Source: https://www.scribd.com/document/398452519/Efficient-Use-of-Paper-Rule-a-m-No-11-9-4-Sc
Timestamp: 2019-04-19 17:00:23+00:00

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ELMER SUNBANUN,* GEORGIE S. TAN, DORIS SUNBANUN and RICHARD SUNBANUN, Respondents.
shall be retroactively applied to likewise favor actions then pending, as equity delights in equality.
file a notice of appeal.
only Aurora moved for reconsideration9 and prayed that the December 1. as she was passed from one officer to another or no officer was available. attorney’s fees.2 Only Aurora filed her Answer with Affirmative Defenses and Counter-Claim.14 He raised this in his opposition to the motion filed by the respondents.16 Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . 2004. the RTC in its December 1.12 Aurora’s former counsel of record. Aurora demanded actual damages as she claimed that she works in Hong Kong on a no-work-no-pay basis and the suit would result in spending airfare and lost earnings. 2002.11 The trial court disregarded her two-page transcript of deposition when it received the same on March 5. counted from March 16. litigation expenses and costs. She denied that their employment agency held office there. belatedly discovered about this adverse judgment when he received from respondents’ counsel a Motion to Direct Issuance of Entry of Judgment and Writ of Execution13 on March 16. Aurora averred that they already left the premises sometime in 2001and that during the entirety of their stay. Aurora moved on October 28. After the respondents concluded their presentation of evidence. the court denied respondents’ motion. 2003 Order8 already deemed the defendants to have waived their right to present their evidence and considered the case submitted for resolution since more than a year had elapsed from the date the RTC granted Aurora’s motion to have her testimony be taken by deposition. has not yet lapsed. 2004.15 Finding this point meritorious. On January 26. the court mistakenly sent the January 26. 20046 after her follow-up letter dated November 7. the RTC granted Aurora’s motion on November 21. 2004. 2003 to the Philippine consulate. She attributed the delay of her deposition-taking to the consulate’s fault. and thus a breach of warranty in the fire insurance policies that the respondents made which described the property as residential type. She averred that arrangements have already been made with the Philippine consulate in Hong Kong to take her deposition.3 In her answer. the RTC rendered judgment10 finding only Aurora liable and ordering her to pay moral damages. ruling that the judgment against Aurora has not yet attained finality as the 15-day period to appeal. 2004 Decision to his former office address. the risk of loss by fire. Aurora’s deposition was taken only on January 28. 2003 Order be recalled and instead admit the deposition. as she was unsure as to when she could come home to the Philippines considering that her work schedule as a court interpreter in Hong Kong is erratic. Jude Henritz R. Ycong). 2004.7 Before this deposition was taken.4 Over the objection of the respondents. To her. 2002 that her testimony be taken by deposition upon written interrogatories. It turned out that although he had already previously informed the court of his new office address. Again. Atty.5 However. Ycong (Atty. they used the leased floor as a private residence and as a lodging house. She also pointed out that the lease contract was terminated when the one-year term expired in July 1996. and that she was not privy to the contracts of insurance since she was not informed of the contracts’ existence. whether the house was used as a business office or as a lodging house was immaterial as there was no increased risk of fire either way.
Ruling of the Regional Trial Court In its May 12. contrary to the belief of this court that Aurora Go had been and is out of the country.R.21 Aurora sought for reconsideration but it was denied by the RTC on June 10. Consequently. viz: While there are rulings of the Supreme Court declaring that the period to appeal is not extendible. the Motion for Extension of Time to File Notice of Appeal is DENIED for lack of merit and the Notice of Appeal is hereby declared filed out of time. Ycong sought for the relaxation of the procedural rules by filing an extension of 15 days to file Aurora’s notice of appeal. Leyte19 and that he and his client have yet to discuss the pros and cons of appealing the case. 2004. dismissed the petition (docketed as CA-G. She averred that she could not just leave the campaign trail just to discuss matters with her lawyer about her case as she was busy in Leyte at the homestretch of the campaign period. However.20 Atty. x x x In the instant case. Aurora filed her Motion for Reconsideration17 on March 31. Atty. Ycong thereafter filed the Notice of Appeal on May 11. viz: Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . the CA on December 8. SO ORDERED. 2004 Order18 denied said motion. there are also instances when it allowed appeals to be perfected despite their filing out of time. Such is no excuse. the delay is due to defendant-Go’s running for an elective post. Ycong received the notice of denial on May 6. thus giving his client a day left to file her appeal. 2004. In other words. 2004. the last day to file her appeal. the RTC denied the notice of appeal. The court in its April 27. Explaining that Aurora has been busy campaigning for the local elections as she was running for the position of town mayor in Calubian. SP No. Accordingly. She contended that her situation is enough reason to grant her prayer. she in fact is in the Philippines. 2004 Order.22 Ruling of the Court of Appeals Filing her petition for certiorari with the CA by way of registered mail on August 13. Atty. 2004. 2004. she could have the time to confer with her counsels in order to prepare for her appeal. 2004.23 Aurora claimed that the RTC gravely abused its discretion in refusing to relax the period for filing the notice of appeal. 85897) for being procedurally flawed.
the CA insisted on a strict observance of the rules in its April 8. Although her certiorari petition named her.’ her co-defendants were not held liable in the lower court. and. 2004 attached to the petition is a mere photocopy of a certified true copy.24 Invoking the liberal construction of procedural rules. 2004 Orders that denied Aurora’s prayer for an extension of time to file her notice of appeal. the complaint. 5) The following copies of pleadings and other relevant documents referred to in the petition which would support the allegations therein are not attached: a) Complaint. 4) Certified true [sic] copies of the assailed decision dated January 26. where she is based.e. hence her lone signature. 2004 his Notice of Change of Address26 with the CA. petitioner Aurora asked for reconsideration25 with the following justifications: 1) A certification/verification of one of a number of principal parties is sufficient compliance. Rule 13 of the Revised Rules of Court). her spouse. and the answer was not necessary as these documents are not relevant and material to the issue to be resolved. the defect was cured when Atty. Ycong included the numbers when he subsequently filed on October 14. 1) The Verification/Certification of Non-Forum Shopping is signed by only one petitioner without a Special Power of Attorney/Secretary’s Certificate authorizing her to represent the two (2) other petitioners. It is only she who is interested in filing the certiorari petition for her to be able to appeal. However. 2005 Resolution: Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . 3) Counsel for petitioners failed to indicate his PTR and IBP numbers. 2) Anent the lack of explanation of why personal service to the CA was not resorted to. 3) The professional tax receipt (PTR) and Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) receipt numbers were inadvertently overlooked. Aurora averred that it was redundant to explain why registered mail was used considering the distance between Cebu. and the CA in Manila. b) Answer. as ‘petitioners. 4) Questioned in the certiorari are the May 12 and June 10. Requiring her to additionally append to the CA petition the certified true copies of the January 26.. Finding Aurora’s reasoning unacceptable. the decision on the merits of the case). 2004 RTC Decision (i. and Yiu-Go Employment Agency. 2) The Affidavit of Service shows that respondents were personally served copies of the petition but lacks explanation why service of the petition with this Court was not done personally (Section 11.
2004 and April 8. Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . a closer of [sic] examination of the same reveals that the same was only filed on October 14. 2004 or some two (2) months after the petition for certiorari was filed on August 13. a complaint or petition signed by only [sic] of the parties is defective unless he/she is authorized by his co-parties. On the other hand. reiterating to this Court that she deserves to be accorded the chance to prove to the CA that the RTC had unfairly denied her motion for extension of time to file her notice of appeal. respondents defend the stance of the CA. Anent the third ground. and that the circumstances do not justify granting Aurora leniency in the application of the procedural rules. 2005 Resolutions of the CA. 2004. We deem it unnecessary to discuss the other grounds raised by petitioners. he could have done it immediately after filing the petition. insisting that perfection of an appeal is jurisdictional and mandatory. petitioners did not even bother to cure such defect. However. x x x xxxx The reason why petitioners’ petition was dismissed based on the second defect was because the said petition lacks explanation why service of the petition with this Court was not done personally. Considering the foregoing. counsel for petitioners posits that his failure to indicate in the petition for certiorari his PTR and IBP numbers was cured by his succeeding Notice of Change Address filed with this Court. petitioners merely disagree with the deficiency which occasioned the outright dismissal of their petition without even curing the said defect. No less than the Supreme Court pronounced in Loquias vs. Suffice it to say here that the petition itself contains more than one petitioner. Then again. We doubt if petitioners would have cured such defect. but because of the failure to explain why the personal service was not resorted to. If it was really the intention of counsel for petitioners to cure such defect. 2004 Decision. Aurora assails the December 8. Issue The sole question to resolve is whether the formal deficiencies in the petition before the CA may be relaxed in the interest of justice. Moreover. x x x x27 The Parties’ Respective Arguments Believing that her case should not have been dismissed for procedural defects. ever since she filed her motion for reconsideration on the RTC’s January 26. In other words. As to the first ground. she had in the interim sufficient time to think about the next legal action to take before the trial court issued its order of denial on April 27. Office of the Ombudsman that where there are two or more plaintiffs or petitioners. the dismissal was not due to the fact that the petition was filed by registered mail. 2004. Had it not been due to the filing of the notice of change of address. not much for having filed the same by registered mail.
The second paragraph of Section 1 of Rule 65 requires the submission of a certified true copy of the judgment. it is the certified true copies of these orders that are required to be attached to the petition.30 Thus. hence. we agree with the petitioner that the CA required pleadings immaterial to the issue presented before it. the contents of which are already summarized in the January 26.28 In dismissing Aurora’s petition. Furthermore. The questioned subject of certiorari does not touch upon the substantive merits of the suit for damages against Aurora but actually involves the refusal of the trial court to entertain her notice of appeal due to late filing. 2004 Decision attached to the petition. Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . one aggrieved by a court’s judgment. documents. 2004 Decision and copies of the Complaint and Answer not fatal. (b) order the petitioner to submit the required additional pleadings. The complaint and answer are not indispensable at all in the resolution of this issue.] Rule 46 of the Rules of Court. "The initial determination of what pleadings. since Aurora’s petition assails the May 12 and June 10. its contents reveal that it is solely Aurora who is the ‘person aggrieved. In filing a certiorari petition. as this document is material and pertinent to the petition. she should be the one who should sign the petition. however. Such signatures.’ as she is the one who assailed before the CA the RTC’s Order that denied her notice of appeal and. [Should the CA opine that additional documents must be submitted together with the petition. may be dispensed with as these parties are not involved in the petition. or (c) order the petitioner to file an amended petition appending thereto the required pleadings. 2004 Orders of the RTC. 2004 Decision as well as the failure to attach copies of the complaint and answer in Aurora’s petition. it may] (a) dismiss the petition under the last paragraph of [Section 3. only Aurora filed her answer before the RTC while Sang and Yiu-Go Employment Agency did not file any. Although the caption in Aurora’s petition before the CA erroneously included Sang and Yiu- Go Employment Agency as petitioners. Notably. Non-submission of certified true copy of the January 26. photocopy of the January 26. Our Ruling The signatures/authorizations of Sang and Yiu-Go Employment Agency in the verification and certification on non- forum shopping are not necessary. Another ground cited by the CA was the non-submission of the certified true copy of the January 26. Moreover. or order within a specific period of time. 2004 Decision will suffice."29 We emphasize that not all pleadings and parts of case records are required to be attached. Aurora is the only one held liable by the trial court for damages and thus is the one interested in filing an appeal and in elevating the case to the CA. but only those which are material and pertinent that they may provide the basis for a determination of a prima facie case for abuse of discretion. order or resolution subject of the petition as well as the submission of copies of all pleadings and documents relevant to the petition. documents or order are relevant and pertinent to the petition rests on the petitioner. On the other hand. the CA cited as one of its grounds the lack of signatures or authorizations of Sang and Yiu-Go Employment Agency in the verification and certification of non-forum shopping. documents or order within a fixed period. order or resolution must verify his/her petition and must also attach a sworn certification of non-forum shopping.
however. "as a client.34 In the case at bar. Petitioner should be aware that a court.. personal service and personal filing of pleadings are always the preferred modes of service. to indicate in the petition before the CA his PTR and IBP numbers for the year 2004 was obviously an oversight. a compelling and a highly exceptional one. 2004 Resolution. "motions for extension are not granted as a matter of right but in the sound discretion of the court. for their discussions of legal options. and lawyers should never presume that their motions for extension or postponement will be granted or that they will be granted the length of time they pray for. Rule 13 of the Rules of Court. It is Aurora's duty.e."35 Additionally. Just as it is the lawyer’s duty to safeguard her client’s interest. the same numbers were nevertheless stated on his Notice of Change of Address. it is mandatory for him/her to submit a written explanation why the pleading was not personally filed/served. and that Musa v.31 Although he omitted to indicate the numbers on Aurora’s CA petition. A perusal of the records of the case would show that counsel had duly paid the required dues for that year and that his PTR and IBP receipt numbers are indicated in the pleadings he had filed with the RTC. even during the busy election period. the reason behind the filing of an extension of time to file her notice of appeal was not per se. liberal application available only under exceptional circumstances. Ycong. the court has the discretion to consider the paper as not filed. The failure of petitioner’s former counsel. that provisions with respect to the rules on the manner and periods for perfecting appeals are strictly applied and are only relaxed in very exceptional circumstances on equitable considerations. It must be emphasized.32 For this reason. Otherwise. Failure to indicate PTR and IBP Official Receipt Numbers not fatal. Under Section 11. to be in touch with [her] counsel so as to be constantly posted about the case. She is obliged to be vigilant in fighting for her cause and in protecting her rights. in reasonably exercising discretionary power to dismiss a petition that violated the rule on written explanation for resorting to modes other than personal service. also has to take into account another factor. around two months before the appellate court issued the questioned December 8. it is the responsibility of the client to make herself available to her counsel and open the lines of communication. we do not find any grave abuse on the part of the CA in exercising its discretion to dismiss Aurora’s petition. Atty. relax and await the outcome of the case. Amor33 supports Aurora’s argument that a written explanation why service was not done personally might have been superfluous considering the evident distance between the appellate court and the place where the petition was posted. should one deviate from the general rule. [She] is mandated to inquire from [her] counsel about the status and progress of the case from time to time and cannot expect that all [she] has to do is sit back."36 In spite of petitioner’s error. i. Whenever practicable. judicial notice may be taken that personal service is impracticable considering the distance between Cebu and Manila. the ‘fresh period rule’ amendment as held in Neypes v. Court of Appeals will be applied to her benefit Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . the prima facie merit of the pleading sought to be expunged for violation of Section 11. Rules on perfecting appeals must be strictly complied with. Indeed.
38 (Emphasis supplied. Aurora’s situation is no exception. the Orders of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu. SP No. with the fresh period rule under Neypes. 1avvphi1 In Neypes we held that a litigant is given another fresh period of 15 days to perfect an appeal after receipt of the order of denial of his/her motion for reconsideration/new trial before the RTC. to be counted from receipt of the order denying the motion for new trial. Rule 42 on petitions for review from the Regional Trial Courts to the Court of Appeals. Aurora had almost lost her statutory privilege to appeal. The Regional Trial Court of Cebu. 2004 and April 8. counted from receipt of the order dismissing a motion for a new trial or motion for reconsideration. Sans her motion for extension to file a notice of appeal. this "fresh period rule" shall also apply to Rule 40 governing appeals from the Municipal Trial Courts to the Regional Trial Courts. the Court deems it practical to allow a fresh period of 15 days within which to file the notice of appeal in the Regional Trial Court. SO ORDERED. The denial of Aurora’s Motion for Reconsideration of the trial court’s January 26. We said: To standardize the appeal periods provided in the Rules and to afford litigants fair opportunity to appeal their cases. and thus she is entitled to benefit from the amendment of the procedural rules.R. 2004.37 we shall grant Aurora’s petition. she still has until May 21. The new rule aims to regiment or make the appeal period uniform. but in view of our ruling on Neypes v. MARIANO C. 2004 decision was received by her former counsel on May 6. the petition is GRANTED. dated May 12 and June 10.) "[P]rocedural laws may be given retroactive effect to actions pending and undetermined at the time of their passage. has been applied retroactively to a number of cases40 wherein the original period to appeal had already lapsed subsequent to the denial of the motion for reconsideration. Henceforth. Court of Appeals. 2004 that denied Aurora Go’s notice of appeal are likewise REVERSED and SET ASIDE. 2005 are REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The challenged Resolutions of the Court of Appeals in CA-G. WHEREFORE. Branch 58 is hereby DIRECTED to give due course to petitioner’s Notice of Appeal dated May 11. which we rendered in September 2005. 2004 to file her notice of appeal and thus. 2004. 85897 dated December 8. motion for reconsideration (whether full or partial) or any final order or resolution. Branch 58. DEL CASTILLO Associate Justice WE CONCUR: Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . there being no vested rights in the rules of procedure."39 Neypes. had timely filed her notice of appeal on May 11. Rule 43 on appeals from quasi-judicial agencies to the Court of Appeals and Rule 45 governing appeals by certiorari to the Supreme Court. 2004.
5 Id. VELASCO. 9 Id. RENATO C. at 165-225. 2 Id. 4 Id. JR. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO Associate Justice Associate Justice JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ Associate Justice CERTIFICATION Pursuant to Section 13. at 57-76. Article VIII of the Constitution. p. at 86-89. CORONA Chief Justice Chairperson PRESBITERO J. at 80-84. TERESITA J. 7 CA rollo. Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . 85. 3 Id. 18. 8 Rollo. CORONA Chief Justice Footnotes * Also spelled as Sunbanon in some parts of the record. 6 Id. RENATO C. at 163. at 157-160. 77-79. it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division. p. pp. 1 Rollo.
Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . cost of suit. 24 Rollo.00 per appearance as attorney’s fees. 20 Id. at 103. at 116. at 97. penned by Judge Gabrile T. and 4. Abarintos. (Id. at 112-113. 16 Id. ₱10. at 114. at 121. at 92-96. 21 Id.00 as litigation expense. Ingles.000. 18 Id. 17 Id. penned by Associate Justice Vicente L. ₱200. 130-131. ₱30. 19 Id. 3.00 plus P2. pp. Yap and concurred in by Associate Justices Mercedes Gozo-Dadole and Pampio A. 14 Id. at 110. 3. 10 Id.000. 25 Id. at 104-109. at 100-101. 13 Id. 15 Id. 11 In said Decision.) 12 Id. at 111. 23 CA rollo. at 90-91. the RTC ordered Aurora Go to pay the following: 1. 22 Id.000. at 132-140. p.00 for moral damages.000. at 96. 2.
487 Phil. No. 39-40. 400 Phil. 154034. June 27. Inc. 142-143. 33 430 Phil 128 (2002). 19-24. pp. 26 CA rollo. No. G. August 19.R. Sec. 2006. 34 Heirs of Gaudiano v. 37 506 Phil. 491 (2001). 35 GCP-Manny Transport Services. No. 62. 102. 516 SCRA 416. 173942. 555 SCRA 345. Philippine Airlines.R. G. 31 CA rollo. 402-403 (2000). v. 2006. February 5. 28 Rules of Court. 809. pp. Jr. Judge Principe. 174247.. Inc. No. August 7.R. No.148247. 408 Phil. 483.R. 414 (1998). 404. June 25. Underscoring in the original. 162518. 186 (2005). 493 SCRA 99. G. 2008. 511 Phil. February 21.. Court of Appeals. 420-421 citing Sps. First Aqua Sugar Traders. 40 Sumiran v. 30 Air Philippines Corporation v.. August 10.. 1. Urban Bank. citing Philhouse Development Corp. 39 Pfizer. G. 498 Phil. 176. Benemerito. v. 613 (2005). at 626-627. 2009. Buenaflor v. 596 SCRA 450. Fil-Estate Properties. 2007. 29 Garcia v. v. 32 Solar Team Entertainment.Arellano Law Foundation Create PDF in your applications with the Pdfcrowd HTML to PDF API PDFCROWD . 38 Id. 820 (2005). Inc. 355 Phil. 398 (2001) and Balgami v. 30-33. Bank of the Philippine Islands. Inc. Inc. 2006. Sumaway v. 395.R. Court of Appeals. 27 Rollo. Homena-Valencia. Consolidated Orix Leasing & Finance Corp. Zamora. Citations omitted. No. v. v. Dajayog. 278 (2002). Elbiña v. G. 498 SCRA 59. 2007. Ceniza. Rule 65. 114-115 (2004). G. Damaso. The Lawphil Project . v. 498 SCRA 439. Inc. 428 Phil. pp. G. 267. Atty. 27-28. 514 SCRA 223.R. 392.R. 142534. Judge Ricafort. No. 154019. Inc. 410 Phil. 36 Ramos v. Galan.
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