BDO Unibank Vs Sunnyside Heights Homeowners PDF
BDO Unibank Vs Sunnyside Heights Homeowners PDF
BDO Unibank Vs Sunnyside Heights Homeowners PDF
ED TRUE COPY
.:r(.;(~"\;\ ~#I:~'
. , , \ 'flJ'i, Lf.-:-·"'
•.• ..."':'.i('
..J .-r •
,..
LA AN
l\epttblit Of tbe ~btltpptnegnivLi,: (,~erk of Court
r.1
~upre1ne TL~'.-~E~:;~;~~~;,
;fffilnniln
QCourt
6
THIRD DIVISION
VELASCO, JR., J,
Chairperson,
- versus - PERALTA,
VILLARAMA, JR.,
REYES, and
JARDELEZA, JJ
SUNNYSIDE HEIGHTS
HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, Promulgated:
INC.,
Respondent. Januar.y 13, 2016
~~
)(--------------------------- ----------------------------------- --------- -------------x
DECISION
REYES,J:
1
Decision 2 G.R. No. 198745
The Facts
Services Section of this Office, refer to one and the same property.
From the foregoing, it has therefore not been established that the
property of respondent Mover covered by TCT [N]o. 366219 which had
been mortgaged and been foreclosed by respondent PCIB, is the very same
property identified as Lot 5, Block 10 and covered by TCT No. 223475,
that was allocated as open space for Sunnyside Heights Subdivision. The
complaint therefore must necessarily fail as it failed to state a cause of
action x x x.11
Upon review of our records on file, lot 5, block 10 was [an] open
space covered by TCT No. 223475; however, in view of the HL[U]RB’s
grant of Alteration of Plan dated 18 May 1987, on which subject property
was involved, the boundaries of above[-]mentioned open space are [sic]
modified resulting to be identified as Block 7 of consolidation subdivision
plan Pcs-000990 covered by TCT No. 366219. x x x.13
11
Id. at 150-151.
12
Id. at 181-187.
13
Id. at 186.
14
Id. at 153-157.
15
Id. at 155.
Decision 4 G.R. No. 198745
SO ORDERED.16
After its motion for reconsideration was denied, PCIB appealed to the
OP. Mover did not appeal.17 In the Decision18 dated November 22, 2007,
the OP found no merit in the appeal, ruling that the HLURB has jurisdiction
over matters related to or connected with the complaint for annulment of
mortgage, as in this case.
In the petition for review filed with the CA,19 Banco de Oro-EPCI,
Inc. alleged that:
16
Id. at 156-157.
17
Id. at 139.
18
Id. at 139-142.
19
Id. at 121-135.
Decision 5 G.R. No. 198745
Banco de Oro-EPCI, Inc. alleged in the main that the HLURB has no
jurisdiction over SHHA’s letter-complaint to annul the mortgage between
Mover and PCIB. In the event that the nullification of the mortgage is
affirmed, it conceded that it was but fair that the mortgagor be also adjudged
to pay interest on the principal loan plus costs incurred.21
On March 11, 2011, the CA rendered the assailed judgment ruling that
“[t]he jurisdiction of the HLURB to regulate the real estate trade is broad
enough to include jurisdiction over complaints for annulment of
mortgage.”22 The CA further noted Banco de Oro-EPCI, Inc.’s argument
that Mover’s obligation was more than the principal amount of
₱1,700,000.00. While the CA could not give credence to Banco de
Oro-EPCI, Inc.’s allegations of expenses it incurred, it acknowledged that
Mover was indebted to Banco de Oro-EPCI, Inc. in the amount of
₱1,700,000.00 as pointed out in the decision of the HLURB Board of
Commissioners. Inasmuch as the amount represents a loan, Mover must also
be held liable for the payment of interest at the rate stipulated in the
mortgage contract. In the absence thereof, the legal rate of 12% per annum
in accordance with Eastern Shipping Lines, Inc. v. CA23 shall be imposed.24
20
Id. at 125.
21
Id. at 133.
22
Id. at 12, citing The Manila Banking Corp. v. Spouses Rabina, et al., 594 Phil. 422, 433 (2008).
23
G.R. No. 97412, July 12, 1994, 234 SCRA 78.
24
Rollo, p. 21.
Decision 6 G.R. No. 198745
SO ORDERED.25
I.
II.
25
Id.
26
Id. at 23-43.
27
Id. at 46-48.
Decision 7 G.R. No. 198745
III.
28
Id. at 58-59.
29
REGULATING THE SALE OF SUBDIVISION LOTS AND CONDOMINIUMS, PROVIDING
PENALTIES FOR VIOLATIONS THEREOF. Issued on July 12, 1976:
Section 3. National Housing Authority. The National Housing Authority shall have exclusive
jurisdiction to regulate the real estate trade and business in accordance with the provisions of this Decree.
Decision 8 G.R. No. 198745
30
IDENTIFYING THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ESSENTIAL FOR THE NATIONAL
SHELTER PROGRAM AND DEFINING THEIR MANDATES, CREATING THE HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATING COUNCIL, RATIONALIZING FUNDING SOURCES
AND LENDING MECHANISMS FOR HOME MORTGAGES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. Issued
on December 17, 1986.
31
Cadimas v. Carrion, et al., 588 Phil. 408, 416 (2008).
32
DEFINING “OPEN SPACE” IN RESIDENTIAL SUBDIVISIONS AND AMENDING SECTION
31 OF PRESIDENTIAL DECREE NO. 957 REQUIRING SUBDIVISION OWNERS TO PROVIDE
ROADS, ALLEYS, SIDEWALKS AND RESERVE OPEN SPACE FOR PARKS OR RECREATIONAL
USE. Issued on October 14, 1977.
Decision 9 G.R. No. 198745
As for the claim that SHHA violated BDO’s right to due process when
on appeal it “belatedly” presented a certification to the HLURB Board of
Commissioners that in May 1987 an approved alteration of the subdivision
plan renamed Block 10 of Sunnyside Heights Subdivision as Block 7 but
retained it as open space, let it suffice that in view of BDO’s continuing
objection to HLURB’s jurisdiction, it cannot now complain that additional
documentary proof has been adduced confirming its jurisdiction. As the
agency tasked to oversee the specific compliance by developers with their
contractual and statutory obligations, such as maintaining the open space as
non-alienable and non-buildable, there is no doubt that the HLURB is
empowered to annul the subject mortgage. For if a party may continually
interpose the HLURB’s lack of jurisdiction, even raising the same for the
first time on appeal, since jurisdictional issues cannot be waived, then BDO
is estopped to complain that on appeal SHHA is finally able to present proof
of HLURB’s jurisdiction over the present action.33
The Court has long recognized and upheld the rationale behind P.D.
No. 957, which is to protect innocent lot buyers from scheming developers,34
buyers who are by law entitled to the enjoyment of an open space within the
subdivision. Thus, this Court has broadly construed HLURB’s jurisdiction to
include complaints to annul mortgages of condominium or subdivision
units.35 In The Manila Banking Corp. v. Spouses Rabina, et al.,36 the Court
said:
39
Supra note 23.
40
Id. at 95.
41
Id.
42
578 Phil. 262 (2008)
43
Id. at 276-277.
44
S.C. Megaworld Construction and Development Corporation v. Parada, G.R. No. 183804,
September 11, 2013, 705 SCRA 584, 609-610; Nacar v. Gallery Frames, G.R. No. 189871, August 13,
2013, 703 SCRA 439, 456.
Decision 11 G.R. No. 198745
SO ORDERED.
~;!#~-111'>'~
BIENVENIDO L. REYES
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
Associate Justice
Decision 12 GR. No. l 9874.5
ATTESTATION
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in
consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the
Court's Division.
CERTIFICATION
~'RlQ13P~
1
v.~
Divi~i~ Clerk of Court
Third Division
FEB D 4 za15