings of the courts a quo that ATSI is distinct and separate from PPPC, or from the Spouses Celones.

Any piercing of the corporate veil must be done with caution.23 As the CA had correctly observed, it must be certain that the corporate fiction was misused to such an extent that injustice, fraud, or crime was committed against another, in disregard of rights. Moreover, the wrongdoing must be clearly and convincingly established. Sarona v. NLRC24 instructs, thus:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Whether the separate personality of the corporation should be pierced hinges on obtaining facts appropriately pleaded or proved. However, any piercing of the corporate veil has to be done with caution. albeit the Court will not hesitate to disregard the corporate veil when it is misused or when necessary in the interest of justice. After all the concept of corporate entity was not meant to promote unfair objectives.

The doctrine of piercing the corporate veil applies only in three (3) basic areas, namely: 1) defeat of public convenience as when the corporate fiction is used as a vehicle for the evasion of an existing obligation: 2) fraud cases or when the corporate entity is used to justify a wrong, protect fraud, or defend a crime; or 3) alter ego cases, where a corporation is merely a farce since it is a mere alter ego or business conduit of a person, or where the corporation is so organized and controlled and its affairs are so conducted as to make it merely an instrumentality, agency, conduit or adjunct of another corporation.25
CMCI's alter ego theory rests on the alleged interlocking boards of directors and stock ownership of the two corporations. The CA, however, rejected this theory based on the settled rule that mere ownership by a single stockholder of even all or nearly all of the capital stocks of a corporation, by itself, is not sufficient ground to disregard the corporate veil. We can only sustain the CA's ruling. The instrumentality or control test of the alter ego doctrine requires not mere majority or complete stock control, but complete domination of finances, policy and business practice with respect to the transaction in question. The corporate entity must be shown to have no separate mind, will, or existence of its own at the time of the transaction.26

Without question, the Spouses Celones are incorporators, directors, and majority stockholders of the ATSI and PPPC. But that is all that CMCI has proven. There is no proof that PPPC controlled the financial policies and business practices of ATSI either in July 2001 when Felicisima proposed to set off the unpaid P3.2 million mobilization fund with CMCI's rental of Prodopak machines; or in August 2001 when the lease agreement between CMCI and ATSI commenced. Assuming arguendo that Felicisima was sufficiently clothed with authority to propose the offsetting of obligations, her proposal cannot bind ATSI because at that time the latter had no transaction yet with CMCI. Besides, CMCI had leased only one Prodopak machine. Felicisima's reference to the Prodopak machines in its letter in July 2001 could only mean that those were different from the Prodopak machine that CMCI had leased from ATSI.

Contrary to the claim of CMCI, none of the letters from the Spouses Celones tend to show that ATSI was even remotely involved in the proposed offsetting of the outstanding debts of CMCI and PPPC. Even Felicisima's letter to the new management of CMCI in 2003 contains nothing to support CMCI's argument that Felicisima represented herself to be clothed with authority to propose the offsetting. For clarity, we quote below the relevant portions of her letter:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
Gentlemen:

I apologize for writing this letter. But kindly spare me your time and allow to ventilate my grievances against California Manufacturing Corporation x x x. I had formally lodged my grievances with the management of CMC, but until now, no action has been done yet. It is on this spirit and time tested principle of diplomacy that I write this letter.

I am the Executive Vice President of Processing Partners & Packaging Corporation (PPPC), a duly organized domestic corporation, engaged in the toll packing business.

Sometime in November of 1996, CMC availed of the toll packing services of PPPC. At the outset, business relationship between the two was going smoothly. In due time, PPPC proved its name to CMC in delivering quality toll packing services. As a matter of fact, after the expiration of the toll packing contract, CMC still retained the services of PPPC. Thus, sometime in the year 2000, CMC executed another toll packing contract with PPC.

However, the business relationship unexpectedly turned sour when CMC changed its Management in the latter part of 2002. Since then CMC's new management has been committing unsound business practices prejudicial to the interests of PPPC.
x x x x

Failure of CMC to honor its agreement with PPC anent the pickling machinery

x x x x

Leapfrog Plant/Jasmine and Rose Plant

x x x x

Pre-termination of toll [p]acking [a]greement for KLS Spaghetti Sauce without just cause

x x x x

Unpaid rentals for the lease of machinery from Advanced Technology Systems, Inc.
CMC has been leasing a machinery of Advanced Technology Systems, Inc. (Advanced Tech), a domestic corporation of which I am also the majority stockholder. CMC owes Advanced Tech. unpaid rentals in the amount of P443,729.37, but despite various demands, CMC refused to pay Advanced Tech.

We have already formally lodged our grievances concerning the foregoing with the management of CMC. However, until now. no action has been done. We believe that before we take coercive actions available under the law, it is wise to bring said grievances first to your attention to exhaust available venues for amicable settlement.

Though PPPC's grievances are ripe for judicial action, we still hope that we can settle [the] same amicably. However, if we run out or choices, we will [be] constrained to invoke the aid of the appropriate court. (Emphases supplied)27
Nothing in the narration above supports CMCI's claim that it had been led to believe that ATSI and PPPC were one and the same or, that ATSI 's collectible was intertwined with the business transaction of PPPC with CMCI.

In all its pleadings, CMCI averred that the P4 million mobilization fund was in furtherance of its agreement with PPPC in 2000. Prior thereto, PPPC had been a toll packer of its products as early as 1996. Clearly, CMCI had been dealing with PPPC as a distinct juridical person acting through its own corporate officers from 1996 to 2003. CMCI's dealing with ATSI began only in August 2001. It appears, however, that CMCI now wants the Court to gloss over the separate corporate existence ATSI and PPPC notwithstanding the dearth of evidence showing that either PPPC or ATSI had used their corporate cover to commit fraud or evade their respective obligations to CMCI. It even appears that CMCI faithfully discharged its obligation to ATSI for a good two years without raising any concern about its relationship to PPPC.

The fraud test, which is the second of the three-prong test to determine the application of the alter ego doctrine, requires that the parent corporation's conduct in using the subsidiary corporation be unjust, fraudulent or wrongful. Under the third prong, or the harm test, a causal connection between the fraudulent conduct committed through the instrumentality of the subsidiary and the injury suffered or the damage incurred by the plaintiff has to be established.28 None of these elements have been demonstrated in this case. Hence, we can only agree with the CA and RTC in ruling out mutuality of patties to justify the application of legal compensation in this case.

Article 1279 of the Civil Code provides:chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
ARTICLE 1279. In order that compensation may be proper, it is necessary:

(1) That each one of the obligors be bound principally, and that he be at the same time a principal creditor of the other;

(2) That both debts consist in a sum of money, or if the things due are consumable, they be of the same kind, and also of the same quality if the latter has been stated;

(3) That the two debts be due;

(4) That they be liquidated and demandable;

(5) That over neither of them there be any retention or controversy, commenced by third persons and communicated in due time to the debtor.
The law, therefore, requires that the debts be liquidated and demandable. Liquidated debts are those whose exact amounts have already been determined.29

CMCI has not presented any credible proof, or even just an exact computation, of the supposed debt of PPPC. It claims that the mobilization fund that it had advanced to PPPC was in the amount of P4 million. Yet, Felicisima's proposal to conduct offsetting in her letter dated 30 July 2001 pertained to a P3.2 million debt of PPPC to CMCI. Meanwhile, in its Answer to ATSI's complaint, CMCI sought to set off its unpaid rentals against the alleged P10 million debt of PPPC. The uncertainty in the supposed debt of PPPC to CMCI negates the latter's invocation of legal compensation as justification for its non-payment of the rentals for the subject Prodopak machine.

WHEREFORE, the Decision dated 25 August 2011 and Resolution dated 21 June 2012 issued by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 94409 are AFFIRMED. The instant Petition is DENIED for lack of merit.

SO ORDERED.

Leonardo-De Castro, Del Castillo, Perlas-Bernabe, and Caguioa, JJ., concur.

Endnotes:


1Rollo, pp. 57-78. The Decision is dated 25 August 2011 and it was penned by Associate Justice Celia C. Librea-Leagogo, with Associate Justices Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Michael P. Elbinias concurring.

2 Id. at 84-88. The Decision is dated 13 April 2009 and was penned by Judge Amelia C. Manalastas.

3 The case was docketed as Civil Case No. 69735.

4 RTC Records, p. 41.

5 Id. at 6.

6 Id. at 1-11.

7 Id. at 125 (Order dated 2 August 2004).

8 Id. at 131-142. The title of the pleading is Answer Ad Cautelam as CMCI reserved the filing of a Petition for Certiorari within the period allowed by the Rules.

9 Id. at 149-204, 564-638.

10 Id. at 203.

11 Id. at 144, 612.

12 Id. at 145, 560.

13 Id. at 146-148, 561-563.

14 Id. at 88.

15 Id. at 87-88.

16 Id. at 68-70.

17 Id. at 71.

18 Id. at 71-72.

19 Id. at 80-82. The Order denying the Motion for Reconsideration is dated 21 June 2012, and it was penned by Associate Justice Celia C. Librea-Leagogo, with Associate Justices Remedios Salazar-Fernando and Michael P. Elbinias concurring.

20 Respondent did not File a Comment on the Petition despite several notices from the Court. The first Resolution requiring respondent to file a Comment was dated 21 January 2013 (Rollo, p. 102), which was received by Eric Sorodia, authorized agent of ATSI, on 5 April 2013 (Id. at 103). The subsequent Resolution dated 11 December 2013 containing a show cause and comply order intended was likewise received by respondent on 7 March 2014 through its authorized agent, Albert Prado (Id. at 107). The two resolutions were resent and duly received by respondent on 30 October 2014 as shown in the return card attached to the rollo. The last Resolution directing respondent to file a Comment was dated 5 August 2015 (Id. at 135). In the Resolution dated 27 July 2016 (Id. at 141-142), we noted that the show cause and comply order with copies of the Resolutions dated 21 January 2013 and 11 December 2013 were returned to the Court undelivered with the postal notation "RTS-moved out left no address." Accordingly, we ruled that respondent's right to file Comment was deemed waived and we directed the Clerk of Court, Court of Appeals, to elevate the complete records of the case.

21Philippine National Bank v. Hydro Resources Contractors Corporation, 706 Phil. 297 (2013).

22Bank a Philippine Islands v. Bank of Philippine Islands Employees Union-Metro Manila, 693 Phil. 82 (2012) citing Retuya v. Dumarpa, 455 Phil. 734 (2003).

23Vda. de Roxas v. Our Lady's Foundation, Inc., 705 Phil. 505 (2013).

24 679 Phil. 394 (2012).

25 Supra.

26 Supra note 21.

27 Records, pp. 146-148.

28 Supra note 20.

29Asia Trust Development Bank v. Tuble, 691 Phil. 732 (2012).



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  • G.R. No. 185024, April 24, 2017 - JOSELITO HERNAND M. BUSTOS, Petitioner, v. MILLIANS SHOE, INC., SPOUSES FERNANDO AND AMELIA CRUZ, AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS OF MARIKINA CITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 202454, April 25, 2017 - CALIFORNIA MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, v. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY SYSTEM, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 164795, April 19, 2017 - TGN REALTY CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. VILLA TERESA HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207246, April 18, 2017 - JOSE M. ROY III, Petitioner, v. CHAIRPERSON TERESITA HERBOSA,THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, AND PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY, Respondents.; WILSON C. GAMBOA, JR., DANIEL V. CARTAGENA, JOHN WARREN P. GABINETE, ANTONIO V. PESINA, JR., MODESTO MARTIN Y. MAMON III, AND GERARDO C. EREBAREN, Petitioners-In-Intervention, PHILIPPINE STOCK EXCHANGE, INC., Respondent-In-Intervention, SHAREHOLDERS' ASSOCIATION OF THE PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent-In-Intervention.

  • G.R. No. 220598, April 18, 2017 - GLORIA MACAPAGAL�ARROYO, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND THE SANDIGANBAYAN, (FIRST DIVISION), Respondents.; G.R. No. 220953 - BENIGNO B. AGUAS, Petitioner, v. SANDIGANBAYAN (FIRST DIVISION), Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 207776, April 26, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. GEORGE GACUSAN, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 214497, April 18, 2017 - EDUARDO QUIMVEL Y BRAGA, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 210032, April 25, 2017 - DUTCH MOVERS, INC. CESAR LEE AND YOLANDA LEE, Petitioners, v. EDILBERTO LEQUIN, CHRISTOPHER R. SALVADOR, REYNALDO L. SINGSING, AND RAFFY B. MASCARDO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 186421, April 17, 2017 - ROBERTO P. FUENTES, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 202189, April 25, 2017 - RODANTE F. GUYAMIN, LUCINIA F. GUYAMIN, AND EILEEN G. GATARIN, Petitioners, v. JACINTO G. FLORES AND MAXIMO G. FLORES, REPRESENTED BY RAMON G. FLORES, Respondents.

  • A.M. No. 17-03-33-MCTC, April 17, 2017 - RE: DROPPING FROM THE ROLLS OF ROWIE A. QUIMNO, UTILITY WORKER I, MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURT OF IPIL - TUNGAWAN - ROSELLER T. LIM, LPIL, ZAMBOANGA SIBUGAY. R E S O L U T I O N

  • G.R. No. 205998, April 24, 2017 - WILLIAM ANGHIAN SIY, Petitioner, v. ALVIN TOMLIN, Respondent.

  • A.C. No. 8658, April 24, 2017 - FRANCIS C. ARSENIO, Complainant, v. ATTY. JOHAN A. TABUZO, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 207667, April 17, 2017 - SPOUSES PROCESO O. PONTILLAS, JR. AND HELEN S. PONTILLAS, Petitioners, v. CARMEN OLIVARES VDA. DE PONTILLAS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 205279, April 26, 2017 - VISAYAS GEOTHERMAL POWER COMPANY, Petitioner, v. COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217872, April 26, 2017 - ALLIANCE FOR THE FAMILY FOUNDATION, PHILIPPINES, INC. (ALFI) AND ATTY. MARIA CONCEPCION S. NOCHE, IN HER OWN BEHALF AND AS PRESIDENT OF ALFI, JOSE S. SANDEJAS, ROSIE B. LUISTRO, ELENITA S.A. SANDEJAS, EMILY R. LAWS, EILEEN Z. ARANETA, SALVACION C. MONTEIRO, MARIETTA C. GORREZ, ROLANDO M. BAUTISTA, RUBEN T. UMALI, AND MILDRED C. CASTOR, Petitioners, v. HON. JANETTE L. GARIN, SECRETARY-DESIGNATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; NICOLAS B. LUTERO III, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION; AND MARIA LOURDES C. SANTIAGO, OFFICER�-IN-CHARGE, CENTER FOR DRUG REGULATION AND RESEARCH, Respondents.; G.R. No. 221866 - MARIA CONCEPCION S. NOCHE, IN HER OWN BEHALF AND AS COUNSEL OF PETITIONERS, JOSE S. SANDEJAS, ROSIE B. LUISTRO, ELENITA S.A. SANDEJAS, EMILY R. LAWS, EILEEN Z. ARANETA, SALVACION C. MONTEIRO, MARIETTA C. GORREZ, ROLANDO M. BAUTISTA, RUBEN T. UMALI, AND MILDRED C. CASTOR, Petitioners, v. HON. JANETTE L. GARIN, SECRETARY-DESIGNATE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; NICOLAS B. LUTERO III, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF HEALTH, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION; AND MARIA LOURDES C. SANTIAGO, OFFICER-�IN-CHARGE, CENTER FOR DRUG REGULATION AND RESEARCH, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 191353, April 17, 2017 - ULTRA MAR AQUA RESOURCE, INC., REPRESENTED BY ITS PRESIDENT VICTOR B. PRIETO, Petitioner, v. FERMIDA CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, REPRESENTED BY ITS GENERAL MANAGER MYRNA T. RAMOS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 211287, April 17, 2017 - LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. WEST BAY COLLEGES, INC., PBR MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND BCP TRADING CO., INC., Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 199669, April 25, 2017 - SOUTHERN LUZON DRUG CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, THE NATIONAL COUNCIL FOR THE WELFARE OF DISABLED PERSONS, THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE, AND THE BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 203287, April 05, 2017 - RENATO S.D. DOMINGO ON HIS OWN BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF HIS CO-HEIRS OF THE LATE SPOUSES FELICIDAD DE DOMINGO AND MACARIO C. DOMINGO, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES ENGRACIA D. SINGSON AND MANUEL F. SINGSON, Respondents.; G.R. No. 207936 - HEIRS OF SPOUSES FELICIDAD S.D. DOMINGO AND MACARIO DOMINGO NAMELY, CONSOLACION D. ROMERO, RAFAEL S.D. DOMINGO, RAMON S.D. DOMINGO, JOSEFINA D. BORJA, ROSARIO S.D. DOMINGO, AND RENATO RAMIRO S.D. DOMINGO, Petitioners, v. ENGRACIA D. SINGSON, ESTELITA I. CABALLES, AND THE REGISTER OF DEEDS, SAN JUAN CITY, METRO MANILA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 178467, April 26, 2017 - SPS. CRISTINO & EDNA CARBONELL, Petitioners, v. METROPOLITAN BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 203492, April 24, 2017 - PABLO AND PABLINA MARCELO-MENDOZA, Petitioners, v. PEROXIDE PHILS., INC., HEREIN REPRESENTED BY ROBERT R. NAVERA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 189950, April 24, 2017 - BERNADETTE S. BILAG, ERLINDA BILAG-SANTILLAN, DIXON BILAG, REYNALDO B. SUELLO, HEIRS OF LOURDES S. BILAG, HEIRS OF LETICIA BILAG-HANAOKA, AND HEIRS OF NELLIE BILAG, Petitioners, v. ESTELA AY-AY, ANDRES ACOP, JR., FELICITAS AP-AP, SERGIO AP-AP, JOHN NAPOLEON A. RAMIREZ, JR., AND MA. TERESA A. RAMIREZ, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 227158, April 18, 2017 - JOSEPH C. DIMAPILIS, Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON ELECTIONS, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-17-1894 [Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 11-2355-MTJ], April 04, 2017 - ROGER RAPSING, Complainant, v. JUDGE CARIDAD M. WALSE-LUTERO, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BR. 34, QUEZON CITY [NOW PRESIDING JUDGE, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BR. 223, QUEZON CITY] AND CELESTINA D. ROTA, CLERK OF COURT III, METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT, BR. 34, QUEZON CITY, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181284, April 18, 2017 - LOLOY UNDURAN, BARANGAY CAPTAIN ROMEO PACANA, NESTOR MACAPAYAG, RUPERTO DOGIA, JIMMY TALINO, ERMELITO ANGEL, PETOY BESTO, VICTORINO ANGEL, RUEL BOLING, JERMY ANGEL, BERTING SULOD, RIO BESTO, BENDIJO SIMBALAN, AND MARK BRAZIL, Petitioners, v. RAMON ABERASTURI, CRISTINA C. LOPEZ, CESAR LOPEZ JR., DIONISIO A. LOPEZ, MERCEDES L. GASTON, AGNES H. LOPEZ, EUSEBIO S. LOPEZ, JOSE MARIA S. LOPEZ, ANTON B. ABERASTURI, MA. RAISSA A. VELEZ, ZOILO ANTONIO A. VELEZ, CRISTINA ABERASTURI, EDUARDO LOPEZ, JR., ROSARIO S. LOPEZ, JUAN S. LOPEZ, CESAR ANTHONY R. LOPEZ, VENANCIO L. GASTON, ROSEMARIE S. LOPEZ, JAY A. ASUNCION, NICOLO ABERASTURI, LISA A. ASUNCION, INEZ A. VERAY, HERNAN A. ASUNCION, ASUNCION LOPEZ, THOMAS A. VELEZ, LUIS ENRIQUE VELEZ, ANTONIO H. LOPEZ, CHARLES H. LOPEZ, ANA L. ZAYCO, PILAR L. QUIROS, CRISTINA L. PICAZO, RENATO SANTOS, GERALDINE AGUIRRE, MARIA CARMENCITA T. LOPEZ, AND AS REPRESENTED BY ATTORNEY-IN-FACT RAMON ABERASTURI, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 188269, April 17, 2017 - SUMIFRU (PHILIPPINES) CORPORATION (SURVIVING ENTITY IN A MERGER WITH DAVAO FRUITS CORPORATION AND OTHER COMPANIES), Petitioner, v. BERNABE BAYA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 224764, April 24, 2017 - BUREAU OF INTERNAL REVENUE, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER ALFREDO V. MISAJON, GROUP SUPERVISOR ROLANDO M. BALBIDO, AND EXAMINER REYNANTE DP. MARTIREZ, Petitioners, v. LEPANTO CERAMICS, INC., Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 184262, April 24, 2017 - UNIVERSITY OF SANTO TOMAS (UST), Petitioner, v. SAMAHANG MANGGAGAWA NG UST, FERNANDO PONTESOR, RODRIGO CLACER, SANTIAGO BUISA, JR., AND JIMMY NAZARETH, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 217004, April 17, 2017 - RAMON R. VILLARAMA, Petitioner, v. ATTY. CLODUALDO C. DE JESUS, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181149, April 17, 2017 - CITY OF DAVAO, REPRESENTED BY RODRIGO R. DUTERTE, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CITY MAYOR, RIZALINA JUSTOL, IN HER CAPACITY AS THE CITY ACCOUNTANT, AND ATTY. WINDEL E. AVISADO, IN HIS CAPACITY AS CITY ADMINISTRATOR, Petitioner, v. ROBERT E. OLANOLAN, Respondent.

  • A.M. No. MTJ-16-1876 (Formerly OCA I.P.I. No. 14-2668-MTJ), April 26, 2017 - JOCELYN MCLAREN, JUNARIO VILLAMAYOR, RESTITUTO BARLES, JANG JONG DAE, AMANDA TALIBONG, NOMER A. TALIBONG AND EMELYN FREJOLES, Complainant, v. HONORABLE JACINTO C. GONZALES, PRESIDING JUDGE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT IN CITIES, BRANCH 2, OLONGAPO CITY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 208215, April 19, 2017 - C.F. SHARP CREW MANAGEMENT, INC., NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE, LTD. AND/OR MR. JUAN JOSE ROCHA, Petitioners, v. RHUDEL A. CASTILLO, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 206168, April 26, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, REPRESENTED BY RAW-AN POINT ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Petitioner, v. SPOUSES DOLORES AND ABE LASMARIAS; AND COOPERATIVE BANK OF LANAO DEL NORTE, REPRESENTED BY THE BRANCH MANAGER, LAARNI ZALSOS, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 191320, April 25, 2017 - JONA BUMATAY, Petitioner, v. LOLITA BUMATAY, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 215595, April 26, 2017 - CAREER PHILIPPINES SHIP MANAGEMENT, INC./VERLOU R. CARMELINO, Petitioners, v. NATHANIEL M. ACUB, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 185565, April 26, 2017 - LOADSTAR SHIPPING COMPANY, INCORPORATED AND LOADSTAR INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING COMPANY, INCORPORATED, Petitioners, v. MALAYAN INSURANCE COMPANY, INCORPORATED, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 214925, April 26, 2017 - JOHN LABSKY P. MAXIMO AND ROBERT M. PANGANIBAN, Petitioners, v. FRANCISCO Z. VILLAPANDO, JR., Respondents.; G.R. No. 214965, April 26, 2017 - FRANCISCO Z. VILLAPANDO, JR., Petitioners, v. MAKATI CITY PROSECUTION OFFICE, JOHN LABSKY P. MAXIMO AND ROBERT M. PANGANIBAN, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 218666, April 26, 2017 - HEIRS OF LEONILO P. NU�EZ, SR., NAMELY, VALENTINA A. NU�EZ, FELIX A. NU�EZ, FELIXITA A. NU�EZ, LEONILO A. NU�EZ, JR., MA. ELIZA A. NU�EZ, EMMANUEL A. NU�EZ, ROSE ANNA A. NU�EZ-DE VERA, AND MA. DIVINA A. NU�EZ-SERNADILLA, REPRESENTED BY THEIR CO-HEIR AND ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, ROSE ANNA A. NU�EZ-DE VERA, Petitioners, v. HEIRS OF GABINO T. VILLANOZA, REPRESENTED BY BONIFACIO A. VILLANOZA, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 190389, April 19, 2017 - MANGGAGAWA NG KOMUNIKASYON SA PILIPINAS, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY INCORPORATED, Respondent.; G.R. No. 190390 - MANGGAGAWA NG KOMUNIKASYON SA PILIPINAS, Petitioner, v. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY INCORPORATED, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 181489, April 19, 2017 - STEVEN R. PAVLOW, Petitioner, v. CHERRY L. MENDENILLA, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 213486, April 26, 2017 - EDITHA M. CATOTOCAN, Petitioner, v. LOURDES SCHOOL OF QUEZON CITY, INC./LOURDES SCHOOL, INC. AND REV. FR. CESAR F. ACUIN, OFM CAP, RECTOR, Respondent.

  • G.R. No. 217189, April 18, 2017 - NINI A. LANTO, IN HER CAPACITY AS THEN DIRECTOR II OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE BRANCH, NOW DIRECTOR IV OF THE PRE-EMPLOYMENT SERVICES OFFICE OF THE PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ADMINISTRATION (POEA), Petitioner, v. COMMISSION ON AUDIT, NOW REPRESENTED BY CHAIRPERSON REYNALDO A. VILLAR, COMMISSIONER JUANITO G. ESPINO, JR., AND ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER DIVINIA M. ALAGON, Respondents.

  • G.R. No. 213948, April 25, 2017 - KNIGHTS OF RIZAL, Petitioner, v. DMCI HOMES, INC., DMCI PROJECT DEVELOPERS, INC., CITY OF MANILA, NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR CULTURE AND THE ARTS, NATIONAL MUSEUM, AND NATIONAL HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.