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Petitioner Vs Vs Respondents: Third Division
Petitioner Vs Vs Respondents: Third Division
DECISION
AUSTRIA-MARTINEZ , J : p
This resolves the Petition for Review on Certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court,
praying that the Decision 1 of the Court of Appeals (CA) dated December 16, 2002,
ordering petitioner Manila Electric Company (MERALCO) to pay Leoncio Ramoy 2 moral
and exemplary damages and attorney's fees, and the CA Resolution 3 dated July 1, 2003,
denying petitioner's motion for reconsideration, be reversed and set aside.
The Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City, Branch 81, accurately summarized the facts
as culled from the records, thus:
The evidence on record has established that in the year 1987 the National Power
Corporation (NPC) led with the MTC Quezon City a case for ejectment against
several persons allegedly illegally occupying its properties in Baesa, Quezon City.
Among the defendants in the ejectment case was Leoncio Ramoy, one of the
plaintiffs in the case at bar. On April 28, 1989 after the defendants failed to le an
answer in spite of summons duly served, the MTC Branch 36, Quezon City
rendered judgment for the plaintiff [MERALCO] and "ordering the defendants to
demolish or remove the building and structures they built on the land of the
plaintiff and to vacate the premises." In the case of Leoncio Ramoy, the Court
found that he was occupying a portion of Lot No. 72-B-2-B with the exact location
of his apartments indicated and encircled in the location map as No. 7. A copy of
the decision was furnished Leoncio Ramoy (Exhibits 2, 2-A, 2-B, 2-C, pp. 128-131,
Record; TSN, July 2, 1993, p. 5).
On June 20, 1990 NPC wrote Meralco requesting for the "immediate
disconnection of electric power supply to all residential and commercial
establishments beneath the NPC transmission lines along Baesa, Quezon City
(Exh. 7, p. 143, Record). Attached to the letter was a list of establishments
affected which included plaintiffs Leoncio and Matilde Ramoy (Exh. 9), as well as
a copy of the court decision (Exh. 2). After deliberating on NPC's letter, Meralco
decided to comply with NPC's request (Exhibits 6, 6-A, 6-A-1, 6-B) and thereupon
issued notices of disconnection to all establishments affected including plaintiffs
Leoncio Ramoy (Exhs. 3, 3-A to 3-C), Matilde Ramoy/Matilde Macabagdal
(Exhibits 3-D to 3-E), Rosemarie Ramoy (Exh. 3-F), Ofelia Durian (Exh. 3-G), Jose
Valiza (Exh. 3-H) and Cyrene S. Panado (Exh. 3-I).
In a letter dated August 17, 1990 Meralco requested NPC for a joint survey to
determine all the establishments which are considered under NPC property in view
of the fact that "the houses in the area are very close to each other" (Exh. 12).
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Shortly thereafter, a joint survey was conducted and the NPC personnel pointed
out the electric meters to be disconnected (Exh. 13; TSN, October 8, 1993, p. 7;
TSN, July 1994, p. 8).
In due time, the electric service connection of the plaintiffs [herein respondents]
was disconnected (Exhibits D to G, with submarkings, pp. 86-87, Record).
Plaintiff Leoncio Ramoy testi ed that he and his wife are the registered owners of
a parcel of land covered by TCT No. 326346, a portion of which was occupied by
plaintiffs Rosemarie Ramoy, Ofelia Durian, Jose Valiza and Cyrene S. Panado as
lessees. When the Meralco employees were disconnecting plaintiffs' power
connection, plaintiff Leoncio Ramoy objected by informing the Meralco foreman
that his property was outside the NPC property and pointing out the monuments
showing the boundaries of his property. However, he was threatened and told not
to interfere by the armed men who accompanied the Meralco employees. After the
electric power in Ramoy's apartment was cut off, the plaintiffs-lessees left the
premises.
During the ocular inspection ordered by the Court and attended by the parties, it
was found out that the residence of plaintiffs-spouses Leoncio and Matilde
Ramoy was indeed outside the NPC property. This was con rmed by defendant's
witness R.P. Monsale III on cross-examination (TSN, October 13, 1993, pp. 10 and
11). Monsale also admitted that he did not inform his supervisor about this fact
nor did he recommend re-connection of plaintiffs' power supply (Ibid., p. 14).
The record also shows that at the request of NPC, defendant Meralco re-
connected the electric service of four customers previously disconnected none of
whom was any of the plaintiffs (Exh. 14). 4
The RTC decided in favor of MERALCO by dismissing herein respondents' claim for moral
damages, exemplary damages and attorney's fees. However, the RTC ordered MERALCO
to restore the electric power supply of respondents.
Respondents then appealed to the CA. In its Decision dated December 16, 2002, the CA
faulted MERALCO for not requiring from National Power Corporation (NPC) a writ of
execution or demolition and in not coordinating with the court sheriff or other proper
of cer before complying with the NPC's request. Thus, the CA held MERALCO liable for
moral and exemplary damages and attorney's fees. MERALCO's motion for
reconsideration of the Decision was denied per Resolution dated July 1, 2003.
Hence, herein petition for review on certiorari on the following grounds:
I
In Radio Communications of the Philippines, Inc. v. Verchez , 8 the Court expounded on the
nature of culpa contractual, thus:
"In culpa contractual . . . the mere proof of the existence of the contract
and the failure of its compliance justify, prima facie, a corresponding
right of relief. The law, recognizing the obligatory force of contracts, will not
permit a party to be set free from liability for any kind of misperformance of the
contractual undertaking or a contravention of the tenor thereof. A breach upon the
contract confers upon the injured party a valid cause for recovering that which
may have been lost or suffered. The remedy serves to preserve the interests of the
promissee that may include his "expectation interest," which is his interest in
having the bene t of his bargain by being put in as good a position as he would
have been in had the contract been performed, or his "reliance interest, " which
is his interest in being reimbursed for loss caused by reliance on the contract by
being put in as good a position as he would have been in had the contract not
been made; or his "restitution interest, " which is his interest in having restored
to him any bene t that he has conferred on the other party. Indeed, agreements
can accomplish little, either for their makers or for society, unless they are made
the basis for action. The effect of every infraction is to create a new duty, that is,
to make recompense to the one who has been injured by the failure of another to
observe his contractual obligation unless he can show extenuating
circumstances, like proof of his exercise of due diligence . . . or of the
attendance of fortuitous event, to excuse him from his ensuing liability. 9
(Emphasis supplied)
Article 1173 also provides that the fault or negligence of the obligor consists in the
omission of that diligence which is required by the nature of the obligation and
corresponds with the circumstances of the persons, of the time and of the place. The
Court emphasized in Ridjo Tape & Chemical Corporation v. Court of Appeals 1 0 that "as a
public utility, MERALCO has the obligation to discharge its functions with utmost care and
diligence." 1 1
The Court agrees with the CA that under the factual milieu of the present case, MERALCO
failed to exercise the utmost degree of care and diligence required of it. To repeat, it was
not enough for MERALCO to merely rely on the Decision of the MTC without ascertaining
whether it had become nal and executory. Verily, only upon nality of said Decision can it
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be said with conclusiveness that respondents have no right or proper interest over the
subject property, thus, are not entitled to the services of MERALCO.
Although MERALCO insists that the MTC Decision is nal and executory, it never showed
any documentary evidence to support this allegation. Moreover, if it were true that the
decision was nal and executory, the most prudent thing for MERALCO to have done was
to coordinate with the proper court of cials in determining which structures are covered
by said court order. Likewise, there is no evidence on record to show that this was done by
MERALCO.
The utmost care and diligence required of MERALCO necessitates such great degree of
prudence on its part, and failure to exercise the diligence required means that MERALCO
was at fault and negligent in the performance of its obligation. In Ridjo Tape , 1 2 the Court
explained:
[B]eing a public utility vested with vital public interest, MERALCO is impressed
with certain obligations towards its customers and any omission on its part to
perform such duties would be prejudicial to its interest. For in the nal analysis,
the bottom line is that those who do not exercise such prudence in the discharge
of their duties shall be made to bear the consequences of such oversight. 1 3
This being so, MERALCO is liable for damages under Article 1170 of the Civil Code.
The next question is: Are respondents entitled to moral and exemplary damages and
attorney's fees?
Article 2220 of the Civil Code provides:
Article 2220. Willful injury to property may be a legal ground for awarding moral
damages if the court should nd that, under the circumstances, such damages
are justly due. The same rule applies to breaches of contract where the defendant
acted fraudulently or in bad faith.
In the present case, MERALCO wilfully caused injury to Leoncio Ramoy by withholding from
him and his tenants the supply of electricity to which they were entitled under the Service
Contract. This is contrary to public policy because, as discussed above, MERALCO, being a
vital public utility, is expected to exercise utmost care and diligence in the performance of
its obligation. It was incumbent upon MERALCO to do everything within its power to
ensure that the improvements built by respondents are within the NPC's right of way
before disconnecting their power supply. The Court emphasized in Samar II Electric
Cooperative, Inc. v. Quijano 1 4 that:
Electricity is a basic necessity the generation and distribution of which is imbued
with public interest, and its provider is a public utility subject to strict
regulation by the State in the exercise of police power. Failure to comply with
these regulations will give rise to the presumption of bad faith or abuse
of right . 1 5 (Emphasis supplied)
Thus, by analogy, MERALCO's failure to exercise utmost care and diligence in the
performance of its obligation to Leoncio Ramoy, its customer, is tantamount to bad faith.
Leoncio Ramoy testi ed that he suffered wounded feelings because of MERALCO's
actions. 1 6 Furthermore, due to the lack of power supply, the lessees of his four
apartments on subject lot left the premises. 1 7 Clearly, therefore, Leoncio Ramoy is entitled
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to moral damages in the amount awarded by the CA.
Leoncio Ramoy, the lone witness for respondents, was the only one who testi ed
regarding the effects on him of MERALCO's electric service disconnection. His co-
respondents Matilde Ramoy, Rosemarie Ramoy, Ofelia Durian and Cyrene Panado did not
present any evidence of damages they suffered.
It is a hornbook principle that damages may be awarded only if proven. In Mahinay v.
Velasquez, Jr., 1 8 the Court held thus:
In order that moral damages may be awarded, there must be pleading and
proof of moral suffering, mental anguish, fright and the like . While
respondent alleged in his complaint that he suffered mental anguish, serious
anxiety, wounded feelings and moral shock, he failed to prove them during the
trial. Indeed, respondent should have taken the witness stand and
should have testified on the mental anguish, serious anxiety, wounded feelings
and other emotional and mental suffering he purportedly suffered to sustain his
claim for moral damages. Mere allegations do not suf ce; they must be
substantiated by clear and convincing proof. No other person could have
proven such damages except the respondent himself as they were
extremely personal to him .
In Keirulf vs. Court of Appeals, we held:
"While no proof of pecuniary loss is necessary in order that
moral damages may be awarded, the amount of indemnity being left
to the discretion of the court, it is nevertheless essential that the
claimant should satisfactorily show the existence of the factual basis
of damages and its causal connection to defendant's acts. This is so
because moral damages, though incapable of pecuniary estimation,
are in the category of an award designed to compensate the claimant
for actual injury suffered and not to impose a penalty on the
wrongdoer. In Francisco vs. GSIS, the Court held that there must be
clear testimony on the anguish and other forms of mental
suffering . Thus, if the plaintiff fails to take the witness stand and
testify as to his/her social humiliation, wounded feelings and anxiety,
moral damages cannot be awarded. In Cocoland Development
Corporation vs. National Labor Relations Commission, the Court held
that "additional facts must be pleaded and proven to warrant the
grant of moral damages under the Civil Code, these being, . . . social
humiliation, wounded feelings, grave anxiety, etc. that resulted
therefrom."
. . . The award of moral damages must be anchored to a clear showing that
respondent actually experienced mental anguish, besmirched reputation,
sleepless nights, wounded feelings or similar injury. There was no better witness
to this experience than respondent himself. Since respondent failed to testify
on the witness stand, the trial court did not have any factual basis to
award moral damages to him . 1 9 (Emphasis supplied)
Thus, only respondent Leoncio Ramoy, who testi ed as to his wounded feelings, may be
awarded moral damages. 2 0
With regard to exemplary damages, Article 2232 of the Civil Code provides that in
contracts and quasi-contracts, the court may award exemplary damages if the defendant,
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in this case MERALCO, acted in a wanton, fraudulent, reckless, oppressive, or malevolent
manner, while Article 2233 of the same Code provides that such damages cannot be
recovered as a matter of right and the adjudication of the same is within the discretion
of the court.
The Court nds that MERALCO fell short of exercising the due diligence required, but its
actions cannot be considered wanton, fraudulent, reckless, oppressive or malevolent.
Records show that MERALCO did take some measures, i.e., coordinating with NPC
of cials and conducting a joint survey of the subject area, to verify which electric meters
should be disconnected although these measures are not suf cient, considering the
degree of diligence required of it. Thus, in this case, exemplary damages should not be
awarded.
Since the Court does not deem it proper to award exemplary damages in this case, then
the CA's award for attorney's fees should likewise be deleted, as Article 2208 of the Civil
Code states that in the absence of stipulation, attorney's fees cannot be recovered
except in cases provided for in said Article , to wit:
Article 2208. In the absence of stipulation, attorney's fees and expenses of
litigation, other than judicial costs, cannot be recovered, except:
(1) When exemplary damages are awarded;
(2) When the defendant's act or omission has compelled the plaintiff to litigate
with third persons or to incur expenses to protect his interest;
Footnotes
1. Penned by Associate Justice Marina L. Buzon, with Associate Justices Jose na Guevara-
Salonga and Danilo B. Pine, concurring; rollo, pp. 36-49.
2. Leoncio Ramoy was one of the original plaintiffs who led the complaint with the Regional
Trial Court of Quezon City. However, Leoncio Ramoy died on July 19, 2001. Upon Motion
for Substitution, the CA in its Resolution dated July 1, 2003 substituted Angelina Ramoy-
Sanchez, Bienvenido Ramoy, and Romana Ramoy-Ramos, as plaintiffs-appellants.
3. Rollo, pp. 51-53.
4. RTC Decision dated September 24, 1996, penned by Presiding Judge Wenceslao I. Agnir, Jr.,
rollo, pp. 58-60.
5. Id. at 20.