Spouses Mahusay Case-Amendment of Final Judgment

7/23/2019 Spouses Mahusay Case-Amendment of Final Judgment

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SPOUSES JUANITO MAHUSAY and

FRANCISCA MAHUSAY,

Petitioners,

- versus -

B.E. SAN DIEGO, INC.,

Respondent.

G.R. No. 179675

Present:

CARPIO, J.,

Chairperson, NACHURA,PERALTA,ABAD, andENDO!A, JJ .

Pro"u#$ated:

%une &, '())

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

DECISION

NACHURA, J .

T*e instant petition assai#s t*e Reso#ution+) dated epte"er )), '((/ o0 t*e

Court o0 Appea#s 1CA2, den3in$ petitioners4 otion to De#ete and 5it*dra6Reso#ution o0 O7toer )), '((8, 6*i7* a##e$ed#3 a"ended and "odi0ied t*e ori$ina#

De7ision o0 t*e CA pro"u#$ated on De7e"er '(, '(().

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/june2011/179675.htm#_ftn1




T*e ante7edent 0a7ts are, as 0o##o6s:

Petitioner spouses %uanito and 9ran7is7a a*usa3 pur7*ased severa# #ots in

Aurora udivision, a#aon, etro ani#a, o6ned 3 respondent B.E. an Die$o,

In7. T*e transa7tions 6ere 7overed 3 t6o 1'2 7ontra7ts: Contra7t to e## No. &),

+' e;e7uted on a3 )8, )</, 0or t*e tota# pri7e o0 P,(((.((= and Contra7t to e##

No. &/8+ dated Au$ust ), )</>, 0or t*e pri7e o0 P)</,(8(.((, p#us interest o0 )'?

per annu", pa3a#e in "ont*#3 insta##"ents. Due to petitioners4 nonpa3"ent o0 t*e

"ont*#3 a"orti@ations sin7e O7toer )</&, respondent 6as 7onstrained to 0i#e a 7ase

0or 7an7e##ation o0 7ontra7ts. T*e 7ase 6as dis"issed 3 t*e tria# 7ourt 0or #a7 o0

urisdi7tion. T*erea0ter, a Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent 6as entered into 3 t*e parties on

O7toer ), )<&<, 6*ere3 petitioners a$reed to pa3 respondent t*e re"ainin$

a#an7e o0 t*e pur7*ase pri7e o0 a## t*e #ots in t*e "anner and under t*e ter"s a$reed

upon 3 t*e parties. Petitioners 0ai#ed to 7o"p#3 6it* t*e ter"s e"odied in t*e

Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent= t*us, on Apri# )&, )<<(, respondent 0i#ed a Co"p#aint 0or

pe7i0i7 Per0or"an7e 6it* t*e Re$iona# Tria# Court 1RTC2, Bran7* /, a#aon,

do7eted as Civi# Case No. )8-N.+8

On Nove"er '<, )<<>, t*e RTC ru#ed in 0avor o0 respondent, orderin$

petitioners to 7o"p#3 6it* t*e provisions o0 t*e Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent, and to pa3

t*e a"ounts o0P),(((,(((.(( as a7tua# da"a$es and P>(,(((.(( as attorne34s 0ees.+>

Petitioners appea#ed t*e de7ision to t*e CA on t6o $rounds: 1)2 it 6as t*e

Housin$ and Land Use Re$u#ator3 Board and not t*e RTC 6*i7* *ad urisdi7tion

over t*e sue7t "atter o0 t*e a7tion= and 1'2 t*e Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent 6as

unen0or7ea#e e7ause it 6as on#3 9ran7is7a a*usa3 6*o si$ned t*e A$ree"ent onO7toer ), )<&<, 6it*out t*e 7onsent o0 *er *usand %uanito a*usa3.

In its De7ision dated De7e"er '(, '((), t*e CA up*e#d t*e urisdi7tion o0 t*e

RTC. T*e CA ratio7inated t*at respondent4s a7tion 6as one 0or pe7i0i7 Per0or"an7e

6it* Da"a$es, 6*i7* is in t*e nature o0 ordinar3 "one3 7#ai"s 0i#ed 3 t*e unpaid

se##er a$ainst t*e u3er, t*at s*ou#d e #iti$ated in t*e re$u#ar 7ourt. Besides,

petitioners 6ere estopped 0ro" uestionin$ t*e 7ourt4s urisdi7tion sin7e, 3 t*e a7t o0 0i#in$ an ans6er and ot*er p#eadin$s, t*e3 6ere dee"ed to *ave su"itted t*e"se#ves











to t*e urisdi7tion o0 t*e 7ourt.+ T*e CA, *o6ever, sa6 "erit in t*e 7ontention t*at

t*e Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent dated O7toer ), )<&< 6as not va#id 7onsiderin$ t*at it

6as entered into 3 petitioner 9ran7is7a a*usa3 a#one. in7e t*e A$ree"ent

invo#ved t*e 7onu$a# properties o0 petitioners, 9ran7is7a 7ou#d not ind *er *usand,

6*o never $ave *is 7onsent to t*e A$ree"ent.

But t*e CA noted t*at petitioners never denied t*e e;e7ution o0 t*e 7ontra7ts

to se## and t*e3 ad"itted t*e dets o6in$ to respondent. T*us, it ru#ed t*at petitioners

s*ou#d pa3 respondent t*e unpaid a"orti@ations 0or t*e #ots t*e3 pur7*ased 0ro" it.

T*e dispositive portion o0 t*e CA De7ision reads, as 0o##o6s:

!HEREFORE, pre"ises 7onsidered+, t*e appea#ed D"#$%$on dated Nove"er '<, )<<>, Re$iona# Tria# Court o0 a#aon, Bran7* /, in Civi# Case No.)8-N is *ere3AFFIRMED &$'( MODIFICATION, de7#arin$ t*e A$ree"enton O7toer ), )<&< or E;*iit CF to e NU)) AND *OID AB

INITIO and DE)ETING t*e a6ard o0 a7tua# da"a$es in t*e a"ounto0 P),(((,(((.((. A77ordin$#3, Appe##ants are *ere3 ordered to pa3 Appe##ee a##t*e unpaid a"orti@ation in7#udin$ a"orti@ation 3et to e paid unti# t*e e;piration o0 t*e 7ontra7t to se##. Costs a$ainst Appe##ants.+/

T*e CA De7ision e7a"e 0ina# and e;e7utor3, and entr3 o0 ud$"ent 6as "ade in due 7ourse

on %anuar3 )<, '(('.+& T*erea0ter, in t*e e;e7ution o0 t*e De7ision, t*e parties disa$reed,

parti7u#ar#3 in t*e 7o"putation o0 t*e a"ount to e paid 3 petitioners.

On a3 , '((8, respondent 0i#ed a otion 0or C#ari0i7ation o0 t*e CA

De7ision. It pra3ed 0or t*e in7#usion o0 t*e pena#ties and interest in t*e 7o"putation

o0 unpaid a"orti@ations, 6*i7* it 7#ai"ed is 7usto"ar3 in rea# estate usiness and

7o"p#iant 6it* t*e Contra7ts to e##, 0or t*e proper e;e7ution and i"p#e"entation o0

t*e CA De7ision.

Petitioners opposed t*e "otion 3 6a3 o0 a Rep#3 dated a3 )>, '((8.+<

On O7toer )), '((8, t*e CA issued a Reso#ution, as 0o##o6s:

Upon 7onsideration o0 t*e otion 0or C#ari0i7ation+, dated a3 , '((8, o0 t*e p#ainti00-appe##ee, and t*e Rep#3 o0 t*e de0endants-appe##ants dated a3 )>,'((8, t*e Court *o#ds 3 6a3 o0 7#ari0i7ation o0 t*e dispositive portion o0 our De7ision o0 De7e"er '(, '((), 6*i7* reads:











!HEREFORE, pre"ises 7onsidered+, t*eappea#ed D"#$%$on dated Nove"er '<, )<<>, Re$iona# Tria# Court o0 a#aon, Bran7* /, in Civi# Case No. )8-N is*ere3AFFIRMED &$'( MODIFICATION, de7#arin$ t*eA$ree"ent on O7toer ), )<&< or E;*iit CF to e NU)) AND

*OID AB INITIO and DE)ETING t*e a6ard o0 a7tua# da"a$es in

t*e a"ount o0 P),(((,(((.((. A77ordin$#3, Appe##ants are *ere3ordered to pa3 Appe##ee a## t*e unpaid a"orti@ation in7#udin$a"orti@ation 3et to e paid unti# t*e e;piration o0 t*e 7ontra7t tose##. Costs a$ainst Appe##ants.

SO ORDERED.F

t*at t*e said de7ision in7#udes t*e pa3"ent o0 a## pena#ties and interest due on t*eunpaid a"orti@ations, under +Contra7t to +e## No. &/8 dated Au$ust ), )</> and+Contra7t to +e## No. &) dated a3 )8, )</, 6*i7* is 7usto"ar3 in t*e rea#+estate usiness and in a77ordan7e 6it* t*e provisions o0 t*e 7ontra7ts. +)(

On Nove"er <, '((8, petitioners 0i#ed a otion to De#ete and 5it*dra6 t*e

Reso#ution 0or t*e A"end"ent and odi0i7ation o0 Ori$ina# De7ision.

+)) Petitioners 7ontended t*at a si"p#e readin$ o0 t*e otion 0or C#ari0i7ation

6ou#d s*o6 t*at it 6as not intended to 7#ari03 ut to a"end t*e De7ision to in7#ude

t*e pa3"ent o0 )'? interestGpena#t3 per annu" in t*e pa3"ent o0 t*e

a"orti@ations. T*e3 ar$ued t*at t*e in7#usion o0 )'? interest per annu" is a ver3

serious and "ateria# a"end"ent, e7ause under t*e ori$ina# De7ision, petitioners

6ou#d e reuired to pa3 on#3 P>',<<'.((, 6*i7* is t*e a"ount o0 t*e unpaid

a"orti@ations 0or t*e said #ots= 6*i#e in t*e A"ended De7ision, t*e3 6ou#d e #ia#e

0or P>,)/>,&&.><, per 7o"putation "ade 3 respondent. T*e "otion, ostensi#3 0or

7#ari0i7ation, 0i#ed 3 respondent "ore t*an t6o 1'2 3ears a0ter t*e re7eipt o0 t*e

ori$ina# De7ision, s*ou#d not *ave een $ranted, a77ordin$ to petitioners.

On %u#3 /, '((>, t*e CA issued a Reso#ution den3in$ t*e a0oresaid otion to

De#ete and 5it*dra6 t*e Reso#ution 0or #a7 o0 "erit. T*e appe##ate 7ourt said t*at

t*e De7ision pro"u#$ated on De7e"er '(, '(() *as not een a"ended ut on#3

7#ari0ied in t*e Reso#ution dated O7toer )), '((8.+)' Undaunted, petitioners a$ain

0i#ed an A"ended otion to De#ete and 5it*dra6 t*e Reso#ution 0or t*e A"end"ent

and odi0i7ation o0 t*e Ori$ina# De7ision on %u#3 )8, '((>, and anot*er "otion to

de#ete on %u#3 '/, '((>.

A7tin$ on t*e t6in "otions, t*e CA issued t*e assai#ed Reso#ution









on epte"er )), '((/, den3in$ t*e sa"e on t*e $round t*at t*e a##e$ations set 0ort*

3 petitioners t*erein 6ere a## 7onsidered and passed upon 3 t*e 7ourt in its

Reso#ution dated O7toer )), '((8.+)

A$$rieved, petitioners 0i#ed t*e instant petition.

Petitioners 7#ai" t*at respondent4s otion 0or C#ari0i7ation, 6*i7* 6as

e#ated#3 0i#ed, does not rea##3 intend to 7#ari03, ut to re7onsider, a#ter, and a"end

t*e ori$ina# De7ision o0 t*e CA, in 7ontravention o0 t*e prin7ip#e o0 i""utai#it3 o0

ud$"ents. T*us, t*e3 ar$ue t*at t*e CA Reso#ution o0 O7toer )), '((8 undu#3

e;panded and a"ended its 0ina# and e;e7utor3 De7ision o0 De7e"er '(, '((), in

$ross vio#ation o0 t*is prin7ip#e.

5e disa$ree.

It is a sett#ed ru#e is t*at a ud$"ent 6*i7* *as a7uired 0ina#it3 e7o"es

i""uta#e and una#tera#e= *en7e, it "a3 no #on$er e "odi0ied in an3 respe7t e;7ept

on#3 to 7orre7t 7#eri7a# errors or "istaes.+)8 C#ari0i7ation a0ter 0ina# ud$"ent is,

*o6ever, a##o6ed 6*en 6*at is invo#ved is a 7#eri7a# error, or not a 7orre7tion o0 an

erroneous ud$"ent, or dispositive portion o0 t*e De7ision.[15] 5*ere t*ere is an

a"i$uit3 7aused 3 an o"ission or "istae in t*e dispositive portion, t*e 7ourt "a3

7#ari03 su7* a"i$uit3, "istae, or o"ission 3 an a"end"ent= and in so doin$, it

"a3 resort to t*e p#eadin$s 0i#ed 3 t*e parties, t*e 7ourt4s 0indin$s o0 0a7ts and

7on7#usions o0 #a6 as e;pressed in t*e od3 o0 t*e de7ision.+)

In t*e 7ase at ar, t*ere is no dispute t*at, in )</ and )</>, petitioners enteredinto t6o Contra7ts to e## 6it* respondent, respe7tive#3 0or t*e pur7*ase o0 severa#

#ots in Aurora udivision, a#aon, etro ani#a. Petitioners4 o#i$ation to pa3 t*e

pur7*ase pri7e 0or t*e #ots 6as never denied. A77ordin$#3, t*e 7ontra7tua# stipu#ation

t*at petitioners s*a## pa3 t*e "ont*#3 a"orti@ations is indin$ and en0or7ea#e. It is

t*e #a6 et6een t*e parties.

Petitioners stopped pa3in$ t*e a"orti@ations in O7toer )</&, #eavin$ a tota#unpaid a#an7e o0 P>',<<'.(( as o0 %anuar3 (, )</<.+)/ in7e res7ission o0 t*e













7ontra7ts 6as not an option 0or petitioners, t*e #atter ne$otiated 6it* respondent 0or a

0ina# 7*an7e to pa3 o00 t*eir o#i$ations. T*us, a sett#e"ent 6as arrived at and a

Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent 6as e;e7uted, 6*i7*, un0ortunate#3, 6as si$ned 3

9ran7is7a a*usa3 a#one. T*e ter"s o0 t*e Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent 6ere a$ain

rea7*ed 3 petitioners, pro"ptin$ respondent to 0i#e an a7tion 0or pe7i0i7

Per0or"an7e. As it turned out, t*e CA nu##i0ied t*e Co"pro"ise A$ree"ent, ut *e#d

petitioners #ia#e 0or t*e pa3"ent o0 a## t*e unpaid a"orti@ations, in7#udin$

a"orti@ations 3et to e paid, unti# t*e e;piration o0 t*e 7ontra7t. Apparent#3, t*e CA

6as si#ent on t*e pa3"ent o0 t*e interestGpena#t3 0or t*e de#a3 in pa3"ents, 6*i7* #ed

to t*e otion 0or C#ari0i7ation 0i#ed 3 respondent.



Based on t*e 0ore$oin$ 0a7ts and 7ir7u"stan7es, t*e Court 0inds no reversi#e

error in t*e CA Reso#ution dated epte"er )), '((/, den3in$ t*e otion to

5it*dra6 t*e Reso#ution. Lie6ise, t*e CA 7o""itted no reversi#e error in its

Reso#ution dated O7toer )), '((8, 7#ari03in$ t*e ori$ina# De7ision. Respondent4s

otion 0or C#ari0i7ation did not rea##3 partae o0 t*e nature o0 a "otion 0or

re7onsideration, as to a"end t*e De7e"er '(, '(() De7ision. T*ere 6as not*in$

sustantia# to var3, 7onsiderin$ t*at t*e issues et6een t*e parties 6ere dee"ed

reso#ved and #aid to rest. It is un"istaa#3 7#ear t*at petitioners do not den3 t*e

e;e7ution o0 t*e Contra7ts to e## and, in 0a7t, ad"it t*eir #iai#it3 0or t*e unpaid

a"orti@ations o0 t*e #ots pur7*ased. T*e persistent vio#ations o0 t*e 7ontra7ts and t*e

7ontinuous de#a3 in petitioners4 pa3"ents 7annot si"p#3 e over#ooed. T*ere 6as a

7o"pe##in$ reason 0or t*e CA to 7#ari03 its ori$ina# De7ision to in7#ude t*e pa3"ent

o0 a## pena#ties and interest due on t*e unpaid a"orti@ations, as provided in t*e

7ontra7ts. Considerin$ t*at t*e va#idit3 o0 t*e 7ontra7ts 6as never put in uestion,

and t*ere is not*in$ on re7ord to su$$est t*at t*e sa"e "a3 e 7ontrar3 to #a6,

"ora#s, pu#i7 order, or pu#i7 po#i73, t*ere is not*in$ un#a60u# in t*e stipu#ation

reuirin$ t*e pa3"ent o0 interestGpena#t3 at t*e rate a$reed upon in t*e 7ontra7t o0 t*e

parties.+)&

T*e Court 0urt*er notes t*at petitioners are in a7tua#Gp*3si7a# possession o0 t*e

properties and eno3in$ t*e ene0i7ia# use t*ereo0, despite t*e pa3"ent o0

on#3 P),&/'./, as o0 %anuar3 (, )</<.+)< It 6ou#d e $ross#3 un0air 0or

respondent to e deprived o0 t*e a"ount it 6ou#d *ave re7eived 0ro" t*e sa#e o0 t*eir

properties, 6*i#e petitioners ene0ited 0ro" t*e use and 7ontinued possession o0 t*e

properties even i0 no pa3"ents 6ere "ade 3 t*e" sin7e O7toer )</&. It is a asi7

ru#e in #a6 t*at no one s*a## unust#3 enri7* onese#0 at t*e e;pense o0 anot*er. Indeed,to a##o6 petitioners to eep t*e properties 6it*out pa3in$ 0or t*e" in 0u## a"ounts to

unust enri7*"ent on t*eir part.+'( T*e 0air "aret va#ue o0 t*e #and *as

tre"endous#3 in7reased over t*e past 3ears. It is, t*ere0ore, ust, 0air, and euita#e

t*at petitioners e "ade to pa3 interestGpena#t3 0or t*e de#a3 in t*eir pa3"ents.

9ina##3, t*e Court notes t*at t*is 7ase *as dra$$ed on 0or "an3 3ears sin7e

)</&. In order to 6rit 0inis to t*is protra7ted #iti$ation et6een t*e parties, 6ereso#ve t*e 7ase in a77ordan7e 6it* urispruden7e on t*e "atter. Undenia#3, t*e









instant 7ase is a sa#e o0 rea# propert3 6*ere t*e pur7*ase pri7e is not paid in 0u##. T*e

unpaid se##er4s re"ed3 is eit*er an a7tion to 7o##e7t t*e a#an7e or to res7ind t*e

7ontra7t 6it*in t*e ti"e a##o6ed 3 #a6. in7e res7ission is no #on$er an option

7onsiderin$ t*at petitioners *ave een in possession o0 t*e properties 0or a

7onsidera#e period o0 ti"e, sustantia# usti7e di7tates t*at respondent e entit#ed to

re7eive t*e unpaid a#an7e o0 t*e pur7*ase pri7e, p#us #e$a# interest t*ereon.+') In

#ine 6it* our ru#in$ in Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. v. Court of Appeals,+'' t*e #e$a#

interest to e paid on t*e a"ount s*a## e )'? per annu", 6*i7* s*a## 7o""en7e

0ro" Apri# )&, )<<(, 6*en respondent 0i#ed t*e Co"p#aint 0or pe7i0i7 Per0or"an7e

6it* t*e RTC, Bran7* /, a#aon, in Civi# Case No. )8-N, 6*i7* s*a## e

7onsidered as udi7ia# de"and, unti# t*e 0ina#it3 o0 t*is De7ision. Anot*er )'?

interest per annu" s*a## e paid on t*e a"ount due and o6in$ as o0 and 0ro" t*e date

o0 0ina#it3 o0 t*e De7ision unti# 0u## pa3"ent.

!HEREFORE, t*e petition is DENIED. T*e Reso#ution o0 t*e Court o0

Appea#s dated epte"er )), '((/ is AFFIRMED 6it* MODIFICATION. T*e

tria# 7ourt is dire7ted to 7o"pute t*e unpaid a#an7e o0 t*e pur7*ase pri7e o0 ea7*

7ontra7t 16*i7* is t*e unpaid a"orti@ation in7#udin$ a"orti@ations 3et to e paid unti#

t*e e;piration o0 t*e Contra7ts to e##2 6it* dispat7*. T*e #e$a# interest to e paid on

said a"ount is T5ELE PERCENT 1)'?2 per annu", 6*i7* s*a## 7o""en7e 0ro"

Apri# )&, )<<(, 6*en udi7ia# de"and 6as "ade on petitioners. Anot*er )'?

interest per annu" s*a## e paid on t*e a"ount due and o6in$ as and 0ro" t*e date o0

0ina#it3 o0 t*is De7ision unti# 0u## pa3"ent 6ou#d *ave a7tua##3 een "ade.

SO ORDERED.

ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA Asso7iate %usti7e

!E CONCUR

ANTONIO T. CARPIOAsso7iate %usti7e

C*airperson







DIOSDADO M. PERA)TA

Asso7iate %usti7eROBERTO A. ABAD

Asso7iate %usti7e

JOSE CATRA) MENDO+AAsso7iate %usti7e



A T T E S T A T I O N

I attest t*at t*e 7on7#usions in t*e aove De7ision *ad een rea7*ed in7onsu#tation e0ore t*e 7ase 6as assi$ned to t*e 6riter o0 t*e opinion o0 t*e Court4sDivision.

ANTONIO T. CARPIO Asso7iate %usti7e

C*airperson, e7ond Division

C E R T I F I C A T I O N

Pursuant to e7tion ), Arti7#e III o0 t*e Constitution and t*e DivisionC*airpersons Attestation, I 7erti03 t*at t*e 7on7#usions in t*e aove De7ision *ad

een rea7*ed in 7onsu#tation e0ore t*e 7ase 6as assi$ned to t*e 6riter o0 t*e opiniono0 t*e Court4s Division.

RENATO C. CORONA C*ie0 %usti7e

+) Rollo, pp. -.

+' Lot No. '<, B#o7 '<, 6it* an area o0 ( s "= id. at >.+ Lots Nos. ', , 8, > J , B#o7 '<, 6it* a tota# area o0 aout ),8' s "=id. at >>.+8 Id. at )(<.+> Id. at .+ Id. at ))>.+/ Id. at ))<.+& Id. at )'(.+< Id. at )'8.+)( Id. at )'-)'/.+)) Id. at )'&.+)' Id. at 8/.+) Id. at .+)8 Johnson & Johnson (Phils.),Inc. v. Court of Appeals an Ale!o ".#inluan, K.R. No. )('<', epte"er ', )<<, ( P*i#. &>, &>/.+)> $epart%ent of uget an "anage%ent v. Cit' overn%ent of Ceu, K.R.

No. )'/(), ar7* )8, '((/, >)& CRA ((, )8.

+) Ilaca v. Court of Appeals, )& P*i#. 8>, 8/8 1)<//2.+)/ Rollo, p. )(.

http://sc.judiciary.gov.ph/jurisprudence/2011/june2011/179675.htm#_ftnref1





































+)& Castelo v. CA, K.R. No. </', a3 '', )<<>, '88 CRA )&(.+)< Rollo, p. ><.+'( Soliva v. *he Intestate Estate of "arcelo ". #illala, K.R. No. )>8()/,De7e"er &, '((, 8)/ CRA '//.+') Id. at '/<.

+'' K.R. No. </8)', %u#3 )', )<<8, '8 CRA /&.











Documents

Spouses Mahusay Case-Amendment of Final Judgment