Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
SECOND DIVISION
G.R. No. 161417 February 8, 2007
MA. TERESA CHAVES BIACO, Petitioner,
vs.
PHILIPPINE COUNTRYSIDE RURAL BANK, Respondent.
D E C I S I O N
TINGA, J.:
Petitioner, Ma. Teresa Chaves Biaco, seeks a review of the Decision1 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. No. 67489 dated August 27, 2003, which denied her petition for annulment of judgment, and the Resolution2 dated December 15, 2003 which denied her motion for reconsideration.
The facts as succinctly stated by the Court of Appeals are as follows:
Ernesto Biaco is the husband of petitioner Ma. Teresa Chaves Biaco. While employed in the Philippine Countryside Rural Bank (PCRB) as branch manager, Ernesto obtained several loans from the respondent bank as evidenced by the following promissory notes:
| Feb. 17, 1998 | ₱ 65,000.00 |
| Mar. 18, 1998 | 30,000.00 |
| May 6, 1998 | 60,000.00 |
| May 20, 1998 | 350,000.00 |
| July 30, 1998 | 155,000.00 |
| Sept. 8, 1998 | 40,000.00 |
| Sept. 8, 1998 | 120,000.00 |
As security for the payment of the said loans, Ernesto executed a real estate mortgage in favor of the bank covering the parcel of land described in Original Certificate of Title (OCT) No. P-14423. The real estate mortgages bore the signatures of the spouses Biaco.
When Ernesto failed to settle the above-mentioned loans on its due date, respondent bank through counsel sent him a written demand on September 28, 1999. The amount due as of September 30, 1999 had already reached ONE MILLION EIGHTY THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY SIX AND FIFTY CENTAVOS (₱1,080,676.50).
The written demand, however, proved futile.
On February 22, 2000, respondent bank filed a complaint for foreclosure of mortgage against the spouses Ernesto and Teresa Biaco before the RTC of Misamis Oriental. Summons was served to the spouses Biaco through Ernesto at his office (Export and Industry Bank) located at Jofelmor Bldg., Mortola Street, Cagayan de Oro City.
Ernesto received the summons but for unknown reasons, he failed to file an answer. Hence, the spouses Biaco were declared in default upon motion of the respondent bank. The respondent bank was allowed to present its evidence ex parte before the Branch Clerk of Court who was then appointed by the court as Commissioner.
Arturo Toring, the branch manager of the respondent bank, testified that the spouses Biaco had been obtaining loans from the bank since 1996 to 1998. The loans for the years 1996-1997 had already been paid by the spouses Biaco, leaving behind a balance of ₱1,260,304.33 representing the 1998 loans. The amount being claimed is inclusive of interests, penalties and service charges as agreed upon by the parties. The appraisal value of the land subject of the mortgage is only ₱150,000.00 as reported by the Assessor’s Office.
Based on the report of the Commissioner, the respondent judge ordered as follows:
WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered ordering defendants spouses ERNESTO R. BIACO and MA. THERESA [CHAVES] BIACO to pay plaintiff bank within a period of not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred (100) days from receipt of this decision the loan of ONE MILLION TWO HUNDRED SIXTY THOUSAND THREE HUNDRED FOUR PESOS and THIRTY THREE CENTAVOS (₱1,260,304.33) plus litigation expenses in the amount of SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED FORTY PESOS (₱7,640.00) and attorney’s fees in the amount of TWO HUNDRED FIFTY TWO THOUSAND THIRTY PESOS and FORTY THREE CENTAVOS (₱252,030.43) and cost of this suit.
In case of non-payment within the period, the Sheriff of this Court is ordered to sell at public auction the mortgaged Lot, a parcel of registered land (Lot 35802, Cad. 237 {Lot No. 12388-B, Csd-10-002342-D}), located at Gasi, Laguindingan, Misamis Oriental and covered by TCT No. P-14423 to satisfy the mortgage debt, and the surplus if there be any should be delivered to the defendants spouses ERNESTO and MA. THERESA [CHAVES] BIACO. In the event however[,] that the proceeds of the auction sale of the mortgage[d] property is not enough to pay the outstanding obligation, the defendants are ordered to pay any deficiency of the judgment as their personal liability.
SO ORDERED.
On July 12, 2000, the sheriff personally served the above-mentioned judgment to Ernesto Biaco at his office at Export and Industry Bank. The spouses Biaco did not appeal from the adverse decision of the trial court. On October 13, 2000, the respondent bank filed an ex parte motion for execution to direct the sheriff to sell the mortgaged lot at public auction. The respondent bank alleged that the order of the court requiring the spouses Biaco to pay within a period of 90 days had passed, thus making it necessary to sell the mortgaged lot at public auction, as previously mentioned in the order of the court. The motion for execution was granted by the trial court per Order dated October 20, 2000.
On October 31, 2000, the sheriff served a copy of the writ of execution to the spouses Biaco at their residence in #92 9th Street, Nazareth, Cagayan de Oro City. The writ of execution was personally received by Ernesto. By virtue of the writ of execution issued by the trial court, the mortgaged property was sold at public auction in favor of the respondent bank in the amount of ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND PESOS (₱150,000.00).
The amount of the property sold at public auction being insufficient to cover the full amount of the obligation, the respondent bank filed an "ex parte motion for judgment" praying for the issuance of a writ of execution against the other properties of the spouses Biaco for the full settlement of the remaining obligation. Granting the motion, the court ordered that a writ of execution be issued against the spouses Biaco to enforce and satisfy the judgment of the court for the balance of ONE MILLION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY NINE THOUSAND NINE HUNDRED SEVENTY FOUR PESOS AND SEVENTY CENTAVOS (₱1,369,974.70).
The sheriff executed two (2) notices of levy against properties registered under the name of petitioner Ma. Teresa Chaves Biaco. However, the notices of levy were denied registration because Ma. Teresa had already sold the two (2) properties to her daughters on April 11, 2001.3
Petitioner sought the annulment of the Regional Trial Court decision contending that extrinsic fraud prevented her from participating in the judicial foreclosure proceedings. According to her, she came to know about the judgment in the case only after the lapse of more than six (6) months after its finality. She claimed that extrinsic fraud was perpetrated against her because the bank failed to verify the authenticity of her signature on the real estate mortgage and did not inquire into the reason for the absence of her signature on the promissory notes. She moreover asserted that the trial court failed to acquire jurisdiction because summons were served on her through her husband without any explanation as to why personal service could not be made.
The Court of Appeals considered the two circumstances that kept petitioner in the dark about the judicial foreclosure proceedings: (1) the failure of the sheriff to personally serve summons on petitioner; and (2) petitioner’s husband’s concealment of his knowledge of the foreclosure proceedings. On the validity of the service of summons, the appellate court ruled that judicial foreclosure proceedings are actions quasi in rem. As such, jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is not essential as long as the court acquires jurisdiction over the res. Noting that the spouses Biaco were not opposing parties in the case, the Court of Appeals further ruled that the fraud committed by one against the other cannot be considered extrinsic fraud.
Her motion for reconsideration having been denied, petitioner filed the instant Petition for Review,4 asserting that even if the action is quasi in rem, personal service of summons is essential in order to afford her due process. The substituted service made by the sheriff at her husband’s office cannot be deemed proper service absent any explanation that efforts had been made to personally serve summons upon her but that such efforts failed. Petitioner contends that extrinsic fraud was perpetrated not so much by her husband, who did not inform her of the judicial foreclosure proceedings, but by the sheriff who allegedly connived with her husband to just leave a copy of the summons intended for her at the latter’s office.
Petitioner further argues that the deficiency judgment is a personal judgment which should be deemed void for lack of jurisdiction over her person.
Respondent PCRB filed its Comment,5 essentially reiterating the appellate court’s ruling. Respondent avers that service of summons upon the defendant is not necessary in actions quasi in rem it being sufficient that the court acquire jurisdiction over the res. As regards the alleged conspiracy between petitioner’s husband and the sheriff, respondent counters that this is a new argument which cannot be raised for the first time in the instant petition.
We required the parties to file their respective memoranda in the Resolution6 dated August 18, 2004. Accordingly, petitioner filed her Memorandum7 dated October 10, 2004, while respondent filed its Memorandum for Respondent8 dated September 9, 2004.
Annulment of judgment is a recourse equitable in character, allowed only in exceptional cases as where there is no available or other adequate remedy. Jurisprudence and Sec. 2, Rule 47 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure (Rules of Court) provide that judgments may be annulled only on grounds of extrinsic fraud and lack of jurisdiction or denial of due process.9
Petitioner asserts that extrinsic fraud consisted in her husband’s concealment of the loans which he obtained from respondent PCRB; the filing of the complaint for judicial foreclosure of mortgage; service of summons; rendition of judgment by default; and all other proceedings which took place until the writ of garnishment was served.10
Extrinsic fraud exists when there is a fraudulent act committed by the prevailing party outside of the trial of the case, whereby the defeated party was prevented from presenting fully his side of the case by fraud or deception practiced on him by the prevailing party.11 Extrinsic fraud is present where the unsuccessful party had been prevented from exhibiting fully his case, by fraud or deception practiced on him by his opponent, as by keeping him away from court, a false promise of a compromise; or where the defendant never had knowledge of the suit, being kept in ignorance by the acts of the plaintiff; or where an attorney fraudulently or without authority assumes to represent a party and connives at his defeat; or where the attorney regularly employed corruptly sells out his client’s interest to the other side. The overriding consideration is that the fraudulent scheme of the prevailing litigant prevented a party from having his day in court.12
With these considerations, the appellate court acted well in ruling that there was no fraud perpetrated by respondent bank upon petitioner, noting that the spouses Biaco were co-defendants in the case and shared the same interest. Whatever fact or circumstance concealed by the husband from the wife cannot be attributed to respondent bank.
Moreover, petitioner’s allegation that her signature on the promissory notes was forged does not evince extrinsic fraud. It is well-settled that the use of forged instruments during trial is not extrinsic fraud because such evidence does not preclude the participation of any party in the proceedings.13
The question of whether the trial court has jurisdiction depends on the nature of the action, i.e., whether the action is in personam, in rem, or quasi in rem. The rules on service of summons under Rule 14 of the Rules of Court likewise apply according to the nature of the action.
An action in personam is an action against a person on the basis of his personal liability. An action in rem is an action against the thing itself instead of against the person. An action quasi in rem is one wherein an individual is named as defendant and the purpose of the proceeding is to subject his interest therein to the obligation or lien burdening the property.14
In an action in personam, jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is necessary for the court to validly try and decide the case. In a proceeding in rem or quasi in rem, jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is not a prerequisite to confer jurisdiction on the court provided that the court acquires jurisdiction over the res. Jurisdiction over the res is acquired either (1) by the seizure of the property under legal process, whereby it is brought into actual custody of the law; or (2) as a result of the institution of legal proceedings, in which the power of the court is recognized and made effective.15
Nonetheless, summons must be served upon the defendant not for the purpose of vesting the court with jurisdiction but merely for satisfying the due process requirements.16
A resident defendant who does not voluntarily appear in court, such as petitioner in this case, must be personally served with summons as provided under Sec. 6, Rule 14 of the Rules of Court. If she cannot be personally served with summons within a reasonable time, substituted service may be effected (1) by leaving copies of the summons at the defendant’s residence with some person of suitable age and discretion then residing therein, or (2) by leaving the copies at defendant’s office or regular place of business with some competent person in charge thereof in accordance with Sec. 7, Rule 14 of the Rules of Court.
In this case, the judicial foreclosure proceeding instituted by respondent PCRB undoubtedly vested the trial court with jurisdiction over the res. A judicial foreclosure proceeding is an action quasi in rem. As such, jurisdiction over the person of petitioner is not required, it being sufficient that the trial court is vested with jurisdiction over the subject matter.
There is a dimension to this case though that needs to be delved into. Petitioner avers that she was not personally served summons. Instead, summons was served to her through her husband at his office without any explanation as to why the particular surrogate service was resorted to. The Sheriff’s Return of Service dated March 21, 2000 states:
x x x x
That on March 16, 2000, the undersigned served the copies of Summons, complaint and its annexes to the defendants Sps. Ernesto R. & Ma. Teresa Ch. Biaco thru Ernesto R. Biaco[,] defendant of the above-entitled case at his office EXPORT & INDUSTRY BANK, Jofelmore Bldg.[,] Mortola St., Cagayan de Oro City and he acknowledged receipt thereof as evidenced with his signature appearing on the original copy of the Summons.17 [Emphasis supplied]
Without ruling on petitioner’s allegation that her husband and the sheriff connived to prevent summons from being served upon her personally, we can see that petitioner was denied due process and was not able to participate in the judicial foreclosure proceedings as a consequence. The violation of petitioner’s constitutional right to due process arising from want of valid service of summons on her warrants the annulment of the judgment of the trial court.
There is more, the trial court granted respondent PCRB’s ex-parte motion for deficiency judgment and ordered the issuance of a writ of execution against the spouses Biaco to satisfy the remaining balance of the award. In short, the trial court went beyond its jurisdiction over the res and rendered a personal judgment against the spouses Biaco. This cannot be countenanced.1awphil.net
In Sahagun v. Court of Appeals,18 suit was brought against a non-resident defendant, Abelardo Sahagun, and a writ of attachment was issued and subsequently levied on a house and lot registered in his name. Claiming ownership of the house, his wife, Carmelita Sahagun, filed a motion to intervene. For failure of plaintiff to serve summons extraterritorially upon Abelardo, the complaint was dismissed without prejudice.
Subsequently, plaintiff filed a motion for leave to serve summons by publication upon Abelardo. The trial court granted the motion. Plaintiff later filed an amended complaint against Abelardo, this time impleading Carmelita and Rallye as additional defendants. Summons was served on Abelardo through publication in the Manila Evening Post. Abelardo failed to file an answer and was declared in default. Carmelita went on certiorari to the Court of Appeals assailing as grave abuse of discretion the declaration of default of Abelardo. The Court of Appeals dismissed the petition and denied reconsideration.
In her petition with this Court, Carmelita raised the issue of whether the trial court acquired jurisdiction over her husband, a non-resident defendant, by the publication of summons in a newspaper of general circulation in the Philippines. The Court sustained the correctness of extrajudicial service of summons by publication in such newspaper.
The Court explained, citing El Banco Español-Filipino v. Palanca,19 that foreclosure and attachment proceedings are both actions quasi in rem. As such, jurisdiction over the person of the (non-resident) defendant is not essential. Service of summons on a non-resident defendant who is not found in the country is required, not for purposes of physically acquiring jurisdiction over his person but simply in pursuance of the requirements of fair play, so that he may be informed of the pendency of the action against him and the possibility that property belonging to him or in which he has an interest may be subjected to a judgment in favor of a resident, and that he may thereby be accorded an opportunity to defend in the action, should he be so minded.
Significantly, the Court went on to rule, citing De Midgely v. Ferandos, et. al.20 and Perkins v. Dizon, et al.21 that in a proceeding in rem or quasi in rem, the only relief that may be granted by the court against a defendant over whose person it has not acquired jurisdiction either by valid service of summons or by voluntary submission to its jurisdiction, is limited to the res.
Similarly, in this case, while the trial court acquired jurisdiction over the res, its jurisdiction is limited to a rendition of judgment on the res. It cannot extend its jurisdiction beyond the res and issue a judgment enforcing petitioner’s personal liability. In doing so without first having acquired jurisdiction over the person of petitioner, as it did, the trial court violated her constitutional right to due process, warranting the annulment of the judgment rendered in the case.
WHEREFORE, the instant petition is GRANTED. The Decision dated August 27, 2003 and the Resolution dated December 15, 2003 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 67489 are SET ASIDE. The Judgment dated July 11, 2000 and Order dated February 9, 2001 of the Regional Trial Court of Cagayan de Oro City, Branch 20, are likewise SET ASIDE.
SO ORDERED.
DANTE O. TINGA
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING
Associate Justice
Chairperson
ANTONIO T. CARPIO
Associate Justice |
CONCHITA CARPIO MORALES
Asscociate Justice |
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR.
Associate Justice
A T T E S T A T I O N
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
LEONARDO A. QUISUMBING
Associate Justice
Chairperson, Second Division
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, it is hereby certified that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice
Footnotes
1 Rollo, pp. 28-35; Penned by Associate Justice Romeo A. Brawner and concurred in by Associate Justices Josefina Guevara-Salonga and Arturo D. Brion.
2 Id. at 38.
3 Id. at 29-31.
4 Id. at 3-23.
5 Id. at 125-142.
6 Id. at 144-145.
7 Id. at 149-165.
8 Id. at 167-181.
9 National Housing Authority v. Evangelista, G.R. No. 140945, May 16, 2005, 458 SCRA 469, 477-478.
10 CA rollo, p. 6; Petition (for Annulment of Judgment) dated October 29, 2001.
11 Alba v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 164041, 29 July 2005, 265 SCRA 495, 508.
12 Strait Times, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, 356 Phil. 217, 225-226 (1998), 294 SCRA 714, citing Palanca v. The American Food Manufacturing Co., 24 SCRA 819, August 30, 1968, per Zaldivar, J., citing U.S. v. Throckmorton, 98 U.S. 93, 95, 25 L. Ed. 93 (1878); See also Alaban v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 156021, September 23, 2005, 470 SCRA 697, 708.
13 Id.
14 Asiavest Limited v. Court of Appeals, 357 Phil. 536, 553 (1998).
15 Alba v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 164041, July 29, 2005, 465 SCRA 495, 505.
16 Id. at 506
17 CA rollo, p. 32.
18 G.R. No. 78328, June 3, 1991, 198 SCRA 44.
19 37 Phil. 921 (1918).
20 159-A Phil. 314, 326 (1975).
21 69 Phil. 186, 193 (1939).
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