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Matched Legal Cases: ['Art. 1315', 'Art.\u20021315', 'Art. 1179', 'Art. 1193', 'Art. 2217', 'Art. 2229', 'Art. 2232', 'Art. 2208', 'Art. 1207', 'Art.\u20021207', '§141', '§5']

Civ Pro 025.pdf | Summary Judgment | Pleading
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SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED VOLUME 729 1/16/18, 11:58
G.R. No. 196251. July 9, 2014.*
OLIVAREZ, petitioners, vs. BENJAMIN CASTILLO,
Judgments; Under Rule 35 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, a
trial court may dispense with trial and proceed to decide a case if
from the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, and other papers on file,
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact.·Trial „is the
judicial examination and determination of the issues between the
parties to the action.‰ During trial, parties „present their respective
evidence of their claims and defenses.‰ Parties to an action have the
right „to a plenary trial of the case‰ to ensure that they were given a
right to fully present evidence on their respective claims. There are
instances, however, when trial may be dispensed with. Under Rule
35 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, a trial court may dispense
with trial and proceed to decide a case if from the pleadings,
affidavits, depositions, and other papers on file, there is no genuine
issue as to any material fact. In such a case, the judgment issued is
called a summary judgment.
Same; Same; Same; Same; A motion for summary judgment is
filed either by the claimant or the defending party.·A motion for
summary judgment is filed either by the claimant or the defending
party. The trial court then hears the motion for summary judgment.
If indeed there are no genuine issues of material fact, the trial court
shall issue summary judgment. Section 3, Rule 35 of the 1997 Rules
of Civil Procedure provides: SEC. 3. Motion and proceedings
thereon.·The motion shall be served at least ten (10) days before
the time specified for the hearing. The adverse party may serve
opposing affidavits, depositions, or admission at least three (3) days
before the hearing. After the hearing, the judgment sought shall be
rendered forthwith if the pleadings, supporting affidavits,
depositions, and admissions on file, show that, except as to the
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VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 545
Olivarez Realty Corporation vs. Castillo
Same; Same; Same; Same; An issue of material fact exists if the
answer or responsive pleading filed specifically denies the material
allegations of fact set forth in the complaint or pleading.·An issue
of material fact exists if the answer or responsive pleading filed
specifically denies the material allegations of fact set forth in the
complaint or pleading. If the issue of fact „requires the presentation
of evidence, it is a genuine issue of fact.‰ However, if the issue
„could be resolved judiciously by plain resort‰ to the pleadings,
affidavits, depositions, and other papers on file, the issue of fact
raised is sham, and the trial court may resolve the action through
Same; Same; Same; Same; „Summary Judgment‰ and
„Judgment on the Pleadings,‰ Distinguished.·A summary
judgment is usually distinguished from a judgment on the
pleadings. Under Rule 34 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, trial
may likewise be dispensed with and a case decided through
judgment on the pleadings if the answer filed fails to tender an
issue or otherwise admits the material allegations of the claimantÊs
pleading. Judgment on the pleadings is proper when the answer
filed fails to tender any issue, or otherwise admits the material
allegations in the complaint. On the other hand, in a summary
judgment, the answer filed tenders issues as specific denials and
affirmative defenses are pleaded, but the issues raised are sham,
Civil Law; Obligations; „Pure Obligations‰ and „Obligations
with Resolutory Period,‰ Distinguished.·On one hand, pure
obligations, or obligations whose performance do not depend upon a
future or uncertain event, or upon a past event unknown to the
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parties, are demandable at once. On the other hand, obligations
with a resolutory period also take effect at once but terminate upon
arrival of the day certain.
Same; Contracts; „Contracts to Sell‰ and „Contracts of
Conditional Sale,‰ Distinguished.·In both contracts to sell and
contracts of conditional sale, title to the property remains with the
seller until the buyer fully pays the purchase price. Both contracts
are subject to the positive suspensive condition of the buyerÊs full
purchase price. In a contract of conditional sale, the buyer
automatically acquires title to the property upon full payment of the
purchase price. This transfer of title is „by operation of law without
any further act having to be performed by the seller.‰ In a contract
to sell, transfer of title to the prospective buyer is not automatic.
„The prospective seller [must] convey title to the property [through]
a deed of conditional sale.‰ The distinction is important to
determine the applicable laws and remedies in case a party does not
fulfill his or her obligations under the contract. In contracts of
conditional sale, our laws on sales under the Civil Code of the
Philippines apply. On the other hand, contracts to sell are not
governed by our law on sales but by the Civil Code provisions on
conditional obligations. Specifically, Article 1191 of the Civil Code
on the right to rescind reciprocal obligations does not apply to
contracts to sell. As this court explained in Ong v. Court of Appeals,
301 SCRA 387 (1999), failure to fully pay the purchase price in
contracts to sell is not the breach of contract under Article 1191.
Failure to fully pay the purchase price is „merely an event which
prevents the [sellerÊs] obligation to convey title from acquiring
binding force.‰ This is because „there can be no rescission of an
obligation that is still nonexistent, the suspensive condition not
having [happened].‰
Same; Damages; Moral Damages; Moral damages may be
awarded in case the claimant experienced physical suffering, mental
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feelings, moral shock, social humiliation, and similar injury.·
Moral damages may be awarded in case the claimant experienced
humiliation, and similar injury.
Same; Same; Solidary Obligations; Liability of Corporate
Officers; As an exception to the rule, directors or trustees and
corporate officers may be solidarily liable with the corporation for
corporate obligations if they acted „in bad faith or with gross
negligence in directing the corporate affairs.‰·Under Article 1207 of
the Civil Code of the Philippines, there is solidary liability only
when the obligation states it or when the law or the nature of the
obligation requires solidarity. In case of corporations, they are solely
liable for their obligations. The directors or trustees and officers are
not liable with the corporation even if it is through their acts that
the corporation incurred the obligation. This is because a corpora-
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 547
tion is separate and distinct from the persons comprising it. As an
exception to the rule, directors or trustees and corporate officers
may be solidarily liable with the corporation for corporate
obligations if they acted „in bad faith or with gross negligence in
directing the corporate affairs.‰
Remedial Law; Civil Procedure; Jurisdiction; An action to
cancel a contract to sell, similar to an action for rescission of
contract of sale, is an action incapable of pecuniary estimation.·
Although we discussed that there is no rescission of contract to
speak of in contracts of conditional sale, we hold that an action to
contract of sale, is an action incapable of pecuniary estimation. Like
any action incapable of pecuniary estimation, an action to cancel a
contract to sell „demands an inquiry into other factors‰ aside from
the amount of money to be awarded to the claimant. Specifically in
this case, the trial court principally determined whether Olivarez
Realty Corporation failed to pay installments of the propertyÊs
purchase price as the parties agreed upon in the deed of conditional
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sale. The principal nature of CastilloÊs action, therefore, is incapable
Mendoza, Arzaga-Mendoza Law Firm for petitioners.
Herminio F. Valerio for respondent.
Trial may be dispensed with and a summary judgment
rendered if the case can be resolved judiciously by plain
resort to the pleadings, affidavits, depositions, and other
papers filed by the parties.
This is a petition for review on certiorari1 of the Court of
AppealsÊ decision2 dated July 20, 2010 and resolution3
dated March 18, 2011 in C.A.-G.R. CV No. 91244.
The facts as established from the pleadings of the
Benjamin Castillo was the registered owner of a
346,918-square-meter parcel of land located in Laurel,
Batangas, covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-
19972.4 The Philippine Tourism Authority allegedly
claimed ownership of the same parcel of land based on
Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-18493.5
On April 5, 2000, Castillo and Olivarez Realty
Corporation, represented by Dr. Pablo R. Olivarez, entered
into a contract of conditional sale6 over the property. Under
the deed of conditional sale, Castillo agreed to sell his
property to Olivarez Realty Corporation for
P19,080,490.00. Olivarez Realty Corporation agreed to a
down payment of P5,000,000.00, to be paid according to the
April 8, 2000 P500,000.00
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1 Rollo, pp. 9-79.
2 Id., at pp. 80-93. This decision was penned by Associate Justice
Normandie B. Pizzaro, with Associate Justices Amelita G. Tolentino
3 Id., at pp. 94-98.
4 Id., at pp. 158-160.
5 Id., at p. 161.
6 Id., at pp. 140-141.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 549
As to the balance of P14,080,490.00, Olivarez Realty
Corporation agreed to pay in 30 equal monthly
installments every eighth day of the month beginning in
the month that the parties would receive a decision voiding
the Philippine Tourism AuthorityÊs title to the property.8
Under the deed of conditional sale, Olivarez Realty
Corporation shall file the action against the Philippine
Tourism Authority „with the full assistance of [Castillo].‰9
Paragraph C of the deed of conditional sale provides:
C. [Olivarez Realty Corporation] assumes the responsibility of
taking necessary legal action thru Court to have the claim/title TCT
No. T-18493 of Philippine Tourism Authority over the above
described property be nullified and voided; with the full assistance
of [Castillo][.]10
Should the action against the Philippine Tourism
Authority be denied, Castillo agreed to reimburse all the
amounts paid by Olivarez Realty Corporation. Paragraph D
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D. In the event that the Court denie[s] the petition against the
Philippine Tourism Authority, all sums received by [Castillo] shall
be reimbursed to [Olivarez Realty Corporation] without interest[.]11
As to the „legitimate tenants‰ occupying the property,
Olivarez Realty Corporation undertook to pay them
„disturbance compensation,‰ while Castillo undertook to
clear the land of the tenants within six months from the
signing of the deed of
7 Id., at p. 140.
conditional sale. Should Castillo fail to clear the land
within six months, Olivarez Realty Corporation may
suspend its monthly down payment until the tenants
vacate the property. Paragraphs E and F of the deed of
compensation to legitimate agricultural tenants and fishermen
HUNDRED THOUSAND (P1,500,000.00) PESOS. Said amount
F. That [Castillo] shall clear the land of [the] legitimate tenants
within a period of six (6) months upon signing of this Contract, and
in case [Castillo] fails, [Olivarez Realty Corporation] shall have the
right to suspend the monthly down payment until such time that
the tenants [move] out of the land[.]12
The parties agreed that Olivarez Realty Corporation
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may immediately occupy the property upon signing of the
deed of conditional sale. Should the contract be cancelled,
Olivarez Realty Corporation agreed to return the propertyÊs
possession to Castillo and forfeit all the improvements it
may have introduced on the property. Paragraph I of the
deed of conditional sale states:
I. Immediately upon signing this Contract, [Olivarez Realty
Corporation] shall be entitled to occupy, possess and develop the
subject property. In case this Contract is canceled [sic], any
improvement introduced by [the corporation] on the property shall
be forfeited in favor of [Castillo][.]13
12 Id., at p. 141.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 551
On September 2, 2004, Castillo filed a complaint14
against Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez with
the Regional Trial Court of Tanauan City, Batangas.
Castillo alleged that Dr. Olivarez convinced him into
selling his property to Olivarez Realty Corporation on the
representation that the corporation shall be responsible in
clearing the property of the tenants and in paying them
disturbance compensation. He further alleged that Dr.
Olivarez solely prepared the deed of conditional sale and
that he was made to sign the contract with its terms „not
adequately explained [to him] in Tagalog.‰15
After the parties had signed the deed of conditional sale,
Olivarez Realty Corporation immediately took possession of
the property. However, the corporation only paid
P2,500,000.00 of the purchase price. Contrary to the
agreement, the corporation did not file any action against
the Philippine Tourism Authority to void the latterÊs title to
the property. The corporation neither cleared the land of
the tenants nor paid them disturbance compensation.
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Despite demand, Olivarez Realty Corporation refused to
fully pay the purchase price.16
Arguing that Olivarez Realty Corporation committed
substantial breach of the contract of conditional sale and
that the deed of conditional sale was a contract of adhesion,
Castillo prayed for rescission of contract under Article 1191
of the Civil Code of the Philippines. He further prayed that
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez be made
solidarily liable for moral damages, exemplary damages,
attorneyÊs fees, and costs of suit.17
In their answer,18 Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr.
Olivarez admitted that the corporation only paid
14 Id., at pp. 110-115.
15 Id., at p. 111.
16 Id., at p. 113.
17 Id., at p. 115.
18 Id., at pp. 188-194.
of the purchase price. In their defense, defendants alleged
that Castillo failed to „fully assist‰19 the corporation in
filing an action against the Philippine Tourism Authority.
Neither did Castillo clear the property of the tenants
within six months from the signing of the deed of
conditional sale. Thus, according to defendants, the
corporation had „all the legal right to withhold the
subsequent payments to [fully pay] the purchase price.‰20
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez prayed
that CastilloÊs complaint be dismissed. By way of
compulsory counterclaim, they prayed for P100,000.00
litigation expenses and P50,000.00 attorneyÊs fees.21
Castillo replied to the counterclaim,22 arguing that
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez had no right
to litigation expenses and attorneyÊs fees. According to
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Castillo, the deed of conditional sale clearly states that the
corporation „assume[d] the responsibility of taking
necessary legal action‰23 against the Philippine Tourism
Authority, yet the corporation did not file any case. Also,
the corporation did not pay the tenants disturbance
compensation. For the corporationÊs failure to fully pay the
purchase price, Castillo claimed that he had „all the right
to pray for the rescission of the [contract],‰24 and he „should
not be held liable . . . for any alleged damages by way of
litigation expenses and attorneyÊs fees.‰25
On January 10, 2005, Castillo filed a request for
admission,26 requesting Dr. Olivarez to admit under oath
the genuineness of the deed of conditional sale and
Transfer Certifi-
19 Id., at p. 190.
21 Id., at p. 191.
22 Id., at pp. 193-194.
23 Id., at p. 193.
24 Id., at p. 194.
26 Id., at pp. 195-197.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 553
cate of Title No. T-19972. He likewise requested Dr.
Olivarez to admit the truth of the following factual
1. That Dr. Olivarez is the president of Olivarez Realty
2. That Dr. Olivarez offered to purchase the parcel of
land from Castillo and that he undertook to clear the
property of the tenants and file the court action to void the
Philippine Tourism AuthorityÊs title to the property;
3. That Dr. Olivarez caused the preparation of the deed
of conditional sale;
4. That Dr. Olivarez signed the deed of conditional sale
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for and on behalf of Olivarez Realty Corporation;
5. That Dr. Olivarez and the corporation did not file any
action against the Philippine Tourism Authority;
6. That Dr. Olivarez and the corporation did not pay the
tenants disturbance compensation and failed to clear the
property of the tenants; andChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
7. That Dr. Olivarez and the corporation only paid
P2,500,000.00 of the agreed purchase price.27
On January 25, 2005, Dr. Olivarez and Olivarez Realty
Corporation filed their objections to the request for
admission,28 stating that they „reiterate[d] the allegations
[and denials] in their [answer].‰29
The trial court conducted pre-trial conference on
On March 8, 2006, Castillo filed a motion for summary
judgment and/or judgment on the pleadings.30 He argued
that Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez
„substantially
27 Id., at p. 196.
28 Id., at pp. 198-199.
29 Id., at p. 199.
30 Id., at pp. 200-206.
admitted the material allegations of [his] complaint,‰31
1. That the corporation failed to fully pay the purchase
price for his property;32
2. That the corporation failed to file an action to void the
Philippine Tourism AuthorityÊs title to his property;33 and
3. That the corporation failed to clear the property of the
tenants and pay them disturbance compensation.34
Should judgment on the pleadings be improper, Castillo
argued that summary judgment may still be rendered as
there is no genuine issue as to any material fact.35 He cited
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Philippine National Bank v. NoahÊs Ark Sugar Refinery36
Castillo attached to his motion for summary judgment
and/or judgment on the pleadings his affidavit37 and the
affidavit of a Marissa Magsino38 attesting to the truth of
the material allegations of his complaint.
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez opposed39
the motion for summary judgment and/or judgment on the
pleadings, arguing that the motion was „devoid of merit.‰40
They reiterated their claim that the corporation withheld
further payments of the purchase price because „there
ha[d] been no favorable decision voiding the title of the
31 Id., at p. 200.
32 Id., at p. 201.
33 Id., at p. 202.
35 Id., at p. 204.
36 G.R. No. 107243, September 1, 1993, 226 SCRA 36 [Per CJ.
Narvasa, Second Division].
37 Rollo, pp. 207-209.
38 Id., at pp. 210-211.
39 Id., at pp. 213-214.
40 Id., at p. 213.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 555
Authority.‰41 They added that Castillo sold the property to
another person and that the sale was allegedly litigated in
Quezon City.42
Considering that a title adverse to that of CastilloÊs
existed, Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez
argued that the case should proceed to trial and Castillo be
required to prove that his title to the property is „not
spurious or fake and that he had not sold his property to
another person.‰43
In reply to the opposition to the motion for summary
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judgment and/or judgment on the pleadings,44 Castillo
maintained that Olivarez Realty Corporation was
responsible for the filing of an action against the Philippine
Tourism Authority. Thus, the corporation could not fault
Castillo for not suing the Philippine Tourism Authority.45
The corporation illegally withheld payments of the
As to the claim that the case should proceed to trial
because a title adverse to his title existed, Castillo argued
that the Philippine Tourism AuthorityÊs title covered
another lot, not his property.46
During the hearing on August 3, 2006, Olivarez Realty
Corporation and Dr. Olivarez prayed that they be given 30
days to file a supplemental memorandum on CastilloÊs
motion for summary judgment and/or judgment on the
pleadings.47
The trial court granted the motion. It gave Castillo 20
days to reply to the memorandum and the corporation and
Dr. Olivarez 15 days to respond to CastilloÊs reply.48
42 Id., at p. 214.
44 Id., at pp. 215-216.
45 Id., at p. 215.
46 Id., at p. 216.
47 Id., at p. 224.
In their supplemental memorandum,49 Olivarez Realty
Corporation and Dr. Olivarez argued that there was „an
obvious ambiguity‰50 as to which should occur first · the
payment of disturbance compensation to the tenants or the
clearing of the property of the tenants.51 This ambiguity,
according to defendants, is a genuine issue and „ought to be
threshed out in a full blown trial.‰52
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Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez added that
Castillo prayed for irreconcilable reliefs of reformation of
instrument and rescission of contract.53 Thus, CastilloÊs
Castillo replied54 to the memorandum, arguing that
there was no genuine issue requiring trial of the case.
According to Castillo, „common sense dictates . . . that the
legitimate tenants of the [property] shall not vacate the
premises without being paid any disturbance compensation
. . .‰55 Thus, the payment of disturbance compensation
should occur first before clearing the property of the
With respect to the other issues raised in the
supplemental memorandum, specifically, that Castillo sold
the property to another person, he argued that these issues
should not be entertained for not having been presented
during pre-trial.56
In their comment on the reply memorandum,57 Olivarez
Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez reiterated their
arguments that certain provisions of the deed of conditional
49 Id., at pp. 225-246.
50 Id., at p. 227.
52 Id., at p. 229.
53 Id., at p. 238.
54 Id., at pp. 247-251.
55 Id., at p. 248.
56 Id., at p. 249.
57 Id., at pp. 252-267.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 557
were ambiguous and that the complaint prayed for
irreconcilable reliefs.58
As to the additional issues raised in the supplemental
memorandum, defendants argued that issues not raised
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and evidence not identified and pre-marked during pre-
trial may still be raised and presented during trial for good
cause shown. Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez
prayed that CastilloÊs complaint be dismissed for lack of
merit.59
The trial court found that Olivarez Realty Corporation
and Dr. OlivarezÊs answer „substantially [admitted the
material allegations of CastilloÊs] complaint and [did] not . .
. raise any genuine issue [as to any material fact].‰60
Defendants admitted that Castillo owned the parcel of
land covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-19972.
They likewise admitted the genuineness of the deed of
conditional sale and that the corporation only paid
P2,500,000.00 of the agreed purchase price.61
According to the trial court, the corporation was
responsible for suing the Philippine Tourism Authority and
for paying the tenants disturbance compensation. Since
defendant corporation neither filed any case nor paid the
tenants disturbance compensation, the trial court ruled
that defendant corporation had no right to withhold
payments from Castillo.62
As to the alleged ambiguity of paragraphs E and F of the
deed of conditional sale, the trial court ruled that Castillo
and his witness, Marissa Magsino, „clearly established‰63
58 Id., at p. 255.
59 Id., at p. 259.
60 Id., at p. 268.
61 Id., at pp. 268-269.
62 Id., at p. 282.
affidavits that the deed of conditional sale was a contract of
adhesion. The true agreement between the parties was that
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the corporation would both clear the land of the tenants
and pay them disturbance compensation.
With these findings, the trial court ruled that Olivarez
Realty Corporation breached the contract of conditional
sale. In its decision64 dated April 23, 2007, the trial court
ordered the deed of conditional sale rescinded and the
P2,500,000.00 forfeited in favor of Castillo „as damages
under Article 1191 of the Civil Code.‰65
The trial court declared Olivarez Realty Corporation and
Dr. Olivarez solidarily liable to Castillo for P500,000.00 as
moral damages, P50,000.00 as exemplary damages, and
P50,000.00 as costs of suit.66
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez appealed
to the Court of Appeals.67
In its decision68 dated July 20, 2010, the Court of
Appeals affirmed in toto the trial courtÊs decision.
According to the appellate court, the trial court „did not err
in its finding that there is no genuine controversy as to the
facts involved [in this case].‰69 The trial court, therefore,
As to the trial courtÊs award of damages, the appellate
court ruled that a court may award damages through
summary judgment „if the partiesÊ contract categorically
[stipu-
64 Id., at pp. 268-285.
65 Id., at p. 285.
67 Id., at pp. 329-371.
68 Id., at pp. 81-93.
69 Id., at p. 87.
70 Id., at p. 92.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 559
lates] the respective obligations of the parties in case of
default.‰71 As found by the trial court, paragraph I of the
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deed of conditional sale categorically states that „in case
[the deed of conditional sale] is cancelled, any improvement
introduced by [Olivarez Realty Corporation] on the
property shall be forfeited in favor of [Castillo].‰72
Considering that Olivarez Realty Corporation illegally
retained possession of the property, Castillo forewent rent
to the property and „lost business opportunities.‰73 The
P2,500,000.00 down payment, according to the appellate
court, should be forfeited in favor of Castillo. Moral and
exemplary damages and costs of suit were properly
On August 11, 2010, Olivarez Realty Corporation and
Dr. Olivarez filed their motion for reconsideration,74
arguing that the trial court exceeded its authority in
forfeiting the P2,500,000.00 down payment and awarding
P500,000.00 in moral damages to Castillo. They argued
that Castillo only prayed for a total of P500,000.00 as
actual and moral damages in his complaint.75 Appellants
prayed that the Court of Appeals „take a second hard
look‰76 at the case and reconsider its decision.
In the resolution77 dated March 18, 2011, the Court of
Appeals denied the motion for reconsideration.
71 Id., at p. 90, citing CIVIL CODE, Art. 1315, which states:
Art. 1315. Contracts are perfected by mere consent, and from
that moment the parties are bound not only to the fulfillment of
what has been expressly stipulated but also to all the consequences
which, according to their nature, may be in keeping with good faith,
72 Id., at p. 141.
73 Id., at p. 91.
74 Id., at pp. 117-129.
75 Id., at p. 126.
77 Id., at pp. 95-98.
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Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez filed their
petition for review on certiorari78 with this court.
Petitioners argue that the trial court and the Court of
Appeals erred in awarding damages to Castillo. Under
Section 3, Rule 35 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure,
summary judgment may be rendered except as to the
amount of damages. Thus, the Court of Appeals „violated
the procedural steps in rendering summary judgment.‰79
Petitioners reiterate that there are genuine issues of
material fact to be resolved in this case. Thus, a full-blown
trial is required, and the trial court prematurely decided
the case through summary judgment. They cite Torres v.
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Pablo Olivarez,80 a
case decided by the Ninth Division of the Court of Appeals.
In Torres, Rosario Torres was the registered owner of a
parcel of land covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-
19971. Under a deed of conditional sale, she sold her
P17,345,900.00. When the corporation failed to fully pay
the purchase price, she sued for rescission of contract with
damages. In their answer, the corporation and Dr. Olivarez
argued that they discontinued payment because Rosario
Torres failed to clear the land of the tenants.
Similar to Castillo, Torres filed a motion for summary
judgment, which the trial court granted. On appeal, the
Court of Appeals set aside the trial courtÊs summary
judgment and remanded the case to the trial court for
further proceedings.81 The Court of Appeals ruled that the
material allegations of the complaint „were directly
disputed by [the corporation and
78 Id., at pp. 9-79.
79 Id., at p. 24.
80 Id., at pp. 442-463.
81 Id., at pp. 442-446.
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Dr. Olivarez] in their answer‰82 when they argued that they
refused to pay because Torres failed to clear the land of the
With the Court of AppealsÊ decision in Torres, Olivarez
Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez argue that this case
should likewise be remanded to the trial court for further
proceedings under the equipoise rule.
Petitioners maintain that Castillo availed himself of the
irreconcilable reliefs of reformation of instrument and
rescission of contract.83 Thus, the trial court should have
dismissed the case outright.
Petitioners likewise argue that the trial court had no
jurisdiction to decide the case as Castillo failed to pay the
correct docket fees.84 Petitioners argue that Castillo should
have paid docket fees based on the propertyÊs fair market
value since CastilloÊs complaint is a real action.85
In his comment,86 Castillo maintains that there are no
genuine issues as to any material fact in this case. The trial
court, therefore, correctly rendered summary judgment.
As to petitionersÊ claim that the trial court had no
jurisdiction to decide the case, Castillo argues that he
prayed for rescission of contract in his complaint. This
action is incapable of pecuniary estimation, and the Clerk
of Court properly computed the docket fees based on this
prayer.87
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez replied,88
reiterating their arguments in the petition for review on
82 Id., at p. 451.
83 Id., at p. 42.
84 Id., at p. 73.
85 Id., at pp. 101-104.
86 Id., at pp. 467-488.
87 Id., at p. 485.
88 Id., at pp. 490-579.
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I. Whether the trial court erred in rendering summary
summary judgment, as there were
Trial „is the judicial examination and determination of
the issues between the parties to the action.‰89 During trial,
parties „present their respective evidence of their claims
and defenses.‰90 Parties to an action have the right „to a
plenary trial of the case‰91 to ensure that they were given a
right to fully present evidence on their respective claims.
There are instances, however, when trial may be
dispensed with. Under Rule 35 of the 1997 Rules of Civil
Procedure, a trial court may dispense with trial and
proceed to decide a case if from the pleadings, affidavits,
depositions, and other papers on file, there is no genuine
issue as to any material fact. In such a case, the judgment
issued is called a summary judgment.
89 RIANO , W. B., CIVIL PROCEDURE I (THE BAR LECTURE SERIES),
p. 509 (2011).
91 Calubaquib v. Republic of the Philippines, G.R. No. 170658,
June 22, 2011, 652 SCRA 523, 531-532 [Per J. Del Castillo, First
Division], citing Viajar v. Estenzo, 178 Phil. 561; 89 SCRA 684
(1979) [Per J. Guerrero, First Division].
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 563
A motion for summary judgment is filed either by the
claimant or the defending party.92 The trial court then
hears the motion for summary judgment. If indeed there
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are no genuine issues of material fact, the trial court shall
issue summary judgment. Section 3, Rule 35 of the 1997
SEC. 3. Motion and proceedings thereon.·The motion shall be
depositions, or admission at least three (3) days before the hearing.
After the hearing, the judgment sought shall be rendered forthwith
if the pleadings, supporting affidavits, depositions, and admissions
on file, show that, except as to the amount of damages, there is no
An issue of material fact exists if the answer or
responsive pleading filed specifically denies the material
allegations of fact set forth in the complaint or pleading. If
the issue of fact „requires the presentation of evidence, it is
a genuine issue of fact.‰93 However, if the issue „could be
resolved judiciously by plain resort‰94 to the pleadings,
affidavits, depositions, and other papers on file, the issue of
fact raised is sham, and the trial court may resolve the
action through summary judgment.
A summary judgment is usually distinguished from a
judgment on the pleadings. Under Rule 34 of the 1997
Rules of Civil Procedure, trial may likewise be dispensed
with and a case decided through judgment on the pleadings
92 RULES OF COURT, Rule 35, Secs. 1 and 2.
93 Wood Technology Corporation v. Equitable Banking
Corporation, 492 Phil. 106, 116; 451 SCRA 724, 733 (2005)
[Per J.Quisumbing, First Division].
94 Id., at p. 116; p. 733.
filed fails to tender an issue or otherwise admits the
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material allegations of the claimantÊs pleading.95
Judgment on the pleadings is proper when the answer
filed fails to tender any issue, or otherwise admits the
material allegations in the complaint.96 On the other hand,
in a summary judgment, the answer filed tenders issues as
specific denials and affirmative defenses are pleaded, but
the issues raised are sham, fictitious, or otherwise not
genuine.97
In this case, Olivarez Realty Corporation admitted that
it did not fully pay the purchase price as agreed upon in the
deed of conditional sale. As to why it withheld payments
from Castillo, it set up the following affirmative defenses:
first, Castillo did not file a case to void the Philippine
Tourism AuthorityÊs title to the property; second, Castillo
did not clear the land of the tenants; third, Castillo
allegedly sold the property to a third person, and the
subsequent sale is currently being litigated before a
Quezon City court.
Considering that Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr.
OlivarezÊs answer tendered an issue, Castillo properly
availed himself of a motion for summary judgment.
However, the issues tendered by Olivarez Realty
Corporation and Dr. OlivarezÊs answer are not genuine
issues of material fact. These are issues that can be
resolved judiciously by plain resort to the pleadings,
affidavits, depositions, and
95 Rule 34, Sec. 1. Judgment on the pleadings.·Where an
answer fails to tender an issue, or otherwise admits the material
allegations of the adverse partyÊs pleading, the court may; on
motion of that party, direct judgment on such pleading. However, in
actions for declaration of nullity or annulment of marriage or for
legal separation, the material facts alleged in the complaint shall
96 RULES OF COURT, Rule 34.
97 RULES OF COURT, Rule 35. SeeNarra Integrated Corporation v.
Court of Appeals, 398 Phil. 733, 740; 344 SCRA 781, 786 (2000)
[Per J. Gonzaga-Reyes, Third Division].
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other papers on file; otherwise, these issues are sham,
Petitioner corporation refused to fully pay the purchase
price because no court case was filed to void the Philippine
Tourism AuthorityÊs title on the property. However,
paragraph C of the deed of conditional sale is clear that
petitioner Olivarez Realty Corporation is responsible for
initiating court action against the Philippine Tourism
of [Castillo].98
CastilloÊs alleged failure to „fully assist‰99 the
corporation in filing the case is not a defense. As the trial
court said, „how can [Castillo] assist [the corporation] when
[the latter] did not file the action [in the first place?]‰100
Neither can Olivarez Realty Corporation argue that it
refused to fully pay the purchase price due to the
Philippine Tourism AuthorityÊs adverse claim on the
property. The corporation knew of this adverse claim when
it entered into a contract of conditional sale. It even
obligated itself under paragraph C of the deed of
conditional sale to sue the Philippine Tourism Authority.
This defense, therefore, is sham.
Contrary to petitionersÊ claim, there is no „obvious
ambiguity‰101 as to which should occur first · the payment
of the disturbance compensation or the clearing of the land
conditional sale. The obligations must be performed
simultaneously. In this
98 Rollo, p. 112.
99 Id., at p. 190.
100 Id., at p. 271.
101 Id., at p. 227.
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case, the parties should have coordinated to ensure that
tenants on the property were paid disturbance
compensation and were made to vacate the property six
months after the signing of the deed of conditional sale.
On one hand, pure obligations, or obligations whose
performance do not depend upon a future or uncertain
event, or upon a past event unknown to the parties, are
demandable at once.102 On the other hand, obligations with
a resolutory period also take effect at once but terminate
upon arrival of the day certain.103
Olivarez Realty CorporationÊs obligation to pay
disturbance compensation is a pure obligation. The
performance of the obligation to pay disturbance
compensation did not depend on any condition. Moreover,
the deed of conditional sale did not give the corporation a
period to perform the obligation. As such, the obligation to
pay disturbance compensation was demandable at once.
Olivarez Realty Corporation should have paid the tenants
disturbance compensation upon execution of the deed of
With respect to CastilloÊs obligation to clear the land of
the tenants within six months from the signing of the
contract, his obligation was an obligation with a resolutory
period. The obligation to clear the land of the tenants took
effect at once, specifically, upon the partiesÊ signing of the
deed of conditional sale. Castillo had until October 2, 2000,
six months from April 5, 2000 when the parties signed the
deed of conditional sale, to clear the land of the tenants.
Olivarez Realty Corporation, therefore, had no right to
withhold payments of the purchase price. As the trial court
ruled, Olivarez Realty Corporation „can only claim
noncompliance [of the obligation to clear the land of the
tenants in] October 2000.‰104 It said:
102 CIVIL CODE, Art. 1179.
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103 CIVIL CODE, Art. 1193.
104 Rollo, p. 283.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 567
. . . it is clear that defendant [Olivarez Realty Corporation]
should have paid the installments on the P5 million down payment
up to October 8, 2000, or a total of P4,500,000.00. That is the
agreement because the only time that defendant [corporation] can
claim noncompliance of the condition is after October, 2000 and so it
has the clear obligation to pay up to the October 2000 the agreed
installments. Since it paid only P2,500,000.00, then a violation of
the contract has already been committed. . . .105
The claim that Castillo sold the property to another is
fictitious and was made in bad faith to prevent the trial
court from rendering summary judgment. Petitioners did
not elaborate on this defense and insisted on revealing the
identity of the buyer only during trial.106 Even in their
petition for review on certiorari, petitioners never disclosed
the name of this alleged buyer. Thus, as the trial court
ruled, this defense did not tender a genuine issue of fact,
with the defense „bereft of details.‰107
CastilloÊs alleged prayer for the irreconcilable reliefs of
rescission of contract and reformation of instrument is not
a ground to dismiss his complaint. A plaintiff may allege
two or more claims in the complaint alternatively or
hypothetically, either in one cause of action or in separate
causes of action per Section 2, Rule 8 of the 1997 Rules of
Civil Procedure.108 It
105 Id., at p. 283.
106 Id., at p. 218.
107 Id., at p. 272.
108 RULES OF COURT, Rule 8, Sec. 2 states:
Sec. 2. Alternative causes of action or defenses.·
A party may set forth two or more statements of a claim or
defense alternatively or hypothetically, either in one cause of action
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or defense or in separate causes of action or defenses. When two or
more statements are made in the alternative and one of them if
made independently would be suf-
is the filing of two separate cases for each of the causes of
action that is prohibited since the subsequently filed case
may be dismissed under Section 4, Rule 2 of the 1997 Rules
of Civil Procedure109 on splitting causes of action.
As demonstrated, there are no genuine issues of
material fact in this case. These are issues that can be
affidavits, depositions, and other papers on file. As the trial
court found, Olivarez Realty Corporation illegally withheld
payments of the purchase price. The trial court did not err
in rendering summary judgment.
Since Olivarez Realty Corporation illegally withheld
payments of the purchase price, Castillo is entitled to
cancel his contract with petitioner corporation. However,
we properly characterize the partiesÊ contract as a contract
to sell, not a contract of conditional sale.
In both contracts to sell and contracts of conditional
sale, title to the property remains with the seller until the
buyer fully pays the purchase price.110 Both contracts are
ficient, the pleading is not made insufficient by the insufficiency
of one or more of the alternative statements.
109 Rules of Court, Rule 2, Sec. 4 states:
Sec. 4. Splitting a single cause of action; effect of.·
If two or more suits are instituted on the basis of the same cause
of action, the filing of one or a judgment upon the merits in any one
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is available as a ground for the dismissal of the others.
110 Nabus v. Pacson, G.R. No. 161318, November 25, 2009, 605
SCRA 334, 349 [Per J. Peralta, Third Division], citing Ramos v.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 569
the positive suspensive condition of the buyerÊs full
payment of the purchase price.111
In a contract of conditional sale, the buyer automatically
acquires title to the property upon full payment of the
purchase price.112 This transfer of title is „by operation of
law without any further act having to be performed by the
seller.‰113 In a contract to sell, transfer of title to the
prospective buyer is not automatic.114 „The prospective
seller [must] convey title to the property [through] a deed
of conditional sale.‰115
The distinction is important to determine the applicable
laws and remedies in case a party does not fulfill his or her
obligations under the contract. In contracts of conditional
sale, our laws on sales under the Civil Code of the
Philippines apply. On the other hand, contracts to sell are
not governed by our law on sales116 but by the Civil Code
provisions on conditional obligations.
Specifically, Article 1191 of the Civil Code on the right to
rescind reciprocal obligations does not apply to contracts to
sell.117 As this court explained in Ong v. Court of
Appeals,118 failure to fully pay the purchase price in
contracts to sell is
Heruela, 509 Phil. 658; 473 SCRA 79 (2005) [Per J. Carpio, First
112 Nabus v. Pacson, id., citingCoronel v. Court of Appeals, 331
Phil. 294; 263 SCRA 15 (1996) [Per J. Melo, Third Division].
113 Id., at p. 351.
116 Gomez v. Court of Appeals, 395 Phil. 115; 340 SCRA 720
(2000) [Per J. Buena, Second Division]; Padilla v. Spouses Paredes,
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385 Phil. 128, 140-142; 328 SCRA 434, 443 (2000)
[Per J. Quisumbing, Second Division].
117 Padilla v. Spouses Paredes, id., at p. 443.
118 369 Phil. 243; 310 SCRA 1 (1999) [Per J. Ynares-Santiago,
not the breach of contract under Article 1191.119 Failure to
fully pay the purchase price is „merely an event which
prevents the [sellerÊs] obligation to convey title from
acquiring binding force.‰120 This is because „there can be no
rescission of an obligation that is still nonexistent, the
suspensive condition not having [happened].‰121
In this case, Castillo reserved his title to the property and
undertook to execute a deed of absolute sale upon Olivarez
Realty CorporationÊs full payment of the purchase price.122
Since Castillo still has to execute a deed of absolute sale to
Olivarez Realty Corporation upon full payment of the
purchase price, the transfer of title is not automatic. The
contract in this case is a contract to sell.
As this case involves a contract to sell, Article 1191 of the
Civil Code of the Philippines does not apply. The contract to
sell is instead cancelled, and the parties shall stand as if
the obligation to sell never existed.123
Olivarez Realty Corporation shall return the possession
of the property to Castillo. Any improvement that Olivarez
Realty Corporation may have introduced on the property
shall be forfeited in favor of Castillo per paragraph I of the
deed of conditional sale:
subject property. In case
119 Id., at p. 254; pp. 10-11.
121 Nabus v. Pacson, supra note 110 at pp. 353-354.
122 Rollo, p. 141, Deed of Conditional Sale, par. J provides:
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J. That [Castillo] shall execute and deliver to [Olivarez Realty
Corporation] by way of a Deed of Absolute Sale upon full payment
by the latter of the full and complete purchase price herein above
stipulated[.]
123 Heirs of Atienza v. Espidol, G.R. No. 180665, August 11,
2010, 628 SCRA 256, 263 [Per J. Abad, Second Division].
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 571
this Contract is cancelled, any improvement introduced by [Olivarez
Realty Corporation] on the property shall be forfeited in favor of
[Castillo.]124
As for prospective sellers, this court generally orders the
reimbursement of the installments paid for the property
when setting aside contracts to sell.125 This is true
especially if the propertyÊs possession has not been
delivered to the prospective buyer prior to the transfer of
In this case, however, Castillo delivered the possession
of the property to Olivarez Realty Corporation prior to the
transfer of title. We cannot order the reimbursement of the
In Gomez v. Court of Appeals,126 the City of Manila and
Luisa Gomez entered into a contract to sell over a parcel of
land. The city delivered the propertyÊs possession to Gomez.
She fully paid the purchase price for the property but
violated the terms of the contract to sell by renting out the
property to other persons. This court set aside the contract
to sell for her violation of the terms of the contract to sell.
It ordered the installments paid forfeited in favor of the
City of Manila „as reasonable compensation for [GomezÊs]
use of the [property]‰127 for eight years.
In this case, Olivarez Realty Corporation failed to fully
pay the purchase price for the property. It only paid
P2,500,000.00 out of the P19,080,490.00 agreed purchase
price. Worse, petitioner corporation has been in possession
of CastilloÊs property for 14 years since May 5, 2000 and
has not paid for its use of the property.
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124 Rollo, p. 141.
125 Heirs of Atienza v. Espidol, supra note 123 at p. 265; Nabus
v. Pacson, supra note 110 at p. 357.
126 395 Phil. 115; 340 SCRA 720 (2000) [Per J. Buena, Second
127 Id., at p. 130; p. 732.
Similar to the ruling in Gomez, we order the
P2,500,000.00 forfeited in favor of Castillo as reasonable
compensation for Olivarez Realty CorporationÊs use of the
Olivarez Realty Corporation is liable
for moral and exemplary damages
and attorneyÊs fees
We note that the trial court erred in rendering summary
judgment on the amount of damages. Under Section 3, Rule
35 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, summary judgment
may be rendered, except as to the amount of damages.
In this case, the trial court erred in forfeiting the
P2,500,000.00 in favor of Castillo as damages under Article
1191 of the Civil Code of the Philippines. As discussed,
there is no breach of contract under Article 1191 in this
The trial court likewise erred in rendering summary
judgment on the amount of moral and exemplary damages
and attorneyÊs fees.
Nonetheless, we hold that Castillo is entitled to moral
damages, exemplary damages, and attorneyÊs fees.
Moral damages may be awarded in case the claimant
experienced physical suffering, mental anguish, fright,
moral shock, social humiliation, and similar injury.128
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As for exemplary damages, they are awarded in addition
to moral damages by way of example or correction for the
public good.129 Specifically in contracts, exemplary
128 CIVIL CODE, Art. 2217.
129 CIVIL CODE, Art. 2229.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 573
reckless, oppressive, or malevolent manner.130
Corporation may only suspend the monthly down payment
in case Castillo fails to clear the land of the tenants six
months from the signing of the instrument. Yet, even before
the sixth month arrived, Olivarez Realty Corporation
withheld payments for CastilloÊs property. It even used as a
defense the fact that no case was filed against the
Philippine Tourism Authority when, under the deed of
conditional sale, Olivarez Realty Corporation was clearly
responsible for initiating action against the Philippine
Tourism Authority. These are oppressive and malevolent
acts, and we find Castillo entitled to P500,000.00 moral
damages and P50,000.00 exemplary damages:
Plaintiff Castillo is entitled to moral damages because of the
evident bad faith exhibited by defendants in dealing with him
regarding the sale of his lot to defendant [Olivarez Realty
Corporation]. He suffered much prejudice due to the failure of
defendants to pay him the balance of purchase price which he
expected to use for his needs which caused him wounded feelings,
sorrow, mental anxiety and sleepless nights for which defendants
should pay P500,000.00 as moral damages more than six (6) years
had elapsed and defendants illegally and unfairly failed and refused
to pay their legal obligations to plaintiff, unjustly taking advantage
of a poor uneducated man like plaintiff causing much sorrow and
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financial difficulties. Moral damages in favor of plaintiff is clearly
justified . . . [Castillo] is also entitled to P50,000.00 as exemplary
damages to serve as a deterrent to other parties to a contract to
130 CIVIL CODE, Art. 2232.
131 Rollo, p. 284
We likewise agree that Castillo is entitled to attorneyÊs
fees in addition to the exemplary damages.132 Considering
that Olivarez Realty Corporation refused to satisfy
CastilloÊs plainly valid, just, and demandable claim,133 the
award of P50,000.00 as attorneyÊs fees is in order.
However, we find that Dr. Pablo R. Olivarez is not
solidarily liable with Olivarez Realty Corporation for the
Under Article 1207 of the Civil Code of the Philippines,
there is solidary liability only when the obligation states it
or when the law or the nature of the obligation requires
solidarity.134 In case of corporations, they are solely liable
for their obligations.135 The directors or trustees and
officers are not liable with the corporation even if it is
through their acts that the corporation incurred the
obligation. This is because a corporation is separate and
distinct from the persons comprising it.136
As an exception to the rule, directors or trustees and
corporate officers may be solidarily liable with the
132 CIVIL CODE, Art. 2208.
134 CIVIL CODE, Art. 1207 states:
Art. 1207. The concurrence of two or more creditors or of two or
more debtors in one and the same obligation does not imply that
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each one of the former has a right to demand, or that each one of
the latter is bound to render, entire compliance with the prestation.
There is a solidary liability only when the obligation expressly so
states, or when the law or the nature of the obligation requires
135 Aratea v. Suico, 547 Phil. 407, 415; 518 SCRA 501, 507
(2007) [Per J. Garcia, First Division], citing MAM Realty
Development Corporation v. NLRC, G.R. No. 114787, June 2, 1995,
136 Id., at p. 415; p. 508.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 575
corporate obligations if they acted „in bad faith or with
gross negligence in directing the corporate affairs.‰137
In this case, we find that Castillo failed to prove with
preponderant evidence that it was through Dr. OlivarezÊs
bad faith or gross negligence that Olivarez Realty
Corporation failed to fully pay the purchase price for the
property. Dr. OlivarezÊs alleged act of making Castillo sign
the deed of conditional sale without explaining to the latter
the deedÊs terms in Tagalog is not reason to hold Dr.
Olivarez solidarily liable with the corporation. Castillo had
a choice not to sign the deed of conditional sale. He could
have asked that the deed of conditional sale be written in
Thus, Olivarez Realty Corporation is solely liable for the
moral and exemplary damages and attorneyÊs fees to
The trial court acquired jurisdiction
over CastilloÊs action as he paid
the correct docket fees
Olivarez Realty Corporation and Dr. Olivarez claimed
that the trial court had no jurisdiction to take cognizance of
the case. In the reply/motion to dismiss the complaint138
they filed with the Court of Appeals, petitioners argued
that Castillo failed to pay the correct amount of docket fees.
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Stating that this action is a real action, petitioners argued
that the docket fee Castillo paid should have been based on
the fair market value of the property. In this case, Castillo
only paid P4,297.00, which is insufficient „if the real nature
of the action was admitted and the fair market value of the
property was disclosed and made the basis of the amount of
138 Rollo, pp. 99-109.
to be paid to the court.‰139 Thus, according to petitioners,
the case should be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
Castillo countered that his action for rescission is an
action incapable of pecuniary estimation. Thus, the Clerk
of Court of the Regional Trial Court of Tanauan City did
not err in assessing the docket fees based on his prayer.
We rule for Castillo. In De Leon v. Court of Appeals,140
this court held that an action for rescission of contract of
sale of real property is an action incapable of pecuniary
estimation. In De Leon, the action involved a real property.
Nevertheless, this court held that „it is the nature of the
action as one for rescission of contract which is
controlling.‰141 Consequently, the docket fees to be paid
shall be for actions incapable of pecuniary estimation,
regardless if the claimant may eventually recover the real
. . . the Court in Bautista v. Lim, held that an action for
rescission of contract is one which cannot be estimated and
therefore the docket fee for its filing should be the flat amount of
P200.00 as then fixed in the former Rule 141, §141, §5(10). Said this
We hold that Judge Dalisay did not err in considering Civil Case
No. V-144 as basically one for rescission or annulment of contract
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which is not susceptible of pecuniary estimation (1 MoranÊs
Comments on the Rules of Court, p. 55, 1970 ed; Lapitan vs.
Scandia, Inc., L-24668, July 31, 1968, 24 SCRA 479, 481-483).
paid by plaintiff, now respondent Matilda Lim. (She should
139 Id., at p. 103.
140 350 Phil. 535; 287 SCRA 94 (1998) [Per J. Mendoza, Second
141 Id., at pp. 542-543; pp. 100-101.
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 577
pay also the two pesos legal research fund fee, if she has not paid it,
as required in Section 4 of Republic Act No. 3870, the charter of the
U.P. Law Center.)
Thus, although eventually the result may be the recovery of
land, it is the nature of the action as one for rescission of contract
which is controlling. The Court of Appeals correctly applied these
cases to the present one. As it said:
confused and equated with the „value of the property‰ subject of the
transaction; that by the very nature of the case, the allegations, and
specific prayer in the complaint, sans any prayer for recovery of
money and/or value of the transaction, or for actual or
what may be its end result; and that to sustain private respondentsÊ
[petitionersÊ] position on what the respondent court may decide
after all, then the assessment should be deferred and finally
assessed only after the court had finally decided the case, which
cannot be done because the rules require that filing fees should be
based on what is alleged and prayed for in the face of the complaint
and paid upon the filing of the complaint.142
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Although we discussed that there is no rescission of
contract to speak of in contracts of conditional sale, we hold
an action to cancel a contract to sell, similar to an action for
rescission of contract of sale, is an action incapable of
pecuniary estimation. Like any action incapable of
pecuniary estimation, an action to cancel a contract to sell
„demands an inquiry into other factors‰143 aside from the
amount of money to be awarded to the claimant.
Specifically in this case, the trial court principally
determined whether Olivarez Realty Corporation failed to
pay installments of the propertyÊs purchase price as the
parties agreed upon in the deed of conditional sale. The
principal nature of CastilloÊs action, therefore, is incapable
All told, there is no issue that the parties in this case
entered into a contract to sell a parcel of land and that
Olivarez Realty Corporation failed to fully pay the
installments agreed upon. Consequently, Castillo is entitled
to cancel the contract to sell.
DENIED. The Court of AppealsÊ decision dated July 20,
2010 and in C.A.-G.R. CV No. 91244 is AFFIRMED with
The deed of conditional sale dated April 5, 2000 is
declared CANCELLED. Petitioner Olivarez Realty
Corporation shall RETURN to respondent Benjamin
Castillo the possession of the property covered by Transfer
T-19972 together with all the improvements that petitioner
corporation introduced on the property. The amount of
P2,500,000.00 is FORFEITED in favor of respondent
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Benjamin Castillo as reasonable compensation for the use
of petitioner Olivarez Realty Corporation of the property.
Petitioner Olivarez Realty Corporation shall PAY
respondent Benjamin Castillo P500,000.00 as moral
damages, P50,000.00 as exemplary damages, and
P50,000.00 as attor-
143 Id., at p. 541; p. 99, citingLapitan v. Scandia, Inc., 133 Phil.
526; 24 SCRA 479 [Per J. J.B.L. Reyes, En Banc].
VOL. 729, JULY 9, 2014 579
neyÊs fees with interest at 6% per annum from the time this
decision becomes final and executory until petitioner
Velasco, Jr. (Chairperson), Peralta, Villarama, Jr.** and
Petition denied, judgment affirmed with modification.
Notes.·A summary judgment is apt when the essential
facts of the case are uncontested or the parties do not raise
any genuine issue of fact. (Bank of the Philippine Islands,
Inc. vs. Yu, 610 SCRA 412 [2010])
Payment made by one of the solidary debtors
extinguishes the obligation. (Vigilla vs. Philippine College
of Criminology, Inc., 698 SCRA 247 [2013])
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144 Nacar v. Gallery Frames, G.R. No. 189871, August 13, 2013, 703
SCRA 439, 458 [Per J. Peralta, En Banc].
** Designated as acting member per Special Order No. 1691 dated
May 22, 2014 in view of the vacancy in the Third Division.
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