1. Zamora vs. Court C ourt of Appeals, Ap peals, 183 SCRA 279 , March 19, 1990 Case Ttle : PAULINO ZAMORA, LAURENTINO MEJORADA, PLACIDO JOSON, AGAPITO MEJORADA, EZPERANZA ALAMBAN, CELEDONIO RINAN, POLICARUSO T. BUSIG, FRANCISCO T. PILAPIL, JR., CELSO CABUNGCAG, RICARDO CUGDAN, GERARDO TABON, TERESA MARTEL DY, LINO CACAYAN, PACIENCIA D. MEJORADA, GREGORIO OUANO, JUSTINIANO BAJAO, ROMULO PADILLA, PEDRO ALBA, ANANCORITO AN ANCORITO B. TAN, TAN, BRAULIO REGIS, SEGUNDO ANG, CERUNDIO ACERO, ROSARIO D. TANG-AN, COCOMIA CANETA, EDILBERTO G. BAJAO, EUGENIA N. PUPOS, JACINTO M. BALISTOY, VIDAL T. AGUILAR, LUCIO R. AGUILAR, ESMAEL T. WAHIMAN, ALUD PABULARIO, LEONILA LLORENTE, BERNABE BATAHOY, MODITO JUMARITO, AGUIDO REMEGOSO, ANTONIO TAGAYLO, TAGAYLO, EMELIANO LAGBAS, BRIGIDO AYUMAN, NATIVIDAD NATIVIDAD CABALDO, BERNARDINO DACAR, DACA R, NICOLAS E. YALMORIDA, DAMIAN LAGBAS, HILARIO MAGALLANES, FELIX ABAD, SERVANDO SIMON, GALMACIO BACHARPA, GIL GACATGAT, DEMETERIO JAGAPE, EUSEBIO PADERO, VICENTE MANZANO, JOSE CO, PEDRO BALILI, pe!!"#e$%, &%. HONORABLE COURT OF APPEALS, MEDINA RECREAT RECREATION ION CENTER, INC., FELOMINO DELEGENCIA, JUAN PAN'IAN, MELECIO BERSABAL, CATALINO CATALINO IPANAAG, MAT MATEO EO DELEGENCIA, DEMOSTENES LIMBACO, $e%p"#(e#%.Case $e%p"#(e#%.Case !ature : PETITION " $e&!e) *e (e+!%!"# " *e C"$ " Appe/%. S"lla# Class : Class : Re0e(!/ L)1C!&!/ P$"+e($e1J$!%(!+!"#1E%"ppe/1Appe/1 E2+ep!"# Syllabi : ; Civil ; Civil Procedure ; ; Jurisdiction Jurisdiction ; Jurisdiction over subject 1. Remedial Law matter cannot be changed by agreement of parties or by act of either of them that will contravene the legislative will. + ; Civil ; Civil Procedure ; ; Jurisdiction Jurisdiction ; SEC has jurisdiction 2. Remedial Law over intra-corporate controversy. + ; Civil ; Civil Procedure ; ; Jurisdiction Jurisdiction ; ; Estoppel Estoppel ; he 3. Remedial Law statement made by petitioners with SEC still binding as to estop them from alleging otherwise.+ ; Civil ; Civil $. Remedial Law Procedure ; ; Jurisdiction Jurisdiction ; ; Appeal Appeal ; Exception ; Exception ; !uestion of jurisdiction may be raised at any time" even on appeal# he e$ception announced in ijam vs. Sibonghanoy does not apply here because private respondents from the very start %uestioned the jurisdiction of the C&' of (isamis )riental. +
%vso&: FIRST DIVISION %vso&: %oc'et !um#er !um#er:: G.R. N". 34567
Cou&sel: M$!" D. O$!8, A9%" G. M(e$8", Me" G. De/e9e#+! (o&e&te: CRUZ %spostve (orto&: WHEREFORE, *e ppe/e( (e+!%!"# !% AFFIRMED !# "", )!* +"%% 9!#% *e pe!!"#e$%. I !% %" "$(e Ctato& Ref : SCRA ;34 1 5< SCRA 5= 1 ; P*!/. =; 1 5> P*!/. 5;> 1 < P*!/. =; 1 <3 P*!/. =5 1 <3 P*!/. =>3 1 56 P*!/. >5< 1 =; P*!/. 7;6 1 = SCRA >>; 1 ;; SCRA 554 1 = SCRA >>; 1 7> SCRA 33 1 ;; SCRA 7;< 1 VOL. 183, MARCH 19, 1990 279 Zamora vs. Court of Appeals .R. !o. 7820". Mar#$ 19, 1990.% &A'L(!O ZAMORA, LA'R)!*(!O M)+ORAA, &LAC(O +O-O!, AA&(*O M)+ORAA, )Z&)RA!ZA ALAMA!, C)L)O!(O R(!A!, &OL(CAR'-O *. '-(, /RA!C(-CO *. &(LA&(L, +R., C)L-O CA'!CA, R(CARO C'A!, )RARO *AO!, *)R)-A MAR*)L , L(!O CACAA!, &AC()!C(A . M)+ORAA, R)OR(O O'A!O, +'-*(!(A!O A+AO, ROM'LO &A(LLA, &)RO ALA, A!A!COR(*O . *A!, RA'L(O R)(-, -)'!O A!, C)R'!(O AC)RO, RO-AR(O . *A!A!, COCOM(A CA!)*A, )(L)R*O . A+AO, )')!(A !. &'&O-, +AC(!*O M. AL(-*O, V(AL *. A'(LAR, L'C(O R. A'(LAR, )-MA)L *. AH(MA!, AL' &A'LAR(O, L)O!(LA LLOR)!*), )R!A) A*AHO, MO(*O +'MAR(*O, A'(O R)M)O-O, A!*O!(O *AALO, )M)L(A!O LAA-, R((O A'MA!, !A*(V(A CAALO, )R!AR(!O ACAR, !(COLA- ). ALMOR(A, AM(A! LAA-, H(LAR(O MAALLA!)-, /)L( AA, -)RVA!O -(MO!, ALMAC(O ACHAR&A, (L ACA*A*, )M)*)R(O +AA&), )'-)(O &A)RO, V(C)!*) MA!ZA!O, +O-) CO, &)RO AL(L(, pet4t4o5ers, vs. HO!ORAL) CO'R* O/ A&&)AL-, M)(!A R)CR)A*(O! C)!*)R, (!C., /)LOM(!O )L))!C(A, +'A! &A!6(A!, M)L)C(O )R-AAL, CA*AL(!O (&A!AA, MA*)O )L))!C(A, )MO-*)!)- L(MACO, respo5e5ts. Reme4al La C4v4l &ro#eure +ur4s4#t4o5 +ur4s4#t4o5 over su:;e#t matter #a55ot :e #$a5
(t 4s settle t$at ;ur4s4#t4o5 over t$e su:;e#t matter #a55ot :e #$a5
t$e le<4slature ma= #$a5
% /(R-* (V(-(O!. 280
280 -'&R)M) CO'R* R)&OR*- A!!O*A*) Zamora vs. Court of Appeals rule t$e l45< of a #ompla45t 4t$ o5e #ourt $4#$ $as 5o ;ur4s4#t4o5 over 4t oes 5ot preve5t t$e pla45t4F from l45< t$e same #ompla45t later 4t$ t$e #ompete5t #ourt. *$e pla45t4F 4s 5ot estoppe from o45< so s4mpl= :e#ause 4t mae a m4staGe :efore 45 t$e #$o4#e of t$e proper forum. (5 su#$ a s4tuat4o5, t$e o5l= aut$or4t= t$e rst #ourt #a5 eer#4se 4s to 4sm4ss t$e #ase for la#G of ;ur4s4#t4o5. *$4s $as to :e so as a #o5trar= #o5#lus4o5 oul allo a part= to 4vest t$e #ompete5t #ourt of 4ts ;ur4s4#t4o5, $et$er erro5eousl= or eve5 el4:eratel=, 45 eroe aIrm t$e 545< of t$e respo5e5t #ourt t$at t$e pet4t4o5ers are, a#tuall= su45< as sto#G$olers of t$e #orporat4o5 a5 5ot as mem:ers of t$e asso#4at4o5. *$4s 4s #lear from t$e4r ope545< stateme5t 45 t$e letter#ompla45t t$e= le 4t$ t$e -e#ur4t4es a5 )#$a5*$e pet4t4o5ers #a5 5o lo5
t$e4r a5ser, t$e fa#t 4s t$at t$e stateme5t mae := t$e pet4t4o5ers 45 t$e4r #ompla45t 4t$ t$e -)C as st4ll :4545< o5 t$em as to estop t$em from alle<45< ot$er4se. 281
VOL. 183, MARCH 19, 1990 281 Zamora vs. Court of Appeals -ame -ame -ame Appeal )#ept4o5 uest4o5 of ;ur4s4#t4o5 ma= :e ra4se at a5= t4me, eve5 o5 appeal *$e e#ept4o5 a55ou5#e 45 *4;am vs. -4:o5<$a5o= oes 5ot appl= $ere :e#ause pr4vate respo5e5ts from t$e ver= start uest4o5e t$e ;ur4s4#t4o5 of t$e C/( of M4sam4s Or4e5tal.>/45all=, 4t s$oul :e remem:ere t$at t$e uest4o5 of ;ur4s4#t4o5 ma= :e ra4se at a5= t4me, eve5 o5 appeal, as := t$e pet4t4o5 for #ert4orar4, pro$4:4t4o5 a5 prel4m45ar= 45;u5#t4o5, le := t$e pr4vate respo5e5ts 45 198N. *$e re#or s$os t$at $e5 t$e or4<45al #ompla45t as le 45 t$e Court of /4rst (5sta5#e of M4sam4s Or4e5tal 45 1980, t$e efe5a5ts 4mme4atel= move to 4sm4ss o5 t$e
*$e fa#ts are state 45 t$e op454o5 of t$e Court. Mar4o . Ort4 for pet4t4o5ers. Au
*$4s #ase 45volves a #o5P4#t of ;ur4s4#t4o5 :etee5 t$e Re<4o5al *r4al Court a5 t$e -e#ur4t4es a5 )#$a5
282 -'&R)M) CO'R* R)&OR*- A!!O*A*) Zamora vs. Court of Appeals t$at t$e= are :e45< sue 45 a5 45tra#orporate 4spute #overe := &.. !o. 902A. *$e 4ssue as resolve := t$e respo5e5t #ourt 45 favor of t$e pr4vate respo5e5ts. e are 5o asGe := t$e pet4t4o5ers to rev4e 4ts e#4s4o5 a5 to 5 t$at 4t $as erre. (t 4s 5ot 4spute t$at somet4me 45 19"" t$e pet4t4o5ers a5 t$e pr4vate respo5e5ts or
1 Rollo, p. 127. 2 (:4., p. 130. 3 (., p. 2J2. 283
VOL. 183, MARCH 19, 1990 283 Zamora vs. Court of Appeals t$e= ere su45< as sto#G$olers of t$e #orporat4o5.J *$e efe5a5ts t$e5 move to str4Ge out t$e ame5e #ompla45t a5 also to 4sm4ss t$e or4<45al #ompla45t for la#G of ;ur4s4#t4o5.N *$ese mot4o5s ere e54e o5 +a5uar= 2, 1981, " a5 t$e efe5a5ts le t$e4r a5ser o5 +a5uar= 28, 1981, $ere t$e= re4terate t$e4r mot4o5 to 4sm4ss a5 reserve t$e r4<$t to uest4o5 t$e ;ur4s4#t4o5 of t$e #ourt.7 *r4al folloe. O5 +a5uar= 23, 198N, t$e #ourt pla#e t$e 4spute propert4es u5er re#e4vers$4p.8 O5 Mar#$ 13, 198N, t$e efe5a5ts re4terate t$e4r mot4o5s for re#o5s4erat4o5 a5 to 4sm4ss, a5 upo5 t$e4r e54al o5 +u5e 17, 198N, le 4t$ t$4s Court a pet4t4o5 for #ert4orar4, pro$4:4t4o5 a5 prel4m45ar= 45;u5#t4o5.9 e 4ssue a temporar= restra4545< orer o5 O#to:er 7, 198N, e5;o4545< t$e tr4al #ourt from furt$er pro#ee45< 4t$ t$e #ase a5 t$e5 referre t$e pet4t4o5 to t$e respo5e5t #ourt.10 (5 4ts e#4s4o5 ate !ovem:er 13, 198", t$e 4spos4t4ve port4o5 rea as follos? H)R)/OR), prem4ses #o5s4ere, t$e r4t of Cert4orar4 a5 &ro$4:4t4o5 4t$ prel4m45ar= 45;u5#t4o5 4s $ere:=
J (. , p. J7.
N (. , p. 2J8. " (., p. "". 7 (. , p. 2"2. 8 (. , p. 27J. 9 (., pp. 2N", 272 Re#ors, p. 2. 10 e#4s4o5 pe55e := /ule, +. Me5oa a5 ellos4llo, ++., #o5#urr45<. 11 Herrera v. arreto, 2N &$4l. 2JN Co5#$aa v. 4re#tor of &r4so5s, 31 &$4l. 9J '.-. v. L4ms4a5<#o, J1 &$4l. 9J. 28J
28J -'&R)M) CO'R* R)&OR*- A!!O*A*) Zamora vs. Court of Appeals ter 4s #o5ferre := t$e Co5st4tut4o5 or := la $4le ;ur4s4#t4o5 over t$e perso5 4s a#u4re := $4s volu5tar= su:m4ss4o5 to t$e aut$or4t= of t$e #ourt or t$rou<$ t$e eer#4se of 4ts #oer#4ve pro#esses. +ur4s4#t4o5 over t$e res 4s o:ta45e := a#tual or #o5stru#t4ve se4ure pla#45< t$e propert= u5er t$e orers of t$e #ourt.12 e are #o5#er5e $ere o5l= 4t$ t$e rst G45 of ;ur4s4#t4o5, to 4t, ;ur4s4#t4o5 over t$e su:;e#t matter. *$e pr4vate respo5e5ts po45t to t$e u5e54e fa#t t$at t$e pet4t4o5ers rst le t$e4r #ompla45t 4t$ t$e -e#ur4t4es a5 )#$a5
eve5 4t$out pr4or leave of #ourt :e#ause t$4s as o5e :efore t$e l45< of respo5s4ve plea45
12 a5#o )spaQol /4l4p45o v. &ala5#a, 37 &$4l. 921. 28N
VOL. 183, MARCH 19, 1990 28N Zamora vs. Court of Appeals Appeals. *$at pet4t4o5 $av45< :ee5 #learl= le after more t$a5 four =ears, 4t s$oul 5ot $ave :ee5 <4ve5 ue #ourse := t$e respo5e5t #ourt. (t 4s settle t$at ;ur4s4#t4o5 over t$e su:;e#t matter #a55ot :e #$a5
respo5e5ts. *$e uest4o5 4s, $4#$ as :etee5 t$e to :o4es 4s t$e #ompete5t #ourt EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
13 Mol45a v. e la R4va, " &$4l. 12 Ma54la Ra4lroa Compa5= v. Attor5e=e5eral, 20 &$4l. N23 e +esus, et al. v. ar#4a, et al., 19 -CRA NNJ. 28"
28" -'&R)M) CO'R* R)&OR*- A!!O*A*) Zamora vs. Court of Appeals e aIrm t$e 545< of t$e respo5e5t #ourt t$at t$e pet4t4o5ers are a#tuall= su45< as sto#G$olers of t$e #orporat4o5 a5 5ot as mem:ers of t$e asso#4at4o5. *$4s 4s #lear from t$e4r ope545< stateme5t 45 t$e letter#ompla45t t$e= le 4t$ t$e -e#ur4t4es a5 )#$a5
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
1J Rollo, p. 127. 1N (:4., pp. 20320N. 1" Re#ors, p. 78. 287
VOL. 183, MARCH 19, 1990 287 Zamora vs. Court of Appeals tra5sferre t$e4r propert4es to t$e #orporat4o5 a5 are 5o ma5a<45< t$em to t$e etr4me5t of t$e pet4t4o5erKs 45terests. *$4s 4s u5ou:tel= a matter fall45< u5er -e#t4o5 N of &.. !o. 902A, $4#$ prov4es? -e#. N.>(5 a4t4o5 to t$e re
*$e pet4t4o5ers #a5 5o lo5
288 -'&R)M) CO'R* R)&OR*- A!!O*A*) Zamora vs. Court of Appeals t$em from alle<45< ot$er4se. /45all=, 4t s$oul :e remem:ere t$at t$e uest4o5 of ;ur4s4#t4o5 ma= :e ra4se at a5= t4me, eve5 o5 appeal, as := t$e pet4t4o5 for #ert4orar4, pro$4:4t4o5 a5 prel4m45ar= 45;u5#t4o5,17 le := t$e pr4vate respo5e5ts 45 198N. *$e re#or s$os t$at $e5 t$e or4<45al #ompla45t as le 45 t$e Court of /4rst (5sta5#e of M4sam4s Or4e5tal 45 1980, t$e efe5a5ts 4mme4atel= move to 4sm4ss o5 t$e
17 Va. e Roas v. RaFert=, 37 &$4l. 9N7 &eople v. ue &o La=, 9J &$4l. "J0 Rulo5aAl Aa$4 v. Ast4$, 1"N -CRA 771. 18 La
VOL. 183, MARCH 19, 1990 289 &eople vs. Ca5tu:a #ompete5t forum for t$e resolut4o5 of t$at 4spute 4s 5ot t$e Re<4o5al *r4al Court of M4sam4s Or4e5tal :ut t$e -e#ur4t4es a5 )#$a5A5 45tra#orporate #o5trovers= 4s 4t$45 t$e ;ur4s4#t4o5 of t$e -)C. R4vera vs. /lore5o, 1JJ -CRA "J3.B >>>o0o>>> Zamora vs. Court of Appeals, 183 -CRA 279, .R. !o. 7820" Mar#$ 19, 1990
