Source: http://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/1/54906
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 02:40:10+00:00

Document:
COUNTRY BANKERS INSURANCE CORPORATION, PETITIONER, VS. KEPPEL CEBU SHIPYARD, UNIMARINE SHIPPING LINES, INC., PAUL RODRIGUEZ, PETER RODRIGUEZ, ALBERT HONTANOSAS, AND BETHOVEN QUINAIN, RESPONDENTS.
This is a petition for review on certiorari to reverse and set aside the January 29, 2004 Decision and October 28, 2004 Resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 58001, wherein the Court of Appeals affirmed with modification the February 10, 1997 Decision of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Cebu City, Branch 7, in Civil Case No. CBB-13447.
Hereunder are the undisputed facts as culled from the records of the case.
On January 27, 1992, Unimarine Shipping Lines, Inc. (Unimarine), a corporation engaged in the shipping industry, contracted the services of Keppel Cebu Shipyard, formerly known as Cebu Shipyard and Engineering Works, Inc. (Cebu Shipyard), for dry docking and ship repair works on its vessel, the M/V Pacific Fortune.
This is to confirm our agreement on the shiprepair bills charged for the repair of MV Pacific Fortune, our invoice no. 26035.
The shiprepair bill (Bill No. 26035) is agreed at a negotiated amount of P3,850,000.00 excluding VAT.
Unimarine will deposit post-dated checks equivalent to the above amounts in Philippine Peso and an additional check amount of P385,000.00, representing 10% [Value Added Tax] VAT on the above bill of P3,850,000.00. In the event that Unimarine fails to make full payment on the above due dates in US Dollars, the post-dated checks will be deposited by CSEW in payment of the amounts owned by Unimarine and Unimarine agree that the 10% VAT (P385,000.00) shall also become payable to CSEW.
Unimarine in consideration of the credit terms extended by CSEW and the release of the vessel before full payment of the above debt, agree to present CSEW surety bonds equal to 120% of the value of the credit extended. The total bond amount shall be P4,620,000.00.
In compliance with the agreement, Unimarine, through Paul Rodriguez, secured from Country Bankers Insurance Corp. (CBIC), through the latter’s agent, Bethoven Quinain (Quinain), CBIC Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419 (the surety bond) on January 15, 1992 in the amount of P3,000,000.00. The expiration of this surety bond was extended to January 15, 1993, through Endorsement No. 33152 (the endorsement), which was later on attached to and formed part of the surety bond. In addition to this, Unimarine, on February 19, 1992, obtained another bond from Plaridel Surety and Insurance Co. (Plaridel), PSIC Bond No. G (16)-00365 in the amount of P1,620,000.00.
Messrs, Uni-Marine Shipping Lines, Inc. (“the Debtor”) of Gorordo Avenue, Cebu City hereby acknowledges that in consideration of Cebu Shipyard & Engineering Works, Inc. (“Cebu Shipyard”) at our request agreeing to release the vessel specified in part A of the Schedule (“name of vessel”) prior to the receipt of the sum specified in part B of the Schedule (“Moneys Payable”) payable in respect of certain works performed or to be performed by Cebu Shipyard and/or its subcontractors and/or material and equipment supplied or to be supplied by Cebu Shipyard and/or its subcontractors in connection with the vessel for the party specified in part C of the Schedule (“the Debtor”), we hereby unconditionally, irrevocably undertake to make punctual payment to Cebu Shipyard of the Moneys Payable on the terms and conditions as set out in part B of the Schedule. We likewise hereby expressly waive whatever right of excussion we may have under the law and equity.
This contract shall be binding upon Uni-Marine Shipping Lines, Inc., its heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns and shall not be discharged until all obligation of this contract shall have been faithfully and fully performed by the Debtor.
Because Unimarine failed to remit the first installment when it became due on May 30, 1992, Cebu Shipyard was constrained to deposit the peso check corresponding to the initial installment of P2,350,000.00. The check, however, was dishonored by the bank due to insufficient funds. Cebu Shipyard faxed a message to Unimarine, informing it of the situation, and reminding it to settle its account immediately.
On June 24, 1992, Cebu Shipyard again faxed a message to Unimarine, to confirm Paul Rodriguez’s promise that Unimarine will pay in full the P3,850,000.00, in US Dollars on July 1, 1992.
Since Unimarine failed to deliver on the above promise, Cebu Shipyard, on July 2, 1992, through a faxed letter, asked Unimarine if the payment could be picked up the next day. This was followed by another faxed message on July 6, 1992, wherein Cebu Shipyard reminded Unimarine of its promise to pay in full on July 28, 1992. On August 24, 1992, Cebu Shipyard again faxed Unimarine, to inform it that interest charges will have to be imposed on their outstanding debt, and if it still fails to pay before August 28, 1992, Cebu Shipyard will have to enforce payment against the sureties and take legal action.
Due to Unimarine’s failure to heed Cebu Shipyard’s repeated demands, Cebu Shipyard, through counsel, wrote the sureties CBIC on November 18, 1992, and Plaridel, on November 19, 1992, to inform them of Unimarine’s nonpayment, and to ask them to fulfill their obligations as sureties, and to respond within seven days from receipt of the demand.
However, even the sureties failed to discharge their obligations, and so Cebu Shipyard filed a Complaint dated January 8, 1993, before the RTC, Branch 18 of Cebu City, against Unimarine, CBIC, and Plaridel. This was docketed as Civil Case No. CBB-13447.
The nature of the bond undertaking (guarantee payment), and the amount involved.
The surety bond could only be issued in favor of the Department of Public Works and Highways, as stamped on the upper right portion of the face of the bond. This stamp was covered by documentary stamps.
The issuance of the surety bond was not reported, and the corresponding premiums were not remitted to CBIC.
CBIC added that its liability was extinguished when, without its knowledge and consent, Cebu Shipyard and Unimarine novated their agreement several times. Furthermore, CBIC stated that Cebu Shipyard’s claim had already been paid or extinguished when Unimarine executed an Assignment of Claims of the proceeds of the sale of its vessel M/V Headline in favor of Cebu Shipyard. CBIC also averred that Cebu Shipyard’s claim had already prescribed as the endorsement that extended the surety bond’s expiry date, was not reported to CBIC. Finally, CBIC asseverated that if it were held to be liable, its liability should be limited to the face value of the bond and not for exemplary damages, attorney’s fees, and costs of litigation.
Subsequently, CBIC filed a Motion to Admit Cross and Third Party Complaint against Unimarine, as cross defendant; Paul Rodriguez, Albert Hontanosas, and Peter Rodriguez, as signatories to the Indemnity Agreement they executed in favor of CBIC; and Bethoven Quinain, as the agent who issued the surety bond and endorsement in excess of his authority, as third party defendants.
CBIC claimed that Paul Rodriguez, Albert Hontanosas, and Peter Rodriguez executed an Indemnity Agreement, wherein they bound themselves, jointly and severally, to indemnify CBIC for any amount it may sustain or incur in connection with the issuance of the surety bond and the endorsement. As for Quinain, CBIC alleged that he exceeded his authority as stated in the Special Power of Attorney, wherein he was authorized to solicit business and issue surety bonds not exceeding P500,000.00 but only in favor of the Department of Public Works and Highways, National Power Corporation, and other government agencies.
On August 23, 1993, third party defendant Hontanosas filed his Answer with Counterclaim, to the Cross and Third Party Complaint. Hontanosas claimed that he had no financial interest in Unimarine and was neither a stockholder, director nor an officer of Unimarine. He asseverated that his relationship to Unimarine was limited to his capacity as a lawyer, being its retained counsel. He further denied having any participation in the Indemnity Agreement executed in favor of CBIC, and alleged that his signature therein was forged, as he neither signed it nor appeared before the Notary Public who acknowledged such undertaking.
Various witnesses were presented by the parties during the course of the trial of the case. Myrna Obrinaga testified for Cebu Shipyard. She was the Chief Accountant in charge of the custody of the documents of the company. She corroborated Cebu Shipyard’s allegations and produced in court the documents to support Cebu Shipyard’s claim. She also testified that while it was true that the proceeds of the sale of Unimarine’s vessel, M/V Headline, were assigned to Cebu Shipyard, nothing was turned over to them.
Paul Rodriguez admitted that Unimarine failed to pay Cebu Shipyard for the repairs it did on M/V Pacific Fortune, despite the extensions granted to Unimarine. He claimed that he signed the Indemnity Agreement because he trusted Quinain that it was a mere pre-requisite for the issuance of the surety bond. He added that he did not bother to read the documents and he was not aware of the consequences of signing an Indemnity Agreement. Paul Rodriguez also alleged to not having noticed the limitation “Valid only in favor of DPWH” stamped on the surety bond. However, Paul Rodriguez did not contradict the fact that Unimarine failed to pay Cebu Shipyard its obligation.
CBIC presented Dakila Rianzares, the Senior Manager of its Bonding Department. Her duties included the evaluation and approval of all applications for and reviews of bonds issued by their agents, as authorized under the Special Power of Attorney and General Agency Contract of CBIC. Rianzares testified that she only learned of the existence of CBIC Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419 when she received the summons for this case. Upon investigation, she found out that the surety bond was not reported to CBIC by Quinain, the issuing agent, in violation of their General Agency Contract, which provides that all bonds issued by the agent be reported to CBIC’s office within one week from the date of issuance. She further stated that the surety bond issued in favor of Unimarine was issued beyond Quinain’s authority. Rianzares added that she was not aware that an endorsement pertaining to the surety bond was also issued by Quinain.
After the trial, the RTC was faced with the lone issue of whether or not CBIC was liable to Cebu Shipyard based on Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419.
4. For Cross defendant Unimarine Shipping Lines, Incorporated and Third party defendants Paul Rodriguez, Peter Rodriguez and Alber[t] Hontanosas: To indemnify jointly and severally, cross plaintiff and third party plaintiff Country Bankers Insurance Corporation whatever amount the latter is made to pay to plaintiff.
Solidary obligations on the part of Unimarine and CBIC having been established and expressly stated in the Surety Bond No. 29419 (Exh. “C”), [Cebu Shipyard], therefore, is entitled to collect and enforce said obligation against any and or both of them, and if and when CBIC pays, it can compel its co-defendant Unimarine to reimburse to it the amount it has paid.
[A]s far as third persons are concerned, an act is deemed to have been performed within the scope of the agent’s authority, if such act is within the terms of the powers of attorney as written, even if the agent has in fact exceeded the limits of his authority according to an understanding between the principal and the agent.
All the defendants appealed this Decision to the Court of Appeals.
CBIC, in its Appellant’s Brief, claimed that the RTC erred in enforcing its liability on the surety bond as it was issued in excess of Quinain’s authority. Moreover, CBIC averred, its liability under such surety had been extinguished by reasons of novation, payment, and prescription. CBIC also questioned the RTC’s order, holding it jointly and severally liable with Unimarine and Plaridel for the amount of P4,620,000.00, a sum larger than the face value of CBIC Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419, and why the RTC did not hold Quinain liable to indemnify CBIC for whatever amount it was ordered to pay Cebu Shipyard.
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the respective appeal[s] filed by Defendants-Appellants Unimarine Shipping Lines, Inc. and Country Bankers Insurance Corporation; Cross-Defendant-Appellant Unimarine Shipping Lines, Inc. and; Third-Party Defendants-Appellants Paul Rodriguez, Peter Rodriguez and Albert Hontanosas are hereby DENIED. The decision of the RTC in Civil Case No. CEB-13447 dated February 10, 1997 is AFFIRMED with modification that Mr. Bethoven Quinain, CBIC’s agent is hereby held jointly and severally liable with CBIC by virtue of Surety Bond No. 29419 executed in favor of plaintiff-appellee CSEW.
V. Whether or not Plaintiff-Appellee [Cebu Shipyard] is entitled to the award of P100,000.00 in attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
The Court of Appeals held that it was duly proven that Unimarine was liable to Cebu Shipyard for the ship repair works it did on the former’s M/V Pacific Fortune. The Court of Appeals dismissed CBIC’s contention of novation for lack of merit. CBIC was held liable under the surety bond as there was no novation on the agreement between Unimarine and Cebu Shipyard that would discharge CBIC from its obligation. The Court of Appeals also did not allow CBIC to disclaim liability on the ground that Quinain exceeded his authority because third persons had relied upon Quinain’s representation, as CBIC’s agent. Quinain was, however, held solidarily liable with CBIC under Article 1911 of the Civil Code.
Anent the liability of the signatories to the Indemnity Agreement, the Court of Appeals held Paul Rodriguez, Peter Rodriguez, and Albert Hontanosas jointly and severally liable thereunder. The Court of Appeals rejected Hontanosas’s claim that his signature in the Indemnity Agreement was forged, as he was not able to prove it.
The Court of Appeals affirmed the award of attorney’s fees and litigation expenses to Cebu Shipyard since it was able to clearly establish the defendants’ liability, which they tried to dodge by setting up defenses to release themselves from their obligation.
CBICand Unimarine, together with third party defendants-appellants filed their respective Motions for Reconsideration. This was, however, denied by the Court of Appeals in its October 28, 2004 Resolution for lack of merit.
Unimarine elevated its case to this Court via a petition for review on certiorari, docketed as G.R. No. 166023, which was denied in a Resolution dated January 19, 2005.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS SERIOUSLY ERRED IN APPLYING THE PROVISIONS OF ARTICLE 1911 OF THE CIVIL CODE TO HOLD PETITIONER LIABLE FOR THE ACTS DONE BY ITS AGENT IN EXCESS OF AUTHORITY.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS SERIOUSLY ERRED IN HOLDING THAT AN EXTENSION OF THE PERIOD FOR THE PERFORMANCE OF AN OBLIGATION GRANTED BY THE CREDITOR TO THE PRINCIPAL DEBTOR IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO RELEASE THE SURETY.
ASSUMING THAT PETITIONER IS LIABLE UNDER THE BOND, THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS NONETHELESS SERIOUSLY ERRED IN AFFIRMING THE SOLIDARY LIABILITY OF PETITIONER BEYOND THE VALUE OF THE BOND.
THE HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS ERRED IN HOLDING PETITIONER JOINTLY AND SEVERALLY LIABLE FOR ATTORNEY’S FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF P100,000.00.
The crux of the controversy lies in CBIC’s liability on the surety bond Quinain issued to Unimarine, in favor of Cebu Shipyard.
The authority to bind a principal as a guarantor or surety is one of those powers which requires a Special Power of Attorney pursuant to Article 1878 of the Civil Code. Such power could not be simply assumed or inferred from the mere existence of an agency. A person who enters into a contract of suretyship with an agent without confirming the extent of the latter’s authority does so at his peril. x x x.
6.6.1. The fact or existence of the agency.
6.6.2. The nature and extent of authority.
Cebu Shipyard, in its Comment first assailed the propriety of the petition for raising factual issues. In support, Cebu Shipyard claimed that the Court of Appeals’ application of Article 1911 of the Civil Code was founded on findings of facts that CBIC now disputes. Thus, the question is not purely of law.
The fact that Quinain was an agent of CBIC was never put in issue. What has always been debated by the parties is the extent of authority or, at the very least, apparent authority, extended to Quinain by CBIC to transact insurance business for and in its behalf.
The RTC applied Articles 1900 and 1911 of the Civil Code in holding CBIC liable for the surety bond. It held that CBIC could not be allowed to disclaim liability because Quinain’s actions were within the terms of the special power of attorney given to him. The Court of Appeals agreed that CBIC could not be permitted to abandon its obligation especially since third persons had relied on Quinain’s representations. It based its decision on Article 1911 of the Civil Code and found CBIC to have been negligent and less than prudent in conducting its insurance business for its failure to supervise and monitor the acts of its agents, to regulate the distribution of its insurance forms, and to devise schemes to prevent fraudulent misrepresentations of its agents.
Art. 1898. If the agent contracts in the name of the principal, exceeding the scope of his authority, and the principal does not ratify the contract, it shall be void if the party with whom the agent contracted is aware of the limits of the powers granted by the principal. In this case, however, the agent is liable if he undertook to secure the principal’s ratification.
Art. 1900. So far as third persons are concerned, an act is deemed to have been performed within the scope of the agent’s authority, if such act is within the terms of the power of attorney, as written, even if the agent has in fact exceeded the limits of his authority according to an understanding between the principal and the agent.
Art. 1902. A third person with whom the agent wishes to contract on behalf of the principal may require the presentation of the power of attorney, or the instructions as regards the agency. Private or secret orders and instructions of the principal do not prejudice third persons who have relied upon the power of attorney or instructions shown to them.
Art. 1911. Even when the agent has exceeded his authority, the principal is solidarily liable with the agent if the former allowed the latter to act as though he had full powers.
Our law mandates an agent to act within the scope of his authority. The scope of an agent’s authority is what appears in the written terms of the power of attorney granted upon him. Under Article 1878(11) of the Civil Code, a special power of attorney is necessary to obligate the principal as a guarantor or surety.
In the case at bar, CBIC could be held liable even if Quinain exceeded the scope of his authority only if Quinain’s act of issuing Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419 is deemed to have been performed within the written terms of the power of attorney he was granted.
1. To conduct, manage, carry on and transact insurance business as usually pertains to a General Agency of Fire, Personal Accident, Bond, Marine, Motor Car (Except Lancer).
CBIC does not anchor its defense on a secret agreement, mutual understanding, or any verbal instruction to Quinain. CBIC’s stance is grounded on its contract with Quinain, and the clear, written terms therein. This Court finds that the terms of the foregoing contract specifically provided for the extent and scope of Quinain’s authority, and Quinain has indeed exceeded them.
Neither Unimarine nor Cebu Shipyard was able to repudiate CBIC’s testimony that it was unaware of the existence of Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419 and Endorsement No. 33152. There were no allegations either that CBIC should have been put on alert with regard to Quinain’s business transactions done on its behalf. It is clear, and undisputed therefore, that there can be no ratification in this case, whether express or implied.
Relying upon such representation, such third person has changed his position to his detriment.
This Court cannot agree with the Court of Appeals’ pronouncement of negligence on CBIC’s part. CBIC not only clearly stated the limits of its agents’ powers in their contracts, it even stamped its surety bonds with the restrictions, in order to alert the concerned parties. Moreover, its company procedures, such as reporting requirements, show that it has designed a system to monitor the insurance contracts issued by its agents. CBIC cannot be faulted for Quinain’s deliberate failure to notify it of his transactions with Unimarine. In fact, CBIC did not even receive the premiums paid by Unimarine to Quinain.
Furthermore, nowhere in the decisions of the lower courts was it stated that CBIC let the public, or specifically Unimarine, believe that Quinain had the authority to issue a surety bond in favor of companies other than the Department of Public Works and Highways, the National Power Corporation, and other government agencies. Neither was it shown that CBIC knew of the existence of the surety bond before the endorsement extending the life of the bond, was issued to Unimarine. For one to successfully claim the benefit of estoppel on the ground that he has been misled by the representations of another, he must show that he was not misled through his own want of reasonable care and circumspection.
It is a settled rule that persons dealing with an agent are bound at their peril, if they would hold the principal liable, to ascertain not only the fact of agency but also the nature and extent of authority, and in case either is controverted, the burden of proof is upon them to establish it. The basis for agency is representation and a person dealing with an agent is put upon inquiry and must discover upon his peril the authority of the agent. If he does not make such an inquiry, he is chargeable with knowledge of the agent’s authority and his ignorance of that authority will not be any excuse.
[T]he ignorance of a person dealing with an agent as to the scope of the latter’s authority is no excuse to such person and the fault cannot be thrown upon the principal. A person dealing with an agent assumes the risk of lack of authority in the agent. He cannot charge the principal by relying upon the agent’s assumption of authority that proves to be unfounded. The principal, on the other hand, may act on the presumption that third persons dealing with his agent will not be negligent in failing to ascertain the extent of his authority as well as the existence of his agency.
A person dealing with a known agent is not authorized, under any circumstances, blindly to trust the agents; statements as to the extent of his powers; such person must not act negligently but must use reasonable diligence and prudence to ascertain whether the agent acts within the scope of his authority. The settled rule is that, persons dealing with an assumed agent are bound at their peril, and if they would hold the principal liable, to ascertain not only the fact of agency but also the nature and extent of authority, and in case either is controverted, the burden of proof is upon them to prove it. In this case, the petitioners failed to discharge their burden; hence, petitioners are not entitled to damages from respondent EC.
In light of the foregoing, this Court is constrained to release CBIC from its liability on Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419 and Endorsement No. 33152. This Court sees no need to dwell on the other grounds propounded by CBIC in support of its prayer.
WHEREFORE, this petition is hereby GRANTED and the complaint against CBIC is DISMISSED for lack of merit. The January 29, 2004 Decision and October 28, 2004 Resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 58001 is MODIFIED insofar as it affirmed CBIC’s liability on Surety Bond No. G (16) 29419 and Endorsement No. 33152.
Leonardo-De Castro,* J. (Acting Chairperson).
 Under Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Court.
 Rollo, pp. 31-55; penned by Associate Justice Jose C. Reyes, Jr. with Associate Justices Romeo A. Brawner and Rebecca De Guia-Salvador, concurring.
 Siredy Enterprises, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, 437 Phil. 580, 591 (2002).
 Manila Memorial Park Cemetery, Inc. v. Linsangan, G.R. No. 151319, November 22, 2004, 443 SCRA 377, 394.
 Litonjua, Jr. v. Eternit Corp., G.R. No. 144805, June 8, 2006, 490 SCRA 204, 224-225.
 Manila Memorial Park Cemetery, Inc. v. Linsangan, supra note 66 at 397.

References: V. 

Art. 1898

Art. 1900

Art. 1902

Art. 1911
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