#2 Spouses Godfrey and Gerardina Serfino, Petitioners, Vs. Far East Bank and Trust Company, Inc.,...

8/13/2019 #2 Spouses Godfrey and Gerardina Serfino, Petitioners, Vs. Far East Bank and Trust Company, Inc., Now Bank of the Philippine Islands, Respondent.

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Abuse of Rights

SPOUSES GODFREY and GERARDINA SERFINO, petitioners, vs FAR EAS! "AN#

AND !RUS! $O%PANY, IN$, no& "AN# OF !'E P'I(IPPINE IS(ANDS, respondent

G.R. No. 171845. October 10, 2012. Brion

Same; Human Relation; !bue o" Ri#$t; %$e element o" abue o" ri#$t are& 'a( t$ere i a

le#al ri#$t or )ut*; 'b( e+ercie) in ba) "ait$; an) 'c( "or t$e ole intent o" re-u)icin# or

in-urin# anot$er./n)er !rticle 221 o" t$e iil o)e, moral )ama#e are recoerable "or

act re"erre) to in !rticle 21 o" t$e iil o)e. !rticle 21 o" t$e iil o)e, in con-unction 3it$

!rticle 1 o" t$e iil o)e, i art o" t$e caue o" action no3n in t$i -uri)iction a abue

o" ri#$t.6 %$e element o" abue o" ri#$t are& 'a( t$ere i a le#al ri#$t or )ut*; 'b( e+ercie)

in ba) "ait$; an) 'c( "or t$e ole intent o" re-u)icin# or in-urin# anot$er.

Ban an) Banin#; %$e ban $a a )ut* not to releae t$e )eoit unreaonabl* earl*

a"ter a t$ir) art* mae no3n $i a)ere claim to t$e ban )eoit.%$e oue Ser"ino

inoe !merican common la3 t$at imoe a )ut* uon a ban receiin# a notice o" a)ere

claim to t$e "un) in a )eoitor account to "reee t$e account "or a reaonable len#t$ o"time, u""icient to allo3 t$e a)ere claimant to intitute le#al rocee)in# to en"orce $i

ri#$t to t$e "un). 9n ot$er 3or), t$e ban $a a )ut* not to releae t$e )eoit

unreaonabl* earl* a"ter a t$ir) art* mae no3n $i a)ere claim to t$e ban )eoit.

!cno3le)#in# t$at no uc$ )ut* i imoe) b* la3 in t$i -uri)iction, t$e oue Ser"ino

a t$e ourt to a)ot t$i "orei#n rule. %o a)ot t$e "orei#n rule, $o3eer, #oe be*on) t$e

o3er o" t$i ourt to romul#ate rule #oernin# lea)in#, ractice an) roce)ure in all

court. %$e rule re"lect a matter o" olic* t$at i better a))ree) b* t$e ot$er branc$e o"

#oernment, articularl*, t$e Ban#o Sentral n# :iliina, 3$ic$ i t$e a#enc* t$at

uerie t$e oeration an) actiitie o" ban, an) 3$ic$ $a t$e o3er to iue rule o"

con)uct or t$e etabli$ment o" tan)ar) o" oeration "or uni"orm alication to all

intitution or "unction coere).


2/10

Nature):>%9%9ON "or reie3 on certiorari o" t$e )eciion o" t$e Re#ional %rial ourt o"

Bacolo) it*, Br. 41.

Fa*ts)

1. :etitioner oue Ser"ino "ile) an action "or collection o" um o" mone* a#aint oue

orte

2. "+ &a+ of sett-ent, the spouses Serfino and spouses $orte. e/e*uted a

*o-pro-ise agree-ent &here oue orte acno3le)#e) t$eir in)ebte)ne to

t$e oue Ser"ino in t$e amount o" :108,245.71.

@. %o ati"* t$e )ebt, Aa#)alena boun) $erel" to a* in "ull t$e -u)#ment )ebt out o" $er

retirement bene"it.at Ban an) %rut oman*, 9nc. 'C>B%(.

. ! o" !ril 2@, 1, Grace ain# account 3it$ C>B% amounte) to :245,8@0.@7, t$e

entire )eoit comin#b"rom Aa#)alena retirement bene"it.

7. %$at ame )a*, t$e oue Ser"ino counel ent t3o letter to C>B% in"ormin# t$e

ban t$at t$e )eoit in Grace name 3a o3ne) b* t$e oue Ser"ino b* irtue o" an

ai#nment ma)e in t$eir "aor b* t$e oue orte. %$e letter re=uete) C>B% to

reent t$e )elier* o" t$e )eoit to eit$er Grace or t$e oue orte until it actual

o3ner$i $a been reole) in court.

8. %$e etitioner?oue Ser"ino "ile) a cae a#aint oue orte an) C>B% "or

reocer* o" moen* on )eoit an) a*ment o" )ama#e 3it$ reliminar* attac$ment.

. On !ril 2, 1, Grace 3it$)re3 :150,000.00 "rom $er ain# account 3it$ C>B%.

On t$e ame )a*, t$e oue Ser"ino ent anot$er letter to C>B% in"ormin# it o" t$e

en)in# action; attac$e) to t$e letter 3a a co* o" t$e comlaint "ile) a iil ae No.

5?@44.

Durin# t$e en)enc* o" iil ae No. 5?@44, t$e oue orte mani"ete) t$at t$e*

3ere turnin# oer t$e balance o" t$e )eoit in C>B% 'amountin# to :54,[email protected]( to t$e

oue Ser"ino a artial a*ment o" t$eir obli#ation un)er t$e comromie -u)#ment. %$e

R% iue) an or)er )ate) Eul* @0, 17, aut$oriin# C>B% to turn oer t$e balance o" t$e

)eoit to t$e oue Ser"ino.


3/10

On Cebruar* 2@, 200, t$e R% iue) t$e aaile) )eciion 'a( "in)in# t$e oue orte,

Grace an) Dante liable "or "rau)ulentl* )iertin# t$e amount )ue t$e oue Ser"ino, but

'b( abolin# C>B% "rom an* liabilit* "or allo3in# Grace to 3it$)ra3 t$e )eoit. %$e R%

)eclare) t$at

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

8 %3o )eoit 3ere ma)e in Grace ain# account& a c$ec )eoit in t$e amount o"

:55,8@0.@7 3a ma)e on !ril 12, 1, t$e c$ec 3a iue) to Aa#)alena an) in)ore)

b* $er in "aor o" Grace; an) a ca$ )eoit o" :10,000.00 3a ma)e on !ril 1, 1 'i).,

at . 45(.

C>B% 3a not a art* to t$e comromie -u)#ment; C>B% 3a t$u not c$ar#eable 3it$

notice o" t$e artie a#reement, a t$ere 3a no ali) court or)er or rocee re=uirin# it

to 3it$$ol) a*ment o" t$e )eoit. Gien t$e nature o" ban )eoit, C>B% 3a rimaril*

boun) b* it contract o" loan 3it$ Grace. %$ere 3a, t$ere"ore, no le#al -uti"ication "or t$e

ban to re"ue a*ment o" t$e account, not3it$tan)in# t$e claim o" t$e oue Ser"ino a

tate) in t$eir t$ree letter.

%$e :artie !r#ument

%$e oue Ser"ino aeale) t$e R% rulin# abolin# C>B% "rom liabilit* "or allo3in# t$e

3it$)ra3al o" t$e )eoit. %$e* alle#e t$at t$e R% cite) no le#al bai "or )eclarin# t$at

onl* a court or)er or roce can -uti"* t$e 3it$$ol)in# o" t$e )eoit in Grace name.

Since C>B% 3a in"orme) o" t$eir a)ere claim a"ter t$e* ent t$ree letter, t$e* claim

t$at&

u. 77 an) in)trom

. Ban o" Eameto3n, 154 Aic. 55@, 278 N.I.S @, bot$ cae cite) in !ntonio Jira*,

Han)booo on Ban Deoit '188 reie) e).(.

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S/:R>A> O/R% R>:OR%S !NNO%!%>D

Ser"ino . Car >at Ban an) %rut oman*, 9nc.

!i)e "rom t$e t$ree letter, C>B% $oul) be )eeme) boun) b* t$e comromie -u)#ment,

ince !rticle 125 o" t$e iil o)e tate t$at an ai#nment o" cre)it bin) t$ir) eron i"

it aear in a ublic intrument.10 %$e* conclu)e t$at C>B%, $ain# been noti"ie) o" t$eira)ere claim, $oul) not $ae allo3e) Grace to 3it$)ra3 t$e )eoit.

$ile t$e* acno3le)#e) t$at ban )eoit are #oerne) b* t$e iil o)e roiion on

loan, t$e oue Ser"ino alle#e t$at t$e roiion on oluntar* )eoit $oul) al* b*

analo#* in t$i cae, articularl* !rticle 188 o" t$e iil o)e, 3$ic$ tate&

!rticleK188. %$e t$in# )eoite) mut be returne) to t$e )eoitor uon )eman), een

t$ou#$ a eci"ie) erio) or time "or uc$ return ma* $ae been "i+e).

%$i roiion $all not al* 3$en t$e t$in# i -u)iciall* attac$e) 3$ile in t$e )eoitar*

oeion, or $oul) $e $ae been noti"ie) o" t$e ooition o" a t$ir) eron to t$e return

or t$e remoal o" t$e t$in# )eoite). 9n t$ee cae, t$e )eoitar* mut imme)iatel*in"orm t$e )eoitor o" t$e attac$ment or ooition.

Bae) on !rticle 188 o" t$e iil o)e, t$e )eoitor* i not obli#e) to return t$e t$in# to

t$e )eoitor i" noti"ie) o" a t$ir) art* a)ere claim.

B* allo3in# Grace to 3it$)ra3 t$e )eoit t$at i )ue t$em un)er t$e comromie

-u)#ment, t$e oue Ser"ino claim t$at C>B% committe) an actionable 3ron# t$at

entitle t$em to t$e a*ment o" actual an) moral )ama#e.

C>B%, on t$e ot$er $an), init on t$e correctne o" t$e R% rulin#. 9t claim t$at it i not

boun) b* t$e comromie

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

10 !rticleK125. !n ai#nment o" cre)it, ri#$t or action $all ro)uce no e""ect a a#aint

t$ir) eron, unle it aear in a ublic intrument, or t$e intrument i recor)e) in t$e

Re#itr* o" :roert* in cae t$e ai#nment inole real roert*.

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JO. 8@, O%OB>R 10, 2012

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-u)#ment, but onl* b* it contract o" loan 3it$ it )eoitor. ! a loan, t$e ban )eoit i

o3ne) b* t$e ban; $ence, t$e oue Ser"ino claim o" o3ner$i oer it i erroneou.


5/10

Bae) on t$ee ar#ument, t$e cae eentiall* inole a )etermination o" t$e obli#ation o"

ban to a t$ir) art* 3$o claim ri#$t oer a ban )eoit tan)in# in t$e name o"

anot$er.

%$e ourt Rulin#

e "in) t$e etition unmeritoriou an) ee no reaon to reere t$e R% rulin#.

laim "or actual )ama#e not

meritoriou becaue t$ere coul) be

no ecuniar* lo t$at $oul) be

comenate) i" t$ere 3a no a?

i#nment o" cre)it

%$e oue Ser"ino claim "or )ama#e a#aint C>B% i remie) on t$eir claim o"

o3ner$i o" t$e )eoit 3it$ C>B%. %$e )eoit conit o" Aa#)alena retirement

bene"it, 3$ic$ t$e oue Ser"ino claim to $ae been ai#ne) to t$em un)er t$e

comromie -u)#ment. %$at t$e retirement bene"it 3ere )eoite) in Grace ain#

account 3it$ C>B% uoe)l* )i) not )iet t$em o" o3ner$i o" t$e amount, a t$e

mone* alrea)* belon# to t$e oue Ser"ino< $ain# been abolutel* ai#ne) to t$em

an) contructiel* )eliere) b* irtue o" t$e + + + ublic intrument.B% 3a )ut* boun) to rotect t$eir ri#$t b* reentin# t$e 3it$)ra3al o" t$e )eoit

ince t$e ban $a) been noti"ie) o" t$e ai#nment an) o" t$eir claim.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

11 Rollo, . 154.

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e "in) no bai to uort t$e oue Ser"ino claim o" o3ner$i o" t$e )eoit.

!n ai#nment o" cre)it i an a#reement b* irtue o" 3$ic$ t$e o3ner o" a cre)it, no3n a

t$e ai#nor, b* a le#al caue, uc$ a ale, )ation in a*ment, e+c$an#e or )onation, an)

3it$out t$e conent o" t$e )ebtor, tran"er $i cre)it an) acceor* ri#$t to anot$er,

no3n a t$e ai#nee, 3$o ac=uire t$e o3er to en"orce it to t$e ame e+tent a t$e

ai#nor coul) en"orce it a#aint t$e )ebtor. 9t ma* be in t$e "orm o" ale, but at time it

ma* contitute a )ation in a*ment, uc$ a 3$en a )ebtor, in or)er to obtain a releae


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"rom $i )ebt, ai#n to $i cre)itor a cre)it $e $a a#aint a t$ir) eron.612 ! a )ation in

a*ment, t$e ai#nment o" cre)it oerate a a mo)e o" e+tin#ui$in# t$e obli#ation;1@ t$e

)elier* an) tranmiion o" o3ner$i o" a t$in# 'in t$i cae, t$e cre)it )ue "rom a t$ir)

eron( b* t$e )ebtor to t$e cre)itor i accete) a t$e e=uialent o" t$e er"ormance o" t$e

obli#ation.14

%$e term o" t$e comromie -u)#ment, $o3eer, )i) not cone* an intent to e=uate t$eai#nment o" Aa#)alena retirement bene"it 't$e cre)it( a t$e e=uialent o" t$e a*ment

o" t$e )ebt )ue t$e oue Ser"ino 't$e obli#ation(. %$ere 3a actuall* no ai#nment o"

cre)it; i" at all, t$e comromie -u)#ment merel* i)enti"ie) t$e "un) "rom 3$ic$ a*ment "or

t$e -u)#ment )ebt 3oul) be ource)&

'c( %$at be"ore t$e lainti"" "ile a motion "or e+ecution o" t$e )eciion or or)er bae) on

t$i< omromie !#reement, t$e )e"en)ant, Aa#)alena orte un)ertae< an) bin)at Ban an) %rut oman*, 9nc.

"it a ocal %


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9n t$e reent cae, t$e -u)#ment )ebt 3a not e+tin#ui$e) b* t$e mere )ei#nation in t$e

comromie -u)#ment o" Aa#)alena retirement bene"it a t$e "un) "rom 3$ic$ a*ment

$all be ource). %$at t$e comromie a#reement aut$orie recoure in cae o" )e"ault on

ot$er e+ecutable roertie o" t$e oue orte, to ati"* t$e -u)#ment )ebt, "urt$er

uort our concluion t$at t$ere 3a no ai#nment o" Aa#)alena cre)it 3it$ t$e GS9S

t$at 3oul) $ae e+tin#ui$e) t$e obli#ation.

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

15 Rollo, . 148.

1 Sura note 12.

17 9)., at . 4@.

18 9)., at . 4@7.

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%$e comromie -u)#ment in t$i cae alo )i) not #ie t$e uoe) ai#nee, t$e

oue Ser"ino, t$e o3er to en"orce Aa#)alena cre)it a#aint t$e GS9S. 9n "act, t$e

oue Ser"ino are ro$ibite) "rom en"orcin# t$eir claim until a"ter t$e lae o" one '1(

3ee "rom Aa#)alena receit o" $er retirement bene"it&

')( %$at t$e lainti"" $all re"rain "rom $ain# t$e -u)#ment bae) uon t$i omromie

!#reement e+ecute) until a"ter one '1( 3ee "rom receit b* t$e )e"en)ant, Aa#)alena

orte o" $er retirement bene"it "rom t$e GS9S< but "ail to a* 3it$in t$e ai) erio) t$e

)e"en)ant -u)#ment )ebt in t$i cae, in 3$ic$ cae t$i< omromie !#reement ma*

be< e+ecute) uon an* roert* o" t$e )e"en)ant t$at are ub-ect to e+ecution uon

motion b* t$e lainti"".1

!n ai#nment o" cre)it not onl* entitle t$e ai#nee to t$e cre)it itel", but alo #ie $im

t$e o3er to en"orce it a a#aint t$e )ebtor o" t$e ai#nor.

Since no ali) ai#nment o" cre)it too lace, t$e oue Ser"ino cannot ali)l* claim

o3ner$i o" t$e retirement bene"it t$at 3ere )eoite) 3it$ C>B%. it$out o3ner$i

ri#$t oer t$e amount, t$e* u""ere) no ecuniar* lo t$at $a to be comenate) b*

actual )ama#e. %$e #rant o" actual )ama#e reuoe t$at t$e claimant u""ere) a )ul*

roen ecuniar* lo.20

laim "or moral )ama#e not

meritoriou becaue no )ut* e+it


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on t$e art o" t$e ban to rotect

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

1 Rollo, . 14.

20 iil o)e, !rticle 21. >+cet a roi)e) b* la3 or b* tiulation, one i entitle) to ana)e=uate comenation onl* "or uc$ ecuniar* lo u""ere) b* $im a $e $a )ul* roen.

Suc$ comenation i re"erre) to a actual or comenator* )ama#e.

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interet o" t$ir) eron claimin#

)eoit in t$e name o" anot$er

/n)er !rticle 221 o" t$e iil o)e, moral )ama#e are recoerable "or act re"erre) to in

!rticle 21 o" t$e iil o)e.21 !rticle 21 o" t$e iil o)e, in con-unction 3it$ !rticle 1 o"

t$e iil o)e, i art o" t$e caue o" action no3n in t$i -uri)iction a abue o" ri#$t.6

%$e element o" abue o" ri#$t are& 'a( t$ere i a le#al ri#$t or )ut*; 'b( e+ercie) in ba)

"ait$; an) 'c( "or t$e ole intent o" re-u)icin# or in-urin# anot$er.

%$e oue Ser"ino inoe !merican common la3 t$at imoe a )ut* uon a ban

receiin# a notice o" a)ere claim to t$e "un) in a )eoitor account to "reee t$e account

"or a reaonable len#t$ o" time, u""icient to allo3 t$e a)ere claimant to intitute le#al

rocee)in# to en"orce $i ri#$t to t$e "un).22 9n ot$er 3or), t$e ban $a a )ut* not to

releae t$e )eoit unreaonabl* earl* a"ter a t$ir) art* mae no3n $i a)ere claim

to t$e ban )eoit. !cno3le)#in# t$at no uc$ )ut* i imoe) b* la3 in t$i -uri)iction,

t$e oue Ser"ino a t$e ourt to a)ot t$i "orei#n rule.2@

%o a)ot t$e "orei#n rule, $o3eer, #oe be*on) t$e o3er o" t$i ourt to romul#ate rule

#oernin# lea)in#, ractice an) roce)ure in all court.24 %$e rule re"lect a matter o"

olic* t$at i better a))ree) b* t$e ot$er branc$e o" #oernment, articularl*, t$e

Ban#o Sentral n# :iliina, 3$ic$ i t$e a#enc* t$at uerie t$e oeration an) actii?

FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF

21 !rticleK21. !n* eron 3$o 3ill"ull* caue lo or in-ur* to anot$er in a manner t$at i

contrar* to moral, #oo) cutom, or ublic olic* $all comenate t$e latter "or t$e

)ama#e.

22 See E. !)am S$olar, Ban Deoit& %$e Nee) "or an !)ere laim Statute in Nort$

arolina, @1 ambell . Re. 1, 4 'Call 2008(.


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2@ Rollo, . 1@?14.

24 ontitution, !rticle J999, Section 5'5(.

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tie o" ban, an) 3$ic$ $a t$e o3er to iue rule o" con)uct or t$e etabli$ment o"

tan)ar) o" oeration "or uni"orm alication to all intitution or "unction coere).


10/10

JO. 8@, O%OB>R 10, 2012

@@


H>R>COR>, in ie3 o" t$e "ore#oin#, t$e etition "or reie3 on certiorari i D>N9>D, an)t$e )eciion )ate) Cebruar* 2@, 200 o" t$e Re#ional %rial ourt o" Bacolo) it*, Branc$ 41,

in iil ae No. 5?@44 i !CC9RA>D. ot a#aint t$e etitioner.

SO ORD>R>D.

ario '$aireron(, Del atillo, :ere an) :erla?Bernabe, EE., concur.

:etition )enie), -u)#ment a""irme).

Note.%$e ai#nment o" a cre)it inclu)e all t$e acceor* ri#$t, uc$ a a #uarant*,

mort#a#e, le)#e or re"erence. '/nite) :lanter Su#ar Aillin# o., 9nc. . ourt o" !eal,

58@ SR! @ 200

#2 Spouses Godfrey and Gerardina Serfino, Petitioners, Vs. Far East Bank and Trust Company, Inc.,...

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Transcript of #2 Spouses Godfrey and Gerardina Serfino, Petitioners, Vs. Far East Bank and Trust Company, Inc.,...