Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 151352. July 29, 2005
LETICIA T. FIDELDIA and PETRA T. FIDELDIA, Petitioners,
vs.
SPOUSES RAY and GLORIA SONGCUAN, Respondents.
D E C I S I O N
CARPIO, J.:
The Case
Before this Court is a petition for review1 assailing the Decision2 of the Court of Appeals promulgated on 30 March 2001 in CA-G.R. SP No. 59257 and its Resolution of 11 December 2001 denying the motion for reconsideration. The Court of Appeals granted the petition for certiorari filed by the Spouses Ray and Gloria Songcuan ("Spouses Songcuan") and annulled the Order3 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 33, Bauang, La Union deferring the execution of the final and executory judgment in Civil Case No. 459-BG.
The Facts
On 24 August 1982, the Spouses Songcuan4 filed a complaint for specific performance ("specific performance case") against petitioner Petra T. Fideldia ("Petra").5 The specific performance case was raffled to Branch 33 of the Regional Trial Court of Bauang, La Union ("trial court") and docketed as Civil Case No. 459-BG. The Spouses Songcuan sought to compel Petra to execute a deed of absolute sale over the properties subject of the parties’ Conditional Contract of Sale dated 8 March 1982.
On 4 November 1991, the trial court, then presided by Judge Avelino S. Quintos, rendered a Decision6 in favor of the Spouses Songcuan. The trial court disposed as follows:
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of the plaintiffs Songcuans and against the defendants Fideldia and Mangaser as follows:
(1) Defendant Fideldia.
a) She is ordered to execute a document in due form conveying to the plaintiffs spouses Ray Songcuan and Gloria Songcuan full ownership of the property subject matter of the Conditional Contract of Sale (Exh. A and Exh. 4) as well as to deliver to the Songcuans the titles of Lot 4-B and Lot 4-C and the said plaintiffs are likewise ordered to deliver the balance of the purchase price of ₱330,000.00 minus the costs of documentary stamps;
b) Defendant Fideldia is ordered to pay the Songcuans the following amounts: ₱11,400.00 as moral damages and hospital expenses, ₱5,000.00 exemplary damage; ₱8,640.00 refund of rentals, ₱20,000.00 for repairs, etc. of the Fideldia building, and ₱5,000.00 attorney’s fees and expenses of litigation mentioned herein;
c) xxx
d) The counterclaim of the defendant Fideldia against the plaintiffs is also dismissed.
xxx
SO ORDERED.7
Petra appealed the decision to the Court of Appeals.8 In a Decision9 dated 21 March 1996, the Court of Appeals affirmed with modification the trial court’s decision. The dispositive portion of the Court of Appeals’ decision reads:
WHEREFORE, the appealed judgment is AFFIRMED with the MODIFICATIONS that paragraph (1), sub-paragraph (a) of the dispositive portion of said judgment is amended to the effect that parties should comply with Exhibits A-8 and 4-A as quoted in the text of herein decision; and the award of moral damages is reduced to ₱8,000.00; the payment of hospital expenses is deleted; and the amount of ₱2,800.00 is ordered returned to herein plaintiffs-appellees. The rest of the dispositive portion of said appealed decision remains undisturbed.
No costs.
SO ORDERED.10
Dissatisfied, Petra filed a petition for review with this Court.11 The Court issued a Resolution12 denying the petition. The Court held that the issues raised were essentially factual and that there was no sufficient showing that the Court of Appeals’ findings were not supported by the requisite quantum of evidence. The Court found no reversible error in the Court of Appeals’ decision.13
The Court’s resolution became final and executory on 4 December 1996. Consequently, the decision of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 38855 modifying the trial court’s decision in the specific performance case also became final.
On 20 June 1997, Petra, through counsel, wrote a letter14 to the Spouses Songcuan demanding payment of ₱350,000, less ₱44,440, representing the damages adjudged in favor of the Spouses Songcuan. Petra also stated that upon payment of the amount, she would then execute the deed of absolute sale and deliver the titles to the properties to the Spouses Songcuan.
Ray Songcuan replied in an undated letter,15 stating that they were ready to pay the balance of the purchase price. However, Petra could not comply with her obligation because she had already donated the properties to Leticia T. Fideldia ("Leticia"), Petra’s co-petitioner in this case, without court authority. Ray Songcuan also demanded that Petra and Leticia pay the rentals they collected from the properties since 1982.
Subsequently, Petra filed with the Regional Trial Court of Quezon City ("RTC Quezon City") a complaint against the Spouses Songcuan for rescission16 of the contract to sell. The RTC Quezon City later dismissed the complaint on the ground of improper venue since the properties are situated in Bauang, La Union.17
Meanwhile, the Spouses Songcuan filed with the trial court a motion for execution to enforce the decision in the specific performance case. The trial court, presided by Judge Rose Mary R. Molina-Alim, granted the motion on 3 November 1997. Thus, a writ of execution was issued. However, the writ was returned unsatisfied twice. Thereafter, an alias writ of execution was issued on 13 April 1998. The alias writ of execution was also returned unsatisfied.
With the dismissal of the complaint for rescission by the RTC Quezon City, Leticia, as Petra’s successor-in-interest, filed with the Regional Trial Court of Bauang, La Union a complaint for rescission dated 21 July 1998. The complaint was raffled to Branch 33 – the same court trying the specific performance case – and docketed as Civil Case No. 1157 BG ("rescission case"). The complaint alleged that the Spouses Songcuan refused to comply with their reciprocal obligation to pay the balance of the purchase price of the properties.
On 27 July 1998, Petra filed with the trial court a motion to suspend the execution of the decision in the specific performance case.
Denying the motion, the trial court issued an Order for the issuance of a second alias writ of execution on 12 August 1999. The writ remained unsatisfied.
Petra filed a motion for reconsideration of the order. Reversing its earlier order, the trial court granted the motion for reconsideration in an Order dated 3 December 1999, to wit:
WHEREFORE, the motion for reconsideration is GRANTED, insofar as the deferment of the issuance of a writ of execution is concerned. The ex-parte, manifestation and motion for satisfaction of judgment and the addendum filed by the plaintiffs as well as the motion to clarify order, are DENIED for lack of merit.
SO ORDERED.18 (emphasis supplied)
The Spouses Songcuan filed a motion for reconsideration of the order, which the trial court denied on 22 May 2000.
On 19 May 2000, the Spouses Songcuan consigned with the trial court ₱330,000 representing the balance of the purchase price of the properties.19
The Spouses Songcuan then filed a petition for certiorari under Rule 6520 with the Court of Appeals seeking to annul the Order of the trial court deferring the execution of the judgment in the specific performance case.
On 30 March 2001, the Court of Appeals granted the petition and annulled the trial court’s Order of 3 December 1999. The dispositive portion of the Court of Appeals’ decision reads:
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The assailed orders of respondent judge are ANNULLED and SET ASIDE and the latter is directed to forthwith comply with Sec. 10[a], Rule 39 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. Costs against private respondent.
SO ORDERED.21
Petra filed a motion for reconsideration of the decision. The Court of Appeals denied the motion in a Resolution dated 11 December 2001.
Hence, this petition.
The Court of Appeals’ Ruling
In annulling the order of the trial court deferring the execution of the judgment in the specific performance case, the Court of Appeals held that it is the ministerial duty of the presiding judge to issue a writ of execution of the final and executory judgment. The Court of Appeals noted that the Spouses Songcuan had expressed readiness to pay the balance of the purchase price as confirmed by the Sheriff’s Report dated 2 December 1997.
The Court of Appeals further ruled that Petra’s remedy in case of the Spouses Songcuan’s default is to ask for the execution of the judgment. The Court of Appeals also stated that the judgment superseded the terms of the contract to sell. Hence, the judgment novated the obligation of the parties under the contract to sell.
Since there was a notice of lis pendens annotated on Petra’s titles to the properties, the Court of Appeals declared that Leticia, to whom Petra subsequently donated the properties, is bound by the outcome of the specific performance case.
Finally, the Court of Appeals held that the presiding judge should have divested Leticia of the titles to the properties and delivered such titles to the Spouses Songcuan.
The Issue
The main issue in this case is whether the trial court committed grave abuse of discretion in issuing the Order of 3 December 1999 deferring the execution of the final judgment in the specific performance case.
The Ruling of the Court
The petition lacks merit.
No Subsequent Events
to Render Execution Inequitable
Petitioners contend that after the judgment in the specific performance case became final and executory, certain circumstances arose warranting deferment of the execution of the final judgment. According to petitioners, the Spouses Songcuan were unlawfully collecting the rentals over the properties since November 1996 in disregard of the decision in the specific performance case. In addition, the Spouses Songcuan conditioned their payment of the balance of the purchase price of the properties on the payment by petitioners of the rentals they collected since 1982.
Petitioners’ contention is untenable.
The Court reiterates the principle that once a decision becomes final and executory, it is the ministerial duty of the presiding judge to issue a writ of execution except in certain cases, as when subsequent events would render execution of the judgment unjust.22 The present case does not fall within the recognized exceptions.
A review of the records shows that these alleged subsequent events do not render the execution unjust.
The alleged collection by the Spouses Songcuan of the rentals since November 1996 arose before the decision in the specific performance case became final and executory on 4 December 1996. Whether the Spouses Songcuan have a right to the rentals is an issue for resolution in an action separate and distinct from the rescission case, which involves the execution of the decision in the specific performance case.23
Petitioners contend that the Spouses Songcuan made the payment of the rentals petitioners collected since 1982 a condition for the Spouses Songcuan’s payment of the balance of the purchase price. This contention deserves scant consideration. The Sheriff’s Report supports24 the Spouses Songcuan’s claim that they were ready and willing to pay the balance of the purchase price without any condition. Furthermore, on 19 May 2000 the Spouses Songcuan consigned with the trial court the ₱330,000 representing the balance of the purchase price of the properties.
The Court also notes that petitioners demanded from the Spouses Songcuan the payment of ₱305,560 (₱350,000 less ₱44,440) whereas the trial court’s decision in the specific performance case ordered the payment of ₱290,560 only (₱330,000 less ₱49,440). Thus, as the Court of Appeals stated, the demand is ₱15,000 more than the amount adjudged in the decision. This is enough reason for the Spouses Songcuan’s reluctance to heed immediately petitioners’ demand.
The Spouses Songcuan’s hesitance to pay was caused principally by Petra’s donation to Leticia of the properties after the promulgation of the trial court’s decision. With the donation, the Spouses Songcuan believed that Petra no longer had the legal right to transfer ownership of the properties.25
The Remedy of Rescission is Not Proper
Petitioners maintain that since the judgment in the specific performance case provided for a reciprocal obligation – Petra to execute a deed of absolute sale while the Spouses Songcuan to pay the balance of the purchase price – the remedy of rescission is available to either party. Petitioners argue that the Spouses Songcuan’s refusal to pay the balance of the purchase price pursuant to the decision in the specific performance case entitles the petitioners to rescind the contract to sell.
Petitioners are mistaken.
Article 1191 of the Civil Code provides:
Art. 1191. The power to rescind obligations is implied in reciprocal ones, in case one of the obligors should not comply with what is incumbent upon him.
The injured party may choose between the fulfillment and the rescission of the obligation, with the payment of damages in either case. He may also seek rescission, even after he has chosen fulfillment, if the latter should become impossible.
xxx. (Emphasis supplied)
The rescission case is based on the alleged refusal of the Spouses Songcuan to pay the balance of the purchase price pursuant to the decision in the specific performance case.26 The Spouses Songcuan, however, were ready and willing to pay the balance of the purchase price upon petitioners’ execution of the deed of absolute sale and delivery of the titles. Under Article 1191 of the Civil Code, petitioners can choose either specific performance or rescission only if the Spouses Songcuan refuse to comply with what is incumbent upon them, that is, to pay the balance of the purchase price. Since the Spouses Songcuan were never in default, petitioners could not invoke Article 1191.
On the contrary, Petra had transferred ownership of the properties to Leticia through donation. Petra was the party who could not comply with what was incumbent upon her because after the donation only Leticia could transfer the properties. Petra was the obligor in default under Article 1191, and the Spouses Songcuan the injured party.
Even assuming the Spouses Songcuan were in default, petitioners could have moved for the execution of the decision in the specific performance case. Contrary to petitioners’ claim, either party can move for the execution of the decision so long as the decision or any part of it is in favor of the moving party.27 The rule28 on execution of final judgments does not make the filing of the motion for execution exclusive to the prevailing party.
As the Court of Appeals correctly noted, the trial court in the specific performance case should have ordered Leticia to execute the necessary deed of conveyance in favor of the Spouses Songcuan and deliver the titles to the properties. Although Petra had already donated the properties to Leticia, Leticia is bound by the outcome of the specific performance case by virtue of the notice of lis pendens annotated on the titles to the properties. Petra is also liable to pay the legal interest on the amount of damages awarded by the trial court, as modified by the Court of Appeals, in favor of the Spouses Songcuan.29
WHEREFORE, we DENY the instant petition for review. We AFFIRM the Decision of the Court of Appeals dated 30 March 2001 as well as the Resolution dated 11 December 2001 in CA-G.R. SP No. 59257. The presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 33, Bauang, La Union is ordered to execute with dispatch the Decision dated 4 November 1991 in Civil Case No. 459-BG, as modified by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 38855. The Regional Trial Court shall ORDER petitioner Leticia T. Fideldia to execute the necessary deed of conveyance, and to deliver the titles, of the subject properties in favor of the Spouses Ray and Gloria Songcuan.
SO ORDERED.
Davide, Jr., C.J., (Chairman), Quisumbing, Ynares-Santiago, and Azcuna, JJ., concur.
Footnotes
1 Under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.
2 Penned by Associate Justice Edgardo P. Cruz, with Associate Justices Ramon Mabutas, Jr. and Roberto A. Barrios, concurring.
3 Penned by Judge Rose Mary R. Molina-Alim.
4 Together with Spouses Jose Vergel De Dios and Gina S. Vergel De Dios.
5 Together with Manuel L. Mangaser.
6 CA Rollo, pp. 20-79.
7 Ibid., pp. 78-79.
8 Docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 38855.
9 Penned by Associate Justice (now Associate Justice of this Court) Ma. Alicia Austria-Martinez, with Associate Justices Pedro A. Ramirez and Bernardo LL. Salas, concurring.
10 Rollo, p. 80.
11 Docketed as G.R. No. 124336.
12 CA Rollo, p. 100.
13 Ibid.
14 Rollo, p. 82. The letter states:
June 20, 1997
Dear Mr. and Mrs. Songcuan:
Pursuant to the decision rendered by the Court in the above-entitled case, our client, Petra T. Fideldia, represented by her attorney-in-fact and daughter, Leticia Fideldia, now formally demands payment of the sum of ₱350,000 less the sums of ₱44,440.00 representing the awards adjudged in your favor under said decision. Upon payment or simultaneously thereof, our client shall then execute the Absolute Deed of Sale in your favor as well as deliver the corresponding title to the properties in question.
May we expect your payment within a reasonable time from your receipt hereof. Thank you.
Very truly yours,
Signed
MANUEL N. CAMACHO
15 Rollo, p. 83. The letter of Ray Songcuan pertinently states:
xxx
We are ready, as we were before, to pay the balance of the purchase price.
But your client, Petra Fideldia could not comply with her obligation. Until and after both lots A and B are in the full control and disposition of Petra Fideldia, subject to our "contract" and the Decision of the court, Your demand for our compliance is unlawful and premature.
Your client, Petra Fideldia, committed the comptemptous (sic) act of disposing Lot A in 1993 without consent of court.
Should you and your client persist with your present actuation, I shall consider it as another act of contempt and shall be dealt with accordingly.
xxx
The Law provides that I have the right to the fruits of the properties from the time the obligation to deliver arises.
Let this letter serve as a demand for your client, Petra Fideldia, and Her Attorney-in-fact Letty Fideldia, to pay me the rentals they have collected from the property from August 1982 to the present.
xxx
Very truly yours,
Signed
RAY G. SONGCUAN
16 CA Rollo, pp. 103-107.
17 Ibid., pp. 117-118.
18 Ibid., p. 158.
19 See Annexes "V" and "W." CA Rollo, pp. 164-166.
20 Docketed as CA G.R. SP No. 59257.
21 Rollo, pp. 52-53. Emphasis in the original.
22 In Philippine Veterans Bank v. Intermediate Appellate Court (G.R. No. 73162, 23 October 1989, 178 SCRA 645), the Court held thus:
The rule that once a decision has become final and executory, it is the ministerial duty of the court to order its execution, admits of certain exceptions as in cases of special and exceptional nature where it becomes imperative in the higher interest of justice to direct the suspension of its execution; or whenever it is necessary to accomplish the aims of justice; or when certain facts and circumstances transpired after the judgment became final which would render the execution of the judgment unjust.
See also Amor v. Jugo, 77 Phil. 703 (1946).
23 The issue of whether the Spouses Songcuan are entitled to the rentals may be resolved in the unlawful detainer case filed by Leticia against the lessees of the properties.
24 See Annex "P" (Order dated 12 August 1999). CA Rollo, p. 139.
25 See Annex "P." CA Rollo, p. 135.
26 The pertinent paragraphs of the Complaint filed before the RTC Quezon City and the trial court identically state:
xxx
7. That in accordance with the aforequoted decision of the Supreme Court, Petra T. Fideldia formally demanded payment of the balance of the purchase price under the contract to sell from the Defendants (Spouses Songcuan) at the same time signifying her readiness to reciprocally execute the final deed of sale in their favor upon her receipt of said balance of the purchase price, xxx;
8. That despite the foregoing demand, the Defendants refused to pay as they have continually refused to pay said balance of the purchase price and that as a result of such refusal, the herein Plaintiff (Leticia), as the transferees (sic) in interest of Petra T. Fideldia of both Lot 4-B and 4-C, and now as the real party in interest in the herein action under the authority of Section 3, Rule 3, of the 1997 Revised Rules of Civil Procedure, hereby rescinds the aforementioned contract to sell dated March 8, 1982 between her predecessor in interest Petra T. Fideldia as prospective vendor and the herein Defendants as prospective vendees by means of the herein action;
9. xxx (emphasis supplied)
27 See Del Rosario, et al. v. Sandico, et al., 97 Phil. 372 (1955).
28 Section 1, Rule 39 of the Rules of Court provides:
Section 1. Execution upon judgments or final orders. – Execution shall issue as a matter of right, on motion, upon a judgment or order that disposes of the action or proceeding upon the expiration of the period to appeal therefrom if no appeal has been duly perfected.
If the appeal has been duly perfected and finally resolved, the execution may forthwith be applied for in the court of origin, on motion of the judgment obligee, submitting therewith certified true copies of the judgment or judgments or final order or orders sought to be enforced and of the entry thereof, with notice to the adverse party.
xxx
29 Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 97412, 12 July 1994, 234 SCRA 78.
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