SEC vs. Mendoza
SEC vs. Mendoza
DECISION
CARPIO, J.:
The Case
Before us is a petition tor review on certiorari1 assailing the Decision2 dated 30 March 2012 and
Resolution3 dated 6 June 2012 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 89178. cralaw lawlibrary
The Facts
Petitioner Sime Darby Pilipinas, Inc. (Sime Darby) employed Jesus B. Mendoza (Mendoza) as
sales manager to handle sales, marketing, and distribution of the company's tires and rubber
products. On 3 July 1987, Sime Darby bought a Class “A” club share4 in Alabang Country Club
(ACC) from Margarita de Araneta as evidenced by a Deed of Absolute Sale.5 The share,
however, was placed under the name of Mendoza in trust for Sime Darby since the By-Laws6 of
ACC state that only natural persons may own a club share.7 As part of the arrangement, Mendoza
endorsed the Club Share Certificate8 in blank and executed a Deed of Assignment,9 also in blank,
and handed over the documents to Sime Darby. From the time of purchase in 1987, Sime Darby
paid for the monthly dues and other assessments on the club share.
When Mendoza retired in April 1995, Sime Darby fully paid Mendoza his separation pay
amounting to more than P3,000,000. Nine years later, or sometime in July 2004, Sime Darby
found an interested buyer of the club share for P1,101,363.64. Before the sale could push
through, the broker required Sime Darby to secure an authorization to sell from Mendoza since
the club share was still registered in Mendoza’s name. However, Mendoza refused to sign the
required authority to sell or special power of attorney unless Sime Darby paid him the amount of
P300,000, claiming that this represented his unpaid separation benefits. As a result, the sale did
not push through and Sime Darby was compelled to return the payment to the prospective buyer.
On 13 September 2005, Sime Darby filed a complaint10 for damages with writ of preliminary
injunction against Mendoza with the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati City, Branch 132.
Sime Darby claimed that it was the practice of the company to extend to its senior managers and
executives the privilege of using and enjoying the facilities of various club memberships, i.e.
Manila Golf and Country Club, Quezon City Sports Club, Makati Sports Club, Wack Wack Golf
Club, and Baguio Golf and Country Club. Sime Darby added that during Mendoza’s employment
with the company until his retirement in April 1995, Sime Darby regularly paid for the monthly
dues and other assessments on the ACC Class “A” club share. Further, Sime Darby alleged that
Mendoza sent a letter11 dated 9 August 2004 to ACC and requested all billings effective
September 2004 be sent to his personal address. Despite having retired from Sime Darby for less
than 10 years and long after the employment contract of Mendoza with the company has been
severed, Mendoza resumed using the facilities and privileges of ACC, to the damage and
prejudice of Sime Darby. Thus, Sime Darby prayed that a restraining order be issued, pending
the hearing on the issuance of a writ of preliminary injunction, enjoining Mendoza from availing
of the club’s facilities and privileges as if he is the owner of the club share.
On 15 November 2005, Mendoza filed an Answer alleging ownership of the club share. Mendoza
stated that Sime Darby purchased the Class “A” club share and placed it under his name as part
of his employee benefits and bonus for past exemplary service. Mendoza admitted endorsing in
blank the stock certificate covering the club share and signing a blank assignment of rights only
for the purpose of securing Sime Darby’s right of first refusal in case he decides to sell the club
share. Mendoza also alleged that when he retired in 1995, Sime Darby failed to give some of his
retirement benefits amounting to P300,000. Mendoza filed a separate Opposition to Sime
Darby’s application for restraining order and preliminary injunction stating that there was no
showing of grave and irreparable injury warranting the relief demanded.
On 3 January 2006, the RTC denied Sime Darby’s prayer for restraining order and preliminary
injunction. Sime Darby then filed a Motion for Summary Judgment explaining that a trial was no
longer necessary since there was no issue as to any material fact. On 13 March 2006, the trial
court denied the motion. Thereafter, trial on the merits ensued.
Sime Darby presented three witnesses: (1) Atty. Ronald E. Javier, Sime Darby’s Vice-President
for Legal Affairs and Corporate Secretary, who testified that Mendoza refused to give Sime
Darby his authorization to sell the club share unless he was paid P300,000 as additional
retirement benefit and that Sime Darby was compelled to institute the case and incurred legal
expenses of P200,000; (2) Ranel A. Villar, ACC’s Membership Department Supervisor, who
testified that the club share was registered under the name of Mendoza since ACC’s By-Laws
prohibits juridical persons from acquiring a club share and attested that Sime Darby paid for the
monthly dues of the share since it was purchased in 1987; and (3) Ira F. Cascon, Sime Darby’s
Treasurer since 1998, who testified that she asked Mendoza to endorse ACC Stock Certificate
No. A-1880 at the back and to sign the assignment of rights, as required by Sime Darby.
On the other hand, Mendoza presented two witnesses: (1) himself; and (2) Ranel Villar, the same
employee of ACC who also testified for Sime Darby, who confirmed that the club share could
not be sold to a corporation like Sime Darby. In his testimony, Mendoza testified that (1) he owns
the disputed club share; (2) Sime Darby allowed him to personally choose the share that he liked
as part of his benefits; (3) as a condition for membership in ACC, he had to personally undergo
an interview with regard to his background and not the company’s; (4) though he retired in 1995,
he only started paying the club share dues in 2004 because after his retirement, he migrated to
the United States until he came back in 1999 and since then he had been going back and forth to
the United States; (5) in May 2004, he met with Atty. Ronald E. Javier, Sime Darby’s
representative, to discuss the supposed selling of the club share which he refused since there
were still unpaid retirement benefits due him; and (6) ACC recognizes him as the owner of the
club share.
On 30 April 2007, the trial court rendered a Decision in favor of Sime Darby. The dispositive
portion states:
chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered enjoining defendant Jesus B.
Mendoza, from making use of Stock Certificate No. 1880 of the Alabang Golf and Country Club,
Inc., and ordering defendant Jesus B. Mendoza to pay the plaintiff P100,000.00 as temperate
damages, and P250,000.00 as attorney’s fees and litigation expenses.
SO ORDERED.12
Mendoza filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals. On 30 March 2012, the appellate court
reversed the ruling of the trial court.13 The appellate court ruled that Sime Darby failed to prove
that it has a clear and unmistakable right over the club share of ACC. The dispositive portion of
the Decision states:chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
WHEREFORE, in view of all the foregoing, the appealed decision of the Regional Trial Court is
REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Resultantly, the Complaint in Civil Case No. 05-821, is hereby
DISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.14
Sime Darby filed a Motion for Reconsideration which the Court of Appeals denied in a
Resolution15 dated 6 June 2012.
The Issues
The issues for our resolution are: (1) whether Sime Darby is entitled to damages and injunctive
relief against Mendoza, its former employee; and (2) whether the appellate court erred in
declaring that Mendoza is the owner of the club share. cralaw lawlibrary
Section 3, Rule 58 of the Rules of Court, which provides for the grounds for the issuance of a
preliminary injunction, states: chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
(a) That the applicant is entitled to the relief demanded, and the whole or part of such relief
consists in restraining the commission or continuance of the act or acts complained of, or in
requiring the performance of an act or acts, either for a limited period or perpetually; nadcralavvonlinelawlibrary
(b) That the commission, continuance or non-performance of the act or acts complained of
during the litigation would probably work injustice to the applicant; or
(c) That a party, court, agency or a person is doing, threatening or is attempting to do, or is
procuring or suffering to be done, some act or acts probably in violation of the rights of the
applicant respecting the subject of the action or proceeding, and tending to render the judgment
ineffectual.
(1) a right in esse or a clear and unmistakable right to be protected; nadcral avvonlinelawlibrary
(3) that there is an urgent and permanent act and urgent necessity for the writ to prevent serious
damage.
In the present case, petitioner Sime Darby has sufficiently established its right over the subject
club share. Sime Darby presented evidence that it acquired the Class “A” club share of ACC in
1987 through a Deed of Sale. Being a corporation which is expressly disallowed by ACC’s By-
Laws to acquire and register the club share under its name, Sime Darby had the share registered
under the name of respondent Mendoza, Sime Darby’s former sales manager, under a trust
arrangement. Such fact was clearly proved when in the application form17 dated 17 July 1987 of
the ACC for the purchase of the club share, Sime Darby placed its name in full as the owner of
the share and Mendoza as the assignee of the club share. Also, in connection with the application
for membership, Sime Darby sent a letter18 dated 17 September 1987 addressed to ACC
confirming that “Mendoza, as Sime Darby’s Sales Manager, is entitled to club membership
benefit of the Company.”
Even during the trial, at Mendoza’s cross-examination, Mendoza identified his signature over the
printed words “name of assignee” as his own and when confronted with his Reply-Affidavit, he
did not refute Sime Darby’s ownership of the club share as well as Sime Darby’s payment of the
monthly billings from the time the share was purchased.19 Further, Mendoza admitted signing the
club share certificate and the assignment of rights, both in blank, and turning it over to Sime
Darby. Clearly, these circumstances show that there existed a trust relationship between the
parties.
While the share was bought by Sime Darby and placed under the name of Mendoza, his title is
only limited to the usufruct, or the use and enjoyment of the club’s facilities and privileges while
employed with the company. In Thomson v. Court of Appeals,20 we held that a trust arises in
favor of one who pays the purchase price of a property in the name of another, because of the
presumption that he who pays for a thing intends a beneficial interest for himself. While Sime
Darby paid for the purchase price of the club share, Mendoza was given the legal title. Thus, a
resulting trust is presumed as a matter of law. The burden then shifts to the transferee to show
otherwise.
Mendoza, as the transferee, claimed that he only signed the assignment of rights in blank in order
to give Sime Darby the right of first refusal in case he decides to sell the share later on. A right of
first refusal, in this case, would mean that Sime Darby has a right to match the purchase price
offer of Mendoza’s prospective buyer of the club share and Sime Darby may buy back the share
at that price. However, Mendoza’s contention of the right of first refusal is a self-serving
statement. He did not present any document to show that there was such an agreement between
him and the company, not even an acknowledgment from Sime Darby that it actually intended
the club share to be given to him as a reward for his performance and past service.
In fact, the circumstances which occurred after the purchase of the club share point to the
opposite. First, Mendoza signed the share certificate and assignment of rights both in blank.
Second, Mendoza turned over possession of the documents to Sime Darby. Third, from the time
the share was purchased in 1987 until 1995, Sime Darby paid for the monthly bills pertaining to
the share. Last, since 1987, the monthly bills were regularly sent to Sime Darby’s business
address until Mendoza requested in August 2004, long after he retired from the employ of the
company, that such bills be forwarded to his personal address starting September 2004.
It can be gathered then that Sime Darby did not intend to give up its beneficial interest and right
over the share. The company merely wanted Mendoza to hold the share in trust since Sime
Darby, as a corporation, cannot register a club share in its own name under the rules of the ACC.
At the same time, Mendoza, as a senior manager of the company, was extended the privilege of
availing a club membership, as generously practiced by Sime Darby.
However, Mendoza violated Sime Darby’s beneficial interest and right over the club share after
he was informed by Atty. Ronald E. Javier of Sime Darby’s plan to sell the share to an interested
buyer. Mendoza refused to give an authorization to sell the club share unless he was paid
P300,000 allegedly representing his unpaid retirement benefit. In August 2004, Mendoza tried to
appropriate the club share and demanded from ACC that he be recognized as the true owner of
the share as the named member in the stock certificate as well as in the annual report issued by
ACC. Despite being informed by Sime Darby to stop using the facilities and privileges of the
club share, Mendoza continued to do so. Thus, in order to prevent further damage and prejudice
to itself, Sime Darby properly sought injunction in this case.
As correctly observed by the RTC in its Decision dated 30 April 2007: chanroblesvirtualawlibrary
In order for a writ of preliminary injunction to issue, the following requisites must be present: (a)
invasion of the right sought to be protected is material and substantial; (b) the right of the
complainant is clear and unmistakable, and (c) there is an urgent and paramount necessity for the
writ to prevent serious damage. The twin requirements of a valid injunction are the existence of a
right and its actual or threatened violations.
All the elements are present in the instant case. Plaintiff bought the subject share in 1987. As the
purchaser of the share, it has interest and right over it. There is a presumption that the share was
bought for the use of the defendant while the latter is still connected with the plaintiff. This is
because when the share was registered under the name of defendant, the latter signed the stock
certificate in blank as well as the deed of assignment and placed the certificate under the
possession of the plaintiff. Hence, plaintiff did not intend to relinquish its interest and right over
the subject, rather it intended to have the share held in trust by defendant, until a new grantee is
named. This can be inferred from plaintiff’s witness’ testimony that plaintiff required the
defendant to sign the said documents so that the plaintiff can be assured that its ownership of the
property is properly documented. Thirdly, plaintiff’s payments of monthly billings of the subject
share bolster defendant possession in trust rather than his ownership over the share. With this, the
right of plaintiff over the share is clear and unmistakable. With defendant’s continued use of the
subject share despite that he is not anymore connected with plaintiff, and with plaintiff’s demand
upon the defendant to desist from making use of the club facilities having [been] ignored, clearly
defendant violated plaintiff’s right over the use and enjoyment thereof. Hence, plaintiff is entitled
to its prayer for injunction.
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As to [the] second issue, plaintiff claimed for temperate or moderate damages. nadcralavvlawlibrary
xxxx
In the present case, it was established that sometime in July 2004, plaintiff tried to sell the share
but defendant refused to give the authority. Thus, plaintiff was forced to return the amount of
P1,100,000 to the buyer. Additionally, plaintiff cannot make use of the facilities of the club
because defendant insists on enjoying it despite the fact that he is no longer connected with the
plaintiff. With this, the Court deems it proper to impose upon the defendant P100,000 as
temperate damages.
Further, plaintiff having established its right to the relief being claimed and inasmuch as it was
constrained to litigate in order to protect its interest as well as incurred litigation expenses,
attorney's fees are hereby awarded in the amount of 1!250,000.21
In sum, we grant the damages and injunctive relief sought by Sime Darby, as the true owner of
the ACC Class "A" club share. Sime Darby has the right to be protected from Mendoza's act of
using the facilities and privileges of ACC. Since the records show that Sime Darby was dissolved
on 31 December 2011, it has three years to convey its property and close its affairs as a body
corporate under the Corporation Code.22 Thus, Sime Darby may choose to dispose of the club...
share in any manner it sees fit without undue interference from Mendoza, who lost his right to
use the club share when he retired from the company.
WHEREFORE, we GRANT the petition. We SET ASIDE the 30 March 2012 Decision and 6
June 2012 Resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 89178. We REINSTATE the
30 April2007 Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Makati City, Branch 132 in Civil Case No.
05-821.
SO ORDERED.