Yau V MBC
Yau V MBC
Yau V MBC
*
G.R. No. 126731. July 11, 2002.
*
G.R. No. 128623. July 11, 2002.
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* FIRST DIVISION.
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criminal case, relief from an order of arrest is urgent and the granting of
such relief by the trial court is improbable; (f) where the proceedings in the
lower court are a nullity for lack of due process; (g) where the proceedings
was ex parte or in which the petitioner had no opportunity to object; and (h)
where the issue raised is one purely of law or where public interest is
involved. Tan, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan [Third Division], 292 SCRA 452, 457-
458 (1998) citing Tan v. Court of Appeals, 275 SCRA 568, 574, 575 (1997).
Same; Attachments; Garnishment; Courts; A Notice of Garnishment
brings the property affected into the custodia legis of the court issuing the
writ, beyond the interference of all other co-ordinate courts.—The Notice of
Garnishment of the Silverio share upon Manila Golf brought the property
into the custodia legis of the court issuing the writ, that is, the RTC Makati
City Branch 64, beyond the interference of all other co-ordinate courts, such
as the RTC of Cebu, Branch 6. “The garnishment of property operates as an
attachment and fastens upon the property a lien by which the property is
brought under the jurisdiction of the court issuing the writ. It is brought into
custodia legis, under the sole control of such court. A court which has
control of such property, exercises exclusive jurisdiction over the same,
retains all incidents relative to the conduct of such property. No court,
except one having supervisory control or superior jurisdiction in the
premises, has a right to interfere with and change that possession.”
Same; Same; Same; Same; Doctrine of Judicial Stability or Non-
interference; The doctrine of judicial stability or non-interference in the
regular orders or judgments of a co-equal court, as an accepted axiom in
adjective law, serves as an insurmountable barrier to the competencia of
another co-equal court to entertain a motion, much less issue an order,
relative to a property which is under the custodia legis of another court by
virtue of a prior writ of attachment.—The doctrine of judicial stability or
non-interference in the regular orders or judgments of a co-equal court, as
an accepted axiom in adjective law, serves as an insurmountable barrier to
the competencia of the RTC Cebu City to entertain a motion, much less
issue an order, relative to the Silverio share which is under the custodia legis
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the language of this Court, the various branches of the Court of First
Instance of a province or city, having as they have the same or equal
authority and exercising as they do concurrent and coordinate jurisdiction
should not, cannot, and are not permitted to interfere with their respective
cases, much less with their orders or judgments. It cannot be gainsaid that
adherence to a different rule would sow confusion and wreak havoc on the
orderly administration of justice, and in the ensuing melee, hapless litigants
will be at a loss as to where to appear and plead their cause.
Same; Forum Shopping; Words and Phrases; A party is guilty of forum
shopping when he repetitively avails of several judicial remedies in different
courts, simultaneously or successively, all substantially founded on the same
transactions and the same essential facts and circumstances, and all raising
substantially the same issue either pending in, or already resolved
adversely, by some other court.—It is furthermore evident from the records
that Yau is guilty of forum shopping in seeking relief before Branch 6 of
RTC Cebu City, despite being allowed to intervene in Civil Case No. CG-
271 before Branch 64 of RTC Makati City to protect his interests in the
Silverio share. A party is guilty of forum shopping when he repetitively
avails of several judicial remedies in different courts, simultaneously or
successively, all substantially founded on the same transactions and the
same essential facts and circumstances, and all raising substantially the
same issue either pending in, or already resolved adversely, by some other
court. And what is truly important to consider in determining whether forum
shopping exists is the vexation caused the courts and the litigants by a party
who asks different courts to rule on the same or related causes and/or grant
the same or substantially the same reliefs, in the process creating the
possibility of conflicting decisions being rendered by the different fora upon
the same issues. Since Yau recognized the jurisdiction of RTC Makati City,
Branch 64 to protect his interest in the Silverio share, he should have
desisted from pursuing a similar remedy or relief before RTC Cebu City
inasmuch as the assailed Orders issued by the latter RTC had the effect of
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pre-empting the authority of RTC Makati City, Branch 64, to act and decide
upon the intervention of Yau in Civil Case No. 90-271.
Same; Intervention; Attachment; It is recognized that a judgment
creditor who has reduced his claim to judgment may be allowed to intervene
and a purchaser who acquires an interest in property upon which an
attachment has been levied may intervene in the underlying action in which
the writ of attachment was issued for the purpose of challenging the
attachment.—The contention of Manilabank that Yau has no legal interest in
the matter in litigation lacks buoyancy. Under Section 2, Rule 12 of the
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Revised Rules of Court, which was the governing law at the time the instant
case was decided by the trial court and the appellate court, “a person may,
before or during trial, be permitted by the Court in its discretion to intervene
in an action, if he has legal interest in the matter in litigation, or in the
success of either of the parties, or an interest against both, or when he is so
situated as to be adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of
property in the custody of the court or of an officer thereof.” Yau falls under
the last instance. It is recognized that a judgment creditor who has reduced
his claim to judgment may be allowed to intervene and a purchaser who
acquires an interest in property upon which an attachment has been levied
may intervene in the underlying action in which the writ of attachment was
issued for the purpose of challenging the attachment.
Same; Same; The permissive tenor of the provision on intervention
shows the intention of the Rules to give to the court the full measure of
discretion in permitting or disallowing the same—the rule on intervention
was evidently intended to expedite and economize in litigation by permitting
parties interested in the subject matter, or anything related therein, to adjust
the matter in one instead of several suits.—On the matter of allowing the
intervention after trial, suffice it to state that the rules now allow
intervention “before rendition of judgment by the trial court.” After trial and
decision in a case, intervention can no longer be permitted. The permissive
tenor of the provision on intervention shows the intention of the Rules to
give to the court the full measure of discretion in permitting or disallowing
the same. The rule on intervention was evidently intended to expedite and
economize in litigation by permitting parties interested in the subject matter,
or anything related therein, to adjust the matter in one instead of several
suits.
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AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ, J.:
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5 6
1990 and October 17, 1990 obtained by the Manila Banking
Corporation (Manilabank) from Branches 62 and 64 of the Regional
Trial Court of Makati City before which complaints for sums of
7 8
money, docketed as Civil Case Nos. 90-513 and 90-271,
respectively, were pending, in which Silverio is also one of the
defendants.
9
On February 11, 1993, Yau filed separate motions to intervene in
both cases pending10before Branches 62 and 64 of the RTC of Makati
City. In an Order dated March 29, 1993, Branch 62 denied the
motion to intervene in Civil Case No. 90-513 on the ground that the
motion was filed after the parties have rested their respective cases
and the same will only unduly delay the disposition of the case.
Branch 64, on the other hand, granted Yau’s motion to11 intervene in
Civil Case No. 90-27112in an Order dated July 1, 1993. Manilabank 13
sought reconsideration but Branch 64 denied the same in an Order
dated August
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30, 1993. Hence, Manilabank interposed a petition for
certiorari before the Court of Appeals (CA), docketed as CA-G.R.
SP No. 32405.
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5 Notice of Garnishment dated March 27, 1990, Rollo in G.R. No. 126731, p. 118.
6 Notice of Garnishment dated October 19, 1990, Rollo in G.R. No. 126731, p.
119.
7 Entitled “The Manila Banking Corporation v. Delta Motors Corporation and
Ricardo C. Silverio.”
8 Entitled “The Manila Banking Corporation v. Environmental Integrated Services
Corporation and Ricardo C. Silverio, Sr.”
9 Rollo in G.R. No. 126731, pp. 120-123; Rollo in G.R. No. 128623, pp. 129-132.
10 Penned by Judge Roberto C. Diokno, Rollo in G.R. No. 126731, p. 200.
11 Penned by Judge Delia H. Panganiban, Rollo in G.R. No. 126731, p. 157; Rollo
in G.R. No. 128623, p. 105.
12 Rollo in G.R. No. 126731, pp. 157A-172.
13 Rollo in G.R. No. 128623, p. 106
14 Rollo in G.R. No. 128623, pp. 65-103.
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15
Meanwhile, in a letter dated September 20, 1993, Yau formally
requested Manila Golf, through its transfer agent, Far East Bank and
Trust Company (FEBTC), to cancel the certificate in the name of
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tion of the latter coordinate and co-equal court, hence, said order
21
isnull and void. With his 22 motion for reconsideration thereto
deniedon October 14, 1996, Yau filed the petition for review
subject ofG.R. No. 126731.
23
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23
Subsequently, on January 9, 1997, the CA rendered a Decision
in CA-G.R. SP No. 32405 sustaining the Order of RTC Makati City
(Branch 64) dated July 1, 1993, which allowed the intervention of
24
Yau in Civil Case No. 90-271. A Motion for Reconsideration of the
25
said Decision was denied by the CA on March 13, 1997. Hence,
Manilabank interposed the petition for review subject of G.R. No.
128623.
26
On motion of Manilabank, G R. Nos. 126731 and 128623 were
27
consolidated.
In G.R. No. 126731, Yau assails the reversal of the Orders of
RTC Cebu City, directing the issuance of a new certificate of title in
his name. Yau firstly condemns the Court of Appeals for not
dismissing outright the petition of Manilabank in CA-G.R. SP No.
37805 for its failure to seek reconsideration before RTC Cebu City,
of the latter’s assailed orders prior to filing the petition for certiorari
with the CA. He then contends that he is entitled to the issuance of a
new certificate in his name after he had purchased the same in an
execution sale, despite the Silverio share being subject to a
preliminary attachment in favor of Manilabank. Thus, he submits
that in issuing the questioned orders, the RTC, Cebu City, did not
interfere with or invade the jurisdiction of RTC Makati City, Branch
64, which issued the writ of preliminary attachment pursuant to
which the Silverio share was attached.
In G.R. No. 128623, the issue revolves on the legality of the
intervention of Yau in Civil Case No. 90-271 before RTC Makati
City
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28 Other exceptions to the rule are: (a) where the questions raised in the certiorari
proceeding have been duly raised and passed upon by the lower court, or are the same
as those raised and passed upon in the lower court; (b) where there is an urgent
necessity for the resolution of the question and any further delay would prejudice the
interests of the Government or of the petitioner or the subject matter of the action is
perishable; (c) where, under the circumstances, a motion for reconsideration would be
useless; (d) where the petitioner was deprived of due process and there is extreme
urgency for relief; (e) where, in a criminal case, relief from an order of arrest is urgent
and the granting of such relief by the trial court is improbable; (f) where the
proceedings in the lower court are a nullity for lack of due process; (g) where the
proceedings was ex parte or in which the petitioner had no opportunity to object; and
(h) where the issue raised is
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custodia legis, under the sole control of such court. A court which
has control of such property, exercises exclusive jurisdiction over
the same, retains all incidents relative to the conduct of such
property. No court, except one having supervisory control or
superior jurisdiction in the
29
premises, has a right to interfere with and
change that possession.”
30
Thus, the doctrine of judicial stability or non-interference in the
regular orders or judgments of a co-equal court, as an accepted
axiom in adjective law, serves as an insurmountable barrier to the
competencia of the RTC Cebu City to entertain a motion, much less
issue an order, relative to the Silverio share which is under the
custodia legis of RTC Makati City, Branch 64, by virtue of a prior
writ of attachment. Indeed, the policy of peaceful co-existence
among courts of the same judicial plane, so to speak, was aptly
31
described in Parco v. Court of Appeals, thus:
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one purely of law or where public interest is involved. Tan, Jr. v. Sandiganbayan
[Third Division], 292 SCRA 452, 457-458 (1998) citing Tan v. Court of Appeals, 275
SCRA 568, 574, 575 (1997).
29 De Leon v. Salvador, 36 SCRA 567, 574 (1970) citing National Power
Corporation v. De Veyra, 3 SCRA 646 (1961) and Luciano v. Provincial Governor, 28
SCRA 517 (1969); Hacbang v. The Leyte Autobus Co., Inc., 8 SCRA 103, 108 (1963).
30 PDCP Development Bank v. Vestil, 264 SCRA 467, 470 (1996); Prudential
Bank v. Gapultos, 181 SCRA 159, 171 (1990); Investors’ Finance Corporation v.
Ebarle, 163 SCRA 60, 70 (1988); Republic v. Reyes, 155 SCRA 313, 325 (1987); See
also Sterling Investment Corporation v. Ruiz, 30 SCRA 318, 322 (1969); J.M. Tuason
& Co., Inc. v. Torres, 21 SCRA 1169, 1172 (1967); Mas v. Dumara-og, 12 SCRA 34,
37 (1964); Philippine National Bank v. Javellana, 92 Phil. 525, 527 (1953); Hubahib
v. Insular Drug Co., Inc., 64 Phil. 119 (1937); Cabigao and Izquierdo v. Del Rosario
and Lim, 44 Phil. 182, 184 (1922).
31 111 SCRA 262, 277-278 (1982).
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permitted to interfere with their respective cases, much less with their orders
or judgments.
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32 Ramonito Tantoy, Sr. v. Court of Appeals, et al., G.R. No. 141427, April 20,
2001, p. 5, 357 SCRA 329, citing Gatmaytan v. Court of Appeals, 267 SCRA 487
(1997), Golangco v. Court of Appeals, 283 SCRA 493 (1997).
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to act and decide upon the intervention of Yau in Civil Case No. 90-
33
271.
Moreover, the contention of Manilabank that Yau has no legal
interest in the matter in litigation lacks buoyancy. Under Section 2,
34
Rule 12 of the Revised Rules of Court, which was the governing
law at the time the instant case was decided by the trial court and the
appellate court, “a person may, before or during trial, be permitted
by the Court in its discretion to intervene in an action, if he has legal
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33 See Chua v. Court of Appeals, 222 SCRA 85, 89-90 (1993); Ona v. Cuevas, 83
SCRA 388, 391 (1978) citing Montesa, etc., et al. v. Manila Cordage Co., 92 Phil. 25
(1952).
34 Now under Section 1, Rule 19 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, which
reads:
Section 1. Who may intervene.—A person who has a legal interest in the matter in litigation, or
in the success of either of the parties, or an interest against both, or is so situated as to be
adversely affected by a distribution or other disposition of the property in the custody of the
court or of an officer thereof may, with leave of court, be allowed to intervene in the action.
The court shall consider whether or not the intervention will unduly delay or prejudice the
adjudication of the rights of the original parties, and whether or not the intervenor’s rights may
be fully protected in a separate proceeding.
35 Am Jur 2d, Parties § 150, p. 623 citing Smith v. Palmer, 268 Ala 686, 110 So.
2d, 287; Liston v. Butler, 4 Ariz App 460, 421 P2d 542.
36 6 Am Jur 2d, Attachment and Garnishment, § 593, p. 856, citing Matson Nav.
Co. v. F.D.I.C., 81 Haw. 270, 916 P. 2d 680 (Haw. 1996), Rubis v. Barasch, 275 Cal.
App. 2d 835, 80 Cal. Rptr. 337 (2d Dist. 1969); Bankers’ Mortg. Co. v. Sohland, 33
Del. 331, 138 A. 361 (Super. Ct. 1927);
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Potlatch Lumber Co. v. Runkel, 16 Idaho 192, 101 P. 396 (1090); Case v. Miller,
68 N.C. App. 729, 315 S.E. 2d 737 (1984); Miller v. White, 46 W. Va. 67, 33 S.E. 332
(1899).
37 Section 2, Rule 19 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.
38 Trazo v. Manila Pencil Co., Inc., 1 SCRA 403, 406 (1961).
39 Mago v. Court of Appeals, 303 SCRA 600, 608 (1999).
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——o0o——
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