Government service insurance system

(GSIS), G.R. No. 167000

Petitioner,

- versus -

group management corporation (GMC)

and lapu-lapu development & HOUSING
corporation (LLDHc),

Respondents.

x-----------------------x

GROUP MANAGEMENT
CORPORATION (GMC),

Petitioner,

- versus -

lapu-lapu development & HOUSING

corporation (LLDHc) and Government
service insurance system (GSIS),

Respondents.
G.R. No. 169971
 Present:

CORONA, C.J.,
Chairperson,

VELASCO, JR.,

LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,

DEL CASTILLO, and

PEREZ, JJ.

Promulgated:

June 8, 2011

x----------------------------------------------------x

DECISION
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, J.:

At bar are two consolidated Petitions for Review on Certiorari concerning

78 parcels of land located in Barrio Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City. The parties in
both cases have been in litigation over these lots for the last two decades in what
seems to be an endless exercise of filing repetitious suits before the Court of
Appeals and even this Court, questioning the various decisions and resolutions
issued by the two separate trial courts involved. With this decision, it is intended
that all legal disputes among the parties concerned, particularly over all the issues
involved in these cases, will finally come to an end

In the Petition in G.R. No. 167000, the Government Service Insurance

System (GSIS) seeks to reverse and set aside the November 25, 2004 Decision1[1]
and January 20, 2005 Resolution2[2] of the Twentieth Division of the Court of
Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 85096 and to annul and set aside the March 11,
20043[3] and May 7, 20044[4] Orders of the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Lapu-
Lapu City (Lapu-Lapu RTC) in Civil Case No. 2203-L.

1[1] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 36-60; penned by Associate Justice Isaias P. Dicdican with
Associate Justices Sesinado E. Villon and Ramon M. Bato, Jr., concurring.

2[2] Id. at 61-62.

3[3] Id. at 691-693.

 In the Petition in G.R. No. 169971, Group Management Corporation (GMC)
seeks to reverse and set aside the September 23, 2005 Decision5[5] in CA-G.R. SP
No. 84382 wherein the Special Nineteenth Division of the Court of Appeals
annulled and set aside the March 11, 2004 Order of the Lapu-Lapu RTC in Civil
Case No. 2203-L.

Both these cases stem from the same undisputed factual antecedents as
follows:

Lapu-Lapu Development & Housing Corporation6[6] (LLDHC) was the

registered owner of seventy-eight (78) lots (subject lots), situated in Barrio
Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City.

On February 4, 1974, LLDHC and the GSIS entered into a Project and Loan
Agreement for the development of the subject lots. GSIS agreed to extend a
Twenty-Five Million Peso-loan (P25,000,000.00) to LLDHC, and in return,
LLDHC will develop, subdivide, and sell its lots to GSIS members. To secure the

4[4] Id. at 695-696.

5[5] Rollo (G.R. No. 169971), pp. 583-601; penned by Associate Justice Vicente L. Yap with
Associate Justices Arsenio J. Magpale and Enrico A. Lanzanas, concurring.

6[6] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), p. 361; formerly known as B.C. Sunga Realty, Inc.
payment of the loan, LLDHC executed a real estate mortgage over the subject lots
in favor of GSIS.

For LLDHCs failure to fulfill its obligations, GSIS foreclosed the mortgage.
As the lone bidder in the public auction sale, GSIS acquired the subject lots, and
eventually was able to consolidate its ownership over the subject lots with the
corresponding transfer certificates of title (TCTs) issued in its name.

On November 19, 1979, GMC offered to purchase on installments the

subject lots from GSIS for a total price of One Million One Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P1,100,000.00), with the aggregate area specified as 423,177 square meters.
GSIS accepted the offer and on February 26, 1980, executed a Deed of Conditional
Sale over the subject lots. However, when GMC discovered that the total area of
the subject lots was only 298,504 square meters, it wrote GSIS and proposed to
proportionately reduce the purchase price to conform to the actual total area of the
subject lots. GSIS approved this proposal and an Amendment to the Deed of
Conditional Sale was executed to reflect the final sales agreement between GSIS
and GMC.

On April 23, 1980, LLDHC filed a complaint for Annulment of Foreclosure

with Writ of Mandatory Injunction against GSIS before the RTC of Manila
(Manila RTC). This became Civil Case No. R-82-34297[7] and was assigned to
Branch 38.

On November 3, 1989, GMC filed its own complaint against GSIS for
Specific Performance with Damages before the Lapu-Lapu RTC. The complaint
was docketed as Civil Case No. 2203-L and it sought to compel GSIS to execute a
Final Deed of Sale over the subject lots since the purchase price had already been
fully paid by GMC. GSIS, in defense, submitted to the court a Commission on
Audit (COA) Memorandum dated April 3, 1989, purportedly disallowing in audit
the sale of the subject lots for apparent inherent irregularities, the sale price to
GMC being lower than GSISs purchase price at the public auction. LLDHC,
having been allowed to intervene, filed a Motion to Dismiss GMCs complaint.
When this motion was denied, LLDHC filed its Answer-in-Intervention and
participated in the ensuing proceedings as an intervenor.

GMC, on February 1, 1992, filed its own Motion to Intervene with a

Complaint-in-Intervention in Civil Case No. R-82-3429. This was dismissed on
February 17, 1992 and finally denied on March 23, 1992 by the Manila RTC on the
ground that GMC can protect its interest in another proceeding.8[8]

7[7] Id. at 701; originally docketed as Civil Case No. 131332, it was re-docketed as Civil Case
No. R-82-3429 and assigned to Branch 38 of the RTC of Manila.

8[8] Id. at 63-79.

 On February 24, 1992, after a full-blown trial, the Lapu-Lapu RTC rendered
its Decision9[9] in Civil Case No. 2203-L, the dispositive portion of which reads:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered ordering defendant to:

1. Execute the final deed of absolute sale and deliver the seventy-
eight (78) certificates of title covering said seventy-eight (78) parcels of land to
the [Group Management Corporation (GMC)];

2. Pay [GMC] actual damages, plus attorneys fees and expenses of

litigation, in the amount of P285,638.88 and P100,000.00 exemplary damages;

3. [D]ismissing in toto intervenors complaint-in-intervention for lack

of evidence of legal standing and legal interest in the suit, as well as failure to
substantiate any cause of action against either [GMC] or [GSIS].10[10]

In deciding in favor of GMC, the Lapu-Lapu RTC held that there existed a
valid and binding sales contract between GSIS and GMC, which GSIS could not
continue to ignore without any justifiable reason especially since GMC had already
fully complied with its obligations. 11[11]

The Lapu-Lapu RTC found GSISs invocation of COAs alleged disapproval

of the sale belated and self-serving. The Lapu-Lapu RTC said that COA, in
disapproving GSISs sale of the subject lots to GMC, violated its own circular

9[9] Id. at 79.

10[10] Id.

11[11] Id. at 68-69.

which excludes the disposal by a government owned and/or controlled corporation
of its acquired assets (e.g., foreclosed assets or collaterals acquired in the regular
course of business).12[12] The Lapu-Lapu RTC also held that COA may not
intrude into GSISs charter-granted power to dispose of its acquired assets within
five years from acquisition by preventing/aborting the sale in question by refusing
to pass it in audit.13[13] Moreover, the Lapu-Lapu RTC held that the GSIS-
proferred COA Memorandum was inadmissible in evidence not only because as a
mere photocopy it failed to measure up to the best evidence rule under the Revised
Rules of Court, but also because no one from COA, not even the auditor who
supposedly prepared it, was ever presented to testify to the veracity of its contents
or its due execution.14[14]

In dismissing LLDHCs complaint-in-intervention, the Lapu-Lapu RTC held

that LLDHC failed to prove its legal personality as a party-intervenor and all it was
able to establish was a suggestion of right for [GSIS] to renege [on] the sale for
reasons peculiar to [GSIS] but not transmissible nor subject to invocation by
[LLDHC].15[15]

12[12] Id. at 72.

13[13] Id. at 73.

14[14] Id. at 73-74.

15[15] Id. at 78.

 LLDHC and GSIS filed their separate Notices of Appeal but these were
dismissed by the Lapu-Lapu RTC on December 6, 1993.16[16]

On May 10, 1994, the Manila RTC rendered a Decision17[17] in Civil Case
No. R-82-3429. The Manila RTC held that GSIS was unable to prove the alleged
violations committed by LLDHC to warrant the foreclosure of the mortgage over
the subject lots. Thus, the Manila RTC annulled the foreclosure made by GSIS and
ordered LLDHC to pay GSIS the balance of its loan with interest, to wit:

WHEREFORE, judgment is hereby rendered:

1. ANNULLING the foreclosure by the defendant GSIS of the mortgage

over the seventy-eight (78) parcels of land here involved:

2. CANCELLING the consolidated certificates of [title] issued in the

name of GSIS and directing the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City to issue new
certificates of [title] over those seventy-eight (78) parcels of land in the name of
the plaintiff, in exactly the same condition as they were before the foreclosure;

3. ORDERING the plaintiff to pay the GSIS the amount of

P9,200,000.00 with interest thereon at the rate of twelve (12%) percent per annum
commencing from October 12, 1989 until fully paid; and

4. ORDERING defendant GSIS to execute a properly registrable release

of discharge of mortgage over the parcels of land here involved after full payment
of such amount by the plaintiff.

All claims and counterclaims by the parties as against each other are hereby dismissed.

16[16] Id. at 352-353.

17[17] Id. at 80-88.

 No pronouncement as to costs.18[18]

Armed with the Manila RTC decision, LLDHC, on July 27, 1994, filed
before the Court of Appeals a Petition for Annulment of Judgment of the Lapu-
Lapu RTC Decision in Civil Case No. 2203-L.19[19] LLDHC alleged that the
Manila RTC decision nullified the sale of the subject lots to GMC and
consequently, the Lapu-Lapu RTC decision was also nullified.

This petition, docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 34696, was dismissed by the

Court of Appeals on December 29, 1994.20[20] The Court of Appeals, in finding
that the grounds LLDHC relied on were without merit, said:

In fine, there being no showing from the allegations of the petition that the
respondent court is without jurisdiction over the subject matter and of the parties
in Civil Case No. 2309 [2203-L], petitioner has no cause of action for the
annulment of judgment. The complaint must allege ultimate facts for the
annulment of the decision (Avendana v. Bautista, 142 SCRA 41). We find none in
this case.21[21]

18[18] Id. at 87-88.

19[19] Id. at 370-380.

20[20] Id. at 381-392.

21[21] Id. at 391.

 No appeal having been taken by LLDHC, the decision of the Court of
Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 34696 became final and executory on January 28,
1995, as stated in the Entry of Final Judgment dated August 18, 1995.22[22]

On February 2, 1995, LLDHC filed before this Court a Petition for

Certiorari23[23] docketed as G.R. No. 118633. LLDHC, in seeking to annul the
February 24, 1992 Decision of the Lapu-Lapu RTC, again alleged that the Manila
RTC Decision nullified the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision.

Finding the petition a mere reproduction of the Petition for Annulment filed
before the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 34696, this Court, in a
Resolution24[24] dated September 6, 1996, dismissed the petition in this wise:

In a last ditch attempt to annul the February 24, 1992 Decision of the
respondent court, this petition was brought before us on February 2, 1995.

Dismissal of this petition is inevitable.

The instant petition which is captioned, For: Certiorari With Preliminary

Injunction, is actually another Petition for Annulment of Judgment of the
February 24, 1992 Decision of the respondent Regional Trial Court of Lapu-lapu
City, Branch 27 in Civil Case No. 2203-L. A close perusal of this petition as well
as the Petition for Annulment of Judgment brought by the petitioner before the
Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 34696 reveals that the instant petition is a
mere reproduction of the petition/complaint filed before the appellate tribunal for

22[22] Id. at 393.

23[23] Id. at 394-403.

24[24] Id. at 452-462.

 annulment of judgment. Paragraphs two (2) to eighteen (18) of this petition were
copied verbatim from the Petition for Annulment of Judgment earlier filed in the
court a quo, except for the designation of the parties thereto, i.e., plaintiff was
changed to petitioner, defendant to respondent. In fact, even the prayer in this
petition is the same prayer in the Petition for Annulment of Judgment dismissed
by the Court of Appeals, x x x.

xxxx

Under Section 9(2) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as The
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, it is the Court of Appeals (then the
Intermediate Appellate Court), and not this Court, which has jurisdiction to annul
judgments of Regional Trial Courts, viz:

SEC. 9. Jurisdiction -- The Intermediate Appellate Court

shall exercise:

xxxx

(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for

annulment of judgments of Regional Trial Courts; and

xxxx

Thus, this Court apparently has no jurisdiction to entertain a petition

which is evidently another petition to annul the February 24, 1992 Decision of the
respondent Branch 27, Regional Trial Court of Lapu-lapu City, it appearing that
jurisdiction thereto properly pertains to the Court of Appeals. Such a petition was
brought before the appellate court, but due to petitioners failure to nullify Judge
Risos Decision in said forum, LLDHC, apparently at a loss as to what legal
remedy to take, brought the instant petition under the guise of a petition for
certiorari under Rule 65 seeking once again to annul the judgment of Branch 27.

Instead of filing this petition for certiorari under Rule 65, which is
essentially another Petition to Annul Judgment, petitioner LLDHC should have
filed a timely Petition for Review under Rule 45 of the Revised Rules of Court of
the decision of the Court of Appeals, dated December 29, 1994, dismissing the
Petition for Annulment of Judgment filed by the petitioner LLDHC before the
court a quo. But, this is all academic now. The appellate courts decision had
become final and executory on January 28, 1995.25[25]

25[25] Id. at 456-458.

 Despite such pronouncements, this Court, nevertheless, passed upon the
merits of LLDHCs Petition for Certiorari in G.R. No. 118633. This Court said that
the petition, which was truly for annulment of judgment,26[26] cannot prosper
because the two grounds on which a judgment may be annulled were not present in
the case.27[27] Going further, this Court held that even if the petition were to be
given due course as a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of the Revised Rules of
Court, it would still be dismissible for not being brought within a reasonable period
of time as it took LLDHC almost three years from the time it received the February
24, 1992 decision until the time it brought this action.28[28]

LLDHCs motion for reconsideration was denied with finality29[29] on

November 18, 1996, and on February 18, 1997, an Entry of Judgment30[30] was
made certifying that the September 6, 1996 Resolution of this Court in G.R. No.
118633 had become final and executory on December 23, 1996.

Consequently, on November 28, 1996, the Lapu-Lapu RTC issued an

Order31[31] directing the execution of the judgment in Civil Case No. 2203-L. A

26[26] Id. at 458.

27[27] Id. at 458-459.

28[28] Id. at 460-461.

29[29] Id. at 463.

30[30] Id. at 464-465.

31[31] Id. at 467.

corresponding Writ of Execution32[32] was issued on December 17, 1996. The
Motions to Stay Execution filed by LLDHC and GSIS were denied by the Lapu-
Lapu RTC on February 19, 1997.33[33]

Meanwhile, on December 27, 1996, the Court of Appeals rendered a

Decision34[34] in the separate appeals taken by GSIS and LLDHC from the May
10, 1994 Manila RTC Decision in Civil Case No. R-82-3429. This case, docketed
as CA-G.R. CV No. 49117, affirmed the Manila RTC decision with modification
insofar as awarding LLDHC attorneys fees and litigation expenses.

On March 3, 1997, GSIS came to this Court on a Petition for Review of the
Court of Appeals decision in CA-G.R. CV No. 49117. This was docketed as G.R.
No. 127732 and was dismissed on April 14, 199735[35] due to late filing, the due
date being January 31, 1997. This dismissal became final and executory on May
30, 1997.36[36]

32[32] Id. at 468-469.

33[33] Id. at 472.

34[34] CA rollo, pp. 41-50.

35[35] Id. at 51.

36[36] Id.
 On March 8, 1997, LLDHC filed a Petition for Certiorari with preliminary
injunction before the Court of Appeals, praying that GMC and the Lapu-Lapu RTC
be ordered to cease and desist from proceeding with the execution of its Decision
in Civil Case No. 2203-L, on the theory that the Manila RTC decision was a
supervening event which made it mandatory for the Lapu-Lapu RTC to stop the
execution of its decision. This case was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 44052. On
July 16, 1997, the Court of Appeals issued an Order temporarily restraining the
Lapu-Lapu RTC and GMC from executing the February 24, 1992 decision in Civil
Case No. 2203-L so as not to render the resolution of the case moot and
academic.37[37]

On July 21, 1997, because of GSISs continued refusal to implement the

December 17, 1996 Writ of Execution, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, upon GMCs motion,
issued an Order38[38] redirecting its instructions to the Register of Deeds of Lapu-
Lapu City, to wit:

WHEREFORE, the defendant GSIS having refused to implement the

Order of this Court dated December 17, 1996 the Court in accordance with Rule
39, Sec. 10-a of the 1997 Rules of Procedure, hereby directs the Register of Deeds
of Lapu-lapu City to cancel the Transfer Certificate of Titles of the properties
involved in this case and to issue new ones in the name of the plaintiff and to
deliver the same to the latter within ten (10) days after this Order shall have
become final.39[39]

37[37] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), p. 622.

38[38] Id. at 474-475.

39[39] Id.
 While the TRO issued by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 44052
was in effect, the Manila RTC, on August 1, 1997, issued a Writ of
Execution40[40] of its judgment in Civil Case No. R-82-3429. On August 7, 1997,
the Sheriff implemented the Writ and ordered the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu
City to cancel the consolidated certificates of title issued in the name of GSIS and
to issue new ones in favor of LLDHC. In conformity with the TRO, the Lapu-Lapu
RTC on August 19, 1997, ordered41[41] the suspension of its July 21, 1997 Order.
With no similar restraining order against the execution of the Manila RTC
Decision, a Writ of Possession was issued on August 21, 1997 to cause GSIS and
all persons claiming rights under it to vacate the properties in question and to place
LLDHC in peaceful possession thereof.42[42]

On October 23, 1997, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, being aware of the events that
have taken place while the TRO was in effect, issued an Order43[43] reiterating its
previous Orders of November 28, 1996, December 17, 1996, and July 21, 1997.
The Lapu-Lapu RTC held that since the restraining order issued by the Court of
Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 44052 had already lapsed by operation of law, and the
February 24, 1992 Decision in Civil Case No. 2203-L had not only become final
and executory but had been affirmed and upheld by both the Court of Appeals and

40[40] Id. at 477-478.

41[41] Id. at 486.

42[42] Id. at 479-480.

43[43] Id. at 484-486.

this Court, the inescapable mandate was to give due course to the efficacy of its
decision. The Lapu-Lapu RTC thus directed the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu
City to effect the transfer of the titles to the subject lots in favor of GMC and
declared any and all acts done by the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City null and
void starting with the surreptitious issuance of the new certificates of title in the
name of [LLDHC], contrary to its decision and orders.44[44]

On November 13, 1997, LLDHC filed before the Court of Appeals another
Petition for Certiorari with preliminary injunction and motion to consolidate with
CA-G.R. SP No. 44052. This case was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 45946, but
was dismissed45[45] on November 20, 1997 for LLDHCs failure to comply with
Section 1, Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure which requires the petition
to be accompanied by, among others, copies of all pleadings and documents
relevant and pertinent thereto.46[46]

The petition in CA-G.R. SP No. 44052 would likewise be dismissed47[47]

by the Court of Appeals on January 9, 1998, but this time, on the merits, to wit:

44[44] Id. at 486.

45[45] Id. at 513.

46[46] Id.

47[47] Id. at 504-508.

 The validity of the decision of the respondent judge in Civil Case No.
2303-L has thus been brought both before this Court and to the Supreme Court by
the petitioner. In both instances the respondent judge has been upheld. The instant
petition is petitioners latest attempt to resist the implementation or execution of
that decision using as a shield a decision of a Regional Trial Court in the National
Capital Region. We are not prepared to allow it. The applicable rule and
jurisprudence are clear. The prevailing party is entitled as a matter of right to a
writ of execution, and the issuance thereof is a ministerial duty compellable by
mandamus. We do not believe that there exists in this instance a supervening
event which would justify a deviation from this rule.48[48]

Prior to this, however, on November 28, 1997, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, acting
on GMCs Omnibus Motion, made the following orders: for LLDHC to show cause
why it should not be declared in contempt; for a writ of preliminary prohibitory
injunction to be issued to restrain all persons acting on LLDHCs orders from
carrying out such orders in defiance of its final and executory judgment; and for a
writ of preliminary mandatory injunction to be issued to direct the ouster of
LLDHC. The Lapu-Lapu RTC also declared the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu
City in contempt and directed the Office of the City Sheriff to implement the above
orders and to immediately detain and confine the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu
City at the City Jail if he continues to refuse to transfer the titles of the subject lots
after ten days from receipt of this order.49[49]

On December 22, 1997, the Lapu-Lapu RTC denied50[50] the motion for
reconsideration filed by the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City. In separate

48[48] Id. at 507.

49[49] Id. at 490-498.

50[50] Id. at 503.

motions, LLDHC, and again the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City, sought the
reconsideration of the November 28, 1997 and December 22, 1997 Orders. On
May 27, 1998, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, acting under a new judge,51[51] granted both
motions and accordingly set aside the November 28, 1997 and December 22, 1997
Orders.52[52]

With the denial53[53] of its motion for reconsideration on August 4, 1998,

GMC came to this Court on a Petition for Certiorari, Prohibition and Mandamus,
seeking to set aside the May 27, 1998 Order of the Lapu-Lapu RTC in Civil Case
No. 2203-L. The Petition was referred to the Court of Appeals, which under Batas
Pambansa Blg. 129, exercises original jurisdiction to issue such writs.54[54] This
was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 50650.

On April 30, 1999, the Court of Appeals rendered its Decision55[55] in CA-
G.R. SP No. 50650, the dispositive portion of which reads:

51[51] The previous judge retired on December 23, 1997.

52[52] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 522-527.

53[53] Id. at 529.

54[54] CA rollo, p. 393.

55[55] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 89-112; penned by Associate Justice Artemio G. Tuquero
with Associate Justices Eubulo Verzola and Mariano H. Umali, concurring.
 WHEREFORE, the petition being partly meritorious, the Court hereby resolves as
follows:

(1) To AFFIRM the Orders of May 28, 1998 and August 4, 1998 in
Civil Case No. 2203-L insofar as they set aside the order holding respondent
Register of Deeds guilty of indirect contempt of court and to NULLIFY said
orders in so far as they set aside the directives contained in paragraphs (a) and (b)
and (c) of the order dated November 28, 1997.

(2) To DECLARE without FORCE and EFFECT insofar as petitioner

Group Management Corporation is concerned the decision in Civil Case No. R-
82-3429 as well as the orders and writs issued for its execution and enforcement:
and

(3) To ENJOIN respondent Lapu-Lapu Development and Housing

Corporation, along with its agents and representatives and/or persons/public
officials/employees acting in its interest, specifically respondent Regional Trial
Court of Manila Branch 38, and respondent Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City,
from obstructing, interfering with or in any manner delaying the
implementation/execution/ enforcement by the Lapu-Lapu City RTC of its order
and writ of execution in Civil Case No. 2203-L.

For lack of sufficient basis the charge of contempt of court against

respondent Lapu-Lapu Development and Housing Corporation and the public
respondents is hereby DISMISSED.56[56]

With the denial of LLDHCs motion for reconsideration on December 29,

1999,57[57] LLDHC, on January 26, 2000, filed before this Court a Petition for
Review on Certiorari assailing the April 30, 1999 decision of the Court of Appeals
in CA-G.R. SP No. 50650. This petition was docketed as G.R. No. 141407.

56[56] Id. at 111-112.

57[57] Id. at 606.

 This Court dismissed LLDHCs petition and upheld the decision of the Court
of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 50650 in its decision dated September 9,
2002.58[58] LLDHCs Motion for Reconsideration and Second Motion for
Reconsideration were also denied on November 13, 200259[59] and February 3,
2003,60[60] respectively.

The September 9, 2002 decision of this Court in G.R. No. 141407 became
final on March 10, 2003.61[61]

On March 11, 2004, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, acting on GMCs Motion for
Execution, issued an Order62[62] the dispositive portion of which reads:

WHEREFORE, in light of the foregoing considerations, plaintiff Group

Management Corporations motion is GRANTED, while defendant GSIS motion
to stay the issuance of a writ of execution is denied for lack of merit.
Consequently, the Sheriff of this Court is directed to proceed with the immediate
implementation of this Courts decision dated February 24, 1992, by enforcing
completely this Courts Order of Execution dated November 28, 1996, the writ of

58[58] Id. at 682-685; penned by Associate Justice Artemio V. Panganiban with Associate
Justices Reynato S. Puno (Chairman), Renato C. Corona and Conchita Carpio-Morales,
concurring.

59[59] Id. at 686.

60[60] Id. at 688.

61[61] Lapulapu Development and Housing Corporation v. Group Management Corporation,

437 Phil. 297 (2002).

62[62] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 113-115.

 execution dated December 17, 1996, the Order dated July 21, 1997, the Order
dated October 23 1997, the Order dated November 28, 1997 and the Order dated
December 22, 1997.63[63]

On May 7, 2004, the Lapu-Lapu RTC denied64[64] the motions for

reconsideration filed by LLDHC and GSIS.

On May 27, 2004, LLDHC filed before the Court of Appeals a Petition for
Certiorari, Prohibition and Mandamus65[65] against the Lapu-Lapu RTC for
having issued the Orders of March 11, 2004 and May 7, 2004 (assailed Orders).
This petition docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 84382, sought the annulment of the
assailed Orders and for the Court of Appeals to command the Lapu-Lapu RTC to
desist from further proceeding in Civil Case No. 2203-L, to dismiss GMCs Motion
for Execution, and for the issuance of a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO)/Writ
of Preliminary Injunction against the Lapu-Lapu RTC and GMC.

On July 6, 2004, GSIS filed its own Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition
with Preliminary Injunction and Temporary Restraining Order66[66] before the
Court of Appeals to annul the assailed Orders of the Lapu-Lapu RTC, to prohibit
the judge therein and the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City from implementing

63[63] Id. at 115.

64[64] Id. at 695-696.

65[65] Id. at 697-720.

66[66] Id. at 723-739.

such assailed Orders, and for the issuance of a TRO and writ of preliminary
injunction to maintain the status quo while the case is under litigation. This
petition was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 85096.

The Court of Appeals initially dismissed outright LLDHCs petition for

failure to attach the Required Secretarys Certificate/Board Resolution authorizing
petitioner to initiate the petition,67[67] but in a Resolution68[68] dated August 2,
2004, after having found the explanation for the mistake satisfactory, the Court of
Appeals, on equitable consideration and for the purpose of preserving the status
quo during the pendency of the appeal,69[69] issued a TRO against the Lapu-Lapu
RTC from enforcing its jurisdiction and judgment/order in Civil Case No. 2203-L
until further orders. In its August 30, 2004 Resolution,70[70] the Court of Appeals,
without resolving the case on its merits, also issued a Writ of Preliminary
Injunction, commanding the Lapu-Lapu RTC to cease and desist from
implementing the assailed Orders in Civil Case No. 2203-L, until further orders.

On November 25, 2004, the Twentieth Division of the Court of Appeals

promulgated its decision in CA-G.R. SP No. 85096. It dismissed GSISs petition
and affirmed the assailed Orders of March 11, 2004 and May 7, 2004. The Court of

67[67] Id. at 721-722.

68[68] Id. at 116-117.

69[69] Id. at 117.

70[70] Id. at 118-119.

Appeals found no merit in GSISs petition since the judgment in Civil Case No.
2203-L, which was decided way back on February 24, 1992, had long become final
and executory, which meant that the Lapu-Lapu RTC had no legal obstacle to
cause said judgment to be executed and enforced. The Court of Appeals quoted in
full, portions of this Courts Decision in G.R. No. 141407 to underscore the fact
that no less than the Supreme Court had declared that the decision in Civil Case
No. 2203-L was valid and binding and had become final and executory a long time
ago and had not been in any way nullified by the decision rendered by the Manila
RTC on May 10, 1994 in Civil Case No. R-82-3429. On January 20, 2005, the
Court of Appeals upheld its decision and denied GSISs Motion for
Reconsideration.71[71]

However, on September 23, 2005, the Special Nineteenth Division of the

Court of Appeals came out with its own decision in CA-G.R. SP No. 84382. It
granted LLDHCs petition, contrary to the Court of Appeals decision in CA-G.R.
SP No. 85096, and annulled and set aside the March 11, 2004 Order of the Lapu-
Lapu RTC in this wise:

WHEREFORE, finding merit in the instant Petition for Certiorari,

Prohibition and Mandamus, the same is hereby GRANTED, and the assailed
Order, dated March 11, 2004, of the Regional Trial Court, 7th Judicial Region,
Branch 27, Lapulapu City, in Civil Case No. 2203-L is ANNULLED AND SET
ASIDE.

Accordingly, respondent Judge Benedicto Cobarde is hereby ORDERED:

71[71] Id. at 183-184.

 a) to DESIST from further proceeding in Civil Case No. 2203-L; and

b) to DISMISS GMCs Motion for Execution in the abovementioned

case;

Meanwhile, the Writ of Preliminary Injunction earlier issued is hereby

declared PERMANENT. No pronouncement as to costs.72[72]

GSIS73[73] and GMC74[74] are now before this Court, with their separate
Petitions for Review on Certiorari, assailing the decisions of the Court of Appeals
in CA-G.R. SP No. 85096 and CA-G.R. SP No. 84382, respectively.

G.R. No. 167000

In G.R. No. 167000, GSIS is assailing the Orders issued by the Lapu-Lapu
RTC on March 11, 2004 and May 7, 2004 for being legally unenforceable on GSIS
because the titles of the 78 lots in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City were already in
LLDHCs name, due to the final and executory judgment rendered by the Manila
RTC in Civil Case No. R-82-3429. GSIS contends that it is legally and physically
impossible for it to comply with the assailed Orders as the subject matter to be

72[72] Rollo (G.R. No. 169971), p. 601.

73[73] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 3-35.

74[74] Rollo (G.R. No. 169971), pp. 3-82.

delivered or performed have already been taken away from 75[75] GSIS. GSIS
asserts that the circumstances which have arisen, from the judgment of the Manila
RTC to the cancellation of GSISs titles, are supervening events which should be
considered as an exception to the doctrine of finality of judgments because they
render the execution of the final and executory judgment of the Lapu-Lapu RTC in
Civil Case No. 2203-L unjust and inequitable. GSIS further claims that it should
not be made to pay damages of any kind because its funds and properties are
exempt from execution, garnishment, and other legal processes under Section 39 of
Republic Act No. 8291.

LLDHC, in its Compliance,76[76] believes that it was impleaded in this case

as a mere nominal party since it filed its own Petition for Certiorari before the
Court of Appeals, which was granted in CA-G.R. SP No. 84382. LLDHC
essentially agrees with GSIS that the implementation of the assailed Orders have
become legally impossible due to the fully implemented Writ of Execution issued
by the Manila RTC in Civil Case No. R-82-3429. LLDHC alleges that because of
this supervening event, GSIS cannot be compelled to execute a final deed of sale in
GMCs favor, and LLDHC cannot be divested of its titles, ownership and
possession of the subject properties.77[77]

75[75] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), p. 20.

76[76] Id. at 787-792.

77[77] Id. at 791.

 GMC in its comment78[78] argues that GSIS has no legal standing to
institute this petition because it has no more interest in the subject lots, since it is
no longer in possession and the titles thereto have already been registered in
LLDHCs name. GMC claims that the decision of the Special Nineteenth Division
of the Court of Appeals is barred by res judicata, and that LLDHC is guilty of
forum shopping for filing several petitions before the Court of Appeals and this
Court with the same issues and arguments. GMC also asserts that the judgment in
Civil Case No. R-82-3429 is enforceable only between GSIS and LLDHC as GMC
was not a party to the case, and that the Manila RTC cannot overrule the Lapu-
Lapu RTC, they being co-equal courts.

G.R. No. 169971

In G.R. No. 169971, GMC is praying that the decision of the Special
Nineteenth Division of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 84382 be
reversed and set aside. GMC is claiming that the Court of Appeals, in rendering the
said decision, committed a palpable legal error by overruling several final
decisions rendered by the Lapu-Lapu RTC, the Court of Appeals, and this
Court.79[79] GMC claims that the Lapu-Lapu RTCs duty to continue with the
implementation of its orders is purely ministerial as the judgment has not only

78[78] Id. at 242-316.

79[79] Rollo (G.R. No. 169971), pp. 3-82.

become final and executory, but has been affirmed by both the Court of Appeals
and the Supreme Court in several equally final and executory decisions.80[80]
GMC, repeating its arguments in G.R. No. 167000, maintains that the petition is
barred by res judicata, that there is forum shopping, and that the Manila RTC
decision is not binding on GMC.

LLDHC in its comment81[81] insists that there is a supervening event which

rendered it necessary to stay the execution of the judgment of the Lapu-Lapu RTC.
LLDHC also asserts that, as correctly found by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
SP No. 84382, the Lapu-Lapu RTC decision in Civil Case No. 2203-L was not
affirmed with finality by the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court as the
decision was not reviewed on the merits.

SUMMARY OF THE ISSUES

The present case is peculiar in the sense that it involves two conflicting final
and executory decisions of two different trial courts. Moreover, one of the RTC
decisions had been fully executed and implemented. To complicate things further,
the parties have previously filed several petitions, which have reached not only the

80[80] Id. at 50.

81[81] Id. at 663-672.

Court of Appeals but also this Court. Upon consolidation of the two petitions, this
Court has narrowed down the issues to the following:

1. Whether or not the decision of the Manila RTC in Civil Case No. R-82-
3429 constitutes a supervening event, which should be admitted as an
exception to the doctrine of finality of judgments.

2. Whether or not the September 23, 2005 Decision of the Special

Nineteenth Division of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 84382
and GSISs Petition in G.R. No. 167000 are barred by res judicata.

3. Whether or not there is a legal and physical impossibility for GSIS to

comply with the March 11, 2004 and May 7, 2004 Orders of the Lapu-
Lapu RTC in Civil Case No. 2203-L.

4. Whether or not LLDHC and GSIS are guilty of forum shopping.

DISCUSSION

First Issue:
Supervening Event

It is well-settled that once a judgment attains finality, it becomes immutable

and unalterable. It may not be changed, altered or modified in any way even if the
modification were for the purpose of correcting an erroneous conclusion of fact or
law. This is referred to as the doctrine of finality of judgments, and this doctrine
applies even to the highest court of the land.82[82] This Court explained its
rationale in this wise:

The doctrine of finality of judgment is grounded on fundamental

considerations of public policy and sound practice, and that, at the risk of
occasional errors, the judgments or orders of courts must become final at some
definite time fixed by law; otherwise, there would be no end to litigations, thus
setting to naught the main role of courts of justice which is to assist in the
enforcement of the rule of law and the maintenance of peace and order by settling
justiciable controversies with finality.83[83]

This Court has, on several occasions, ruled that the doctrine of finality of
judgments admits of certain exceptions, namely: the correction of clerical errors,
the so-called nunc pro tunc entries which cause no prejudice to any party, void
judgments, and whenever circumstances transpire after the finality of the decision
which render its execution unjust and inequitable.84[84]

82[82] Dapar v. Biascan, 482 Phil. 385, 405 (2004).

83[83] Manotok Realty, Inc. v. CLT Realty Development Corporation, G.R. No. 123346,
November 29, 2005, 476 SCRA 305, 337.

84[84] Heirs of Maura So v. Obliosca, G.R. No. 147082, January 28, 2008, 542 SCRA 406, 418.
 Both GSIS and LLDHC claim that the execution of the decision and orders
in Civil Case No. 2203-L should be stayed because of the occurrence of
supervening events which render the execution of the judgment impossible, unfair,
unjust and inequitable.85[85] However, in order for an event to be considered a
supervening event to justify the alteration or modification of a final judgment, the
event must have transpired after the judgment has become final and executory,
to wit:

Supervening events refer to facts which transpire after judgment has become final
and executory or to new circumstances which developed after the judgment has
acquired finality, including matters which the parties were not aware of prior to or
during the trial as they were not yet in existence at that time.86[86]

The Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision in Civil Case No. 2203-L was promulgated
on February 24, 1992, while the Manila RTC Decision in Civil Case No. R-82-
3429 was promulgated on May 10, 1994. As early as December 6, 1993, both
GSISs and LLDHCs appeals of the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision were dismissed by
the said RTC.87[87] Only GSIS moved to reconsider this dismissal, which was
denied on July 6, 1994.88[88] Strictly speaking, the Lapu Lapu RTC Decision
should have attained finality at that stage; however, LLDHC filed with the Court of

85[85] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 18-20.

86[86] Natalia Realty, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, 440 Phil. 1, 23 (2002).

87[87] CA rollo, pp. 168-169.

88[88] Id. at 176.

Appeals its Petition for Annulment of Judgment (CA-G.R. SP No. 34696) on July
27, 1994 and it used therein the Manila RTC Decision as its main ground for
annulment of the Lapu-Lapu RTC decision.

The Court of Appeals nonetheless dismissed LLDHCs Petition for

Annulment of Judgment, in CA-G.R. SP No. 34696,89[89] and that became final
and executory on January 28, 1995,90[90] after LLDHC interposed no appeal. The
entry of judgment in this case was issued on August 18, 1995.91[91] Moreover, the
similar petition of LLDHC before this Court in G.R. No. 118633 was decided on
September 6, 1996 and became final and executory on December 23, 1996.
Therefore, the ruling by the Manila RTC is evidently not a supervening event. It
was already in existence even before the decision in Civil Case No. 2203-L
attained finality.

Just as LLDHC and GSIS, as the losing parties, had the right to file their
respective appeals within the prescribed period, GMC, as the winning party in
Civil Case No. 2203-L, equally had the correlative right to benefit from the finality
of the resolution of its case,92[92] to wit:

89[89] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), pp. 381-392.

90[90] Id. at 393.

91[91] Id.

92[92] Manotok Realty, Inc. v. CLT Realty Development Corporation, supra note 83.
 A final judgment vests in the prevailing party a right recognized and
protected by law under the due process clause of the Constitution. A final
judgment is a vested interest which it is right and equitable that the government
should recognize and protect, and of which the individual could not be deprived
arbitrarily without injustice.93[93] (Citations omitted.)

Since the Manila RTC decision does not constitute a supervening event,
there is therefore neither reason nor justification to alter, modify or annul the Lapu-
Lapu RTC Decision and Orders, which have long become final and executory.
Thus, in the present case, GMC must not be deprived of its right to enjoy the fruits
of a final verdict.

It is settled in jurisprudence that to stay execution of a final judgment, a

supervening event must create a substantial change in the rights or relations of the
parties which would render execution of a final judgment unjust, impossible or
inequitable making it imperative to stay immediate execution in the interest of
justice.94[94]

However, what would be unjust and inequitable is for the Court to accord
preference to the Manila RTC Decision on this occasion when in the past, the
Court of Appeals and this Court have repeatedly, consistently, and with finality
rejected LLDHCs moves to use the Manila RTC Decision as a ground to annul,
and/or to bar the execution of, the Lapu Lapu RTC Decision. To be sure, in the

93[93] Insular Bank of Asia and America Employees' Union (IBAAEU) v. Inciong, 217 Phil. 629, 650 (1984).

94[94] Silverio, Jr. v. Filipino Business Consultants, Inc., 504 Phil. 150, 162 (2005).
Decision dated September 9, 2002 in G.R. No. 141407, penned by former Chief
Justice Artemio V. Panganiban, the Court already passed upon the lack of effect of
the Manila RTC Decision on the finality of the Lapu Lapu RTC decision in this
wise:

The records of the case clearly show that the Lapulapu Decision has become final
and executory and is thus valid and binding upon the parties. Obviously,
petitioner [LLDHC] is again trying another backdoor attempt to annul the
final and executory Decision of the Lapulapu RTC.
First, it was petitioner that filed on March 11, 1992 a Notice of Appeal
contesting the Lapulapu RTC Judgment in Civil Case No. 2203-L rendered on
February 24, 1992. The Notice was however rejected by the said RTC for being
frivolous and dilatory. Since petitioner had done nothing thereafter, the Decision
clearly became final and executory.

However, upon receipt of the Manila RTC Decision, petitioner found

a new tool to evade the already final Lapulapu Decision by seeking the
annulment of the latter in a Petition with the CA. However, the appellate
court dismissed the action, because petitioner had been unable to prove any of
the grounds for annulment; namely lack of jurisdiction or extrinsic fraud. Because
no appeal had been taken by petitioner, the ruling of the CA also became final and
executory.

Second, the Supreme Court likewise recognized the finality of the CA

Decision when it threw out LLDHCs Petition for Certiorari in GR No.
118633. This Court ruled thus:

Instead of filing this petition for certiorari under Rule 65,

which is essentially another Petition to Annul Judgment, petitioner
LLDHC should have filed a timely Petition for Review under Rule
45 of the Revised Rules of Court of the decision of the Court of
Appeals, dated December 29, 1994, dismissing the Petition for
Annulment of Judgment filed by the petitioner LLDHC before the
court a quo. But this is all academic now. The appellate courts
decision had become final and executory on January 28, 1995.

Jurisprudence mandates that when a decision becomes final and executory,

it becomes valid and binding upon the parties and their successors in interest.
Such decision or order can no longer be disturbed or reopened no matter how
erroneous it may have been. Petitioners failure to file an appeal within the
reglementary period renders the judgment final and executory. The perfection of
 an appeal in the manner and within the period prescribed by law is mandatory.
Failure to conform to the rules regarding appeal will render the judgment final
and executory and, hence, unappealable. Therefore, since the Lapulapu
Decision has become final and executory, its execution has become
mandatory and ministerial on the part of the judge.

The CA correctly ruled that the Lapulapu Judgment is binding upon

petitioner [LLDHC] which, by its own motion, participated as an intervenor.
In fact, the latter filed an Answer in Intervention and thereafter actively took
part in the trial. Thus, having had an opportunity to be heard and to seek a
reconsideration of the action or ruling it complained of, it cannot claim that it was
denied due process of law. What the law prohibits is the absolute absence of the
opportunity to be heard. Jurisprudence teaches that a party cannot feign denial of
due process if it has been afforded the opportunity to present its side.

Petitioner likewise claims that Private Respondent GMC cannot

escape the adverse effects of the final and executory judgment of the Manila
RTC.

Again, we do not agree. A trial court has no power to stop an act that has
been authorized by another trial court of equal rank. As correctly stated by the
CA, the Decision rendered by the Manila RTC -- while final and executory --
cannot bind herein private respondent [GMC], which was not a party to the
case before the said RTC. A personal judgment is binding only upon the
parties, their agents, representatives and successors in interest.

Third, petitioner grievously errs in insisting that the judgment of the

Manila RTC nullified that of the Lapulapu RTC. As already adverted to
earlier, courts of coequal and coordinate jurisdiction may not interfere with
or pass upon each others orders or processes, since they have the same power
and jurisdiction. Except in extreme situations authorized by law, they are
proscribed from doing so.95[95](Emphases supplied.)

It likewise does not escape the attention of this Court that the only reason the
Manila RTC Decision was implemented ahead of the Lapu Lapu RTC Decision
was that LLDHC successfully secured a TRO from the Court of Appeals through
its petition for certiorari docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 44052, which was

95[95] Lapulapu Development and Housing Corporation v. Group Management Corporation,

supra note 61 at 312-315.
eventually dismissed by the appellate court. The Court of Appeals ruled that the
Manila RTC Decision did not constitute a supervening event that would forestall
the execution of the Lapu Lapu RTC Decision. This decision of the Court of
Appeals likewise became final and executory in 1998.

It bears repeating that the issue of whether or not the Manila RTC Decision
could nullify or render unenforceable the Lapu Lapu RTC Decision has been
litigated many times over in different fora. It would be the height of inequity if the
Court were to now reverse the Court of Appeals and its own final and executory
rulings and allow GSIS to prevent the execution of the Lapu Lapu RTC Decision
on the same legal grounds previously discredited by the courts.

Second Issue:
Res Judicata

GMC asserts that the September 23, 2005 Decision of the Special
Nineteenth Division of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 84382 and the
petition herein by GSIS in G.R. No. 167000 are barred by res judicata as the issues
involved had been fully resolved not only by the lower courts but by this Court as
well. GSIS and LLDHC both insist that res judicata does not apply as this Court
has not yet rendered a decision involving the same or any similar petition.96[96]

96[96] Rollo (G.R. No. 169971), pp. 712, 882.

The petitions by LLDHC before the Court of Appeals and GSIS before this Court
both prayed for the annulment of the March 11, 2004 and May 7, 2004 Orders of
the Lapu-Lapu RTC in Civil Case No. 2203-L. These assailed Orders were both
issued to resolve the parties motions and to have the February 24, 1992 judgment
implemented and executed.

In Republic of the Philippines (Civil Aeronautics Administration) v. Yu,

97[97] this Court expounded on the concept of res judicata and explained it in this
wise:

Res judicata literally means a matter adjudged; a thing judicially acted

upon or decided; a thing or matter settled by judgment. Res judicata lays the rule
that an existing final judgment or decree rendered on the merits, and without fraud
or collusion, by a court of competent jurisdiction, upon any matter within its
jurisdiction, is conclusive of the rights of the parties or their privies, in all other
actions or suits in the same or any other judicial tribunal of concurrent jurisdiction
on the points and matters in issue in the first suit.98[98]

In Villanueva v. Court of Appeals,99[99] we enumerated the elements of res

judicata as follows:

a) The former judgment or order must be final;

b) It must be a judgment or order on the merits, that is, it was rendered after a
consideration of the evidence or stipulations submitted by the parties at the
trial of the case;

97[97] G.R. No. 157557, March 10, 2006, 484 SCRA 416.

98[98] Id. at 420.

99[99] 349 Phil. 99 (1998).

 c) It must have been rendered by a court having jurisdiction over the subject
matter and the parties; and

d) There must be, between the first and second actions, identity of parties, of
subject matter and of cause of action. This requisite is satisfied if the two (2)
actions are substantially between the same parties.100[100]

All three parties herein are in agreement with the facts that led to the
petitions in this case. However, not all of them agree that the matters involved in
this case have already been judicially settled. While GMC contends that GSISs
petition is barred by res judicata, both GSIS and LLDHC assert that this Court has
not yet decided any similar petition, thus disputing the claim of res judicata.

Res judicata has two concepts: (1) "bar by prior judgment" as enunciated in
Rule 39, Section 47(b) of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure; and (2)
"conclusiveness of judgment" in Rule 39, Section 47(c), which reads as follows:

(b) In other cases, the judgment or final order is, with respect to the matter
directly adjudged or as to any other matter that could have been raised in relation
thereto, conclusive between the parties and their successors in interest by title
subsequent to the commencement of the action or special proceeding, litigating
for the same thing and under the same title and in the same capacity; and

(c) In any other litigation between the same parties or their successors in
interest, that only is deemed to have been adjudged in a former judgment or final
order which appears upon its face to have been so adjudged, or which was
actually and necessarily included therein or necessary thereto.

In explaining the two concepts of res judicata, this Court held that:

There is "bar by prior judgment" when, as between the first case where the
judgment was rendered, and the second case that is sought to be barred, there is

100[100] Id. at 109.

 identity of parties, subject matter, and causes of action. But where there is identity
of parties and subject matter in the first and second cases, but no identity of
causes of action, the first judgment is conclusive only as to those matters actually
and directly controverted and determined and not as to matters merely involved
therein. This is "conclusiveness of judgment." Under the doctrine of
conclusiveness of judgment, facts and issues actually and directly resolved in a
former suit cannot again be raised in any future case between the same parties,
even if the latter suit may involve a different claim or cause of action. The identity
of causes of action is not required but merely identity of issues.101[101]

In Pealosa v. Tuason,102[102] we laid down the test in determining whether

or not the causes of action in the first and second cases are identical:

Would the same evidence support and establish both the present and
former cause of action? If so, the former recovery is a bar; if otherwise, it does not
stand in the way of the former action.103[103]

Res judicata clearly exists in G.R. No. 167000 and in CA-G.R. SP No.
84382 because both GSISs and LLDHCs actions put in issue the validity of the
Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision and were based on the assumption that it has either been
modified, altered or nullified by the Manila RTC Decision.

In CA-G.R. SP No. 84382, LLDHC sought to annul the assailed Orders of

the Lapu-Lapu RTC and to order the judge therein to desist from further
proceeding in Civil Case No. 2203-L. LLDHC sought for the same reliefs in its
Petition for Annulment of Judgment in CA-G.R. SP No. 34696 and G.R. No.
118633, in its Petition for Certiorari in CA-G.R. SP No. 44052, and in its Petition

101[101] Republic of the Philippines (Civil Aeronautics Administration) v. Yu, supra note 97 at 422.

102[102] 22 Phil. 303 (1912).

103[103] Id. at 322.

for Review on Certiorari in G.R. No. 141407, all of which have been decided with
finality.

In G.R. No. 167000, GSIS is praying for the reversal of the November 25,
2004 Decision and January 20, 2005 Resolution in CA-G.R. SP No. 85096,
wherein the Court of Appeals affirmed the assailed Orders. The validity of these
assailed Orders hinges on the validity of the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision, which
issue had already been decided with finality by both the Court of Appeals and this
Court.

Notwithstanding the difference in the forms of actions GSIS and LLDHC

filed, the doctrine of res judicata still applies considering that the parties were
litigating the same thing, i.e., the 78 lots in Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City, and
more importantly, the same contentions and evidence were used in all causes of
action. As this Court held in Mendiola v. Court of Appeals104[104]:

The test of identity of causes of action lies not in the form of an action but on
whether the same evidence would support and establish the former and the present
causes of action. The difference of actions in the aforesaid cases is of no moment.
x x x.105[105]

The doctrine of res judicata makes a final judgment on the merits rendered
by a court of competent jurisdiction conclusive as to the rights of the parties and

104[104] 327 Phil. 1156 (1996).

105[105] Id. at 1166.

their privies and amounts to an absolute bar to subsequent actions involving the
same claim, demand, or cause of action.106[106] Even a finding of conclusiveness
of judgment operates as estoppel with respect to matters in issue or points
controverted, on the determination of which the finding or judgment was
anchored.107[107]

Evidently, this Court could dispose of this case simply upon the application
of the principle of res judicata. It is clear that GSISs petition in G.R. No. 167000
and LLDHCs petition in CA-G.R. SP No. 84382 should have never reached those
stages for having been barred by a final and executory judgment on their claims.
However, considering the nature of the case before us, this Court is compelled to
make a final determination of the issues in the interest of substantial justice and to
end the wasteful use of our courts time and resources.

Third Issue:

GSISs Compliance with the

Lapu-Lapu RTC Judgment and Orders

106[106] Republic of the Philippines (Civil Aeronautics Administration) v. Yu, supra note 97 at 422-423.

107[107] Camara v. Court of Appeals, 369 Phil. 858, 868 (1999).

 GSIS asserts that the assailed Orders cannot be enforced upon it given the
physical and legal impossibility for it to comply as the titles over the subject
properties were transferred to LLDHC under the Manila RTC writ of execution.

A closer perusal of the March 11, 2004 and May 7, 2004 Orders shows that
GSISs argument holds no water. The May 7, 2004 Order denied GSISs and
LLDHCs motions for reconsideration of the March 11, 2004 Order. The March 11,
2004 Order resolved GMCs urgent manifestation and motion to proceed with the
implementation of the February 24, 1992 final and executory decision and GSISs
and LLDHCs opposition thereto, as well as GSISs motion to stay the issuance of a
writ of execution against it. The dispositive portion of the Order reads:

WHEREFORE, in the light of the foregoing considerations, plaintiff

Group Management Corporations motion is GRANTED, while defendant GSIS
motion to stay the issuance of a writ of execution is denied for lack of merit.
Consequently, the Sheriff of this Court is directed to proceed with the
immediate implementation of this Courts decision dated February 24, 1992,
by enforcing completely this Courts Order of Execution dated November 28,
1996, the writ of execution dated December 17, 1996, the Order dated July 21,
1997, the Order dated October 23, 1997, the Order dated November 28, 1997 and
the Order dated December 22, 1997.108[108] (Emphasis ours.)

While the previous orders and writs of execution issued by the Lapu-Lapu
RTC required the GSIS to execute the final deed of sale and to deliver the subject
properties, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, in its subsequent Orders, modified this by
directing its order to the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City. In its July 21, 1997
Order,109[109] the Lapu-Lapu RTC, seeing GSISs obstinate refusal to implement
the courts previous orders, directed the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City to

108[108] Rollo (G.R. No. 167000), p. 693.

109[109] Id. at 474-475.

cancel the Transfer Certificates of Title of the subject properties and to issue new
ones in the name of GMC, and to deliver the same to GMC. Moreover, in its
October 23, 1997 Order, the Lapu-Lapu RTC, noting the implemented judgment of
the Manila RTC, declared the issuance of new titles to LLDHC null and void for
being contrary to the courts February 24, 1992 decision and directed the Register
of Deeds to effect the transfer of the titles to GMC.

Considering that the assailed Orders merely directed the Lapu-Lapu RTCs
Sheriff to proceed with the implementation of the courts previous orders, that is, to
make sure that the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City complied with the orders,
GSIS had nothing to comply with insofar as the titles to, and possession of, the
subject properties were concerned, the Orders being clearly directed towards the
Sheriff of the Lapu-Lapu RTC and the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu City.
Hence, GSISs argument of legal and physical impossibility of compliance with the
assailed Orders is baseless.

GSIS also argues that it cannot be the subject [of any] execution including
[the] payment of any damage and other monetary judgments because all GSIS
funds and properties are absolutely and expressly exempt from execution and other
legal processes under Section 39 of Republic Act No. 8291.110[110]

Section 39 of Republic Act No. 8291 provides:

SECTION 39. Exemption from Tax, Legal Process and Lien. It is

hereby declared to be the policy of the State that the actuarial solvency of the
funds of the GSIS shall be preserved and maintained at all times and that

110[110] Id. at 17.

 contribution rates necessary to sustain the benefits under this Act shall be kept as
low as possible in order not to burden the members of the GSIS and their
employers. Taxes imposed on the GSIS tend to impair the actuarial solvency of its
funds and increase the contribution rate necessary to sustain the benefits of this
Act. Accordingly, notwithstanding any laws to the contrary, the GSIS, its assets,
revenues including all accruals thereto, and benefits paid, shall be exempt from all
taxes, assessments, fees, charges or duties of all kinds. These exemptions shall
continue unless expressly and specifically revoked and any assessment against the
GSIS as of the approval of this Act are hereby considered paid. Consequently, all
laws, ordinances, regulations, issuances, opinions or jurisprudence contrary to or
in derogation of this provision are hereby deemed repealed, superseded and
rendered ineffective and without legal force and effect.

xxxx

The funds and/or the properties referred to herein as well as the benefits, sums or monies
corresponding to the benefits under this Act shall be exempt from attachment, garnishment,
execution, levy or other processes issued by the courts, quasi judicial agencies or administrative
bodies including Commission on Audit (COA) disallowances and from all financial obligations
of the members, including his pecuniary accountability arising from or caused or occasioned by
his exercise or performance of his official functions or duties, or incurred relative to or in
connection with his position or work except when his monetary liability, contractual or
otherwise, is in favor of the GSIS.

This Court, in Rubia v. Government Service Insurance System,111[111] held

that the exemption of GSIS is not absolute and does not encompass all of its funds,
to wit:

In so far as Section 39 of the GSIS charter exempts the GSIS from

execution, suffice it to say that such exemption is not absolute and does not
encompass all the GSIS funds. By way of illustration and as may be gleaned from
the Implementing Rules and Regulation of the GSIS Act of 1997, one exemption
refers to social security benefits and other benefits of GSIS members under

111[111] 476 Phil. 623 (2004).

 Republic Act No. 8291 in connection with financial obligations of the members to
other parties. The pertinent GSIS Rule provides:

Rule XV. Funds of the GSIS

Section 15.7 Exemption of Benefits of Members from Tax,

Attachment, Execution, Levy or other Legal Processes. The social
security benefits and other benefits of GSIS members under R.A.
8291 shall be exempt from tax, attachment, garnishment,
execution, levy or other processes issued by the courts, quasi-
judicial agencies or administrative bodies in connection with all
financial obligations of the member, including his pecuniary
accountability arising from or caused or occasioned by his exercise
or performance of his official functions or duties or incurred in
connection with his position or work, as well as COA
disallowances. Monetary liability in favor of the GSIS, however,
may be deducted from the benefits of the member. [Emphasis
supplied]

The processual exemption of the GSIS funds and properties under Section
39 of the GSIS Charter, in our view, should be read consistently with its avowed
principal purpose: to maintain actuarial solvency of the GSIS in the protection of
assets which are to be used to finance the retirement, disability and life insurance
benefits of its members. Clearly, the exemption should be limited to the purposes
and objects covered. Any interpretation that would give it an expansive
construction to exempt all GSIS assets from legal processes absolutely would be
unwarranted.

Furthermore, the declared policy of the State in Section 39 of the GSIS

Charter granting GSIS an exemption from tax, lien, attachment, levy, execution,
and other legal processes should be read together with the grant of power to the
GSIS to invest its "excess funds" under Section 36 of the same Act. Under
Section 36, the GSIS is granted the ancillary power to invest in business and other
ventures for the benefit of the employees, by using its excess funds for investment
purposes. In the exercise of such function and power, the GSIS is allowed to
assume a character similar to a private corporation. Thus, it may sue and be sued,
as also, explicitly granted by its charter. Needless to say, where proper, under
Section 36, the GSIS may be held liable for the contracts it has entered into in the
course of its business investments. For GSIS cannot claim a special immunity
from liability in regard to its business ventures under said Section. Nor can it deny
contracting parties, in our view, the right of redress and the enforcement of a
claim, particularly as it arises from a purely contractual relationship, of a private
character between an individual and the GSIS.112[112]

112[112] Id. at 637-640.

 This ruling has been reiterated in the more recent case of Government
Service Insurance System v. Regional Trial Court of Pasig City, Branch
71,113[113] wherein GSIS, which was also the petitioner in that case, asked to
reverse this Courts findings in Rubia and grant GSIS absolute immunity. This
Court rejected that plea and held that GSIS should not be allowed to hide behind
such immunity especially since its obligation arose from its own wrongful action in
a business transaction.

In this case, the monetary judgments against GSIS arose from its failure to
comply with its private and contractual obligation to GMC. As such, GSIS cannot
claim immunity from the enforcement of the final and executory judgment against
it.114[114]

Fourth Issue:
Forum Shopping

On the issue of forum shopping, this Court already found LLDHC guilty of forum shopping and
was adjudged to pay treble costs way back in 2002 in G.R. No. 141407115[115]:

There is forum shopping whenever, as a result of an adverse opinion in

one forum, a party seeks a favorable opinion (other than by appeal or certiorari)
from another. In Gatmaytan v. CA, the petitioner therein repeatedly availed itself

113[113] G.R. No. 175393, December 18, 2009, 608 SCRA 552, 584.

114[114] Id.

115[115] Lapulapu Development and Housing Corporation v. Group Management

Corporation, supra note 61.
of several judicial remedies in different courts, simultaneously or successively.
All those remedies were substantially founded on the same transactions and the
same essential facts and circumstances; and all raised substantially the same
issues either pending in, or already resolved adversely by, some other court. This
Court held that therein petitioner was trying to increase his chances of obtaining a
favorable decision by filing multiple suits in several courts. Hence, he was found
guilty of forum shopping.

In the present case, after the Lapulapu RTC had rendered its Decision in
favor of private respondent, petitioner filed several petitions before this Court and
the CA essentially seeking the annulment thereof. True, petitioner had filed its
Complaint in the Manila RTC before private respondent filed its own suit in the
Lapulapu RTC. Records, however, show that private respondent learned of the
Manila case only when petitioner filed its Motion for Intervention in the Lapulapu
RTC. When GMC filed its own Motion to Intervene in the Manila RTC, it was
promptly rebuffed by the judge therein. On the other hand, petitioner was able to
present its side and to participate fully in the proceedings before the Lapulapu
RTC.

On July 27, 1994, almost two years after the dismissal of its appeal by the
Lapulapu RTC, petitioner filed in the CA a suit for the annulment of that RTC
judgment. On December 29, 1994, this suit was rejected by the CA in a Decision
which became final and executory on January 28, 1995, after no appeal was taken
by petitioner. However, this action did not stop petitioner. On February 2, 1995, it
filed with this Court another Petition deceptively cloaked as certiorari, but which
in reality sought the annulment of the Lapulapu Decision. This Court dismissed
the Petition on September 6, 1996. Petitioners Motion for Reconsideration was
denied with finality on November 18, 1996.

On November 28, 1996, Judge Risos of the Lapulapu RTC directed the
execution of the judgment in the case filed before it. The Motion to Stay
Execution filed by petitioner was denied on February 19, 1997. Undaunted, it
filed in this Court another Petition for Certiorari, Prohibition and Mandamus. On
September 21, 1998, we referred the Petition to the CA for appropriate action.
This new Petition again essentially sought to annul the final and executory
Decision rendered by the Lapulapu RTC. Needless to say, the new suit was
unsuccessful. Still, this rejection did not stop petitioner. It brought before this
Court the present Petition for Review on Certiorari alleging the same facts and
circumstances and raising the same issues already decided by this Court in G.R.
No. 118633.

First Philippine International Bank v. CA stresses that what is truly

important to consider in determining whether forum shopping exists is the
vexation caused the courts and the parties-litigants by one who asks different
courts and/or administrative agencies to rule on the same or related facts and
 causes and/or to grant the same or substantially the same relief, in the process
creating the possibility of conflicting rulings and decisions.

Petitioner in the present case sued twice before the CA and thrice before
this Court, alleging substantially the same facts and circumstances, raising
essentially the same issues, and praying for almost identical reliefs for the
annulment of the Decision rendered by the Lapulapu RTC. This insidious practice
of repeatedly bringing essentially the same action -- albeit disguised in various
nomenclatures -- before different courts at different times is forum shopping no
less. Because of petitioners actions, the execution of the Lapulapu Decision has
been needlessly delayed and several courts vexed.116[116]

There is forum shopping when two or more actions or proceedings, other

than appeal or certiorari, involving the same parties for the same cause of action,
are instituted either simultaneously or successively to obtain a more favorable
decision.117[117] This Court, in Spouses De la Cruz v. Joaquin,118[118]
explained why forum shopping is disapproved of:

Forum shopping trifles with the courts, abuses their processes, degrades
the administration of justice, and congests court dockets. Willful and deliberate
violation of the rule against it is a ground for the summary dismissal of the case; it
may also constitute direct contempt of court.119[119]

It is undeniable that both LLDHC and GSIS are guilty of forum shopping,
for having gone through several actions and proceedings from the lowest court to
this Court in the hopes that they will obtain a decision favorable to them. In all

116[116] Id. at 315-317.

117[117] Spouses De la Cruz, v. Joaquin, 502 Phil. 803, 813 (2005).

118[118] Id.

119[119] Id.
those actions, only one issue was in contention: the ownership of the subject lots.
In the process, the parties degraded the administration of justice, congested our
court dockets, and abused our judicial system. Moreover, the simultaneous and
successive actions filed below have resulted in conflicting decisions rendered by
not only the trial courts but also by different divisions of the Court of Appeals.

The very purpose of the rule against forum shopping was to stamp out the
abominable practice of trifling with the administration of justice. 120[120] It is
evident from the history of this case that not only were the parties and the courts
vexed, but more importantly, justice was delayed. As this Court held in the earlier
case of LLDHC against GMC: [The] insidious practice of repeatedly bringing
essentially the same action albeit disguised in various nomenclatures before
different courts at different times is forum shopping no less.121[121]

Conclusion

Nonetheless, like we said, substantial justice requires the resolution of this

controversy on its merits. It is the duty of this Court to put an end to this long-
delayed litigation and render a decision, which will bind all parties with finality.

Although it is settled that the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision was not in any way
nullified by the Manila RTC Decision, it is this Courts duty to resolve the legal
implications of having two conflicting, final, and executory decisions in existence.

120[120] Young v. John Keng Seng a.k.a. John Sy, 446 Phil. 823, 832 (2003).

121[121] Lapulapu Development and Housing Corporation v. Group Management

Corporation, supra note 61 at 317.
In Collantes v. Court of Appeals,122[122] this Court, faced with the similar issue
of having two conflicting, final and executory decisions before it, offered three
options to solve the dilemma: the first is for the parties to assert their claims anew,
the second is to determine which judgment came first, and the third is to determine
which of the judgments had been rendered by a court of last resort.123[123]

In Collantes, this Court applied the first option and resolved the conflicting
issues anew. However, resorting to the first solution in the case at bar would entail
disregarding not only the final and executory decisions of the Lapu-Lapu RTC and
the Manila RTC, but also the final and executory decisions of the Court of Appeals
and this Court. Moreover, it would negate two decades worth of litigating. Thus,
we find it more equitable and practicable to apply the second and third options
consequently maintaining the finality of one of the conflicting judgments. The
primary criterion under the second option is the time when the decision was
rendered and became final and executory, such that earlier decisions should prevail
over the current ones since final and executory decisions vest rights in the winning
party. In the third solution, the main criterion is the determination of which court
or tribunal rendered the decision. Decisions of this Court should be accorded more
respect than those made by the lower courts.124[124]

122[122] G.R. No. 169604, March 6, 2007, 517 SCRA 561.

123[123] Id. at 576.

124[124] Heirs of Maura So v. Obliosca, supra note 84.

 Applying these criteria to the case at bar, the February 24, 1992 Decision of
the Lapu-Lapu RTC in Civil Case No. 2203-L was not only promulgated first; it
also attained finality on January 28, 1995, before the Manila RTCs May 10, 1994
Decision in Civil Case No. R-82-3429 became final on May 30, 1997. It is
especially noteworthy that months after the Lapu-Lapu RTC issued its writ of
execution on December 17, 1996, the Manila RTC issued its own writ of execution
on August 1, 1997. To recall, the Manila RTC writ was only satisfied first because
the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 44052 deemed it appropriate to issue a
temporary restraining order against the execution of the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision,
pending the case before it. Hence, the fact that the Manila RTC Decision was
implemented and executed first does not negate the fact that the Lapu-Lapu RTC
Decision was not only rendered earlier, but had also attained finality earlier.
Furthermore, while both judgments reached the Court of Appeals, only Civil Case
No. 2203-L was passed upon on the merits by this Court. In G.R. No. 141407, this
Court resolved LLDHCs petition for review on certiorari seeking to annul the
Court of Appeals Decision in CA-G.R. SP No. 50650. This Court, in dismissing
the petition, upheld the validity of the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision and declared that
the Manila RTC Decision cannot bind GMC. That decision became final and
executory way back on March 10, 2003.

While this Court cannot blame the parties for exhausting all available
remedies to obtain a favorable judgment, the issues involved in this case should
have been resolved upon the finality of this Courts decision in G.R. No. 141407.
As pronounced by this Court in Villanueva v. Court of Appeals125[125]:

The interest of the judicial system in preventing relitigation of the same

dispute recognizes that judicial resources are finite and the number of cases that
can be heard by the court is limited. Every dispute that is reheard means that
another will be delayed. In modern times when court dockets are filled to
overflowing, this concern is of critical importance. x x x.126[126]

In summary, this Court finds the execution of the Lapu-Lapu RTC Decision
in Civil Case No. 2203-L to be in order. We affirm the assailed Orders of March
11, 2004 and May 7, 2004, which reiterate, among others, the October 23, 1997
Order issued by the Lapu-Lapu RTC, directing the Register of Deeds of Lapu-Lapu
City to cancel the certificates of title of LLDHC and to issue new ones in GMCs
name. Whatever rights are due LLDHC from GSIS as a result of the final judgment
of the Manila RTC in Civil Case No. R-82-3429, which we have previously held to
be binding between GSIS and LLDHC, may be threshed out in an appropriate
proceeding. Such proceeding shall not further delay the execution of the Lapu-
Lapu RTC Decision.

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the petition in G.R. No. 167000

is DENIED and the Decision dated November 25, 2004 and Resolution dated
January 20, 2005 of the Twentieth Division of the Court of Appeals are
AFFIRMED. The petition in G.R. No. 169971 is GRANTED and the Decision

125[125] 349 Phil. 99 (1998).

126[126] Id. at 113.

dated September 23, 2005 of the Special Nineteenth Division of the Court of
Appeals is hereby REVERSED AND SET ASIDE.

SO ORDERED.

TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

RENATO C. CORONA
 Chief Justice

Chairperson

PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR. MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO

Associate Justice Associate Justice

JOSE PORTUGAL PEREZ

Associate Justice

CERTIFICATION
 Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify 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 Courts Division.

RENATO C. CORONA
Chief Justice

G.R. No. L-16252 September 29, 1964

ROSARIO MAS plaintiff-appellant,

vs.
ELISA DUMARA-OG and BENIGNO ABALAJON, defendants-appellee.

Benjamin M. Valente and George M. Valente for plaintiff-appellant.

German M. Lopez and Jonas A. Abellar for defendants-appellees.

BENGZON, C.J.:

This is an appeal from the order of the Court of First Instance of Antique dismissing Rosario
Mas' complaint (Civil Case No. 102) for annulment of the judgment Of the Court of First
Instance of Iloilo in its Civil Case No. 4284.

It appears that on February 26, 1957, Elisa Dumara-og and Benigno Abalajon filed against said
Rosario Mas, in the Court of First Instance of Iloilo, an action (Civil Case No. 4284) for the
recovery of a sum of money. On the basis of a confession of judgment signed by Rosario,
decision was rendered in favor of Elisa and Benigno. The same having become final and
executory, the former's properties located in Sebalom, Antique, were levied on execution. And
the legal requirements having been observed, the aforesaid parcels of land were sold to the latter
as the highest bidders in a public auction sale. On June 24, 1958, (one year thereafter), the final
deed of sale was executed to the buyers. A writ of possession duly issued placed such buyers in
possession of the property on December 23, 1958.

Then on March 7, 1959 (two years after the judgment had been rendered), Rosario Mas instituted
in the Court of First Instance of Antique this complaint (Civil Case, No. 102) imputing fraud and
deceit to Elisa and Benigno in the obtainment of the aforesaid judgment. The said complaint
alleged that they had been made to sign the confession of judgment in Civil Case No. 4284
through deceit and misrepresentation. As affirmative defense thereto, and as a basis for the
motion to dismiss, defendants averred that the Court of First Instance of Antique had no
jurisdiction over the subject-matter of the action; that the action should be filed with the same
court that had rendered the controverted judgment. The complaint was dismissed accordingly.
Hence, this appeal.

The dismissal is allegedly erroneous because the instant action falls under Section 44 (a) of
Republic Act No. 296 as amended, which places such kind of actions 1 within the jurisdiction of
the Courts of First Instance; and considering Section 50 of the same republic act, the Court of
First Instance of Antique, the 11th Judicial District is the proper court within which to file such
action. It is also urged that the instant action being a personal action 2 venue thereof is governed
by Sec. 1, Rule 5 of the Rules of Court (at present Sec. 2(b), Rule 4, Rules of Court) which rule
Rosario Mas has observed.

Appellees' answer to the assigned errors rests on the principle that Courts of First Instance are
co-equal and coordinate; that courts of concurrent or coordinate jurisdiction cannot by
injunction, interfere with each other's judgments.1awphîl.nèt

The question is thus condensed: Has the Court of First Instance of Antique authority to entertain
an action to annul the judgment of the Court of First Instance of Iloilo? As collateral question —
what court has jurisdiction over the matter?

The principle has been announced that a judge of a branch of one court should not annul the
order of a judge of another branch of the same court (meaning the same judicial district) because
both of them are judges of the same category who act coordinately and independently of each
other — except of course, if the second judge acts in the place of the first judge in the same
proceedings. 3 Appellant's statement that the action is within the jurisdiction of the Court of First
Instance is correct, and that the venue is within the 11th Judicial District. However, it is incorrect
to lay as premise, the proposition that the Court of First Instance of Antique is the 11th Judicial
District. The true statement is that it is one of the branches of the 11th District. Another of its
several branches is the Court of First Instance of Iloilo. These two courts are of the same class
and category. Both discharge functions which are co-equal in character. Pursuant to the policy of
judicial stability, the judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction may not be interfered with by
any court of concurrent jurisdiction. For the same reason, the power to open, modify or vacate a
judgment is not only possessed by, but is restricted to the court in which the judgment was
rendered.

The power to open, modify, or vacate a judgment is not only possessed by, but is
restricted to the court in which the judgment was rendered. It is regarded as an
elementary principle of high importance in the administration of justice that the judgment
of a court of competent jurisdiction may not be opened, modified, or vacated by any court
of concurrent jurisdiction. (30-A, American Jurisprudence 605) [Emphasis Ours]

The reason for this limitation, especially where fraud is alleged, may be found partly in the fact
that such fraud affects also the court wherein judgment was obtained. (49 Am. Jur. Sec., p. 742.)
It is argued that this action affects title to land in Antique province, and therefore, it should be
filed there. The reply is that such action may only prosper upon the annulment of the decision of
the Iloilo court, which annulment must be obtained in Iloilo.

In one case wherein plaintiff sought to recover real property conveyed by a document allegedly
obtained thru fraud the defendant pleaded the four-year period of prescription for relief from
fraud; but the plaintiff invoked the ten-year period for recovery of real property. We applied the
four-year period, because the action to recover real property may not prosper unless relief from
fraud is first obtained in due time. (See Raymundo vs. Baltazar, 51 Off. Gaz., p. 1329.)

IN VIEW OF THE FOREGOING, the plaintiff's remedy must be sought in Iloilo. So the order
appealed from is affirmed, with costs against appellant.

Bautista Angelo, Concepcion, Reyes, J.B.L., Paredes, Dizon, Regala and Makalintal, JJ., concur.
Barrera, J., took no part.

Footnotes
1
Civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is not capable of pecuniary estimation
is within the original jurisdiction of the Courts of First Instance. Under (h) of the same
Sec. 44 of Rep. Act No. 296, as amended, said courts and their judges, or any of them,
shall have the power to issue writs of injunction, mandamus, certiorari, prohibition, quo
warranto and habeas corpus in their respective provinces and districts, in the manner
provided in the Rules of Court.
2
Appellant's cause of action is founded on Art. 1146 of the Civil Code of the Philippines
which states that actions upon an injury to the rights of the plaintiff must be filed within
four years from the time the cause of action accrues.
3
See cases of Montesa, et al. vs. Manila Cordage Co., L-4550, Sept. 19, 1952; PNB vs.
Javellana, et al., L-5270, Jan. 28, 1953; Ongsinko vs. Tan, et al., L-7635, July 25, 1955;
Mercado, et al. vs. Judge Ocampo, 72 Phil. 318.