dispute case

7/26/2019 Dispute case

1/11

NEMIA CASTRO,

Petitioner,

- versus -

ROSALYN

GUEVARRAAND JAMIR

GUEVARRA,

Respondents.

G.R. No. 192737

Present:

VELASCO, JR.,J.,Chairperson,

PERALTA,

ABAD,

MENDOA, !nd

PERLAS-BERNABE,JJ.

Pro"u#$!ted:

Apri# %&, %'(%

) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------)

D E C I S I O N

MENDOZA, J.:

T*is is !petition +or revie on ertior!ri it* pr!er +or t*e issu!ne o+ ! rit o+

pre#i"in!r in/untion !nd0or te"por!r restr!inin$ order, see1in$ to reverse !nd

set !side t*e Apri# %2, %'(' Deision3(4o+ t*e Court o+ Appe!#s (CA)in CA-5.R.

SP No. 66728 !nd its June %6, %'(' Reso#ution,3%4denin$ petitioners "otion +or

reonsider!tion.
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn1http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn2http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn2http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn1


2/11

The Facts

T*e !se ste"s +ro" ! o"p#!int +or !ne##!tion !nd0or dis*!r$e o+ *e1

!nd de+!"!tion0s#!nder it* d!"!$es +i#ed 9 petitioner Ne"i!

C!stro (Castro)!$!inst respondents, spouses Ros!#n !nd J!"ir

5uev!rr! (Spouses Guevarra),9e+ore t*e Re$ion!# Tri!# Court o+ D!s"!ri!s,

C!vite, Br!n* 6' (RTCBr. 90), !nd do1eted t*erein !s Civi# C!se No. %(7-''.

C!stro sou$*t t*e !ne##!tion o+ *er und!ted ;!r E!st B!n1 !nd Trust

Co"p!n (FEBTC)C*e1 No. '(88&'( in t*e !"ount o+ (,2%,'''.'',

ontendin$ t*!t t*e tot!# o9#i$!tion +or *i* s!id *e1 !s issued *!d !#re!d

9een +u## p!id. Moreover, s*e pr!ed t*!t ;EBTC C*e1 Nos. '(88&7< !nd

'(88&7& 9e de#!red !s it*out v!#ue= t*!t Ros!#n 5uev!rr! >Rosalyn? 9e ordered

to return *er e)ess p!"ents tot!#in$ C!stro? 9e !!rded e)e"p#!r d!"!$es, "or!# d!"!$es !nd !ttornes +ees.

@n t*eir !nser it* ounter#!i", Spouses 5uev!rr! #!i"ed t*!t t*ere !s

no #e$!# or +!tu!# 9!sis to "erit t*e dis*!r$e !nd !ne##!tion o+ ;EBTC C*e1

No. '(88&'(. T*e stressed t*!t t*e tot!# p!rti!# p!"ent "!de 9 C!stro on#

!"ounted to %8','''.'', #e!vin$ !n unp!id 9!#!ne o+ (,28%,'''.''. 384

Durin$ t*e tri!#, C!stro testi+ied t*!t pursu!nt to t*eir redisountin$ o+ *e1

9usiness !rr!n$e"ent, Ros!#n #ent *er !s* o+ (,82%,'''.'', *i* !"ount, t*e

!$reed, !s to e!rn interest in t*e !"ount o+ &'','''.''. @n turn, C!stro issued to

Ros!#n ;EBTC C*e1 No. '(88&'( it* ! +!e v!#ue o+ (,2%,'''.''. L!ter,

C!stro issued sever!# postd!ted *e1s in +!vor o+ Ros!#n, representin$

inst!##"ent p!"ents on t*e !"ount overed 9 t*e su9/et *e1, *i* t*e #!tter

su9seuent# en!s*ed.

So"eti"e t*ere!+ter, C!stro disovered t*!t s*e *!d !#re!d sett#ed t*e tot!#

o9#i$!tion o+ (,2%,'''.'' in +u## !nd *!d, in +!t, overp!id. ;or s!id re!son,

C!stro rote ! #etter to Ros!#n in+or"in$ t*e #!tter o+ *er intention to order ! stop

p!"ent o+ t*e postd!ted *e1s. On Apri# (', %''', C!stro instruted ;EBTC to

stop t*e p!"ent o+ ;EBTC C*e1 No. '(88&'(. S*e #!ter #e!rned +ro" t*e 9!n1t*!t t*e su9/et *e1 d!ted Ju# (&, %''' *!d 9een deposited on Septe"9er (6,

%'''.

To su9st!nti!te *er !##e$!tion o+ +u## p!"ent, C!stro presented !s evidene

;EBTC C*e1 No. '(%8786 en!s*ed 9 J!"ir 5uev!rr! it* t*e not!tion ;in!#

P!"ent +or C*e1 No. (2A'(88&'( !t t*e dors!# portion o+ t*e *e1s.
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn3http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn3


3/11

On J!nu!r %(, %''8, s*e "!de *er +or"!# o++er o+ evidene. T*e evidene o++ered

!s !d"itted 9 RTC-Br. 6' in !n Order d!ted ;e9ru!r (', %''8.

A+ter C!stro rested *er !se, Spouses 5uev!rr! st!rted presentin$ t*eir

dou"ent!r evidene to disprove t*e #!i" o+ +u## sett#e"ent o+ ;EBTC C*e1

No. '(88&'(. T*e !#so presented t*eir itnesses: O#ivi! ;. !"9!o,

represent!tive o+ t*e B!n1 o+ t*e P*i#ippine @s#!nds, Nueno Ave., @"us

Br!n* (or!erly FEBTC)"!nd Nenit! M. ;#orido.

Reords s*o t*!t in t*e ourse o+ t*e present!tion o+ t*eir evidene, Att.

Ernesto R. A#e/!ndro (Atty. Ale#an$ro),ounse# +or t*e Spouses 5uev!rr!,

reuested t*e issu!ne o+ ! su9poen! $u%es te%u!!nd a$ testii%an$u!reuirin$

t*e 9!n1 "!n!$er o+ ;EBTC, Nueno Ave., @"us, C!vite Br!n* to produe t*e

"iro+i#" o+ ;EBTC C*e1 No. (2A'(%8786 !nd to testi+ t*ereon. Aordin$ to

Att. A#e/!ndro, t*is piee o+ evidene ou#d prove t*!t t*e ords ;in!# P!"ent+or C*e1 No. (2A'(88&'( *!d 9een ritten !t t*e dors!# portion o+ t*e *e1

on# !+ter its en!s*"ent.3


4/11

T*ere!+ter, RTC-Br. 6' rendered its Deision d!ted Dee"9er %%, %''8 in

+!vor o+ C!stro, t*e dispositive portion o+ *i* re!ds:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby renderedin favor of plaintiff and against defendants Rosalyn Guevarra andJamir Guevarra ordering the discharge of Far East an! and "rust#o$ %FE"#& #hec! 'o$ (()()*+ and its replacement FE"##hec! 'o$ (--.(, /hich, defendant subse0uently affi1ed thedate July ., 2((( thereto, both in the amount of ,*32,((($((,the same are hereby cancelled if not returned to the plaintiff$Further, FE"# #hec! 'os$ (--.)4 and (--.). dated 5arch24, 2((( and 5arch -(, 2(((, respectively, each in the amountof (,((($(( are also hereby declared as /ithout value$ 6i!e/ise,the defendants are ordered to return to the plaintiff the amountof 4)),2.)$(( representing the e1cess payment made by plaintiffplus legal interest of 27 per annum, from the filing of thiscomplaint until fully paid$ Further, defendants are ordered to payplaintiff moral damages of 4((,((($((, e1emplary damagesof ((,((($((, attorneys fees of 2((,((($((, and the costs ofsuit$Furthermore, for lac! of factual and legal basis, #riminal #ase 'o$*3248(, entitled 9eople of the 9hilippines vs$ 'emia #astro, forEstafa under :rticle -. %28d&, R9# in Relation to 9; **, is

hereby ;


5/11

E)eutive Jud$e o+ t*e RTC, @"us, C!vite.3('4Su9seuent#, Civi# C!se No. %(7-

'' !s r!++#ed to RTC, Br!n* %% (RTC' Br. ), presided 9 Jud$e Ces!r

M!n$ro9!n$ (Ju$&e an&ro*an&).

Me!n*i#e, on ;e9ru!r (, %''-?

On Ju# %', %''2, t*e CA pro"u#$!ted its Deision 3(


6/11

WHEREFORE, premises considered, ;efendants 5otion toRevive 9roceedings and@or 'e/ "rial is hereby granted$Hence, the ne/ trial of this case is hereby set on :pril 2),2(() at *A-( in the morning$

=O OR;ERE;$>)?

A$$rieved, C!stro +i#ed ! petition +or ertior!ri3(4it* pr!er +or TRO

9e+ore t*e CA, !ss!i#in$ t*e M!r* %8, %''7 Order o+ RTC-Br. %% !nd o##!ter!##

!tt!1in$ itsDee"9er (&, %''2 O"ni9us Order. S*e !r$ued t*!t Jud$e

M!n$ro9!n$ o""itted $r!ve !9use o+ disretion in de#!rin$ t*e Dee"9er %%,

%''8 Deision !s nu## !nd void !nd $r!ntin$ t*e "otion o+ Spouses 5uev!rr! +or !

ne tri!# in Civi# C!se No. %(7-''.

On Apri# %2, %'(', t*e CA denied t*e !9ove petition. @t opined t*!t t*e

petition s*ou#d *!ve 9een dis"issed outri$*t +or +!i#ure o+ C!stro to +i#e ! "otion

+or reonsider!tion o+ t*e !ss!i#ed Order. T*e CA !#so *e#d t*!t t*e issu!ne o+ t*e

M!r* %8, %''7 Order !s not t!inted it* $r!ve !9use o+ disretion, !s Jud$e

M!n$ro9!n$ !ted it*in t*e 9ounds o+ *is !ut*orit !nd in t*e e)erise o+ *is

sound disretion. T*ealloo+ s!id deision re!ds:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the instant petition is

;E'


7/11

9? *et*er t*e Court o+ Appe!#s o""itted $r!ve !9use o+ disretion

in denin$ t*e Petition +or Certior!ri +or #!1 o+ ! Motion +or

Reonsider!tion o+ t*e Dee"9er (&, %''< O"ni9us Order issued 9

t*e Presidin$ Jud$e, Br!n* %%, RTC, @"us, C!vite=

? *et*er t*e servie or "!i#in$ o+ opies o+ ! /ud$"ent to t*e

p!rties in ! !se is reuired in t*e pro"u#$!tion o+ ! /ud$"ent=

d? *et*er t*e Dee"9er %%, %''8 Deision o+ Br!n* 6', RTC,

D!s"!ri!s, C!vite is ! void /ud$"ent=

e? *et*er t*e Court o+ Appe!#s o""itted $r!ve !9use o+ disretion

in denin$ t*e Petition +or Certior!ri in ru#in$ t*!t t*e Presidin$ Jud$e

o+ Br!n* %%, RTC, @"us, C!vite did not !9use *is disretion

!"ountin$ to #!1 or e)ess o+ /urisdition in issuin$ t*e M!r* %8,%''7 Order.3%'4

On Nove"9er (&, %'(', t*e Court issued ! reso#ution 3%(4denin$ C!stros

!pp#i!tion +or t*e issu!ne o+ ! TRO !nd0or rit o+ pre#i"in!r in/untion.

A !re+u# perus!# o+ t*e p#e!din$s +i#ed 9 t*e p!rties #e!ds t*e Court to

on#ude t*!t t*is !se revo#ves !round t*e +o##oin$ ore issues:

1)

Whethe RTC! ". 22 h#$ the #%tho&t' to (# %(o* #*$eo+e the -ot&o* o e/o*&$e#t&o* o the De/e-0e 22,

23 De/&&o* o RTC! ". 9 #*$ #++ %0e%e*t -#tte

%0-&tte$ to &t &* C&&+ C#e No. 217!4

2) Whethe # -ot&o* o e/o*&$e#t&o* & e%&e$ 0eoe the

&+&*5 o # (et&t&o* o /et&o#& %*$e the /&/%-t#*/e o the

/#e #t 0e*/h4 #*$

3) Whethe RTC!". 22 ee$ &* 5#*t&*5 # *e6 t+ o the /#e.

@n *er petition, C!stro t!1es e)eption to t*e $ener!# ru#e *i* reuires ! "otion

+or reonsider!tion prior to t*e institution o+ ! petition +or ertior!ri. S*e !r$ues

t*!t t*e Dee"9er (&, %''< O"ni9us Order !nd t*e M!r* %8, %''7 Order ere

9ot* p!tent# void. S*e +urt*er uestions t*e !ut*orit o+ Jud$e M!n$ro9!n$ to

!ssu"e !nd t!1e overCivi# C!se No. %(7-'' !nd to set !side t*e Dee"9er %%,

%''8 poneni! o+ Jud$e Esp!o#. S*e #!i"s t*!t su* !ts onstitute !n
http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn21http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn20http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2012/april2012/192737.htm#_ftn21


8/11

enro!*"ent on t*e !d/udi!tor prero$!tive o+ ! o-eu!# ourt. S*e posits t*!t

!## su9seuent proeedin$s !nd orders issued 9 Jud$e M!n$ro9!n$ ere void 9

re!son o+ t*is undue inter+erene o+ one 9r!n* in !not*ers !se. L!st#, s*e insists

t*!t t*e Dee"9er %%, %''8 Deision o+ Jud$e Esp!o# !s +i#ed it* t*e C#er1 o+

Court 9e+ore s*e retired !nd, t*us, !s v!#id.

The Courts Ruling

A !se, one r!++#ed to ! 9r!n*, 9e#on$s to t*!t 9r!n* un#ess re-r!++#ed or

ot*erise tr!ns+erred to !not*er 9r!n* in !ord!ne it* est!9#is*ed proedure.3%%4T*e pri"!r responsi9i#it over t*e !se 9e#on$s to t*e presidin$ /ud$e o+ t*e

9r!n* to *i* it *!s 9een r!++#ed0re-r!++#ed or !ssi$ned.

T*e reords 9e!r out t*!t on J!nu!r %2, %''


9/11

At !n r!te, it is too #!te in t*e d! +or C!stro to uestion t*e soundness !nd

#e$!#it o+ t*e Dee"9er (&, %''< O"ni9us Order, *i* *!s !#re!d !tt!ined

+in!#it.

T*e Court notes t*!t C!stro never uestioned t*e s!id O"ni9us Order !t t*e

+irst opportunit 9 +i#in$ ! "otion +or reonsider!tion it*in +i+teen >(&? d!s

+ro" reeipt o+ ! op t*ereo+. Neit*er did s*e e#ev!te it to t*e CA vi! ! petition

+or ertior!ri it*in si)t >2'? d!s +ro" notie o+ s!id Order, pursu!nt to Setion *? *ere t*e tri!# /ud$e !priious# !nd *i"si!## e)erised *is /ud$"ent= >%?

*ere t*ere "! 9e d!n$er o+ ! +!i#ure o+ /ustie= >$? *ere !n !ppe!# ou#d 9e

s#o, in!deu!te, !nd insu++iient= >e? *ere t*e issue r!ised is one pure# o+ #!=

>? *ere pu9#i interest is invo#ved= !nd >&? in !se o+ ur$en.3%24T*e

iru"st!nes o9t!inin$ in t*is !se de+inite# p#!ed C!stroHs reourse under "ost

o+ t*e !9ove e)eptions p!rtiu#!r# 9e!use Jud$e M!n$ro9!n$ ordered ! ne

tri!# in t*e M!r* %8, %''7 Order.3%74

T*e Court dee"s t*e $r!nt o+ ne tri!# it*out #e$!# 9!sis. Setions ( !nd 2 o+

Ru#e 87 o+ t*e Ru#es o+ Court re!d:

=E#"


10/11

%b& 'e/ly discovered evidence, /hich he could not, /ith

reasonable diligence, have discovered and produced at the trialand /hich if presented /ould probably alter the result$

1111 1111 1111 1111=E#$ 3$Effect of granting of motion for new trial$


11/11

respondents, Ros!#n 5uev!rr! !nd J!"ir 5uev!rr!, to ontinue t*eir present!tion

o+ evidene !nd t*ere!+ter "!1e t*eir +or"!# o++er. @+ no re9utt!# evidene i## 9e

presented, t*e tri!# ourt s*!## proeed to deide t*e !se on t*e "erits.

SO ORDERED.

JOSE CATRAL MENDOA

Assoi!te Justie

dispute case

Documents