G.R. No. 154411




FIRST DIVISION G.R. No. 154411 June 19, 2003 NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, Petitioner, vs. HEIRS OF ISIDRO GUIVELONDO, court of appeals, HON. ISAIAS DICDICAN, Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court, Branch 11, Cebu City, and PASCUAL Y. ABORDO, Sheriff, Regional Trial Court, Branch 11, Cebu City, Respondents. D E C I S I O N YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.: On February 23, 1999, petitioner National Housing Authority filed with the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, Branch 11, an Amended Complaint for eminent domain against Associacion Benevola de Cebu, Engracia Urot and the Heirs of Isidro Guivelondo, docketed as Civil Case No. CEB-23386. Petitioner alleged that defendant Associacion Benevola de Cebu was the claimant/owner of Lot 108-C located in the Banilad Estate, Cebu City; that defendant Engracia Urot was the claimant/owner of Lots Nos. 108-F, 108-I, 108-G, 6019-A and 6013-A, all of the Banilad Estate; that defendant Heirs of Isidro Guivelondo were the claimants/owners of Cadastral Lot No. 1613-D located at Carreta, Mabolo, Cebu City; and that the lands are within a blighted urban center which petitioner intends to develop as a socialized housing project.1 On November 12, 1999, the Heirs of Isidro Guivelondo, respondents herein, filed a Manifestation stating that they were waiving their objections to petitioner’s power to expropriate their properties. Hence, the trial court issued an Order as follows: WHEREFORE, the Court hereby declares that the plaintiff has a lawful right to expropriate the properties of the defendants who are heirs of Isidro Guivelondo. The appointment of commissioners who would ascertain and report to the Court the just compensation for said properties will be done as soon as the parties shall have submitted to the Court the names of persons desired by them to be appointed as such commissioners. SO ORDERED.2 Thereafter, the trial court appointed three Commissioners to ascertain the correct and just compensation of the properties of respondents. On April 17, 2000, the Commissioners submitted their report wherein they recommended that the just compensation of the subject properties be fixed at P11,200.00 per square meter.3 On August 7, 2000, the trial court rendered Partial Judgment adopting the recommendation of the Commissioners and fixing the just compensation of the lands of respondent Heirs of Isidro Guivelondo at P11,200.00 per square meter, to wit: WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing premises, judgment is hereby rendered by the Court in this case fixing the just compensation for the lands of the defendants who are the heirs of Isidro Guivelondo, more particularly Lots Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 19, 20, 6016-F, 6016-H, 6016-E and 6016-D of Csd-10219, which were sought to be expropriated by the plaintiff at P11,200.00 per square meter and ordering the plaintiff to pay to the said defendants the just compensation for the said lands computed at P11,200.00 per square meter. IT IS SO ORDERED.4 Petitioner NHA filed two motions for reconsideration dated August 30, 2000 and August 31, 2000, assailing the inclusion of Lots 12, 13 and 19 as well as the amount of just compensation, respectively. Respondent Heirs also filed a motion for reconsideration of the Partial Judgment. On October 11, 2000, the trial court issued an Omnibus Order denying the motion for reconsideration of respondent Heirs and the August 31, 2000 motion of petitioner, on the ground that the fixing of the just compensation had adequate basis and support. On the other hand, the trial court granted petitioner’s August 30, 2000 motion for reconsideration on the ground that the Commissioner’s Report did not include Lots 12, 13 and 19 within its coverage. Thus: WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing premises, the Court hereby denies the motion of the heirs of Isidro Guivelondo (with the exception of Carlota Mercado and Juanita Suemith) for reconsideration of the partial judgment rendered in this case on August 7, 2000 and plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of said judgment, dated August 31, 2000. However, the Court hereby grants the plaintiff’s motion for reconsideration of said judgment, dated August 30, 2000. Accordingly, the judgment rendered in this case on August 7, 2000 is hereby set aside insofar as it has fixed just compensations for Lots Nos. 12, 13 and 19 of Csd-10219 because the fixing of said just compensations appears to lack adequate basis. SO ORDERED.5 Petitioner filed with the Court of Appeals a petition for certiorari, which was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 61746.6 Meanwhile, on October 31, 2000, the trial court issued an Entry of Judgment over the Partial Judgment dated August 7, 2000 as modified by the Omnibus Order dated October 11, 2000.7 Subsequently, respondent Heirs filed a Motion for Execution, which was granted on November 22, 2000. On January 31, 2001, the Court of Appeals dismissed the petition for certiorari on the ground that the Partial Judgment and Omnibus Order became final and executory when petitioner failed to appeal the same.8 Petitioner’s Motion for Reconsideration and Urgent Ex-Parte Motion for a Clarificatory Ruling were denied in a Resolution dated March 18, 2001.9 A petition for review was filed by petitioner with this Court, which was docketed as G.R. No. 147527. However, the same was denied in a Minute Resolution dated May 9, 2001 for failure to show that the Court of Appeals committed a reversible error.10 Petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration which was however denied with finality on August 20, 2001.11 Prior to the aforesaid denial of the Motion for Reconsideration, petitioner, on July 16, 2001, filed with the trial court a Motion to Dismiss Civil Case No. CEB-23386, complaint for eminent domain, alleging that the implementation of its socialized housing project was rendered impossible by the unconscionable value of the land sought to be expropriated, which the intended beneficiaries can not afford.12 The Motion was denied on September 17, 2001, on the ground that the Partial Judgment had already become final and executory and there was no just and equitable reason to warrant the dismissal of the case.13 Petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which was denied in an Order dated November 20, 2001.14 Petitioner thus filed a petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals, which was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 68670, praying for the annulment of the Order of the trial court denying its Motion to Dismiss and its Motion for Reconsideration.15 On February 5, 2002, the Court of Appeals summarily dismissed the petition. Immediately thereafter, respondent Sheriff Pascual Y. Abordo of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, Branch 11, served on petitioner a Notice of Levy pursuant to the Writ of Execution issued by the trial court to enforce the Partial Judgment of August 7, 2000 and the Omnibus Order of October 11, 2000.16 On February 18, 2002, the Court of Appeals set aside the dismissal of the petition and reinstated the same.17 Thereafter, a temporary restraining order was issued enjoining respondent sheriff to preserve the status quo.18 On May 27, 2002, respondent sheriff served on the Landbank of the Philippines a Notice of Third Garnishment against the deposits, moneys and interests of petitioner therein.19 Subsequently, respondent sheriff levied on funds and personal properties of petitioner.20 On July 16, 2002, the Court of Appeals rendered the assailed decision dismissing the petition for certiorari.21 Hence, petitioner filed this petition for review, raising the following issues: 1) WHETHER OR NOT THE STATE CAN BE COMPELLED AND COERCED BY THE COURTS TO EXERCISE OR CONTINUE WITH THE EXERCISE OF ITS INHERENT POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN; 2) WHETHER OR NOT JUDGMENT HAS BECOME FINAL AND EXECUTORY AND IF ESTOPPEL OR LACHES APPLIES TO GOVERNMENT; 3) WHETHER OR NOT WRITS OF EXECUTION AND GARNISHMENT MAY BE ISSUED AGAINST THE STATE IN AN EXPROPRIATION WHEREIN THE EXERCISE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN WILL NOT SERVE PUBLIC USE OR PURPOSE {APPLICATION OF SUPREME COURT ADMINISTRATIVE CIRCULAR NO. 10-2000}.22 Respondent Heirs of Isidro Guivelondo filed their Comment, arguing as follows: I AS EARLIER UPHELD BY THE HONORABLE COURT, THE JUDGMENT OF THE TRIAL COURT IS ALREADY FINAL AND EXECUTORY, HENCE, COULD NO LONGER BE DISTURBED NOR SET ASIDE II THE FUNDS AND ASSETS OF THE PETITIONER ARE NOT EXEMPT FROM LEVY AND GARNISHMENT III THE ISSUES RAISED IN THIS SECOND PETITION FOR REVIEW WERE ALREADY RESOLVED BY THE HONORABLE COURT23 In the early case of City of Manila v. Ruymann,24 the Court was confronted with the question: May the petitioner, in an action for expropriation, after he has been placed in possession of the property and before the termination of the action, dismiss the petition? It resolved the issue in the affirmative and held: The right of the plaintiff to dismiss an action with the consent of the court is universally recognized with certain well-defined exceptions. If the plaintiff discovers that the action which he commenced was brought for the purpose of enforcing a right or a benefit, the advisability or necessity of which he later discovers no longer exists, or that the result of the action would be different from what he had intended, then he should be permitted to withdraw his action, subject to the approval of the court. The plaintiff should not be required to continue the action, subject to some well-defined exceptions, when it is not to his advantage to do so. Litigation should be discouraged and not encouraged. Courts should not require parties to litigate when they no longer desire to do so. Courts, in granting permission to dismiss an action, of course, should always take into consideration the effect which said dismissal would have upon the rights of the defendant.25 Subsequently, in Metropolitan Water District v. De Los Angeles,26 the Court had occasion to apply the above-quoted ruling when the petitioner, during the pendency of the expropriation case, resolved that the land sought to be condemned was no longer necessary in the maintenance and operation of its system of waterworks. It was held: It is not denied that the purpose of the plaintiff was to acquire the land in question for a public use. The fundamental basis then of all actions brought for the expropriation of lands, under the power of eminent domain, is public use. That being true, the very moment that it appears at any stage of the proceedings that the expropriation is not for a public use, the action must necessarily fail and should be dismissed, for the reason that the action cannot be maintained at all except when the expropriation is for some public use. That must be true even during the pendency of the appeal of at any other stage of the proceedings. If, for example, during the trial in the lower court, it should be made to appear to the satisfaction of the court that the expropriation is not for some public use, it would be the duty and the obligation of the trial court to dismiss the action. And even during the pendency of the appeal, if it should be made to appear to the satisfaction of the appellate court that the expropriation is not for public use, then it would become the duty and the obligation of the appellate court to dismiss it.27 Notably, the foregoing cases refer to the dismissal of an action for eminent domain at the instance of the plaintiff during the pendency of the case. The rule is different where the case had been decided and the judgment had already become final and executory. Expropriation proceedings consists of two stages: first, condemnation of the property after it is determined that its acquisition will be for a public purpose or public use and, second, the determination of just compensation to be paid for the taking of private property to be made by the court with the assistance of not more than three commissioners.28 Thus: There are two (2) stages in every action for expropriation. The first is concerned with the determination of the authority of the plaintiff to exercise the power of eminent domain and the propriety of its exercise in the context of the facts involved in the suit. It ends with an order, if not of dismissal of the action, "of condemnation declaring that the plaintiff has a lawful right to take the property sought to be condemned, for the public use or purpose described in the complaint, upon the payment of just compensation to be determined as of the date of the filing of the complaint." An order of dismissal, if this be ordained, would be a final one, of course, since it finally disposes of the action and leaves nothing more to be done by the Court on the merits. So, too, would an order of condemnation be a final one, for thereafter, as the Rules expressly state, in the proceedings before the Trial Court, "no objection to the exercise of the right of condemnation (or the propriety thereof) shall be filed or heard." The second phase of the eminent domain action is concerned with the determination by the Court of "the just compensation for the property sought to be taken." This is done by the Court with the assistance of not more than three (3) commissioners. The order fixing the just compensation on the basis of the evidence before, and findings of, the commissioners would be final, too. It would finally dispose of the second stage of the suit, and leave nothing more to be done by the Court regarding the issue. Obviously, one or another of the parties may believe the order to be erroneous in its appreciation of the evidence or findings of fact or otherwise. Obviously, too, such a dissatisfied party may seek a reversal of the order by taking an appeal therefrom.29 The outcome of the first phase of expropriation proceedings, which is either an order of expropriation or an order of dismissal, is final since it finally disposes of the case. On the other hand, the second phase ends with an order fixing the amount of just compensation. Both orders, being final, are appealable.30 An order of condemnation or dismissal is final, resolving the question of whether or not the plaintiff has properly and legally exercised its power of eminent domain.31 Once the first order becomes final and no appeal thereto is taken, the authority to expropriate and its public use can no longer be questioned.32 The above rule is based on Rule 67, Section 4 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, which provides: Order of expropriation. — If the objections to and the defenses against the right of the plaintiff to expropriate the property are overruled, or when no party appears to defend as required by this Rule, the court may issue an order of expropriation declaring that the plaintiff has a lawful right to take the property sought to be expropriated, for the public use or purpose described in the complaint, upon the payment of just compensation to be determined as of the date of the taking of the property or the filing of the complaint, whichever came first. A final order sustaining the right to expropriate the property may be appealed by any party aggrieved thereby. Such appeal, however, shall not prevent the court from determining the just compensation to be paid. After the rendition of such an order, the plaintiff shall not be permitted to dismiss or discontinue the proceeding except on such terms as the court deems just and equitable. (underscoring ours) In the case at bar, petitioner did not appeal the Order of the trial court dated December 10, 1999, which declared that it has a lawful right to expropriate the properties of respondent Heirs of Isidro Guivelondo. Hence, the Order became final and may no longer be subject to review or reversal in any court.33 A final and executory decision or order can no longer be disturbed or reopened no matter how erroneous it may be. Although judicial determinations are not infallible, judicial error should be corrected through appeals, not through repeated suits on the same claim.34 Petitioner anchors its arguments on the last paragraph of the above-quoted Rule 67, Section 4. In essence, it contends that there are just and equitable grounds to allow dismissal or discontinuance of the expropriation proceedings. More specifically, petitioner alleges that the intended public use was rendered nugatory by the unreasonable just compensation fixed by the court, which is beyond the means of the intended beneficiaries of the socialized housing project. The argument is tenuous. Socialized housing has been recognized as public use for purposes of exercising the power of eminent domain. Housing is a basic human need. Shortage in housing is a matter of state concern since it directly and significantly affects public health, safety, the environment and in sum, the general welfare. The public character of housing measures does not change because units in housing projects cannot be occupied by all but only by those who satisfy prescribed qualifications. A beginning has to be made, for it is not possible to provide housing for all who need it, all at once. x x x x x x x x x In the light of the foregoing, this Court is satisfied that "socialized housing" falls with the confines of "public use". xxx xxx xxx. Provisions on economic opportunities inextricably linked with low-cost housing, or slum clearance, relocation and resettlement, or slum improvement emphasize the public purpose of the project.35 The public purpose of the socialized housing project is not in any way diminished by the amount of just compensation that the court has fixed. The need to provide decent housing to the urban poor dwellers in the locality was not lost by the mere fact that the land cost more than petitioner had expected. It is worthy to note that petitioner pursued its petition for certiorari with the Court of Appeals assailing the amount of just compensation and its petition for review with this Court which eloquently indicates that there still exists a public use for the housing project. It was only after its appeal and petitions for review were dismissed that petitioner made a complete turn-around and decided it did not want the property anymore. Respondent landowners had already been prejudiced by the expropriation case. Petitioner cannot be permitted to institute condemnation proceedings against respondents only to abandon it later when it finds the amount of just compensation unacceptable. Indeed, our reprobation in the case of Cosculluela v. Court of Appeals36 is apropos: It is arbitrary and capricious for a government agency to initiate expropriation proceedings, seize a person’s property, allow the judgment of the court to become final and executory and then refuse to pay on the ground that there are no appropriations for the property earlier taken and profitably used. We condemn in the strongest possible terms the cavalier attitude of government officials who adopt such a despotic and irresponsible stance. In order to resolve the issue of the propriety of the garnishment against petitioner’s funds and personal properties, there is a need to first determine its true character as a government entity. Generally, funds and properties of the government cannot be the object of garnishment proceedings even if the consent to be sued had been previously granted and the state liability adjudged.37 The universal rule that where the State gives its consent to be sued by private parties either by general or special law, it may limit claimant’s action "only up to the completion of proceedings anterior to the stage of execution" and that the power of the Courts ends when the judgment is rendered, since government funds and properties may not be seized under writs of execution or garnishment to satisfy such judgments, is based on obvious considerations of public policy. Disbursements of public funds must be covered by the corresponding appropriation as required by law. The functions and public services rendered by the State cannot be allowed to be paralyzed or disrupted by the diversion of public funds from their legitimate and specific objects, as appropriated by law.38 However, if the funds belong to a public corporation or a government-owned or controlled corporation which is clothed with a personality of its own, separate and distinct from that of the government, then its funds are not exempt from garnishment.39 This is so because when the government enters into commercial business, it abandons its sovereign capacity and is to be treated like any other corporation.40 In the case of petitioner NHA, the matter of whether its funds and properties are exempt from garnishment has already been resolved squarely against its predecessor, the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation (PHHC), to wit: The plea for setting aside the notice of garnishment was premised on the funds of the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation deposited with petitioner being "public in character." There was not even a categorical assertion to that effect. It is only the possibility of its being "public in character." The tone was thus irresolute, the approach diffident. The premise that the funds cold be spoken of as public in character may be accepted in the sense that the People’s Homesite and Housing Corporation was a government-owned entity. It does not follow though that they were exempt from garnishment.41 This was reiterated in the subsequent case of Philippine Rock Industries, Inc. v. Board of Liquidators:42 Having a juridical personality separate and distinct from the government, the funds of such government-owned and controlled corporations and non-corporate agency, although considered public in character, are not exempt from garnishment. This doctrine was applied to suits filed against the Philippine Virginia Tobacco Administration (PNB vs. Pabalan, et al., 83 SCRA 695); the National Shipyard & Steel Corporation (NASSCO vs. CIR, 118 Phil. 782); the Manila Hotel Company (Manila Hotel Employees Asso. vs. Manila Hotel Co., 73 Phil. 374); and the People's Homesite and Housing Corporation (PNB vs. CIR, 81 SCRA 314). [emphasis ours] Hence, it is clear that the funds of petitioner NHA are not exempt from garnishment or execution. Petitioner’s prayer for injunctive relief to restrain respondent Sheriff Pascual Abordo from enforcing the Notice of Levy and Garnishment against its funds and properties must, therefore, be denied. WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the instant petition for review is DENIED. The decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 68670, affirming the trial court’s Order denying petitioner’s Motion to Dismiss the expropriation proceedings in Civil Case No. CEB-23386, is AFFIRMED. Petitioner’s prayer for injunctive relief against the levy and garnishment of its funds and personal properties is DENIED. The Temporary Restraining Order dated January 22, 2003 is LIFTED. SO ORDERED. Davide, Jr., C.J., (Chairman), Vitug, Carpio, and Azcuna, JJ., concur. Footnotes 1 Rollo, pp. 72-78. 2 Id., p. 79. 3 Id., pp. 80-89. 4 Id., pp. 90-92; penned by Judge Isaias P. Dicdican. 5 CA Rollo, pp. 75-76. 6 Id., pp. 77-91. 7 Id., p. 92. 8 Id., pp. 97-105; penned by Associate Justice Romeo C. Callejo, Sr. (now a member of this Court), concurred in by Associate Justices Renato C. Dacudao and Josefina Guevara-Salonga. 9 Id., Annex "N". 10 Id., pp. 106-107. 11 Id., pp. 120-121. 12 Id., pp. 116-119. 13 Id., pp. 21-22. 14 Id., pp. 23-24. 15 Id., pp. 3-20. 16 Rollo, pp. 134-135. 17 Id., pp. 136-137. 18 Id., pp. 138-139. 19 Id., p. 140. 20 Id., pp. 152-153. 21 Id., pp. 48-58; penned by Associate Justice Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando; concurred in by Associate Justices Romeo J. Callejo, Sr. and Danilo B. Pine. 22 Id., p. 13. 23 Id., p. 541. 24 37 Phil. 421 [1918]. 25 Id., at 424-425. 26 55 Phil. 776 [1931]. 27 Id., at 782. 28 City of Manila v. Serrano, 411 Phil. 754 [2001]. 29 Municipality of Biñan v. Garcia, G.R. No. 69260, 22 December 1989, 180 SCRA 576. 30 Estate of Salud Jimenez v. Philippine Export Processing Zone, G.R. No. 137285, 16 January 2001, 349 SCRA 240, 253. 31 Heirs of Alberto Suguitan v. City of Mandaluyong, 384 Phil. 676, 692 [2000]. 32 Estate of Salud Jimenez v. Philippine Export Processing Zone, supra, at 257. 33 Padillo v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 119707, 29 November 2001. 34 Manila Electric Company v. Philippine Consumers Foundation, Inc., G.R. No. 101783, 23 January 2002. 35 Sumulong v. Guerrero, G.R. No. L-48685, 30 September 1987, 154 SCRA 461, 468-469. 36 G.R. No. L-77765, 15 August 1988, 164 SCRA 393, 401. 37 Republic v. Villasor, G.R. No. L-30671, 28 November 1973, 54 SCRA 83, 87; Republic v. Palacio, 132 Phil. 369 [1968]. 38 Commissioner of Public Highways v. San Diego, G.R. No. L-30098, 18 February 1970, 31 SCRA 616, at 625. 39 Philippine National Bank v. Pabalan, G.R. No. L-33112, 15 June 1978, 83 SCRA 595, 598. 40 Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation v. De Castro, G.R. No. L-34548, 29 November 1988, 168 SCRA 49, 60. 41 Philippine National Bank v. CIR, G.R. No. L-32667, 31 January 1978, 81 SCRA 314, 318. 42 G.R. No. 84992, 15 December 1989. The Lawphil Project - Arellano Law Foundation