Case Digest: Megan vs. RTC of Iloilo
G.R. No. 193840 : June 15, 2011
MEGAN SUGAR CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF ILOILO, BRANCH 68, DUMANGAS, ILOILO; NEW FRONTIER SUGAR CORP. AND EQUITABLE PCI BANK, Respondents.
PERALTA, J.:
FACTS:
Respondent New Frontier Sugar Corporation (NFSC) obtained a loan from respondent Equitable PCI Bank (EPCIB) which was secured by a real estate mortgage over NFSC land consisting of ninety-two (92) hectares located in Passi City, Iloilo, and a chattel mortgage over NFSC sugar mill.
NFSC subsequently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Central Iloilo Milling Corporation (CIMICO), whereby the latter agreed to take-over the operation and management of the NFSC raw sugar factory and facilities.
NFSC filed a compliant for specific performance and collection against CIMICO for the latter failure to pay its obligations under the MOA.
CIMICO filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Dumangas, Iloilo, Branch 68, a case against NFSC for sum of money and/or breach of contract. For NFSC failure to pay its debt, EPCIB instituted extra-judicial foreclosure proceedings over NFSC land and sugar mill. During public auction, EPCIB was the sole bidder and was thus able to buy the entire property and consolidate the titles in its name.
The RTC issued a restraining order, directing EPCIB and PISA to desist from taking possession over the property in dispute. Hence, CIMICO was able to continue its possession over the property.
CIMICO and petitioner Megan Sugar Corporation (MEGAN) entered into a MOA whereby MEGAN assumed CIMICO rights, interests and obligations over the property.
During the hearing on the motion for intervention, Atty. Reuben Mikhail Sabig (Atty. Sabig) appeared before the RTC and entered his appearance as counsel for MEGAN.Several counsels objected to Atty. Sabig appearance since MEGAN was not a party to the proceedings; however, Atty. Sabig explained to the court that MEGAN had purchased the interest of CIMICO and manifested that his statements would bind MEGAN./span>
In denying MEGAN petition, the CA ruled that since Atty. Sabig had actively participated before the RTC, MEGAN was already estopped from assailing the RTC jurisdiction.
ISSUE: Whether Atty. Sabig is the agent of MEGAN and is thus estopped from assailing the jurisdiction of the RTC.
HELD: YES.
CIVIL LAW: Doctrine of Estoppel, Relationship of Principal and Agent
After a judicial examination of the records pertinent to the case at bar, this Court agrees with the finding of the CA that MEGAN is already estopped from assailing the jurisdiction of the RTC./span>
The doctrine of estoppel is based upon the grounds of public policy, fair dealing, good faith and justice, and its purpose is to forbid one to speak against his own act, representations, or commitments to the injury of one to whom they were directed and who reasonably relied thereon.The doctrine of estoppel springs from equitable principles and the equities in the case. It is designed to aid the law in the administration of justice where without its aid injustice might result. It has been applied by this Court wherever and whenever special circumstances of a case so demand.
Based on the events and circumstances surrounding the issuance of the assailed orders, this Court rules that MEGAN is estopped from assailing both the authority of Atty. Sabig and the jurisdiction of the RTC. While it is true, as claimed by MEGAN, that Atty. Sabig said in court that he was only appearing for the hearing of Passi Sugar motion for intervention and not for the case itself, his subsequent acts, coupled with MEGAN inaction and negligence to repudiate his authority, effectively bars MEGAN from assailing the validity of the RTC proceedings under the principle of estoppel.
MEGAN can no longer deny the authority of Atty. Sabig as they have already clothed him with apparent authority to act in their behalf. It must be remembered that when Atty. Sabig entered his appearance, he was accompanied by Concha, MEGAN director and general manager.Concha himself attended several court hearings, and on December 17, 2002, even sent a letter to the RTC asking for the status of the case. A corporation may be held in estoppel from denying as against innocent third persons the authority of its officers or agents who have been clothed by it with ostensible or apparent authority. Atty. Sabig may not have been armed with a board resolution, but the appearance of Concha made the parties assume that MEGAN had knowledge of Atty. Sabig actions and, thus, clothed Atty. Sabig with apparent authority such that the parties were made to believe that the proper person and entity to address was Atty. Sabig. Apparent authority, or what is sometimes referred to as the "holding out" theory, or doctrine of ostensible agency, imposes liability, not as the result of the reality of a contractual relationship, but rather because of the actions of a principal or an employer in somehow misleading the public into believing that the relationship or the authority exists.
One of the instances of estoppel is when the principal has clothed the agent with indicia of authority as to lead a reasonably prudent person to believe that the agent actually has such authority. With the case of MEGAN, it had all the opportunity to repudiate the authority of Atty. Sabig since all motions, pleadings and court orders were sent to MEGAN office. However, MEGAN never questioned the acts of Atty. Sabig and even took time and effort to forward all the court documents to him.
To this Court mind, MEGAN cannot feign knowledge of the acts of Atty. Sabig, as MEGAN was aware from the very beginning that CIMICO was involved in an on-going litigation.
PETITION DENIED.
MEGAN SUGAR CORPORATION, Petitioner, v. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF ILOILO, BRANCH 68, DUMANGAS, ILOILO; NEW FRONTIER SUGAR CORP. AND EQUITABLE PCI BANK, Respondents.
PERALTA, J.:
FACTS:
Respondent New Frontier Sugar Corporation (NFSC) obtained a loan from respondent Equitable PCI Bank (EPCIB) which was secured by a real estate mortgage over NFSC land consisting of ninety-two (92) hectares located in Passi City, Iloilo, and a chattel mortgage over NFSC sugar mill.
NFSC subsequently entered into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Central Iloilo Milling Corporation (CIMICO), whereby the latter agreed to take-over the operation and management of the NFSC raw sugar factory and facilities.
NFSC filed a compliant for specific performance and collection against CIMICO for the latter failure to pay its obligations under the MOA.
CIMICO filed with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Dumangas, Iloilo, Branch 68, a case against NFSC for sum of money and/or breach of contract. For NFSC failure to pay its debt, EPCIB instituted extra-judicial foreclosure proceedings over NFSC land and sugar mill. During public auction, EPCIB was the sole bidder and was thus able to buy the entire property and consolidate the titles in its name.
The RTC issued a restraining order, directing EPCIB and PISA to desist from taking possession over the property in dispute. Hence, CIMICO was able to continue its possession over the property.
CIMICO and petitioner Megan Sugar Corporation (MEGAN) entered into a MOA whereby MEGAN assumed CIMICO rights, interests and obligations over the property.
During the hearing on the motion for intervention, Atty. Reuben Mikhail Sabig (Atty. Sabig) appeared before the RTC and entered his appearance as counsel for MEGAN.Several counsels objected to Atty. Sabig appearance since MEGAN was not a party to the proceedings; however, Atty. Sabig explained to the court that MEGAN had purchased the interest of CIMICO and manifested that his statements would bind MEGAN./span>
In denying MEGAN petition, the CA ruled that since Atty. Sabig had actively participated before the RTC, MEGAN was already estopped from assailing the RTC jurisdiction.
ISSUE: Whether Atty. Sabig is the agent of MEGAN and is thus estopped from assailing the jurisdiction of the RTC.
HELD: YES.
CIVIL LAW: Doctrine of Estoppel, Relationship of Principal and Agent
After a judicial examination of the records pertinent to the case at bar, this Court agrees with the finding of the CA that MEGAN is already estopped from assailing the jurisdiction of the RTC./span>
The doctrine of estoppel is based upon the grounds of public policy, fair dealing, good faith and justice, and its purpose is to forbid one to speak against his own act, representations, or commitments to the injury of one to whom they were directed and who reasonably relied thereon.The doctrine of estoppel springs from equitable principles and the equities in the case. It is designed to aid the law in the administration of justice where without its aid injustice might result. It has been applied by this Court wherever and whenever special circumstances of a case so demand.
Based on the events and circumstances surrounding the issuance of the assailed orders, this Court rules that MEGAN is estopped from assailing both the authority of Atty. Sabig and the jurisdiction of the RTC. While it is true, as claimed by MEGAN, that Atty. Sabig said in court that he was only appearing for the hearing of Passi Sugar motion for intervention and not for the case itself, his subsequent acts, coupled with MEGAN inaction and negligence to repudiate his authority, effectively bars MEGAN from assailing the validity of the RTC proceedings under the principle of estoppel.
MEGAN can no longer deny the authority of Atty. Sabig as they have already clothed him with apparent authority to act in their behalf. It must be remembered that when Atty. Sabig entered his appearance, he was accompanied by Concha, MEGAN director and general manager.Concha himself attended several court hearings, and on December 17, 2002, even sent a letter to the RTC asking for the status of the case. A corporation may be held in estoppel from denying as against innocent third persons the authority of its officers or agents who have been clothed by it with ostensible or apparent authority. Atty. Sabig may not have been armed with a board resolution, but the appearance of Concha made the parties assume that MEGAN had knowledge of Atty. Sabig actions and, thus, clothed Atty. Sabig with apparent authority such that the parties were made to believe that the proper person and entity to address was Atty. Sabig. Apparent authority, or what is sometimes referred to as the "holding out" theory, or doctrine of ostensible agency, imposes liability, not as the result of the reality of a contractual relationship, but rather because of the actions of a principal or an employer in somehow misleading the public into believing that the relationship or the authority exists.
One of the instances of estoppel is when the principal has clothed the agent with indicia of authority as to lead a reasonably prudent person to believe that the agent actually has such authority. With the case of MEGAN, it had all the opportunity to repudiate the authority of Atty. Sabig since all motions, pleadings and court orders were sent to MEGAN office. However, MEGAN never questioned the acts of Atty. Sabig and even took time and effort to forward all the court documents to him.
To this Court mind, MEGAN cannot feign knowledge of the acts of Atty. Sabig, as MEGAN was aware from the very beginning that CIMICO was involved in an on-going litigation.
PETITION DENIED.
