Professional Documents
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BPI v. St. Michael Medical Center
BPI v. St. Michael Medical Center
Michael Medical
FIRST DIVISION
DECISION
PERLAS-BERNABE, J : p
Before the Court is a petition for review oncertiorari 1 assailing the Decision 2 dated
August 30, 2012 and the Resolution 3dated January 18, 2013 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in
CA-G.R. SP No. 121004 which affirmed the approval of the Rehabilitation Plan of respondent
St. Michael Medical Center, Inc. (SMMCI) by the Regional Trial Court of Imus, Cavite, Branch
21 (RTC) through its Order 4dated August 4, 2011 in SEC Case No. 086-10.
The Facts
Spouses Virgilio and Yolanda Rodil (Sps. Rodil) are the owners and sole proprietors of
St. Michael Diagnostic and Skin Care Laboratory Services and Hospital (St. Michael Hospital),
a 5-storey secondary level hospital built on their property located in Molino 2, Bacoor, Cavite.
With a vision to upgrade St. Michael Hospital into a modern, well-equipped and full service
tertiary 11-storey hospital, Sps. Rodil purchased two (2) parcels of land adjoining their existing
property and, on May 22, 2003, incorporated SMMCI, with which entity they planned to
eventually consolidate St. Michael Hospital's operations. SMMCI had an initial capital of
P2,000,000.00 which was later increased to P53,500,000.00, 94.49% of which outstanding
capital stock, or P50,553,000.00, was subscribed and paid by Sps. Rodil. 5
In May 2004, construction of a new hospital building on the adjoining properties
commenced, with Sps. Rodil contributing personal funds as initial capital for the project which
was estimated to cost at least P100,000,000.00. 6 To finance the costs of construction, SMMCI
applied for a loan with petitioner BPI Family Savings Bank, Inc. (BPI Family) which gave a
credit line of up to P35,000,000.00, 7 secured by a Real Estate Mortgage 8(mortgage) over
three (3) parcels of land 9 belonging to Sps. Rodil, on a portion of which stands the hospital
building being constructed. SMMCI was able to draw the aggregate amount of
P23,700,000.00, 10 with interest at the rate of 10.25% per annum (p.a.) and a late payment
charge of 3% per month accruing on the overdue amount, for which Sps. Rodil, who agreed to
be co-borrowers on the loan, executed and signed a Promissory Note. 11 IcTCHD
In the meantime, after suffering financial losses due to problems with the first building
contractor, 12 Sps. Rodil temporarily deferred the original construction plans for the 11-storey
hospital building and, instead, engaged the services of another contractor for the completion
of the remaining structural works of the unfinished building up to the 5th floor. In this regard,
they spent an additional P25,000,000.00, or a total of P55,000,000.00 for the construction.
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The lack of funds for the finishing works of the 3rd, 4th and 5th floors, however, kept the new
building from becoming completely functional and, in turn, hampered the plans for the physical
transfer of St. Michael Hospital's operations to SMMCI. Nevertheless, using hospital-
generated revenues, Sps. Rodil were still able to purchase new equipment and machinery for
St. Michael Hospital valued in excess of P20,000,000.00. 13
Although the finishing works were later resumed and some of the hospital operations
were eventually transferred to the completed first two floors of the new building, as of May
2006, SMMCI was still neither operational nor earning revenues. Hence, it was only able to
pay the interest on its BPI Family loan, or the amount of P3,000,000.00 over a two-year
period, from the income of St. Michael Hospital. 14
On September 25, 2009, BPI Family demanded immediate payment of the entire loan
obligation 15 and, soon after, filed a petition for extrajudicial foreclosure 16 of the real properties
covered by the mortgage. The auction sale was scheduled on December 11, 2009, which was
postponed to February 15, 2010 with the conformity of BPI Family. 17
On August 11, 2010, SMMCI filed a Petition for Corporate
Rehabilitation 18(Rehabilitation Petition), docketed as SEC Case No. 086-10, before the RTC,
with prayer for the issuance of a Stay Order as it foresaw the impossibility of meeting its
obligation to BPI Family, its purported sole creditor. 19
In the said petition, SMMCI claimed that it had to defer the construction of the projected
11-storey hospital building due to the problems it had with its first contractor as well as the rise
of the cost of construction materials. As of date, only two (2) floors of the new building are
functional, in which some of the operations of St. Michael had already been transferred.20
Also, it was alleged that more than P66,000,000.00 had been spent for the construction
of the existing structure (in excess of its proportionate share of the original estimated cost for
the entire project), said amount having come from the personal funds of Sps. Rodil and/or
income generated by St. Michael Hospital, aside from the drawings from the credit line with
BPI Family. At the same time, Sps. Rodil continued to shoulder the costs of equipment and
machinery amounting to P20,000,000.00, in order to build up the hospital's medical
capabilities. However, since SMMCI was neither operational nor earning revenues, it could
only pay interest on the BPI Family loan, using St. Michael Hospital's income, over a two-year
period. 21
Further, it was averred that while St. Michael Hospital — whose operations were to be
eventually absorbed by SMMCI — was operating profitably, it was saddled with the burden of
paying the loan obligation of SMMCI and Sps. Rodil to BPI Family, which it cannot service
together with its current obligations to other persons and/or entities. The situation became
even more difficult when the bank called the entire loan obligation which, as of November 16,
2009, amounted to P52,784,589.34 (net of unapplied payment), consisting of: (a) the principal
of P23,700,000.00; (b)accrued interest of P7,048,152.74; and (c) late payment charges
amounting to P23,510,400.00. While several persons approached Sps. Rodil signifying their
interest to invest in the corporation, they needed enough time to complete their audit and due
diligence of the company, 22 hence, the Rehabilitation Petition. ISAaTH
In its proposed Rehabilitation Plan, 23SMMCI merely sought for BPI Family (a) to defer
foreclosing on the mortgage and (b) to agree to a moratorium of at least two (2) years during
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which SMMCI — either through St. Michael Hospital or its successor — will retire all other
obligations. After which, SMMCI can then start servicing its loan obligation to the bank under a
mutually acceptable restructuring agreement. 24SMMCI declared that it intends to conclude
pending negotiations for investments offered by a group of medical doctors whose capital
infusion shall be used (a) to complete the finishing requirements for the 3rd and 5th floors of
the new building;(b) to renovate the old 5-storey building where St. Michael Hospital operates;
and (c) to pay, in whole or in part, the bank loan with the view of finally integrating St. Michael
Hospital with SMMCI. 25
The Proceedings Before the RTC
Finding the Rehabilitation Petition to be sufficient in form and substance, the RTC
issued a Stay Order 26 on August 16, 2010. After the initial hearing on October 5, 2010, and
the filing of comments to the said petition, 27 the same was referred to the court-appointed
Rehabilitation Receiver, Dr. Uriel S. Halum (Dr. Halum), who submitted in due time his Report
and Recommendations 28(Receiver's Report) to the RTC on February 17, 2011. 29
In the said report, Dr. Halum gave credence to the feasibility study conducted by Mrs.
Nenita Alibangbang (Mrs. Alibangbang), a certified public accountant and Dean of the College
of Accountancy at the University of Perpetual Help Dalta, who was commissioned in 2008 to
do a study on the viability of the project, finding that the same was feasible given that St.
Michael Hospital, whose operations SMMCI will eventually absorb, registered outstanding
revenue performance for the last seven years of its operation with an average growth rate of
42.21% annually. 30Accordingly, Dr. Halum found that SMMCI may be rehabilitated because it
is a viable option but, nevertheless, opined that it will take more than what it had proposed to
successfully bring the company back to good financial health considering the finding that its
obligation actually extends beyond the bank, and also includes accounts payable due to
suppliers and informal lenders. 31 Thus, he made the following recommendations:
1. The two-year moratorium period to pay the bank is not enough. The Court
should seriously consider extending it by another three years or a total of five
(5) years, at least. The bank, whose loan is secured by mortgages on three
prime parcels of land with improvements should discuss restructuring the loan
with the creditors with the end in view of stretching the term and allowing for
more flexible rate.
2. Obligations to other creditors such as the suppliers and lenders can be serviced
at once. Given the performance of the hospital, the undersigned reasonably
believes that these obligations can be settled in next three (3) years. These
accounts can be paid proportionately provided that [SMMCI] should be allowed
to re-structure these accounts to allow for longer and more convenient payment
terms.
3. [SMMCI] should be allowed to spend for the improvement of the building but not
necessarily continuing with the planned 11-storey building. It should make do
with what it has but should be permitted to spend reasonable part of the
hospital's revenues to improve the facilities. For instance, we recommend that
the fifth floor of the building should be finished to provide for an intensive care
unit or ICU with equipments(sic) and required facilities. [SMMCI] should also
consider spending(sic) an elevator to make access to and from the higher floors
convenient to patients, doctors, nurses and guests. Incidentally, these
improvements should be programmed for the next two to three years. Given the
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budgetary constraints of the hospital, doing all these improvements all at once
would be impossible.
4. Finally, [SMMCI] should provide for details on its statements regarding the
prospective investors. It (sic)true, or in case it happens, then this fresh capital
should be used partly to pay the bank and the rest to improve the hospital to
make it more competitive with the nearby medical service providers.32 DSTCIa
On May 26, 2011, the RTC issued an order requiring the counsels of the
creditors/oppositors to file their comments to the Receiver's Report within ten (10) days from
notice, but only counsel for South East Star Enterprises complied. 33
The RTC Ruling
In an Order 34 dated August 4, 2011, the RTC approved the Rehabilitation Plan with the
modifications recommended by the Rehabilitation Receiver and thus, ordered: (a) a five-year
moratorium on SMMCI's bank loan; (b) a restructuring and payment of obligations to other
creditors such as suppliers and lenders; (c) a programmed spending of a reasonable part of
the hospital's revenues for the finishing of the 5th floor and the improvement of hospital
facilities in the next two or three years; and (d) use of fresh capital from prospective investors
to partly pay SMMCI's bank loan and improve St. Michael Hospital's competitiveness. 35
It cited the following considerations which had justified its approval: (1) the
Rehabilitation Plan is endorsed by the Rehabilitation Receiver subject to certain
recommendations; (2) the plan ensures preservation of assets and orderly payment of debts;
(3) the plan provides for recovery rates on operating mode as opposed to liquidation values;
(4) it contains details for a business plan which will restore profitability and solvency of
petitioner; (5) the projected cash flow can support the continuous operation of the debtor as a
going concern; (6) the plan did not ask for a waiver of the principal; (7) the plan preserves the
security of the secured creditor; (8) the plan has provisions to ensure that future income will
inure to the benefit of the creditors; and (9) the rehabilitation of the debtor benefits its
employees, creditors, stockholders and, in a large sense, the general public as it will generate
employment and is a potential source of revenue for the government.36
Aggrieved, BPI Family elevated the matter before the CA, mainly arguing that the
approval of the Rehabilitation Plan violated its rights as an unpaid creditor/mortgagee and that
the same was submitted without prior consultation with creditors. 37
The CA Ruling
In a Decision 38 dated August 30, 2012, the CA affirmed the RTC's approval of the
Rehabilitation Plan. 39
It found that: (a) the rehabilitation of SMMCI is feasible considering the outstanding
revenue performance of St. Michael Hospital, which it shall absorb, showing its gross profit
exceeding its operating expenses and the large probability of increased profitability due to the
favorable economic conditions of the locality; (b)the approval of the Rehabilitation Plan did not
amount to an impairment of contract since there was no directive for the release of the
mortgaged properties to which BPI Family is entitled to as a secured creditor but only a
suspension of the provisions of the loan agreements; (c) it is not mandatory for the validity of
the Rehabilitation Plan that the Rehabilitation Receiver should consult with the creditors;
and (d) the approval of the Rehabilitation Plan was not made arbitrarily since it was done only
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after a review of the pleadings filed and the report submitted by the Rehabilitation Receiver,
and its approval was anchored on valid considerations. 40
Dissatisfied, BPI Family moved for reconsideration which was denied in a
Resolution 41dated January 18, 2013, hence, this petition.
The Issue Before the Court
The essential issue in this case is whether or not the CA correctly affirmed SMMCI's
Rehabilitation Plan as approved by the RTC. cIDHSC
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to be restored. Perforce, the remedy of corporate rehabilitation is improper, thus rendering the
dispositions of the courts a quo infirm.
II.
In fact, for the same reasons, the Court observes that SMMCI could not have even
complied with the form and substance of a proper rehabilitation petition, and submit its
accompanying documents, among others, the required financial statements of a going
concern. Section 2, Rule 4 of the 2008 Rules of Procedure on Corporate
Rehabilitation47 (Rules), which were in force at the time SMMCI's rehabilitation petition was
filed on August 11, 2010, pertinently provides:
SEC. 2. Contents of Petition. —
xxx xxx xxx
(b) The petition shall be accompanied by the following documents:
(1) An audited financial statement of the debtor at the end of its last fiscal
year;
(2) Interim financial statements as of the end of the month prior to the filing
of the petition; DAHEaT
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[T]he petitioner should provide for details on its statements regarding the
prospective investors. If true or in case it happens, then this fresh capital should be
used partly to pay the bank and the rest, to improve the hospital to make it more
competitive with the nearby medical service providers. 51
In the same manner, the fact that St. Michael Hospital had previously made payments
for the benefit of SMMCI is not enough assurance that the arrangement would prospectively
apply in the event that rehabilitation is granted. As case law intimates, nothing short of legally
binding investment commitment/s from third parties is required to qualify as a material
financial commitment. 52 However, no such binding investment was presented in this case.
B. Lack of Liquidation Analysis.
SMMCI likewise failed to include any liquidation analysis in its Rehabilitation Plan. The
Court observes that as of November 16, 2009, or about 9 months prior to the filing of the
petition for rehabilitation, the loan with BPI Family had already amounted to P52,784,589.34,
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with interest at 10.25% p.a. or a daily interest of about P6,655.48 and late payment charge of
36% p.a. 53 However, with no SMMCI financial statement on record, it is unclear to the Court
what assets it possesses in order to determine the values to be derived if liquidation has to be
had thereby. Accordingly, this prevents the Court fromascertaining if the petitioning
debtor's creditors can recover by way of the present value of payments projected in the
plan, more if the debtor continues as a going concern than if it is immediately
liquidated, a crucial factor in a corporate rehabilitation case. Again, the financial records of St.
Michael Hospital, being a separate and distinct entity whose merger with SMMCI only exists in
the realm of probability, cannot be taken as a substitute to fulfill the requirement. What
remains pertinent are the financial statements of SMMCI for it solely stands as the debtor to
be rehabilitated, or liquidated in this case.
At any rate, records disclose that St. Michael Hospital's current cash operating
position 54 is just enough to meet its own maturing obligations. 55 While it has substantial total
assets, a large portion thereof is comprised of fixed assets, while its current assets 56consist
mostly of inventory. 57Still, the total liquidation assets and the estimated liquidation return to
the creditors, as well as the fair market value vis-à-vis the forced liquidation value of the fixed
assets that would guide the Court in assessing the feasibility of the Rehabilitation Plan were
not shown.
C. Effect of Non-Compliance.
The failure of the Rehabilitation Plan to state any material financial commitment to
support rehabilitation, as well as to include a liquidation analysis, translates to the conclusion
that the RTC's stated considerations for approval,i.e., that (a) the plan provides for recovery
rates on operating mode as opposed to liquidation values; (b) it contains details for a business
plan which will restore profitability and solvency on petitioner; (c) the projected cash flow can
support the continuous operation of the debtor as a going concern; and (d) the plan has
provisions to ensure that future income will inure to the benefit of the creditors,58 are
actuallyunsubstantiated, and hence, insufficient to decree SMMCI's rehabilitation. It is well to
emphasize that the remedy of rehabilitation should be denied to corporations that do not
qualify under the Rules. Neither should it be allowed to corporations whose sole purpose is to
delay the enforcement of any of the rights of the creditors, which is rendered obvious
by: (a)the absence of a sound and workable business plan; (b)baseless and unexplained
assumptions, targets, and goals; and (c) speculative capital infusion or complete lack thereof
for the execution of the business plan. 59Unfortunately, these negative indicators have all
surfaced to the fore, much to SMMCI's chagrin. AECcTS
IV.
While the Court recognizes the financial predicaments of upstart corporations under the
prevailing economic climate, it must nonetheless remain forthright in limiting the remedy of
rehabilitation only to meritorious cases. As above-mentioned, the purpose of rehabilitation
proceedings is not only to enable the company to gain a new lease on life but also to allow
creditors to be paid their claims from its earnings, when so rehabilitated. Hence, the remedy
must be accorded only after a judicious regard of all stakeholders' interests; it is not a one-
sided tool that may be graciously invoked to escape every position of distress.
In this case, not only has the petitioning debtor failed to show that it has formally began
its operations which would warrant restoration, but also it has failed to show compliance with
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the key requirements under the Rules, the purpose of which are vital in determining the
propriety of rehabilitation. Thus, for all the reasons hereinabove explained, the Court is
constrained to rule in favor of BPI Family and hereby dismiss SMMCI's Rehabilitation Petition.
With this pronouncement, it is now unnecessary to delve on the other ancillary issues raised
herein.
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The Decision dated August 30, 2012 and the
Resolution dated January 18, 2013 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 121004
upholding the Order dated August 4, 2011 of the Regional Trial Court of Imus, Cavite, Branch
21 approving the Rehabilitation Plan of respondent St. Michael Medical Center, Inc. (SMMCI)
are hereby REVERSED andSET ASIDE. Accordingly, SMMCI's Petition for Corporate
Rehabilitation isDISMISSED.
SO ORDERED.
Sereno, C.J., Leonardo-de Castro, Bersamin and Perez, JJ.,concur.
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