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165562-2010-Land Bank of The Phils. v. Rivera20210424-12-1eau2xv
165562-2010-Land Bank of The Phils. v. Rivera20210424-12-1eau2xv
165562-2010-Land Bank of The Phils. v. Rivera20210424-12-1eau2xv
DECISION
PEREZ, J : p
LBP filed a Motion for Reconsideration 10 which the RTC denied in its
Order dated 29 October 2004. 11
LBP next filed a petition for Review to the Court of Appeals docketed as
CA G.R. SP No. 87463. The Court of Appeals rendered a decision dated 9
October 2007, the fallo of which reads: 12
WHEREFORE, the DECISION DATED OCTOBER 6, 2004 is
MODIFIED, ordering petitioner LAND BANK OF THE PHILIPPINES to pay
to the respondents just compensation (inclusive of interests as of
October 6, 2004) in the amount of P823,957.23, plus interest of 12%
per annum on the amount of P515,777.57, or P61,893.30 per annum,
beginning October 7, 2004 until the just compensation is fully paid in
accordance with this decision.
WHERE: P = Php164,059.26
R = 6% per annum
N = 22 years
COMPUTATION:
CA = 164,059.26 x (1+06) 22
CA = 164,059.26 x (1.06) 22
CA = 164,059.26 x 3.60353741
CA = Php591,193.68
Plus simple interest of 12% per annum from October 22, 1994 up
to October 21, 2003, the formula of which is:
I=PxRxT
I = (591,193.68 x .12) x
350
——————————
350
I = 194.3605 x 350
I = Php68,027.77
———————
Total Interest Php706,516.95
===========
RECAPITULATION:
Compounded Php591,193.68
Amount
Total Interest 706,516.95
—————————
TOTAL AMOUNT Php1,297,710.63
=============
LBP disagreed with the imposition of 12% interest and its liability to
pay the costs of suit. It filed a Motion for Reconsideration which was denied
in the Court of Appeals' Resolution dated 18 March 2008.
The Court of Appeals held:
We DENY the petitioner's motion for partial reconsideration for
the following reasons, to wit:
1.Anent the first ground, the decision of October 9, 2007 has
explained in detail why the obligation of the petitioner should be
charged 12% interest. Considering that the motion fails to persuasively
show that a modification of the decision thereon would be justified, we
reject such ground for lack of merit.SDHITE
Before this Court, LBP raises the same issues for resolution:
I.Is it valid or lawful to award 12% rate of interest per annum in
favor of respondents notwithstanding the 6% rate of interest per
annum compounded annually prescribed under DAR A.O. No. 13, series
of 1994, DAR A.O. No. 02, series of 2004, and DAR A.O. No. 06, series
of 2008, ". . . from November 1994 up to the time of actual payment?
II.Is it valid or lawful to adjudge petitioner LBP, which is
performing a governmental function, liable for costs of suit? 15
At the outset, the Court notes that the parcels of land subject matter of
this case were acquired under Presidential Decree No. 27, but the complaint
for just compensation was filed in the RTC on 1 December 1994 after
Republic Act No. 6657 already took into effect. 16 Thus, our pronouncement
in LBP v. Soriano 17 finds application. We quote:
. . . [I]f just compensation is not settled prior to the passage of
Republic Act No. 6657, it should be computed in accordance with the
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said law, although the property was acquired under Presidential Decree
No. 27. The fixing of just compensation should therefore be based on
the parameters set out in Republic Act No. 6657, with Presidential
Decree No. 27 and Executive Order No. 228 having only suppletory
effect.
In the instant case, while the subject lands were acquired under
Presidential Decree No. 27, the complaint for just compensation was
only lodged before the court on 23 November 2000 or long after the
passage of Republic Act No. 6657 in 1998. Therefore, Section 17 of
Republic Act No. 6657 should be the principal basis of the
computation for just compensation. As a matter of fact, the factors
enumerated therein had already been translated into a basic formula
by the DAR pursuant to its rule-making power under Section 49 of
Republic Act No. 6657. The formula outlines in DAR Administrative
Order No. 5, series of 1998 should be applied in computing just
compensation, thus:
In the case before Us, the just compensation was computed based on
Executive Order No. 228, which computation the parties do not contest.
Consequently, we reiterate our rule in LBP v. Soriano that "while we uphold
the amount derived from the old formula, since the application of the new
formula is a matter of law and thus, should be made applicable, the parties
are not precluded from asking for any additional amount as may be
warranted by the new formula." 18 cSCTID
We agree with the LBP. The relevant provision of the Rules of Court
states:
Rule 142
Costs
Section 1.Costs ordinarily follow results of suit. — Unless
otherwise provided in these rules, costs shall be allowed to the
prevailing party as a matter of course but the court shall have
power, for special reasons adjudge that either party shall pay the costs
of an action, or that the same be divided, as may be equitable. No
costs shall be allowed against the Republic of the Philippines
unless otherwise provided by law.
Footnotes
*Per Special Order No. 913, Associate Justice Diosdado M. Peralta is designated as
additional member in place of Associate Justice Mariano C. Del Castillo who is
on official leave.
1.Penned by Associate Justice Lucas P. Bersamin (now a member of this Court),
with Associate Justices Portia Aliño Hormachuelos and Estela M. Perlas-
Bernabe, concurring. Rollo, pp. 50-62.
2.Id. at 82-83.
3.Id. at 7.
4.Memorandum of the Petitioner.
5.Rollo, p. 139.
6.Id. at 146.
7.Entitled, "Decreeing the Emancipation of Tenants from the Bondage of the Soil
Transferring to Them the Ownership of the Land They Till and Providing the
Instruments and Mechanism Therefor."
8.Declaring full land ownership to qualified farmer beneficiaries covered by
Presidential Decree No. 27. Determining the value of remaining unvalued rice
and corn lands subject to Presidential Decree No. 27 and providing for the
manner of payment by the farmer beneficiary and modes of compensation to
the landowners.
13.Id. at 56-57.
14.Id. at 62.
15.Id. at 6.
16.Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law (CARL), which took effect on 15 June
1988.
17.G.R. Nos. 180772 and 180776, 6 May 2010; s e e also Land Bank of the
Philippines v. Gallego, Jr., G.R. No. 173226, 20 January 2009, 576 SCRA 680;
Land Bank of the Philippines v. Heirs of Asuncion Añonuevo Vda. De Santos,
G.R. No. 179862, 3 September 2009, 598 SCRA 115.