FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 137306 March 12, 2001
VIRGINIA AVISADO AND JOCELYN AVISADO GARGARITA, petitioners,
vs.
AMOR RUMBAUA, VICTORIA C. RUMBAUA and COURT OF APPEALS, respondents.
PARDO, J.:
The Case
The case before this Court is a petition1 assailing the decision of the Court of Appeals2 reversing and setting aside the order of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 77, Quezon City3 dismissing respondents' complaint for being barred by prior judgment.
The Facts
Respondents Abelardo "Amor" Rumbaua and Victoria Consengco-Rumbaua (hereafter "Amor" and "Victoria ') are husband and wife, Filipinos, residents of Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A.4
On July 1, 1971, Victoria became the registered owner of a parcel of land measuring two hundred thirty five square meters and sixty square decimeters (235.60), located on Maayusin St., U.P. Village, Diliman, Quezon City covered by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 166065 of the Register of Deeds of Quezon City, described as follows:
"A parcel of land (lot 30-A of the subd. plan (LRC) Psd-142482, being a portion of Lot 30, Blk. 26-A, described on plan Psd-74130, LRC Rec. No. 7681), situated in the Dist. of Diliman, Q. City, Is. of Luzon, Bounded on the NE., pts. 2-3, by Lot 31, Blk. 26-A, Psd- 74139; on the SE., points 3 to 4, by Lot 12, Block 26, Psd-56573; on the SW ., points 4 to 1 by Lot 30-B of the subdivision plan, and on the NW., points 1 to 2 by Road Lot 1, Psd-74129, Maayusin Street (12.00 m. wide). Beginning at a point marked "1" on plan, being N. 13 deg. 53'E., 1196.78., Quezon City; then S. 62 deg. 26 E. 12.67 m. to point 2; thence S. 46 deg. 23'E. 17.58 m to point 3; thence."5
On June 28, 1971, respondent Rafael and Aurora Consengco (hereafter "Rafael" and "Aurora") became the registered owners of the lot adjacent to Amor and Victoria's lot.6 The lot registered in Rafael and Aurora's name measured about two hundred thirty five square meters and fifty square decimeters (235.50) as evidenced by Transfer Certificate of Title No. 166066 of the Register of Deeds of Quezon City, described as follows:
"A parcel of land (lot 30-B of the subdivision plan LRC Psd-142482, being a portion of Lot 30, Block 26-A, described on plan Psd-74139, LRC Rec. No. 7681), situated in the District of Diliman, Quezon City, Island of Luzon, Bounded on the NE., points 1 to 2, by Lot 30-A of the subdivision plan; on the SE., point 2 to 3, by Lot 12; points 3 to 4, by Lot 11, Bl;ock 26, PSd-5673; on the SW., point 5 to 6 by Lot 29, of Block 26-A, Psd-74139; and on the NW., points 6 to 7 and 7 to 1, by Road Lot 1, Psd-74139, Maayusin Street, (12.00) m wide). xxx"7
Amor, Victoria, Rafael and Aurora contend that on or about the second week of February 1973, they discovered that Abelardo and petitioner Virginia Avisado (hereafter "the Avisados") were occupying both parcels of land described above8 and had built thereon a bungalow made of strong materials. Respondents demanded that the Avisados vacate the lots, to no avail.9
On December 3, 1977, Victoria executed a "special power of attorney" authorizing Rafael to:
"...ask, demand, sue for, recover, extrajudicially and/or judicially, that certain real property located at Maayusin St., Diliman, Quezon City , Philippines, covered by and described in Transfer Certificate of Title No. 166065 of the Register of Deeds of Quezon City , belonging to me solely and exclusively, my title, my title thereto being evidenced by said Transfer of Certificate Title No. 166065, in connection thereto, to represent me in the pre-trial and trial of that case which he will have to institute and file for that purpose, with full power and authority to enter into any compromise agreement with anybody under any terms and conditions which he may deem just, proper and equitable under the premises."10
On November 17, 1978, Amor and Victoria, represented by Rafael (and in his own capacity as co-plaintiff) and Aurora filed with the Court of First Instance of Rizal, Branch 16, Quezon City , a complaint for "recovery of possession of realty with damages" against the Avisados.11
In their complaint, respondents prayed that the Avisados be ordered to vacate the lots, to surrender possession to respondents and to pay damages.12
On April 15, 1980, Rafael (in his own capacity), Amor and Victoria (through Rafael), and Aurora entered into a "compromise agreement" with the Avisados, stating: First, the Avisados (vendees) shall pay Amor and Victoria (vendors) the amount of seventy thousand pesos (P70,000.00), after which Amor and Victoria shall execute an "absolute deed of sale" in favor of the Avisados. The total purchase price shall be paid in installments; The first payment of five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) to be paid on April 14, 1980 and the second payment of the balance of sixty five thousand pesos (P65,000.00) to be paid on or before September 30, 1980. Second, within a month from the registration of the absolute deed of sale, the Avisados shall remove any portion of their residential house located within the boundaries of the lot belonging to Rafael and Aurora. Third, all expenses for the registration of the lot shall be borne by the Avisados. Fourth should the Avisados violate the "compromise agreement" they shall forfeit five thousand pesos (P5,000.00) in favor of the vendors and shall vacate the lot within thirty (30) days from the time of default. In such event, the agreement to sell shall be ipso facto cancelled. Fifth, the "compromise agreement" shall have the effect of a mutual quit-claim of all claims for damages and reimbursement set up in the complaint and the answer that the parties may have against each other.13 The "compromise agreement" was submitted to the trial court for approval. 14
On April 15, 1980, the trial court15 approved the "compromise agreement", to wit:
"WHEREFORE, finding the above-quoted Compromise Agreement not contrary to law, good morals, public policy, the Court hereby fenders (sic) judgment approving en toto the said compromise agreement and hereby enjoins the parties therein to abide by and comply with the terms and conditions thereof, without pronouncement as to costs.
"SO ORDERED."16
On October 3, 1980, Amor and Victoria (through Rafael), Rafael (in his own capacity) and Aurora filed with the trial court a "manifestation" stating that the "compromise agreement" was violated by the Avisado's refusal to pay the amount of sixty five thousand pesos in cash on or before September 30, 1980.17
On October 17, 1980, the trial court noted the "manifestation".18
On August 18, 1981, Aurora, Rafael, in his own capacity and on behalf of his co-plaintiffs, Amor and Victoria filed with the trial court a "motion for execution of judgment," praying that given that the Avisados breached the "compromise agreement", a writ of execution be issued ordering them to vacate the lots.19
On February 12, 1982, the trial court denied the "motion for execution of judgment" reasoning that the "compromise agreement" involved reciprocal obligations of the parties (i.e., the vendees to pay the purchase price and for the vendors to execute the absolute deed of sale).20
On July 12, 1985, the Avisados filed with the trial court a "motion for execution" of the April 15, 1980 decision.21
On July 19, 1985, the trial court granted the "motion for execution."22
On August 14, 1985, the trial court,23 through branch clerk of court Virginia M. Pagoron, issued a "writ of execution" addressed to the ex-officio sheriff of Manila. We quote:
"WHEREFORE, you are hereby commanded to order the plaintiffs to execute the Deed of Sale over TCT No.166065 of the Register of Deeds of Quezon City in favor of the defendant spouses Amado Avisado and Virginia Avisado, free from any liens and encumbrances and upon payment by the said defendants to the said plaintiffs the sum of P65,000.00, and make a return of your proceedings with this writ within sixty (60) days from date of receipt hereof."24
On October 29,1993, Amor and Victoria (through their new attorney-in-fact, Noemi Candido Natividad)25 filed with the Regional Trial Court, Branch 77, Quezon City a complaint for "recovery of real property with damages" against the Avisados.26 The complaint was docketed as Civil Case No. Q-93-18138. Essentially, the complaint alleged that the "compromise agreement" of April 15, 1980 resulting in the sale of Victoria and Amor's lot to the Avisados was invalid as the "special power of attorney" executed by Victoria in Rafael's favor never authorized him to sell the lot in question.1âwphi1.nęt
Thus, the judgment of the trial court of April 15, 1980, approving the compromise agreement "has since become a stale judgment that can no longer be enforced, either by motion or action."27 Amor and Victoria then prayed that the Avisados peacefully vacate the lots in question, surrender possession to them and pay damages.28
On April 23, 1994, Abelardo Avisado died.29
On February 12, 1996, the trial court30 dismissed the complaint for being barred by prior judgment.31
On March 12, 1996, Amor and Victoria interposed an appeal to the Court of Appeals.32
On June 17, 1998, upon motion of Virginia Avisado, the Court of Appeals issued a resolution allowing the deceased, Abelardo Avisado to be substituted by his heir, Jocelyn Avisado Gargarita.33
On October 27, 1998, the Court of Appeals decided that the causes of action in Civil Case No. Q-26392 and Civil Case No. Q-93-18138 were different. The former case is an accion publiciana for the recovery of possession of realty and damages, while the latter case is based on the violation of the compromise agreement. Res judicata does not apply .34 Hence, it ruled:
"WHEREFORE, the Order appealed from dismissing plaintiffs, complaint is hereby RECONSIDERED and SET ASIDE and the above case is hereby remanded to the court of origin for further proceedings.
"SO ORDERED."35
On January 12, 1999, petitioners filed with the Court of Appeals a motion for reconsideration with the Court of Appeals.36
On January 25, 1999, the Court of Appeals denied petitioners' motion for reconsideration.37
Hence, this appeal.38
The Issue
The issue is whether or not the Court of Appeals erred when it did not consider Civil Case No. Q-26392 as a bar to Civil Case No. Q-93-18138 on the ground of res judicata.
The Court's Ruling
The petition is meritorious.
Finality of Judgment
When Amor and Victoria filed Civil Case No. Q-93-18138, and argued that Rafael did not have the authority to enter into the "compromise agreement," they collaterally attacked the judgment in Civil Case No. Q-26392 which approved the "compromise agreement." This cannot be done.
The judgment in Civil Case No. Q-26392 has become final and executory. What Amor and Victoria should have done was to either timely appeal the decision to the Court of Appeals under Rule 41, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, or to seasonably file a "petition for relief from judgment" under Rule 38.39 A party who fails to acquire complete relief from a decision of a court has various remedies to correct it. A party may move for a correction or clarification of judgment, or even seek its modification through ordinary appeal.40 This they did not do. There must, therefore, be an end to litigation.41
In Bustos v. Court. of Appeals,42 we held that once a decision becomes final and executory , it is the ministerial duty of the court to order its execution. Execution can be suspended when suspension is warranted by the higher interest of justice43 and when certain facts and circumstances transpired after the finality of the judgment which would render the execution of judgment unjust.44 Neither circumstance obtains in the present case.
Res Judicata
Furthermore, even if we limit ourselves to the issue of whether or not res judicata applies, still the Court of Appeals decision must be reversed.
Res judicata exists when the following elements are present:
"(a) the former judgment must be final;
"(b) the court which rendered judgment had jurisdiction over the parties and the subject matter;
"(c) it must be a judgment on the merits;
"(d) and there must be between the first and second actions identity of parties, subject matter, and cause of action."45
There is no question with respect to the existence of the first three elements of res judicata.
As to the last issue, specifically with respect to "identity of causes of action," we find that contrary to the ruling of the Court of Appeals, the causes of action in Civil Case No. Q-26392 and Civil Case No. Q-93-18138 are one and the same.
A cause of action has the following elements: (1) the legal right of plaintiff; (2) the correlative obligation of the defendant, and (3) the act or omission of the defendant in violation of said legal right.46
In Civil Case No. Q-26392, the cause of action was the illegal occupation of the lots by the Avisados, to the prejudice of Amor, Victoria, Rafael and Aurora. In Civil Case No. Q-93-18138. Amor and Victoria likewise complained that the Avisados occupied their lot, "through strategy and stealth, and without (their) knowledge and consent."47
Assuming the Causes of Action were Different
Even if we assume, as respondents insist, that in Civil Case No. Q-93-18138, the causes of action were:
(1)the invalidity of the compromise agreement; and
(2) the Avisados' breach of the "compromise agreement,"48
still, we note that these issues were settled and passed upon in Civil Case No. Q-26392. –
First, the validity of the "compromise agreement" was passed upon by the lower court when it categorically stated on April 15, 1980 that the "Compromise Agreement (is) not contrary to law, good morals, public policy."49By such action, the trial court made a finding of law and fact. If such was in error, the proper recourse was appeal or a petition for relief, and not a separate action filed thirteen years later.
Second, the fact that the "compromise agreement" was not breached by the Avisados was also ruled upon by the lower court when it declared on February 12, 1982, that the "compromise agreement" involved reciprocal obligations of the parties.50 This factual finding of the trial court is buttressed by its order dated July 19, 1985, granting the Avisados' motion for execution51 and its writ of execution dated August 14, 1985, which commanded the ex-officio sheriff of Manila to order Amor and Victoria to execute the deed of sale in favor of the Avisados upon their payment of the sum of sixty five thousand pesos (P65,000.00). 52
Individuals should not be vexed twice for the same cause, memo debet bis vexari et eadem causa.53
When Amor and Victoria filed Civil Case No. Q-93-18138 they were seeking the same relief--that the Avisados peacefully surrender the lot to them. They merely raised a different theory. They adopted a different stance, relying on the purported invalidity of the "compromise agreement" and alternatively, on its alleged breach.
Material facts or questions which were in issue in a former action and were there admitted or judicially determined are conclusively settled by a judgment rendered therein become res judicata and may not again be litigated in a subsequent action between the same parties or their privies. The rule is true regardless of the form the issue may take in the subsequent action. It does not matter if the subsequent action involves the, same or a different form of proceeding, or whether the second action is upon the same or a different cause of action, subject matter, claim or demand, as the earlier action. It is also immaterial that the two actions are based on different grounds, or tried on different theories, or instituted for different purposes, and seek different reliefs.54
Laches
Our ruling against Amor and Victoria is justified all the more by the fact that they are filed Civil Case No. Q-93-18138 assailing the "compromise agreement" on October 29, 1993. Thirteen years have lapsed.
There is "laches" when there is failure or neglect, for an unreasonable length of time to do that which by exercising due diligence could or should have been done earlier. When there is laches, the presumption arises that the party entitled to assert aright has either abandoned it or has declined to assert it. Even a registered owner may be barred from recovering possession of land by virtue of laches.55 Its elements are:
"(1) conduct on the part of defendant, or one under whom he claims, giving rise to the situation that led to the complaint and for which the complaint seeks a remedy;
"(2) delay in asserting the complainant's rights, having had knowledge or notice of the defendant's conduct and having been afforded an opportunity to institute a suit;
"(3) lack of knowledge or notice on the part of defendant that the complainant would assert the right on which he bases his suit; and
"(4) injury or prejudice to the defendant in the event relief is accorded to the complainant, or the suit is not held barred."56
The Fallo
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED.
The decision of the Court of Appeals promulgated on October 27, 1988, in CA-G.R. CY No.53361 is REVERSED and SET ASIDE.
In lieu thereof, the order of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 77, Quezon City, dated February 12, 1996, in Civil Case No. Q-93-18138 is REVIVED and AFFIRMED in toto.
No costs.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., Puno, Kapunan, and Ynares-Santiago, JJ:., concur.
Footnotes;
1 Under Rule 45, 1997 Rules ofCivil Procedure, as amended. 1âwphi1.nęt
2 In CA-G.R. CY No.53361, promulgated on October 27,1998, Imperial, J., ponente, Hofilena and Amin, JJ., concurring.
3 In Civil Case No. Q-93-18138, dated February 12, 1996, Judge Ignacio L. Salvador, presiding.
4 Complaint, RTC Record, p. 1.
5 Complaint, Annex "B", RTC Record, p. 11.
6 Petition, Annex "C", Rollo, pp. 44-45.
7 Ibid
8 Complaint, RTC Record, p. 3.
9 Ibid., pp. 2-3; Petition, Annex "C", Rollo, p. 45.
10 RTC Record, p. 97.
11 Petition, Annex "C", Complaint, Rollo, p. 43. The complaint was docketed as Civil Case No. Q-26392.
12 Ibid., p. 48.
13 Petition, Annex "E", Compromise Agreement, Rollo, pp. 58-61.
14 Ibid., p. 61.
15 Judge Sergio A. F. Apostol, presiding.
16 Petition, Annex "F", RTC Decision, Civil Case No. Q-26392, Rollo, pp. 62-64.
17 Petition, Annex "G", Motion for Execution of Judgment, Rollo, pp. 65-69, at pp.67-68.
18 Ibid., p. 68. "
19 Ibid., pp. 65-69 at pp. 67-68.
20 Petition, Order, Ro11o, pp. 103-104.
21 Petition, Writ of Execution, Ro11o, p. 106.
22 Ibid.
23 Judge Antonio P. Solano, presiding.
24 Writ of Execution, Rollo, p. 106.
25 Petition, Annex"I", Rollo, p. 81.
26 Complaint, Civil Case No. Q 93-18138, Ro11o, pp. 73-80; RTC Record, pp. 1-8.
27 Rollo, pp. 76- 77.
28 Rollo, p. 78.
29 CA Rollo, pp. 76, 78.
30 Judge .lgnacio L. Salvador, presiding.
31 Petition, Annex "L", RTC Order, Civil Case No. Q-93-18138, Rollo, pp. 115-119.
32 Notice of Appeal, RTC Record, pp. 109-110. On May 16,1996, the trial court granted the appeal, R TC Record, p. 111.
33 CA Rollo, dockted as CA-GR CY No.53361, Rollo, p. 136.
34 Petition, Annex "A", Court of Appeals Decision, Rollo, pp.37-38.
35 Rollo, p. 39.
36 CA Rollo, p. 147.
37 Petition, Annex "B", Court of Appeals Resolution, Rollo, pp. 41-42.
38 Notice of Appeal filed on March 1, 1999. On August 18, 1999, we resolved to give due course to the p~tition (Rollo, pp. 180-181 ).
39 Rule 38, Section 3, 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, provides that a verified petition for relief must be filed within sixty (60) days after the petitioner learns of the judgment, final order, or other proceeding to be set aside and not more than six (6) months after such judgment or finalorder was entered, or such pro- ceeding was taken (Public Estates Authority v. Yujico, G. R. No. 140486, February 6,2001).
40 Batingal v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No.128636, February 1,2001.
41 Calusin v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No.128405, June 21,2000.
42 Bustos v. Court of Appeals, G.R. Nos. 120784-85, January 24,2001.
43 Zarate, Jr. vs. Olegario, 331 Phil. 278 (1996).
44 Cabrias v. Adil,.135 SCRA 354 (1985).
45 Arenas v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 126640, November 23, 2000.
46 Ibid., Note 45.
47 Petition, Annex "I", Complaint in Civil Case No. Q93-18138, Rollo, p. 74.
48 Comment, Rollo, pp. 163-165.
49 Petition, Annex "F", Regional Trial Court Decision, Civil Case No. Q-26392, Rollo, pp. 62-64.
50 Petition, Annex "I", Complaint, Civil Case No. Q 93-18138, Rollo, pp. 76, 103.
51 Ibid.
52 Judge Antonio P. Solano, presiding.
53 Madarieta v. Regional Trial Court, G. R. No.126443, February 28,2000.
54 Veloso, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, 329 Phil. 941,948-949 (1996).
55 Villegas v. Court of Appeals, G. R. No.129977, February 1,2001
56 Lim Tay v. Court of Appeals, 293 SCRA 634, 659 (1998).
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