Planters Products Inc. vs. Fertiphil

PLANTERS PRODUCTS, INC.
vs.
FERTIPHIL CORPORATION
I.
PARTIES
A. Planters Products Inc. - petitioner, a private corporation incorporated
under Philippine laws engaged in the importation and distribution of
fertilizers, pesticides and agricultural chemicals.
B. Fertiphil Corporation, respondent, also a private corporation incorporated
under Philippine laws and engaged in the importation and distribution
of fertilizers, pesticides and agricultural chemicals.
C. Litigation Status - complaint for collection and damages against FPA and
PPI
II.
PRIOR PROCEEDINGS
June 3, 1985 Marcos issued LOI No. 1465 which provided, among others, for
the imposition of a capital recovery component (CRC) on the domestic
sale of all grades of fertilizers in the Philippines.
- Pursuant to the LOI, Fertiphil paid P10 for every bag of fertilizer it sold
in the domestic market to the FPA who then remitted the amount
collected to the Far East Bank and Trust Company, the depositary
bank of PPI.
After the 1986 Edsa Revolution - FPA voluntarily stopped the imposition of
the P10 levy demanded from PPI and demanded the refund of the
amounts it paid under LOI No. 1465, but PPI refused to accede to the
demand
RTC- Fertiphil filed a complaint for collection and damages against FPA and
PPI questioning the constitutionality of LOI No. 1465 for being unjust,
unreasonable, oppressive, invalid and an unlawful imposition that
amounted to a denial of due process of law, alleging also that the LOI
solely favored PPI, a privately owned corporation, which used the
proceeds to maintain its monopoly of the fertilizer industry
- decided in favor of Fertiphil
- PPI moved for reconsideration but its motion was denied, PPI then
filed a notice of appeal with the RTC but it failed to pay the requisite
appeal docket fee.
Separate but related SC proceeding - allowed the appeal of PPI and
remanded the case to the CA for proper disposition
CA- affirmed with modification the decision of the RTC
- ruled that the lis mota of the complaint for collection was the
constitutionality of LOI No. 1465 and held that even on the assumption
that LOI No. 1465 was issued under the police power of the state, it is
still unconstitutional because it did not promote public welfare
- did not accept PPIs claim that the levy imposed under LOI No. 1465
was for the benefit of Planters Foundation, Inc.
- PPI moved for reconsideration but its motion was denied
- PPI then filed a petition for certiorari with SC
III.
THEORIES OF THE PARTIES

Fertiphil also argues that, even if the LOI is enacted under the police
power, it is still unconstitutional because it did not promote the general
welfare of the people or public interest. It also counters that the
constitutionality of the LOI was adequately pleaded in its complaint.
PPI on the other hand argues that (1) Fertiphil has no locus standi to
question the constitutionality of LOI No. 1465 and that the constitutionality of
LOI No. 1465 cannot be collaterally attacked and be decreed via a default
judgment in a case filed for collection and damages where the issue of
constitutionality is not the very lis mota of the case (2) LOI 1465 constitutes
a valid legislation pursuant to the exercise of taxation and police power for
public purposes (3) Fertiphil cannot claim for refund because the amount
collected under the capital recovery component was remitted to the
government, and became
government
funds
pursuant
to
an
effective and validly enacted law which imposed duties and conferred rights
by virtue of the principle of operative fact prior to any declaration of
unconstitutionality of LOI 1465 and that the principle of unjust enrichment
finds no application in this case.
The SC disagrees with PPI.
IV.
OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTIES

Fertiphil seeks for reimbursement of the amount it has paid to PPI
pursuant to LOI No. 1465 on the grounds that such issuance is
unconstitutional.
PPI refuses to accede to the claim of Fertiphil arguing that LOI No. 1465
is constitutional for being issued in the exercise of valid police power and
that assuming arguendo that it is unconstitutional, Fertiphil cannot file for
refund because unjust enrichment is not attendant in the case because
under the principle of operative fact, the imposed duties and conferred
rights prior to any declaration of unconstitutionality is validly collected.
V.
KEY FACTS
PPI and Fertiphil are both private corporations. On 1985, Marcos issued
Letter of Instruction (LOI) 1465, which imposed a capital recovery component
of Php10.00 per bag of fertilizer.
The levy was to continue until adequate capital was raised to make PPI
financially viable. Fertiphil remitted payment to the Fertilizer and
Pesticide Authority, which was then remitted such to the depository bank of
PPI.
After the 1986 Edsa Revolution, FPA voluntarily stopped the imposition
of the P10 levy and subsequently demanded from PPI a refund of the amount
it remitted, however PPI refused.
Fertiphil filed a complaint for collection and damages, questioning the
constitutionality of LOI 1465, claiming that it was unjust, unreasonable,
oppressive, invalid and an unlawful imposition that amounted to a denial
of due process.
PPI argues that Fertiphil has no locus standi to question the

constitutionality of LOI No. 1465 because it does not have a "personal and
substantial interest in the case or will sustain direct injury as a result of its
enforcement." It asserts that Fertiphil did not suffer any damage from the
imposition because "incidence of the levy fell on the ultimate consumer or
the farmers themselves, not on the seller fertilizer company and also
because the amount collected under the capital recovery component was
remitted to the government, and became government funds pursuant to an
effective and validly enacted law which imposed duties and conferred rights
by virtue of the principle of operative fact prior to any declaration of
unconstitutionality of LOI 1465 and that the principle of unjust enrichment
finds no application in this case.
In the proceeding before the RTC and CA, both favored the claim of
Fertiphil.
VI.
ISSUES
The principal issue is whether or not LOI No. 1465 is unconstitutional.
The issue of fact is whether or not Fertiphil has locus standi to question
the constitutionality of LOI No. 1465.
The issue of law is whether or not it was proper for the trial court to
exercise its power to judicially determine the constitutionality of a statute.
VII.
FINDINGS AND HOLDINGS

FINDINGS
Fertiphil has locus standi because it suffered direct injury. Moreover,
Fertiphil suffered harm from the enforcement of the LOI because it was
compelled to factor in its product the levy. The levy certainly rendered the
fertilizer products of Fertiphil and other domestic sellers much more
expensive. The harm to their business consists not only in fewer clients
because of the increased price, but also in adopting alternative corporate
strategies to meet the demands of LOI No. 1465. Fertiphil and other fertilizer
sellers may have shouldered all or part of the levy just to be competitive in
the market. The harm occasioned on the business of Fertiphil is sufficient
injury for purposes of locus standi.
HOLDINGS
RTC may resolve constitutional issues. It is settled that the RTC has
jurisdiction to resolve the constitutionality of a statute, presidential decree or
an executive order. This is clear from Section 5, Article VIII of the 1987
Constitution. The constitutional issue, however, (a) must be properly raised
and presented in the case, and (b) its resolution is necessary to a
determination of the case, i.e., the issue of constitutionality must be the
very lis mota presented.
The constitutionality of LOI No. 1465 is also the very lis mota of the
complaint for collection. Fertiphil filed the complaint to compel PPI to refund
the levies paid under the statute on the ground that the law imposing the
levy is unconstitutional. The thesis is that an unconstitutional law is void. It
has no legal effect. Being void, Fertiphil had no legal obligation to pay the
levy. Necessarily, all levies duly paid pursuant to an unconstitutional law
should
be
refunded
under
the
civil
code
principle
against
unjust
enrichment. The refund is a mere consequence of the law being declared

unconstitutional. The RTC surely cannot order PPI to refund Fertiphil if it does
not declare the LOI unconstitutional. It is the unconstitutionality of the LOI
which triggers the refund. The issue of constitutionality is the very lis
mota of the complaint with the RTC.
We agree with the RTC that the imposition of the levy was an exercise
by the State of its taxation power. The P10 levy under LOI No. 1465 is too
excessive to serve a mere regulatory purpose. It is clear from the Letter of
Understanding that the levy was imposed precisely to pay the corporate
debts of PPI. We cannot agree with PPI that the levy was imposed to ensure
the stability of the fertilizer industry in the country.
The LOI is still unconstitutional even if enacted under the police power.
It did not promote public interest.
The general rule is that an unconstitutional law is void. The doctrine of
operative fact is inapplicable.
VIII. RATIO DECIDENDI
The Supreme Court did not find anything iniquitous in ordering PPI to
refund the amounts paid by Fertiphil under LOI No. 1465. It unduly benefited
from the levy. It was proven during the trial that the levies paid were
remitted and deposited to its bank account. Quite the reverse, it would be
inequitable and unjust not to order a refund. To do so would unjustly enrich
PPI at the expense of Fertiphil. Article 22 of the Civil Code explicitly provides
that every person who, through an act of performance by another comes
into possession of something at the expense of the latter without just or legal
ground shall return the same to him. We cannot allow PPI to profit from an
unconstitutional law. Justice and equity dictate that PPI must refund the
amounts paid by Fertiphil.
IX.
DISPOSITION
The petition is denied. The Court of Appeals Decision dated November
28, 2003 is affirmed.

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PLANTERS PRODUCTS, INC.

THEORIES OF THE PARTIES

OBJECTIVES OF THE PARTIES

PPI argues that Fertiphil has no locus standi to question the

FINDINGS AND HOLDINGS

enrichment. The refund is a mere consequence of the law being declared

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