r57 Digest Tablestyle
r57 Digest Tablestyle
r57 Digest Tablestyle
57.4. SPS. YU V. NGO YET TE Sps. Yu purchased bars of detergent soap and Only temperate damages.
issued the respondent 3 postdated checks. When Where there is wrongful attachment, the
(by PAT) the checks were issued for encashment, it was attachment defendant may recover actual
dishonored. The Sps. Yu did not pay the amount damages even without proof that the
despite the demand of Te. attachment plaintiff acted in bad faith in
Case: Collection of Sum of Money obtaining the attachment. However, if it is
PR: Preliminary Attachment alleged and established that the attachment was
Ground: guilty of fraud and that they were about not merely wrongful but also malicious, the
to dispose their properties to defraud their attachment defendant may recover moral
creditors damages and exemplary damages as
Counter-argument: Wrongful attachment of well. 56 Either way, the wrongfulness of the
properties attachment does not warrant the automatic
Issue: W/N the petitioners are entitled to damages award of damages to the attachment
for the wrongful attachment? defendant; the latter must first discharge the
burden of proving the nature and extent of the
loss or injury incurred by reason of the wrongful
attachment.
57.5 SECURITY PACIFIC ASSURANCE Reynaldo Anzures filed a case for BP 22 against NO. There should be a hearing for that matter.
CORP. V. TRIA-INFANTE Villaluz. He also moved for the issuance of a writ of Under the Rules, there are two (2) ways to
preliminary attachment which was granted by the secure the discharge of an attachment. First, the
RTC. Subsequently, Villaluz was acquitted of BP 22, party whose property has been attached or a
but the civil aspect continued and was appealed by person appearing on his behalf may post a
the latter. security. Second, said party may show that the
During the pendency of the case in the SC, Villaluz order of attachment was improperly or
posted a counter-bond issued by the petitioner, irregularly issued.
and on the same date, filed an urgent motion to SEC. 12. Discharge of attachment upon giving
discharge attachment. (SC affirmed the CA decision counter-bond. – After a writ of attachment has
on the civil liability) been enforced, the party whose property has been
Counter-argument: Petitioner argues that the attached, or the person appearing on his behalf,
mere filing of the counterbond cannot may move for the discharge of the attachment
automatically discharge the attached property. wholly or in part on the security given. The court
Hence, its liability did not accrue. shall, after due notice and hearing, order the
Issue: W/N the attached property was discharged discharge of the attachment if the movant makes
by the mere act of posting the counter-bond? a cash deposit, or files a counter-bond executed to
the attaching party with the clerk of the court
where the application is made, in an amount
equal to that fixed by the court in the order of
attachment, exclusive of costs. But if the
attachment is sought to be discharged with
respect to a particular property, the counter-bond
shall be equal to the value of that property as
determined by the court. In either case, the cash
deposit or the counter-bond shall secure the
payment of any judgment that the attaching party
may recover in the action. A notice of the deposit
shall forthwith be served on the attaching party.
Upon the discharge of an attachment in
accordance with the provisions of this section, the
property attached, or the proceeds of any sale
thereof, shall be delivered to the party making the
deposit or giving the counter-bond, or to the
person appearing on his behalf, the deposit or
counter-bond aforesaid standing in place of the
property so released.
We are not unmindful of our ruling in the case
of Belisle Investment and Finance Co., Inc. v. State
Investment House, Inc.,47 where we held:
. . . [T]he Court of Appeals correctly ruled that the
mere posting of a counterbond does not
automatically discharge the writ of attachment. It
is only after hearing and after the judge has
ordered the discharge of the attachment if a cash
deposit is made or a counterbond is executed to
the attaching creditor is filed, that the writ of
attachment is properly discharged under Section
12, Rule 57 of the Rules of Court.
57.8. INSULAR SAVINGS BANK V. CA Checks were drawn against Far East Bank and Trust YES.
Company and were presented by Insular for “…in an amount equal to the value of the
clearing. Far East returned the checks after the property attached as determined by the judge, to
reglementary period but after petitioner’s account secure the payment of any judgment that the
with PCHC as credited the amount of the checks, attaching creditor may recover in the action.”
Insular refused to refund the money to Far East (Sec. 12 portion)
Bank. - There can be no serious objection, in turn, to
While the case instituted by Far East before the the proposition that the attached property - and
Arbitrartion Committee is pending, the former also logically the counter-bond necessary to
filed a civil case with the RTC for issuance of a discharge the lien on such property - should as
preliminary attachment. much as possible correspond in value to, or
During the hearing on February 11, 1992 before approximately match the attaching creditor’s
the Arbitration Committee of the Philippine principal claim. Else, excessive attachment,
Clearing House Corporation, petitioner and which ought to be avoided at all times, shall
respondent Bank agreed to temporarily divide ensue.
between them the disputed amount - Jurisprudence teaches that a writ of attachment
of P25,200,000.00 while the dispute has not yet cannot be issued for moral and exemplary
been resolved. As a result, the sum damages, and other unliquidated or contingent
ofP12,600,000.00 is in the possession of claim.7
respondent Bank. On March 9, 1994, petitioner - As things stood, therefore, respondent’s
filed a motion to discharge attachment by counter- principal claim against petitioner immediately
bond in the amount of P12,600,000.00. On June prior to the filing of the motion to discharge
13, 1994, respondent Judge issued the first attachment has effectively been pruned down
assailed order denying the motion. On June 27, to P12,600,000.00. The trial court was fully
1994, petitioner filed a motion for aware of this reality. Accordingly, it should have
reconsideration which was denied in the second allowed a total discharge of the attachment on a
assailed order dated July 20, 1994.” counter-bond based on the reduced claim of
Counter-argument of Petitioner: The starting point respondent. If a portion of the claim is already
in computing the amount of counter-bond is the secured, we see no justifiable reason why such
amount of the respondent’s demand or claim only portion should still be subject of counter-bond.
57.9 REPUBLIC V. MEGA PACIFIC Background: RA 8436 authorized COMELEC to use Yes.
eSOLUTIONS, INC. an automated election system for the May 1998 1. Fraud on the part of respondent MPEI was
elections but was not materialized during the 1998 sufficiently established by the factual findings of
and 2001 elections. this Court in its 2004 Decision and subsequent
- During the 2004 elections, MPC was awarded the pronouncements.
automation project. - To sustain an attachment on this ground, it
- Despite the award to MPC, the COMELEC must be shown that the debtor in contracting
and MPEI executed on 2 June 2003 the Automated the debt or incurring the obligation intended to
Counting and Canvassing Project Contract defraud the creditor. The fraud must relate to
(automation contract), but the same contract was the execution of the agreement and must have
declared null and void by the SC in their 2004 been the reason which induced the other party
Decision. into giving consent which he would not have
- Upon the finality of the declaration of nullity of otherwise given. To constitute a ground for
the automation contract, respondent MPEI filed a attachment in Section 1(d), Rule 57 of the Rules
Complaint for Damages before the RTC Makati, of Court, fraud should be committed upon
arguing that, notwithstanding the nullification of contracting the obligation sued upon. A debt is
the automation contract, the COMELEC was still fraudulently contracted if at the time of
bound to pay the amount of P200,165,681.89. contracting it the debtor has a preconceived plan
- By way of a counterclaim, petitioner demanded or intention not to pay, as it is in this case.
from respondents the return of the payments - Proofs of fraud:
made pursuant to the automation contract. i. Respondent MPEI had perpetrated a scheme
Subsequently, the trial court denied the prayer for against petitioner to secure the automation
the issuance of a writ of preliminary attachment. contract by using MPC as supposed bidder and
(CA: decided the case according to the 2004 eventually succeeding in signing the automation
Decision regarding nullity of the automation contract as MPEI alone, an entity which was
contract) ineligible to bid in the first place.
Counter-argument: A writ of preliminary ii. Fraud on the part of respondent MPEI was
attachment cannot be issued, considering that they further shown by the fact that despite the failure
are not parties to the 2004 case. of its ACMs to pass the tests conducted by the
ISSUE: DOST, respondent still acceded to being awarded
1. W/N a preliminary attachment can be the automation contract.
issued?
2. W/N a preliminary attachment can be 2. YES. Through the application of the piercing
issued as against the respondent’s doctrine which justifies the issuance of a writ of
individual properties? preliminary attachment over the properties of
the individual respondents.
- Veil-piercing in fraud cases requires that the
legal fiction of separate juridical personality is
used for fraudulent or wrongful ends.
57. 10. SECURITY BANK CORP. V. Subject of the case: LOAN (credit facility) covered YES.
GREAT WALL COMMERCIAL PRESS by trust receipts. - Security Bank's complaint stated that Great
COMPANY -Herein respondents failed to pay their obligations Wall, through its Vice President Fredino Cheng
despite several demands. However, the Atienza, executed various trust receipt
respondents offered a repayment proposal and agreements in relation to its loan transactions.
thereafter requested a loan restructure. The trust receipts stated that in consideration of
Case: Collection of Sum of Money the delivery to the entrustee (Great Wall) of the
Counter-argument: there was insufficient basis for possession of the goods, it obligates itself to hold
the issuance of the writ of preliminary attachment in trust for the bank the goods, to sell the goods
against them; that the mere failure to pay their for the benefit of the bank, to turn over the
obligation was not an act of fraud; that the proceeds of the sale to the bank, and to return
application for the issuance of the writ of the goods to the bank in the event of non-sale.
preliminary attachment, the affidavit of merit and By signing the trust receipt agreements,
judicial affidavit merely cited general allegations of respondents fully acknowledged the
fraud and Security Bank failed to sufficiently show consequences under the law once they failed to
the factual circumstances constituting fraud. abide by their obligations therein. Upon the
Moreover, respondents claimed that they did not maturity date, however, respondents failed to
commit fraud because they were earnestly deliver the proceeds of the sale to Security Bank
negotiating with Security Bank for a loan or to return the goods in case of non-sale.
restructuring. Security Bank sent a final demand letter to
ISSUE: W/N THE ISSUANCE OF RTC OF A respondents, which was also attached to the
PRELIMINARY ATTACHMENT IS PROPER? complaint, but it was unheeded.
- The Court is of the view that Security Bank's
allegations of violation of the trust receipts in its
complaint was specific and sufficient to assert
fraud on the part of respondents.
- Hence, the issuance of the writ of preliminary
injunction being proper.
57. 11. TSUNEISHI HEAVY - MIS Corp. contracted the services of Tsuneishi to 1. NO.
INDUSTRIES, INC. V. MIS MARITIME dry dock and repair its vessel M/T MIS-1. The latter In Quasha Asperilla Ancheta Valmonte Peña &
CORP. performed the required services. Marcos v. Juan, we held:
- However, about a month later and while the An attachment proceeding is for the purpose of
vessel was still dry docked, Tsuneishi conducted an creating a lien on the property to serve as
engine test on M/T MIS-1. The vessel's engine security for the payment of the creditors' claim.
emitted smoke. The parties eventually discovered Hence, where a lien already exists, as in this case
that this was caused by a burnt crank journal. The a maritime lien, the same is already equivalent to
crankpin also showed hairline cracks due to an attachment.
defective lubrication or deterioration, Tsuneishi - To be clear, we repeat that when a lien already
insists that the damage was not its fault while MIS exists, this is already equivalent to an
insists on the contrary. Nevertheless, as an act of attachment. This is where Tsuneishi's argument
good will, Tsuneishi paid for the vessel's new fails.
engine crankshaft, crankpin, and main bearings.
- When Tsuneishi demanded the payment of its 2. YES.
services, MIS demanded a set off of its claim - An examination of the Bitera Affidavit reveals
against Tsuneishi contending that they have lost that it failed to allege the existence of fraud with
income for the past few months when the ship was sufficient specificity. The affidavit merely states
in dry dock. that MIS refused to pay its obligation because it
- Tsuneishi rejected MIS' demands. It delivered the demanded a set off between its obligation to
vessel to MIS in September 2006.8 On November Tsuneishi and Tsuneishi's liability for MIS' losses
6, 2006, MIS signed an Agreement for Final caused by the delay in the turn-over of the
Price. However, despite repeated demands, MIS vessel. The affidavit insists that this demand for
refused to pay Tsuneishi the amount billed under set off was not legally possible. Clearly, there is
their contract. nothing in the affidavit that even approximates
- On April 10, 2008, Tsuneishi filed a any act of fraud which MIS committed in the
complaint12 against MIS before the RTC. This performance of its obligation. MIS' position was
complaint stated that it is invoking the admiralty clear: Tsuneishi caused the damage in the
jurisdiction of the RTC to enforce a maritime lien vessel's engine which delayed its trip and should
under Section 21 of the Ship Mortgage Decree of thus be liable for its losses. There is no showing
197813 (Ship Mortgage Decree). The complaint that MIS performed any act to deceive or
included a prayer for the issuance of arrest defraud Tsuneishi.
order/writ of preliminary attachment. To support - Even assuming that MIS is wrong in refusing to
this prayer, the complaint alleged that Section 21 pay Tsuneishi, this is nevertheless not the fraud
of the Ship Mortgage Decree as well as Rule 57 of contemplated in Section 1(d), Rule 57 of the
the Rules of Court on attachment authorize the Rules of Court. Civil law grants Tsuneishi various
issuance of an order of arrest of vessel and/or writ remedies in the event that the trial court rules in
of preliminary attachment. its favor such as the payment of the obligation,
damages and legal interest. The issuance of a
Issue: 1) whether a maritime lien under Section 21 writ of preliminary attachment is not one of
of the Ship Mortgage Decree may be enforced those remedies.
through a writ of preliminary attachment under - There is a reason why a writ of preliminary
Rule 57 of the Rules of Court attachment is available only in specific cases
enumerated under Section 1 of Rule 57. As it
2) whether the CA correctly ruled that Tsuneishi entails interfering with property prior to a
failed to comply with the requirements for the determination of actual liability, it is issued with
issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction. great caution and only when warranted by the
circumstances. As we said in Ng Wee v.
Tankiansee, the rules on the issuance of the writ
of preliminary attachment as a provisional
remedy are strictly construed against the
applicant because it exposes the debtor to
humiliation and annoyance.
57.12. PHILIPPINE COMMERIAL Alejandro, a resident of Hongkong, executed in NO. (YES, as to damages)
INTERNATIONAL BANK V. ALEJANDRO favor of petitioner a promissory note obligating - There is no merit in petitioner’s contention that
himself to payP249,828,588.90 plus interest. In respondent can be considered a resident who is
view of the fluctuations in the foreign exchange temporarily out of the Philippines upon whom
rates which resulted in the insufficiency of the service of summons may be effected by
deposits assigned by respondent as security for the publication, and therefore qualifies as among
loan, petitioner requested the latter to put up those against whom a writ of attachment may be
additional security for the loan. issued under Section 1, paragraph (f), Rule 57 of
- In praying for the issuance of a writ of preliminary the Rules of Court which provides:
attachment under Section 1 paragraphs (e) and (f) f) In an action against a party x x x on whom
of Rule 57 of the Rules of Court, petitioner alleged summons may be served by publication.
that (1) respondent fraudulently withdrew his
unassigned deposits notwithstanding his verbal SEC. 1. Grounds upon which attachment may
promise to PCIB Assistant Vice President Corazon issue. — At the commencement of the action or at
B. Nepomuceno not to withdraw the same prior to any time before entry of judgment, a plaintiff or
57.13. CHINA BANKING - On July 24, 1996, China Bank granted respondent 1. NO, it was not proven that the
CORPORATION V. ASIAN Asian Construction and Development Corporation attached properties though exposed to
CONSTRUCTION AND DEV’T CORP. (ACDC) an Omnibus Credit Line in the amount heat and possible corrosion is
of P90,000,000.00. “perishable”.
57. 15. FORT BONIFACIO DEV’T CORP. Tirreno leased the premises of FBDC. Upon default YES.
V. YLLAS LENDING CORPORATION in payments, FBDC occupied the premises and Pursuant to Section 14 of Rule 57, the sheriff is
acquired the equipments of Tirreno as partial not obligated to turn over to respondents the
57.16. PHILIPPINE OVERSEAS Pursuant to EO 1 and 2 (during the time of Pres. NO.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP. Corazon Aquino), the PCGG was ordered to - Sequestration is akin to the provisional remedy
(POTC), PHILCOMSAT V. sequester immediately the POTC and of preliminary attachment, or receivership.
SANDIGANBAYAN, ET. AL. PHILCOMSAT. Similarly, in attachment, the property of the
- On 22 July 1987, the Office of the Solicitor defendant is seized as a security for the
General (OSG), on behalf of the Republic of the satisfaction of any judgment that may be
Philippines, filed a Complaint for Reconveyance, obtained, and not disposed of, or dissipated, or
Reversion, Accounting and Restitution, and lost intentionally or otherwise, pending litigation.
Damages alleging that the wealth that is supposed XXX
to go to the gov’t went into their own individual In sequestration, the same principle holds true.
accounts (Enrile and L.A Africa, involved) The sequestered properties are placed under the
ISSUE: W/N THE CONTINUED SEQUESTRATION IS control of the PCGG, subject to the final
NECESSARY? determination of whether the property was in
truth ill--gotten.
As sequestration is a provisional remedy, a
transitional state of affairs, in order to prevent the
disappearance or dissipation of the property
pending the final disposition of the property, the
ultimate purpose of sequestration is to bring an
intended permanent effect while the PCGG
investigates in pursuit of a judicial proceeding —
to dispose of the sequestered properties. Tersely
put, the ultimate purpose of sequestration is to
recover the sequestered properties in favor of the
government in case they turn out to be ill-gotten.
This function to dispose of the property is
reserved to the Sandiganbayan. Until the
Sandiganbayan determines whether the property
was in truth and in fact “ill-gotten,” the
sequestration shall subsist. In case of a finding
that the sequestered properties are ill-gotten,
the property shall be returned to the lawful
owner, to the people, through the government;
otherwise, the sequestered property shall be
returned to the previous owner.
On a final note, while sequestration is the means
to revert the amassed ill-gotten wealth back to
the coffers of our government, we must still
safeguard the protection of property rights from
overzealousness. Sequestration as statutorily
and constitutionally recognized is not
permanent. It must be lifted when the law and
proven facts warrant, or when the purpose has
been accomplished.