Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 1 of 48 INTERPRETATION OF THE PROVISIONS OF THE RULES OF COURT Afinalandexecutoryjudgment,underthedoctrineofimmutabilityand inalterability,maynolongerbemodifiedinanyrespecteitherbythecourt whichrendereditorevenbytheSupremeCourt.However,asrulesof procedure are mere tools designed to facilitate the attainment of justice, their strictandrigidapplication,whichwouldresultintechnicalitiesthattendto frustrateratherthanpromotesubstantialjustice,mustalwaysbeeschewed. Thus, in the absence of a pattern or scheme to delay the disposition of the case or a wanton failure to observe the mandatory requirement of the rules on the partoftheplaintiff,courtsshoulddecidetodispensewithratherthanwield theirauthoritytodismiss.-PCILeasingandFinance,Inc.vs.AntonioC. Milan,DoingBusinessUndertheNameandStyleof"A.MilanTrading," and Laura M. Milan, G.R. No. 151215, April 5, 2010 Procedural rules were conceived to aid the attainment of justice. If a stringent applicationoftheruleswouldhinderratherthanservethedemandsof substantialjustice,theformermustyieldtothelatter.-CityofDumaguete, hereinrepresentedbyCityMayor,AgustinR.Perdicesvs.Philippine Ports Authority, G.R. No. 168973, August 24, 2011 IncaseswhereaCOMELECDivisionissuesaninterlocutoryorder,thesame COMELEC Division should resolve the motion for reconsideration of the order. -EddieT.Panliliovs.CommissiononElectionsandLiliaG.Pineda,G.R. No. 181478, July 15, 2009 As a general rule, the defense of lack of jurisdiction may be raised at any stage oftheproceeding.However,itadmitsanexceptionwherethepartyfully participatedintheproceedings.Ateachercannotraisewantofjurisdiction whenshehasavailedoftheremediesintheproceedings.-CivilService Commission vs. Fatima A. Macud, G.R. No. 177531, September 10, 2009

GENERAL PRINCIPLES JURISDICTION Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 2 of 48 Court has full discretionary power to take cognizance and assume jurisdiction ofspecialcivilactionsforcertiorariandmandamusfileddirectlywithitfor exceptionallycompellingreasonsorifwarrantedbythenatureoftheissues clearly andspecifically raised in the petition. The Court may suspend or even disregard rules when the demands of justice so require. Nocourt,asidefromtheSupremeCourt,mayenjoinanationalgovernment project unless the matter is one of extreme urgency involving a constitutional issuesuchthatunlesstheactcomplainedofisenjoined,graveinjusticeor irreparable injury would arise. - Department of Foreign Affairs and Bangko SentralngPilipinasvs.Hon.FrancoT.Falcon,InHisCapacityasthe Presiding Judge of Branch 71 of the Regional Trial Court in Pasig City and BCA International Corporation, G.R. No. 176657, September 1, 2010 Administrativeagencies,liketheEnergyRegulatoryCommission,are tribunalsoflimitedjurisdictionand,assuch,couldwieldonlysuchasare specifically granted to them by the enabling statutes. In relation thereto is the doctrineofprimaryjurisdictioninvolvingmattersthatdemandthespecial competenceofadministrativeagenciesevenifthequestioninvolvedisalso judicialinnature. -BFHomes,Inc.and ThePhilippineWaterworksand ConstructionCorp.vs.ManilaElectricCompany,G.R.No.171624, December 6, 2010 Theruleissettledthatjurisdictionoverthesubjectmatterofacaseis conferredbylawandisdeterminedbytheallegationsinthecomplaintand thecharacterofthereliefsought,irrespectiveofwhethertheplaintiffsare entitled to all or some of the claims asserted therein. Once vested by law, on a particular court or body, the jurisdiction over the subject matter or nature of theactioncannotbedislodgedbyanybodyotherthanbythelegislature through the enactment of a law. - Bernabe L. Navida et al. vs. Hon. Teodoro A. Dizon, Jr., G.R. No. 125078, May 30, 2011 Apartycannotinvokethejurisdictionofacourttosecureaffirmativerelief againsthisopponentandafterobtainingorfailingtoobtainsuchrelief, repudiateorquestionthatsamejurisdiction.-NMRothschild&Sons (Australia)Limitedvs.LepantoConsolidatedMiningCompany,G.R.No. 175799, November 28, 2011 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 3 of 48 It is a rule of universal application, almost, that courts of justice constituted to passuponsubstantialrightswillnotconsiderquestionsinwhichnoactual interests are involved; they decline jurisdiction of moot cases. Andwhere the issuehasbecomemootandacademic,thereisnojusticiablecontroversy,so thatadeclarationthereonwouldbeofnopracticaluseorvalue.Thereisno actualsubstantialrelieftowhichpetitionerswouldbeentitledandwhich would be negated by the dismissal of the petition. - Philippine Long Distance TelephoneCompanyvs.EasternTelecommunicationsPhilippines,Inc., G.R. No. 163037, February 6, 2013 A.M.No.04-5-19-SC,entitledResolutionProvidingGuidelinesinthe Inventory and Adjudication of Cases Assigned to Judges who are Promoted or TransferredtoOtherBranchesintheSameCourtLeveloftheJudicial Hierarchy,actuallyrecognizesthatboththetransferredjudgeandthenew judgecandecidethecasebutgivesconsiderationtothepreferenceofthe parties,butthelapsesintheobservanceoftherulebythejudgewhichwas not chosen by the accused does not invalidate the decision due to violation of dueprocesswhentheaccusedwassufficientlygiventheopportunitytobe heard,todefendhimselfandtoconfronthisaccusersontheoffensehurled againsthim.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.GiovanniOcfemiayChavez, G.R. No. 185383, September 25, 2013 DOCTRINE OF EXHAUSTION OF ADMINISTRATIVE REMEDIES PetitionerwantsthisCourttorecognizetherightsandinterestsofthe residentsofSunValleySubdivisionbutitmiserablyfailedtoestablishthe legalbasis,suchasitsownershipofthesubjectroads,whichentitles petitioner to the remedy prayed for. As petitioner has failed to establish that it has any right entitled to the protection of the law, and it also failed to exhaust administrativeremediesbyapplyingforinjunctivereliefinsteadofgoingto theMayorasprovidedbytheLocalGovernmentCode,thepetitionmustbe denied. - New Sun Valley Homeowners' Association, Inc., vs.Sangguniang Barangay,BarangaySunValley,ParaaqueCity,etal.,G.R.No.156686, July 27, 2011 Itissettledthatthenon-observanceofthedoctrineofexhaustionof administrative remedies results in lack of cause of action,which is one of the Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 4 of 48 groundsintheRulesofCourtjustifyingthedismissalofthecomplaint.- AdditionHillsMandaluyongCivic&SocialOrganization,Inc.,vs. MegaworldProperties&Holdings,Inc.,WilfredroI.Imperial,InHis CapacityAsDirector,NCRandHousingandLandUseRegulatoryBoard, Department of Natural Resources, G.R. No. 175039, April 18, 2012 CAUSE OF ACTIONS Ajudgeisnotanactivecombatantinproceedingswheretheorderhehad renderedisbeingassailed.Assuch,hemustleavetheopposingpartiesto contend their individual positions and the appellate court to decide the issues withouthisactiveparticipation.Beinganominalpartytothecase,hehasno personalinterestnorpersonalitytherein.Thus,hehasnolegalstandingto instituteaPetitionforCertiorariunderRule65oftheRulesofCourt.-Hon. HectorB.Barillo,ActingPresidingJudge,MTCGuihulngan,Negros Orientalvs.Hon.RalphLantion,Hon.MeholK.SadainandHon. FlorentinoA.Tuason,Jr.,TheCommissionersoftheSecondDivision, CommissiononElections,Manila;andWalterJ.Aragones,G.R.No. 159117, March 10, 2010 Thenatureofthecauseofactionisdeterminedbythefactsallegedinthe complaint.Threeessentialelementsmustbeshowntoestablishacauseof action.Inthiscase,thelegalrightsofthepetitionerBankandthe correlative legal duty of LCDC have not been sufficiently established in view of the failure oftheBank'sevidencetoshowtheprovisionsandconditionsthatgovernits legalrelationship.-MetropolitanBankAndTrustCompanyvs.Ley ConstructionandDevelopmentCorporation,G.R.No.185590,December 03, 2014 PLEADINGS Initiatory Pleadings Sincetheallegedmisconductfallsunderindirectcontempt,proceedings shouldbe initiatedeither motu proprio by order of or a formal charge by the offendedcourt,orbyaverifiedpetitionwithsupportingparticularsand CIVIL PROCEDURE Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 5 of 48 certifiedtruecopiesofdocumentsorpapersinvolvedtherein,anduponfull compliancewiththerequirementsforfilinginitiatorypleadingsforcivil actions in the court concerned. It is clear that private respondenthas missed outonalloftheaboverequirementsashefiledonlyamotionratherthana verified petition. - Bases Conversion Development Authority vs. Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer of Pampanga, Register of Deeds of Angeles City, BenjaminPoyLorenzo,LaverniePoyLorenzo,DiosdadoDeGuzman, RosemaryEngTayTan,LeandroDeGuzman,BenjaminG.Lorenzo, AntonioManalo,andSocorroDeGuzman,G.R.Nos.155322-29,June27, 2012 FAILURE TO FILE AN APPELLANTS BRIEF Liberalityisgiventolitigantswhoareworthyofthesame,andnottoones whoflouttherules,giveexplanationstotheeffectthatthecounselsarebusy with other things, and expect the court to disregardthe procedural lapses on themereself-servingclaimthattheircaseismeritorious.-MCA-MBF CountdownCardsPhilippinesInc.,AmableR.AguiluzV,AmableC. Aguiluz IX, CieloC. Aguiluz, AlbertoL. Buenviaje,Vicente Acsay and MCA HoldingsandManagementCorporationvs.MBfCARDInternational Limited and MBf Discount Card Limited. G.R. No. 173586, March 14, 2012 DEFAULT WhileitisdesirablethattheRulesofCourtbefaithfullyobserved,courtsshould notbeobsessivelystrictovertheoccasionallapsesoflitigants.Givenagood reason,thetrialcourtshouldsetasideitsorderofdefault,constantlybearingin mindthatitistheexceptionandnottheruleoftheday.-RNDevelopment Corporation vs. A.I.I. System, Inc., G.R. No. 166104. June 26, 2008 SUMMONS Acaseshouldnotbedismissedsimplybecauseanoriginalsummonswas wrongfully served as it would be difficult to conceive that when the defendant appears before the Court complaining that he has not been validly summoned, thecaseagainsthimwillimmediatelybedismissed.-SpousesGerman AnunciacionandAnaFermaAnunciacionandGavinoG.Conejosvs. PerpetuaM.BocanegraandGeorgeM.Bocanegra,G.R.No.152496,July Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 6 of 48 30, 2009 TheRegionalTrialCourtfailedtoacquirejurisdictionovertheRepublicby serviceofsummonsupontheDPWHRegionIIIalone.Theapplicableruleof procedureinthiscaseisSection13,Rule14oftheRulesofCourt,which mandatesthatwhenthedefendantistheRepublicofthePhilippines,the service of summons may be effected on the Office of the Solicitor General. The DPWHanditsregionalofficearesimplyagentsoftheRepublic,whichisthe realpartyininterest.-RepublicofthePhilippinesrepresentedbythe Department of PublicWorksandHighways, throughthe Hon. Secretary, HermogenesEbdanevs. AlbertoA.Domingo,G.R.No.175299, September 14, 2011 DISMISSAL OF ACTIONS PILTELfileddifferentactionstodifferentcourtstherebydeclaringitbythe court as guilty of forum shopping. Forum shopping is the act of a litigant who repetitivelyavailsofseveraljudicialremediesindifferentcourts, simultaneouslyorsuccessively,allsubstantiallyfoundedonthesame transactionsandthesameessentialfactsandcircumstances,andraising substantially the same issues either pending in, or already resolved adversely bysomeothercourt,ortoincreasehischancesofobtainingafavorable decisionifnotinonecourt,theninanother. -PilipinoTelephone Corporationvs.RadiomarineNetwork,Inc.,G.R.No. 152092,August4, 2010 Defensesnotpleadedeitherinamotiontodismissorintheanswerare deemed waived. It also allows courts to dismiss cases motu proprio on any of theenumeratedgrounds(1)lackofjurisdictionoverthesubjectmatter; (2) litispendentia;(3) resjudicata;and(4)prescriptionprovidedthatthe ground for dismissal is apparent from the pleadings or the evidence on record. -HeirsofDomingoValientesvs.Hon.Reinerio(Abraham)B.Ramas, ActingPresidingJudge,RTC,Branch29,9th JudicialRegion,SanMiguel, ZamboangadelSurand VilmaV.Minor,G.R.No.157852,December15, 2010 Rule 45, Section 4 of the Rules of Court indeed requires the attachment to the petition for review on certiorari such material portions of the record as would Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 7 of 48 supportthepetition. However,sucharequirementwasnotmeanttobean ironclad rule such that the failure to follow the same would merit the outright dismissal of the petition. In accordance with Section 7 of Rule 45, the Supreme Court may require or allow the filing of such pleadings, briefs, memoranda or documentsasitmaydeemnecessarywithinsuchperiodsandundersuch conditionsasitmayconsiderappropriate.-F.A.T.KeeComputerSystems, Inc. vs. Online Networks International, Inc., G.R. No. 171238, February 2, 2011 Itbearsstressingthatthesanctionofdismissalmaybeimposedevenabsent anyallegationandproofoftheplaintiff'slackofinteresttoprosecutethe action,orofanyprejudicetothedefendantresultingfromthefailureofthe plaintifftocomplywiththerules.Thefailureoftheplaintifftoprosecutethe actionwithoutanyjustifiablecausewithinareasonableperiodoftimewill giverisetothepresumptionthatheisnolongerinterestedinobtainingthe relief prayed for. - Philippine Charter Insurance Corporationvs.Explorer MaritimeCo.,Ltd.,OwneroftheVesselM/V"Explorer",WallemPhils. Shipping,Inc.,AsianTerminals,Inc.andForemostInternationalPort Services, Inc., G.R. No. 175409, September 7, 2011 RES JUDICATA Conclusiveness of judgment, oneof the aspects of the concept of res judicata, requiresonlytheidentityofissuesandparties,butnotofcausesofaction. Hence,factsandissuesactuallyanddirectlyresolvedinaformersuitcannot again be raised in any future case between the same parties, even if the latter suit may involve a different claim or cause of action. A case involving an issue ofwhetherornotaninstitutedcivilcasewasdismissibleduetoforum shopping committed by petitioners, which eventually was dismissed based on that same ground, constitutes as res judicata to a petition with the same issue between the same parties albeit on a different ground of failure to prosecute. - Ley Construction & Development Corporation, LC Builders & Developers, Inc.,MetroContainerCorporation,ManuelT.Ley,andJanetC.Leyvs. PhilippineCommercial&InternationalBank,Ex-OfficioSheriffofthe Regional Trial Court Of Valenzuela, Metro Manila, and Clerk of Court and Ex-OfficioSheriff of the Regional Trial Court ofPasig, MetroManila,G.R. No. 160841, June 23, 2010 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 8 of 48 Besana filed complaint forillegaldismissal but the court decidedthathe was notillegallydismissed.However,hefailedtofileanappealwhichtherefore attainedfinalityofthedecision.NEAissuedanotherresolutionincludinghis dismissalandheappealedtosuchresolution.Thecourtruledthatheis alreadybarredbyResjudicata.Resjudicata orbarbypriorjudgmentisa doctrinewhichholdsthatamatterthathasbeenadjudicatedbyacourtof competent jurisdiction must be deemed to have been finally andconclusively settledifitarisesinanysubsequentlitigationbetweenthesamepartiesand forthesamecause. Thedoctrineof resjudicata isfoundedonapublicpolicy againstre-openingthatwhichhaspreviouslybeendecided,soastoputthe litigation to an end. - Engr. Job Y. Besana, Hon. Ronaldo B. Zamora et al., vs. Rodson F. Mayor, G.R. No. 153837 July 21, 2010 Literally, res judicata means "a matter adjudged; a thing judicially acted upon ordecided;athingormattersettledbyjudgment." Itlaystherulethatan existingfinaljudgmentordecreerenderedonthemerits,withoutfraudor collusion,byacourtofcompetentjurisdiction,uponanymatterwithinits jurisdiction,isconclusiveoftherightsofthepartiesortheirprivies,inall other actions or suits in the same or any other judicial tribunal of concurrent jurisdictiononthepointsandmattersinissueinthefirstsuit.-Heirsof MaximinoDerla,namely:Zelda,Juna,Geraldine,Aida,Alma,All SurnamedDerla;andSabinaVda.DeDerla,allrepresentedbytheir Attorney-in-Fact, Zelda Derla vs. Heirs of Catalina Derla Vda. de Hipolito, MaeD.Hipolito,RogerZagales,FranciscoDerla,Sr.,JovitoDerla, exaltacion pond, andVinaU. Casaway, in her capacity as theRegister Of Deeds of Tagum, Davao Del Norte, G.R. No. 157717, April 13, 2011 Theannulmentofthesaleofshareinthesubjectpropertyandthelegal redemptionandtheclaimfordamagesshouldnotbemistakentobethe causes of action, but they were the remedies and reliefs. The cause of action is thesaleoftheentiresubjectpropertybyBasilia, etal.toSelgaspouses without Sony Brars knowledge and consent, hence, depriving the latter of her rightsandinterestsoverher pro-indiviso shareinthesubjectpropertyasa co-heirandco-owner.Therefore,CivilcasebeforeRTC-Branch56shouldbe dismissed, being barredby res judicata. Any error committed byRTC-Branch 55intheDecisioninCivilCaseNo.276couldonlybereviewedorcorrected onappeal.-TobiasSelga and CeferinaGaranchoSelgavs.SonyEntierro Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 9 of 48 Brar,representedbyherAttorney-in-FactMarinaT.Entierro,G.R.No. 175151, September 21, 2011 Ajudicialcompromisehastheeffectofresjudicata.Ajudgmentbasedona compromise agreement is a judgment on the merits. Onlysubstantialidentityisnecessarytowarranttheapplicationofres judicata.Theadditionoreliminationofsomepartiesdoesnotalterthe situation. There is substantial identity of parties when there is a community of interest between a party in the first case and a party in the second case albeit thelatterwasnotimpleadedinthefirstcase.-RizalCommercialBanking Corporationvs.DoloresHilario,TeresitaHilario,Thelma HilarioOchoa Eduardo Hilario, G.R. No. 160446, September 19, 2012 LITIS PENDENCIA Asregardsidentityofcausesofaction,thetestoftenusedindetermining whethercausesofactionareidenticalistoascertainwhetherthesame evidencewhichisnecessarytosustainthesecondactionwouldhavebeen sufficient to authorize a recovery in the first, even if the forms or nature of the twoactionsbedifferent.Ifthesamefactsorevidencewouldsustainboth actions,thetwoactionsareconsideredthesamewithintherulethatthe judgment in the former is a bar to the subsequent action; otherwise, it is not. - PhilippineNationalBankvs.GatewayPropertyHoldings,Inc.,G.R.No. 181485, February 15, 2012 INTERVENTION Jurisprudence describes intervention as "a remedy by which a third party, not originallyimpleadedintheproceedings,becomesalitigantthereintoenable him, her or it to protect or preserve a right or interest which may be affected bysuchproceedings.""Theright tointerveneisnotanabsoluteright;itmay onlybepermittedbythecourtwhenthemovantestablishesfactswhich satisfy the requirements of the law authorizing it." - The Board of Regents of theMindanaoStateUniversityrepresentedbyitsChairmanvs.Abedin Limpao Osop, G.R. No. 172448, February 22, 2012 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 10 of 48 Although Rule 19 of the Rules of Court is explicit on the period when a motion tointervenemaybefiled.Thisrule,however,isnotinflexible.Interventions havebeenallowedevenbeyondtheperiodprescribedintheRule,when demandedbythehigherinterestofjustice.Interventionshavealsobeen grantedtoaffordindispensableparties,whohavenotbeenimpleaded,the righttobeheardevenafteradecisionhasbeenrenderedbythetrialcourt, when the petition for review of the judgment has already been submitted for decisionbeforetheSupremeCourt,andevenwheretheassailedorderhas already become final and executory. - Deogenes O. Rodriguez vs. Hon. Court OfAppealsandPhilippineChineseCharitableAssociation,Inc.,G.R.No. 184589, June 13, 2013 JUDGEMENTS AND FINAL ORDERS Supervening events refer to facts which transpire after judgment has become finalandexecutoryortonewcircumstanceswhichdevelopedafterthe judgmenthasacquiredfinality,includingmatterswhichthepartieswerenot awareofpriortoorduringthetrialastheywerenotyetinexistenceatthat time.-GovernmentServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS)vs.Group Management Corporation (GMC) and Lapu-Lapu Development & Housing Corporation (LLDHc), G.R. No. 167000 & 169971, June 8, 2011 DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE A demurrer to evidence is definedas an objection by one of the partiesinan action,totheeffectthattheevidencewhichhisadversaryproducedis insufficient in point of law, whether true or not, to make out a case or sustain theissue.-NiloOropesavs.CiriloOropesa,G.R.No.184528,April25, 2012 FAILURE TO FILE AN APPELANTS BRIEF Liberalityisgiventolitigantswhoareworthyofthesame,andnottoones whoflouttherules,giveexplanationstotheeffectthatthecounselsarebusy with other things, and expect the court to disregardthe procedural lapses on themereself-servingclaimthattheircaseismeritorious.-MCA-Mbf CountdownCardsPhilippinesInc.,AmableR.AguiluzV,AmableC. Aguiluz IX, CieloC. Aguiluz, AlbertoL. Buenviaje,Vicente Acsay and MCA Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 11 of 48 HoldingsAndManagementCorporationvs.MBfCardInternational Limited and MBf Discount Card Limited, G.R. No. 173586, March 14, 2012 MODES OF APPEALS Under Section 1, Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, an appeal to this CourtbywayofaPetitionforReviewonCertiorarishouldraiseonly questionsoflawwhichmustbedistinctlysetforthinthepetition.Ofcourse, there are exceptions to this rule. Thus, the Court may be minded to review the factualfindingsoftheCAonlyinthepresenceofanyofthefollowing circumstances:1)theconclusionisgroundedonspeculations,surmisesor conjectures; 2) the inference is manifestly mistaken, absurdor impossible; 3) thereisgraveabuseofdiscretion;4)thejudgmentisbasedona misapprehension of facts; 5) the findings of fact are conflicting; 6) there is no citationofspecificevidenceonwhichthefactualfindingsarebased;7)the findings of facts are contradicted by the presence of evidence on record; 8) the findings of the CA are contrary to those of the trial court; 9) the CA manifestly overlooked certain relevant and undisputed facts that, if properly considered, would justify a different conclusion; 10) the findings of the CA are beyond the issues of the case; and 11) such findings are contrary to the admission of both parties.-RomuloTindoyvs.PeopleofthePhilippines,G.R.No.157106, September 03, 2008 Petitionersassertionintheirmotionforreconsiderationofthedismissalof theirpetitionthat(a)theforegoingdocuments/pleadingswerenotmaterial totheissuestheyraisedand(b)anyway,therecordsofthecasemaybe orderedelevatedbytheCA,cannotexcusethemfromfailingtocomplywith the requirement of a petition for review under Rule 43. We reiterate here that therighttoappealisneitheranaturalrightnorapartofdueprocessasitis merelyastatutoryprivilegeandmaybeexercisedonlyinthemannerandin accordancewiththeprovisionsoflaw.Saveforthemostpersuasiveof reasons,strictcompliancewithproceduralrulesisenjoinedtofacilitatethe orderlyadministrationofjustice.Thus,onewhoseekstoavailoftherightto appeal must comply with the requirements of the Rules. Failure to do so often leads to the loss of the right to appeal. - PedroGabriel et. al. vs.Murmuray Jamias et. al., G.R. No. 156482, September 17, 2008 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 12 of 48 TheCourtdisagreeswithStandardCharteredthattheconclusiondrawnby theCAfromtheevidencebasedonrecordisaquestionoflaw.Thisisthe oppositedefinitionofaquestionoflaw.Itsrelianceontherulingin CommissionerofImmigrationvs.Garciathatwhenthefactsareundisputed, thenthequestionofwhetherornottheconclusiondrawntherefrombythe CourtofAppealsiscorrectisaquestionoflawismisplaced.Inthepresent case,thefactsaredisputed.SCBEUclaimsthatthereisanexistingcompany practiceentitlingStandardCharteredsemplo-yeestooutpatientmedicine reimbursementsandspousesofitsmaleemployeestomaternitybenefits whilethelatterarguesthecontrary.-StandardCharteredBankvs. StandardCharteredBankEmployeesUnion(SCBEU),G.R.No.165550, October 08, 2008 Moreover,itistheCourtsadvicetolowercourts,underexceptional circumstances,tobecautiousaboutnotdeprivingofapartyoftherightto appealandthateverypartylitigantshouldbeaffordedtheamplest opportunityfortheproperandjustdeterminationofhiscausefreefromthe constraintsoftechnicalities.-RepublicofthePhilippinesvs.Heirsof Evaristo Tiotioen, G.R. No. 167215, October 08, 2008 Asageneralrule,appealsonpurequestionsoflawarebroughttothisCourt since Sec. 5 (2) (e), Art. VIII of the Constitution includes in the enumeration of cases within its jurisdiction all cases in which only an error or question of law isinvolved. Rule43ofthe1997RulesofCivilProcedureconstitutesan exceptiontotheaforesaidgeneralruleonappeals. Rule43providesforan instance where an appellate review solely on a question of law may be sought intheCAinsteadofthisCourt.Inthecaseatbar,thequestiononwhether Santos can retire underRA 660 or RA 8291 is undoubtedly aquestion of law becauseitcentersonwhatlawtoapplyinhiscaseconsideringthathehas previously retired from the government under a particular statute and that he wasre-employedbythegovernment.Thus,heavailedoftheproperremedy whichisapetitionforreviewunderRule43ofthe1997RulesofCivil Procedure.-Jose Santosvs.CommitteeonClaimsSettlement, and GovernmentServiceInsuranceSystem(GSIS),G.R.No.158071,April2, 2009 Therightdemandarbitrationispredicatedontheexistenceofanagreement to arbitrate between the parties except when arbitration is expressly required Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 13 of 48 by the law. Also, the party who demands the right of arbitration must be privy to the agreement uponwhich heinvokes his right, otherwise, he has no legal personality to pursue a claim.- Ormoc Sugarcane Planters Association, Inc. (OSPA),OccidentalLeyteFarmersMulti-PurposeCooperative,Inc. (OLFAMCA),UnifarmMulti-PurposeCooperative,Inc.(UNIFARM)andOrmocNorthDistrictIrrigationMulti-PurposeCooperative,Inc. (ONDIMCO), vs. The Court Of Appeals, Hideco Sugar Milling Co., Inc., and Ormoc Sugar Milling Co., Inc., G.R. No. 156660, August 24, 2009 TheSupremeCourtrespectsthefindingsoftheOmbudsmanbecauseitisan independent body tasked to investigate complaints against public officials and is meant to be free from influence from the judiciary. ThedecisionoftheOmbudsmanonacomplaintinvolvingthefindingof probable cause in criminal cases involving public officials may be reviewed by the Supreme Court via Rule 65 and not Rule 43. Petition for review under Rule 43asmodeofreviewonlyappliestodecisionsoftheOmbusmanover administrativecases.-ErnestoFrancisco,Jr.vs.OmbudsmanAnianoA. Desierto et al., G. R. No. 154117, October 2, 2009 There is no violation of the doctrine of hierarchy of courts where a decision of theRegionalTrialCourt(RTC)isappealedtotheSupremeCourtbypetition for review on certiorari under Rule 45, raising only questions of law. Dismissal is not the remedy for misjoinder or nonjoinder of parties. Theownerofthepropertyisnotanindispensablepartyinanactionfor expropriation.Failuretoimpleadanindispensablepartyisnotagroundfor the dismissal of an actionthe remedy is to implead the nonparty claimed to be indispensable A declaration of heirship cannot be made in an ordinary civil action such as an action for reconveyance, but must only be made in a special proceeding, for it involvestheestablishmentofastatusorrightWhiletheappropriatespecial proceeding for declaration of heirship would be the settlement of the estate of thedecedent,nonetheless,anactionforquietingoftitleisalsoaspecial proceeding,specificallygovernedbyRule63oftheRulesofCourton declaratoryreliefandsimilarremedies.-Republicofthe Philippinesvs. Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 14 of 48 Hon. Mamindiara P. Mangotara, in his capacity as Presiding Judge of the RegionalTrialCourt,Branch1,IliganCity,LanaodelNorte,andMaria CristinaFertilizerCorporation,andthePhilippineNationalBank,G.R. No. 170375, July 7, 2010 UnderSupremeCourtCircularNo.562000,incaseamotionfor reconsideration of the judgment, order, or resolution sought to be assailed has been filed, the 60-day period to file a petition for certiorari shall be computed fromnoticeofthedenialofsuchmotion.-Coca-ColaBottlersPhilippines, Inc. vs. Angel U. Del Villar, G.R. No. 163091, October 6, 2010 It is the inadequacy, not the mere absence of all other legal remedies andthe dangeroffailureofjusticewithoutthewritthatmustusuallydeterminethe proprietyofcertiorari.-LandBankofthePhilippinesvs.SpousesJoelR. UmandapandFelicidadD.Umandap,G.R.No.166298,November17, 2010 Section1,Rule45oftheRulesofCourtcategoricallystatesthatthepetition filed thereunder shall raise only questions of law, which must be distinctly set forth.Thisrule,however,admitsofcertainexceptions,oneofwhichiswhen thefindingsoftheCourtofAppealsarecontrarytothoseofthetrialcourt. - Cebu Bionic Builders Supply, Inc. and Lydia Sia vs. Development Bank Of ThePhilippines,JoseToChip,PatricioYapandRogerBalila,G.R.No. 154366, November 17, 2010 Whenapartyadoptsanimproperremedy,hispetitionmaybedismissed outright.Nevertheless,theacceptanceofapetition for certiorari, as well as the grant of due course thereto is,ingeneral, addressedto the sound discretion of the court. The provisions of the Rules of Court,whicharetechnicalrules,mayberelaxedincertainexceptional situations. Wherearigidapplicationoftherulethat certiorari cannotbea substitute for appeal will result in amanifest failure or miscarriage of justice, itiswithinourpowertosuspendtherulesorexemptaparticularcasefrom itsoperation.-SpousesRuben and MyrnaLeynesvs.FormerTenth DivisionoftheCourtofAppeals,RegionalTrialCourt,Branch21, Bansalan,DavaoDelSur,MunicipalCircuitTrialCourt,Branch1, Bansalan,DavaoDelSur, andSpousesGualberto&ReneCabahug-Superales, G.R. No. 154462, January 19, 2011 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 15 of 48 In a special civil action for certiorari, the Court of Appeals has ample authority toreceivenewevidenceandperformanyactnecessarytoresolvefactual issues. - Spouses Rogelio Marcelo and Milagros Marcelo vs. LBC Bank, G.R. No. 183575, April 11, 2011 ThepetitionunderRule45mustnotinvolvethecalibrationoftheprobative valueoftheevidencepresented.Inaddition,thefactsofthecasemustbe undisputed,andtheonlyissuethatshouldbeleftfortheCourttodecideis whether or not the conclusion drawn by the CA from a certain set of facts was appropriate. - Republic of the Philippines, represented by the Chief of the PhilippineNationalPolicevs.ThiThuThuyT.DeGuzman,G.R.No. 175021, June 15, 2011 The appointments made by respondent Loyola could not be considered grave misconductanddishonesty.Therewerevacantpositionscauseadbythe creationofpositionsandthesevacanciesshouldbefilledup.Thereis misconduct if there is a transgression of some established and definite rule of action. In the case, evidence show that respondents Loyolas did not transgress some definite rule of action. Had there been a transgression in the creation of positionsandappointments,theCivilServiceCommissionshouldhaveso statedwhentheappointmentsweresubmittedforapproval.-EloisaL. Tolentinovs.Atty. Roy M. Loyola et al., G.R. No. 153809, July 27, 2011 The rules of procedure are mere tools designed to facilitate the attainment of justice.Theirstrictandrigidapplicationespeciallyontechnicalmatters, whichtendstofrustrateratherthanpromotesubstantialjustice,mustbe avoided. Even the Revised Rules of Court envision this liberality. Technicality, whenitdesertsitsproperofficeasanaidtojusticeandbecomesitsgreat hindranceandchiefenemy,deservesscantconsiderationfromthecourts.- Heirs of Rodolfo Crisostomo (Euprocinia, Royce and Irish Crisostomo) vs. RudexInternationalDevelopmentCorporation,G.R.No.176129,August 24, 2011 Thebasicruleisthatfactualquestionsarebeyondtheprovinceofthe Supreme Court, because onlyquestions of law maybe raisedinapetition for review. However,inexceptionalcases,theSupremeCourthastaken Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 16 of 48 cognizanceofquestionsoffactinordertoresolvelegalissues,suchaswhen therewaspalpableerrororagravemisapprehensionoffactsbythelower court.-GemmaOng a.k.a. MariaTeresaGemmaCatacutanvs.Peopleof the Philippines, G.R. No. 169440, November 23, 2011 A question of law arises when there is doubt as to what the law is on a certain state of facts, while there is a question of fact when the doubt arises as to the truthorfalsityoftheallegedfacts.Foraquestiontobeoneoflaw,thesame mustnotinvolveanexaminationoftheprobativevalueoftheevidence presented by the litigants or any of them. The resolution of the issue must rest solelyonwhatthelawprovidesonthegivensetofcircumstances.Onceitis clearthattheissueinvitesareviewoftheevidencepresented,thequestion posed is one of fact. Thus, the test of whether a question is one of law or of fact isnottheappellationgiventosuchquestionbythepartyraisingthesame; rather,itiswhethertheappellatecourtcandeterminetheissueraised without reviewing or evaluating the evidence, in which case, it is a question of law; otherwise it is a question of fact. - Felimon Manguiob vs. Judge Paul T. Arcangel,RTC,Branch12,DavaoCityandAlejandraVelasco,G.R.No. 152262, February 15, 2012 Likeallrules,proceduralrulesshouldbefollowedexceptonlywhen,forthe mostpersuasiveofreasons,theymayberelaxedtorelievealitigantofan injusticenotcommensuratewiththedegreeofhisthoughtlessnessinnot complying with the prescribed procedure. - Spouses Jesus Dycoco and Joela E. Dycoco vs.The Honorable Court of Appeals, Nelly Siapno-Sanchez and Inocencio Berma, G.R. No. 147257, July 31, 2013 TimeandagaintheSupremeCourthasdeclaredthattherighttoappealis neitheranaturalrightnorapartofdueprocess.Anyoneseeking exemption fromtheapplicationofthereglementaryperiodforfilinganappealhasthe burdenofprovingtheexistenceofexceptionallymeritoriousinstances warrantingsuchdeviation.-RhodoraPrietovs.AlpadiDevelopment Corporation, G.R. No. 191025, July 31, 2013 It is already a well-established rule that the Court, in the exercise of its power ofreviewunderRule45oftheRulesofCourt,isnotatrieroffactsanddoes notnormallyembarkonare-examinationoftheevidencepresentedbythe Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 17 of 48 contending parties during the trial of the case, considering that the findings of facts of the Court of Appeals are conclusive and binding on the Court. Thisrule,however,admitsofexceptionsasrecognizedbyjurisprudence,to wit: (1) [W]hen the findings are grounded entirely on speculation, surmises or conjectures;(2)whentheinferencemadeismanifestlymistaken,absurdor impossible;(3)whenthereisgraveabuseofdiscretion;(4)whenthe judgment is based on misapprehension of facts; (5) when the findings of facts areconflicting;(6)wheninmakingitsfindingstheCourtofAppealswent beyond the issues of the case, or its findings are contrary to the admissions of both the appellant and the appellee; (7) when the findings are contrary to the trialcourt;(8)whenthefindingsareconclusionswithoutcitationofspecific evidence on which they are based; (9) when the facts set forth in the petition aswellasinthepetitionersmainandreplybriefsarenotdisputedbythe respondent;(10)whenthefindingsoffactarepremisedonthesupposed absenceofevidenceandcontradictedbytheevidenceonrecord;and(11) whentheCourtofAppealsmanifestlyoverlookedcertainrelevantfactsnot disputed by the parties, which, if properly considered, would justify a different conclusion. - Republic of the Philippines Bureau of Forest Development vs. Vicente Roxas and the Register of Deeds of Oriental Mindoro, G.R. No. 157988, December 11, 2013 Theaccused,arrestedthroughabuy-bustoperationofthepolice,is questioningthenoncompliancewiththeruleonchainofcustodyofseized illegal drugs but the accused only raised such objection on appeal at the CA. SC ruled that objection toevidence cannot be raisedfor the first time on appeal; when a party desires the court to reject the evidence offered, he must so state in the form of objection. Without such objection he cannot raise the question forthefirsttimeonappeal.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs. Joselito Morate y Tarnate, G.R. No. 201156, January 29, 2014 Aquestionoffactcannotproperlyberaisedinapetitionforreviewunder Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.This petition of the union now before this Court isapetitionforreviewunderRule45oftheRulesofCourt.Theexistenceof badfaithisaquestionoffactandisevidentiary. Thecrucialquestionof whetherornotapartyhasmethisstatutorydutytobargainingoodfaith typically turns on the facts of the individual case, and good faith or bad faith is aninferencetobedrawnfromthefacts.Theissueofwhethertherewas Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 18 of 48 already deadlock between the union and the company is likewise a question of fact.-TabangaoShellRefineryEmployeesAssociationvs.PilipinasShell Petroleum Corporation, G.R. No. 170007, April 7, 2014 PERIOD TO APPEAL Jurisprudencehassettledthefreshperiodrule,accordingtowhich,an ordinaryappealfromtheRegionalTrialCourt(RTC)totheCourt ofAppeals, under Section 3 of Rule 41 of the Rules ofCourt, shall be taken within fifteen (15)dayseitherfromreceiptoftheoriginaljudgmentofthetrialcourtor fromreceiptofthefinalorderofthetrialcourtdismissingordenyingthe motionfornewtrialormotionforreconsideration.ErmelindaC.Manaloto, AuroraJ.Cifra,FlordelizaJ.Arcilla,LourdesJ.Catalan,EthelindaJ.Holt, BienvenidoR.Jongco,ArtemioR.Jongco,Jr.andJoelJongcovs.Ismael Veloso III, G.R. No. 171365, October 6, 2010 EFFECT OF DEATH PENDING APPEAL The death of an accused pending his appeal extinguished not only his criminal liabilities but also his civil liabilities solely arising from or based on thecrime committed.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.DomingoPaniterce,G.R.No. 186382, April 5, 2010 Thedeathoftheaccusedpendingappealofhisconvictionextinguisheshis criminalliability,aswellashiscivilliabilityexdelicto.-Peopleofthe Philippinesvs.AnastacioAmistosoyBroca,G.R.No.201447,August28, 2013 EXECUTION, SATISFACTION AND EFFECTS OF JUDGEMENTS Respondentsheriffdepartedfromtheprocedureprescribedby theRulesin thecollectionofpaymentforsheriffsexpensesinimplementingawritof execution. Respondentasanofficerofthecourtshouldhaveshownahigh degreeofprofessionalismintheperformanceofhisduties.Instead,hefailed tocomplywithhisdutiesunderthelawandtoobserveproperprocedure dictatedbytherules.-JorgeQ.Govs.VinezA.Hortaleza,A.M.No.P05-1971. June 26, 2008 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 19 of 48 Itisalsowellsettledthatthecourtisauthorizedtomodifyoraltera judgmentafterthesamehasbecomeexecutory,wheneverthecircumstances transpire rendering itsexecution unjust and equitable. - California Bus Lines, Inc., vs. Court of Appeals, et.al, G.R. No. 145408, August 20, 2008 Itissettledthatwhenafinaljudgmentisexecutory,itbecomesimmutable and unalterable. The judgment may no longer be modified in any respect, even ifthemodificationismeanttocorrectwhatisperceivedtobeanerroneous conclusionoffactorlaw,andregardlessofwhetherthemodificationis attempted to be made by the court rendering it or by the highest Court of the land.-GovernmentServiceInsuranceSystemvs.TheRegionalTrial CourtOfPasigCity,Branch71,CresencianoRabello,Jr.,SheriffIV,RTC-Branch71,PasigCity;andEduardoM.Santiago,substitutedbyhis widow,RosarioEnriquezVda.DeSantiago,G.R.No.175393,December 18 2009 Itissettledthatawritofexecutionmustconformsubstantiallytoevery essentialparticularofthejudgmentpromulgated.Executionnotinharmony with the judgment is bereftof validity. Itmust conform, more particularly, to thatordainedordecreedinthedispositiveportionofthedecision.- UniversityPhysiciansServices,Incorporatedvs.MarianClinics,Inc.and Dr. Lourdes Mabanta, G.R. No. 152303, September 1, 2010 SheriffPascuatotallyignoredtheestablishedproceduralruleslaiddown under Section 9, Rule 39 of the Rules of Court when he did not give Juanito the opportunity to either pay his obligation under in cash, certified bank check, or anyothermodeofpaymentacceptabletoPanganiban;ortochoosewhichof his property may be levied upon to satisfy the same judgment, Sheriff Pascua immediately levied upon the vehicle that belonged to Juanitos wife, Yolanda. - Yolanda Leachon Corpuz vs. SergioV. Pascua, SheriffIII.Municipal Trial CourtinCities,Trece Martires City, Cavite,A.M.No.P-11-2972, September 28, 2011 To justify the stay of immediate execution, the supervening events must have a directeffectonthematteralreadylitigatedandsettled. Or,thesupervening events must create a substantial change in the rights or relations of the parties whichwouldrenderexecutionofafinaljudgmentunjust,impossibleor Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 20 of 48 inequitable making it imperative to stay immediate execution in the interest of justice.-SpousesJesseCachoperoandBemaCachoperovs.Rachel Celestial, G.R. No. 146754, March 21, 2012 Section 21, Rule 70 provides that the judgment of the RTC in ejectment cases appealed to it shall be immediately executory and can be enforced despite the perfection of an appeal to a higher court.To avoid such immediate execution, the defendant may appeal said judgment to the CA and therein apply for a writ ofpreliminaryinjunction.Inthiscase,thedecisionsoftheMTCC,oftheRTC, andoftheCA,unanimouslyrecognizedtherightoftheATOtopossessionof thepropertyandthecorrespondingobligationofMiaquetoimmediately vacate the subject premises. This means that the MTCC, the RTC, and the Court ofAppealsallruledthatMiaquedoesnothaveanyrighttocontinuein possessionofthesaidpremises.ItisthereforepuzzlinghowtheCourtof Appealsjustifieditsissuanceofthewritofpreliminaryinjunctionwiththe sweeping statement that Miaque "appears to have a clear legal right to hold on to the premises leased by him from ATO at least until such time when he shall have been duly ejected therefrom by a writ of execution of judgment caused to be issued by the MTCC. - Air Transportation Office (ATO) vs. Hon. Court Of Appeals(NineteenthDivision)andBernieG.Miaque,G.R.No.173616, June 25, 2014 PROVISIONAL REMEDIES Preliminary Injunction The doctrine of non-interference is premised on the principle that a judgment ofacourtofcompetentjurisdictionmaynotbeopened,modifiedorvacated by any court of concurrent jurisdiction. Thepurposeofapreliminaryinjunctionistopreventthreatenedor continuous irremediable injury to some of the parties before theirclaims can bethoroughlyadjudicatedandtobeentitledtoaninjunctivewrit,the petitionerhastheburdentoestablish (a) arightin esse oraclearand unmistakable right to be protected; (b) a violation of that right; (c) thatthere isanurgentandpermanentactandurgentnecessityforthewrittoprevent seriousdamage.-JimmyT.Govs.TheClerkofCourtAndEx-Officio ProvincialSheriffofNegrosOccidental,IldefonsoM.Villanueva,Jr.,and Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 21 of 48 SheriffDioscoroF.Caponpon,Jr.andMulti-LuckCorporation,G.R.No. 154623, March 13, 2009 Althoughasageneralrule,acourtshouldnotbymeansofapreliminary injunction,transferpropertyinlitigationfromthepossessionofonepartyto another,thisruleadmitsofsomeexceptions.Forexample,whenthereisa clearfindingofownershipandpossessionofthelandorunlessthesubject propertyiscoveredbyatorrenstitlepointingtooneofthepartiesasthe undisputed owner. In the case at bar, the intervenors Valdez and Malvar have establishedaclearandlegalrightofownershipandpossessionandthe allegedTCTofthedefendantsspousesdelaRosaisnon-existent.-Sps. Gonzalo T. Dela Rosa & Cristeta Dela Rosa vs. Heirs of Juan Valdez and SpousesPotencianoMalvarandLourdesMalvar,G.R.No.159101,July 27, 2011 Writofinjunctionwouldissue:[U]ponthesatisfactionoftworequisites, namely:(1)theexistenceofarighttobeprotected;and(2)actswhichare violative of saidright. In the absence of a clear legal right, the issuance of the injunctivereliefconstitutesgraveabuseofdiscretion.Injunctionisnot designed to protect contingent or future rights. Where the complainants right is doubtful or disputed, injunction is not proper. The possibility of irreparable damage without proof of actual existing right is not a ground for an injunction. -BPPhilippines,Inc.(FormerlyBurmahCastrolPhilippines,Inc.)vs. Clark Trading Corporation, G.R. No. 175284, September 19, 2012 For the writ to issue, two requisites must be present, namely, the existence of the right to be protected, andthat the facts againstwhich the injunction is to bedirectedareviolativeofsaidright.Awritofpreliminaryinjunctionisan extraordinaryeventwhichmustbegrantedonlyinthefaceofactualand existing substantial rights. The duty of the court taking cognizance of a prayer forawritofpreliminaryinjunctionistodeterminewhethertherequisites necessary for the grant of an injunction are present in the case before it. In the absence of the same, and where facts are shown to be wanting in bringing the matter within the conditions for its issuance, the ancillary writ must be struck down for having been rendered in grave abuse of discretion. Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 22 of 48 Thedeterminationofthecompletenessorsufficiencyoftheformofthe petition,includingtherelevantandpertinentdocumentswhichhavetobe attached to it, is largely left to the discretion of the court taking cognizance of thepetition,inthiscasetheCourtofAppeals.Ifthepetitionisinsufficientin formandsubstance,thesamemaybeforthwithdismissedwithoutfurther proceedings. That is the import of Section 6, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court. In petitions for certiorari before the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeals, theprovisionsofsection2,Rule56,shallbeobserved.Beforegivingdue coursethereto,thecourtmayrequiretherespondentstofiletheircomment to, and not a motion to dismiss, the petition. Thereafter, the court may require thefilingofareplyandsuchotherresponsiveorotherpleadingsasitmay deem necessary and proper. - Palm Tree Estates, Inc. and Belle Air Golf and Country Club, Inc., vs.Philippine Bank, G.R. No. 159370, October 3, 2012 Awritofpreliminaryinjunctionisanextraordinaryeventwhichmustbe grantedonlyinthefaceofactualandexistingsubstantialrights.Thedutyof the court taking cognizance of a prayer for a writ of preliminary injunction is todeterminewhethertherequisitesnecessaryforthegrantofaninjunction arepresentinthecasebeforeit. Inthisconnection,awritofpreliminary injunctionisissuedtopreservethestatusquoante,upontheapplicants showingoftwoimportantrequisiteconditions,namely:(1)therighttobe protectedexistsprimafacie,and(2)theactssoughttobeenjoinedare violativeofthatright.Itmustbeproventhattheviolationsoughttobe preventedwouldcauseanirreparableinjury.-SolidBuilders,Inc.and MedinaFoodsIndustries,Inc.vs.ChinaBankingCorporation,G.R.No. 179665, April 3, 2013 STATUS QUO ANTE ORDER Astatusquoorderismerelyintendedtomaintainthelast,actual,peaceable anduncontestedstateofthingswhichprecededthecontroversy,notto provide mandatory or injunctive relief. In this case, it cannot be applied when therespondentwasalreadyremovedpriortothefilingofthecase.-Bro. BernardOca,etal.,vs.LauritaCustodio,G.R.No.174996,December03, 2014 SPECIAL CIVIL ACTIONS Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 23 of 48 DECLARATORY RELIEFS PetitionersErlindaReyesandRosemarieMatienzoassailed via Declaratory ReliefunderRule63oftheRulesofCourt,theordersofthetrialcourts denyingtheirmotionstosuspendproceedings. Thisrecoursebypetitioners, unfortunately, cannot be countenanced since a court order is not one of those subjects to be examined under Rule 63. A petition for declaratory relief cannot properlyhaveacourtdecisionasitssubjectmatter. -ErlindaReyesand RosemarieMatienzovs.Hon.JudgeBelenB.Ortiz,G.R.No. 137794, August 11, 2010 PROHIBITION WhileitisdesirablethattheRulesofCourtbefaithfullyobserved,courtsshould notbeobsessivelystrictovertheoccasionallapsesoflitigants.Givenagood reason,thetrialcourtshouldsetasideitsorderofdefault,constantlybearingin mindthatitistheexceptionandnottheruleoftheday.-RNDevelopment Corporation vs. A.I.I. System, Inc., G.R. No. 166104. June 26, 2008 Beforeresortingtotheremedyofprohibition,thereshouldbe"noappealor any other plain, speedy, and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law." - Spouses Alvin Guerrero and Mercury M. Guerrero vs. Hon. Lorna Navarro Domingo, G.R. No. 156142, March 23, 2011 MANDAMUS Mandamusisemployedtocompeltheperformance,whenrefused,ofa ministerialduty,butnottocompeltheperformanceofadiscretionaryduty. The legal right to the performance of the particular act sought to be compelled must be clear and complete. Otherwise, where the right sought to be enforced is in substantial doubt or dispute, mandamus cannot issue. Thus, the issuance by the LRA officials of a decree of registration is not a purely ministerial duty incaseswheretheyfindthatsuchwouldresulttothedoubletitlingofthe sameparcelofland.-FidelaR.Angelesvs.TheSecretaryofJustice,The Administrator,LandRegistrationAuthority,TheRegisterofDeedsof Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 24 of 48 QuezonCity,andSenatorTeofistoT.Guingona,Jr.,G.R.No.142549, March 9, 2010 FORECLOSURE OF REAL ESTATE MORTGAGE Service of Notice of Sale Thewrittennoticeofsaletothejudgmentobligorneednotbepersonally served on the judgment obligor himself as it may be served on his counsel, or byleavingthenoticeinhisofficewithhisclerkorapersonhavingcharge thereof.-Sps.ElizabethS.Tagle&ErnestoR.Taglevs.Hon.Courtof Appeals,RTC,QuezonCity,Branch97,Sps.FedericoandRosamyrna Carandang and Sheriff Carol Bulacan, G.R. No. 162738, July 8, 2009 FORCIBLE ENTRY AND UNLAWFUL DETAINER Itissettled thatfor thepurposeofbringinganejectmentsuit,tworequisites must concur, namely: (1) there must be failure to pay rentor to comply with theconditionsoftheleaseand(2)theremustbedemandbothtopayorto complyandvacatewithintheperiodsspecifiedinSection2,particularly,15 daysinthecaseoflandand5daysinthecaseofbuildings.-Charles Limbauan vs. Faustino Acosta, G.R. No. 148606. June 30, 2008 SETTLEMENT OF ESTATE Althoughmattersrelatingtotherightsoffiliationandheirshipmustbe ventilated in a special proceeding, it would be more practical to dispense with a separate special proceeding for the determination of the status of the parties ifitappearsthatthereisonlyonepropertybeingclaimedbythecontending parties.-HeirsofTeofiloGabatanvs.CourtOfAppealsandLourdes Pacana, G.R. No. 150206, March 13, 2009 GUARDIANSHIP SPECIAL PROCEEDINGS Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 25 of 48 A reading of Section 2, Rule 92 of the Rules of Court tells us that persons who, thoughofsoundmindbutbyreasonofage,disease,weakmindorother similarcauses,areincapableoftakingcareofthemselvesandtheirproperty withoutoutsideaidareconsideredasincompetentswhomayproperlybe placedunderguardianship.-NiloOropesavs.CiriloOropesa,G.R.No. 184528, April 25, 2012 WRIT OF AMPARO TheconstitutionalrighttotravelisnotcoveredbytheRuleontheWritof Amparo.TheWritofAmparocoverstherighttolife,liberty,andsecurity.A persons right to travel is subject to the usual constraints imposed by the very necessityofsafeguardingthesystemofjustice.-ReverendFatherRobert Reyes vs. Court of Appeals, Secretary Raul M. Gonzales, in his capacity as theSecretaryofJustice,andCommissionerMarcelinoC.Libanan,inhis capacityastheCommissioneroftheBureauofImmigration,G.R.No. 182161, December 03 2009

SUFFICIENCY OF COMPLAINT OR INFORMATION Inrapecases,theaccusedcannotcapitalizeontheinconsistenciesin testimonies of the witnesses when such inconsistencies cover inconsequential details such as the time or place of commission because they do not form part of the elements of the offense. He cannot also bank on the delay of the filing of the offense because it is established in jurisprudence that the delay is justified due to victims fear of public stigma. - People of the Philippines vs. Richard O. Sarcia, G.R. No. 169641, September 10, 2009 Incasesofrape,thediscrepanciesinthetestimonyofthevictimastothe dates of the commission of the offense do not negate the finding of guilt. What ismaterialintheoffenseistheoccurrenceofrapeandnotthedateof commission.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.AlbertoBuban,G.R.No. 172710, October 30, 2009 CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 26 of 48 TheInformationissufficientifitcontainsthefullnameoftheaccused,the designationoftheoffensegivenbythestatute,theactsoromissions constituting the offense, the name of the offended party, the approximate date, and the place of the offense. - People of the Philippines vs. Joseph Asilan y Tabornal, G.R. No. 188322, April 11, 2012 DESIGNATION OF OFFENSE Inacaseofmurder,qualifyingcircumstancesneednotbeprecededby descriptivewordssuchasqualifyingorqualifiedbytoproperlyqualifyan offense. Section 8 of the Rules of Criminal Procedure does not require the use ofsuchwordstorefertothecircumstanceswhichraisethecategoryofan offense. Itisnottheuseofthewordsqualifyingorqualifiedbythatraisesa crimetoahighercategory,butthespecificallegationofanattendant circumstancewhichaddstheessentialelementraisingthecrimetoahigher category. Itissufficientthatthequalifyingcircumstancesbespecifiedinthe Information to apprise the accused of the charges against him to enable him to preparefullyforhisdefense,thusprecludingsurprisesduringtrial.-People of the Philippines vs. Rene Rosas, G.R. No. 177825, October 24, 2008 PROSECUTION OF CIVIL ACTIONS Deathoftheaccusedpendingappealofhisconvictionextinguisheshis criminalliabilityaswellasthecivilliabilitybasedsolelythereon.Corollary, the claim for civil liability survives notwithstanding the death of the accused, if the same may also be predicated on a source of obligation other than delict, in which case an action for recovery therefor may be pursued but only by way of filing a separate civil action andsubject to Section 1, Rule 111 of the 1985 RulesonCriminalProcedureasamended.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs. Jaime Ayochok y Tauli, G.R. No. 175784, August 25, 2010 Thedeathoftheaccusedpriortofinaljudgmentterminateshiscriminal liability and only the civil liability directly arising from and based solely on the offensecommitted,i.e.,civilliability exdelicto insensostrictiore.-Dante HernandezDatuvs.PeopleofthePhilippines,G.R.No. 169718, December 13, 2010 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 27 of 48 Olacosdeathduringthependencyofherappeal,extinguishednotonlyher criminalliabilityforqualifiedtheftcommittedagainstprivatecomplainant RubenVinluan,butalsohercivilliability,particularlytheawardforactual damages,solelyarisingfromorbasedonsaidcrime.-Peopleofthe Philippines vs. Juliet Olaco y Poler, G.R. No. 197042, October 17, 2011 PREJUDICIAL QUESTION Thecourtinwhichanactionispendingmay,intheexerciseofasound discretion, upon proper application for a stay of that action, hold the action in abeyance to abide the outcome of another pending in another court, especially where the parties andthe issuesare the same,for there is power inherent in every court to control the disposition of causes on its dockets with economy of timeandeffortforitself,forcounsel,andforlitigants.Wheretherightsof partiestothesecondactioncannotbeproperlydetermineduntilthe questionsraisedinthefirstactionaresettledthesecondactionshouldbe stayed. - Sta. Lucia Realty & Development vs. City of Pasig, Municipality of Cainta, Province of Rizal, Intervenor, G.R. No. 166838, June 15, 2011 ARREST Settled is the rule that no arrest, search or seizure can be made without a valid warrantissuedbyacompetentjudicialauthority. Nevertheless,the constitutionalproscriptionagainstwarrantlesssearchesandseizuresadmits of certain legal and judicial exceptions. On the other hand, Section 5, Rule 113 oftheRulesofCourtprovidesthatalawfularrestwithoutawarrantmaybe madebyapeaceofficeroraprivateperson.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs. Nelida Dequina y Dimapanan, Joselito Jundoc y Japitana & Nora Jingabo y Cruz, G.R. No. 177570, January 19, 2011 Withoutvalidjustificationfortheinflagrantedelictoarrestsofaccused-appellants,thesearchofaccused-appellantspersonsincidentaltosaid arrests,andtheeventualseizureoftheshabufromaccused-appellants possession,arealsoconsideredunlawfuland,thus,theseizedshabuis excludedinevidenceasfruitofapoisonoustree.Withoutthecorpusdelicti for thecrime charged, then the acquittal of accused-appellants isinevitable. - People of the Philippines vs. Rolando S. Delos Reyes, alias "Botong," and Raymundo G. Reyes, alias "Mac-Mac," G.R. No. 174774, August 31, 2011 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 28 of 48 The court shall not order the arrest of the accused except for failure to appear wheneverrequired.Whentwocasesinvolvesameaccused,proceedingsin onecase,suchastheissuanceof awarrantofarrest,shouldnotbeextended or made applicable to the other. Moreover,acasewhichhasnotbeenpreviouslyreferredtotheLupong Tagapamayapawhenrequiredtoforconciliationshallbedismissedwithout prejudice.Amotiontodismissonthegroundoffailuretocomplywiththe Lupon requirement is an exception to the pleadings prohibited by the Revised Rule on Summary Procedure. - Gerlie M. Uy and Ma. Consolacion T. Bascug vs. Judge Erwin B. Javellana, Municipal Trial Court, La Castellana, Negros Occidental, A.M. No. MTJ-07-1666, September 5, 2012 Non-flight does not connote innocence. - People of the Philippines vs. Ramil Mores, G.R. No. 189846, June 26, 2013 Anyobjectioninvolvingawarrantofarrestortheprocedurebywhichthe court acquired jurisdiction of the person of the accusedmust be made before heentershisplea;otherwise,theobjectionisdeemedwaived.Nevertheless, theillegalarrestofanaccusedisnotsufficientcauseforsettingasideavalid judgmentrendereduponasufficientcomplaintafteratrialfreefromerror.- PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.RobertoVelasco,G.R.No.190318, November 27, 2013 RIGHTS OF THE ACCUSED Illegal Search and Warrant In Microsoft Corporation v. Maxicorp, Inc., this Court held that the quantum of evidencerequiredtoproveprobablecauseisnotthesamequantumof evidenceneededtoestablishproofbeyondreasonabledoubtwhichis requiredinacriminalcasethatmaybesubsequentlyfiled.Weruledinthis case that the determination of probable cause does not call for the application ofrulesandstandardsofproofthatajudgmentofconvictionrequiresafter trialonthemerits.Asimpliedbythewordsthemselves,probablecauseis concernedwithprobability,notabsoluteorevenmoralcertainty.The prosecutionneednotpresentatthisstageproofbeyondreasonabledoubt. Thestandardsofjudgmentarethoseofareasonablyprudentman,notthe Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 29 of 48 exactingcalibrationsofajudgeafterafull-blowntrial.Takentogether,the aforementionedpiecesofevidencearemorethansufficienttosupporta finding thattest calls wereindeedmade by PLDTs witnesses usingMabuhay cardwithPINcodenumber3321479224and,moreimportantly,that probable cause necessary to engender a belief that HPS Corporation, et al. had probably committed the crime of Theft through illegal ISR activities exists. To reiterate, evidence to show probable cause to issue a search warrantmust be distinguishedfromproofbeyondreasonabledoubtwhich,atthisjunctureof thecriminalcase,isnotrequired.-HPSSoftwareandCommunications Corp.andHymanYapvs.PLDT,G.R.No.170217andG.R.No.170694, December 10, 2012 Wheretheaccusedischargedofillegalpossessionofprohibiteddrugsand nowquestioningthelegalityofhisarrestasthesamewasdonewithouta validsearchwarrantandwarrantofarrest,theCourtruledthattheaccused wascaughtinflagrantedelictoandhadreiteratedthatwarrantlesssearches andseizureshavelongbeendeemedpermissiblebyjurisprudencein instancesof(1)searchofmovingvehicles,(2)seizureinplainview,(3) customssearches,(4)waiverorconsentedsearches,(5)stopandfrisk situations(Terrysearch),andsearchincidentaltoalawfularrest.Thelast includes a valid warrantless arrest, for, while as a rule, an arrest is considered legitimate[if]effectedwithavalidwarrantofarrest,theRulesofCourt recognize permissible warrantless arrest, to wit: (1) arrest in flagrante delicto, (2) arrest effected in hot pursuit, and (3) arrest of escaped prisoners. - People ofthePhilippinesvs.DonaldVasquezySandigan,G.R.No.200304, January 15, 2014 ARRAIGNMENT AND PLEA BARGAINING It is not enough to inquire as to the voluntarinessof the plea; thecourt must explain fully to the accusedthatonce convicted, he couldbe metedthe death penalty;thatdeathisasingleandindivisiblepenaltyandwillbeimposed regardlessofanymitigatingcircumstancethatmayhaveattendedthe commission of the felony. Thus, the importance of the courts obligation cannot be overemphasized, for one cannot dispel the possibility that the accused may havebeenledtobelievethatduetohisvoluntarypleaofguilty,hemaybe imposeda lesser penalty, which was precisely what happened here. - People Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 30 of 48 ofthePhilippinesvs.JoselitoA.Lopit,G.R.No.177742,December17, 2008 DEMURRER TO EVIDENCE RespondentMayorHenryBarrerawaschargedforviolationofantigraftand corruptpracticesforoustingthevendorsinthemarkethoweverhefiled demurrer to evidence. The court granted demurrer to evidence for elements of suchcrimewasnotpresentinthecasespecificallymanifestpartiality.Foran act to beconsidered as exhibiting manifest partiality, there must be a showing of a clear, notorious or plain inclination or predilection to favor one side rather thantheother. Partialityissynonymouswithbiaswhichexcitesadisposition toseeandreportmattersastheyarewishedforratherthanasthey are. Evidentbadfaith, ontheotherhand,issomethingwhichdoesnotsimply connotebadjudgmentornegligence;itimputesadishonestpurposeorsome moralobliquityandconsciousdoingofawrong;abreachofswornduty throughsomemotiveorintentorillwill;Itpartakesofthenatureoffraud. - PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.TheHon.Sandiganbayan(4TH Div.)and Henry Barrera,, G.R. Nos. 153952-71 August 23, 2010 SEARCH WARRANT TheDirectorofNBImaydelegatehisdutyofsigningtheauthorizationto applyforsearchwarranttoasubordinate.Suchdelegationofdutyshallnot maketheapplicationortheresultingsearchwarrantnullandvoid. Furthermore, the Revised Rules on Criminal Procedure did not repeal A.M. No. 99-10-09-SC which authorized the Executive Judges and Vice Executive Judges oftheRTCsofManilaandQuezonCitytoactonallapplicationsforsearch warrantsinvolvingdangerousdrugswhichmaybeservedinplacesoutside their territorial jurisdiction. - Spouses Joel and Marietta Marimla vs. People of the Philippines and Hon. Omar T. Viola, RTC Judge, Branch 57, Angeles City, G.R. No. 158467, October 16, 2009 TuanwaschargedwithIllegalpossessionofdangerousdrugsandcontended thattheissuanceofsearchwarrantwasnotjustifiedfortheSearchWarrant didnotdescribewithparticularitytheplacetobesearched.Thecourtruled that a description of the place to be searched is sufficient if the officer serving thewarrantcan,withreasonableeffort,ascertainandidentifytheplace Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 31 of 48 intended and distinguish it from other places in the community. A designation ordescriptionthatpointsouttheplacetobesearchedtotheexclusionofall others,andoninquiryunerringlyleadsthepeaceofficerstoit,satisfiesthe constitutionalrequirementofdefiniteness.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs. Estela Tuan y Baludda, G.R. No. 176066 August 11, 2010 ADMISSIBILITY OF EVIDENCE Inresolvingtheadmissibilityofandrelyingonout-of-courtidentificationof suspects,courtshaveadoptedthetotalityofcircumstancestestwhich considersthefollowingfactors:(1)thewitnessopportunitytoviewthe criminalatthetimeofthecrime;(2)thewitnessdegreeofattentionatthat time;(3)theaccuracyofanypriordescriptiongivenbythewitness;(4)the levelofcertaintydemonstratedbythewitnessattheidentification;(5)the lengthoftimebetweenthecrimeandtheidentification;and,(6)the suggestiveness of the identification procedure. Itissettledthatanout-of-courtidentificationdoesnotnecessarilyforeclose theadmissibilityofanindependentin-courtidentificationandthat,even assuming that an out-of-court identification was tainted with irregularity, the subsequent identification in court cured any flaw that may have attended it. - People of the Philippines vs. Gerry SabanganandNoli Bornasal, G.R. No. 191722, December 11, 2013 The accused cannot claim that the evidence obtained from a search conducted incidenttoanarrestisinadmissiblebecauseitisviolativeoftheplainview doctrine.Theplainviewdoctrineonlyappliestocaseswherethearresting officerisnotsearchingforevidenceagainsttheaccused,butnonetheless inadvertentlycomesacrossanincriminatingobject.-Peopleofthe Philippines vs. Medario Calantiao y Dimalanta, G.R. No. 203984, June 18, 2014 CIRCUMSTANTIAL EVIDENCE EVIDENCE Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 32 of 48 ThiscircumstantialevidenceconstitutespositiveidentificationofGilasthe perpetratorofthecrimecharged,totheexclusionofothers.Shewasthe personwhohadthemotivetocommitthecrimeandtheseriesofevents following her threat to cause chaos and arson in her neighbourhood the fire thatstartedinherroom,andheractuationsandremarksduring,aswellas immediately before andafter the fire sufficiently points to Gil as the author of the said crime. Awell-entrenchedlegalprecept,thefactualfindingsofthetrialcourt,its calibrationofthetestimoniesofthewitnessesanditsassessmentoftheir probativeweightaregivenhighrespect,ifnotconclusiveeffect,unlessit ignored,misconstrued,misunderstoodormisinterpretedcogentfactsand circumstances of substance, which if considered, will alter the outcome of the caseandthesaidtrialcourtisinthebestpositiontoascertainandmeasure thesincerityandspontaneityofwitnessesthroughactualobservationofthe witnesses manner of testifying, demeanor and behaviour while in the witness box.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.JulieVillacortaGil,G.R.No.172468, October 15, 2008 Circumstantialevidenceissufficientforconvictionifthefollowingrequisites concur: (a) there is more than one circumstance; (b) the facts from which the inferencesarederivedhavebeenestablished;and(c)thecombinationofall thecircumstancesissuchastowarrantafindingofguiltbeyondreasonable doubt. InassessingtheprobativevalueofDNAevidence,courtsshould consider, interalia,thefollowingfactors:howthesampleswerecollected, howtheywerehandled,thepossibilityofcontaminationofthesamples,the procedurefollowedinanalyzingthesamples,whethertheproperstandards and procedures were followed in conducting the tests, and the qualification of the analyst who conducted the tests. - People of the Philippines vs. Alfredo Pascual y Ildefonso, G. R. No. 172326, January 19, 2009 TheTrialCourtcorrectlyconvictedtheaccusedofthecrimeofqualified Carnappingbasedoncircumstantialevidence,whenthecombinationof circumstancesareinterwoveninsuchawayastoleavenoreasonabledoubt as to the guilt of the accused. - People of the Philippines vs. Renato Lagat y Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 33 of 48 GawanA.K.A.RenatGawanandJamesPalalayyVillarosa,G.R.No. 187044, September 14, 2011 Theaccusedwasconvictedofrapewithhomicide.Theaccusedonappeal raisedtheissueoftheabsenceofdirectevidenceandthecredibilityofthe witnesses. In this regard, the Supreme Court held that circumstantial evidence mayberesortedtoestablishthecomplicityoftheperpetratorscrimewhen these are credible and sufficient, and could lead to the inescapable conclusion thattheappellantcommittedthe complexcrimeofrapewithhomicide.With respecttotheappellantscontentionthatthewitnessespresentedwerenot credible,theCourtreiteratedthejurisprudentialprincipleaffordinggreat respectandevenfinalitytothetrialcourtsassessmentofthecredibilityof witnessesespeciallyifthefactualfindingsareaffirmedbytheCourtof Appeals.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.BernestoDeLaCruz@Berning,G.R. No. 183091, June 19, 2013 Circumstantial evidence is that evidence which proves a fact or series of facts fromwhichthefactsinissuemaybeestablishedbyinference.Itconsistsof proofofcollateralfactsandcircumstancesfromwhichtheexistenceofthe mainfactmaybeinferredaccordingtoreasonandcommonexperience.- People of the Philippines vs. Ex-Mayor Carlos Estonilo, Sr., et al., G.R. No. 201565, October 13, 2014 PRESUMPTIONS Thefactthatadeedisnotarizedisnotaguaranteeofthevalidityofits contents.Thepresumptionofregularityofnotarizeddocumentsisnot absoluteandmayberebuttedbyclearandconvincingevidencetothe contrary.-VicenteManzano,Jr.vs.MarcelinoGarcia,G.R.No.179323, November 28, 2011 QUANTUM OF EVIDENCE (Substantial Evidence) ThisCourthasconsistentlyheldthatsubstantialevidenceisallthatisneededto support an administrative finding of factwhere the decision of the Ombudsman is notsupportedbysubstantialevidence,butbasedonspeculations,surmisesand conjectures, as in the present case, this Court finds sufficient reason to overturn the Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 34 of 48 same.-MaritaC.Bernaldovs.TheOmbudsmanandTheDepartmentOf Public Works and Highways, G.R. No. 156286, August 13, 2008 Theburdenofproofrestsuponthepartywhoassertstheaffirmativeofan issue.Andinlaborcases,thequantumofproofnecessaryissubstantial evidence, or such amount of relevant evidence which a reasonable mind might acceptasadequatetojustifyaconclusion.-WilfredoY.Antiquinavs. MagsaysayMaritimeCorporationand/orMasterbulk,Pte.,Ltd.,G.R.No. 168922, April 13, 2011 Administrativeproceedingsaregovernedbythe"substantialevidencerule." Otherwise stated, a finding of guilt in an administrative case would have to be sustainedforaslongasitissupportedbysubstantialevidencethatthe respondenthascommittedactsstatedinthecomplaint.Substantialevidence is more than a mere scintilla of evidence. It means such relevant evidence as a reasonablemindmightacceptasadequatetosupportaconclusion,evenif other minds equally reasonable might conceivably opine otherwise.

As a general rule, only questions of law may be raised in a petition for review oncertioraribecausetheCourtisnotatrieroffacts. Whensupportedby substantial evidence, the findings of fact of the Court of Appeals are conclusive andbindingonthepartiesandarenotreviewablebythisCourt,unlessthe casefallsunderanyofthefollowingrecognizedexceptions.-Officeofthe Ombudsmanvs.ArnelA.Bernardo,AttorneyV,BureauOfInternal Revenue (BIR), G.R. No. 181598, March 6, 2013 JUDICIAL ADMISSIONS It is well-settled that a judicial admission conclusively binds the party making it.Actsorfactsadmitteddonotrequireproofandcannotbecontradicted unlessitisshownthattheadmissionwasmadethroughpalpablemistakeor that no such admission was made. Viola Cahilig et al., vs. Hon. Eustaquio G. Terencio et al., G.R. No. 164470, November 28, 2011 BEST EVIDENCE RULE Although the best evidence rule admits of exceptions andthere are instances wherethepresentationofsecondaryevidencewouldbeallowed,suchas Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 35 of 48 whentheoriginalislostortheoriginalisapublicrecord,thebasisforthe presentationofsecondaryevidencemuststillbeestablished. -Heirsof TeofiloGabatanvs.CourtofAppealsandLourdesPacana,G.R.No. 150206, March 13, 2009 PAROLE EVIDENCE ACBAismorethanacontract;it isageneralizedcodetogovernamyriadof caseswhichthedraftsmencannotwhollyanticipate.Itcoversthewhole employment relationship and prescribes the rights and duties of the parties. If thetermsoftheCBAareclearandhavenodoubtupontheintentionofthe contractingparties,theliteralmeaningofitsstipulationshallprevail. However, if the CBA imports ambiguity, then the parties intention as shown by their conduct, words, actions and deeds prior to, during, and after executing the agreement, must be ascertained. That there is an apparent ambiguity or a failuretoexpressthetrueintentionoftheparties,especiallywithregardto theretirementprovisionsoftheCBA,isevidentintheopposing interpretations of the same by the Labor Arbiter and the CA on one hand and theNLRContheother.Itissettledthattheparoleevidenceruleadmitsof exceptions.Apartymaypresentevidencetomodify,explainoraddtothe termsofthewrittenagreementifheraisesasanissue,amongothers,an intrinsicambiguityin the written agreement or its failure to express the true intent and agreement of the parties thereto. - Flavio S. Suarez, Jr., Renato A. De Asis, FranciscoG. Adorable, et al., vs. National Steel Corporation,G.R. No. 150180, October 17, 2008 The Parol Evidence Rule provides that when the terms of the agreement have been reduced into writing,it is considered as containing all the terms agreed uponandtherecanbe,betweenthepartiesandtheirsuccessorsininterest, no evidence of such terms other than the contents of the written agreement. A party may not modify, explain, or add to the terms in the two written Deeds of Absolute Quitclaim since he didnotput in issuein his pleadingsany of those allowedbytheRules.-MariaTorbela,representedbyherheirs,Eulogio Tosinoetal.,vs.SpousesAndresT.Rosarioetal.,G.R.No.140528, December 7, 2011 AUTHENTICATION AND PROOF OF DOCUMENTS Public Documents Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 36 of 48 Aspointedoutbythetrialcourt,theRestructuringAgreement,being notarized,isapublicdocumentenjoyingaprimafaciepresumptionof authenticityanddueexecution.Clearandconvincingevidencemustbe presented to overcome such legal presumption. The spouses Tiu, who attested beforethenotarypublicthattheRestructuringAgreement"istheirownfree andvoluntaryactanddeed,"failedtopresentsufficientevidencetoprove otherwise. - Union Bank of the Philippinesvs.Spouses Rodolfo T. Tiu and Victoria N. Tiu, G.R. Nos. 173090-91, September 7, 2011 Notarized documents (e. g. the notarized Answer to Interrogatories in the case atbarisproofthatPhiltrusthadbeenservedwithWrittenInterrogatories) are merely proof of the fact which gave rise to their execution and of the date ofthelatterbutisnot primafacie evidenceofthefactsthereinstated.The presumption that official duty has been regularly performed therefore applies only to the portion wherein the notary public merely attests that the affidavit wassubscribedandsworntobeforehimorher,onthedatementioned thereon. Thus, even though affidavits are notarized documents, we have ruled that affidavits, being self-serving, must be received with caution. - Philippine Trust Company (also known as Philtrust Bank) vs. Hon. Court Of Appeals andForfomDevelopmentCorporation,G.R.No.150318,November22, 2010 TESTIMONIAL EVIDENCE Theinconsistenciesinthetestimoniesofthepoliceofficersifdoesnotdwell on material points shall not negate the finding of guilt. Also, the failure on the part of the police officer to issue an official receipt for the confiscated items is notfataldefectbecausetheissuanceofthesameisnotanelementofthe crimeofpossessionofillegaldrugs.- PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.Randy Magbanua aliasBoyungandWilsonMagbanua,G.R.No.170137,August 27, 2009 Mere inconsistencies as to minor details in the testimony of the witness does notaffecthiscredibility.Itmayalsostrengthenhispositionasthecourt abhorsmemorizedstatements.Theaccusedmustproveillmotiveonthe part of the witness, otherwise, his statement shallbe given full credence by thecourt.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.ArnoldGarchitorenayCamba Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 37 of 48 A.K.A. Junior; Joey Pamplona A.K.A. Nato And Jessie Garcia y Adorino, G. R. No. 175605, August 28, 2009 Falsusinunofalsusinomnibusisnotanabsoluteruleoflawandisinfact rarelyappliedinmodernjurisprudence. Itdealsonlywiththeweightof evidence and is not a positive rule of law, and the same is not an inflexible one ofuniversalapplication. Thus,themoderntrendofjurisprudenceisthatthe testimonyofawitnessmaybebelievedinpartanddisbelievedinpart, dependinguponthecorroborativeevidenceandtheprobabilitiesand improbabilitiesofthecase.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.JoseGalvezy Blanca, G.R. No. 181827, February 2, 2011 TheRTCobservedthatAAAwasinthecustodyoftheDSWDwhenshe testifiedfortheprosecution,andwasreturnedtothefamilyoftheAniceto Bulagao during the time when SHE recanted her testimony.Courts look with disfavor upon retractions, because they can easily be obtained from witnesses through intimidation or for monetary considerations. Hence, a retraction does not necessarily negate an earlierdeclaration. It wouldbe a dangerous rule to rejectthetestimonytakenbeforeacourtofjustice,simplybecausethe witnesswhohasgivenitlateronchangeshismindforonereasonor another. - People of the Philippines vs.AnicetoBulagao, G.R. No. 184757, October 5, 2011

Despite all these findings, Gemma has posited from the RTC all the way up to the Supreme Court thatshe is not the Gemma Ong named andaccusedin the case. Positiveidentificationofaculpritisofgreatweightindetermining whether an accusedis guilty or not. Thus, it cannot take precedence over the positivetestimonyoftheoffendedparty.Thedefenseofdenialisunavailing when placed astride the undisputed fact that there was positive identification oftheaccused.-GemmaOng a.k.a. MariaTeresaGemmaCatacutanvs. People of the Philippines, G.R. No. 169440, November 23, 2011 Delayinmakingcriminalaccusationswillnotnecessarilyimpairthe credibilityofawitnessifsuchdelayissatisfactorilyexplained.Furthermore, thepositiveidentificationofthewitnessesismorethanenoughtoprovethe accused guilt beyond reasonable doubt. - People of the Philippines vs. Noel T. Adallom, G.R. No. 182522, March 7, 2012 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 38 of 48 Dulay points out that the prosecution failed to present the informant in court, allegingthatthesamewasnecessarytocorroboratethetestimonyofPO1 Guadamor, since it was only the informant and PO1 Guadamor who witnessed theactualtransaction.TheCourtdisagrees.Itissettledthattheidentityor testimonyoftheinformantisnotindispensableindrugscases,sincehis testimonywouldonlycorroboratethatoftheposeur-buyer.TheCourthas repeatedlyheldthatitisuptotheprosecutiontodeterminewhoshouldbe presentedaswitnessesonthebasisofitsownassessmentoftheirnecessity. Afterall,thetestimonyofasinglewitness,iftrustworthyandreliable,orif credible and positive, would be sufficient to support a conviction. Moreover, in determiningvaluesandcredibilityofevidence,witnessesaretobeweighed, notnumbered.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.CatalinoDulay,G.R.No. 188345, November 10, 2012 QUALIFICATIONS OF A WITNESS A deaf-mute may not be able to hear and speak but his/her other senses, such ashis/hersenseofsight,remainfunctionalandallowhim/hertomake observationsabouthis/herenvironmentandexperiencesThus,adeaf-mute iscompetenttobeawitnesssolongashe/shehasthefacultytomake observationsandhe/shecanmakethoseobservationsknowntoothers.- PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.EdwinAlemanyLonghas,G.R.No.181539, July 24, 2013 CREDIBILITY OF WITNESS Asarule,appellatecourtswillnotinterferewiththejudgmentofthetrial court in passing upon the credibility of a witness, unless there appears on the recordsomefactorcircumstanceofweightandinfluencewhichhasbeen overlooked,orthesignificanceofwhichhasbeenmisinterpretedor misapprehended.Thereasonforthisisthattheassessmentofthe credibility ofwitnessesandtheirtestimoniesisamatterbestundertakenbythetrial courtbecauseofitsuniqueopportunitytoobservethewitnessesfirsthand and to note their demeanor, conduct, and attitude under grilling examination. - People of the Philippines vs. Salvador C. Daco, G.R. No. 168166, October 10, 2008 Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 39 of 48 Theissueofcredibilityofwitnessesisaquestionbestaddressedtothe provinceofthetrialcourtbecauseofitsuniquepositionofhavingobserved thatelusiveandincommunicableevidenceofthewitnesses'deportmenton the stand while testifying which opportunity is denied to the appellate courts. and absent any substantial reason which would justify the reversal of the trial court'sassessmentsandconclusions,thereviewingcourtisgenerallybound bytheformer'sfindings.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.Domingo Dominguez, Jr., alias Sandy, G.R. No. 180914, November 24, 2010 Thevictimsdelayinreportingtherapesdoesnot undermineher credibility. In a long line of cases, the Court pronounced that the failure of the victimtoimmediatelyreporttherapeisnotnecessarilyanindicationofa fabricatedcharge. Moreover,Jurisprudenceteachesthatbetween categorical testimonies that ring of truth, on one hand, and a bare denial, on the other, the Courthasstronglyruledthattheformermustprevail. Indeed,positive identificationoftheaccused,whencategoricalandconsistent,andwithout any ill motive on the part of the eyewitnesses testifying on the matter, prevails overalibianddenial.-PeopleofthePhilippines vs. RogerTejero,G.R. No. 187744, June 20, 2012 The purported inconsistency between the testimonies of AAA and her mother BBB merely refers to a minor detail. The central fact is thatBatula, by means offorce,threats,andintimidation,anduseofabolo,succeededinhaving carnalknowledgeofAAA.WhetherAAAwasabletonameBatulaasthe perpetratorimmediatelyaftertherapeorAAAwasabletoidentifyBatulaas her rapist at a later time, does not depart from the fact that Batula raped AAA. Wehavesaidtimeandagainthatafewdiscrepanciesandinconsistenciesin thetestimoniesofwitnessesreferringtominordetailsandnotinactuality touching upon the central fact of the crime do not impair the credibility of the witnesses.Insteadofweakeningtheirtestimonies,suchinconsistenciestend tostrengthentheircredibilitybecausetheydiscountthepossibilityoftheir being rehearsed testimony. - People of the Philippines vs. Jerry Batula, G.R. No. 181699, November 28, 2012 InPeoplev.Paringit,thisCourthasdeclaredthatnotallblowsleavemarks. Thus, the fact that the medico-legal officer found no signs of external injuries onAAA,especiallyonherface,whichsupposedlyhadbeenslappedseveral times, does not invalidate her statement thatMangune slappedher to silence Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 40 of 48 her. But, even granting that there were no extra-genital injuries on the victim, ithadbeenheldthattheabsenceofexternalsignsorphysicalinjuriesdoes notnegatethecommissionofthecrimeofrape.Thesameruleapplieseven though no medical certificate is presented in evidence. Proof of injuries is not necessary because this is not an essential element of the crime This Court, in a longlineofcases,hasruledthattheabsenceofexternalsignsofphysical injuriesdoesnotnegaterape.Thedoctrineisthuswell-entrenchedinour jurisprudence,andtheCourtofAppealscorrectlyappliedit.-Peopleofthe Philippines vs. William Mangune, G.R. No. 186463, November 14, 2012 AllegedinconsistenciesdonotdetractfromAAAscredibilityasawitness.A rapevictimisnotexpectedtomakeanerrorlessrecollectionoftheincident, so humiliating and painful that she might in fact be trying to obliterate it from hermemory.Thus,afewinconsistentremarksinrapecaseswillnot necessarilyimpairthetestimonyoftheoffendedparty.Wereiteratethe jurisprudentialprincipleofaffordinggreatrespectandevenfinalitytothe trial courts assessment of the credibility of witnesses.In People v. Arpon, we statedthat when the decision hinges on the credibility of witnesses andtheir respective testimonies, the trial courts observations and conclusions deserve great respect and are often accorded finality. The trial judge has the advantage ofobservingthewitnessdeportmentandmanneroftestifying.Herfurtive glance,blushofconsciousshame,hesitation,flippantorsneeringtone, calmness, sigh, or the scant or full realization of an oath are all useful aids for an accurate determination of a witness honesty and sincerity. The trial judge, therefore, can better determineif witnesses are telling the truth, being in the idealpositiontoweighconflictingtestimonies.Unlesscertainfactsof substanceandvaluewereoverlookedwhich,ifconsidered,mightaffectthe result of the case, its assessment must be respected for it had the opportunity toobservetheconductanddemeanorofthewitnesseswhiletestifyingand detectiftheywerelying.Therulefindsanevenmorestringentapplication wheresaidfindingsaresustainedbytheCourtofAppeals.-Peopleofthe Philippines vs. Felix Morante, G.R. No. 187732, November 28, 2012 EstoyalikewisemakesmuchoftheinconsistenciesbetweenCCCs Sinumpaang Salaysay and his testimony in open court. Said inconsistencies do notatalldamageCCCscredibilityasawitness.Itisdoctrinallysettledthat discrepanciesand/orinconsistenciesbetweenawitnessaffidavitand testimonyinopencourtdonotimpaircredibilityasaffidavitsaretakenex Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 41 of 48 parteandareoftenincompleteorinaccurateforlackoforabsenceof searching inquiries by the investigating officer. We also add that CCC was only 10yearsofagewhenheexecutedhisSinumpaangSalaysayandtestifiedin court.ItisnotdifficulttoimaginethatCCCwasalsooverwhelmedbythe circumstances, young as he was when these all happened. The important thing isthatCCCwasconsistentinsayingthathesawEstoyawithAAAinBBBs househesawAAAcryingandheimmediatelyrantoaskhelpfromtheir neighbor,DDD.Moreover,aswepronouncedpreviouslyherein,AAAs testimonyalonealreadyestablishedtheelementsofrapecommittedagainst her by Estoya. At most, CCCs testimony on the events that occurred in 2006 is merelycorroborative.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.RadbyEstoya,G.R. No. 200531, December 5, 2012 Theissueraisedbyaccused-appellantinvolvesthecredibilityofwitness, whichisbestaddressedbythetrialcourt,itbeinginabetterpositionto decidesuchquestion,havingheardthewitnessandobservedhisdemeanor, conduct,andattitudeundergruelingexamination.Thesearethemost significantfactorsinevaluatingthesincerityofwitnessesandinunearthing thetruth,especiallyinthefaceofconflictingtestimonies.Throughits observations during the entire proceedings, the trial court can be expected to determine,withreasonablediscretion,whosetestimonytoacceptandwhich witnesstobelieve.Verily,findingsofthetrialcourtonsuchmatterswillnot bedisturbedonappealunlesssomefactsorcircumstancesofweighthave been overlooked, misapprehended or misinterpreted so as to materially affect thedispositionofthecase.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.WelvinDiuy Kotsesa, and Dennis Dayaon y Tupit, G.R. No. 201449, April 3, 2013 In a prosecution for rape, the accused may be convicted solely on the basis of thetestimonyofthevictimthatiscredible,convincing,andconsistentwith humannatureandthenormalcourseofthings,asinthiscase.Thereisa plethora of cases which tend to disfavor the accused in a rape case by holding that when a woman declares that she has been raped, she says in effect all that is necessary to show that rape has been committed and, where her testimony passesthetestofcredibility,theaccusedcanbeconvictedonthebasis thereof. Furthermore, the Court has repeatedly declared that it takes a certain amountofpsychologicaldepravityforayoungwomantoconcoctastory whichwouldputherownfathertojailfortherestofhisremaininglifeand Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 42 of 48 drag the rest of the family including herself to a lifetime of shame. - People of the Philippines vs. Edmundo Vitero, G.R. No. 175327, April 3, 2013 When the issues revolve on matters of credibility of witnesses, the findings of fact of the trial court, its calibration of the testimonies of the witnesses, and its assessmentoftheprobativeweightthereof,aswellasitsconclusions anchored on said findings, are accorded high respect, if not conclusive effect. - People of the Philippines vs. Abel Diaz, G.R. No. 200882, June 13, 2013 Inconsistenciesanddiscrepanciesinthetestimonyreferringtominordetails andnotuponthebasicaspectofthecrimedonotdiminishthewitnesses credibility. Thetestimoniesofpoliceofficerswhoconductedthebuy-bustaregenerally accordedfullfaithandcredit,inviewofthepresumptionofregularityinthe performanceofpublicduties.-PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.MerciditaT. Resurreccion, G.R. No. 188310, June 13, 2013 Jurisprudenceisconsistentinreiteratingthatthetrialcourtisinabetter positiontoadjudgethecredibilityofwitnessesespeciallyifitisaffirmedby theCourtofAppeals.-People ofthePhilippinesvs.GaryVergarayOriel and Joseph Inocencio y Paulino, G.R. No. 177763, July 3, 2013 Where the ten-year old son of the victim wasable to witness the death of his fatherandwasthelonewitnesstotestifyinthecase,theCourtruledthat whenit comes to the matter of credibility of a witness, settled are the guiding rules some of which are that (1) the appellate court will not disturb the factual findingsofthelowercourt,unlessthereisashowingthatithadoverlooked, misunderstoodormisappliedsomefactorcircumstanceofweightand substancethatwouldhaveaffectedtheresultofthecase,whichshowingis absent herein; (2) the findings of the trial court pertaining to the credibility of awitnessisentitledtogreatrespectsinceithadtheopportunitytoexamine his demeanor as he testified on the witness stand, and, therefore, can discern ifsuchwitnessistellingthetruthornot;and(3)awitnesswhotestifiesina categorical,straightforward,spontaneousandfrankmannerandremains consistent on cross-examination is a credible witness. Justice Teresita Leonardo-De Castro Cases (2008-2015) Remedial Law Page 43 of 48 Furthermore,Jurisprudencealsotellsusthatwhenatestimonyisgivenina candidandstraightforwardmanner,thereisnoroomfordoubtthatthe witnessistellingthetruth. -PeopleofthePhilippinesvs.JoelAquinoy Cendana, G.R. No. 201092, January 15, 2014 Whentheaccusedquestionsthecredibilityanddemeanorofthevictimas witness,therecognizedruleisthatthe"assessmentofthecredibilityof witnessesisadomainbestlefttothetrialcourtjudgebecauseofhisunique opportunity to observe their deportment and demeanor on the witness stand; avantagepointdeniedappellatecourts-andwhenhisfindingshavebeen affirmedbytheCourtofAppeals,thesearegenerallybindingandconclusive uponthisCourt."Furthermore,inaccuraciesandinconsistenciesinarape victimstestimonyaregenerallyexpected. Sincehumanmemoryisfickleand prone to the stresses of emotions, accuracy in a testimonial account has never been used as a standard in testing the credibility of a witness. - People of the Philippines vs. Bernabe Pareja y Cruz, G.R. No. 202122 ADMISSIONS AND CONFESSIONS Estoppel Themortgagorisalreadyestoppedfromchallengingthevalidityofthe foreclosuresale,afterenteringintoaContracto