[ G.R. No.

231015, January 26, 2021 ]

RG CABRERA CORPORATION, INC., PETITIONER, VS. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWA
COMMISSION ON AUDIT, RESPONDENTS.

[G.R. No. 240618]

RG CABRERA CORPORATION, INC., A.K.A. RG CABRERA CONSTRUCTION, INC. AND RG CABRERA SR T

CORPORATION, PETITIONER VS. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS AND COMMISSION O
RESPONDENTS.

[G.R. No. 249212]

RG CABRERA CORPORATION INC., A.K.A. RG CABRERA CONSTRUCTION AND SUPPLIES AND RG CABR
TRUCKING CORPORATION PETITIONER, VS. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS AND HIGHWAYS AND CO
ON AUDIT, RESPONDENTS.

DECISION

DELOS SANTOS, J.:

Before this Court are consolidated Petitions1 for Certiorari under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65 of the Rules of Court d
G.R. Nos. 231015,2 240618,3 and 249212.4

The first Petition, docketed as G.R. No. 231015, is filed by RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc. (RGCCI), against the Depar
Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and Commission on Audit (COA; collectively, respondents) seeking the reversa
No. 2015-4115 dated December 28, 2015 and Resolution No. 2017-0106 dated February 27, 2017 of the COA in CO
No. 2013-050.

The second Petition, G.R. No. 240618, filed by RGCCI against the DPWH and the COA, seeks the reversal of Decisio
2017-0947 dated April 26, 2017 and Resolution No. 2018-0468 dated March 8, 2018 of the COA in COA CP Case No

Lastly, in G.R. No. 249212, filed by RGCCI against the COA and the DPWH, RGCCI seeks to overturn Decision No. 2
4809 dated December 29, 2016 and Resolution No. 2019-37810 dated August 22, 2019 of the COA in COA CP Case
049.

The Facts

Sometime in June 1991, Mount Pinatubo erupted generating several meters of volcanic ash which crippled the areas
Pampanga, Zambales, and Tarlac. The said catastrophic occurrence brought about lahar after monsoon rains washe
volcanic deposits from the eruption.11

Accordingly, this led to the creation of Task Force Mount Pinatubo Rehabilitation Projects (Task Force), headed by its
Vicente B. Lopez (Chairman Lopez), Regional Director of Region III, DPWH.12

Chairman Lopez authorized the District Engineer of the DPWH Pampanga 2nd Engineering District, Guagua, Pampa
Pampanga) to hire bulldozers to be utilized for the maintenance and preservation of the Porac-Gumain River and oth
projects. Pursuant to the foregoing, DPWH Pampanga entered into various contracts with RGCCI for the lease of equ
the maintenance and restoration of parts of the Porac-Gumain Diversion Channel System. The contracts entered into
and the DPWH are the following:
 1. lease on one (1) unit of payloader 75B at the rental rate of P835.00 per hour for a period of 60 days in the a
P313,542.50 plus interest to be counted from the date of last demand until full payment of the obligation;13

2. construction of a dike by bulldozing the Porac River, Ascomo-Pulunmasle, Guagua, Pampanga from Sta. 0
1+500 for the total contract amount of P2,113,470.84, where the remaining balance is P1,574,580.50;14 and

3. the excavation of channel, pushing and diking of Gumain River, Floridablanca, Pampanga, from Sta. 1+100
1+750, amounting to P1,853,836.20.15

RGCCI sought the collection of all the unpaid amounts from the DPWH. However, despite several demands, RGCCI'
remained unheeded.

This drove RGCCI to file three (3) civil cases for the collection of sum of money before the Regional Trial Court (RTC
Pampanga, against the Secretary and Engineers of the DPWH. All the cases were eventually dismissed by the RTC
jurisdiction without prejudice to the filing of the claim before the COA.16

Undeterred, RGCCI filed separate claims before the COA which were docketed as COA CP Case Nos. 2013-050, 20
2013-049, respective1y.17

In its Answer,18 the DPWH claimed that the contracts were null and void due to the fact that it is unauthorized and no
with complete documentation to be compliant with the requirements of the law. Among others, it points to the lack of C
Availability of Funds signed by the proper accounting official which is an integral part of a contract pursuant to Sectio
Presidential Decree No. (PD) 1445.19

Ruling of the COA

Decision No. 2015-411

In its Decision20 dated December 28, 2015, the COA reiterated that the claims against government funds should be
with complete documentation and that even though there was a contract between RGCCI and DPWH Pampanga, RG
first show, through competent evidence, its indisputable right to collect the same which cannot be proven by mere con

The COA zeroed in on the alleged failure of RGCCI to attach the Certificate of Availability of Funds signed by the pro
accounting official and auditor who verified it. According to the COA, this rendered the contract void pursuant to Secti
1445 and therefore, RGCCI has no cause of action against DPWH Pampanga. Thus, the dispositive portion reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition for money claim filed by RG Cabrera Corporation Incorporated, rep
Mr. Ruben G. Cabrera, against the Department of Public Works and Highways Pampanga 2nd District Engineering O
payment of rental fees of the equipment used in the maintenance of the detour road at Mancatian, Porac, Pampanga
amount of [P]313,542.50 plus interest, is hereby DENIED for lack of merit.21

RGCCI moved for reconsideration but the same was denied by the COA in its Resolution No. 2017-01022 dated Feb
2017.

Decision No. 2017-094

In its Decision No. 2017-09423 dated April 26, 2017, the COA dismissed the complaint of RGCCI on the ground that
between RG Cabrera Construction and the DPWH is defective.

Based on the records, the COA found that RGCCI has no juridical personality since the Securities and Exchange Com
(SEC) certified that their records do not show the registration of RGCCI as a corporation or as a partnership. Moreove
no proof that RG Cabrera Construction, Inc., which is the name of the corporation that transacted with the DPWH is o
same with RGCCI.24

Additionally, the COA noted that there is nothing in the records that shows that the proper accounting official certified
have been duly appropriated for the amount necessary to cover the proposed contract. Therefore, the subject contrac
being entered without the necessary appropriation for the project.25

Aside from that, the COA mentioned that certain necessary documents are lacking such as Statement of Work Accom
Inspection Report by the Agency's Authorized Engineer, Statement of Time Elapsed, Pictures (before, during, and aft
construction of items of work), and Photocopy of vouchers of all previous payments, which are needed under Section
1445 for purposes of complete documentation.26

The dispositive portion of the assailed Decision reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Petition for Money Claim of RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc., represented by R
Cabrera, Jr., against Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Port Area, Manila and DPWH 2nd Pampan
Engineering District, San Antonio, Guagua, Pampanga, for and payment of the outstanding balance for the bulldozing
River, Ascomo Pulungmasle, Guagua, Pampanga, from Sta. 0+580 to Sta. 1+500, amounting to [P]1,574,580.50, plu
interest, from the date of last demand until full payment is hereby DENIED for lack of merit.27

RGCCI moved for reconsideration but the same was denied by the COA in its Resolution No. 2018-04628 dated Mar

Decision No. 2016-480

In its Decision29 dated December 29, 2016, the COA decided to deny the money claim. Based on the records, it foun
RGCCI has no locus standi to file the petition. The COA also raised that the name of the accountant appearing in all t
the contract has no corresponding signature and that no certificate of availability of funds can be found showing that t
accountant certified that the funds have been duly appropriated for the amount necessary to cover the contract. Abse
the contract is void.30

Again, as in the other cases, the COA mentioned that complete documents are necessary in order to show that the c
was able to deliver their service, such as Statement of Work Accomplished, Inspection Report by the Agency's Autho
Engineer, Statement of Time Elapsed, Pictures (before, during, and after construction of items of work), and Photoco
vouchers of all previous payments. The dispositive portion of the assailed Decision reads:

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Petition for Money Claim of RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc., represented by R
Cabrera, Jr., against the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Port Area, Manila, and DPWH 2nd Pam
Engineering District, for payment of the outstanding balance relative to the Excavation of Channel, Pushing and Dikin
Gumain River, Floridablanca, Pampanga, from Sta. 1+000 to Sta. 1+750, amounting to [P]1,853,836.20, plus legal in
the date of last demand until full payment, is hereby DENIED for lack of merit.31

RGCCI filed a motion for reconsideration dated December 29, 2016, but was denied in Resolution32 No. 2019-378.

Hence, three (3) Petitions for Certiorari were filed by RGCCI before this Court docketed as G.R. Nos. 231015, 24061
249212, respectively. Respondents filed their Comment33 on September 18, 2017 for G.R. No. 231015. Likewise, on
5, 2019, in G.R. No. 240618, respondents filed their Comment34 and a Reply35 dated December 6, 2019 was filed b

In a Resolution36 dated January 15, 2020, the Court En Banc ordered that G.R. Nos. 231015, 240618, and 249212 b
consolidated.
Thereafter, respondents filed a Comment37 dated June 11, 2020 for G.R. No. 249212. Subsequently, RGCCI filed its
Reply38 dated August 24, 2020 for G.R. No. 249212.

The Issues

The issues for the Court's resolution are:

1.) WHETHER RGCCI HAS LOCUS STANDI TO FILE THE INSTANT PETITIONS;

2.) WHETHER THE COA ERRED WHEN IT DENIED RGCCI'S MONEY CLAIM ON THE BASIS OF THE CO
BEING VOID FOR BEING ENTERED INTO WITHOUT THE NECESSARY APPROPRIATION AND INCOMP
DOCUMENTATION; and

3.) WHETHER RGCCI IS ENTITLED TO PAYMENT ON THE BASIS OF QUANTUM MERUIT.

In its petitions, RGCCI contends that the requirements of certification of availability of funds, prior appropriations befo
into a contract, and authority of officers to enter into contracts are mere technical requirements, non-compliance of w
bar recovery on the basis of quantum meruit by the contractor because the contract is not void but only voidable. Mor
denial of its claims will result in unjust enrichment in favor of the government after RGCCI faithfully performed its unde
under the contract.39

On the issue of its identity as the party entitled to payment, RGCCI contends that that RGCCI, RG Cabrera Construc
Supplies, and RG Cabrera, Sr. Trucking Corporation are one and the same corporation and therefore, there is no rea
pressing issue on the matter of RGCCI's personality as a real party-in-interest.40

On the other hand, respondents, represented by the OSG, insist that the money claim was properly denied. Respond
that RGCCI has no legal standing to file a money claim before the COA considering that it is an inexistent corporation
law.41 Respondents also claim that the contracts, which were executed without the proper certification of availability
appropriation of funds, which are indispensable requirements under Section 87, in relation to Sections 85 and 86 of P
void.42 Additionally, respondents assert that RGCCI's claim was denied by the COA because it failed to present com
documentation which could serve as a basis to determine the existence of the projects, thus, payment of the money c
properly denied.43

The Court's Ruling

The petitions are meritorious.

First, We shall delve into the procedural aspect of the instant cases as to whether RGCCI has legal standing or locus
file the petitions.

In private suits, locus standi requires a litigant to be a "real party in interest," which is defined as "the party who stand
benefited or injured by the judgment in the suit or the party entitled to the avails of the suit."44

Section 2, Rule 3 of the Rules of Court defines a real party-in-interest as follows:

SEC. 2. Parties in interest. - A real party in interest is the party who stands to be benefited or injured by the judgment
or the party entitled to the avails of the suit. Unless otherwise provided by law or these Rules, every action must be p
defended in the name of the real party in interest.

The Court in Goco v. Court of Appeals45 discussed:

This provision has two requirements: 1) to institute an action, the plaintiff must be the real party in interest; and 2) the
be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest. Interest within the meaning of the Rules of Court means mater
or an interest in issue to be affected by the decree or judgment of the case, as distinguished from mere curiosity abou
question involved. One having no material interest cannot invoke the jurisdiction of the court as the plaintiff in an actio
the plaintiff is not the real party in interest, the case is dismissible on the ground of lack of cause of action.46

In the instant cases, it is clear that RGCCI, RG Cabrera Construction and Supplies, and RG Cabrera, Sr. Trucking Co
are one and the same entity and therefore, can be considered as a real party-in-interest who stands to be benefited o
the judgment in the suit. First of all, the names of the corporations stated contain the name of the deceased family pa
Ruben G. Cabrera. Secondly, all of the corporations use the Cabrera ancestral house at L&M Subdivision, Guagua, P
as their address. Lastly, the corporations are composed of the same family members. In sum, it is immaterial as to un
name the DPWH directs its payment because ultimately, the payment will end in the hands of the performer of the se
the contract, thus, extinguishing the obligation.

Nevertheless, even if there may have been oversight on the part of RGCCI when it failed to strictly comply with the pr
documentation requirements, this cannot be considered substantial enough to warrant the denial of their claim. It mus
remembered that procedural rules are not intended to hamper litigants or complicate litigation but, indeed, to provide
under which suitors may be heard in the correct form and manner and at the prescribed time in a peaceful confrontat
judge whose authority they acknowledge.47

Now, We shall proceed to the substantive aspect of these cases.

At the onset, the COA's denial of the money claims was primarily premised upon the lack of prior certification as to th
of funds. The COA cites, as basis of its decision, Sections 86 and 87 of PD 1445, to wit:

SECTION 86. Certificate Showing Appropriation to Meet Contract. - Except in the case of a contract for personal serv
supplies for current consumption or to be carried in stock not exceeding the estimated consumption for three months,
transactions of government-owned or controlled banks, no contract involving the expenditure of public funds by any g
agency shall be entered into or authorized unless the proper accounting official of the agency concerned shall have c
the officer entering into the obligation that funds have been duly appropriated for the purpose and that the amount ne
cover the proposed contract for the current fiscal year is available for expenditure on account thereof, subject to verifi
the auditor concerned. The certificate signed by the proper accounting official and the auditor who verified it, shall be
and become an integral part of the proposed contract, and the sum so certified shall not thereafter be available for ex
for any other purpose until the obligation of the government agency concerned under the contract is fully extinguished

SECTION 87. Void Contract and Liability of Officer. - Any contract entered into contrary to the requirements of the tw
immediately preceding sections shall be void, and the officer or officers entering into the contract shall be liable to the
government or other contracting party for any consequent damage to the san1e extent as if the transaction had been
between private parties.

Indeed, the existence of the appropriation and certification as to the availability of funds together with the written cont
and necessary for the execution of government contracts. Nevertheless, the mere absence of these documents would
necessarily rule out the possibility of the contractor receiving payment for the services rendered for the government.4

In a long line of cases decided by this Court, it did not withhold the grant of compensation to a contractor notwithstan
dearth of the necessary documents, provided the contractor substantially shows performance of the obligation under
contract.

In Eslao v. Commission on Audit,49 on the basis of justice and equity, the Court granted compensation on the basis o
meruit to the contractor for an almost fully completed project even if there was failure on the part of the contractor to u
public bidding. The Court reasoned that denial of the claim would be to allow the government to unjustly enrich itself a
expense of another.

Similarly, in EPG Construction Co. v. Vigilar,50 citing Eslao, the Court granted recovery on the basis of quantum mer
without a written contract and corresponding appropriations covering the contract cost, to wit:

Interestingly, this case is not of first impression. In Eslao vs. Commission on Audit, this Court likewise allowed recove
contractor on the basis of quantum meruit, following our pronouncement in Royal Trust Construction v. Commission o
thus:

"In Royal Trust Construction vs. COA, a case involving the widening and deepening of the Betis River in Pampanga a
request of the local officials and with the knowledge and consent of the Ministry of Public Works, even without a writte
and the covering appropriation, the project was undertaken to prevent the overflowing of the neighboring areas and to
adjacent farmlands. The contractor sought compensation for the completed portion in the sum of over P1 million. Wh
the payment was favorably recommended by the Ministry of Public Works, it was denied by the respondent COA on t
of violation of mandatory legal provisions as the existence of corresponding appropriations covering the contract cost
COA Res. No. 36-58 dated November 15, 1986, its existing policy is to allow recovery from covering contracts on the
of quantum meruit if there is delay in the accomplishment of the required certificate of availability of funds to support a
contract."51 (Italics in the original, citations omitted)

In Royal Trust Construction v. Commission on Audit,52 this Court, applying the principle of quantum meruit in allowin
by the contractor, ruled that:

The work done by it (the contractor) was impliedly authorized and later expressly acknowledged by the Ministry of Pu
which has twice recommended favorable action on the petitioner's request for payment. Despite the admitted absenc
specific covering appropriation as required under COA Resolution No. 36-58, the petitioner may nevertheless be com
for the services rendered by it, concededly for the public benefit, from the general fund allotted by law to the Betis Riv
Substantial compliance with the said resolution, in view of the circumstances of this case, should suffice. The Court a
that the remedy suggested by the respondent, to wit, the filing of a complaint in court for recovery of the compensatio
would entail additional expense, inconvenience and delay which in fairness should be imposed on the petitioner.

Accordingly, in the interest of substantial justice and equity, the respondent Commission on Audit is DIRECTED to de
a quantum meruit basis the total compensation due to the petitioner for the services rendered by it in the channel imp
the Betis River in Pampanga and to allow the payment thereof immediately upon completion of the said
determination.53 (Emphases ours)

Furthermore, in Melchor v. Commission on Audit,54 the Court nevertheless upheld the payment to the contractor of t
the construction of a public school building even if the contract lacked the signature of the chief accountant as witnes
contract. The Court reasoned that it would be unjust for the government not to shoulder the expenditure after it had a
received and accepted benefits from the utilization of the project.

By the same token, the case of DPWH v. Quiwa,55 citing EPG Construction, upheld the right of the contractors for
compensation in the interest of substantial justice, contractors' right to be compensated under void contracts that hav
completed, and from which the government had already benefited despite violation of applicable laws, auditing rules a
legal requirements, thus:

Although this Court agrees with respondent's postulation that the "implied contracts", which covered the additional co
are void, in view of violation of applicable laws, auditing rules and lack of legal requirements, we nonetheless find the
petition laden with merit and uphold, in the interest of substantial justice, petitioners-contractors' right to be compensa
"additional constructions" on the public works housing project, applying the principle of quantum meruit.56 (Emphasis
in the original)
Intriguingly, the case of Quiwa falls squarely in the cases at bar. The case of Quiwa also involved rehabilitation efforts
of the DPWH after certain areas were inundated by lahar after the Mount Pinatubo eruption. In Quiwa, the Court allo
ℒαwρhi৷

contractor to recover payments for channeling, desilting, and diking works based on the construction agreement even
agreement was void for not having been approved by the proper authority and for not complying with the requiremen
certification of availability of funds. It must be noted that like in Quiwa, the cases at bar involves a money claim of a c
who performed services and provided equipment in the aftermath of the Mount Pinatubo eruption where its services r
to the benefit of the government.

The DPWH, however, contends that RGCCI is not entitled to compensation on the basis of quantum meruit because
no clear and convincing proof that the projects were undertaken or accomplished and that there was a clear benefit d
the government agency or the public from the said projects.57

This is clearly without merit.

While it is true that factual findings of quasi-judicial agencies, such as the COA, which have acquired expertise in ma
entrusted to their jurisdictions are accorded not only respect but finality by this Court if supported by substantial
evidence,58 there was no categorical statement from the COA's findings that would imply that no project or work was
RGCCI. The COA merely pounds on the lack of supporting documents to justify the denial of the claim.

On the contrary, the evidence presented by RGCCI proves that it has performed its obligation under the contract.

For instance, in G.R. No. 231015, RGCCI was able to show a copy of the Disbursement Voucher59 dated July 27, 19
amount of P313,542.50 intended as payment for the claim subject of the petition which was signed by the Chief of the
Maintenance Section of the DPWH Pampanga whose office was in charge of the use of the payloader for which RGC
claiming payment. The voucher is concrete evidence that RGCCI has completed what has been required of it under t

In G.R. No. 249212, RGCCI was able to provide a Certificate of Final Inspection60 dated June 22, 1992 which certifie
project was found to be 100% complete in accordance with plans and specifications as of June 15, 1992 and was sig
least six (6) officials of the DPWH.

Lastly, in G.R. No. 240618, like in G.R. No. 249212, RGCCI was able to show a Certificate of Project Completion61 d
22, 1992. Furthermore, there was already a partial payment of the contract price in the amount of P538,890.33 leavin
of only P1,574,580.50 because of the lack of funds of the DPWH and alleged problem in documentation despite the c
of the project. The payment of the DPWH, albeit partial, shows that there was indeed construction work done by RGC

From the foregoing, it is evident that the correspondence presented by RGCCI unquestionably established the compl
projects and the liability of the DPWH. These projects unmistakably redounded to the benefit of the public, specifically
of lahar from the Mount Pinatubo eruption.

All told, it would be the height of inequity not to award compensation to RGCCI after heeding the call of emergency to
calamity nearly three (3) decades ago. Certainly, We do not countenance any form of abuse that the state may perpe
especially to an entity which has come to its aid in a time of misfortune.

WHEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing disquisitions, the consolidated Petitions are GRANTED. The Decisio
411 dated December 28, 2015 and Resolution No. 2017-010 dated February 27, 2017 in COA CP Case No. 2013-05
No. 2017-094 dated April 26, 2017 and Resolution No. 2018-046 dated March 8, 2018 in COA CP Case No. 2012-11
Decision No. 2016-480 dated December 29, 2016 and Resolution No. 2019-378 dated August 22, 2019 in COA CP C
2013-049 of the Commission on Audit are hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The Department of Public Works an
is hereby ordered the following:
 1. To approve the subject claims of petitioner RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc. in the total amount of P313,542.5
interest at the legal rate for G.R. No. 231015;

2. To pay petitioner RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc. its claim in the amount of P1,574,580.50 plus interest until
G.R. No. 240618; and

3. To pay petitioner RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc. its claim in the amount of P1,853,836.20 plus interest from
1992 until fully paid for G.R. No. 249212.

This disposition is without prejudice to any criminal and administrative action against erring Department of Public Wo
Highways officials for violation of the law, if any.

SO ORDERED.

Peralta, C. J., Perlas-Bernabe, Caguioa, Gesmundo, Hernando, Carandang, Lazaro-Javier, Inting, Zalameda, Lopez,
and Rosario, JJ., concur.

Leonen, J., on official business.

NOTICE OF JUDGMENT

Sirs/Mesdames:

Please take notice that on January 26, 2021 a Decision, copy attached herewith, was rendered by the Supreme Cour
above-entitled cases, the original of which was received by this Office on March 23, 2021 at 10:05 a.m.

Very truly yours,

EDGAR O. ARICHETA
Clerk of Court

By:

(SGD) ANNA-LI R. PAPA-GOMBIO

Deputy Clerk of Court En Banc

Footnotes

1 This Court consolidated the petitions in our Resolution dated January 15, 2020; see rollo (G.R. No. 240618

2 Petition for Review on Certiorari filed by RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc., rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 3-16.
3 Petition for Review on Certiorari filed by RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc. aka. RG Cabrera Construction, Inc. &
Cabrera Sr. Trucking Corporation, rollo (G.R. No 240618), pp. 3-22.

4 Petition for Review on Certiorari filed by RG Cabrera Corporation, Inc. aka. RG Cabrera Construction and S
RG Cabrera Sr. Trucking Corporation, rollo (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 3-20.

5 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 20-25.

6 Id. at 26.

7 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 24-29.

8 Id. at 30.

9 Rollo (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 22-28.

10 Id. at 29-34.

11 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), p. 153.

12 Id.

13 Id. at 154.

14 Id. at 6-7.

15 Rollo (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 6-7.

16 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), p. 154.

17 Id. at 154-155.

18 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 54-63; (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 105-106; (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 67-76.

19 Government Auditing Code of the Philippines.

20 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 20-25.

21 Id. at 24.

22 Id. at 26.

23 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 24-29.

24 Id. at 26-27.

25 Id. at 27.
26 Id. at 28.

27 Id.

28 Id. at 90.

29 Rollo (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 22-28.

30 Id. at 25-26.

31 Id. at 27.

32 Id. at 29-34.

33 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 109-117.

34 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 136-147.

35 Id. at 158-163.

36 Id. at 167-168.

37 Id. at 176-188.

38 Rollo (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 162-167.

39 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 14-15; (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 10-21; (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 11-16.

40 Rollo (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 10-11.

41 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 139-141; (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 111-112.

42 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 112-115; (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 14l-144; (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 112-116.

43 Id.

44 Planters Products, Inc. v. Fertiphil Corp., 572 Phil. 270, 287 (2008).

45 631 Phil. 394 (2010).

46 Id. at 403.

47 Santos v. Court of Appeals, 275 Phil. 894, 898 (1991).

48 See Geronimo v. Commission on Audit, G.R. No. 224163, December 4, 2018.

49 273 Phil. 97 (1991).

 50 407 Phil. 58 (2001).

51 Id. at 61-62.

52 G.R. No. 84202, November 23, 1988 (Resolution of the Supreme Court En Banc).

53 Id.

54 277 Phil. 801 (1991).

55 675 Phil. 9 (2011).

56 Id. at 25.

57 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 113-115; (G.R. No. 240618), pp. 144-145; (G.R. No. 249212), pp. 113-116.

58 Marcopper Mining Corp. v. Bumolo, 401 Phil. 878, 883 (2000).

59 Rollo (G.R. No. 231015), pp. 34-35.

60 Rollo (G.R. No. 249212), p. 44.

61 Rollo (G.R. No. 240618), p. 42.

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