chua et adcl vs metrobank

7/24/2019 Chua Et Adcl vs Metrobank

1/24

THIRD DIVISION

FIDEL O. CHUA and

FILIDEN REALTY ANDDEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION,

Petitioners

,

- versus -

METROPOLITAN BANK &

TRUST COMPANY, ATTY.

ROMUALDO CELESTRA,ATTY. ANTONIO V. VIRAY,

ATTY. RAMON MIRANDA

and ATTY. POMPEYO

MAYNIGO,

G.R. No. 18!11

Present:

CORONA,J.,*

CARPIO MORALES,**

CHICO-NAZARIO,***

Acting Chairperson,

VELASCO, JR, an!

NACHURA,JJ.
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Respond

ents.

Promulgated:

August 19, 2009

x - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

- - x

! C " # " $ N

CH"C$-NA%AR"$,J.:

&'is is a Petition (or Re)ie* on Certiorariunder Rule + o(

t'e Rules o( Court, assailing t'e eision,1/dated 1 anuar

2003, later up'eld in a Resolution2/dated 23 4ar' 2003, 5ot'

rendered 5 t'e Court o( Appeals in CA-6.R. C7 No. 33038. &'e

Court o( Appeals, in its assailed eision, armed t'e

$rder/dated ul 200 o( ;ran' 23 o( t'e Regional &rialCourt o( ParaR&C-;ran' 23?, dismissing t'e ation

(or damages, do@eted as Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02, led 5

petitioners Bidel $. C'ua >C'ua? and Biliden Realt and


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e)elopment Corporation >Biliden?, on t'e ground o( (orum

s'opping.

Petitioner C'ua is president o( o-petitioner Biliden, a

domesti orporation, engaged in t'e realt 5usiness.+/ Respondent 4etropolitan ;an@ and &rust Co. >respondent

4etro5an@? is a domesti orporation and a dul liensed 5an@ing

institution./

#ometime in 1933, petitioners o5tained (rom respondent

4etro5an@ a loan o( P+,000,000.00, *'i' *as seured 5 a real

estate mortgage >R!4? on parels o( land o)ered 5 &rans(er

Certiates o( &itle >&C&s? No. >103020?11+3, No. 9919, and No.

1213, registered in petitioner C'uas name >su5Det properties?./ #ine t'e )alue o( t'e ollateral *as more t'an t'e loan,

petitioners *ere gi)en an open redit line (or (uture loans. $n 13

#eptem5er 199, 18 anuar 199, 1 ul 199, 21 anuar 1998,

and 12 $to5er 1993, petitioners o5tained ot'er loans (rom

respondent 4etro5an@, and t'e real estate mortgages *ere

repeatedl amended in aordane *it' t'e inrease in

petitioners lia5ilities.8/

Ha)ing (ailed to (ull pa t'eir o5ligations, petitioners

entered into a e5t #ettlement Agreement3/*it' respondent

4etro5an@ on 1 anuar 2000, *'ere5 t'e loan o5ligations o(

t'e (ormer *ere restrutured. &'e de5t onsisted o( a total

prinipal amount o( P89,0,000.00, plus unpaid interest
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o( P8,393,09.02, and penalt 'arges

o(P2,83+.9. AmortiEation paments *ere to 5e made in

aordane *it' t'e s'edule atta'ed to t'e agreement.

"n a letter9/dated 23 Be5ruar 2001, t'e la*ers o(

respondent 4etro5an@ demanded t'at petitioners (ull pa and

settle t'eir lia5ilities, inluding interest and penalties, in t'e total

amount o( P10,+0,91 as o( 1 anuar 2001, as *ell as t'e

stipulated attornes (ees, *it'in t'ree das (rom reeipt o( said

letter.

F'en petitioners still (ailed to pa t'eir loans, respondent

4etro5an@ soug't to extra-Dudiiall (orelose t'e R!4 onstituted

on t'e su5Det properties. Upon a )eried Petition (or Borelosure

led 5 respondent 4etro5an@ on 2 April 2001, respondent Att.

Romualdo Celestra >Att. Celestra? issued a Notie o( #ale dated

2 April 2001, *'erein t'e mortgage de5t *as set

at P33,101,09.93, exluding unpaid interest and penalties >to 5e

omputed (rom 1+ #eptem5er 1999?, attornes (ees, legal (ees,

and ot'er expenses (or t'e (orelosure and sale. &'e aution sale

*as s'eduled on 1 4a 2001.10/ $n + 4a 2001, petitioners

reei)ed a op o( t'e Notie o( #ale.11/

$n 23 4a 2001, petitioner C'ua, in 'is personal apait

and ating on 5e'al( o( petitioner Biliden, led 5e(ore ;ran' 28

o( t'e Regional &rial Court o( ParaR&C-;ran' 28?, a

Complaint (or "nDuntion *it' Praer (or "ssuane o( &emporar


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Restraining $rder >&R$?, Preliminar "nDuntion and amages,12/against respondents Att. Celestra, do@eted as C"#"$ Ca% No.

CV'(1'((). Upon t'e motion o( petitioners, R&C-;ran' 28

issued a &R$ enDoining respondents 4etro5an@ and Att. Celestra(rom onduting t'e aution sale o( t'e mortgaged properties

on 1 4a 2001.1/

A(ter t'e expiration o( t'e &R$ on 13 une 2001, and no

inDuntion 'a)ing 5een issued 5 R&C-;ran' 28, respondent

Att. Celestra reset t'e aution sale on 3 No)em5er 2001. $n 3No)em5er 2001, t'e res'eduled date o( t'e aution sale, R&C-

;ran' 28 issued an $rder direting t'at t'e said sale 5e reset

ane* a(ter 3 No)em5er 2001. &'e $rder *as ser)ed on 3

No)em5er 2001, on respondent Att. Celestras daug'ter, Arlene

Celestra, at a oGee s'op o*ned 5 t'e (ormers ot'er daug'ter,

6rae Celestra Aguirre. &'e aution sale, 'o*e)er, proeeded

on 3 No)em5er 2001, and a Certiate o( #ale *as aordinglissued to respondent 4etro5an@ as t'e 'ig'est 5idder o( t'e

(orelosed properties. 1+/

$n 1 Be5ruar 2002, petitioners led *it' R&C-;ran' 28 a

4otion to Admit Amended Complaint1/in Ci)il Case No. C7-01-

0208. &'e Amended 7eried Complaint,1/atta'ed to t'e said

4otion, impleaded as additional de(endant t'e inum5ent

Register o( eeds o( Para


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)oid 5eause t'e aution sale *as done in diso5ediene to a

la*(ul order o( R&C-;ran' 28. Rele)ant portions o( t'e

Amended Complaint o( petitioners read:

12-!. &'ere *as atuall no aution sale onduted 5 'erein

respondent/ Att. Celestra on No)em5er 3, 2001 and t'e C!R&"B"CA&! $B

#A! >Annex IJ-2K? is t'ere(ore a BA#"B"! $CU4!N& and (or *'i'

t'e appropriate riminal omplaint (or (alsiation o( oialLpu5li

doument *ill 5e led against t'e said respondent/ Celestra and t'e

responsi5le oers o( 'erein respondent/ 4etro5an@, in due timeM

12-B. ;ut e)en granting t'at an aution sale *as atuall onduted andt'at t'e said Certiate o( #ale is not a (alsied doument, t'e same

doument is a NU"& simpl 5eause t'e aution sale *as done in

diso5ediene to a la*(ul order o( t'is Court and t'at t'ere(ore t'e

aution sale proeeding is NU AN 7$" A; "N"&"$.18/

Petitioners additionall praed in t'eir Amended Complaint(or t'e a*ard o( damages gi)en t'e a5use o( po*er o( respondent

4etro5an@ in t'e preparation, exeution, and implementation o(

t'e e5t #ettlement Agreement *it' petitionersM t'e 5ad (ait' o(

respondent 4etro5an@ in oGering t'e su5Det properties at a prie

mu' lo*er t'an its assessed (air mar@et )alueM and t'e gross

)iolation 5 respondents 4etro5an@ and Att. Celestra o( t'e

inDuntion.

Petitioners also soug't, in t'eir Amended Complaint, t'e

issuane o( a &R$ or a *rit o( preliminar inDuntion to enDoin

respondent Att. Celestra and all ot'er persons (rom proeeding
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*it' t'e (orelosure sale, on t'e premise t'at no aution sale *as

atuall 'eld on 3 No)em5er 2001.

"n an $rder dated 4ar' 2002, R&C-;ran' 28 denied

petitioners appliation (or inDuntion on t'e ground t'at t'e sale

o( t'e (orelosed properties rendered t'e same moot and

aademi. &'e aution sale, *'i' *as onduted 5

respondents 4etro5an@ and Att. Celestra, a(ter t'e expiration o(

t'e &R$, and *it'out @no*ledge o( t'e $rder dated 3 No)em5er

2001 o( R&C-;ran' 28, *as onsidered as proper and )alid.13/

Petitioners led a 4otion (or Reonsideration o( t'e 4ar'

2002 $rder o( R&C-;ran' 28. F'en R&C-;ran' 28 (ailed to

ta@e an ation on said 4otion, petitioners led *it' t'e Court o(

Appeals a Petition (or Certiorari, do@eted as CA-6.R. No.

80203. "n a eision dated 2 ul 2002, t'e Court o( Appeals

re)ersed t'e 4ar' 2002 $rder o( R&C-;ran' 28 and

remanded t'e ase (or (urt'er proeedings. &'e #upreme Court

dismissed t'e appeal o( respondents *it' nalit. &'us, on 28

#eptem5er 200, R&C-;ran' 28 set t'e 'earing (or t'e

presentation o( e)idene 5 respondent 4etro5an@ (or t'e

appliation (or preliminar inDuntion on 9 No)em5er 200.19/

$n 2 No)em5er 200, petitioners soug't t'e in'i5ition o(

Ating !xeuti)e udge Rolando Ho* o( R&C-;ran' 28, *'o

presided o)er Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208. &'eir motion *as

granted and t'e ase *as re-raOed to R&C-;ran' 23. 20/


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$n 23 $to5er 200, petitioners led *it' ;ran' 19 o( t'e

Regional &rial Court o( ParaR&C-;ran' 19? a 7eried

Complaint (or amages against respondents 4etro5an@, Att.

Celestra, and t'ree 4etro5an@ la*ers, namel, Att. Antonio

7ira, Att. Ramon 4iranda and Att. Pompeo 4anigo. &'e

Complaint *as do@eted asC"#"$ Ca% No. CV'(*'

(+(. Petitioners soug't in t'eir Complaint t'e a*ard o( atual,

moral, and exemplar damages against t'e respondents (or

ma@ing it appear t'at an aution sale o( t'e su5Det properties

too@ plae, as a result o( *'i', t'e prospeti)e 5uers o( t'e said

properties lost t'eir interest and petitioner C'ua *as pre)ented

(rom realiEing a prot o( P80,000,000.00 (rom t'e intended sale.21/

Petitioners led *it' R&C-;ran' 19 a 4otion to

Consolidate22/dated 28 eem5er 200, see@ing t'e

onsolidation o( Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02, t'e ation (or

damages pending 5e(ore said ourt, *it' Ci)il Case No. C7-01-

0208, t'e inDuntion ase t'at *as 5eing 'eard 5e(ore R&C-;ran'

23, 5ased on t'e (ollo*ing grounds:

2. &'e a5o)e-aptioned ase is a omplaint (or damages as a

result o( t'e 'erein respondents/ onspira to ma@e it appear as i(

t'ere *as an aution sale onduted on No)em5er 3, 2001 *'en in (at

t'ere *as none. &'e properties su5Det o( t'e said aution sale are t'e

same properties su5Det o( Ci)il Case No. 01-0208.
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. #ine t'e su5Det matter o( 5ot' ases are t'e same properties

and t'e parties o( 5ot' ases are almost t'e same, and 5ot' ases 'a)e

t'e same entral issue o( *'et'er t'ere *as an aution sale, t'en

neessaril, 5ot' ases s'ould 5e onsolidated.

$n anuar 200, respondents led *it' R&C-;ran'

19 an $pposition to 4otion to Consolidate *it' Praer (or

#antions, praing (or t'e dismissal o( t'e Complaint (or amages

in Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02, on t'e ground o( (orum s'opping.2/

"n an $rder dated 2 anuar 200, R&C-;ran' 19 granted

t'e 4otion to Consolidate, and ordered t'at Ci)il Case No. C7-0-

0+02 5e trans(erred to R&C-;ran' 23, *'i' *as 'earing Ci)il

Case No. 01-0208.2+/

A(ter t'e t*o ases *ere onsolidated, respondents led t*omotions 5e(ore R&C-;ran' 23: >1? 4otion (or Reonsideration o(

t'e $rder dated 2 anuar 200 o( R&C-;ran' 19, *'i'

granted t'e 4otion to Consolidate o( petitionersM and >2?

4ani(estation and 4otion raising t'e ground o( (orum s'opping,

among t'e armati)e de(enses o( respondents.2/ R&C-;ran'

23 issued an $rder on ul 200, granting t'e rst 4otion o(

respondents, t'us, dismissing Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02 on t'eground o( (orum s'opping,2/and onse=uentl, rendering t'e

seond 4otion o( respondents moot. R&C-;ran' 23 delared

t'at t'e (ats or laims su5mitted 5 petitioners, t'e rig'ts
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asserted, and t'e prinipal parties in t'e t*o ases *ere t'e

same. R&C-;ran' 23 'eld in its ul 200 $rder28/t'at:

"t is, t'ere(ore, t'e 'onest 5elie( o( t'e Court t'at sine t'ere is

identit o( parties and t'e rig'ts asserted, t'e allegations o( t'e

de(endant are (ound meritorious and *it' legal 5asis, 'ene, t'e motion

is 6RAN&! and t'is ase is "#4"##! due to (orum s'opping.

As regards t'e seond motion, t'e same 'as alread 5een mooted

5 t'e dismissal o( t'is ase.

FH!R!B$R!, premises onsidered, t'e 4otion (or Reonsideration

led 5 t'e de(endants *'ere5 t'is ase is "#4"##! due to (orum

s'opping and t'e 4ani(estation and 4otion li@e*ise led 5 t'e

de(endants 'as alread 5een 4$$&! 5 t'e said dismissal.

Brom t'e (oregoing $rder o( R&C-;ran' 23, petitioners led

a Petition (or Re)ie* on Certiorari*it' t'e Court o( Appeals,

do@eted as CA-6.R. C7 No. 33038.

"n a eision dated 1 anuar 2003, t'e Court o( Appeals

armed t'e ul 200 $rder o( R&C-;ran' 23. &'e appellate

ourt o5ser)ed t'at alt'oug' t'e de(endants in t'e t*o ases

*ere not idential, t'e represented a ommunit o( interest. It

also declared that the cause of action of the two cases,

upon which the recovery of damages was based, was the

same, i.e., t'e (eigned aution sale, su' t'at t'e nulliation o(

t'e (orelosure o( t'e su5Det properties, *'i' petitioners soug't


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in Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208, *ould render proper t'e a*ard (or

damages, laimed 5 petitioners in Ci)il Case No. C7-0-

0+02. &'us, Dudgment in eit'er ase *ould result in res

judicata. &'e Court o( Appeals additionall noted t'at petitionersadmitted in t'eir 4otion (or Consolidation t'at Ci)il Case No. C7-

01-0208 and Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02 in)ol)ed t'e same parties,

entral issue, and su5Det properties.23/ "n its eision,29/t'e

appellate ourt dereed:

All told, t'e dismissal 5 t'e R&C-;r. 23 o( t'e IseondK ase,

Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02, on t'e ground o( (orum s'opping s'ould 5eup'eld as it is supported 5 la* and Durisprudene.

HEREFORE, t'e assailed order is AFFIRMED. Costs against

t'e 'erein petitioners/.

Petitioners led a 4otion (or Reonsideration o( t'e a(ore-

mentioned eision, *'i' t'e Court o( Appeals denied in a

Resolution dated 23 4ar' 2003.0/

Hene, t'e present Petition, in *'i' t'e (ollo*ing issues are

raised1/:

"
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FH!&H!R $R N$& &H! IB"R#&K AN &H! I#!C$NK CA#!# HA7! &H!

#A4! U&"4A&! $;!C&"7!, ".!., &$ HA7! &H! AUC&"$N #A! ;!

!CAR! A# NU AN 7$".

""

FH!&H!R $R N$& &H! $U&C$4! $B &H! IB"R#&K CA#! F$U ABB!C&

&H! I#!C$NK CA#!.

T- on$ "%%/ 0-a0 nd% 0o d023"nd "n 0-"%4a% "% 5-0-2 o2 no0 %/44%%"#$ 6$"n7 C"#"$ Ca% No. CV'

(1'(() and C"#"$ Ca% No. CV'(*'(+( a3o/n0% 0o o2/3

%-o99"n7.

&'e Court ans*ers in t'e armati)e.

&'e prosription against (orum s'opping is (ound in #etion

, Rule 8 o( t'e 1998 Rules o( Court, *'i' pro)ides t'at:

#!C. . Certifcation against orum shopping.&'e plaintiG or

prinipal part s'all erti( under oat' in t'e omplaint or ot'er initiator

pleading asserting a laim (or relie(, or in a s*orn ertiation annexed

t'ereto and simultaneousl led t'ere*it': >a? t'at 'e 'as not

t'ereto(ore ommened an ation or led an laim in)ol)ing t'e same

issues in an ourt, tri5unal or =uasi-Dudiial agen and, to t'e 5est o(

'is @no*ledge, no su' ot'er ation or laim is pending t'ereinM >5? i(

t'ere is su' ot'er pending ation or laim, a omplete statement o( t'e

present status t'ereo(M and >? i( 'e s'ould t'erea(ter learn t'at t'e

same or similar ation or laim 'as 5een led or is pending, 'e s'all


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report t'at (at *it'in )e >? das t'ere(rom to t'e ourt *'erein 'is

a(oresaid omplaint or initiator pleading 'as 5een led.

Bailure to ompl *it' t'e (oregoing re=uirements s'all not 5e

ura5le 5 mere amendment o( t'e omplaint or ot'er initiator

pleading 5ut s'all 5e ause (or t'e dismissal o( t'e ase *it'out

preDudie, unless ot'er*ise pro)ided, upon motion and a(ter

'earing. &'e su5mission o( a (alse ertiation or non-ompliane *it'

an o( t'e underta@ings t'erein s'all onstitute indiret ontempt o(

ourt, *it'out preDudie to t'e orresponding administrati)e and riminal

ations. "( t'e ats o( t'e part or 'is ounsel learl onstitutes *ill(ul

and deli5erate (orum s'opping, t'e same s'all 5e ground (or summar

dismissal *it' preDudie and s'all onstitute diret ontempt, as *ell as

a ause (or administrati)e santions.

Fo2/3 %-o99"n7 :"%0% 5-n a 9a20 29a0d$ a#a"$%

-"3%$ o %#2a$ ;/d"4"a$ 23d"% "n d"


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Forum shopping can be committed in three

ways: (1) ling multiple cases based on the

same cause of action and with the same prayer,the previous case not having been resolved yet

(where the ground for dismissal is litis

pendentia); () ling multiple cases based on

the same cause of action and the same prayer,

the previous case having been nally resolved

(where the ground for dismissal is res !udicata);

and (") ling multiple cases based on the samecause of action, but with di#erent prayers

(splitting of causes of action, where the ground

for dismissal is also either litis pendentia or res

!udicata)$%"&'

"n t'e present ase, t'ere is no dispute t'at petitioners (ailed

to state in t'e Certiate o( Non-Borum #'opping, atta'ed to

t'eir 7eried Complaint in Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02 5e(ore R&C-

;ran' 19, t'e existene o( Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208 pending

5e(ore R&C-;ran' 23. Ne)ert'eless, petitioners insist t'at t'e

are not guilt o( (orum s'opping, sine >1? t'e t*o ases do not

'a)e t'e same ultimate o5Deti)e Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208

see@s t'e annulment o( t'e 3 No)em5er 2001 pu5li aution andertiate o( sale issued t'erein, *'ile Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02

pras (or t'e a*ard o( atual and ompensator damages (or

respondents tortuous at o( ma@ing it appear t'at an aution sale

atuall too@ plae on 3 No)em5er 2001M and >2? t'e Dudgment in


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Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208, on t'e annulment o( t'e (orelosure

sale, *ould not aGet t'e outome o( Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02,

on t'e entitlement o( petitioners to damages. &'e Court,

'o*e)er, nds t'ese arguments re(uted 5 t'e allegations made5 petitioners t'emsel)es in t'eir Complaints in 5ot' ases.

Petitioners ommitted (orum s'opping 5 ling multiple

ases 5ased on t'e same ause o( ation, alt'oug' *it' diGerent

praers.

#etions and +, Rule 2 o( t'e Rules o( Court prosri5e t'e

splitting o( a single ause o( ation:

#etion . A part ma not institute more t'an one suit (or a

single ause o( ation.

#etion +. #plitting a single ause o( ationM eGet o(."( t*o or

more suits are instituted on t'e 5asis o( t'e same ause o( ation, t'e

ling o( one or a Dudgment upon t'e merits in an one is a)aila5le as a

ground (or t'e dismissal o( t'e ot'ers.

Borum s'opping ours alt'oug' t'e ations seem to 5ediGerent, *'en it an 5e seen t'at t'ere is a splitting o( a ause o(

ation./ A ause o( ation is understood to 5e t'e delit or

*rong(ul at or omission ommitted 5 t'e de(endant in )iolation

o( t'e primar rig'ts o( t'e plaintiG. "t is true t'at a single at or


16/24

omission an )iolate )arious rig'ts at t'e same time, as *'en t'e

at onstitutes Duridiall a )iolation o( se)eral separate and

distint legal o5ligations. Ho*e)er, *'ere t'ere is onl one delit

or *rong, t'ere is 5ut a single ause o( ation regardless o( t'enum5er o( rig'ts t'at ma 'a)e 5een )iolated 5elonging to one

person./

Petitioners *ould li@e to ma@e it appear t'at Ci)il Case No.

C7-01-0208 *as solel onerned *it' t'e nulliation o( t'e

aution sale and ertiation o( sale, *'ileCi)il Case No. C7-0-0+02 *as a totall separate laim (or damages. et, a re)ie* o(

t'e reords re)eals t'at petitioners also inluded an expliit laim

(or damages in t'eir Amended Complaint 8/in Ci)il Case No. C7-

01-0208, to *it:

20-A. &'e a5o)ementioned ats o( 'erein respondents/

4etro5an@ and Att. Celestra are in gross )iolation o( t'e inDuntionmade under Artile 19 o( t'e Ci)il Code, t'ere5 entitling t'e 'erein

petitioners/ 0o 24o#2 da3a7%(rom t'e said respondents/ in su'

amount as ma 5e a*arded 5 t'e Court. >!mp'asis ours.?

&'e Ia5o)ementioned atsK on *'i' petitioners an'ored t'eir

laim to reo)er damages *ere desri5ed in t'e immediatelpreeding paragrap' in t'e same Amended Complaint, as

(ollo*s3/:


17/24

20. &o reiterate, t'e 'erein respondent/ is (ull a*are t'at t'e

assessed (air mar@et )alue o( t'e real properties t'e see@ to (orelose

and sell at pu5li aution et t'e 'a)e @no*ingl oGered t'e said

properties (or sale at t'e amount o( !"6H& !"6H& 4""$N $N!

HUNR! $N! &H$U#AN N"N!& &HR!! P!#$# AN 93L100

>P'P33,101,09.93?, o5)iousl 5eause t'e @no* t'at t'e petitioners/or an ot'er t'ird person *ould not 5e a5le to seasona5l raise t'e said

amount and t'at said respondent/ ;an@ *ould 5e t'e *inner 5 de(ault

at t'e said sale at pu5li aution.

Petitioners a)erred in t'eir Amended Complaint in Ci)il Case No.

C7-01-0208 t'at t'e assessed (air mar@et )alue o( t'e su5Detproperties *as P18,118,000.00.9/

&'e Court o5ser)es t'at t'e damages 5eing laimed 5

petitioners in t'eir Complaint in Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02 *ere

also oasioned 5 t'e supposedl titious 3 No)em5er

2001 (orelosure sale, t'us+0/:

2+. &'e ats o( 'erein respondents/ in ma@ing it appear t'at t'ere *as

an aution sale onduted on 3 No)em5er 2001 and t'e su5se=uent

exeution o( t'e titious Certiate o( #ale is &$R&"$U#, *'i'

entitles t'e 'erein petitioners/ to le t'is instant ation under t'e

priniples o( Human Relations, more partiularl Artiles 19, 20 and

21 o( t'e Ci)il Code *'i' pro)ide t'at:

x x x x

2. As a result o( t'e a(oresaid ats o( t'e respondents/, petitioners/

5uers o( t'e mortgaged properties 'ad lost t'eir interest anmore

>si? in 5uing t'e said mortgaged properties (or not less
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/august2009/182311.htm#_ftn42http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/august2009/182311.htm#_ftn43http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/august2009/182311.htm#_ftn42http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2009/august2009/182311.htm#_ftn43


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t'an P18,000,000.00 as per appraisal report o( t'e P'ilippine

Appraisal Co., "n., a op o( *'i' is 'ereto atta'ed as Annex IRK

and made an integral part 'ereo(M

2.&'e a5orted sale o( t'e petitioners/ mortgaged properties (or t'e

said amount o( not less t'an P18,000,000.00 ould 'a)e paid oG

petitioners/ loan o5ligation *it' respondent/ 4etro5an@ (or t'e

prinipal amount o( P89,0,000.00 or e)en t'e ontested

restrutured amount o( P10,+0,91.3+ >as stated in t'e petition (or

(orelosure?, *'i' *ould 'a)e t'us ena5led t'e plaintiG to realiEe a

net amount o( not less t'an #!7!N& 4""$N P!#$#, more or lessM

28. ; reason o( t'e a(oresaid ats o( respondents/, petitioners/

suGered and *ill ontinue to suGer atual or ompensator, moral

and exemplar or orreti)e damages, t'e nature, extent and amount

o( ompensation o( *'i' *ill >si? pro)en during t'e trial 5ut not less

t'an #!7!N& 4""$N P!#$#.

&'ere is no =uestion t'at t'e laims o( petitioners (or

damages in Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208 and Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02 are premised on t'e same ause o( ation,i.e., t'e

purportedl *rong(ul ondut o( respondents in onnetion *it'

t'e (orelosure sale o( t'e su5Det properties.

At rst glane, said laims (or damages ma appear

diGerent. "n Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208, t'e damages purportedlarose (rom t'e 5ad (ait' o( respondents in oGering t'e su5Det

properties at t'e aution sale at a prie mu' lo*er t'an t'e

assessed (air mar@et )alue o( t'e said properties, said to

5e P1)?,11),(((.((. $n t'e ot'er 'and, t'e damages in Ci)il


19/24

Case No. C7-0-0+02, allegedl resulted (rom t'e 5a@ing out o(

prospeti)e 5uers, *'o 'ad initiall oGered to 5u t'e su5Det

properties (or Inot less t'anP1)*,(((,(((.((,K 5eause

respondents made it appear t'at t'e said properties *ere alreadsold at t'e aution sale. et, it is *ort' to note t'at petitioners

=uoted losel similar )alues (or t'e su5Det properties in 5ot'

ases, against *'i' t'e measured t'e damages t'e

supposedl suGered. !)identl, t'is is due to t'e (at t'at

petitioners atuall 5ased t'e said )alues on t'e single appraisal

report o( t'e P'ilippine Appraisal Compan on t'e su5Det

properties. !)en t'oug' petitioners did not spei( in t'eirAmended Complaint in Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208 t'e exat

amount o( damages t'e *ere see@ing to reo)er, lea)ing t'e

same to t'e determination o( t'e trial ourt, and petitioners

expressl praed t'at t'e 5e a*arded damages o( not less

t'an P80,000,000.00 in t'eir Complaint in Ci)il Case No. C7-0-

0+02, petitioners annot den t'at all t'eir laims (or damages

arose (rom *'at t'e a)erred *as a titious pu5li aution saleo( t'e su5Det properties.

Petitioners ontention t'at t'e outome o( Ci)il Case No.

C7-01-0208 *ill not determine t'at o( Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02

does not Dusti( t'e ling o( separate ases. !)en i( it *ere

assumed t'at t'e t*o ases ontain t*o separate remedies t'at

are 5ot' a)aila5le to petitioners, t'ese t*o remedies t'at arose

(rom one *rong(ul at annot 5e pursued in t*o diGerent

ases. &'e rule against splitting a ause o( ation is intended to

pre)ent repeated litigation 5et*een t'e same parties in regard to

t'e same su5Det o( ontro)ers, to protet t'e de(endant (rom


20/24

unneessar )exationM and to a)oid t'e osts and expenses

inident to numerous suits. "t omes (rom t'e old maxim nemo

debet bis vexari, pro una et eadem causa>no man s'all 5e t*ie

)exed (or one and t'e same ause?.+1/

4oreo)er, petitioners admitted in t'eir 4otion to

Consolidate+2/dated 28 eem5er 200 5e(ore R&C-;ran' 19

t'at 5ot' ases s'ared t'e same parties, t'e same entral issue,

and t'e same su5Det propert, viz:

2. &'e a5o)e-aptioned ase is a omplaint (or damages as a

result o( t'e 'erein respondents/ onspira to ma@e it appear as i(

t'ere *as an aution sale onduted on No)em5er 3, 2001 *'en in (at

t'ere *as none. &'e properties su5Det o( t'e said aution sale are t'e

same properties su5Det o( Ci)il Case No. 01-0208.

. #ine t'e su5Det matter o( 5ot' ases are t'e same properties

and t'e parties o( 5ot' ases are almost t'e same, and 5ot' ases 'a)et'e same entral issue o( *'et'er t'ere *as an aution sale, t'en

neessaril, 5ot' ases s'ould 5e onsolidated.

"( t'e (orum s'opping is not onsidered *ill(ul and deli5erate,

t'e su5se=uent ase s'all 5e dismissed 5"0-o/0 92;/d"4,on

t'e ground o( eit'er litis pendentiaor res judicata. Ho*e)er, i(t'e (orum s'opping is *ill(ul and deli5erate, 5ot' >or all, i( t'ere

are more t'an t*o? ations s'all 5e dismissed 5"0- 92;/d"4..

+/ "n t'is ase, petitioners did not deli5eratel le Ci)il Case No.

C7-0-0+02 (or t'e purpose o( see@ing a (a)ora5le deision in


21/24

anot'er (orum. $t'er*ise, t'e *ould not 'a)e mo)ed (or t'e

onsolidation o( 5ot' ases. &'us, onl Ci)il Case No. C7-0-0+02

is dismissed and t'e 'earing o( Ci)il Case No. C7-01-0208 5e(ore

R&C-;ran' 23 *ill 5e ontinued.

IN VIE OF THE FOREGOING, t'e instant Petition

is DENIED. &'e eision dated 1 anuar 2003 and Resolution

dated 23 4ar' 2003 o( t'e Court o( Appeals in CA-6.R. C7 No.

33038, arming t'e $rder dated ul 200 o( ;ran' 23 o(

t'e Regional &rial Court o( Para


22/24

RENATO C. CORONA

Assoiate ustie

C$NCH"&A CARP"$ 4$RA!#

Assoiate ustie

32456I*42/ 7$ 48+5-/, 72.

Assoiate ustie

ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA

Assoiate ustie

ATTESTATION


23/24

" attest t'at t'e onlusions in t'e a5o)e eision *ere

rea'ed in onsultation 5e(ore t'e ase *as assigned to t'e *riter

o( t'e opinion o( t'e Courts i)ision.

MINITA V. CHICO'

NA@ARIO

Assoiate ustie

Ating C'airperson, &'ird

i)ision

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to #etion 1, Artile 7""" o( t'e Constitution, and

t'e i)ision C'airpersons Attestation, it is 'ere5 ertied t'at

t'e onlusions in t'e a5o)e eision *ere rea'ed in

onsultation 5e(ore t'e ase *as assigned to t'e *riter o( t'e

opinion o( t'e Courts i)ision.


24/24

REYNATO S. PUNO

C'ie(

ustie

chua et adcl vs metrobank

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