57688639-Civil-Law-Review-2-Cases.docx

8/17/2019 57688639-Civil-Law-Review-2-Cases.docx

1/91

Republic of the Philippines

SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-13667 April 29, 1960

PRIMITIVO ANSA, ETC., ET AL., plaintiffs-appellants,

vs.

T!E "OAR# O$ #IRECTORS O$ T!E NATIONAL #EVELOPMENT COMPAN, ET

AL., defendants-appellees.

Celso A. Fernandez for appellants.

Juan C. Jimenez, for appellees.

PARAS,C. J

.%

On July !, "#!$, appellants filed a%ainst appellees in the Cou&t of 'i&st (nstance of Manila a

co)plaint p&ayin% fo& a *+ Ch&ist)as bonus fo& the yea&s "#! and "#!!. he cou&t a quo on

appellees )otion to dis)iss, issued the follo/in% o&de&0

Conside&in% the )otion to dis)iss filed on "! Au%ust, "#!$, set fo& this )o&nin%1 conside&in%

that at the hea&in% the&eof, only &espondents appea&ed th&u counsel and the&e /as no

appea&ance fo& the plaintiffs althou%h the cou&t /aited fo& so)eti)e fo& the)1 conside&in%,

ho/eve&, that petitione&s have sub)itted an opposition /hich the cou&t /ill conside& to%ethe&

/ith the a&%u)ents p&esented by &espondents and the E2hibits )a&3ed and p&esented,

na)ely, E2hibits " to !, at the hea&in% of the )otion to dis)iss1 conside&in% that the action inb&ief is one to co)pel &espondents to decla&e a Ch&ist)as bonus fo& petitione&s /o&3e&s in

the National 4evelop)ent Co)pany1 conside&in% that the Cou&t does not see ho/ petitione&s

)ay have a cause of action to secu&e such bonus because0

5a6 A bonus is an act of libe&ality and the cou&t ta3es it that it is not /ithin its 7udicial po/e&s to

co))and &espondents to be libe&al1

5b6 Petitione&s ad)it that &espondents a&e not unde& le%al duty to %ive such bonus but that

they had only as3 that such bonus be %iven to the) because it is a )o&al obli%ation of

&espondents to %ive that but as this Cou&t unde&stands, it has no po/e& to co)pel a pa&ty to

co)ply /ith a )o&al obli%ation 5A&t. ", Ne/ Civil Code.6.

(N 8(E9 9:EREO', dis)issed. No p&onounce)ent as to costs.

A )otion fo& &econside&ation of the afo&e-;uoted o&de& /as denied. :ence this appeal.

Appellants contend that the&e e2ists a cause of action in thei& co)plaint because thei& clai) &ests on

)o&al %&ounds o& /hat in b&ief is defined by la/ as a natu&al obli%ation.


2/91


3/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila

'(R


4/91

/as filed, until said a)ount is paid1 5b6 the su) of P!D$.** e;uivalent to ten 5"*+6 of

the total clai) by /ay of atto&neys fees and incidental e2penses plus inte&est at the

le%al &ate as of


5/91

)e&ely ba&s the &e)edy and does not discha&%e the debt, the&e is so)ethin% )o&e than a

)e&e )o&al obli%ation to suppo&t a p&o)ise, to /it a F p&e-e2istin% debt /hich is a

sufficient conside&ation fo& the ne/ the ne/ p&o)ise1 upon this sufficient conside&ation

constitutes, in fact, a ne/ cause of action. 3

... (t is this ne/ p&o)ise, eithe& )ade in e2p&ess te&)s o& deduced f&o) an

ac3no/led%e)ent as a le%al i)plication, /hich is to be &e%a&ded as &eani)atin% the old

p&o)ise, o& as i)pa&tin% vitality to the &e)edy 5/hich by lapse of ti)e had beco)e

e2tinct6 and thus enablin% the c&edito& to &ecove& upon his o&i%inal cont&act. &

:o/eve&, the cou&t a quo held that in si%nin% the p&o)isso&y note alone, &espondent Confeso&

cannot the&eby bind his /ife, &espondent Jovita 8illafue&te, citin% A&ticle "$$ of the Ne/ Civil Code

/hich p&ovides0

A&t. "$$. @nless the /ife has been decla&ed a non compos mentis o& a spend th&ift,

o& is unde& civil inte&diction o& is confined in a lep&osa&iu), the husband cannot

alienate o& encu)be& any &eal p&ope&ty of the con7u%al pa&tne&ship /ithout, the /ifes

consent. (f she ay co)pel he& to &efuses un&easonably to %ive he& consent, the cou&t) %&ant the sa)e.

9e disa%&ee. @nde& A&ticle "$! of the Civil Code, the husband is the ad)inist&ato& of the con7u%al

pa&tne&ship. As such ad)inist&ato&, all debts and obli%ations cont&acted by the husband fo& the

benefit of the con7u%al pa&tne&ship, a&e cha&%eable to the con7u%al pa&tne&ship. 8 No doubt, in this

case, &espondent Confeso& si%ned the second p&o)isso&y note fo& the benefit of the con7u%al

pa&tne&ship. :ence the con7u%al pa&tne&ship is liable fo& this obli%ation.

9:ERE'ORE, the decision sub7ect of the petition is &eve&sed and set aside and anothe& decision is

he&eby &ende&ed &einstatin% the decision of the City Cou&t of (loilo City of 4ece)be& D, "#D$,

/ithout p&onounce)ent as to costs in this instance. his decision is i))ediately e2ecuto&y and no

)otion fo& e2tension of ti)e to file )otion fo& &econside&ation shall be %&anted.


6/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila

/ithin ten yea&s f&o) and afte& date of si%nin% of the co)p&o)ise a%&ee)ent>,

as conside&ation fo& his se&vices.

9ithin the Pe&iod allo/ed by the &ules, the defendants filed sepa&ate )otions to dis)iss alle%in%

th&ee (dentical %&ounds0 5"6 As &e%a&ds that i)p&ove)ents )ade by plaintiff, that the co)plaint states

no cause of action, the a%&ee)ent &e%a&din% the sa)e havin% been )ade by plaintiff /ith the

4eudo&s and not /ith the defendants, hence the theo&y of plaintiff based on A&ticle " of the Code

on un7ust en&ich)ent is untenable1 and 56 anent the alle%ed a%&ee)ent about plaintiffs se&vices as

inte&)edia&y in conside&ation of /hich, defendants p&o)ised to convey to hi) =,*** s;ua&e )ete&s

of land, that the sa)e is unenfo&ceable unde& the


7/91

about it, and, in any event, 5=6 that the action of plaintiff to co)pel such conveyance has al&eady

p&esc&ibed.

Plaintiff opposed the )otion, insistin% that A&ticle " of the applicable to his case1 that the


8/91

;uinones. 'u&the&)o&e in o&de& that the alle%ed i)p&ove)ent )ay be conside&ed a

lien o& cha&%e on the p&ope&ty, the sa)e should have been )ade in %ood faith and

unde& the )ista3e as to the title. he Cou&t can ta3e 7udicial notice of the fact that the

t&act of land supposedly i)p&oved by the plaintiff had been &e%iste&ed /ay bac3 in

"#" in the na)e of the p&edecesso&s-in-inte&est of defendant J. M. uason H Co.,

(nc. his fact is confi&)ed in the decision &ende&ed by the


9/91

((. :A REAR4(N PA(N(''< CA(M O8ER :E =,***


10/91

that defendants a&e nonetheless liable since they a&e utili?in% and en7oyin% the

benefits of said i)p&ove)ents. hus unde& pa&a%&aph "$ of >he co)plaint, it is

alle%ed0

5"$6 hat the se&vices and pe&sonal e2penses of plaintiff )entioned in

pa&a%&aph D he&eof /e&e &ende&ed and in fact paid by hi) to i)p&ove,as they in fact &esulted in conside&able i)p&ove)ent of the !*

;uinones, and defendants bein% no' in possession of and utilizin%

said improvements should &ei)bu&se and pay plaintiff fo& such

se&vices and e2penses.

Plaintiffs cause of action is p&e)ised inter alia, on the theo&y of un7ust en&ich)ent

unde& A&ticle " of the civil Code0

AR. ". Ce&tain la/ful volunta&y and unilate&al acts %ive &ise to the

7u&idical &elation of ;uasi-cont&act to the end that no one shill be

un7ustly en&iched o& benefited at the e2pense of anothe&.

(n li3e vein, A&ticle "# of the sa)e Code en7oins that0

AR. "#. Eve&y pe&son )ust, in the e2e&cise of his &i%hts and in the pe&fo&)ance of

his duties, act /ith 7ustice, %ive eve&y-one his due and obse&ve honesty and %ood

faith.

9e &espectfully d&a/ the attention of this :ono&able Cou&t to the fact that AR(CE

" 5


11/91

222 222 222

On the issue of statute of f&aud, the Cou&t believes that sa)e is

applicable to the instant Case, he alle%ation in pa&. " of the

co)plaint states that the defendants p&o)ised and a%&ee to cede,

t&ansfe& and convey unto the plaintiff, =,*** s;ua&e )ete&s of land inconside&ation of ce&tain se&vices to be &ende&ed then. (t is clea& that

the alle%ed a%&ee)ent involves an inte&est in &eal p&ope&ty. @nde& the

p&ovisions of


12/91

"6. !(at in order to compl 'it( (is ot(er obli%ations under (is a%reement 'it(

defendant companies, plaintiff had to confe& /ith the occupants of the p&ope&ty,

e2posin% hi)self to physical ha&), convincin% said occupants to leave the p&e)ises

and to &ef&ain f&o) &eso&tin% to physical violence in &esistin% defendants de)ands to

vacate1

hat plaintiff fu&the& assisted defendants& emploees in t(e actual

demolition and transfer of all the houses /ithin the pe&i)ete& of the *

;uinones until the end of "#!!, /hen said a&ea /as totally clea&ed

and the houses t&ansfe&&ed to anothe& a&ea desi%nated by the

defendants as Capt. C&u? Bloc3 in Masa)bon%, Gue?on City. 5Pa&s.

", "= and ", Co)plaint1 E)phasis supplied6

'&o) the fo&e%oin%, it is clea& then the a%&ee)ent bet/een the pa&ties )entioned in

pa&a%&aph " 5supra6 of the co)plaint has al&eady been fully EEC@E4 ON ONE

PAR, na)ely by the plaintiff. Re%a&din% the applicability of the statute of f&auds 5A&t.

"*=, Civil Code6, it has been unifo&)ly held that the statute of f&auds (


13/91

/&itin% the&e is no palpable evidence of the intention of the

cont&actin% pa&ties. he statute has been enacted to p&event f&aud.

On the othe& hand the co))ission of f&aud in e2ecuted cont&acts is

&educed to )ini)u) in e2ecuted cont&acts because 5"6 the intention

of the pa&ties is )ade appa&ent by the e2ecution and 56 e2ecution

concludes, in )ost cases, the &i%hts of the pa&ties. 5E)phasissupplied6

@nde& pa&a%&aphs "= and " of the co)plaint 5supra6 one can &eadily see that the

plaintiff has fulfilled A his obli%ation unde& the a%&ee)ent bet/een hi) defendants

conce&nin% the =,*** s;. )s. ove& /hich the latte& had a%&eed to e2ecute the p&ope&

docu)ents of t&ansfe&. his fact is fu&the& p&o7ected in pa&a%&aph "! of the co)plaint

/he&e plaintiff states1

"!6. hat in o& about the )iddle of "#$=, after all t(e conditions

stated in para%rap( 01 (ereof (ad been fulfilled and full complied

'it(, plaintiff de)anded of said defendants that they e2ecute the4eed of Conveyance in his favo& and delive& the title ce&tificate in his

na)e, ove& the =,*** s;. )s. but defendants failed and &efused and

continue to fail and &efuse to heed his de)ands. 5pa&. "!, co)plaint1

E)phasis supplied6.

(n vie/ of the fo&e%oin%, /e &espectfully sub)it that this :ono&able cou&t e&&ed in

holdin% that the statute of f&auds is applicable to plaintiffs clai) ove& the =,*** s;.

)s. he&e havin% been full pe&fo&)ance of the cont&act on plaintiffs pa&t, the sa)e

ta3es this case out of the conte2t of said statute.

2laintiff&s Cause of Action (ad N! 2rescribed3

9ith all due &espect to this :ono&able cou&t, /e also sub)it that the Cou&t co))itted

e&&o& in holdin% that this action has p&esc&ibed0

O R 4 E R

222 222 222

On the issue of the statute of li)itations, the Cou&t holds that the

plaintiffs action has p&esc&ibed. (t is alle%ed in pa&. ((( of the co)plaint

that, so)eti)e in "#!, the defendants app&oached the plaintiff top&evail upon the 4eudo&s to ente& into a co)p&o)ise a%&ee)ent in

Civil Case No. G-"=! and allied cases. 'u&the&)o&e, pa&s. "= and "

of the co)plaint alle%ed that plaintiff acted as e)issa&y of both

pa&ties in conveyin% thei& &espective p&oposals and counte&-p&oposals

until the final settle)ent /as affected on Ma&ch "$, "#!= and

app&oved by the Cou&t on Ap&il "", "#!=. (n the p&esent actin, /hich

/as instituted on Janua&y , "#$, the plaintiff is see3in% to enfo&ce


14/91

the supposed a%&ee)ent ente&ed into bet/een hi) and the

defendants in "#!, /hich has al&eady p&osc&ibed. 5at p. =, O&de&6.

he p&esent action has not p&esc&ibed, especially /hen /e conside& ca&efully the

te&)s of the a%&ee)ent bet/een plaintiff and the defendants. 'i&st, /e )ust d&a/ the

attention of this :ono&able Cou&t to the fact that this is an action to co)peldefendants to e2ecute a 4eed of Conveyance ove& the =,*** s;. )s. sub7ect of thei&

a%&ee)ent. (n pa&a%&aph " of the co)plaint, the te&)s and conditions of the

cont&act bet/een the pa&ties a&e spelled out. Pa&a%&aph " 5b6 of the co)plaint

states0

5b6 hat as of date of si%nin% t(e compromise a%reement , plaintiff

shall be the o/ne& of the =,*** s;. )s. but the docu)ents evidencin%

his title ove& this p&ope&ty shall be e2ecuted and delive&ed by

defendants to plaintiff 'it(in ten 4056 ears from and after date of

si%nin% of t(e compromise a%reement . 5E)phasis supplied6.

he co)p&o)ise a%&ee)ent bet/een defendants and the 4eudo&s /hich /as

conclude th&ou%h the effo&ts of plaintiff, /as si%ned on "$ Ma&ch "#!=. he&efo&e, the

defendants had ten 5"*6 yea&s si%ned on "$ Ma&ch "#!=. he&efo&e, the defendants

had ten 5"*6 yea&s f&o) said date /ithin /hich to e2ecute the deed of conveyance in

favo& of plaintiff ove& the =,*** s;. )s. As lon% as t(e 05 ears period (as not

e/pired, plaintiff (ad no ri%(t to compel defendants to e/ecute t(e document and t(e

latter 'ere under no obli%ation to do so. No/, this "*-yea& pe&iod elapsed on Ma&ch

"$, "#$=. :EN and ONI :EN does plaintiffs cause of action plaintiff on Ma&ch

"D, "#$=. hus, unde& pa&a%&aph "!, of the co)plaint 5supra6 plaintiff )ade de)ands

upon defendants fo& the e2ecution of the deed in o& about the )iddle of "#$=.

:ono&able Cou&t &econside& its O&de&

dated Au%ust "=, "#$1 and issue anothe& o&de& denyin% the )otions to dis)iss ofdefendants . A&aneta, (nc. and J. M. uason Co. (nc. fo& lac3 of )e&it. 5Pp. D*-!,

Reco&d on Appeal.6

4efendants filed an opposition on the )ain %&ound that >the a&%u)ents adduced by the plaintiff a&e

)e&ely &eite&ations of his a&%u)ents contained in his Re7oinde& to Reply and Opposition, /hich have

not only been &efuted in he&ein defendants Motion to 4is)iss and Reply but al&eady passed upon by

this :ono&able Cou&t.>


15/91

On


16/91

5c6 An a%&ee)ent )ade in conside&ation of )a&&ia%e, othe& than a

)utual p&o)ise to )a&&y1

5d6 An a%&ee)ent fo& the sale of %oods, chattels o& thin%s in action, at

a p&ice not less than five hund&ed pesos, unless the buye& accept and

&eceive pa&t of such %oods and chattels, o& the evidences, o& so)e of the) of such thin%s in action, o& pay at the ti)e so)e pa&t of the

pu&chase )oney1 but /hen a sale is )ade by auction and ent&y is

)ade by the auctionee& in his sales boo3, at the ti)e of the sale, of

the a)ount and 3ind of p&ope&ty sold, te&)s of sale, p&ice, na)es of

the pu&chase&s and pe&son on /hose account the sale is )ade, it is a

sufficient )e)o&andu)0

5e6 An a%&ee)ent fo& the leasin% fo& a lon%e& pe&iod than one yea&, o&

fo& the sale of &eal p&ope&ty o& of an inte&est the&ein0

5f6 a &ep&esentation as to the c&edit of a thi&d pe&son.

5=6 hose /he&e both pa&ties a&e incapable of %ivin% consent to a cont&act. 5A&t.

"*=, civil Code.6

(n the instant case, /hat appellant is t&yin% to enfo&ce is the delive&y to hi) of =,*** s;ua&e )ete&s

of land /hich he clai)s defendants p&o)ised to do in conside&ation of his se&vices as )ediato& o&

inte&)edia&y in effectin% a co)p&o)ise of the civil action, Civil Case No. "=!, bet/een the

defendants and the 4eudo&s. (n no sense )ay such alle%ed cont&act be conside&ed as bein% a >sale

of &eal p&ope&ty o& of any inte&est the&ein.> (ndeed, not all dealin%s involvin% inte&est in &eal p&ope&ty

co)e unde& the


17/91

9e &epeated this obse&vation in J.. !uason " Co., #nc. vs. !eodosio acalindon%, $ he act is volunta&y. because the acto& in ;uasi-cont&acts is not bound by any p&e-

e2istin% obli%ation to act. (t is unilate&al, because it a&ises f&o) the sole /ill of the acto& /ho is not

p&eviously bound by any &ecip&ocal o& bilate&al a%&ee)ent. he &eason /hy the la/ c&eates a 7u&idical &elations and i)poses ce&tain obli%ation is to p&event a situation /he&e a pe&son is able to

benefit o& ta3e advanta%e of such la/ful, volunta&y and unilate&al acts at the e2pense of said acto&.>

5A)b&osio Padilla, Civil a/, 8ol. 8(, p. D, "#$# ed.6 (n the case at ba&, since appellant has a

clea&e& and )o&e di&ect &ecou&se a%ainst the 4eudo&s /ith /ho) he had ente&ed into an a%&ee)ent

&e%a&din% the i)p&ove)ents and e2penditu&es )ade by hi) on the land of appellees. it Cannot be

said, in the sense conte)plated in A&ticle ", that appellees have been en&iched at the e2pense of

appellant.

(n the ulti)ate. the&efo&e, Ou& holdin% above that appellants fi&st t/o assi%n)ents of e&&o& a&e /ell

ta3en cannot save the day fo& hi). Aside f&o) his havin% no cause of action a%ainst appellees, the&e

is one plain e&&o& of o)ission. 9e have found in the o&de& of the t&ial cou&t /hich is as %ood a %&oundas any othe& fo& @s to te&)inate this case favo&ably to appellees. (n said o&de& 9hich 9e have

;uoted in full ea&lie& in this opinion, the t&ial cou&t &uled that >the %&ounds &elied upon in said )otion

a&e )e&e &epetitions of those al&eady &esolved and discussed by this Cou&t in the o&de& of Au%ust "=,

"#$>, an obse&vation /hich 9e fully sha&e. 8i&tually, the&efo&e. appellants )otion fo&

&econside&ation /as &uled to be p&o-fo&)a. (ndeed, a cu&so&y &eadin% of the &eco&d on appeal &eveals

that appellants )otion fo& &econside&ation above-;uoted contained e2actly the sa)e a&%u)ents and

)anne& of discussion as his 'eb&ua&y $, "#$ >Opposition to Motion to 4is)iss> of defendant


18/91

&e%o&io A&aneta, (nc. 55pp. "D-!, Rec. on Appeal6 as /ell as his 'eb&ua&y "D, "#$ >Opposition to

Motion to 4is)iss of 4efendant J. M. uason H Co.> 5pp. ==-!, Rec. on Appeal and his 'eb&ua&y

#, "#$ >Re7oinde& to Reply Oil 4efendant J. M. uason H Co.> 5pp. !-$, Rec. on Appeal6 9e

cannot see anythin% in said )otion fo& &econside&ation that is substantially diffe&ent f&o) the above

oppositions and &e7oinde& he had p&eviously sub)itted and /hich the t&ial cou&t had al&eady

conside&ed /hen it &ende&ed its )ain o&de& of dis)issal. Conse;uently, appellants )otion fo&&econside&ation did not suspend his pe&iod fo& appeal. 5Est&ada vs. 5pp.

$#6, hence, /ithin the f&a)e of the issues belo/, it is /ithin the a)bit of Ou& autho&ity as the


19/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila


20/91

the conse;uence that he /as able to secu&e title in his na)e alone also, so that

OC. No. ""=D in the na)e of his )othe& /as t&ansfe&&ed to his na)e, that /as in

"#!!1 that /as /hy afte& so)e effo&ts of co)p&o)ise had failed, his half-b&othe&s

and siste&s, he&ein plaintiffs, filed p&esent case fo& pa&tition /ith accountin% on the

position that he /as only a t&ustee on an i)plied t&ust /hen he &edee)ed,-and this is

the evidence, but as it also tu&ned out that one of plaintiffs, E)ete&ia Ase7o /asoccupyin% a po&tion, defendant counte&clai)ed fo& he& to vacate that,

9ell then, afte& hea&in% the evidence, t&ial Jud%e sustained defendant in his position

that he /as and beca)e absolute o/ne&, he /as not a t&ustee, and the&efo&e,

dis)issed case and also conde)ned plaintiff occupant, E)ete&ia to vacate1 it is

because of this that plaintiffs have co)e he&e and contend that t&ial cou&t e&&ed in0

(. ... decla&in% the defendant absolute o/ne& of the p&ope&ty1

((. ... not o&de&in% the pa&tition of the p&ope&ty1 and

(((. ... o&de&in% one of the plaintiffs /ho is in possession of the po&tion of the p&ope&ty

to vacate the land, p. " Appellants b&ief.

/hich can be &educed to si)ple ;uestion of /hethe& o& not on the basis of evidence and la/,

7ud%)ent appealed f&o) should be )aintained. 3

222 222 222

he &espondent Cou&t of appeals &eve&sed the t&ial Cou&t, & and &uled fo& the plaintiffs-appellants, the

p&ivate &espondents he&ein. he petitione& no/ appeals, by /ay of ce&tio&a&i, f&o) the Cou&ts

decision.

9e &e;ui&ed the p&ivate &espondents to file a co))ent and the&eafte&, havin% %iven due cou&se to

the petition, di&ected the pa&ties to file thei& b&iefs. Only the petitione&, ho/eve&, filed a b&ief, and the

p&ivate &espondents havin% failed to file one, /e decla&ed the case sub)itted fo& decision.

he petition &aises a pu&ely le%al issue0 May a co-o/ne& ac;ui&e e2clusive o/ne&ship ove& the

p&ope&ty held in co))on

Essentially, it is the petitione&s contention that the p&ope&ty sub7ect of dispute devolved upon hi)

upon the failu&e of his co-hei&s to 7oin hi) in its &ede)ption /ithin the pe&iod &e;ui&ed by la/. :e

&elies on the p&ovisions of A&ticle "!"! of the old Civil A&ticle "$"= of the p&esent Code, %ivin% thevendee a retro the &i%ht to de)and &ede)ption of the enti&e p&ope&ty.

he&e is no )e&it in this petition.

he &i%ht of &epu&chase )ay be e2e&cised by a co-o/ne& /ith aspect to his sha&e alone. 8 9hile the

&eco&ds sho/ that the petitione& &edee)ed the p&ope&ty in its enti&ety, shoulde&in% the e2penses


21/91


22/91

ove& the p&ope&ty and havin% acted in f&aud of his co-hei&s. :e cannot the&efo&e be said to have

assu)e the )e&e )ana%e)ent of the p&ope&ty abandoned by his co-hei&s, the situation A&ticle "

of the Code conte)plates. (n any case, as the &espondent Cou&t itself affi&)s, the &esult /ould be

the sa)e /hethe& it is one o& the othe&. he petitione& /ould &e)ain liable to the P&ivate

&espondents, his co-hei&s.

his Cou&t is not una/a&e of the /ell-established p&inciple that p&esc&iption ba&s any de)and on

p&ope&ty 5o/ned in co))on6 held by anothe& 5co-o/ne&6 follo/in% the &e;ui&ed nu)be& of yea&s. (n

that event, the pa&ty in possession ac;ui&es title to the p&ope&ty and the state of co-o/ne&ship is

ended . ' (n the case at ba&, the p&ope&ty /as &e%iste&ed in "#!! by the petitione&, solely in his na)e,

/hile the clai) of the p&ivate &espondents /as p&esented in "#D. :as p&esc&iption then, set in

9e hold in the ne%ative. P&esc&iption, as a )ode of te&)inatin% a &elation of co-o/ne&ship, )ust

have been p&eceded by &epudiation 5of the co-o/ne&ship6. he act of &epudiation, in tu&n is sub7ect to

ce&tain conditions0 5"6 a co-o/ne& &epudiates the co-o/ne&ship1 56 such an act of &epudiation is

clea&ly )ade 3no/n to the othe& co-o/ne&s1 5=6 the evidence the&eon is clea& and conclusive, and 56

he has been in possession th&ou%h open, continuous, e2clusive, and noto&ious possession of thep&ope&ty fo& the pe&iod &e;ui&ed by la/. 9

he instant case sho/s that the petitione& had not co)plied /ith these &e;uisites. 9e a&e not

convinced that he had &epudiated the co-o/ne&ship1 on the cont&a&y, he had delibe&ately 3ept the

p&ivate &espondents in the da&3 by fei%nin% sole hei&ship ove& the estate unde& dispute. :e cannot

the&efo&e be said to have >)ade 3no/n> his effo&ts to deny the co-o/ne&ship. Mo&eove&, one of the

p&ivate &espondents, E)ete&ia Ase7o, is occupyin% a po&tion of the land up to the p&esent, yet, the

petitione& has not ta3en pains to e7ect he& the&ef&o). As a )atte& of fact, he sou%ht to &ecove&

possession of that po&tion E)ete&ia is occupyin% only as a counte&clai), and only afte& the p&ivate

&espondents had fi&st sou%ht 7udicial &elief.

(t is t&ue that &e%ist&ation unde& the o&&ens syste) is const&uctive notice of title, 10 but it has li3e/ise

been ou& holdin% that the o&&ens title does not fu&nish a shield fo& f&aud. 11 (t is the&efo&e no

a&%u)ent to say that the act of &e%ist&ation is e;uivalent to notice of &epudiation, assu)in% the&e /as

one, not/ithstandin% the lon%-standin% &ule that &e%ist&ation ope&ates as a unive&sal notice of title.

'o& the sa)e &eason, /e cannot dis)iss the p&ivate &espondents clai)s co))enced in "#D ove&

the estate &e%iste&ed in "#!!. 9hile actions to enfo&ce a const&uctive t&ust p&esc&ibes in ten

yea&s, 12 &ec3oned f&o) the date of the &e%ist&ation of the p&ope&ty, 13 /e, as /e said, a&e not

p&epa&ed to count the pe&iod f&o) such a date in this case. 9e note the petitione&s sub rosa effo&ts

to %et hold of the p&ope&ty e2clusively fo& hi)self be%innin% /ith his f&audulent )is&ep&esentation in

his unilate&al affidavit of e2t&a7udicial settle)ent that he is >the only hei& and child of his )othe&'eli?a /ith the conse;uence that he /as able to secu&e title in his na)e also.> 1& Acco&din%ly, /e

hold that the &i%ht of the p&ivate &espondents co))enced f&o) the ti)e they actually discove&ed the

petitione&s act of def&audation. 18 Acco&din% to the &espondent Cou&t of Appeals, they >ca)e to 3no/

Kof itL appa&ently only du&in% the p&o%&ess of the liti%ation.> 16 :ence, p&esc&iption is not a ba&.

Mo&eove&, and as a &ule, p&esc&iption is an affi&)ative defense that )ust be pleaded eithe& in a

)otion to dis)iss o& in the ans/e& othe&/ise it is dee)ed /aived, 17 and he&e, the petitione& neve&


23/91

&aised that defense. 1' he&e a&e &eco%ni?ed e2ceptions to this &ule, but the petitione& has not sho/n

/hy they apply.

9:ERE'ORE, the&e bein% no &eve&sible e&&o& co))itted by the &espondent Cou&t of Appeals, the

petition is 4EN(E4. he 4ecision sou%ht to be &evie/ed is he&eby A''(RME4 in toto. No

p&onounce)ent as to costs.


24/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila

:(R4 4(8(


25/91

Mean/hile, on Au%ust !, "#*, afte& lea&nin% about the delay in the &e)ittance of the )oney to

petitione&, 'ACE< info&)ed 'N


26/91

A&t. "#!. (f a thin% is &eceived /hen the&e /as no &i%ht to clai) it and /hich, th&ou%h

an e&&o&, has been unduly delive&ed, an obli%ation to &esto&e it a&ises.

(n :elez v. 7alzarza, D= Phil. $=* 5"#6, the Cou&t, spea3in% th&ou%h M&. Justice Bocobo e2plained

the natu&e of this a&ticle thus0

A&ticle "#! Kno/ A&ticle "!L of the Civil Code above;uoted, is the&efo&e

applicable. his le%al p&ovision, /hich dete&)ines the ;uasi-cont&act of solution

indebiti, is one of the conc&ete )anifestations of the ancient p&inciple that no one

shall en&ich hi)self un7ustly at the e2pense of anothe&. (n the Ro)an a/ 4i%est the

)a2i) /as fo&)ulated thus0 ;Jure naturae acquum est, neminem cum alterius

detrimento et in


27/91

no &i%ht to apply the second "*,***.** &e)ittance delive&ed by )ista3e by p&ivate &espondent to

the outstandin% account of 'ACEA-"- 4eposition of M&. and >A--4eposition of M&.

6.

Plaintiff-appellant )ade the second &e)ittance on the /&on% assu)ption that

defendant-appellee did not &eceive the fi&st &e)ittance of @< "*,***.**. KRollo, pp.

$-D.L

(t is evident that the clai) of petitione& is ancho&ed on the app&eciation of the attendant facts /hich

petitione& /ould have this Cou&t &evie/. he Cou&t holds that the findin% by the Cou&t of Appeals thatthe second "*,***.** &e)ittance /as )ade by )ista3e, bein% based on substantial evidence, is

final and conclusive. he &ule &e%a&din% ;uestions of fact bein% &aised /ith this Cou&t in a petition

fo& certiorari unde& Rule ! of the Revised Rules of Cou&t has been stated in Re)alante v. ibe, .R.

No. !#!", 'eb&ua&y !, "#, "!


28/91

to constitute se&ious abuse of disc&etion, such findin%s )ust stand, fo& this Cou&t is

not e2pected o& &e;ui&ed to e2a)ine o& cont&ast the o&al and docu)enta&y evidence

sub)itted by the pa&ties> K


29/91

Sagrada Orden Vs Nacoco –Kinuha ng Hapon

ang lupa.

Action to recover parcel of land owned by P and

then because of !apanese war was ac"uired by

other parties then possessed by the #S govt thru

its custodian then possessed by the defendant

without agree$ent with the #S or with the

plaintiff and def then leased a part of the land.

%ssue& 'ON defendant is liable to Sagrada and

$ust pay the rentals.

Held& No. %f liable at all $ust arise fro$ any of

the four sources of obligations. APA was a trustee

of the #S and if def liable not to plaintiff but to

#S govt. (ut defendant not liable for rentals bec

no e)press agree$ent bet the APA and Nacoco.

*)istence of i$plied agree$ent is contrary to

the circu$stances.

Source& +ontract. (ut there was none.


30/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-36'&0 M() 22, 1973

PEOPLE>S CAR INC., plaintiff-appellant,

vs.

COMMAN#O SECURIT SERVICE AGENC, defendant-appellee.

TEE!AN*EE,J.:

(n this appeal f&o) the adve&se 7ud%)ent of the 4avao cou&t of fi&st instance li)itin% plaintiff-

appellants &ecove&y unde& its co)plaint to the su) of P",***.** instead of the actual da)a%es of

P,#."* clai)ed and suffe&ed by it as a di&ect &esult of the /&on%ful acts of defendant secu&ity

a%encys %ua&d assi%ned at plaintiffs p&e)ises in pu&suance of thei& >ua&d , the

Cou&t finds )e&it in the appeal and acco&din%ly &eve&ses the t&ial cou&ts 7ud%)ent.

he appeal /as ce&tified to this Cou&t by a special division of the Cou&t of Appeals on a fou&-to-one

vote as pe& its &esolution of Ap&il ", "#D= that >

he Cou&t has accepted such ce&tification and doc3eted this appeal on the st&en%th of its o/n findin%

f&o) the &eco&ds that plaintiffs notice of appeal /as e2p&essly to this Cou&t 5not to the appellate

cou&t6> on pu&e ;uestions of la/> 1 and its &eco&d on appeal acco&din%ly p&ayed that> the

co&&espondin% &eco&ds be ce&tified and fo&/a&ded to the :ono&able 2 he t&ial cou&t

so app&oved the sa)e 3 on July =, "#D" instead of havin% &e;ui&ed the filin% of a petition fo& &evie/ of

the 7ud%)ent sou%ht to be appealed f&o) di&ectly /ith this Cou&t, in acco&dance /ith the p&ovisions

of Republic Act !*. By so)e une2plained and hithe&to undiscove&ed e&&o& of the cle&3 of cou&t,

fu&the&)o&e, the &eco&d on appeal /as e&&oneously fo&/a&ded to the appellate cou&t &athe& than to

this Cou&t.

he pa&ties sub)itted the case fo& 7ud%)ent on a stipulation of facts. he&e is thus no dispute as to

the factual bases of plaintiffs co)plaint fo& &ecove&y of actual da)a%es a%ainst defendant, to /it,

that unde& the subsistin% >ua&d bet/een the pa&ties, defendant-appellee as a

duly licensed secu&ity se&vice a%ency unde&too3 in conside&ation of the pay)ents )ade by plaintiff to

safe%ua&d and p&otect the business p&e)ises of 5plaintiff6 f&o) theft, pilfe&a%e, &obbe&y, vandalis)

and all othe& unla/ful acts of any pe&son o& pe&son p&e7udicial to the inte&est of 5plaintiff6.> &


31/91

On Ap&il !, "#D* at a&ound "0** A.M., ho/eve&, defendants secu&ity %ua&d on duty at plaintiffs

p&e)ises, >/ithout any autho&ity, consent, app&oval, 3no/led%e o& o&de&s of the plaintiff ando&

defendant b&ou%ht out of the co)pound of the plaintiff a ca& belon%in% to its custo)e&, and d&ove

said ca& fo& a place o& places un3no/n, abandonin% his post as such secu&ity %ua&d on duty inside

the plaintiffs co)pound, and /hile so d&ivin% said ca& in one of the City st&eets lost cont&ol of said

ca&, causin% the sa)e to fall into a ditch alon% J.P. au&el 8

As a &esult of these /&on%ful acts of defendants secu&ity %ua&d, the ca& of plaintiffs custo)e&,

Joseph uy, /hich had been left /ith plaintiff fo& se&vicin% and )aintenance, >suffe&ed e2tensive

da)a%e in the total a)ount of PD,*D#.> 6 besides the ca& &ental value >cha&%eable to defendant> in

the su) of P","*.** fo& a ca& that plaintiff had to &ent and )a3e available to its said custo)e& to

enable hi) to pu&sue his business and occupation fo& the pe&iod of fo&ty-seven 5D6 days 5f&o) Ap&il

! to June "*, "#D*6 that it too3 plaintiff to &epai& the da)a%ed ca&, 7 o& total actual da)a%es incu&&ed

by plaintiff in the su) of P,#."*.

Plaintiff clai)ed that defendant /as liable fo& the enti&e a)ount unde& pa&a%&aph ! of thei& cont&act

/he&eunde& defendant assu)ed >sole &esponsibility fo& the acts done du&in% thei& /atch hou&s> by its

%ua&ds, /he&eas defendant contended, /ithout ;uestionin% the a)ount of the actual da)a%es

incu&&ed by plaintiff, that its liability >shall not e2ceed one thousand 5P",***.**6 pesos pe& %ua&d

post> unde& pa&a%&aph of thei& cont&act.

he pa&ties thus li3e/ise stipulated on this sole issue sub)itted by the) fo& ad7udication, as follo/s0

(nte&p&etation of the cont&act, as to the e2tent of the liability of the defendant to the

plaintiff by &eason of the acts of the e)ployees of the defendant is the only issue to

be &esolved.

he defendant &elies on Pa&. of the cont&act to suppo&t its contention /hile the

plaintiff &elies on Pa&. ! of the sa)e cont&act in suppo&t of its clai)s a%ainst the

defendant. 'o& &eady &efe&ence they a&e ;uoted he&eunde&0

Pa&. . Pa&ty of the


32/91

Pa&. ! he pa&ty of the the liability of the

defendant in favo& of the plaintiff falls unde& pa&a%&aph of the ua&d and

&ende&ed 7ud%)ent >findin% the defendant liable to the plaintiff in the a)ount of P",***.** /ith

costs.>

:ence, this appeal, /hich, as al&eady indicated, is )e&ito&ious and )ust be %&anted.

Pa&a%&aph of the cont&act, /hich li)its defendants liability fo& the a)ount of loss o& da)a%e to any

p&ope&ty of plaintiff to >P",***.** pe& %ua&d post,> is by its o/n te&)s applicable only fo& loss o&

da)a%e th&ou%h thene%li%ence of its %ua&ds ... du&in% the /atch hou&s> p&ovided that the sa)e is

duly &epo&ted by plaintiff /ithin hou&s of the occu&&ence and the %ua&ds ne%li%ence is ve&ified

afte& p&ope& investi%ation /ith the attendance of both cont&actin% pa&ties. defendants o/n %ua&d on duty

unla/fully and /&on%fully d&ove out of plaintiffs p&e)ises a custo)e&s ca&, lost cont&ol of it on the

hi%h/ay causin% it to fall into a ditch, the&eby di&ectly causin% plaintiff to incu& actual da)a%es in the

total a)ount of P,#."*.

4efendant is the&efo&e undoubtedly liable to inde)nify plaintiff fo& the enti&e da)a%es thus incu&&ed,

since unde& pa&a%&aph ! of thei& cont&act it >assu)ed the &esponsibility fo& the p&ope& pe&fo&)ance

by the %ua&ds e)ployed of thei& duties and 5cont&acted to6 be solel responsible fo& the acts done

du&in% thei& /atch hou&s> and >specifically &eleased 5plaintiff6 f&o) any and all liabilities ... to the thi&d

pa&ties a&isin% f&o) the acts o& o)issions done by the %ua&ds du&in% thei& tou& of duty.> As plaintiff

had duly discha&%ed its liability to the thi&d pa&ty, its custo)e&, Joseph uy, fo& the undisputed

da)a%es of P,#."* caused said custo)e&, due to the /anton and unla/ful act of defendants

%ua&d, defendant in tu&n /as clea&ly liable unde& the te&)s of pa&a%&aph ! of thei& cont&act to

inde)nify plaintiff in the sa)e a)ount.

he t&ial cou&ts app&oach that >had plaintiff unde&stood the liability of the defendant to fall unde&

pa&a%&aph !, it should have told Joseph uy, o/ne& of the ca&, that unde& the ua&d


33/91

and the defendant, the plaintiff should have filed a c&ossclai) a%ainst the latte&,> 9 /as unduly

technical and un&ealistic and untenable.

Plaintiff /as in la/ liable to its custo)e& fo& the da)a%es caused the custo)e&s ca&, /hich had been

ent&usted into its custody. Plaintiff the&efo&e /as in la/ 7ustified in )a3in% %ood such da)a%es and

&elyin% in tu&n on defendant to hono& its cont&act and inde)nify it fo& such undisputed da)a%es,/hich had been caused di&ectly by the unla/ful and /&on%ful acts of defendants secu&ity %ua&d in

b&each of thei& cont&act. As o&dained in A&ticle ""!#, Civil Code, >obli%ations a&isin% f&o) cont&acts

have the fo&ce of la/ bet/een the cont&actin% pa&ties and should be co)plied /ith in %ood faith.>

Plaintiff in la/ could not tell its custo)e&, as pe& the t&ial cou&ts vie/, that >unde& the ua&d since the custo)e& could not hold

defendant to account fo& the da)a%es as he had no p&ivity of cont&act /ith defendant.


34/91

Cangco vs. Manila Railroad Co.

GR. No. 12131, October 14, 1918

Ma. Cristina Ramos (O!"

#acts$ %ose Cangco, &erein 'lainti, )as an em'lo*ee o t&e deendant in

t&is case, manila Railroad Com'an*. +'on t&e occasion in -estion, 'lainti

)as ret-rning &ome b* rail rom &is dail* labors. s t&e train dre) -' to t&e

station, 'lainti arose rom &is seat. s t&e train slo)ed do)n, 'lainti

ste''ed o, b-t one or bot& o &is eet came in contact )it& a sac o

)atermelons. s a res-lt, &is eet sli''ed rom -nder &im and &e ell

violentl* on t&e 'latorm.

/&e accident occ-rred bet)een 08 ocloc on a dar nig&t as t&e railroad

station )as lig&ted diml*, obects on t&e 'latorm )&ere t&e accident occ-rred

rom a lig&ted car.

lainti s-ed t&e deendant com'an* or damages. /&e latter inter'osed t&e

deense t&at t&e direct and 'ro5imate ca-se o t&e in-r* s-ered b* t&e

'lainti )as &is o)n contrib-tor* negligence in ailing to )ait -ntil t&e

train &ad come to a com'lete sto' beore alig&ting.

6ss-e$ 7&et&er or not t&e cond-ct o t&e 'lainti in -ndertaing to alig&t

)&ile t&e train )as slig&tl* -nder)a* )as c&aracteried b* im'r-dence so as to

&old &im g-ilt* o contrib-tor* negligence.

eld$ /&e act o t&e 'lainti in ste''ing o t&e train )&ile it as *et

slo)l* moving )as not c&aracteried b* im'r-dence so as to &old &im g-ilt* o

contrib-tor* negligence.

6n arriving to s-c& concl-sion, t&e co-rt -sed t&e best o negligence

en-nciated in t&e case o icart vs. !mit& (30 6: 8;9" )&ic& )as stated as

ollo)$ 7as t&ere an*t&ing in t&e circ-mstances s-rro-nding t&e 'lainti at

t&e time &e alig&ted rom t&e train )&ic& )o-ld &ave admitted a 'erson o

average 'r-dence t&at to get o t&e train -nder t&e conditions t&en e5isting

)as dangero-s< 6 so, t&e 'lainti s&o-ld &ave deserted rom alig&ting= and

&is ail-re so to desist )as contrib-tor* negligence.

6n t&e case at bar, t&e 'lainti )as ignorant o t&e act t&at t&e

obstr-ction )&ic& )as ca-sed b* t&e sacs o melds 'iled on t&e 'latorm

e5isted. Moreover, t&e 'lace )as dar or diml* lig&ted. /&-s, &e )as a

ail-re on t&e 'art o t&e deendant to aord to its 'assengers acilities

or sae egress rom its trains.

6t is not negligence 'er se or a traveler to alig&t rom a slo)l* moving

train.

/&e civil liabilit* -nder -asi delict is contracted )it&o-t agreement or

consent, t&-s c-l'a e5tra contract-al, on t&e 'rinci'le t&at )&ere &arm, loss

or damage &as been ca-sed to a 'erson t&r- a-lt or negligent act t&e aggrieve

'art* is entitled to be indemniied. (Cangco vs MRR, 38 &il 0>8"


35/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila

he pa&ties in this case a%&eed to sub)it the

)atte& fo& &esolution on the basis of thei& pleadin%s and anne2es and thei& &espective )e)o&anda

sub)itted. Petitione& eo&%e Pay is a c&edito& of the ate Justo Palanca /ho died in Manila on July

=, "#$=. he clai) of the petitione& is based on a p&o)isso&y note dated Janua&y =*, "#!, /he&eby

the late Justo Palanca and Rosa on?ales 8da. de Ca&los Palanca p&o)ised to pay eo&%e Pay the

a)ount of P$,#**.**, /ith inte&est the&eon at the &ate of "+ pe& annu). eo&%e Pay is no/

befo&e this Cou&t, as3in% that


36/91

Palanca to be appointed as ad)inist&at&i21 that the p&ope&ty sou%ht to be ad)iniste&ed no lon%e&

belon%ed to the debto&, the late Justo Palanca1 and that the &i%hts of petitione&-c&edito& had al&eady

p&esc&ibed. he p&o)isso&y note, dated Janua&y =*, "#$, is /o&ded thus0 > Q'o& value &eceived f&o)

ti)e to ti)e since "#D, /e K7ointly and seve&ally p&o)ise toL pay to M&. Keo&%e PayL at his office at

the China Ban3in% Co&po&ation the su) of K/enty than ten 5"*6 yea&s has al&eady t&anspi&ed f&o) that ti)e until to date.

he action, the&efo&e, of the c&edito& has definitely p&esc&ibed.> & he &esult, as above noted, /as the

dis)issal of the petition.

(n an e2haustive b&ief p&epa&ed by Atto&ney 'lo&entino B. del Rosa&io, petitione& did assail the

co&&ectness of the &ulin%s of the lo/e& cou&t as to the effect of the &efusal of the su&vivin% spouse of

the late Justo Palanca to be appointed as ad)inist&at&i2, as to the p&ope&ty sou%ht to be

ad)iniste&ed no lon%e& belon%in% to the debto&, the late Justo Palanca, and as to the &i%hts of

petitione&-c&edito& havin% al&eady p&esc&ibed. As noted at the outset, only the ;uestion of p&esc&iption

need detain us in the disposition of this appeal. i3e/ise, as inti)ated, the decision )ust be

affi&)ed, conside&in% the clea& teno& of the p&o)isso&y note.

'&o) the )anne& in /hich the p&o)isso&y note /as e2ecuted, it /ould appea& that petitione& /as

hopeful that the satisfaction of his c&edit could he &eali?ed eithe& th&ou%h the debto& sued &eceivin%

cash pay)ent f&o) the estate of the late Ca&los Palanca p&esu)ptively as one of the hei&s, o&, ase2p&essed the&ein, >upon de)and.> he&e is nothin% in the &eco&d that /ould indicate /hethe& o& not

the fi&st alte&native /as fulfilled. 9hat is undeniable is that on Au%ust $, "#$D, )o&e than fifteen

yea&s afte& the e2ecution of the p&o)isso&y note on Janua&y =*, "#!, this petition /as filed. he

defense inte&posed /as p&esc&iption. (ts )e&it is &athe& obvious. A&ticle ""D# of the Civil Code

p&ovides0 >Eve&y obli%ation /hose pe&fo&)ance does not depend upon a futu&e o& unce&tain event, o&

upon a past event un3no/n to the pa&ties, is de)andable at once.> his used to be A&ticle """= of

the 6

he obli%ation bein% due and de)andable, it /ould appea& that the filin% of the suit afte& fifteen

yea&s /as )uch too late. 'o& a%ain, acco&din% to the Civil Code, /hich is based on


37/91

because the estate /as left /ith no othe& p&ope&ty. he decision of the lo/e& cou&t cannot be

ove&tu&ned.

9:ERE'ORE, the lo/e& cou&t decision of July , "#$ is affi&)ed. Costs a%ainst eo&%e Pay.


38/91


SUPREME COURT

Manila

EN BANC

G.R. No. L-16870 M(r54 9, 1922

SMIT!, "ELL : CO., LT#., plaintiff-appellant,

vs.

VICENTE SOTELO MATTI, defendant-appellant.

oss and >a'rence and *'ald *. $elp( for plaintiff-appellant.

amon $otelo for defendant-appellant.

ROMUAL#E, J.:

(n Au%ust, "#", the plaintiff co&po&ation and the defendant, M&. 8icente


39/91

that, as a conse;uence of the plaintiffs delay in )a3in% delive&y of the %oods, /hich the inte&veno&

intended to use in the )anufactu&e of cocoanut oil, the inte&veno& suffe&ed da)a%es in the su)s of

one hund&ed si2teen thousand seven hund&ed ei%hty-th&ee pesos and ninety-one centavos

5P""$,D=.#"6 fo& the nondelive&y of the tan3s, and t/enty-one thousand t/o hund&ed and fifty pesos

5P",!*6 on account of the e2pelle&s and the )oto&s not havin% a&&ived in due ti)e.

he case havin% been t&ied, the cou&t belo/ absolved the defendants f&o) the co)plaint insofa& as

the tan3s and the elect&ic )oto&s /e&e conce&ned, but &ende&ed 7ud%)ent a%ainst the), o&de&in%

the) to >&eceive the afo&esaid e2pelle&s and pay the plaintiff the su) of fifty thousand pesos

5P!*,**6, the p&ice of the said %oods, /ith le%al inte&est the&eon f&o) July $, "#"#, and costs.>

Both pa&ties appeal f&o) this 7ud%)ent, each assi%nin% seve&al e&&o&s in the findin%s of the lo/e&

cou&t.

he p&incipal point at issue in this case is /hethe& o& not, unde& the cont&acts ente&ed into and the

ci&cu)stances established in the &eco&d, the plaintiff has fulfilled, in due ti)e, its obli%ation to b&in%

the %oods in ;uestion to Manila. (f it has, then it is entitled to the &elief p&ayed fo&1 othe&/ise, it )ustbe held %uilty of delay and liable fo& the conse;uences the&eof.

o solve this ;uestion, it is necessa&y to dete&)ine /hat pe&iod /as fi2ed fo& the delive&y of the

%oods.

As &e%a&ds the tan3s, the cont&acts A and B 5pa%es $" and $ of the &eco&d6 a&e si)ila&, and in both

of the) /e find this clause0

o be delive&ed /ithin = o& )onths he p&o)ise o& indication of ship)ent ca&&ies /ith it

absolutely no obli%ation on ou& pa&t ove&n)ent &e%ulations, &ail&oad e)ba&%oes, lac3 of

vessel space, the e2i%encies of the &e;ui&e)ent of the @nited


40/91

he selle&s a&e not &esponsible fo& delays caused by fi&es, &iots on land o& on the sea, st&i3es

o& othe& causes 3no/n as >'o&ce Ma7eu&e> enti&ely beyond the cont&ol of the selle&s o& thei&

&ep&esentatives.

@nde& these stipulations, it cannot be said that any definite date /as fi2ed fo& the delive&y of the

%oods. As to the tan3s, the a%&ee)ent /as that the delive&y /as to be )ade >/ithin = o& )onths,>but that pe&iod /as sub7ect to the contin%encies &efe&&ed to in a subse;uent clause. 9ith &e%a&d to

the e2pelle&s, the cont&act says >/ithin the )onth of but to this is added >o& as

soon as possible.> And /ith &efe&ence to the )oto&s, the cont&act contains this e2p&ession,

>App&o2i)ate delive&y /ithin ninety days,> but &i%ht afte& this, it is noted that >this is not %ua&anteed.>

he o&al evidence falls sho&t of fi2in% such pe&iod.

'&o) the &eco&d it appea&s that these cont&acts /e&e e2ecuted at the ti)e of the /o&ld /a& /hen

the&e e2isted &i%id &est&ictions on the e2po&t f&o) the @nited ove&n)ent &e%ulations, &ail&oade)ba&%oes, lac3 of vessel space, the e2i%encies of the &e;ui&e)ents of the @nited in connection /ith the tan3s and >P&io&ity Ce&tificate, sub7ect to the @nited /ith &espect to the )oto&s. At the ti)e of the e2ecution of the cont&acts,

the pa&ties /e&e not un)indful of the contin%ency of the @nited


41/91

dee)ed to have sufficiently pe&fo&)ed his pa&t of the obli%ation, if he has done all that /as in his

po/e&, even if the condition has not been fulfilled in &eality.

(n such cases, the decisions p&io& to the Civil Code have held that the obli%ee havin% done

all that /as in his po/e&, /as entitled to enfo&ce pe&fo&)ance of the obli%ation. his

pe&fo&)ance, /hich is fictitious not &eal is not e2p&essly autho&i?ed by the Code, /hichli)its itself only to decla&e valid those conditions and the obli%ation the&eby affected1 but it is

neithe& disallo/ed, and the Code bein% thus silent, the old vie/ can be )aintained as a

doct&ine. 5Man&esas co))enta&ies on the Civil Code K"#*DL, vol. , pa%e "=.6

he decisions &efe&&ed to by M&. Man&esa a&e those &ende&ed by the sup&e)e cou&t of Novsi)a

RecopilaciSn,> o& a/ ", it. "", of Pa&tida !, /hen in the said findin% of the lo/e& cou&t, no

la/ o& p&ecedent is alle%ed to have been violated. 5Jurisprudencia Civil published by the

di&ecto&s of the evista General de >e%islacion Jurisprudencia K"$$L, vol. ", pa%e $!$.6

(n the second decision, the follo/in% doct&ine is laid do/n0


42/91


43/91

and not title passes. his )ust no/ be &e%a&ded as the settled doct&ine in this 7u&isdiction /hateve&

the &ule )ay be else/he&e.

(t appea&s affi&)atively f&o) the evidence in the p&esent case that the&e is a ne/spape& published in

the p&ovince /he&e the sale in ;uestion too3 place and that the assessed valuation of the p&ope&ty

disposed of at each sale e2ceeded P**. Co)pa&in% the &e;ui&e)ents of section !, supra, /ith/hat /as actually done, it is self-evident that notices of the sales )entioned /e&e not %iven as

p&esc&ibed by the statute and ta3in% into conside&ation that in connection /ith these sales the

appellant Addison /as eithe& the 7ud%)ent c&edito& o& else occupied a position analo%ous to that of a

7ud%)ent c&edito&, the sales )ust be held invalid.

he conveyance o& &econveyance of the land f&o) the 4i&ecto& of ands is e;ually invalid. he

p&ovisions of Act No. "D#" pe&tinent to the pu&chase o& &epu&chase of land confiscated fo& non-

pay)ent of ta2es a&e found in section "# of the Act and &ead0

. . . (n case such &ede)ption be not )ade /ithin the ti)e above specified the ove&n)ent of

the Philippine (slands shall have an absolute, indefeasible title to said &eal p&ope&ty. @pon thee2pi&ation of the said ninety days, if &ede)ption be not )ade, the p&ovincial t&easu&e& shall

i))ediately notify the 4i&ecto& of ands of the fo&feitu&e and fu&nish hi) /ith a desc&iption of

the p&ope&ty, and said 4i&ecto& of ands shall have full cont&ol and custody the&eof to lease o&

sell the sa)e o& any po&tion the&eof in the sa)e )anne& as othe& public lands a&e leased o&

sold0 2rovided, hat the o&i%inal o/ne&, o& his le%al &ep&esentative, shall have the &i%ht to

&epu&chase the enti&e a)ount of his said &eal p&ope&ty, at any ti)e befo&e a sale o& cont&act

of sale has been )ade by the di&ecto& of ands to a thi&d pa&ty, by payin% the&efo&e the /hole

su) due the&eon at the ti)e of e7ect)ent to%ethe& /ith a penalty of ten pe& centu) . . . .

he appellant Addison &epu&chased unde& the final p&oviso of the section ;uoted and /as allo/ed to

do so as the successo& in inte&est of the o&i%inal o/ne& unde& the e2ecution sale above discussed. As /e have seen, he ac;ui&ed no &i%hts unde& these sales, /as the&efo&e not the successo& of the

o&i%inal o/ne& and could only have obtained a valid conveyance of such titles as the ove&n)ent

)i%ht have by follo/in% the p&ocedu&e p&esc&ibed by the Public and Act fo& the sale of public lands.

he is entitled to &ei)bu&se)ent fo& the )oney paid fo& the &ede)ption of the land, /ith inte&est, but

has ac;ui&ed no title th&ou%h the &ede)ption.

he ;uestion of the p&io&ity of the &eco&d of the she&iffs sales ove& that of the sale f&o) Belisa&io to

Bo&7a is e2tensively a&%ued in the b&iefs, but f&o) ou& point of vie/ is of no i)po&tance1 void she&iffs

o& e2ecution sales cannot be validated th&ou%h insc&iption in the Mo&t%a%e a/ &e%ist&y.

he opposition of Adelina 'e&&e& )ust also be ove&&uled.


44/91

Araullo, C.J., Jo(nson, $treet, alcolm, Avanceña, :illamor, strand, and Jo(ns, JJ., concur.

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

D E C I S I O N

PUNO, C.J.:

A. Precis

EN "ANC

FRANCISCO CHAVEZ,

Petitioner,

- versus -

RAUL M. GONZALES,

in his caaci!" as !he

Secre!ar" #$ !heDear!%en! #$ &us!ice'

an( NA)IONAL

)ELECOMMUNICA)IONS

COMMISSION *N)C+,

Respondents.

G.R. N#. //

Present:

PUNO, C.J.,

QUISUMBING,

YNARES-SANTIAGO,

SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ,CARPIO,

AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ,

CORONA,

CARPIO MORALES,

AZCUNA,

TINGA,

CHICO-NAZARIO,

VELASCO, R!,

NACHURA,

REYES, "n#

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, JJ.

Pr$%&'("te#:

)e*r&"r+ , .//0


45/91

In t12s 3&r2s#24t2$n, 2t 2s est"*'2s1e# t1"t 5ree#$% $5 t1e 6ress 2s 4r&42"' "n# s$

2nextr24"*'+ 7$8en 2nt$ t1e r2(1t t$ 5ree s6ee41 "n# 5ree ex6ress2$n, t1"t "n+

"tte%6t t$ restr24t 2t %&st *e %et 72t1 "n ex"%2n"t2$n s$ 4r2t24"' t1"t $n'+ " #"n(er

t1"t 2s 4'e"r "n# 6resent 7$&'# *e "''$7e# t$ 4&rt"2' 2t!

In#ee#, 7e 1"8e n$t 7"8ere# 2n t1e #&t+ t$ &61$'# t12s 41er2s1e# 5ree#$%!

9e 1"8e str&4 #$7n '"7s "n# 2ss&"n4es %e"nt t$ 4&rt"2' t12s r2(1t, "s 2n Adiong v.

COMELEC,;


46/91

=! On &ne 0, .//, res6$n#ent De6"rt%ent $5 &st24e @DO Se4ret"r+ R"&'

G$n?"'es 7"rne# re6$rters t1"t t1$se 71$ 1"# 4$62es $5 t1e 4$%6"4t #2s4

@CD "n# t1$se *r$"#4"st2n( $r 6&*'2s12n( 2ts 4$ntents 4$&'# *e 1e'# '2"*'e

&n#er t1e Ant2-92ret"662n( A4t! T1ese 6ers$ns 2n4'e# Se4ret"r+ B&n+e

"n# Att+! P"(&2"! He "'s$ st"te# t1"t 6ers$ns 6$ssess2n( $r "2r2n( s"2# t"6es7ere 4$%%2tt2n( " 4$nt2n&2n( $55ense, s&*3e4t t$ "rrest *+ "n+*$#+ 71$ 1"#

6ers$n"' n$7'e#(e 25 t1e 4r2%e 7"s 4$%%2tte# $r 7"s *e2n( 4$%%2tte# 2n

t1e2r 6resen4e!;<

>! On &ne , .//, 2n "n$t1er 6ress *r2e52n(, Se4ret"r+ G$n?"'es $r#ere# t1e

N"t2$n"' B&re"& $5 In8est2("t2$n @NBI t$ ($ "5ter %e#2" $r("n2?"t2$ns

found to have caused the spread, the pla!ing and the printing of the

contents of a tape $5 "n "''e(e# 72ret"66e# 4$n8ers"t2$n 2n8$'82n( t1ePres2#ent "*$&t 52x2n( 8$tes 2n t1e .//> n"t2$n"' e'e4t2$ns! G$n?"'es s"2#

t1"t 1e 7"s ($2n( t$ st"rt 72t1 In01.ne!, " 3$2nt 8ent&re *et7een

t1e 2hi3iine Dai3" In0uirer an( GMA1 te'e82s2$n net7$r, *e4"&se *+

t1e 8er+ n"t&re $5 t1e Internet %e#2&%, 2t 7"s "*'e t$ #2sse%2n"te t1e

4$ntents $5 t1e t"6e %$re 72#e'+! He t1en ex6resse# 12s 2ntent2$n $5 2n82t2n(

t1e e#2t$rs "n# %"n"(ers $5 InF!net "n# GMA t$ " 6r$*e, "n# s&66$se#'+

#e4'"re#, I ;1"8e< "se# t1e NBI t$ 4$n#&4t " t"4t24"' 2nterr$("t2$n $5 "''

4$n4erne#! ;/<

! On &ne , .//, t1e NTC 2ss&e# t12s 6ress re'e"se: ;<

NTC GIVES )AIR 9ARNING TO RADIO AND TELEVISION

O9NERSOPERATORS TO OBSERVE ANTI-9IRETAPPING

LA9 AND PERTINENT CIRCULARS ON PROGRAM

STANDARDS

xxx xxx xxx

T"2n( 2nt$ 4$ns2#er"t2$n t1e 4$&ntr+s &n&s&"' s2t&"t2$n, "n# 2n

$r#er n$t t$ &nne4ess"r2'+ "((r"8"te t1e s"%e, t1e NTC4arns "''

r"#2$ st"t2$ns "n# te'e82s2$n net7$r $7ners$6er"t$rs t1"t t1e

4$n#2t2$ns $5 t1e "&t1$r2?"t2$n "n# 6er%2ts 2ss&e# t$ t1e% *+G$8ern%ent '2e t1e Pr$82s2$n"' A&t1$r2t+ "n#$r Cert2524"te $5

A&t1$r2t+ ex6'242t'+ 6r$82#es t1"t s"2# 4$%6"n2es s1"'' n$t &se ;t1e2r<

st"t2$ns 5$r t1e *r$"#4"st2n( $r te'e4"st2n( $5 5"'se 2n5$r%"t2$n $r

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn9http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn10http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn11http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn11http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn9http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn10http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn11


47/91

72''5&' %2sre6resent"t2$n! Re'"t28e t1eret$, 2t 1"s 4$%e t$ t1e

"ttent2$n $5 t1e ;NTC< t1"t 4ert"2n 6ers$n"'2t2es "re 2n 6$ssess2$n $5

"''e(e# t"6e# 4$n8ers"t2$ns 71241 t1e+ 4'"2% 2n8$'8e t1e Pres2#ent $5

t1e P12'2662nes "n# " C$%%2ss2$ner $5 t1e COMELEC re("r#2n(

s&66$se# 82$'"t2$n $5 e'e4t2$n '"7s!

T1ese 6ers$n"'2t2es 1"8e "#%2tte# t1"t t1e t"6e# 4$n8ers"t2$ns "re

6r$#&4ts $5 2''e("' 72ret"662n( $6er"t2$ns!

C$ns2#er2n( t1"t t1ese t"6e# 4$n8ers"t2$ns 1"8e n$t *een #&'+

"&t1ent24"te# n$r 4$&'# 2t *e s"2# "t t12s t2%e t1"t t1e t"6es 4$nt"2n "n

"44&r"te $r tr&t15&' re6resent"t2$n $5 71"t 7"s re4$r#e# t1ere2n, 2t 2s

t1e 6$s2t2$n $5 t1e ;NTC< t1"t t1e 4$nt2n&$&s "2r2n( $r *r$"#4"st $5

t1e s"2# t"6e# 4$n8ers"t2$ns *+ r"#2$ "n# te'e82s2$n st"t2$ns 2s "

4$nt2n&2n( 82$'"t2$n $5 t1e Ant2-92ret"662n( L"7 "n# t1e 4$n#2t2$ns

$5 t1e Pr$82s2$n"' A&t1$r2t+ "n#$r Cert2524"te $5 A&t1$r2t+ 2ss&e# t$t1ese r"#2$ "n# te'e82s2$n st"t2$ns! It 1"s *een s&*seF&ent'+

est"*'2s1e# t1"t t1e s"2# t"6es "re 5"'se "n#$r 5r"&'ent "5ter "

6r$se4&t2$n $r "66r$6r2"te 2n8est2("t2$n, t1e 4$n4erne# r"#2$ "n#te'e82s2$n 4$%6"n2es "re 1ere*+ 4arne( !ha! !heir 5r#a(cas!6airin7

#$ such $a3se in$#r%a!i#n an(6#r 4i33$u3 %isreresen!a!i#n sha33

5e 8us! cause $#r !he susensi#n, rev#ca!i#n an(6#r cance33a!i#n #$

!he 3icenses #r au!h#ri9a!i#ns issue( !# !he sai( c#%anies.

In "##2t2$n t$ t1e "*$8e, t1e ;NTC< re2ter"tes t1e 6ert2nent NTC

42r4&'"rs $n 6r$(r"% st"n#"r#s t$ *e $*ser8e# *+ r"#2$ "n# te'e82s2$nst"t2$ns! NTC Me%$r"n#&% C2r4&'"r -.-0 ex6'242t'+ st"tes,

"%$n( $t1ers, t1"t "'' r"#2$ *r$"#4"st2n( "n# te'e82s2$n st"t2$ns

s1"'', #&r2n( "n+ *r$"#4"st $r te'e4"st, 4&t $55 5r$% t1e "2r t1e s6ee41,

6'"+, "4t $r s4ene $r $t1er %"tters *e2n( *r$"#4"st $r te'e4"st t1e

ten#en4+ t1ere$5 2s t$ #2sse%2n"te 5"'se 2n5$r%"t2$n $r s&41 $t1er 72''5&' %2sre6resent"t2$n, $r t$ 6r$6$se "n#$r 2n42te tre"s$n,

re*e''2$n $r se#2t2$n! T1e 5$re($2n( #2re4t28e 1"# *een re2ter"te# *+

NTC Me%$r"n#&% C2r4&'"r N$! ..-0, 71241, 2n "##2t2$n t1eret$,

6r$12*2te# r"#2$, *r$"#4"st2n( "n# te'e82s2$n st"t2$ns 5r$% &s2n( t1e2r

st"t2$ns t$ *r$"#4"st $r te'e4"st "n+ s6ee41, '"n(&"(e $r s4ene

#2sse%2n"t2n( 5"'se 2n5$r%"t2$n $r 72''5&' %2sre6resent"t2$n, $r 2n42t2n(, en4$&r"(2n( $r "ss2st2n( 2n s&*8ers28e $r tre"s$n"*'e "4ts!

)he :N)C; 4i33 n#! hesi!a!e, a$!er #5servin7 !he re0uire%en!s #$

(ue r#cess, !# a3" 4i!h $u33 $#rce !he r#visi#ns #$ sai(

Circu3ars an( !heir acc#%an"in7 sanc!i#ns #n errin7 ra(i# an(

!e3evisi#n s!a!i#ns an( !heir #4ners6#era!#rs.


48/91

! On &ne >, .//, NTC 1e'# " (ia3#7ue 72t1 t1e B$"r# $5 D2re4t$rs $5

t1e %apisanan ng #ga Brod&aster sa Pilipinas '%BP(! NTC "''e(e#'+

"ss&re# t1e JBP t1"t t1e 6ress re'e"se #2# n$t 82$'"te t1e 4$nst2t&t2$n"'

5ree#$% $5 s6ee41, $5 ex6ress2$n, "n# $5 t1e 6ress, "n# t1e r2(1t t$2n5$r%"t2$n! A44$r#2n('+, NTC "n# JBP 2ss&e# " in! 2ress

S!a!e%en!71241 st"tes, "%$n( $t1ers, t1"t: ;.<

NTC res6e4ts "n# 72'' n$t 12n#er 5ree#$% $5 t1e 6ress "n# t1e

r2(1t t$ 2n5$r%"t2$n $n %"tters $5 6&*'24 4$n4ern! JBP K 2ts

%e%*ers 1"8e "'7"+s *een 4$%%2tte# t$ t1e exer42se $5 6ress

5ree#$% 72t1 12(1 sense $5 res6$ns2*2'2t+ "n# #2s4ern2n(

3(%ent $5 5"2rness "n# 1$nest+!

NTC #2# n$t 2ss&e "n+ MC ;Me%$r"n#&% C2r4&'"r< $r Or#er

4$nst2t&t2n( " restr"2nt $5 6ress 5ree#$% $r 4ens$rs126! T1e

NTC 5&rt1er #en2es "n# #$es n$t 2nten# t$ '2%2t $r restr24t t1e

2nter82e7 $5 %e%*ers $5 t1e $66$s2t2$n $r 5ree ex6ress2$n $5

82e7s!

91"t 2s *e2n( "se# *+ NTC 2s t1"t t1e exer42se $5 6ress

5ree#$% ;*e< #$ne res6$ns2*'+!

JBP 1"s 6r$(r"% st"n#"r#s t1"t JBP %e%*ers 72'' $*ser8e

2n t1e tre"t%ent $5 ne7s "n# 6&*'24 "55"2rs 6r$(r"%s! T1ese

2n4'e 8er2524"t2$n $5 s$&r4es, n$n-"2r2n( $5 %"ter2"'s t1"t

7$&'# 4$nst2t&te 2n42t2n( t$ se#2t2$n "n#$r re*e''2$n!

T1e JBP C$#es "'s$ reF&2re t1"t n$ 5"'se st"te%ent $r 72''5&'

%2sre6resent"t2$n 2s %"#e 2n t1e tre"t%ent $5 ne7s $r

4$%%ent"r2es!

T1e s&66$se# 72ret"66e# t"6es s1$&'# *e tre"te# 72t1sens2t282t+ "n# 1"n#'e# res6$ns2*'+ (282n( #&e 4$ns2#er"t2$n t$

t1e 6r$4ess *e2n( &n#ert"en t$ 8er25+ "n# 8"'2#"te t1e

"&t1ent242t+ "n# "4t&"' 4$ntent $5 t1e s"%e!

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn12http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn12http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2008/feb2008/168338.htm#_ftn12


49/91

C. The Petition

Pet2t2$ner C1"8e? 52'e# " 6et2t2$n &n#er R&'e $5 t1e R&'es $5 C$&rt

"("2nst res6$n#ents Se4ret"r+ G$n?"'es "n# t1e NTC, 6r"+2n( 5$r t1e 2ss&"n4e $5

t1e 7r2ts $5 certiorari "n# 6r$12*2t2$n, "s extr"$r#2n"r+ 'e("' re%e#2es, t$ "nn&'8$2# 6r$4ee#2n(s, "n# t$ 6re8ent t1e &n'"75&', &n4$nst2t&t2$n"' "n# $66ress28e

exer42se $5 "&t1$r2t+ *+ t1e res6$n#ents!;=<

A''e(2n( t1"t t1e "4ts $5 res6$n#ents "re 82$'"t2$ns $5 t1e 5ree#$% $n

ex6ress2$n "n# $5 t1e 6ress, "n# t1e r2(1t $5 t1e 6e$6'e t$ 2n5$r%"t2$n $n %"tters $5

6&*'24 4$n4ern,;>


50/91


51/91

5ase( re7u3a!i#ns an( !heir c#ns!i!u!i#na3 s!an(ar( #$ revie4' *+ !# e=a%ine

!he his!#rica3 (i$$erence in !he !rea!%en! #$ res!rain!s 5e!4een rin! an(

5r#a(cas! %e(ia an( s!ress !he s!an(ar( #$ revie4 7#vernin7 5#!h' an( *B+ !#

ca33 a!!en!i#n !# !he #n7#in7 53urrin7 #$ !he 3ines #$ (is!inc!i#n 5e!4een rin!

an( 5r#a(cas! %e(ia.

E. RE"E#A$!!G THE LA% O FREEDO$ OF SPEECH&

OF E#PRESS!O AD OF THE PRESS

)o la* shall +e passed a+ridging the freedo# of speech, of

e"pression, or of the press, or the right of the people peacea+l! to

asse#+le and petition the govern#ent for redress of grievances. ['4]

)ree#$% $5 ex6ress2$n 1"s ("2ne# re4$(n2t2$n "s " 5&n#"%ent"' 6r2n426'e $5

e8er+ #e%$4r"t24 ($8ern%ent, "n# (28en " 6re5erre# r2(1t t1"t st"n#s $n " 12(1er

'e8e' t1"n s&*st"nt28e e4$n$%24 5ree#$% $r $t1er '2*ert2es! T1e 4$(n"te r2(1ts

4$#252e# *+Art24'e III, Se4t2$n > $5 t1e C$nst2t&t2$n, 4$62e# "'%$st 8er*"t2% 5r$%

t1e )2rst A%en#%ent $5 t1e U!S! B2'' $5 R2(1ts, ;.


52/91

E.(. ABSTRACT!O OF FREE SPEECH

S&rr$&n#2n( t1e 5ree#$% $5 s6ee41 4'"&se "re 8"r2$&s 4$n4e6ts t1"t 7e 1"8e

"#$6te# "s 6"rt "n# 6"r4e' $5 $&r $7n B2'' $5 R2(1ts 6r$82s2$n $n t12s *"s24

5ree#$%!;=


53/91

#2ss"t2s5"4t2$n 72t1 4$n#2t2$ns "s t1e+ "re, $r e8en st2rs 6e$6'e t$ "n(er! ;=/.


54/91

(28es 2%%&n2t+ 5$r e8er+ 6$ss2*'e &se $5 '"n(&"(e "n# 6re8ents t1e 6&n2s1%ent $5

t1$se 71$ "*&se t12s 5ree#$%!

)hus, a33 seech are n#! !rea!e( !he sa%e. S$%e t+6es $5 s6ee41 %"+ *e

s&*3e4te# t$ s$%e re(&'"t2$n *+ t1e St"te &n#er 2ts 6er8"s28e 6$'24e 6$7er, 2n $r#er t1"t 2t %"+ n$t *e 2n3&r2$&s t$ t1e eF&"' r2(1t $5 $t1ers $r t1$se $5 t1e 4$%%&n2t+

$r s$42et+!;>=0


55/91

As "rt24&'"te# 2n $&r 3&r2s6ren4e, 7e 1"8e "66'2e# e2t1er t1e (an7er#us

!en(enc" (#c!rine $r c3ear an( resen! (an7er !es! t$ res$'8e 5ree s6ee41

41"''en(es! M$re re4ent'+, 7e 1"8e 4$n4'e# t1"t 7e 1"8e (ener"''+ "#1ere# t$

t1e c3ear an( resen! (an7er !es!! ;


56/91


57/91

s$%e 5$r% $5 6er%2ss2$n t$ *e 1"# *e5$re 6&*'24"t2$n 4"n *e %"#e, 4$%%2ts "n

2n5r2n(e%ent $5 t1e 4$nst2t&t2$n"' r2(1t, "n# re%e#+ 4"n *e 1"# "t t1e 4$&rts!

G28en t1"t #ee6'+ ens4$n4e# 2n $&r 5&n#"%ent"' '"7 2s t1e 1$st2'2t+ "("2nst "''

6r2$r restr"2nts $n s6ee41, "n# "n+ "4t t1"t restr"2ns s6ee41 2s 6res&%e# 2n8"'2#,;0


58/91

&nre'"te# t$ t1e s&66ress2$n $5 5ree ex6ress2$n "n# 25 t1e 2n42#ent

restr24t2$n $n "''e(e# ;5ree#$% $5 s6ee41 K ex6ress2$n< 2s n$ (re"ter

t1"n 2s essent2"' t$ t1e 5&rt1er"n4e $5 t1"t 2nterest! ;><

On t1e $t1er 1"n#, " ($8ern%ent"' "4t2$n t1"t restr24ts 5ree#$% $5 s6ee41 $r $5 t1e 6ress 5ase( #n c#n!en! 2s (28en t1es!ric!es! scru!in" 2n '2(1t $5 2ts 2n1erent

"n# 2n8"s28e 2%6"4t! On'+ 71en t1e 41"''en(e# "4t 1"s $8er4$%e t1e c3ear an(

resen! (an7er ru3e 72'' 2t 6"ss 4$nst2t&t2$n"' %&ster,;


59/91

;=


60/91

"s t$ #e%"n# t1"t s&41 re(&'"t2$ns ser8e 4$%6e''2n( ($8ern%ent

2nterests,;


61/91

5$r%&'"t2$ns t$ ser8e "s (&2#e'2nes 5$r "'' 2n5er2$r 4$&rts "n# *$#2es exer42s2n(

F&"s2-3ò"' 5&n4t2$ns! P"rt24&'"r'+, t1e C$&rt %"#e " #et"2'e# ex6$s2t2$n "s t$

71"t nee#s *e 4$ns2#ere# 2n 4"ses 2n8$'82n( *r$"#4"st %e#2"! T1&s:;0>


62/91

se'e4t282t+ 4"nn$t *e #$ne 2n r"#2$ $r te'e82s2$n, 71ere t1e '2stener

$r 82e7er 2s 4$nst"nt'+ t&n2n( 2n "n# $&t!

S2%2'"r 4$ns2#er"t2$ns "66'+ 2n t1e "re" $5 n"t2$n"' se4&r2t+!

T1e *r$"#4"st %e#2" 1"8e "'s$ est"*'2s1e# " &n2F&e'+ 6er8"s28e

6resen4e 2n t1e '28es $5 "'' )2'262n$s! Ne7s6"6ers "n# 4&rrent *$$s"re 5$&n# $n'+ 2n %etr$6$'2t"n "re"s "n# 2n t1e 6$*'"42$nes $5

%&n2426"'2t2es "44ess2*'e t$ 5"st "n# re(&'"r tr"ns6$rt"t2$n! E8en

1ere, t1ere "re '$7 2n4$%e %"sses 71$ 52n# t1e 4$st $5 *$$s,

ne7s6"6ers, "n# %"("?2nes *e+$n# t1e2r 1&%*'e %e"ns! B"s24

nee#s '2e 5$$# "n# s1e'ter 6er5$r4e en3$+ 12(1 6r2$r2t2es!

On t1e $t1er 1"n#, t1e tr"ns2st$r r"#2$ 2s 5$&n# e8er+71ere! T1e

te'e82s2$n set 2s "'s$ *e4$%2n( &n28ers"'! T1e2r %ess"(e %"+ *e

s2%&'t"ne$&s'+ re4e28e# *+ " n"t2$n"' $r re(2$n"' "en4e $5

'2steners 2n4'n( t1e 2n#255erent $r &n72''2n( 71$ 1"66en t$ *e

72t12n re"41 $5 " *'"r2n( r"#2$ $r te'e82s2$n set! T1e %"ter2"'s *r$"#4"st $8er t1e "2r7"8es re"41 e8er+ 6ers$n $5 e8er+ "(e,

6ers$ns $5 8"r+2n( s&s4e6t2*2'2t2es t$ 6ers&"s2$n, 6ers$ns $5 #255erent

I!Q!s "n# %ent"' 4"6"*2'2t2es, 6ers$ns 71$se re"4t2$ns t$

2n5'"%%"t$r+ $r $55ens28e s6ee41 7$&'# *e #25524&'t t$ %$n2t$r $r

6re#24t! T1e 2%6"4t $5 t1e 82*r"nt s6ee41 2s 5$r4e5&' "n# 2%%e#2"te!

Un'2e re"#ers $5 t1e 6r2nte# 7$r, t1e r"#2$ "en4e 1"s 'esser

$66$rt&n2t+ t$ 4$(2t"te "n"'+?e, "n# re3e4t t1e &tter"n4e!

@ T1e 4'e"r "n# 6resent #"n(er test, t1ere5$re, %&st t"e t1e 6"rt24&'"r

42r4&%st"n4es $5 *r$"#4"st %e#2" 2nt$ "44$&nt! T1e s&6er82s2$n $5 r"#2$ st"t2$ns-71et1er *+ ($8ern%ent $r t1r$&(1 se'5-re(&'"t2$n *+

t1e 2n#&str+ 2tse'5 4"''s 5$r t1$&(1t5&', 2nte''2(ent "n# s$612st24"te#

1"n#'2n(!

T1e ($8ern%ent 1"s " r2(1t t$ *e 6r$te4te# "("2nst *r$"#4"sts 71241

2n42te t1e '2steners t$ 82$'ent'+ $8ert1r$7 2t! R"#2$ "n# te'e82s2$n

%"+ n$t *e &se# t$ $r("n2?e " re*e''2$n $r t$ s2(n"' t1e st"rt $5

72#es6re"# &6r2s2n(! At t1e s"%e t2%e, t1e 6e$6'e 1"8e " r2(1t t$ *e

2n5$r%e#! R"#2$ "n# te'e82s2$n 7$&'# 1"8e '2tt'e re"s$n 5$r ex2sten4e

25 *r$"#4"sts "re '2%2te# t$ *'"n#, $*seF&2$&s, $r 6'e"s"nt'+

entert"2n2n( &tter"n4es! S2n4e t1e+ "re t1e %$st 4$n8en2ent "n# 6$6&'"r %e"ns $5 #2sse%2n"t2n( 8"r+2n( 82e7s $n 6&*'24 2ss&es, t1e+

"'s$ #eser8e s6e42"' 6r$te4t2$n!

@ T1e 5ree#$% t$ 4$%%ent $n 6&*'24 "55"2rs 2s essent2"' t$ t1e 82t"'2t+

$5 " re6resent"t28e #e%$4r"4+! In t1e 0 4"se $5 0nited States v.

Bustos @= P12'! = t12s C$&rt 7"s "'re"#+ stress2n( t1"t!


63/91

T1e 2nterest $5 s$42et+ "n# t1e %"2nten"n4e $5 ($$# ($8ern%ent

#e%"n# " 5&'' #2s4&ss2$n $5 6&*'24 "55"2rs! C$%6'ete '2*ert+ t$

4$%%ent $n t1e 4$n#&4t $5 6&*'24 %en 2s " s4"'6e' 2n t1e 4"se $5

5ree s6ee41! T1e s1"r6 2n42s2$n $5 2ts 6r$*e re'2e8es t1e "*s4esses $5

$55242"'#$%! Men 2n 6&*'24 '25e %"+ s&55er &n#er " 1$st2'e "n# "n

&n3&st "44&s"t2$n t1e 7$&n# 4"n *e "ss&"(e# 72t1 t1e *"'% $5 "4'e"r 4$ns42en4e! A 6&*'24 $5524er %&st n$t *e t$$ t12n-s2nne# 72t1

re5eren4e t$ 4$%%ent &6$n 12s $55242"' "4ts! On'+ t1&s 4"n t1e

2nte''2(en4e "n# #2(n2t+ $5 t1e 2n#282#&"' *e ex"'te#!

@ Br$"#4"st st"t2$ns #eser8e t1e s6e42"' 6r$te4t2$n (28en t$ "'' 5$r%s

$5 %e#2" *+ t1e #&e 6r$4ess "n# 5ree#$% $5 ex6ress2$n 4'"&ses $5

t1e C$nst2t&t2$n! ;C2t"t2$ns $%2tte#<

It 2s 2nterest2n( t$ n$te t1"t t1e C$&rt 2n ans "#$6te# t1e "r(&%ents 5$&n# 2n

U!S! 3&r2s6ren4e t$ 3&st25+ #255erent2"t2$n $5 tre"t%ent @i.e., t1e s4"r42t+,

6er8"s28eness "n# "44ess2*2'2t+ t$ 412'#ren, 5u! #n3" a$!er ca!e7#rica33"

(ec3arin7 !ha! !he !es! $#r 3i%i!a!i#ns #n $ree(#% #$ e=ressi#n c#n!inues !#

5e !he c3ear an( resen! (an7er ru3e, $#r a33 $#r%s #$ %e(ia, 4he!her rin! #r

5r#a(cas!. In#ee#, " 4'$se re"#2n( $5 t1e "*$8e-F&$te# 6r$82s2$ns 7$&'# s1$7

t1"t t1e #255erent2"t2$n t1"t t1e C$&rt 2n ans re5erre# t$ 7"s n"rr$7'+ restr24te# t$

71"t 2s $t1er72se #ee%e# "s &n6r$te4te# s6ee41 @e.g., $*s4en2t+, n"t2$n"'

se4&r2t+, se#2t2$&s "n# 2n42t2n( s6ee41, $r t$ 8"'2#"te " '24ens2n( $r re(&'"t$r+

s41e%e ne4ess"r+ t$ "''$4"te t1e '2%2te# *r$"#4"st 5reF&en42es, 71241 2s "*sent 2n 6r2nt %e#2"! T1&s, 71en t12s C$&rt #e4'"re# 2n ans t1"t t1e 5ree#$% (28en t$

*r$"#4"st %e#2" 7"s s$%e71"t 'esser 2n s4$6e t1"n t1e 5ree#$% "44$r#e# t$

ne7s6"6er "n# 6r2nt %e#2", 2t 7"s n$t "s t$ 71"t test s1$&'# *e "66'2e#, *&t t1e

4$ntext *+ 71241 reF&2re%ents $5 '24ens2n(, "''$4"t2$n $5 "2r7"8es, "n# "66'24"t2$n

$5 n$r%s t$ &n6r$te4te# s6ee41! [+]

In t1e s"%e +e"r t1"t t1e ans 4"se 7"s #e42#e#, 2t 7"s re2ter"te# 2n on-ales

v. %atig+a& ,;0


64/91

A'' t1"t re%"2ns t$ *e s"2# 2s t1"t t1e r&'2n( 2s t$ *e '2%2te# t$ t1e

4$n4e6t $5 $*s4en2t+ "66'24"*'e t$ %$t2$n 624t&res! It 2s t1e

4$nsens&s $5 t12s C$&rt t1"t 71ere te'e82s2$n 2s 4$n4erne#, " 'ess

'2*er"' "66r$"41 4"''s 5$r $*ser8"n4e! T12s 2s s$ *e4"&se &n'2e

%$t2$n 624t&res 71ere t1e 6"tr$ns 1"8e t$ 6"+ t1e2r 7"+, te'e82s2$n

re"41es e8er+ 1$%e 71ere t1ere 2s " set! C12'#ren t1en 72'' '2e'+

*e "%$n( t1e "82# 82e7ers $5 t1e 6r$(r"%s t1ere2n s1$7n!!It

4"nn$t *e #en2e# t1$&(1 t1"t t1e St"te "s parens patriae 2s 4"''e#

&6$n t$ %"n25est "n "tt2te $5 4"r2n( 5$r t1e 7e'5"re $5 t1e +$&n(!

M$re re4ent'+, 2n res$'82n( " 4"se 2n8$'82n( t1e 4$n#&4t $5 ex2t 6$''s "n#

#2sse%2n"t2$n $5 t1e res&'ts *+ " *r$"#4"st 4$%6"n+, 7e re2ter"te# t1"t t1e 4'e"r

"n# 6resent #"n(er r&'e 2s t1e test 7e &nF&est2$n"*'+ "#1ere t$ 2ss&es t1"t 2n8$'8e

5ree#$%s $5 s6ee41 "n# $5 t1e 6ress!

;0<

)his is n#! !# su77es!, h#4ever, !ha! !he c3ear an( resen! (an7er ru3e has

5een a3ie( !# a33 cases !ha! inv#3ve !he 5r#a(cas! %e(ia. T1e r&'e "66'2es t$

"'' %e#2", 2n4'n( *r$"#4"st, *&t $n'+ 71en t1e 41"''en(e# "4t 2s " 4$ntent-*"se#

re(&'"t2$n t1"t 2n5r2n(es $n 5ree s6ee41, ex6ress2$n "n# t1e 6ress! In#ee#,

2n Os#ena v. COMELEC, [56] 71241 "'s$ 2n8$'8e# *r$"#4"st %e#2", t1e C$&rt

re5&se# t$ "66'+ t1e 4'e"r "n# 6resent #"n(er r&'e t$ " COMELEC re(&'"t2$n $5

t2%e "n# %"nner $5 "#8ert2s2n( $5 6$'2t24"' "#8ert2se%ents *e4"&se t1e 41"''en(e#

restr24t2$n 7"s 4$ntent-ne&tr"'!;


65/91

#n au(iences, 52'%s, 82#e$s "n# *r$"#4"st2n( reF&2re " s+ste% $5

6r2$r restr"2nts, 71ere"s 2t 2s n$7 "44e6te# t1"t *$$s "n# $t1er

6r2nte# %e#2" #$ n$t! T1ese %e#2" "re 82e7e# "s *ene5242"' t$ t1e

6&*'24 2n " n&%*er $5 res6e4ts, *&t "re "'s$ seen "s 6$ss2*'e s$&r4es

$5 1"r%!;=


66/91

P"rent1et24"''+, t1ese 3&st2524"t2$ns "re n$7 t1e s&*3e4t $5 #e*"te! His!#rica33",

t1e s4"r42t+ $5 5reF&en42es 7"s t1$&(1t t$ 6r$82#e " r"t2$n"'e! H$7e8er, ca53e an(

sa!e33i!e !e3evisi#n 1"8e en$r%$&s'+ 2n4re"se# t1e n&%*er $5 "4t&"' "n# 6$tent2"'

41"nne's!Di7i!a3 !echn#3#7" 72'' 5&rt1er 2n4re"se t1e n&%*er $5 41"nne's"8"2'"*'e! B&t st2'', t1e "r(&%ent 6ers2sts t1"t *r$"#4"st2n( 2s t1e %$st 2n5'&ent2"'

%e"ns $5 4$%%&n24"t2$n, s2n4e 2t 4$%es 2nt$ t1e 1$%e, "n# s$ %&41 t2%e 2s s6ent

7"t412n( te'e82s2$n! S2n4e 2t 1"s " &n2F&e 2%6"4t $n 6e$6'e "n# "55e4ts 412'#ren 2n

" 7"+ t1"t t1e 6r2nt %e#2" n$r%"''+ #$es n$t, t1"t re(&'"t2$n 2s s"2# t$ *e ne4ess"r+

2n $r#er t$ 6reser8e 6'&r"'2s%! It 1"s *een "r(&e# 5&rt1er t1"t " s2(n2524"nt %"2n

t1re"t t$ 5ree ex6ress2$n2n ter%s $5 #28ers2t+4$%es n$t 5r$% ($8ern%ent, *&t

5r$% 6r28"te 4$r6$r"te *$#2es! T1ese #e8e'$6%ents s1$7 " nee# 5$r "

reex"%2n"t2$n $5 t1e tr"#2t2$n"' n$t2$ns $5 t1e s4$6e "n# extent $5 *r$"#4"st %e#2"re(&'"t2$n! ;>


67/91

T12s $&t'2nes t1e r#ce(ura3 %a t$ 5$''$7 2n 4"ses '2e t1e $ne "t *"r "s 2t

s6e''s $&t t1e 5$''$72n(: @" t1e test @* t1e 6res&%6t2$n @4 t1e *&r#en $5 6r$$5

@# t1e 6"rt+ t$ #2s41"r(e t1e *&r#en "n# @e t1e F&"nt&% $5 e82#en4e

ne4ess"r+! On t1e *"s2s $5 t1e re4$r#s $5 t1e 4"se "t *"r, res6$n#ents 71$ 1"8e t1e

*&r#en t$ s1$7 t1"t t1ese "4ts #$ n$t "*r2#(e 5ree#$% $5 s6ee41 "n# $5 t1e 6ress5"2'e# t$ 1&r#'e t1e 4'e"r "n# 6resent #"n(er test! It "66e"rs t1"t t1e 7rea!

evi3 71241 ($8ern%ent 7"nts t$ 6re8ent 2s t1e "2r2n( $5 " t"6e re4$r#2n( 2n "''e(e#

82$'"t2$n $5 t1e "nt2-72ret"662n( '"7! T1e re4$r#s $5 t1e 4"se "t *"r, 1$7e8er, "re

4$n5&se# "n# 4$n5&s2n(, "n# res6$n#ents e82#en4e 5"''s s1$rt $5 s"t2s5+2n( t1e

4'e"r "n# 6resent #"n(er test! Firs!3", t1e 8"r2$&s st"te%ents $5 t1e Press Se4ret"r+

$*5&s4"te t1e 2#ent2t+ $5 t1e 8$24es 2n t1e t"6e re4$r#2n(! Sec#n(3", t1e 2nte(r2t+ $5

t1e t"6e# 4$n8ers"t2$n 2s "'s$ s&s6e4t! T1e Press Se4ret"r+ s1$7e# t$ t1e 6&*'24

t7$ 8ers2$ns, $ne s&66$se# t$ *e " 4$%6'ete 8ers2$n "n# t1e $t1er, "n "'tere#8ers2$n! )hir(3", t1e e82#en4e $5 t1e res6$n#ents $n t1e 71$s "n# t1e 1$7s $5

t1e 72ret"662n( "4t 2s "%*28"'ent, es6e42"''+ 4$ns2#er2n( t1e t"6es #255erent

8ers2$ns! T1e 2#ent2t+ $5 t1e 72re-t"66ers, t1e %"nner $5 2ts 4$%%2ss2$n "n# $t1er

re'"te# "n# re'e8"nt 6r$$5s "re s$%e $5 t1e 2n82s2*'es $5 t12s 4"se! F#ur!h3", (28en

"'' t1ese &nsett'e# 5"4ets $5 t1e t"6e, 2t 2s e8en "r(&"*'e 71et1er 2ts "2r2n( 7$&'#

82$'"te t1e "nt2-72ret"662n( '"7!

9e r&'e t1"t n#! ever" vi#3a!i#n #$ a 3a4 4i33 8us!i$" s!rai!8ac


68/91

St"te 5$r t1e+ *ree# t1e2r $7n e82' 4$nseF&en4e! B&t t$ re6e"t, !he nee( !#

reven! !heir vi#3a!i#n cann#! er se !ru% !he e=ercise #$

$ree seech an( $ree ress, a re$erre( ri7h! 4h#se 5reach can

3ea( !# 7rea!er evi3s! )$r t12s 5"2'&re $5 t1e res6$n#ents "'$ne t$ $55er 6r$$5 t$

Date post:	06-Jul-2018
Category:	Documents
Upload:	francis-arvy
View:	213 times
Download:	0 times

57688639-Civil-Law-Review-2-Cases.docx

Documents