FIRST DIVISION
G.R. No. 163157, June 27, 2016
SPOUSES BERNABE MERCADER, JR. AND LORNA JURADO MERCADER, OLIVER MERCADER, GERALDINE MERCADER AND ESRAMAY MERCADER, Petitioners, v. SPOUSES JESUS BARDILAS AND LETECIA GABUYA BARDILAS, Respondents.
D E C I S I O N
BERSAMIN, J.:
The owner of the servient estate retains ownership of the portion on which the easement is established, and may use the same in such manner as not to affect the exercise of the easement.1chanrobleslaw
A parcel of land (Lot 5808-F-2-A, Psd-07-018600, being a portion of Lot 5808-F-2, Psd-07-01-004579). Situated in the Barrio of Punta Princesa, City of Cebu, Province of Cebu, Island of Cebu. Bounded on the North and East along lines 1-2-3 by Lot 5808-F-2-B, with existing Right of Way (3.00 meters wide); of the subdivision plan; on the South along line 3-4 by Lot 5726, Cebu Cadastre; and on the West, along line 4-1 by Lot 5808-F-1, Psd-07-01-004579. Beginning at a point marked "1" on plan being S. 50 deg. 59' W., 411.55 m. from BM No. 44, Cebu Cadastre; thence N. 60 deg. 34' E., 4.99 m. to point 2; thence S. 20 deg. 33' E., 17.95 m. to point 3; thence S. 60 deg. 34' W., 4.99 m. to point 4; thence N. 20 deg. 33' W., 17.94 m. to point of beginning; containing an area of EIGHTY NINE (89) SQUARE METERS, more or less. x x x (Emphasis supplied)Lot No. 5808-F-2-B, situated behind Lot No. 5808-F-2-A, contained 249 square meters, and was covered by TCT No. 107915 in the names of "spouses LETECIA GABUYA BARDILAS and JESUS BARDILAS, of legal age, Filipinos."5 It was particularly described as follows:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
A parcel of land (Lot 5808-F-2-B, Psd-07-018600, being a portion of Lot 5808-F-2, Psd-07-01-004579). Situated in the Barrio of Punta Princesa, City of Cebu, Province of Cebu, Island of Cebu. Bounded on the SW., along line 1-2 by Lot 5808-F-1, Psd-07-01-004579; on the West along line 2-3 by Lot 5726, Cebu Cad.; on the North along line 3-4-5 by Lot 5725, Cebu Cadastre; on the East, along line 5-6 by Lot 5808-F-3, Psd-07-01-004579; on the South along line 6-7 by Lot 5726, Cebu Cad. and on the West, along line 7-8-1 by Lot 5808-F-2-A of the subdivision plan; with a Road Right of Way (3.00 meters wide). Beginning at a point marked Ton plan being S. 50 deg., 59' W., 411.55 m. from BM No. 44, Cebu Cadastre; thence S. 64 deg. 87' W., 16.02 m. to point 2; thence N. 22 deg. 23' W., 3.01 m. to point 3; thence N. 64 deg. 10' E., 16.12 m. to point 4; thence N. 64 deg. 10' E., 14.00 m. to point 5; thence S. 21 deg. 20' E., 20.01 m. to point 6; thence S. 60 deg. 34' W., 9.40 m. to point 7; thence N. 20 deg. 33' W., 17.95 m. to point 8; thence S. 60 deg. 34' W., 4.99 m. to the point of the beginning. Containing an area of TWO HUNDRED FORTY NINE (249) SQUARE METERS, more or less. x x x (Emphasis supplied)The right of way mentioned in the TCT No. 107915 of the Spouses Bardilas (Lot No. 5808-F-2-B) exited into the Clarita Subdivision and was roughly 300 lineal meters from Buhisan Road, a national road.
A parcel of land (Lot 5808-F-3, Psd-07-07-004579, bearing a portion of 5808-F, psd-07-07-003019); situated in the District of Punta Princesa, Ciky (sic) of Cebu, Island of Cebu. Bounded on the Ne. and NW. along lines 1-2-3- by lot 5808-F-4; on the NW, along line 3-4 by lot 5808-F-5; along line 4-5 by lot 5808-F-6, all of the subdivision plan: on the NW., along line 5-6 by Lot 5725, Cebu Cadatre; on the East and SE., along lines 7-8-9 by lot 5808-B; on the SE., along line 9-1 by lot 5808-C; along 10-11-12 bylot (sic) 5808-D; along line 12-13-14 by Lot 5808-E., all psd-0701003019; on the SE., along line 14-45 by lot 5726, Cebu Cadastre; on the SW., along line 15-16 by Lot 5808-F-2 of the subdivision plan; and on the NW, along line 16-1 by lot 5725, Cebu Cadastre. x x xIn relation to Lot No. 5808-F-3, there is another right of way about 40 lineal meters away from Buhisan Road.7chanrobleslaw
Per verification/investigation conducted in connection with the above subject the findings are to wit:Subsequently, on July 1, 1992, Barangay Chairman Jose F. Navarro of Punta Princesa, Cebu City convened a meeting among the interested parties at the Chinese Temple inside the Clarita Village. In attendance were officers of the Clarita Village Association, including petitioner Bernabe Mercader, Jr., and barangay officials. The Clarita Village Association explained that its closure of the right of way had been for the purpose of preventing individuals of "questionable character" from using the right of way to enter the area to steal from the residents of the Clarita Village. The meeting resulted in the discussion and agreement of the following matters, to wit:9
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary1. That the fence constructed by the association should have the necessary permit;
2. Said fence encroached a small portion of the road right-of-way of Ms. Bardilas (please see attached sketch plan, color red);
3. That a fence and portion of the redidential house owned by Mr. Bernabe Mercader have also encroached the road right-of-way (please see attached sketch plan, color green);
4. Total area encroached on the right-of-way is 14.00 square meters.
By letter dated August 14, 1992,10 the Spouses Bardilas, through Atty. Alfredo J. Sipalay, informed the Spouses Mercader of the encroachment by about 14 square meters of the latter's residential house and fence on the right of way. Hence, they wrote that they were giving the latter two alternatives, namely:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
1) The villagers/Clarita Village Association WILL HAVE NO OBJECTION for the spouses: Jesus and Letecia Bardilas (on their own expense) (sic) demolish a portion of the wall fence erected on a portion of Clarita Village side street blocking the said spouses' right of way; - and replace with IRON GATE so that they can use it anytime. Buying cost of the iron gate - as well as labor cost in replacing the knocked out portion of the said wall fence with iron gate will be shouldered by spouses: Jesus and Letecia Bardilas. 2) KEYS TO THE IRON GATE. - One (1) key will be given to the spouses MR. & MRS. BERNABE MERCADER so that at anytime they can open the gate in going thru their residence. ONE (1) key will be kept by spouses: Jesus and Letecia Bardilas for their usage in opening the iron gate anytime they may open it. 3) All parties present were in accord that the contents of items 1 to 3 STAND as their agreement in solving this instant case, and also in accord to implement the agreement as soon as possible. THEY ALSO AGREE THAT IN VIEW OF THIS AGREEMENT, - THEY ALL CONSIDER THIS CASE AMICABLY SETTLED.
On August 19, 1992, the Spouses Mercader, through Atty. Rolindo A. Navarro, responded by insisting that as the owners of Lot No. 5808-F-2-A they were equally entitled to the right of way; and that they were proposing to buy the equivalent portion of the right of way to which they were entitled at a reasonable price, viz.:11
- Pay THIRTY THOUSAND PESOS (P30,000.00) for the 14 square meters which your house and wall fence have encroached (the amount represents P2,000.00 per square meter, which is the fair market value of the property plus P2,000.00 for the expenses the Spouses Bardilas have incurred as a result of the encroachment of your property); or
- Demolish the wall fence and the portion of your house which encroached my clients' property.
Dear Compañero:In their reply of August 24, 1992,12 the Spouses Bardilas rejected the claim of the Spouses Mercader that they were entitled to the use of the right of way, and reiterated their demand for P30,000.00 as the fair market value of the property, stating:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibraryYour letter dated August 14, 1992 addressed to Mr. Bernabe Mercader has been referred to me for appropriate response.
In this connection, please be informed that my said client is equally entitled to the use of the road-right-of-way subject of your letter having bought Lot No. 5808-F-2-A which is one of the two dominant estates entitled thereto. The other estate is Lot No. 5808-F-2-B owned by your clients. Incidentally, this road-right-of-way has not been used for its purpose as the exit to Clarita Village has been closed. Attached herewith is copy of TCT No. 107914 for Lot No. 5808-F-2-A as Annex "A".
However, if your client is willing, my client proposes to buy the equivalent portion of the road-right-of-way to which they are entitled to at a reasonable price.
Please feel free to communicate with me on this matter.
Dear Atty. Navarro:
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibraryThis is in reply to your letter dated August 19, 1992 which our office received on August 20, 1992.
My clients, Spouses Jesus and Letecia Bardilas, disagree with Mr. Bernabe Mercader's claim that he is entitled to the use of their road right of way. Attached as Annex "A" is a photocopy of my clients' TCT No. 107915 of the property in question which clearly states that my clients' property is subject to three (3) meters wide right of way. Mr. Mercader's TCT No 107914, which was issued on the same day and time as my clients' TCT on March 30, 1989 at 10:10 a.m., don't (sic) have the same provision regarding the use of a right of way. This is because Mr. Mercader's property is fronting the street while my clients' property is situated at the back of Mr. Mercader's property; hence, the provision regarding the right of way on my clients' TCT.
It is true that my clients' road right of way has been closed since June, 1992 due to a wall constructed by the Clarita Village Association resulting in much inconvenience to my clients since they have to pass through a circuitous and muddy road. However, in a meeting with their Barangay Captain, the officers of the Clarita Village Association already agreed to let my clients pass through the wall provided they will put up a gate between the walls. My clients already have a three (3) meter wide gate ready to be put up only to discover that it won't fit because Mr. Mercader has encroached their road right of way. Hence, my letter to Mr. Mercader on August 14, 1992, informing him to pay P30,000.00 to my clients or to demolished (sic) his wall fence and portions of his house which encroached my clients' road right of way.
Since Mr. Mercader opts to pay my clients, we reiterate our demand for P30,000.00 which is the fair market value of my clients' property.
We hope we could settle this matter within this week.
WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing premises, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of petitioner Mercader's (sic) as against spouses Bardilas in Civil Case No. 12783:On October 19, 1995, the Spouses Bardilas moved for a new trial on the ground of newly discovered evidence,25cralawred representing that they had obtained the certification dated August 24, 1995 by Antonio V. Osmeña, the developer of the Clarita Village and the attorney-in-fact of Carmen and Elena Siguenza, the owners of the Clarita Village,26 to the effect that the road network of the Clarita Village had been donated to Cebu City. They appended to the motion the Deed of Donation of Road Lots27 and the certification dated July 5, 199528 by Antonio B. Sanchez, Department Head III of the Office of the City Engineer, Department of Engineering and Public Works of Cebu City, stating that the road network within the Clarita Village "has been used as part of the road network of the City of Cebu and as such was asphalted by the city thru F.T. Sanchez Construction in 1980." These documents, according to the Spouses Bardilas, were newly discovered evidence that they "could not, with reasonable diligence, have discovered and produced at the trial."29chanrobleslaw
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
(a) DECLARING the EXTINGUISHMENT of the easement of road right of way passing through the real properties of petitioners spouses Mercader's (sic) and Bernabe Mercader, Jr. and his children and the cancellation of the annotation of said easement from TCT No. 107914 and TCT No. 88156; (b) DECLARING petitioner Mercader's (sic) as owners of said extinguished easement of right of way; (c) GRANTING to petitioner Mercader's (sic) the right to use and occupy the extinguised easement which adjoins the Mercader's properties; (d) ORDERING respondents spouses, Jesus and Letecia Bardilas to pay petitioners the following amounts: a) The sum of P100,000.00 as moral damages; b) The sum of P3 5,000.00 as attorney's fees; and c) The sum of P20,000.00 as costs of suit;
and in Civil Case No. 13384:
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
(a) DISMISSING the amended complaint filed by plaintiffs spouses Bardilas; (b) DECLARING the road network of the Clarita Village still as private properties and not public; (c) DECLARING that the closure of OUTLET NO. 1 of said easement of right of way by the Clartita Village as lawful and valid;
SO ORDERED.
On March 18, 2003, the CA promulgated the now assailed decision,33 modifying the judgment of the RTC and disposing as follows:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
- That the Mercaders are the owners of the easement of right of way in question.
- That the easement of right of way in question has been extinguished.
- In granting the Mercaders the right to use and occupy the extinguished easement which adjoins the Mercaders' properties.
- In awarding moral damages, attorney's fees and costs of suit to the Mercaders in Civil Case No. CEB-12783.
- In dismissing Civil Case No. CEB-13384 and in declaring the closure of the road right of way in question by Clarita Village as lawful and valid.
WHEREFORE, the instant appeal is PARTIALLY GRANTED.On April 28, 2003, the Spouses Mercader sought the reconsideration of the decision,34 stating that the CA had "erred in awarding the 3 meter road right of way to the [Spouses Bardilas] and in ordering the respondent Mercader spouses, et al. to pay attorney's fees."35 They argued that because Lot No. 5808-F-2-A and Lot No.5808-F-2-B used to be one lot denominated as Lot No. 5808-F-2 that had the same right of way leading to the Clarita Village, they "are also legally entitled to the other half of the right of way" as owners of one of the subdivided lots;36 that, as shown in their Exhibit H,37 Lot No. 5808-F-3 of the Spouses Bardilas "has another 3 meter road right of way towards another point of Buhisan Road which is only about 40 lineal meters"38 from their property; and that the award of attorney's fees was "not proper there being no legal basis to grant the award."39chanrobleslaw
The assailed decision of the Regional Trial Court of Cebu City, Branch 20 in Civil Case Nos. CEB-12783 and CEB-13384 is hereby MODIFIED to read as follows:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibraryWHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing premises, judgment is hereby rendered in favor of respondents Spouses Jesus and Letecia Bardilas as against the petitioners Spouses Bernabe and Lorna Mercader, Oliver Mercader, Geraldine Mercader and Esramay Mercader in Civil Case No. 12783:and in Civil Case No. 13384:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary
1) DECLARING respondents Jesus and Letecia Bardilas as owners of the three (3) square meter wide road in question; 2) GRANTING to respondents Jesus and Letecia Bardilas the right to use and occupy the said three (3) square meter wide road; and 3) ORDERING petitioners to pay the respondents the sum of P20,000.00 as and for attorney's fees; 4) ORDERING the petitioners to pay the costs of suit;SO ORDERED.
1) DISMISSING the amended complaint Tiled by plaintiffs Spouses Jesus and Letecia Bardilas; and 2) DECLARING the road network of the Clarita Village still as private properties and not public.
Hence, they too should equally share in its retention for uses other than the easement after its non-user brought about by the closure of the exit point by Clarita Village Association. As borne out by the evidence, the respective properties of petitioners Sps. Bernabe and Lorna Mercader, on one hand, and Sps. Jesus and Letecia Bardilas, on the other hand, used to be a whole Lot 5808-F-2 with an area of 338 square meters before the same was subdivided into Lot 5808-F-2-A with an area of 89 square emters for the petitioner spouses and Lot 5808-F-2-B with an area of 249 square meters for the respondents. Before the subdivision, there was already a 3-meter wide road right of way leading towards Clarita Village. Thus, after the subdivision, the subject easement was annotated in both certificates of title as earlier stated. Very clearly, petitioners Bernabe and Lorna Mercader, and respondents Jesus and Letecia Bardilas, should equally share in the area of the easement. Consequently, the petitioners cannot be ordered to return the portion of easement on which part of petitioners' house and fence stand.42chanroblesvirtuallawlibrary
Moreover, as owners of the three (3) square meter wide road in dispute, the appellants (referring to the Bardilas spouses) may rightfully compel the petitioners-appellees to pay to them the value of the land upon which a portion of their (petitioners-appellees) house encroaches, and in case the petitioners-appellees fail to pay, the appellants may remove or demolish the encroaching portion of the petitioners-appellees' house. xxxxThe second issue concerns the award of attorney's fees. Relying on Bernardo v. Court of Appeals, (Special Sixth Division),56 the petitioners argue that the CA erred "in awarding attorney's fees to the appellants after eliminating or refusing to award moral and exemplary damages;"57 that the CA did not make any finding to the effect "that the appellants were compelled to litigate with third persons or to incur expenses to protect their interest;"58 and that, consequently, the grant of attorneys' fees to the Spouses Bardillas lacked legal basis.
Art. 2208. In the absence of stipulation, attorney's fees and expenses of litigation, other than judicial costs, cannot be recovered, except:In Philippine National Construction Corporation v. APAC Marketing Corporation,59 the Court opined that whenever attorney's fees are granted, the basis for the grant must be clearly expressed in the judgment of the court. It expounded on why this is so:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
chanRoblesvirtualLawlibrary(1) When exemplary damages is awarded;
(2) When the defendant's act or omission has compelled the plaintiff to litigate with third persons or incur expenses to protect his interest;
(3) In criminal cases of malicious prosecution against the plaintiff;
(4) In case of a clearly unfounded civil case or proceeding against the plaintiff;
(5) Where the defendant acted in gross and evident bad faith in refusing to satisfy the plaintiffs plainly valid, just and demandable claim;
(6) In actions for legal support;
(7) In actions for the recovery of wages of household helpers, laborers and skilled workers;
(8) In actions for indemnity under workmen's compensation and employer's liability laws;
(9) In a separate civil action to recover civil liability arising from a crime;
(10) When at least double judicial costs are awarded;
(11) In any other case where the court deems it just and equitable that attorney's fees and expenses of litigation should be recovered.
In all cases, the attorney's fees and expenses of litigation must be reasonable.
In ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corp. v. CA, this Court had the occasion to expound on the policy behind the grant of attorney's fees as actual or compensatory damages:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibraryIn awarding attorney's fees, the CA relied on Article 2208 (11) of the Civil Code. The exercise of the discretion to allow attorney's fees must likewise be justified. In Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. v. Margarine-Verkaufs-Union,60 the Court said:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary(T)he law is clear the in the absence of stipulation, attorney's fees may be recovered as actual or compensatory damages under any of the circumstance provided for in Article 2208 of the Civil Code.In Benedicto v. Villafores, we explained the reason behind the need for the courts to arrive upon an actual finding to serve as basis for a grant of attorney's fees, considering the dual concept of these fees as ordinary and extraordinary:ChanRoblesVirtualawlibrary
The general rule is that attorney's fees cannot be recovered as part of damages because of the policy that no premium should be placed on the right to litigate. They are not to be awarded every time a party wins a suit. The power of the court to award attorney's fees under Article 2208 demands factual, legal, and equitable justification. Even when a claimant is compelled to litigate with third persons or to incur expenses to protect his rights, still attorney's fees may not be awarded where no sufficient showing of bad faith could be reflected in a party's persistence in a case other than an erroneous conviction of the righteousness of his cause.It is settled that the award of attorney's fees is the exception rather than the general rule; counsel's fees are not awarded every time a party prevails in a suit because of the policy that no premium should be placed on the right to litigate. Attorney's fees, as part of damages, are not necessarily equated to the amount paid by a litigant to a lawyer. In the ordinary sense, attorney's fees represent the reasonable compensation paid to a lawyer by his client for the legal services he has rendered to the latter; while in its extraordinary concept, they may be awarded by the court as indemnity for damages to be paid by the losing party to the prevailing party. Attorney's fees as part of damages are awarded only in the instances specified in Article 2208 of the Civil Code. As such, it is necessary for the court to make findings of fact and law that would bring the case within the ambit of these enumerated instances to justify the grant of such award, and in all cases it must be reasonable.We can glean from the above ruling that attorney's lees are not awarded as a matter of course every time a party wins. We do not put a premium on the right to litigate. On occasions that those fees are awarded, the basis for the grant must be clearly expressed in the decision of the court.
Insofar as the present case is concerned, the lower court made no finding that it fells within any of the exceptions that would justify the award of attorney's fees, such as gross and evident bad faith in refusing to satisfy a plainly valid, just and demandable claim. Even under the broad eleventh exception of the cited article which allows the imposition of attorney's fees "in any other case where the court deems it just and equitable that attorney's fees and expenses in litigation should be recovered," the Court stressed in Buan, supra, that "the conclusion must be borne out by findings of facts and law. What is just and equitable in a given case is not a mere matter of feeling but of demonstration. . . . Hence, the exercise of judicial discretion in the award of attorney's fees under Article 2208 (11) of the Civil Code demands a factual, legal or equitable justification upon the basis of which the court exercises its discretion. Without such justification, the award is a conclusion without a premise, its basis being improperly left to speculation and conjecture." The summary award of counsel's fees made in the appealed judgment must therefore be set aside.Considering that the decision of the CA does not express any justification other than stating that attorney's fees were being awarded to the respondents "pursuant to paragraph 11 of Article 2208 of the New Civil Code" the award by the CA must be set aside; otherwise, attorney's fees would be turned into a premium on the right to litigate, which is prohibited. Moreover, attorney's fees, being in the nature of actual damages, should be based on the facts on record and the Court must delineate the legal reason for such award.61chanrobleslaw
Endnotes:
1 Article 630, Civil Code.
2 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-13384, p. 33.
3 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-12783, p. 59.
4 Id. at 61.
5 Id. at 63.
6 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-13384, p. 35.
7Rollo, p. 29.
8 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-12783, p. 39.
9Rollo, p. 86.
10 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-12783, p. 65.
11 Id. at 66.
12 Id. at 67.
13 Id. at 1.
14 Id. at 2.
15 Id. at 4.
16 Id. at 22-34.
17 Id. at 37.
18 Id. at 36.
19 Id. at 68.
20 Id. at 24.
21 Id. at 81.
22 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-13384, p. 18.
23 Id. at 49.
24 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-12783, pp. 190-191.
25cralawred Id. at 192-196.
26 Id. at 198.
27 Id. at 199-200.
28 Id. at 201.
29 Id. at 192.
30 Id. at 204-206.
31 Id. at 207-208.
32 CA rollo, pp. 33-34.
33 Id. at 37-38; penned by Associate Justice Perlita J. Tirona (retired), and concurred in by Associate Justice Roberto A. Barrios (retired/deceased), and Associate Justice Edgardo F. Sundiam (retired/deceased).
34 Id. at 41.
35 Id. at 43.
36 Id. at 44.
37 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-12783, p. 108.
38 CA rollo, p. 43.
39 Id. at 44.
40 Id. at 46.
41 Id. at 19.
42 Id. at 20-21.
43 G.R. No. 175510, July 28, 2008, 560 SCRA 332, 337-338.
44Bogo-Medellin Milling Co., Inc. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 124699, July 31, 2003, 407 SCRA 518, 526.
45Costabella Corporation v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 80511, January 25, 1992, 193 SCRA 333, 339; Ronquillo v. Roco, 103 Phil. 84 (1958); Cuaycong v. Benedicto, 37 Phil. 781 (1919).
46II Tolentino, Commentaries and Jurisprudence on the Civil Code of the Philippines, 1992, p. 361.
47 Exhibit "2" for respondents, RTC records for Civil Case No. CEB-12783, p. 37.
48Casimiro Development Corporation v. Renato L. Mateo, G.R. No. 175485, July 27, 2011, 654 SCRA 676, 685-686.
49 Id.
50Notarte v. Notarte, G.R. No. 180614, August 29, 2012, 679 SCRA 378; Heirs of Anastacio Fabela v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 142546, August 9, 2001, 362 SCRA 531.
51 Records, Civil Case No. CEB-12783, p. 38.
52 Id. at 61.
53 Exhibit "C" for Petitioners (Also Exhibit "14" for Respondents). RTC Records of Civil Case No CEB-12783, p. 63.
54Borbajo v. Hidden View Homeowners, Inc., G.R. No. 152440, January 31, 2005, 450 SCRA 315, 325.
55Rollo, p. 36.
56 G.R. No. 106153, July 14, 1997, 275 SCRA 413, 432.
57Rollo, p. 21.
58 Id.
59 G.R. No. 190957, June 5, 2013, 697 SCRA 441, 449-450.
60 No. L-31087, September 27, 1979, 93 SCRA 257, 262; The Congregation of the Religious of the Virgin Mary v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 126363, June 26, 1998, 291 SCRA 385; Refractories Corporation of the Philippines v. Intermediate Appellate Court, G.R. No. 70839, August 17, 1989, 176 SCRA 539.
61Car Cool Philippines, Inc. v. Ushio Realty and Development Corporation, G.R. No. 138088, January 23, 2006, 479 SCRA 404, 414.