FIRST DIVISION
[G.R. No. L-15813. December 29, 1960. ]
GERMAN DE ORTUBE, plaintiff and appellee, v. JUSTINIANO T. ASUNCION and JACOBO R. ASUNCION, defendants and appellants.
K. Digno M. Asuncion for Appellants.
Agustin Frivaldo for Appellee.
SYLLABUS
PLEADING AND PRACTICE; MOTIONS FOR POSTPONEMENT; DISCRETION OF COURT. — The matter of affording relief from the failure of the party or his counsel to appear at the trial is largely discretionary with the judge and the latter’s discretion may not be interfered with unless abuse is patent on the record.
D E C I S I O N
BENGZON, J.:
The defendants appealed to the Court of Appeals from the judgment of Sorsogon court of first instance requiring them to pay the plaintiff P4,700.00 with interest at 12% plus costs. However, as the case disclosed no factual questions, it was forwarded to this Court.
It appears that in October 1967, German de Ortube filed his complaint to recover, from defendants, a debt of P4,700.00 evidenced by a promissory note payable on or before November 7, 1956, with interest as stated. The complaint copied the note, and alleged non- payment notwithstanding repeated demands.
The answer admitted the due execution of the note, but asserted that defendants "have paid on their obligation certain amounts, probably in full, and they will ascertain from their records the amount of such payments."cralaw virtua1aw library
The hearing of the case was set for June 6, 1958. But on June 5, 1958, defendant Justiniano Asuncion sent a telegram to the court requesting postponement on the ground of sickness of his counsel, and promising submission of the medical certificate later. On the same date, he sent a similar telegram to his opponent’s attorney.
On June 6, 1958, neither the defendants nor their counsel appeared in court. On the same day, the judge rendered the following decision:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"x x x"
"Del testimonio del demandante y del Exhibito A se desprende que el 7 de Noviembre de 1955, los demandados otorgaron y suscribieron mancomunada y solidariamente un pagaré por la suma de P4,700.00, con interes de doce por ciento (12%) anual y pagaderos al plazo de un año desde la fecha del pagare. No existe ninguna duda sobre la autenticidad y debido otorgamiento de dicho pagaré puesto que en la contestacion de los demandados esta admitido expresamente tal hecho. Seg
It appears that in October 1967, German de Ortube filed his complaint to recover, from defendants, a debt of P4,700.00 evidenced by a promissory note payable on or before November 7, 1956, with interest as stated. The complaint copied the note, and alleged non- payment notwithstanding repeated demands.
The answer admitted the due execution of the note, but asserted that defendants "have paid on their obligation certain amounts, probably in full, and they will ascertain from their records the amount of such payments."cralaw virtua1aw library
The hearing of the case was set for June 6, 1958. But on June 5, 1958, defendant Justiniano Asuncion sent a telegram to the court requesting postponement on the ground of sickness of his counsel, and promising submission of the medical certificate later. On the same date, he sent a similar telegram to his opponent’s attorney.
On June 6, 1958, neither the defendants nor their counsel appeared in court. On the same day, the judge rendered the following decision:jgc:chanrobles.com.ph
"x x x"
"Del testimonio del demandante y del Exhibito A se desprende que el 7 de Noviembre de 1955, los demandados otorgaron y suscribieron mancomunada y solidariamente un pagaré por la suma de P4,700.00, con interes de doce por ciento (12%) anual y pagaderos al plazo de un año desde la fecha del pagare. No existe ninguna duda sobre la autenticidad y debido otorgamiento de dicho pagaré puesto que en la contestacion de los demandados esta admitido expresamente tal hecho. Seg
