2017 - Philippine Supreme Court Decisions/Resolutions
December-2017
G.R. No. 217874, December 05, 2017 - OPHELIA HERNAN, Petitioner, v. THE HONORABLE SANDIGANBAYAN, Respondent.G.R. No. 231658, December 05, 2017 - REPRESENTATIVES EDCEL C. LAGMAN, TOMASITO S. VILLARIN, GARY C. ALEJANO, EMMANUEL A. BILLONES, AND TEDDY BRAWNER BAGUILAT, JR., Petitioners, v. HON.SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY; HON. DELFIN N. LORENZANA, SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE AND MARTIAL LAW ADMINISTRATOR; AND GEN. EDUARDO A�O, CHIEF OF STAFF OF THE ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES AND MARTIAL LAW IMPLEMENTOR, Respondents.; G.R. No. 231771 - EUFEMIA CAMPOS CULLAMAT, VIRGILIO T. LINCUNA, ATELIANA U. HIJOS, ROLAND A. COBRADO, CARL ANTHONY D. OLALO, ROY JIM BALANGHIG, RENATO REYES, JR., CRISTINA E. PALABAY, AMARYLLIS H. ENRIQUEZ, ACT TEACHERS' REPRESENTATIVE ANTONIO L. TINIO, GABRIELA WOMEN'S PARTY REPRESENTATIVE ARLENE D. BROSAS, KABATAAN PARTY-LIST REPRESENTATIVE SARAH JANE I. ELAGO, MAE PANER, GABRIELA KRISTA DALENA, ANNA ISABELLE ESTEIN, MARK VINCENT D. LIM, VENCER MARL CRISOSTOMO, JOVITA MONTES, Petitioners, v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SALVADOR MEDIALDEA, DEFENSE SECRETARY DELFIN LORENZANA, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES CHIEF OF STAFF LT. GENERAL EDUARDO A�O, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE DIRECTOR-GENERAL RONALD DELA ROSA, Respondents.; G.R. No. 231774 - NORKAYA S. MOHAMAD, SITTIE NUR DYHANNA S. MOHAMAD, NORAISAH S. SANI, ZAHRIA P. MUTI-MAPANDI, Petitioners, v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY SALVADOR C. MEDIALDEA, DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEFENSE (DND) SECRETARY DELFIN N. LORENZANA, DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT (DILG) SECRETARY (OFFICER-IN-CHARGE) CATALINO S. CUY, ARMED FORCES OF THE PHILIPPINES (AFP) CHIEF OF STAFF GEN. EDUARDO M. A�O, PHILIPPINE NATIONAL POLICE (PNP) CHIEF DIRECTOR GENERAL RONALD M. DELA ROSA, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER HERMOGENES C. ESPERON, JR., Respondents.G.R. Nos. 228701-02, December 13, 2017 - MEHITABEL, INC., Petitioner, v. JUFHEL L. ALCUIZAR, Respondent.G.R. No. 186502, December 13, 2017 - CARLOS R. SAUNAR, Petitioner, v. EXECUTIVE SECRETARY EDUARDO R. ERMITA AND CONSTANCIA P. DE GUZMAN, CHAIRPERSON OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ANTI-GRAFT COMMISSION, Respondents.G.R. No. 223526, December 06, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ARIEL CALVELO Y CONSADA, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 230228, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. MANUEL DELA ROSA Y LUMANOG @ MANNY, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 183004, December 06, 2017 - ALFONSO DIGAN, TIBALDO BUELTA, BERNARDO MARIANO, SANTIAGO ACQUIDAN, FERNANDO AGNNO, JOHNNY ORIE AND FELIMON GACETA (DECEASED) REP. BY HIS WIFE LOLITA GACETA, Petitioners, v. NOEMI MALINES, Respondent.G.R. No. 222965, December 06, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. USTADZ IBRAHIM ALI Y KALIM, ABDUL HASSAN AND TWO OTHER COMPANIONS IDENTIFIED ONLY AS "JUL" AND "AMAT," ACCUSED, USTADZ IBRAHIM ALI Y KALIM , Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 225794, December 06, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. CRESENCIO CAMPIT Y CRISTO AND EMILIO MACAWILI, ACCUSED, CRESENCIO CAMPIT Y CRISTO, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 197475, December 06, 2017 - MARK MONTELIBANO, Petitioner, v. LINDA YAP, Respondent.G.R. No. 230357, December 06, 2017 - ALMARIO F. LEONCIO, Petitioner, v. MST MARINE SERVICES (PHILS.), INC./ARTEMIO V. SERAFICO AND/OR THOME SHIP MANAGEMENT PTE., LTD., Respondents.G.R. No. 219175, December 14, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. AMRODING MACUD Y DIMAAMPAO, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 218958, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. EDILBERTO NORADA Y HARDER, AND AGUSTIN SEVA Y LACBANES, ACCUSED, EUGENE VILLANUEVA Y CA�ALES, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 204045, December 14, 2017 - MAGDALENA C. DILLENA, Petitioner, v. MARIANO ALCARAZ, BERNARDO ALCARAZ, JOSELITO ALCARAZ AND AMOR ALCARAZ STA. MARIA, Respondents.G.R. No. 209376, December 06, 2017 - JOSE DIAZ, JR. (HEREIN SUBSTITUTED BY HIS LEGAL HEIRS VERONICA BOLAGOT-DIAZ AND RIO ANGELA BOLAGOT-DIAZ) AND ADELINA D. McMULLEN, Petitioners, v. SALVADOR VALENCIANO, JR., [DECEASED] SUBSTITUTED BY MADELINE A. VALENCIANO, RANIL A. VALENCIANO, ROSEMARIE V. SERRANO, SHEILA VALENCIANO-MOLO AND JOHN-LYN VALENCIANO-VARGAS, Respondent.G.R. No. 190944, December 13, 2017 - ADVAN MOTOR, INC., Petitioner, v. VICTORIANO G. VENERACION, Respondent.G.R. No. 224979, December 13, 2017 - IVY LIM, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES AND BLUE PACIFIC HOLDINGS, INC., Respondents.G.R. No. 206184, December 06, 2017 - SPOUSES ED DANTE LATONIO AND MARY ANN LATONIO AND THE MINOR ED CHRISTIAN LATONIO, Petitioners, v. MCGEORGE FOOD INDUSTRIES INC., CEBU GOLDEN FOODS INDUSTRIES, INC., AND TYKE PHILIP LOMIBAO, Respondents.G.R. No. 211892, December 06, 2017 - INNODATA KNOWLEDGE SERVICES, INC., Petitioner, v. SOCORRO D'MARIE T. INTING, ISMAEL R. GARAYGAY, EDSON S. SOLIS, MICHAEL A. REBATO, JAMES HORACE BALONDA, STEPHEN C. OLINGAY, DENNIS C. RIZON, JUNETH A. RENTUMA, HERNAN ED NOEL I. DE LEON, JR., JESS VINCENT A. DELA PE�A, RONAN V. ALAMILLO, ENNOH CHENTIS R. FERNANDEZ, FRITZ J. SEMBRINO, DAX MATTHEW M. QUIJANO, RODOLFO M. VASQUEZ, MA. NAZELLE B. MIRALLES, MICHAEL RAY B. MOLDE, WENDELL B. QUIBAN, ALDRIN O. TORRENTIRA, AND CARL HERMES CARSKIT, Respondents.G.R. No. 193208, December 13, 2017 - HEIRS OF FERMIN ARANIA, REPRESENTED BY LOIDA A. SORIANO; HEIRS OF ARSENIO OROSCO, REPRESENTED BY PEDRITO OROSCO; HEIRS OF FLORENCIO BARROGA, REPRESENTED BY ENRIQUE BARROGA; HEIRS OF FRANCISCO VILORIA, REPRESENTED BY EXEQUIEL VILORIA; DOMINGO MAGALONG; HEIRS OF ANTONIO ANDRES, REPRESENTED BY PAULINO ANDRES; HEIRS OF GREGORIO GAHIS, REPRESENTED BY FELIX GAHIS; HEIRS OF FLORENTINO CORPUZ, REPRESENTED BY ERNESTO CORPUZ; GAVINO CORPUZ; AND HEIRS OF SIMPLICIO GALAPON, REPRESENTED BY FERNANDO GALAPON, Petitioners, v. INTESTATE ESTATE OF MAGDALENA R. SANGALANG, REPRESENTED BY ITS ADMINISTRATRIX SOLITA S. JIMENEZ; ANGELO S. JIMENEZ, JR.; JAYSON P. JIMENEZ; SOLITA S. JIMENEZ; JOHN S. HERMOGENES; ROMULO SANGALANG JIMENEZ; AND ROMULO SANGALANG JIMENEZ, PRIVATE RESPONDENTS, HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS, FIFTEENTH DIVISION; DEPARTMENT OF AGRARIAN REFORM ADJUDICATION BOARD (DARAB), REGION III, OFFICE OF THE REGIONAL ADJUDICATOR, AND OFFICE OF THE PROVINCIAL ADJUDICATOR, BRANCH 2, TALAVERA, NUEVA ECIJA; AND MR. DELFIN GASPAR, IN HIS CAPACITY AS SHERIFF OF THE BOARD, DARAB NORTH NUEVA ECIJA, Publib Respondents.G.R. No. 216871, December 06, 2017 - OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN, Petitioner, v. MAYOR JULIUS CESAR VERGARA, Respondent.A.M. No. 14-11-350-RTC, December 05, 2017 - RE: JUDICIAL AUDIT CONDUCTED IN THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 20, CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, MISAMIS ORIENTAL G.R. No. 191525, December 13, 2017 - INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF MANAGEMENT AND ECONOMICS (I/AME), Petitioner, v. LITTON AND COMPANY, INC., Respondent.G.R. No. 201031, December 14, 2017 - TOMAS R. LEONIDAS, Petitioner, v. TANCREDO VARGAS AND REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondents.G.R. No. 229722, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. DIONISIO DE CHAVEZ, JR. Y ESCOBIDO, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 188666, December 14, 2017 - SPOUSES JUAN AND ANTONINA CANO, ROLANDO CANO AND JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" CANO�-AQUINO, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES ARTURO AND EMERENCIANA CANO, Respondents.; G.R. No. 190750, December 14, 2017 - SPOUSES JUAN CANO AND ANTONINA SORIANO-CANO, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES ARTURO CANO AND EMERENCIANA DACASIN, Respondents.G.R. No. 196679, December 13, 2017 - ROBERTSON S. CHIANG, NIKKI S. CHIANG, MARIA SY BE TY CHIANG,* BEN C. JAVELLANA, AND CARMELITA TUASON,* PETITIONERS, V. PHILIPPINE LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE COMPANY, Respondent.G.R. No. 212169, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. JOJO EJAN Y BAYATO, Accused-Appellant.A.C. No. 10758 (Formerly CBD Case No. 11-3215), December 05, 2017 - ATTY. ROSITA L. DELA FUENTE TORRES, ET AL., Petitioners, v. ATTY. BAYANI P. DALANGIN, Respondents.; A.C. No. 10759 (Formerly CBD Case No. 12-3292), December 5, 2017 - GLENDA ALVARO, Petitioner, v. ATTY. BAYANI P. DALANGIN, Respondents.; A.C. No. 10760 (Formerly CBD Case No. 12-3369), December 5, 2017 - ATTY. BAYANI P. DALANGIN, Petitioner, v. ATTY. ROSITA L. DELA FUENTE TORRES AND ATTY. AVELINO ANDRES, Respondents.; A.C. No. 10761 (Formerly CBD Case No. 12-3458), December 5, 2017 - ATTY. BAYANI P. DALANGIN, Petitioner, v. ATTY. ROSITA L. DELA FUENTE TORRES, AND ATTY. AVELINO ANDRES, Respondents.G.R. No. 215194, December 14, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RONALDO DELOSO Y BAGARES, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 211144, December 13, 2017 - REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES, Petitioner, v. MARGARITA C. MENDIOLA, LUALHATI T. TALAVERA, MARRIED TO CELSO TALAVERA; ZENAIDA M. ESTACIO, WIDOW; FRANCISCO C. MENDIOLA, JR., MARRIED TO CORAZON MARINDO; ESTRELLITA M. ESPIRITU, MARRIED TO DANILO ESPIRITU; MARIO C. MENDIOLA, MARRIED TO LETICIA MENDIOLA; WILFREDO C. MENDIOLA, MARRIED TO TERESITA E. MENDIOLA; LIWAYWAY C. MENDIOLA, SINGLE; ORLANDO C. MENDIOLA, MARRIED TO MELINDA MENDIOLA; SHERRY COMELING, MARRIED TO ANTONIO COMELING; MAMENCIA M. LACSA, MARRIED; RACHEL[*] LACSA, MARRIED TO FERDINAND SAN JUAN; PARALUMAN M. CASINSINAN, MARRIED TO LEONARDO CASINSINAN, REPRESENTED BY THEIR ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, PARALUMAN M. CASINSINAN, Respondents.G.R. No. 195163, December 13, 2017 - ERGONOMIC SYSTEMS PHILIPPINES, INC., PHILLIP C. NG AND MA. LOURMINDA O. NG, Petitioners, v. EMERITO C. ENAJE, BENEDICTO P. ABELLO, ALEX M. MALAYLAY, FRANCISCO Q. ENCABO, JR., RICO SAMSON, ROWENA BETITIO, FELIPE N. CUSTOSA, JAIME A. JUATAN, LEOVINO J. MULINTAPANG, NELSON L. ONTE, EMILIANO P. RONE, ROLIETO LLAMADO, AMORPIO R. ADRIANO, JIMMY ALCANTARA, BERNARDO ANTONI, HERMINITO BEDRIJO, ROMEO BELARMINO, YOLANDA CANOPIN, ALMELITO CUABO, RICARDO DEL PILAR, ELMER DESQUITADO, WINEFREDO DESQUITADO, DEMETRIO DIAZ, ERICK ECRAELA, QUINTERO ENRIQUEZ, CRISANTO FERNANDEZ, ROMMEL FLORES, NELSON FRIAS, PEDRITO GIRON, DOMINADOR C. GUIMALDO, JR., AMBROSIO HENARES, TERENCIO HENARES, ALBERT LACHICA, ALBERTO LORENZO, JOEL MALAYLAY, SUSAN MALBAS, ROLANDO MAMARIL, TEDDY MONTIBLE, FERNANDO OFALDA, RONNIE V. OLIVAY, RAUL PAGOLONG, LORENZO RANIEGO, AMADO V. SAMSON IV, ROEL P. SORIANO, JONATHAN SUALIBIO, ESTEBAN SUMICAO, JOSEPH TABADAY, EPIFANIO TABAREZ, REGIE TOTING, REYNALDO TOTING, NORMAN VALENZUELA, ROLANDO YONSON, DIOSCORO BALAJADIA, NERRY BALINAS, NOEL BALMEO, ARNALDO A. CASTRO, GERONCIO DELA CUEVA, ALBERTO GAPASIN, JULIUS GENOVA, LORETO GRACILLA, JR., ROBERTO S. INGIENTE, ROQUE JOVEN, PATERNO LINOGO, ISAGANI MASANGKA, ANGELITO MONTILLA, PECIFICO NIGPARANON, NOBE SALVADOR, MANUEL OAVENGA, REYNADO ORTIZ, ROMEO QUINTANA, JERNALD REMOTIN, REYNALDO ROBLESA, SAMUEL ROSALES, ROBERTO SANTOS, RONALDO M. SANTOS, ROCKY TALOLONG, EMILIO TONGA, BERNARDO VALDEZ, DANTE L. VELASCO, RENE V. VICENTE, JAIME BENTUCO, MARINO CACAO, CARLITO DELA CERNA, CHRISTOPHER MASAGCA, CHRISTOPHER PALOMARES, ROLANDO PATOTOY, ASER PESADO, JR., LEONILO RICAFORT, FELIX SANCHEZ AND FRANCIS O. ZANTUA, Respondents.G.R. No. 222366, December 04, 2017 - W LAND HOLDINGS, INC., Petitioner, v. STARWOOD HOTELS AND RESORTS WORLDWIDE, INC., Respondent.G.R. No. 219370, December 06, 2017 - VERONICO O. TAGUD, Petitioner, v. BSM CREW SERVICE CENTRE PHILS., INC./NARCISSUS DURAN AND/OR BERNHARD SCHULTE SHIPMANAGEMENT (CYPRUS), Respondents.G.R. No. 217426, December 04, 2017 - ST. MARTIN POLYCLINIC, INC., Petitioner, v. LWV CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, Respondent.G.R. No. 223833, December 11, 2017 - JOSHUA CASANAS Y CABANTAC A.K.A. JOSHUA GERONIMO Y LOPEZ, Petitioner, v. PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Respondent.G.R. No. 214805, December 14, 2017 - MARIANITO PADILLA AND ALFREDO JAVALUYAS, Petitioners, v. UNIVERSAL ROBINA CORPORATION, REPRESENTED BY ITS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, JOHNSON ROBERT GO, Respondents.G.R. No. 228671, December 14, 2017 - EXPEDITION CONSTRUCTION CORPORATION, SIMON LEE PAZ, AND JORDAN JIMENEZ, Petitioners, v. ALEXANDER M. AFRICA, MARDY MALAPIT, JESUS ESER, JACOB RONGCALES, JONAMEL CARO, ALFREDO RILES, REYNALDO GARCIA, FREDDIE DELA CRUZ, JUNIE AQUIBAN, CRISINCIO GARCIA,* DINO AQUIBAN, SAMUEL PILLOS, JEFFREY A.VALENZUELA, ERWIN VELASQUEZ HALLARE AND WILLIAM RAMOS DAGDAG, Respondents.G.R. No. 216940, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROGELIO N. POLANGCUS, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 192048, December 13, 2017 - DOUGLAS F. ANAMA, Petitioner, v. CITIBANK, N.A. (FORMERLY FIRST NATIONAL CITY BANK), Respondent.G.R. No. 218945, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. LORETO DAGSIL Y CARITERO, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 230975, December 04, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. RICO NIEBRES Y REGINALDO, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 202448, December 13, 2017 - JOSEPH O. REGALADO, Petitioner, v. EMMA DE LA RAMA VDA. DE LA PENA,1 JESUSA2 DE LA PENA, JOHNNY DE LA PENA, JOHANNA DE LA PENA, JOSE DE LA PENA, JESSICA DE LA PENA, AND JAIME ANTONIO DE LA PENA, Respondents.G.R. No. 220389, December 06, 2017 - TERESITA BUGAYONG-SANTIAGO, EARL EUGENE SANTIAGO, EDWARD SANTIAGO, AND EDGARDO SANTIAGO, JR., Petitioners, v. TEOFILO BUGAYONG, Respondent.G.R. No. 218404, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ROLANDO BAGSIC Y VALENZUELA, Accused-Appellant.A.M. No. 14-10-322-RTC, December 05, 2017 - RE: HABITUAL ABSENTEEISM OF RABINDRANATH A. TUZON, OFFICER-IN-CHARGE (OIC)/COURT LEGAL RESEARCHER II, BRANCH 91, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BALER, AURORAA.M. No. RTJ-16-2479 (Formerly OCA IPI No. 10-3567-RTJ), December 13, 2017 - DANIEL G. FAJARDO, Complainant, v. JUDGE ANTONIO M. NATINO, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT, BRANCH 26, ILOILO CITY, Respondent.G.R. No. 211082, December 13, 2017 - PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, Plaintiff-Appellee, v. ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, MELVIN TUPAZ AND RUEL REGNER, ACCUSED, ANTHONY VILLANUEVA, Accused-Appellant.G.R. No. 227124, December 06, 2017 - HEIRS OF VICTOR AMISTOSO, NAMELY: VENEZUELA A. DELA CRUZ, FLORA A. TULIO, WILFREDO D. AMISTOSO, RUFINO D. AMISTOSO, VICENTE D. AMISTOSO, MAXIMO D. AMISTOSO, AND ZENAIDA D. AMISTOSO, Petitioners, v. ELMER T. VALLECER, REPRESENTED BY EDGAR VALLECER, Respondent.OCA IPI N. 15-4429-P, December 06, 2017 - ISAGANI R. RUBIO, Complainant, v. IGMEDIO J. BASADA, COURT LEGAL RESEARCHER II, BRANCH 117, REGIONAL TRIAL COURT [RTC], PASAY CITY, Respondent.G.R. No. 188493, December 13, 2017 - VIVIAN B. TORREON AND FELOMINA F. ABELLANA, Petitioners, v. GENEROSO APARRA, JR., FELIX CABALLES, AND CARMELO SIMOLDE, Respondents.G.R. No. 191274, December 06, 2017 - ERMA INDUSTRIES, INC., ERNESTO B. MARCELO AND FLERIDA O. MARCELO, Petitioners, v. SECURITY BANK CORPORATION AND SERGIO ORTIZ-LUIS, JR., Respondents.G.R. No. 209468, December 13, 2017 - UNITED DOCTORS MEDICAL CENTER, Petitioner, v. CESARIO BERNADAS, REPRESENTED BY LEONILA BERNADAS, Respondent.