G.R. No. 165146. August 12, 2015.

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION and VERNETTE G. UMALI, petitioners, vs. BAGUIO
COUNTRY CLUB CORPORATION, respondent.

G.R. No. 165209. August 12, 2015.*

RAMON K. ILUSORIO and ERLINDA K. ILUSORIO, petitioners, vs. BAGUIO COUNTRY CLUB
CORPORATION, respondent.

Judicial Review; Moot and Academic; Courts generally decline jurisdiction over such case or dismiss
it on the ground of mootness save when, among others, a compelling constitutional issue raised
requires the formulation of controlling principles to guide the bench, the bar and the public; or when
the case is capable of repetition yet evading judicial review.A moot and academic case is one that
ceases to present a justiciable controversy by virtue of supervening events, so that a declaration
thereon would be of no practical use or value. In such instance, there is no actual substantial relief
which a petitioner would be entitled to, and which would be negated by the dismissal of the
petition. Courts generally decline jurisdiction over such case or dismiss it on the ground of mootness
save when, among others, a compelling constitutional issue raised requires the formulation of
controlling principles to guide the bench, the bar and the public; or when the case is capable of
repetition yet evading judicial review.

Same; Actual Case or Controversy; An actual case or controversy exists when there is a conflict of
legal rights or an assertion of opposite legal claims, which can be resolved on the basis of existing
law and jurisprudence.As can be gleaned from the SECs Order, the calling of the meeting for the
conduct of an election was made to rectify the inadvertent approval of the two (2)-year term for the
members of the board. With the return of the one (1)-year term, there is no more actual controversy
that warrants the exercise of our judicial power. An actual case or controversy exists when there is a

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* THIRD DIVISION.

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Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Baguio Country Club Corporation

conflict of legal rights or an assertion of opposite legal claims, which can be resolved on the basis of
existing law and jurisprudence. A justiciable controversy admits of specific relief through a decree
that is conclusive in character, whereas an opinion only advises what the law would be upon a
hypothetical state of facts.
Same; Same; Courts have no authority to pass upon issues through advisory opinions or to resolve
hypothetical or feigned problems.Any discussion by the Court of the SECs power to call for an
election of the board in case of a void term prescribed by the bylaws, as well as on the nature of the
controversy, and the other issues which are mere offshoots of the void provision of the bylaws
would be merely academic, opinions that would neither adjudicate the rights of the parties, nor
grant them reliefs. As we have previously held, courts have no authority to pass upon issues through
advisory opinions or to resolve hypothetical or feigned problems. Courts do not sit to adjudicate
mere academic questions to satisfy scholarly interest, however intellectually challenging. Even the
other issues raised by the Ilusorios in the proceedings in the CA, being mere offshoots of the main
issue are likewise mooted by the amendment.

PETITIONS for review on certiorari of the decision and resolution of the Court of Appeals.

The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.

MFV Jose Law Office for petitioners in G.R. No. 165209.

Lotilla, Flores, Garcia & Castillo for respondent.

JARDELEZA, J.:

These are consolidated cases questioning the March 26, 2004 Decision1 and September 1, 2004
Resolution of the Court of Appeals (CA) in C.A.-G.R. S.P. No. 79257.2

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1 Rollo (G.R. No. 165146), pp. 30-42, penned by Justice Rodrigo V. Cosico, with Justices Elvi John S.
Asuncion and Danilo B. Pine, concurring.

2 Id., at pp. 43-45, penned by Justice Elvi John S. Asuncion, with Justices Danilo B. Pine and Monina
Arevalo Zenarosa, concurring.

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On December 17, 1998, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved the amended
bylaws submitted by the Baguio Country Club Corporation (BCCC). Article 5, Section 2 thereof reads:

Election and Term. The Board of Directors shall be elected at the regular meetings of stockholders
and shall hold office for two (2) years and until their successors are elected and qualified. x x x
(Emphasis supplied)3
On September 27, 2002, Atty. Manuel R. Singson, acting for and in behalf of Ramon K. Ilusorio and
Erlinda Ilusorio (the Ilusorios) requested the SEC, via a letter-complaint, to compel BCCC to hold the
annual election of the board of directors for 2002 in view of the nullity of the above quoted
provision in the amended bylaws.4 He informed the SEC that sometime in 2001, a stockholder of
BCCC requested for the opinion of the SEC on the validity of the amendment, particularly the two
(2)-year term of the board of directors; and that in response, the SEC opined that the amendment
increasing the term of office to two (2) years is contrary to law, particularly Section 23 of the
Corporation Code which limits the term of office to only one (1) year.

In its Comment to the said letter, BCCC claimed that its amended bylaws have already been
approved by the SEC and that the petitioners have no standing to question the said bylaws, not
being stockholders of the BCCC.5

On November 13, 2002, the SEC, through the Corporation Registration and Monitoring Department,
issued an Order6 ruling that Article 5, Section 2 of the amended bylaws of BCCC violates Section 23
of the Corporation Code on the term of office of members of the board of directors and should be

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3 Id., at p. 72.

4 Id., at pp. 80-81.

5 Id., at pp. 82-83.

6 Id., at pp. 46-48.

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amended to conform to the rules. The SEC also ordered BCCC to conduct the annual election of
members of the board.

On February 6, 2003, SEC ordered BCCCs Chairman, President and board members to show cause
why they should not be cited for indirect contempt for defying the order dated November 13, 2002.7
BCCC submitted its compliance8 on February 12, 2003, claiming that it did not intend to ignore the
order of Atty. Amboy, but was merely awaiting the latters clarifications regarding the Order dated
November 13, 2002.

On March 18, 2003, Ramon Ilusorio, as stockholder of BCCC, formalized Atty. Singsons letter-
request through a petition with the SEC.9 He alleged among others, that the BCCC refused to
conduct a stockholders meeting for the election of board members, and that the individuals
claiming to be officers of the BCCC used their positions to manipulate stockholders meeting to their
advantage and harass those who have opposed them. The petition prayed for the SEC to call and
conduct, under its control and supervision, a stockholders meeting in the BCCC for the election of
the members of the board of directors.10

In its August 15, 2003 Order,11 the SEC observed that the only issue that must be resolved is
whether or not the SEC can call a stockholders meeting for the purpose of conducting an election of
the BCCC board of directors.12 It ruled that under the Corporation Code, it has the power to call
such a meeting and to order the conduct of an election of new board members in the BCCC.13 Thus
it ordered, among others, the calling and conduct of a stockholders meeting for the election

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7 Id., at p. 84.

8 Id., at p. 85.

9 Id., at p. 49. Docketed as SEC Case No. 02-05 entitled IN RE: Baguio Country Club Corporation.

10 Rollo (G.R. No. 165209), pp. 63-69.

11 Rollo (G.R. No. 165146), pp. 49-56.

12 Id., at p. 52, Order dated August 15, 2003.

13 Id., at pp. 53-54.

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of the members of the board under the control and supervision of the SEC.14

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14 Id., at pp. 54-56. The dispositive portion of the order reads:

WHEREFORE, PREMISES CONSIDERED, the following are hereby ordered:

1. Baguio Country Club Corporation and all its responsible officers shall call and conduct a
stockholders meeting of BCCC for the election of the members of the Board of Directors, under the
control and supervision of the SEC not later than two (2) months from date hereof. As prayed for by
the petitioners, SEC supervision shall cover, aside from related areas within the scope of its
jurisdiction, control and supervision the following:

a. Designation of the date and time of meeting

b. Approval of the proxy forms and registration if needed

c. Confirmation of the Special Power of Attorneys (SPAs)

d. Solicitation of Proxies or SPAs

e. Process of nomination

f. Validation of proxies/SPAs

g. Determination of quorum

h. Casting of votes

i. Appreciation of ballots

j. Declaration of results of the election

2. The annual meeting shall be held preferably at the principal office, if feasible. Otherwise, if the
exigency demands, the meeting shall be conducted in an alternate venue to be determined by the
SEC or its duly designated representatives within Baguio City. To maintain a tranquil situation in the
conduct of said meeting, the SEC or its duly designated representatives may call for assistance or
enlist the aid and support of the military and the city government in the implementation of its
powers and functions.

3. BCCC and all of its responsible officers shall furnish SEC within ten (10) days from date of actual
receipt hereof and any stockholder, upon request, within ten (10) days from receipt of such request
but not later than two (2) months before the scheduled elections, the list or certified true copies of
the list of stockholders and their respective addresses from 1996 to the current year.

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On September 26, 2003, BCCC filed a petition15 for certiorari and prohibition with the Court of
Appeals (CA), imputing grave abuse of discretion on the part of the SEC for issuing its August 15,
2003 Order. BCCC claimed that Ramon and Erlinda Ilusorio are not stockholders of the BCCC and
therefore cannot file an action to question the amended bylaws of the corporation. It added that the
matter is within the exclusive jurisdiction of the trial court, being an intra-corporate dispute.

In its Decision16 dated March 26, 2004, the CA granted the petition, set aside the SECs Orders and
dismissed the letter-complaint of Ramon Ilusorio.
The CA ruled that the respondents or at least Ramon Ilusorio has legal standing to file the petition
since he is a registered stockholder of the BCCC, as evidenced by his Certificate

_______________

4. BCCC and all its responsible officers are likewise directed to ensure that all the necessary
documents, materials and facilities are so provided for the fair, peaceful and orderly conduct of
BCCC election.

5. BCCC and all its responsible officers and petitioners are directed to submit their preferred date,
time and place of meeting in Baguio City within five (5) days from date of actual receipt hereof.

6. Finding the reason for noncompliance with the SEC Order of November 13, 2002 not justifiable,
the Chairman, President and Board of Directors of BCCC, are hereby declared in indirect contempt of
the Commission and a fine of P10,000.00 is thus imposed for such infraction.

7. For the purpose of the meeting, Director Benito A. Cataran and Atty. Rosalina M. Tividad-Tesorio
of the Company Registration and Monitoring Department (CRMD) and Director Justina Callangan of
the Corporation Finance Department (CFD) are hereby designated as the SEC representatives to
supervise the scheduled BCCC meeting.

SO ORDERED.

15 Id., at pp. 86-115.

16 Id., at pp. 30-42.

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of Stock issued on May 11, 1979.17 Nonetheless, the CA agreed with BCCC that the SEC had no
jurisdiction over the unverified letter and petition filed on behalf of the Ilusorios.18

According to the CA, the matter between the parties is an intra-corporate dispute, being between a
stockholder and the corporation itself, as well as other stockholders, particularly those occupying
positions in the board of directors. Further, the SECs jurisdiction over all cases enumerated under
Section 5 of Presidential Decree No. 902-A, including intra-corporate controversies has been
transferred to the appropriate Regional Trial Courts by virtue of Republic Act (RA) No. 8799 (The
Securities Regulation Code). Thus, the dispute pertains to the regular courts.

The CA held that contrary to petitioners claims, this is not a case of the SECs exercise of its
regulatory functions, but rather a legal dispute between one set of stockholders against the
corporation and its incumbent board of directors; an intramural of arguments and evidence on the
parties respective rights and interpretation of legal provisions applicable on a certain set of
facts.19

Finally, the CA dismissed the contempt charges, noting that these accusations are only brought
about by the parties desire to advance their positions.20

On September 1, 2004, the CA denied the SECs motion for reconsideration for lack of merit.21
Hence, these petitions.

G.R. No. 165146

In G.R. No. 165146, the petitioner SEC, through the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), raised the
following lone error:

_______________

17 Id., at p. 38.

18 Id., at p. 39.

19 Id., at p. 41, CA Decision.

20 Id., at p. 42.

21 Id., at pp. 43-45.

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THE COURT OF APPEALS SERIOUSLY ERRED IN RULING THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
STATUTORY ONE (1)-YEAR TERM OF OFFICE FOR MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS IS
BEYOND THE REGULATORY POWER OF SEC BUT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE REGULAR
COURTS.22

According to the OSG, the one (1)-year term rule for members of the board of directors is
mandatory, and cannot be shortened or extended by agreement of the parties or by those
interested in the position, thus BCCCs amended bylaws granting its board of directors a two (2)-year
term is void, notwithstanding the SECs prior approval.23 Pursuant to Section 5 of the Securities
Regulation Code, the SEC has the authority to compel BCCC to amend its bylaws to conform with
Section 23 of the Corporation Code, and to impose sanction on the recalcitrant BCCC officers and
board members.24

The OSG argues that the matter at hand is not an intra-corporate dispute. The complaint filed with
the SEC was administrative in nature since it called for an administrative remedy, even if a third
party has initiated and/or opposed it.25 The authority to accept, reject, or order the modification or
amendment of BCCCs bylaws and direct the performance of an act relative thereto is administrative
in nature and does not partake of a quasi-judicial function.26

In its Comment27 in G.R. No. 165146, BCCC claims that it was subjected to grave and oppressive acts
by the SEC when it issued a series of patently void orders. These orders were not issued in the
exercise of SECs regulatory powers, but

_______________

22 Id., at p. 17.

23 Id., at p. 18.

24 Id., at pp. 21-22.

25 Id., at p. 23.

26 Id., at p. 24.

27 Id., at pp. 280-300.

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rather in the nature of quasi-judicial powers, which the SEC no longer possesses in view of the
transfer of said quasi-judicial power to the RTCs as provided in RA No. 8799. The SEC can no longer
interpret a provision of law, as it did in this case, neither can it exercise directing and examining
powers pursuant to such interpretation.28 BCCC also maintains that there is an intra-corporate
dispute because the unverified letter and the petition in the SEC alleged that Erlinda and Ramon
Ilusorio are stockholders.

According to the BCCC, the SECs authority to order the conduct of an election of directors is limited
to situations when there is no person authorized to call a meeting or if no meeting is being called in
contravention of the bylaws. In this case, however, the SEC is aware and is always notified by BCCC
of its regular and annual stockholders meeting conducted by authorized officers of the BCCC. In
addition, there is a need for a valid petition for the holding of a stockholders meeting filed by a valid
stockholder before the SEC may compel the same.29

In their Reply,30 the Ilusorios maintain that the SECs act of calling for an election is not exercise of
its quasi-judicial power, but rather its regulatory power against a corporation to ensure compliance
with the Corporation Code.31 Moreover, they clarify that contrary to BCCCs insistence that there is
an intra-corporate dispute, there is in fact no dispute at all, since they are not asserting any right
against the respondent, nor seeking any positive relief for their personal benefit. For all intents and
purposes, the controversy is limited to the noncompliance of BCCCs bylaws to the Corporation
Code.32

_______________

28 Id., at pp. 294-295.

29 Id., at pp. 296-297.

30 Id., at pp. 582-590.

31 Id., at p. 586.

32 Id.

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On the other hand, the SEC insists that the case presents a purely legal issue, that is, whether the
implementation of the one-year term of office for members of the board of directors of a
corporation is beyond the regulatory power of the SEC and within the jurisdiction of the regular
courts. Defending its actions, the SEC maintained that it merely implemented the statutory term of
office provided in Section 23 of the Corporation Code. The law being clear and categorical, there is
no room for interpretation nor construction; there is only room for application. The SEC clarifies that
calling for a meeting and ordering the conduct of elections is necessary in view of the expired term
of the members of the BCCC board of directors; hence there is no one authorized to call a meeting
except the SEC.

G.R. No. 165209

In G.R. No. 165209, the Ilusorios submit that:

II. The Court of Appeals erred in ruling that the issue at hand is one involving intra-corporate
controversy and therefore lies with the regular courts pursuant to R.A. No. 8799.33

The Ilusorios claim that the CAs determination of the dispute as intra-corporate is solely based on
the identity of the parties stockholder and corporation itself. However, the determination of
intra-corporate controversy is not absolutely based on who the contending parties are, but rather on
the nature of the controversy itself, and the authority required to resolve it.34 While the complaint
may have been initiated by

_______________

33 Rollo (G.R. No. 165209), p. 19.

34 Id., at p. 21.

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Ramon Ilusorio, a stockholder of BCCC, the only matter brought to the SECs attention was BCCCs
violation of the Corporation Code; Ramon Ilusorio did not assert any specific right or interest against
BCCC.35

The nullification of BCCCs bylaws is only a necessary effect of the act of the SEC in the exercise of its
regulatory, supervisory and control power over corporations.36 The Ilusorios also maintain that the
SEC is empowered under RA No. 8799 (The Securities Regulation Code) to call for a meeting for the
conduct of an election, even if there are authorized persons to call such a meeting.37 In any case,
pursuant to the Corporation Code and the Securities Regulation Code, the SEC can act and exercise
its regulatory powers motu propio, without the complaint or initiative of anyone, although it may
exercise its regulatory powers upon the complaint or initiative of private parties.38

The Ilusorios also impute error on the CA when it did not rule on the other issues submitted before
it. They claim that they questioned the authority of Federico R. Agcaoili in filing the petition in the CA
on behalf of BCCC, considering that he had been holding the position as member of the board of
directors for more than one (1) year, and as such he is just a mere usurper.39 They also impute
forum shopping on the part of BCCC when it filed the petition in the CA notwithstanding its
admission that it filed a letter-complaint to then SEC Chairperson Lilia Bautista of the SEC, seeking
the reconsideration and reversal of the Order dated August 15, 2003, the same order being assailed
in the petition.40 They state that the special civil action of certiorari under Rule 65 is a wrong
remedy to appeal the Order of the SEC General Counsel,

_______________

35 Id., at pp. 21-22.

36 Id., at p. 23.

37 Id., at p. 24.

38 Id., at p. 25.

39 Id., at p. 27.

40 Id.

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since the proper remedy is an appeal to the SEC En Banc before resort can be made to the courts,
pursuant to Sections 17-1 and 17-2 of the Revised Rules of Procedure of the SEC.41 Lastly, the
Ilusorios claim that the BCCC violated the Status Quo Order of the CA dated November 10, 2003
when it proceeded with the stockholders meeting on November 6, 2003.42

In its Comment,43 the BCCC maintains that the SEC had no jurisdiction to take cognizance of an
unverified initiatory letter.44 Even the petition later filed by Ilusorio is beyond SECs jurisdiction
because jurisdiction has been expressly transferred to the special corporate courts of the RTCs. The
regulatory powers of the SEC do not cover its assumption of authority over the dispute between the
parties in this case, as well as invalidating a provision in BCCCs bylaws.45 Corporation Code does not
authorize the SEC to nullify or invalidate a bylaw provision which has been previously approved.46 It
further alleges that the letter, far from merely bringing to the attention of the SEC a violation of the
Corporation Code, actually reeks of an effort to drag the BCCC into the long drawn-out feud of the
Ilusorio family.47 BCCC further argues that inasmuch as the SEC is powerless to nullify BCCCs
bylaws, any act in connection thereof, such as the calling a meeting for the purpose of an election is
also necessarily void.48 Finally, BCCC states that there was no need for the CA to discuss the other
collateral issues raised by the Ilusorios, since in any case, all proceedings before the SEC are null and
void.49

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41 Id., at pp. 29-30.

43 Id., at pp. 450-476.

44 Id., at p. 453.

45 Id., at pp. 464-467.

46 Id., at p. 466.

47 Id., at pp. 466-467.

48 Id., at p. 469.

49 Id., at p. 470.

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Meanwhile, the Ilusorios filed their Urgent Manifestation and Motion dated October 28, 2004,
stating that the Corporate Secretary of BCCC issued a Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders, said
meeting to be held on November 11, 2004. According to the Ilusorios, the scheduled stockholders
meeting would prejudice the instant petition.50 On November 10, 2004, the Court issued a
resolution directing the parties to maintain the status quo.51

Nonetheless, BCCC and its counsel were made aware of the status quo order only in the afternoon of
November 11, 2004; way after it conducted the stockholders meeting in the morning of the same
date. BCCC sought reconsideration of the status quo order52 but its motion was denied by the Court
on December 15, 2004.53

On January 10, 2005, we ordered the consolidation of the two (2) cases.54

On July 19, 2005, BCCC filed a Motion for Leave to Admit Manifestation with Manifestation,55
stating that in a meeting held on June 29, 2005, the board of directors of BCCC approved the
amendment to its bylaws, modifying the term of its directors from two (2) years to one (1) year.
According to the BCCC, the amendment was made to reciprocate the humble gesture of the SEC
who admitted that the approval of the two-year term of the BCCCs board of directors was an honest
and inadvertent mistake. BCCC prayed that in view of the amendment of BCCCs bylaws to reflect a
term of one year for its board of directors, the primary legal contention of the petitioners should
now be deemed moot and academic. We

_______________

50 Id., at pp. 370-372.

52 Id., at pp. 433-445.

53 Id., at p. 739.

54 Rollo (G.R. No. 165146), p. 272.

55 Rollo (G.R. No. 165209), pp. 761-765.

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denied the manifestation due to BCCCs failure to attach its annexes.56

On September 21, 2005, BCCC filed another Motion for Leave to Admit Manifestation with
Manifestation,57 stating that on August 8, 2005 the SEC issued a certificate approving BCCCs
amended bylaws (modifying the term of office of its directors from two [2] years to one [1] year).58
It added that the SEC also approved the amendments to BCCCs articles of incorporation59
extending its corporate life and converting BCCC from a stock to a non-stock corporation. BCCC
reiterated that the SECs approval of its amended bylaws has caused the petition to be moot and
academic.

Banking on the same amended bylaws and articles of incorporation, the SEC filed a Manifestation
and Motion praying that the petition be considered terminated on the ground of mootness,60 thus:

In view of the foregoing supervening event, the issue now pending before this Honorable Court
involving

_______________

56 Id., at p. 766.

57 Id., at pp. 768-772.

58 Id., at p. 81.

The amended provision reads:

Section 2. Election and Term.The Board of Directors shall be elected at the regular meetings of
stockholders and shall hold office for one (1) year and until their successors are elected and
qualified. Only individual members of the Club in good standing at the time of the regular meeting
who own at least one (1) share of stock of the Club may be elected as directors. (As amended by
majority vote of the Board of Directors on 29 June 2005)
xxx

59 Id., at p. 768. Taken up during the 2003 Annual Stockholders Meeting.

60 Rollo (G.R. No. 165146), pp. 654-658. The SEC stated the same position in its Comment on BCCCs
Motion for Leave to Admit Manifestation dated September 26, 2005, id., at pp. 795-797.

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the validity of the term of office of BCCs Board of Directors prior to its conversion from stock to
non-stock corporation is rendered moot and academic.61

For their part, petitioners Ramon and Erlinda Ilusorio maintain that the amendment of the bylaws
did not render the petition moot since the validity of the amendment is not the only subject matter
of the assailed SEC Order.62 They claim that they also raised other issues63 in their memorandum
before the CA. Further, even assuming, without conceding that the petition covers only the validity
of the amendment extending the term of directors to two (2) years, the amendment restoring the
term to one (1) year did not render the petition moot because the fundamental issue decided by the
CA is the jurisdiction of the SEC in issuing the assailed SEC Order.64

The petitions must be denied.

The petitions have been rendered moot by the 2005 amendment of the bylaws. The validity of the
two (2)-year term provision and the calling of meeting for the election of members of the board of
directors to replace those holding a two (2) year term should no longer be in issue.

_______________

61 Id., at p. 655.

62 Id., Comment, at pp. 769-776.

63 Id., at pp. 772-773. The other issues purportedly raised in the memorandum before the CA are:
a.) authority of Federico Agcaoili to file the petition on behalf of BCCC; b.) the petition constitutes
forum shopping; c.) special civil action of certiorari under Rule 65 is the wrong remedy; d.) standing
of the respondents; e.) jurisdiction of the SEC to issue the assailed Order; f.) violation of petitioners
right to due process; g.) reasonableness and validity of the SEC Order; h.) the power of the General
Counsel to issue the assailed Order on behalf of the SEC; i.) the power to cite for contempt; and j.)
violation of the Status Quo Order of the CA dated November 10, 2003.

64 Id., at p. 774.
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A moot and academic case is one that ceases to present a justiciable controversy by virtue of
supervening events, so that a declaration thereon would be of no practical use or value.65 In such
instance, there is no actual substantial relief which a petitioner would be entitled to, and which
would be negated by the dismissal of the petition. Courts generally decline jurisdiction over such
case or dismiss it on the ground of mootness save when, among others, a compelling
constitutional issue raised requires the formulation of controlling principles to guide the bench, the
bar and the public; or when the case is capable of repetition yet evading judicial review.66

The Ilusorios initiated their query, which turned into a formal action, because of the SEC approved
amended bylaw provision extending the term of a member of the board of directors to two (2)
years. In their very own words, What was merely brought by RKI to the attention of the SEC was
respondents violation of the Corporation Code.67 More importantly, the Ilusorios stated:

Again, the present case is not about the rights of the petitioners in relation to the respondent (as a
corporation). x x x. The subject matter herein is the violation by the respondent of the Corporation
Code. This is about the law and the bylaws of the respondent, and not the petitioners against
respondent. The exercise of SECs regulatory authority in the present case was merely for the
purpose of enforcing or implementing the law, and not to resolve a controversy. Thus, the
submission that the present case is an intra-corporate controversy is highly remote, not to say
baseless.68

_______________

65 Integrated Bar of the Philippines v. Atienza, G.R. No. 175241, February 24, 2010, 613 SCRA 518,
522-523.

66 Osmea III v. Social Security System of the Philippines, G.R. No. 165272, September 13, 2007,
533 SCRA 313, 327.

67 Rollo (G.R. No. 165209), pp. 21-22.

68 Id., at p. 22.

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Simply put, the Ilusorios merely invoked the SEC to exercise what it perceived to be the latters
power to compel BCCC to comply with the law pertaining to the term limits of the board of directors.
With the amendment restoring the term of the board to one (1) year, there is no more illegal
provision to speak of.

We are not persuaded by the Ilusorios claim that the case is not mooted by the recent amendment
since there are other issues raised in the CA proceedings, and most importantly, what is actually in
issue in the instant proceedings is the validity of the SEC ORDER,69 referring to the SECs statement
in its August 15, 2003 Order that:

The only issue that must be resolved in the instant case is whether or not the Commission can call a
stockholders meeting for the purpose of conducting an election of the BCCC board of directors.70

As can be gleaned from the SECs Order, the calling of the meeting for the conduct of an election
was made to rectify the inadvertent approval of the two (2)-year term for the members of the
board. With the return of the one (1)-year term, there is no more actual controversy that warrants
the exercise of our judicial power. An actual case or controversy exists when there is a conflict of
legal rights or an assertion of opposite legal claims, which can be resolved on the basis of existing
law and jurisprudence. A justiciable controversy admits of specific relief through a decree that is
conclusive in character, whereas an opinion only advises what the law would be upon a hypothetical
state of facts.71

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69 Id., Comment, at p. 867.

70 Id., Order, at p. 877.

71 Guingona, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 125532, July 10, 1998, 292 SCRA 402, 413.

372

372

SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Baguio Country Club Corporation

Any discussion by the Court of the SECs power to call for an election of the board in case of a void
term prescribed by the bylaws, as well as on the nature of the controversy, and the other issues
which are mere offshoots of the void provision of the bylaws would be merely academic, opinions
that would neither adjudicate the rights of the parties, nor grant them reliefs. As we have previously
held, courts have no authority to pass upon issues through advisory opinions or to resolve
hypothetical or feigned problems. Courts do not sit to adjudicate mere academic questions to satisfy
scholarly interest, however intellectually challenging.72 Even the other issues raised by the Ilusorios
in the proceedings in the CA, being mere offshoots of the main issue are likewise mooted by the
amendment.

WHEREFORE, the petitions are DENIED.

SO ORDERED.

Velasco, Jr. (Chairperson), Peralta, Villarama, Jr. and Perez,** JJ., concur.

Petitions denied.

Notes.A case is moot and academic when there is no more actual controversy between the parties
or no useful purpose can be served in passing upon the merits. (National Power Corporation
Employees Consolidated Union [NECU] vs. National Power Corporation [NPC], 522 SCRA 12 [2007])

The power of judicial review can only be exercised in connection with a bona fide controversy which
involves the statute sought to be reviewed; Even with the presence of an actual case or controversy,
the court may refuse to exercise

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72 Id., citations omitted.

** Designated as acting member, in view of the leave of absence of Hon. Bienvenido L. Reyes, per
Special Order No. 2084 dated June 29, 2015.

373

VOL. 766, AUGUST 12, 2015

373

Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Baguio Country Club Corporation

judicial review unless the constitutional question is brought before it by a party having the requisite
standing to challenge it. (Social Justice Society [SJS] vs. Dangerous Drugs Board, 570 SCRA 410
[2008])

o0o Securities and Exchange Commission vs. Baguio Country Club Corporation, 766 SCRA
355, G.R. No. 165209 August 12, 2015