FIRST DIVISION
CECILLEVILLE CECILLEV ILLE REALTY REALTY AND AND SERVICE CORPORATION, Petitioner,
G.R. No. 162074
Present:
- versus -
SPOUSES TITO ACUA and OFELIA B. ACUA, Respondents.
PUNO, C.J., C.J., Chairperson, CARPIO, CORONA, LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, and ERSA!IN, JJ. ERSA!IN, JJ.
Pro"u#$ated:
%u#& '(, )**+ -------------------------------------------------- DECISION CARPIO, J. T!" Ca#"
This is a petition or revie /'0 assai#in$ the A"ended De1ision /)0 pro"u#$ated on (* %anu %anuar ar& & )**2 )**2 o the the Cour Courtt o Appea ppea#s #s 3app 3appe# e##a #ate te 1our 1ourt4 t4 in CA-5 CA-5.R .R.. C6 No. No. /(0 788)(. The appe##ate 1ourt air"ed the Reso#ution dated '2 9eruar& '++; o ran1h ))7, Re$iona# Tria# Court o +8-);>(; (; hi1h hi1h dis"is dis"issed sed the 1o"p#a 1o"p#aint int o petiti petitione onerr Ce1i## Ce1i##evi evi##e ##e Rea#t Rea#t& & and Servi1e Corporation 3Ce1i##evi##e4 a$ainst respondent spouses Tito and Oe#ia A1ua A1ua 3A1ua spouses4 on the $round o pres1ription. T!" Fa$%# The tria# 1ourt su""ari=ed the a1ts o the 1ase as o##os: o##os: So"eti"e in Septe"er '+>', the deendants /A1ua spouses0 re?uested the p#ainti /Ce1i##evi##e0 thru its President, %ose A. Resurre11ion, to
#end to the" or one 3'4 &ear, to 3)4 par1e#s o #and oned & the p#ainti as 1o##atera#s to se1ure a 1redit #ine ro" the Prudentia# an@ and Trust Co"pan& /Prudentia#0. On Septe"er )', '+>', thru a se1retar&s 1ertii1ate and & virtue o a oard reso#ution, the p#ainti #ent to deendants the said oners 1opies o 1ertii1ate o tit#e. oever, on Septe"er )>, '++', deendant Oe#ia . A1ua or$ed the si$nature o Lu1ia R. Re&es as 1orporate se1retar&. & virtue o the a@e se1retar&s 1ertii1ate, the deendants ere a#e to otain a persona# #oan ro" Prudentia# in the su" o P8'*,***.** ith said 1ertii1ates as 1o##atera#s and upon si$nin$ a Rea# Estate !ort$a$e dated Septe"er (*, '+>' and to Pro"issor& Notes dated O1toer ;, '+>' and O1toer '7, '+>'. Due to the deendants deau#t in the pa&"ent o their indetedness, Prudentia# threatened to etraBudi1ia##& ore1#ose the rea# estate "ort$a$e on p#aintis properties thru a noti1e o au1tion sa#e. To avoid ore1#osure pro1eedin$s on its properties, the p#ainti as or1ed to sett#e deendants o#i$ations to Prudentia# in the a"ount o P(,(8;,2;2.2). Suse?uent#&, severa# ritten de"ands or rei"urse"ent ere sent & the p#ainti to the deendants. Neverthe#ess, the deendants ai#ed to pa& their o#i$ation. en1e, the i#in$ o the instant 1ase. In their "otion, deendants 1ontend that the instant 1o"p#aint shou#d e dis"issed on the $rounds o pres1ription, #a1hes and res Budi1ata. The deendants insist that the a1tion o the p#ainti is ased on raud or or$er& o a se1retar&s 1ertii1ate. The or$er& a##e$ed#& happened on Septe"er )>, '+>' or iteen 3'74 &ears a$o. Thereore, the p#ainti shou#d have rou$ht the instant a1tion ithin the period provided or in Arti1#e ''28 o the Civi# Code. !oreover, the deendants ar$ue that the p#aintis inordinate de#a& in the i#in$ o the instant suit 1#ear#& shos that it has aandoned its 1#ai" a$ainst the deendants and thereore $ui#t& o #a1hes. Conse?uent#&, the deendants aver that the or$er& issue has een passed upon in CA-5.R. C6 No. (727). The sa"e as #iti$ated in Civi# Case No. <-7+;>+, ran1h ;>, Re$iona# Tria# Court,
This Court, in its reso#ution in 5.R. No. '*+2>>, air"ed the appe##ate 1ourts de1ision in CA-5.R. C6 No. (727) that Ce1i##evi##e ratiied the "ort$a$e 1ontra1t eteen the A1ua spouses and Prudentia#. The dispositive portion o the de1ision in CA-5.R. C6 No. (727) reads:
ERE9ORE, the appea# o appe##ant Ce1i##evi##e Rea#t& and Servi1e Corporation shou#d e, as it is here&, DISMISSED. 9indin$ "erit to the appea# o Prudentia# an@ Trust Co"pan&, the rit o pre#i"inar& inBun1tion heretoore issued & the tria# 1ourt is here& LIFTED, and appe##ant an@ 1an no pro1eed ith the ore1#osure pro1eedin$s o the "ort$a$ed properties. As a 1oro##ar& thereto, appe##ant Ce1i##evi##e is here& ordered to pa& appe##ant Prudentia# an@ the interests, pena#t& and servi1e 1har$es stipu#ated in the pro"issor& notes se1ured & the "ort$a$e, a11ruin$ ro" the ti"e the rit o pre#i"inar& inBun1tion as issued unti# the said pro"issor& notes are u##& paid. No 1osts. SO ORDERED./70
Ater Ce1i##evi##e paid Prudentia#, Ce1i##evi##e i#ed the present a1tion to 1#ai" rei"urse"ent ro" the A1ua spouses. T!" R&'(n) o* %!" T+(a' Co&+%
In its Reso#ution dated '2 9eruar& '++;, the tria# 1ourt dis"issed Ce1i##evi##es 1o"p#aint on the $round o pres1ription. The tria# 1ourt ound that the 1o"p#aint epress#& a##e$ed that Ce1i##evi##e dis1overed the raud on )> Septe"er '+>'. Thereore, Ce1i##evi##e had on#& our &ears ro" dis1over& o the raud ithin hi1h to i#e the appropriate a1tion. The present a1tion as i#ed on )* %une '++8, 1#ear#& e&ond the pres1riptive period. T!" R&'(n) o* %!" A"''a%" Co&+%
Ce1i##evi##e #od$ed an appea# eore the appe##ate 1ourt. In its De1ision pro"u#$ated on '2 %anuar& )**(, the appe##ate 1ourt reversed and set aside the tria# 1ourts ru#in$ and de1ided in avor o Ce1i##evi##e. The appe##ate 1ourt stated that Ce1i##evi##e has to 1auses o a1tion a$ainst the A1ua spouses: rei"urse"ent o a su" o "one& and da"a$es arisin$ ro" raud. Ce1i##evi##es a1tion or rei"urse"ent as i#ed on )* %une '++8, are#& to "onths ater )( Apri# '++8, hen Ce1i##evi##e "ade an etraBudi1ia# de"and to pa&. To "onths is e## ithin the ive-&ear pres1riptive period pres1ried in Arti1#e ''2+ o the Civi# Code. On the other hand, the appe##ate 1ourt de1#ared that the 1o"p#aint did not "ention the
date o Ce1i##evi##es dis1over& o Oe#ia A1uas or$er& o Lu1ia Re&es si$nature. The appe##ate 1ourt 1on1#uded that the tria# 1ourt erred in de1#arin$ Ce1i##evi##es 1#ai" or da"a$es arred & pres1ription and #a1hes. The appe##ate 1ourt a#so de1#ared that there is no identit& o parties, suBe1t "atter and 1auses o a1tion eteen the present 1ase and that o 5.R. No. '*+2>> eteen Ce1i##evi##e and Prudentia#. en1e, the prin1ip#e o res judicata does not app#&. The dispositive portion o the appe##ate 1ourts '2 %anuar& )**( De1ision reads: ERE9ORE, the instant appea# is 5RANTED and the assai#ed reso#ution o the Re$iona# Tria# Court o (; is here& RE6ERSED and SET ASIDE. Let this 1ase e re"anded to the tria# 1ourt or urther pro1eedin$s. SO ORDERED./80
On "otion or re1onsideration i#ed & the A1ua spouses, the appe##ate 1ourt pro"u#$ated an a"ended de1ision on (* %anuar& )**2 hi1h air"ed the tria# 1ourts de1ision.The appe##ate 1ourt ru#ed that Ce1i##evi##es 1#ai" or rei"urse"ent o its pa&"ent to Prudentia# is predi1ated on the raud a##e$ed#& 1o""itted & the A1ua spouses. ithout the a##e$ed persona# #oan o the A1ua spouses, there ou#d e no ore1#osure to oresta## and no asis or Ce1i##evi##es 1#ai" or rei"urse"ent. A1tions or re#ie on the $round o raud "a& e rou$ht ithin our &ears ro" dis1over& o the raud. In its rie i#ed eore the appe##ate 1ourt, Ce1i##evi##e stated that it #earned o the eisten1e o the a#siied Se1retar&s Certii1ate on )* %anuar& '+>;. Ce1i##evi##e i#ed the present 1ase on )* %une '++8, or "ore than nine &ears ater the dis1over& o the raud. Thus, Ce1i##evi##es a1tion is arred & pres1ription. The dispositive portion o the appe##ate 1ourts a"ended de1ision reads: ERE9ORE, the instant "otion or re1onsideration is 5RANTED. The de1ision, dated '2 %anuar& )**(, o this Court is a11ordin$#&, RECONSIDERED and SET ASIDE. The assai#ed reso#ution, dated '2 9eruar& '++;, o the Re$iona# Tria# Court o (;, is here& A99IR!ED. SO ORDERED./;0
T!" I##&"#
Ce1i##evi##e "entions to $rounds in its appea# eore this Court. 9irst, the appe##ate 1ourt $rave#& erred e1ause its a"ended de1ision is pre"ised on a "isapprehension o a1ts. Ce1i##evi##e a##e$es that its 1#ai" or rei"urse"ent is not ased on raud ut on a ratiied third-part& rea# estate "ort$a$e 1ontra1t to a11o""odate the A1ua spouses.Se1ond, the appe##ate 1ourts a"ended de1ision is not in a11ord ith #a or ith this Courts de1isions. Ce1i##evi##e theori=es that its ratii1ation etin$uished the a1tion to annu# the rea# estate "ort$a$e and "ade the rea# estate "ort$a$e va#id and enor1ea#e. Thus, Ce1i##evi##e de"ands rei"urse"ent on the asis o a ratiied rea# estate "ort$a$e.
T!" R&'(n) o* %!" Co&+%
e see "erit in the petition. The a1ts o the 1ase are si"p#e: The A1ua spouses otained a #oan ro" Prudentia# se1ured & a rea# estate "ort$a$e on Ce1i##evi##es propert&. The A1ua spouses deau#ted on their #oan, and Prudentia# initiated ore1#osure pro1eedin$s. Ce1i##evi##e tried to annu# the rea# estate "ort$a$e ut ai#ed hen the Court ru#ed that Ce1i##evi##e had ratiied the rea# estate "ort$a$e. In ee1t, Ce1i##evi##e e1a"e a third-part& a11o""odation "ort$a$or. Ce1i##evi##e paid Prudentia# to avoid ore1#osure o its "ort$a$ed properties. Ce1i##evi##e repeated#& as@ed the A1ua spouses to rei"urse hat it paid Prudentia#, ut the A1ua spouses reused to do so. 9ro" the a1ts aove, e see that Ce1i##evi##e paid the det o the A1ua spouses to Prudentia# as an interested third part&. The se1ond para$raph o Arti1#e ')(8 o the Civi# Code reads: hoever pa&s or another "a& de"and ro" the detor hat he has paid, e1ept that i he paid ithout the @no#ed$e or a$ainst the i## o the detor, he 1an re1over on#& insoar as the pa&"ent has een enei1ia# to the detor.
Even i the A1ua spouses insist that Ce1i##evi##es pa&"ent to Prudentia# as ithout their @no#ed$e or a$ainst their i##, Arti1#e '(*)3(4 o the Civi# Code states that Ce1i##evi##e sti## has a ri$ht to rei"urse"ent, thus: hen, even ithout the @no#ed$e o the detor, a person interested in the u#i##"ent o the o#i$ation pa&s, ithout preBudi1e to the ee1ts o 1onusion as to the #atters share.
Ce1i##evi##e 1#ear#& has an interest in the u#i##"ent o the o#i$ation e1ause it ons the properties "ort$a$ed to se1ure the A1ua spouses #oan. hen an interested part& pa&s the o#i$ation, he is suro$ated in the ri$hts o the 1reditor. />0 e1ause o its pa&"ent o the A1ua spouses #oan, Ce1i##evi##e a1tua##& steps into the shoes o Prudentia# and e1o"es entit#ed, not on#& to re1over hat it has paid, ut a#so to eer1ise a## the ri$hts hi1h Prudentia# 1ou#d have eer1ised. There is, in su1h 1ases, not a rea# etin$uish"ent o the o#i$ation, ut a 1han$e in the a1tive suBe1t. /+0 Ce1i##evi##es 1ause o a1tion a$ainst the A1ua spouses is one 1reated & #a hen1e, the a1tion pres1ries in ten &ears./'*0 Pres1ription a11rues ro" the date o pa&"ent & Ce1i##evi##e to Prudentia# o the A1ua spouses det on 7 Apri# '++2. Ce1i##evi##es present 1o"p#aint a$ainst the A1ua spouses as i#ed on )* %une '++8, hi1h as a#"ost to "onths ro" the etraBudi1ia# de"ands to pa& on + and )( Apri# '++8. hether e use the date o pa&"ent, the date o the #ast ritten de"and or pa&"ent, or the date o Budi1ia# de"and, it is 1#ear that Ce1i##evi##es 1ause o a1tion has not &et pres1ried. 9ina##&, 1onsiderin$ the #en$th o ti"e o #iti$ation and the a1t that the re1ords o the 1ase are eore this Court, e dee" it prudent to de1#are the A1ua spouses #iai#it& to Ce1i##evi##e in the o##oin$ a"ounts: a. P(,(8;,2;2.2), representin$ the a"ount paid & Ce1i##evi##e to Prudentia# and . interest on the P(,(8;,2;2.2) at '8F per annum, this ein$ the interest rate upon deau#t on the pro"issor& note to Prudentia# to hi1h Ce1i##evi##e is suro$ated. Interest sha## e 1a#1u#ated ro" + Apri# '++8, the date o Ce1i##evi##es irst ritten de"and to the A1ua spouses ater its pa&"ent to Prudentia#. The A1ua spouses sha## a#so pa& attorne&s ees to Ce1i##evi##e e?uiva#ent to 7F o the tota# aard./''0
-EREFORE, e GRANT the petition. e SET ASIDE the A"ended De1ision pro"u#$ated on (* %anuar& )**2 o the Court o Appea#s in CA-5.R. C6 No. 788)(.Respondent spouses Tito A1ua and Oe#ia . A1ua sha## pa& petitioner Ce1i##evi##e Rea#t& and Servi1e Corporation the o##oin$: P(,(8;,2;2.2), representin$ the a"ount paid & Ce1i##evi##e Rea#t& and Servi1e Corporation to Prudentia# an@ and Trust Co"pan& and interest on the P(,(8;,2;2.2) at '8F per annum. Interest sha## e 1a#1u#ated ro" + Apri# '++8 unti# u## pa&"ent. Spouses Tito A1ua and Oe#ia . A1ua sha## a#so pa& attorne&s ees to Ce1i##evi##e Rea#t& and Servi1e Corporation e?uiva#ent to 7F o the tota# aard. SO ORDERED.
ANTONIO T. CARPIO Asso1iate %usti1e
-E CONCUR :
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chie %usti1e Chairperson
RENATO C. CORONA TERESITA /. LEONARDODE CASTRO
Asso1iate %usti1e Asso1iate %usti1e
LUCAS P. BERSAIN
Asso1iate %usti1e
CERTIFICATION Pursuant to Se1tion '(, Arti1#e 6III o the Constitution, I 1erti& that the 1on1#usions in the aove De1ision had een rea1hed in 1onsu#tation eore the 1ase as assi$ned to the riter o the opinion o the Courts Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO Chie %usti1e