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Supreme Court Reports Annotated Volume 476
Supreme Court Reports Annotated Volume 476
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G.R. No. 151266. November 29, 2005.
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* SECOND DIVISION.
427
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TINGA, J.:
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4 Id., at p. 114.
5 The certified true copy of the Complaint in Special Civil Case No.
521 shows that it was filed on 12 October 1987. Id., at pp. 118-124.
6 Id., at p. 125.
7 A timely motion for reconsideration of the Order of 2 December 1987
filed by respondent spouses was denied by the RTC on 10 June 1988 on
the ground that the acts sought to be enjoined were already
consummated. Respondent spouses appealed to the Court of Appeals. On
16 August 1989, the appellate court affirmed the Orders of the RTC. The
Decision of the Court of Appeals states:
The court a quo likewise observed that the plaintiffs have already filed Civil
Case No. 11185 for Replevin, Breach of Contract and Damages in the Regional
Trial Court of the Tenth Judicial Region, Branch 24 in Cagayan de Oro City.
Considering that the acts sought to be enjoined were already consummated
when the writ of preliminary injunction was served on the defendants-
appellees and taking into account Section 2 of P.D. 385 and considering further
that there is a pending case between the same parties in the Regional Trial
Court of the Tenth Judicial Region, Branch 24 in Cagayan de Oro among others
for the delivery to the plaintiffs of the properties in question, we find the Order
of the court a quo dated 2 December 1987 and the Order dated 10 June 1988
(Motion for
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spouses, as plaintiffs, be
11
made to reimburse the amounts it
paid for the properties.
Petitioners, a defendants, in their
12
Answer with Counter-
claim and Affirmative Defenses, did not deny respondent
spouses ownership of the properties but claimed that they
too advanced some money to purchase the properties. They
add that the money promised by respondent spouses came
in small and inadequate installments, making it impossible
for petitioners to make the plant operational and forcing
them to advance their own money and incur personal
obligations to third parties in order to make the business
productive. They further allege that the loan with DBP was
actually 13with the knowledge and consent of respondent
spouses.
After pre-trial, respondent spouses, as plaintiffs,
presented Lydia Tan as their witness. On 30 May 1989,
respondent Lydia Tan testified that after she and her
husband had agreed to the joint venture, they gave money
in installments totaling P700,000.00 to Raymundo Calo, as
evidenced by cash vouchers and checks. Some of the money
given was used14 to pay for the equipment bought by
Raymundo Calo. In the course of the direct examination,
counsel for petitioners objected to Lydia Tans testimony
that they sent money to respondent spouses after the
equipment had been bought, 15
the same not having been
alleged in the complaint.
After presentation of their witness, counsel for
respondent spouses moved to reset the continuation of trial
as they intended to amend the complaint to make it
conform to the testimony of Lydia Tan. However, before
respondent spouses could present their amended
complaint, they learned that DBP had leased the properties
to a third party. Respondent
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11 Ibid.
12 Id., at pp. 206-211.
13 Id., at pp. 206-211.
14 TSN, 30 May 1989, pp. 5-7, 11-19, 22-36.
15 Id., at pp. 9-11.
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437
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38 Tan, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, 424 Phil. 556, 569; 373 SCRA 524, 536
(2002); Sps. Valenzuela v. Court of Appeals, 416 Phil. 289, 298; 363 SCRA
779, 787 (2001).
439
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39 The full text of Art. 1140 reads: Actions to recover movables shall
prescribe eight years from the time the possession thereof is lost, unless
the possessor has acquired the ownership by prescription for a less
period, according to Article 1132, and without prejudice to the provisions
of Articles 559, 1505, and 1133.
440
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40 Gatmaytan v. Court of Appeals, 335 Phil. 155, 167; 267 SCRA 487,
500 (1997).
41 Solid Homes, Inc. v. Court of Appeals, 337 Phil. 605, 615; 271 SCRA
157, 166 (1997) citing First International Bank v. Court of Appeals, 252
SCRA 259 (1996).
441
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43 Cruz v. Court of Appeals, 369 Phil. 161, 170-171; 309 SCRA 714, 722
(1999), citing Allied Banking Corporation vs. Court of Appeals, 259 SCRA
371 (1996).
44 Ibid.
45 See note 7.
46 Gabionza v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 112547, 18 July 1994, 234
SCRA 192, 198.
443
Petition denied.
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