CASE DIGEST FIND THE facts, issue & ruling

GR. No. 147561 June 22, 2006 STRONGHOLD lNSURANCE COMPANY, INC., Petitioner, vs. REPUBLIC-ASAHI GLASS CORPORAHON. Respondent. o E c I s I o N PANGANIBAN. CJ: A surety company's liability under the perfom'tance bond it issues is solidary. The death of the principal obligor does not. as a rule. extinguish the obligation and the solidary nature of that liability. The Case Before us is a Petition for Reviewl under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, seeking to reverse the March 13. 2001 Decision2 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-GR CV No. 41530. The assailed Decision disposed as follows: "WHEREFORE, the Order dated January 28. 1993 issued by the lower court is REVERSED and SET ASIDE. Let the records of the instant case be REMANDED to the lower court for the reception of evidence of all partiesJ'E The Facts The facts of the case are narrated by the CA in this wise: "On May 24, 1989. [respondent] Republic-Asahi Glass Corporation {Republic-Asahi) entered into a contract with x x x Jose D. Santos. Jr.. the proprietor of JDS Construction (JDS). for the construction of roadways and a drainage system in Republic-Asahi's compound in Barrio Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City, where [respondent] was to pay x x x JDS five million three hundred thousand pesos {P,300.000.00) inclusive of value added tax for said construction, which was supposed to be completed within a period of two hundred forty {240) days beginning May 8, 1989. In order 'to guarantee the faithful and satisfactory performance of its undertakings' x x x JDS. shall post a performance bond of seven hundred ninety five thousand pesos [9?95.000.00). x x x JDS executed. jointly and severally with [petitioner] Stronghold Insurance Co., Inc. (SICI) Perlonnance Bond No. SlCI-25849fg[13)9?69. "On May 23. 1989. [respondent] paid to x x x JDS seven hundred ninety five thousand pesos (PT95.000.0-0) by way of downpayment. "Two progress billings dated August 14, 1989 and September 15. 1989. for the total amount of two hundred seventy four thousand six hundred twenty one pesos and one centavo [9274.62101] were submitted by x x x JDS to [respondent], which the latter paid. According to [respondent], these two progress billings accounted for only 7.301% of the work supposed to be undertaken by x x x JDS under the terms of the contract. \"Several times prior to November of 1989. [respondent's] engineers called the attention of x x x JDS to the alleged alarmingly slow pace of the construction. which resulted in the fear that the construction will not be finished within the stipulated 240-day period. However. said reminders went unheeded by x x x JDS. "On November 24. 1909. dissatisfied with the progress of the work undertaken by x x x JDS. [respondent] Republic-Asahi extrajudicially rescinded the contract pursuant to Article XIII of said contract. and wrote a letter to x x x JDS informing the latter of such rescission. Such rescission. according to Article XV of the contract shall not be construed as a waiver of [respondent's] right to recover damages from x x x JDS and the latter's sureties. "[Respondsnt] alleged that. as a result of x x x JDS's failure to comply with the provisions of the contract. which resuited in the said contract's rescission. it had to hire another contractor to nish the project. for which it incurred an additional expense of three million two hundred fifty six thousand. eight hundred seventy four pesos (P3.256.874.00). "On January 6. 1990. [respondent] sent a letter to [petitioner] SICI filing its claim under the bond for not less than 2795.00000. On March 22. 1991. [respondent] again sent another letter reiterating its demand for payment under the aforementioned bond. Both letters allegedly went unheeded. '[Respondent] then filed [a] complaint against x x x JDS and SICI. It sought from x x x JDS payment of 33.256.874.00 representing the additional expenses incurred by [respondent] for the completion of the project using another contractor. and from x x x JDS and SICI. jointly and severally. payment of F750.000.00 as damages in accordance with the performance bond; exemplary damages in the amount of P10000000 and attorney's fees in the amount of at least P10000000. \"According to the Sheriffs Return dated June 14. 1991. submitted to the lower court by Deputy Sheriff Rene R. Salvador. summons were duly served on defendant-appellee SICI. However. at x x Jose D. Santos. Jr. died the previous year (1990]. and x x x JDS Construction was no longer at its address at 2nd Floor. Room 209-71. San Buena Bldg. Cor. Pioneer St.. Pasig. Metro Manila. and its whereabouts were unknown. \"On July 10. 1991. [petitioner] SICI filed its answer. alleging that the [respondent's] money claims against [petitioner and JDS] have been extinguished by the death of Jose D. Santos. Jr. Even if this were not the case. [petitioner] SICI had been released from its liability under the performance bond because there was no liquidation. with the active participation andfor involvement. pursuant to procedural due process. of herein surety and contractor Jose D. Santos. Jr.. hence. there was no ascertainment of the corresponding liabilities of Santos and SICI under the performance bond. At this point in time. said liquidation was impossible because of the death of Santos. who as such can no longer participate in any liquidation. The unilateral liquidation on the party {sic} of [respondent] of the work accomplishments did not bind SICI for being violative of procedural due process. The claim of [respondent] for the forfeiture of the performance bond in the amount of R795.000.00 had no factual and legal basis. as payment of said bond was conditioned on the payment of damages which [respondent] may sustain in the event at x x JDS failed to complete the contracted works. [Respondent] can no longer prove its claim for damages in view of the death of Santos. SICI was not informed by [respondent] of the death of Santos. SICI was not informed by [respondent] of the unilateral rescission of its contract with JDS. thus SICI was deprived of its right to protect its interests as surety under the performance bond. and therefore it was released from all liability. SICI was likewise denied due process when it was not notified of plaintiff-appellant's process of determining and fixing the amount to be spent in the completion of the unfinished project. The procedure contained in Article XV of the contract is against public policy in that it denies SICI the right to procedural due process. Finally. SICI alleged that [respondent] deviated from the terms and conditions of the contract without the written consent of SICI. thus the latter was released from all liability. SICI also prayed for the award of 359.750.00 as attorney's fees. and 25.000.00 as litigation expenses. 'On August 16, 1991, the lower court issued an order dismissing the complaint of [respondent] against x x x JDS and SICI, on the ground that the claim against JDS did not survive the death of its sole proprietor, Jose D. Santos, Jr. The dispositive portion of the [O]rder reads as follows: 'ACCORDINGLY, the complaint against the defendants Jose D. Santos, Jr., doing business under trade and style, 'JDS Construction' and Stronghold Insurance Company, Inc. is ordered DISMISSED. SO ORDERED.' "On September 4, 1991, [respondent] filed a Motion for Reconsideration seeking reconsideration of the lower court's August 16, 1991 order dismissing its complaint. [Petitioner] SICI field its 'Comment and/or Opposition to the Motion for Reconsideration.' On October 15, 1991, the lower court issued an Order, the dispositive portion of which reads as follows: "WHEREFORE, premises considered, the Motion for Reconsideration is hereby given due course. The Order dated 16 August 1991 for the dismissal of the case against Stronghold Insurance Company, Inc., is reconsidered and hereby reinstated (sic). However, the case against defendant Jose D. Santos, Jr. (deceased) remains undisturbed. 'Motion for Preliminary hearing and Manifestation with Motion filed by [Stronghold] Insurance Company Inc., are set for hearing on November 7, 1991 at 2:00 o'clock in the afternoon. SO ORDERED.' "On June 4, 1992, [petitioner] SICI filed its 'Memorandum for Bondsman/Defendant SICI (Re: Effect of Death of defendant Jose D. Santos, Jr.)' reiterating its prayer for the dismissal of [respondent's] complaint. "On January 28, 1993, the lower court issued the assailed Order reconsidering its Order dated October 15, 1991, and ordered the case, insofar as SICI is concerned, dismissed. [Respondent] filed its motion for reconsideration which was opposed by [petitioner] SICI. On April 16, 1993, the lower court denied [respondent's] motion for reconsideration. x x X."4 Ruling of the Court of Appeals The CA ruled that SICI's obligation under the surety agreement was not extinguished by the death of Jose D. Santos, Jr. Consequently, Republic-Asahi could still go after SICI for the bond. The appellate court also found that the lower court had erred in pronouncing that the performance of the Contract in question had become impossible by respondent's act of rescission. The Contract was rescinded because of the dissatisfaction of respondent with the slow pace of work and pursuant to Article XIII of its Contract with JDS. The CA ruled that "[performance of the [Clontract was impossible, not because of [respondent's] fault, but because of the fault of JDS Construction and Jose D. Santos, Jr. for failure on their part to make satisfactory progress on the project, which amounted to non-performance of the same. x x x [P]ursuant to the [S]urety [Clontract, SICI is liable for the non-performance of said [Clontract on the part of JDS Construction."s Hence, this Petition.Issue Petitioner states the issue for the Court's consideration in the following manner: "Death is a defense of Santos' heirs which Stronghold could also adopt as its defense against obl igee's claim"! More precisely, the issue is whether petitioner's liability under the performance bond was automatically extinguished by the death of Santos. the principal. The Court's Ruling The Petition has no merit. Sole Issue: Effect of Death on the Surety's Liability Petitioner contends that the death of Santos. the bond principal. extinguished his liability under the surety bond. Consequently. it says. it is automatically released from any liability under the bond. As a general rule. the death of either the creditor or the debtor does not extinguish the obligation! Obligations are transmissible to the heirs. except when the transmission is prevented by the law. the stipulations of the parties. or the nature of the obligation.ll Only obligations that are personal or are identified with the persons themselves are extinguished by death.u Section 5 of Rule 8612 of the Rules of Court expressly allows the prosecution of money claims arising from a contract against the estate of a deceased debtor. Evidently. those claims are not actually extinguishedJ-E What is extinguished is only the obligee's action or suit led before the court. which is not then acting as a probate court In the present case. whatever monetary liabilities or obligations Santos had under his contracts with respondent were not intransmissible by their nature. by stipulation. or by provision of law. Hence. his death did not result in the extinguishment of those obligations or liabilities. which merely passed on to his estate Death is not a defense that he or his estate can set up to wipe out the obligations under the performance bond. Consequently. petitioner as surety cannot use his death to escape its monetary obligation under its performance bond. The liability of petitioner is contractual in nature. because it executed a performance bond worded as follows: "KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS: "That we. JDS CONSTRUCTION of ZOE-A San Buena Building. contractor. of Shaw Blvd.. Pasig. MM Philippines. as principal and the STRONGHOLD INSURANCE COMPANY. INC. a corporation duly organized and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the Philippines with head office at Makati. as Surety. are held and firmly bound unto the REPUBLIC ASAHI GLASS CORPORATION and to any individual. firm. partnership. corporation or association supplying the principal with labor or materials in the penal sum of SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY FIVE THOUSAND (W95.000.00). Philippine Currency. for the payment of which sum. well and truly to be made. we bind ourselves. our heirs. executors, administrators, successors and assigns. jointly and severally. firmly by these presents. "The CONDITIONS OF THIS OBLIGATION are as follows: "WHEREAS the above bounden principal on the _ day of . 19_ entered Into a contract with the REPUBLIC ASAHI GLASS CORPORATION represented by . to fully and faithfully. Comply with the site preparation works road and drainage system of Philippine Float Plant at Plnagbuhatan. Pasig. Metro Manila. "WHEREAS. the liability of the Surety Company under this bond shall In no case exceed the sum of PESOS SEVEN HUNDRED NINETY FIVE THOUSAND (P795.000.0DI thlfpplne Currency. Inclusive of interest. attorney's fee, and other damages. and shall not be liable for any advances of the obliges to the principal. "WHEREAS, said contract requires the said principal to give a good and sufficient bond In the above-stated sum to secure the full and falthfull psrforrnancs on its part of said contract. and the satisfaction of obligations for materials used and labor employed upon the work: "NOW THEREFORE. if the principal shall perform well and truly and fulfill all the undertakings, covenants, terms, conditions. and agreements of said contract during the original term of said contract and any extension thereof that may be granted by the obliges. with notice to the surety and during the life of any guaranty required under the contract. and shall also perform well and truly and fulfill all the undertakings. covenants, terms. conditions. and agreements of any and all duly authorized modifications of said contract that may hereinafter be made, without notice to the surety except when such modifications increase the contract price: and such principal contractor or his or its sub- contractors shall promptly make payment to any Individual. firm. partnership. corporation or association supplying the principal of Its sub-contractors with labor and materials in the prosecution of the work provided for in the said contract. then. this obligation shall be null and void: otherwise It shall remain In full force and sftsct. Any extension of the period of time which may be granted by the obliges to the contractor shall be considered as given. and any modifications of said contract shall be considered as authorized. with the express consent of the Surety. "The right of any Individual, firm. partnership, corporation or association supplying the contractor with labor or materials for the prosecution of the work hsreinbefore stated, to Institute action on the penal bond. pursuant to the provision of Act No. 3683. is hereby acknowledge and confirmedf As a surety. petitioner is solidarily Iiabls with Santos In accordance with the Civil Code. which provides as follows: "Art. 2047. By guaranty a person, called the guarantor. binds himself to the creditor to fulfill the obligation of the principal debtor In case the latter should fail to do so. "If a person binds himself solidarily with the principal debtor. the provisions of Section 4.11 Chapter 3. Title I of this Book shall be observed. In such case the contract Is called a suretyship." IXXXXIXXX "Art. 121E. The creditor may proceed against any one of the solidary debtors or some or all of them simultaneously. The demand made against one oi them shall not be an obstacle to those which may subsequently be directed against the others. so long as the debt has not been fully collected.\" Elucidating on these provisions. the Court in Garcia v. Court of Appeals'Jl stated thus: "3: x x. The surety's obligation is not an original and direct one for the performance of his own act. but merely accessory or collateral to the obligation contracted by the principal. Nevertheless, although the oontract of a surety is in essence secondary only to a valid principal obligation. his liability to the creditor or promisee of the principal is said to be direct. primary and absolute; in other words. he is directly and equally bound with the principal. x x HE Under the law and jurisprudence. respondent may sue. separately or together. the principal debtor and the petitioner herein. in view ofthe solidary nature of their liability. The death of the principal debtor will not work to convert, decrease or nullify the substantive right of the solidary creditor. Evidently. despite the death of the principal debtor. respondent may still sue petitioner alone. in accordance with the solidary nature of the latter's liability under the performance bond. WHEREFORE. the Petition is DENIED and the Decision oi the Court oi Appeals AFFIRMED. Costs against petitioner. SO ORDERED