MARIANO LIM vs. SECURITY BANK CORPORATION G.R. No. 188539, March 12, 2014, Peralta , Peralta , J. SUBJECT MATTER: Suretyship SUMMARY: SUMMARY: Mariano Lim is the surety (Continuing Suretyship) of principal Raul Arroyo for “any and all types of credit accommodations” accommodations” to be granted by Security Bank. Arroyo defaulted, resulting to Security Bank’s dem and for Lim to pay for the said loan. Upon Lim’s failure to comply with the demand, a complaint was filed against Arroyo & Lim. The Arroyos can no longer be located (no summons) thus the RTC judgment was rendered against Lim, making him liable to pay for the amount. CA affirmed said judgment. Petitioner brought this petition to the Supreme Court, contending that he cannot be made liable for a loan that was contracted 6 months after the Continuing Suretyship was executed. The SC held that a Continuing Suretyship is normally entered into by a bank which anticipates entering into a series of credit transactions with a particular company (or client), thereby making it unnecessary to execute a separate surety contract or bond for each financing or credit accommodation extended to the principal debtor. The terms of the Continuing Suretyship are clear between the parties. Petition partially GRANTED, as SC reduced the attorney’s fees, but petitioner is still liable for the loan amount plus interest and penalties. DOCTRINES: A contract of suretyship is an agreement whereby a party, called the surety, guarantees the performance by another party, called the principal or obligor, of an obligation or undertaking in favor of another party, called the obligee. Although the contract of a surety is secondary only to a valid principal obligation, the surety becomes liable for the debt or duty of another although it possesses no direct or personal interest over the obligations nor does it receive any benefit therefrom.
The surety’s obligation is not an original and direct one for the performance of his own act, but merely accessory or collateral to the obligation contracted by the principal. Nevertheless, although the contract of a surety is in essence secondary only to a valid principal obligation, his liability to the creditor or promisee of the principal is said to be direct, primary and absolute; in other words, he is directly and equally bound with bound with the principal. A surety is considered in law as being the same party as the debtor in relation to whatever is adjudged touching the obligation of the latter, and their liabilities are interwoven as to be inseparable.
FACTS: Petition FACTS: Petition for review on certiorari of CA decision & resolution Mariano Lim executed a Continuing Continuing Suretyship in favor of Security Bank Corporation to secure “any and all types of credit accommodation that may be granted by the bank hereinto and hereinafter” in favor of Raul Arroyo for the amount of P2,000,000.00 which is covered by a Credit Agreement / Promissory Note. Surety: Mariano Lim Interest: 19% per annum, compounded monthly Principal or Obligor: Raul Arroyo Penalty: 2% per month on the total outstanding total outstanding principal Obligee: Security Bank Corporation & interest due and unpaid Pertinent stipulations: (slightly rephrased) Liability of surety – The liability of surety is solidary. If any of the Guaranteed Obligations is Obligations is not paid or performed on due date, the Surety shall be immediately immediately liable therefor and shall pay the same without any need for any notice, demand or any other act or deed.
Guaranteed Obligations – obligations of Debtor arising from ALL1 credit transactions, as well as (i) all obligations of the Debtor presently and hereinafter owing to the Bank , and (ii) any and all expenses which the Bank may incur after enforcing any of its rights, powers, and remedies.
Arroyo defaulted on his loan. Thereafter, Lim received a Notice of Final Demand informing him that he was liable to pay the loan of the Arroyos, including interests and penalty fees totaling to P7,703,185.54, and demanding payment thereof. A complaint was instituted against the principal & surety for Lim’s Lim ’s failure to comply with said demand.
RTC Davao Arroyo spouses can no longer be located so summons was not served on them & only Lim actively participated in the case. Judgment rendered against Lim making him liable to pay the following 1. P2-M principal sum + 19% interest from Jan. 28, 1997 until fully paid + 2% penalty interest per month to be computed from Feb. 28, 1997 until fully paid 2. P400k attorney’s fees
1
Including increases, renewals, roll -overs, extensions, restructurings, amendments, and novations thereof
3.
P30k litigation expenses
CA
Only modified the date from where interest will be computed – Aug. 1, 1997 for monetary interest & Aug. 28, 1997 for penalty interest. Attorney’s fees set at 10% of total amount due. P92,321.10 for litigation expenses MR denied
ISSUE (HELD): See other issues for issues raised that were not addressed anymore by the Supreme Court. Main issue: WON petitioner may validly be held liable for the principal debtor’s loan obtained 6 months after the execution of the Continuing Suretyship? (YES) Also discussed by the Court: Reexamination of t he award of attorney’s fees (amount). RATIO DECIDENDI: Nature of a suretyship As elucidated in Philippine Charter Insurance Corporation v. Petroleum Distributors & Service Corporation, a contract of suretyship is an agreement whereby a party, called the surety, guarantees the performance by another party, called the principal or obligor, of an obligation or undertaking in favor of another party, called the obligee. Although the contract of a surety is secondary only to a valid principal obligation, the surety becomes liable for the debt or duty of another although it possesses no direct or personal interest over the obligations nor does it receive any benefit therefrom. As explained in Stronghold Insurance Company, Inc. v. Republic Asahi Glass Corporation, t he surety’s obligation is not an original and direct one for the performance of his ow n act, but merely accessory or collateral to the obligation contracte d by the principal. Nevertheless, although the contract of a surety is in essence secondary only to a valid principal obligation, his liability to the creditor or promisee of the principal is said to be direct, primary and absolute; in other words, he is directly and equally bound with the principal. Continuing Suretyship as described in Saludo Jr. vs. S ecurity Bank As highlighted in Totanes vs. Chinabank (citation in a citation lol), a bank or financing company which anticipates entering into a series of credit transactions with a particular company, normally requires the projected principal debtor to execute a continuing surety agreement along with its sureties. By executing such an agreement, the principal places itself in a position to enter into the projected series of transactions with its creditor; with such suretyship agreement, there would be no need to execute a separate surety contract or bond for each financing or credit accommodation extended to the principal debtor. The terms of the Continuing Suretyship between the parties are very clear, as quoted (see emphasized portion in guaranteed obligations definition in facts). Such stipulations are valid and legal and constitute the law between the parties, as Article 2053 of the Civil Code provides that “[a] guaranty may also be given as security for future debts, the amount of whic h is not yet known;” Thus, petitioner is unequivocally bound by the terms of the Continuing Suretyship. There can be no cavil then that petitioner is liable for the principal of the loan, together with the interest and penalties due thereon, even if said loan was obtained by the principal debtor even after the date of execution of the Continuing Suretyship. Attorney’s fees Article 2208 of the Civil Code does not prohibit recovery of attorney’s fees if there is a stipulation in the contract for payment of the same. However, even if such attorney’s fees are allowed by law, the courts still have the power to reduce the same if it is unreasonable. The award of attorney’s fees amounting to 10% of the principal debt, plus interest and penalty charges, would definitely exceed the principal amount ; thus, making the attorney’s fees manifestly exorbitant. Hence, we reduce the amount of attorney’s fees to 10% of the principal debt only. DISPOSITIVE: Partially GRANTED. CA decision AFFIRMED with MODIFICATION in that attorney’s fees is reduced to 10% of the principal debt only. OTHER ISSUES: 1. Proper computation of the total indebtedness and the amount of litigation expenses Factual matters that were already addressed by the CA; the amount of the proceeds from the foreclosure of the mortgaged properties should have been deducted from the total amount of indebtedness on the date the public auction was held. 2.
Propriety of making petitioner a hostile witness Issue cannot be raised for the first time on appeal; no longer addressed by SC.
