Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Sec. v. Subic Bay Golf
Sec. v. Subic Bay Golf
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* SECOND DIVISION.
482
483
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484
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485
LEONEN, J.:
Intracorporate controversies, previously under the
Securities and Exchange Commissions jurisdiction, are
now under the jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts
designated as com
486
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8 Id.
9 Id., at p. 81.
10 Id.
11 Id.
12 Id.
13 Id.
14 Id., at pp. 7273.
488
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However, these promises were not delivered.17
Villareal and Filart also claimed that despite SBGCCIs
and UIGDCs failure to deliver the promised amenities,
they started to charge them monthly dues. They also never
received any billing statement from them until they were
sent a demand notice to pay the alleged back dues of
P39,000.00 within five (5) days. They were threatened that
their shares amounting to P740,000.00 and paid off in
December 1996 would be auctioned off if their alleged back
dues would not be paid.18 Villareal and Filart prayed for
relief from the terrible situation [they found themselves]
in.19 They also prayed that their letter be accepted as a
formal complaint against Uni
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15 Id., at p. 72.
16 Id.
17 Id.
18 Id., at p. 73.
19 Id.
489
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20 Id.
21 Id., at pp. 7477.
22 Id., at p. 74.
23 Id. The standards referred to were the United States Golf
Association standards.
24 Id., at p. 75.
25 Id., at p. 76.
26 Id.
27 Id., at p. 83.
490
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491
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In the July 1, 2003 Order, the Securities and Exchange
Commissions Corporation Finance Department gave due
course to Villareal and Filarts lettercomplaint:29
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492
The Corporation Finance Department found that Filart
and Villareal invested in the golf course because of
SBGCCI and UIGDCs representation that a 27hole,
worldclass golf course would be developed.31 It also found
that SBGCCI and UIGDC failed to comply with their
commitments and representations as stated in their
prospectus.32
The Corporation Finance Department ordered the
return of the purchase price of shares pursuant to Rule
1433 of the Im
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30 Id.
31 Id., at p. 84.
32 Id.
33 Rep. Act No. 8799 (2000), Sec. 14 provides :
SRC Rule 14 Amendments to the Registration Statement
1. . . . .
....
c. where material amendments have been made to the prospectus
after the effective date thereof, purchasers may . . . renounce their
purchase of securities, whereupon the issuer, or any person acting on
behalf of the issuer in connection with the distribution of
493
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The Securities and Exchange Commission ruled that the
Corporation Finance Departments proceedings were
administrative in nature. It was only conducted to
determine if
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However, jurisdiction over intracorporate disputes and
all other cases enumerated in Section 5 of Presidential
Decree No. 902A had already been transferred to
designated Regional Trial Courts. Section 5.2 of Republic
Act No. 8799 provides:
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Hence, actions pertaining to intracorporate disputes
should be filed directly before designated Regional Trial
Courts. Intracorporate disputes brought before other
courts or tribunals are dismissible for lack of jurisdiction.68
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501
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502
This case is an intracorporate dispute, over which the
Regional Trial Court has jurisdiction. It involves a dispute
between the corporation, SBGCCI, and its shareholders,
Villareal and Filart.
This case also involves corporate rights and obligations.
The nature of the action whether it involves corporate
rights and obligations is determined by the allegations
and reliefs in the complaint.73
Villareal and Filarts right to a refund of the value of
their shares was based on SBGCCI and UIGDCs alleged
failure to abide by their representations in their
prospectus. Specifically, Villareal and Filart alleged in
their lettercomplaint that the worldclass golf course that
was promised to them when they purchased shares did not
materialize. This is an intracorporate matter that is under
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505
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To ensure compliance with the law and the rules, the
Securities and Exchange Commission is also given the
power to impose fines and penalties. It may also investigate
motu pro
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507
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81 Id.
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510
Based on these provisions, Villareal and Filart may be
entitled to a refund of the purchase price of their shares.
Provisions giving shareholders rights, however, are not to
be interpreted as sources of authority or jurisdiction when
there is none. The provisions in the law or in the rules
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Hence, the issue of refund should be litigated in the
appropriate Regional Trial Court. This issue is both intra
corporate
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513
Judgment affirmed.
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Copyright2017CentralBookSupply,Inc.Allrightsreserved.
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