SEMIRARA COAL

CORPORATION(now SEMIRARA
MINING CORPORATION),
Petitioner,
G.R. No. 166854


Present:



- versus -




QUISUMBING, J., Chairperson,
CARPIO,
CARPIO MORALS,
!INGA, an"
#LASCO, $R., JJ.

HGL DEVELOPMENT
CORPORATIONand HON. ANTONIO
ANTOLO, P!"#$d$n% &'d%",
!an() 1*, R"%$ona+ T!$a+
Co'!,, 6
,)
&'d$($a+ R"%$on, C'+a#$,
An,$-'",
Respon"ents.
Pro%u&'ate":

(e)e%*er +, ,--+
. / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / .
DECISION
01IS1MING, J.:
Be.ore us is a petition .or revie/ on )ertiorari assai&in' the (e)ision
213
"ate"
$anuar0 12, ,--3, o. the Court o. Appea&s in CA G.R. CB SP No. ---13 /hi)h
a..ir%e" the Reso&ution
243
"ate" Septe%*er 2+, ,--4 o. the Re'iona& !ria& Court o.
Cu&asi, Anti5ue, Bran)h 21.

!he .a)ts are as .o&&o/s:

Petitioner Se%irara Minin' Corporation is a 'rantee *0 the (epart%ent o.
ner'0 6(O7 o. a Coa& Operatin' Contra)t un"er Presi"entia& (e)ree
No. 89,
2*3
over the entire Is&an" o. Se%irara, Anti5ue, /hi)h )ontains an area
o. 3,3-- he)tares %ore or &ess.
243


Private respon"ent :GL (eve&op%ent Corporation is a 'rantee o. ;orest
Lan" Gra<in' Lease A'ree%ent 6;LGLA7 No. 2=4 *0 the then Ministr0 o.
nviron%ent an" Natura& Resour)es,
253
over 1+9 he)tares o. &an" &o)ate" at the
*arrios o. Bo*o' an" Ponto", Se%irara, Ca&u0a, Anti5ue. !he ;LGLA
No. 2=4 /as issue" onSepte%*er ,=, 28=4
263
.or a ter% o. ,3 0ears, to en"
on (e)e%*er 12, ,--8. Sin)e its 'rant, :GL has *een 'ra<in' )att&e on the su*>e)t
propert0.

So%eti%e in 2888, petitioner?s representatives approa)he" :GL an"
re5ueste" .or per%ission to a&&o/ petitioner?s tru)@s an" other e5uip%ent to pass
throu'h the propert0 )overe" *0 the ;LGLA. :GL 'rante" the re5uest on
)on"ition that petitioner?s use /ou&" not vio&ate the ;LGLA in an0
/a0. Su*se5uent&0, ho/ever, petitioner ere)te" severa& *ui&"in's .or petitioner?s
a"%inistrative o..i)es an" e%p&o0ees? resi"en)es /ithout :GL?s
per%ission. Petitioner a&so )on"u)te" *&astin' an" eA)avationB )onstru)te" an
a))ess roa" to petitioner?s %inesite in the Panaan Coa& Reserve, Se%iraraB an"
%aintaine" a sto)@0ar" .or the )oa& it eAtra)te" .ro% its %ines. !hus, the &an"
/hi)h ha" *een use" .or )att&e 'ra<in' /as 'reat&0 "a%a'e", )ausin' the
"e)i%ation o. :GL?s )att&e.

On Septe%*er ,,, 2888, :GL /rote petitioner "e%an"in' .u&& "is)&osure o.
petitioner?s a)tivities on the su*>e)t &an" as /e&& as prohi*itin' petitioner .ro%
)onstru)tin' an0 i%prove%ents /ithout :GL?s per%ission. Petitioner i'nore" the
"e%an" an" )ontinue" /ith its a)tivities.
On (e)e%*er +, ,---, the (epart%ent o. nviron%ent an" Natura&
Resour)es 6(NR7 uni&atera&&0 )an)e&&e" ;LGLA No. 2=4 an" or"ere" :GL to
va)ate the pre%ises. !he (NR .oun" that :GL .ai&e" to pa0 the annua& renta&
an" sur)har'es .ro% 28=+ to 2888 an" to su*%it the re5uire" Gra<in' Reports
.ro% 28=3 to 2888or pa0 the )orrespon"in' pena&t0 .or non-su*%ission thereo..
253


:GL )onteste" the .in"in's an" .i&e" a &etter o. re)onsi"eration
on $anuar0 2,, ,--2, /hi)h /as "enie" *0 (NR Se)retar0 :eherson A&vare< in a
&etter-or"er "ate" (e)e%*er 8, ,--,. !he (NR state" that it ha" )oor"inate"
/ith the (O, /hi)h ha" >uris"i)tion over )oa& or )oa& "eposits an" )oa&-*earin'
&an"s, an" /as in.or%e" that )oa& "eposits /ere ver0 &i@e&0 to eAist in Sitios Bo*o'
an" Ponto". :en)e, un&ess it )ou&" *e prove" that )oa& "eposits /ere not present,
:GL?s re5uest ha" to *e "enie".
283


:GL sent a &etter "ate" Mar)h +, ,--1 to (NR Se)retar0 A&vare< see@in'
re)onsi"eration. !he (NR "i" not a)t on the &etter an" :GL &ater /ith"re/ this
se)on" &etter o. re)onsi"eration in its &etter o. Au'ust 4, ,--1.

On Nove%*er 29, ,--1, :GL .i&e" a )o%p&aint a'ainst the (NR .or
spe)i.i) per.or%an)e an" "a%a'es /ith pra0er .or a te%porar0 restrainin' or"er
an"Cor /rit o. pre&i%inar0 in>un)tion, "o)@ete" as Civi& Case No. ,-+93 6,--17
/ith the Re'iona& !ria& Court o. Ca&oo)an Cit0. A /rit o. pre&i%inar0 in>un)tion
/as issue" *0 the Ca&oo)an Cit0 R!C on (e)e%*er ,,, ,--1, en>oinin' the (NR
.ro% en.or)in' its (e)e%*er +, ,--- Or"er o. Can)e&&ation.

Mean/hi&e, :GL ha" a&so .i&e" on Nove%*er 29, ,--1, a )o%p&aint a'ainst
petitioner .or Re)over0 o. Possession an" (a%a'es /ith Pra0er .or !RO an"Cor
Drit o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0 In>un)tion, "o)@ete" as Civi& Case No. C-24+ /ith
the Re'iona& !ria& Court o. Cu&asi, Anti5ue, Bran)h 21.
263


On (e)e%*er 2, ,--1, the Anti5ue tria& )ourt hear" the app&i)ation .or Drit
o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0 In>un)tion in Civi& Case No. C-24+. On&0 :GL
presente" its evi"en)e. Re)eption .or petitioner?s evi"en)e /as set to Mar)h ,1-
,4, ,--4. Petitioner /as noti.ie". But, on Mar)h 28, ,--4, petitioner?s Presi"ent
/rote the )ourt as@in' .or postpone%ent sin)e its )ounse& ha" su""en&0
resi'ne". !he tria& )ourt re.use" to ta@e )o'ni<an)e o. the &etter an" treate" it as a
%ere s)rap o. paper sin)e it .ai&e" to )o%p&0 /ith the re5uisites .or the .i&in' o.
%otions an" sin)e it /as not sho/n that petitioner?s Presi"ent /as authori<e" to
represent petitioner. Be)ause o. petitioner?s .ai&ure to atten" the t/o s)he"u&e"
hearin's, the tria& )ourt, in an Or"er "ate" Mar)h ,4, ,--4, "ee%e" the app&i)ation
.or issuan)e o. a Drit o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0 In>un)tion su*%itte" .or
"e)ision. Mean/hi&e, petitioner ha" .i&e" its Ans/er "ate" ;e*ruar0 ,+, ,--4,
raisin' a%on' others the a..ir%ative "e.ense that :GL no &on'er ha" an0 ri'ht to
possess the su*>e)t propert0 sin)e its ;LGLA has a&rea"0 *een )an)e&&e" an" sai"
)an)e&&ation ha" a&rea"0 *e)o%e .ina&.

On Apri& 24, ,--4, petitioner .i&e" a veri.ie" O%ni*us Motion pra0in' that
the tria& )ourt re)onsi"er its Or"er o. Mar)h ,4, ,--4, sin)e petitioner?s .ai&ure to
atten" the hearin' /as "ue to an a))i"ent. Petitioner a&so pra0e" that the tria& )ourt
a"%it as part o. petitioner?s evi"en)e in opposition to the app&i)ation .or
in>un)tion, )erti.ie" )opies o. the (NR Or"er o. Can)e&&ation "ate"
(e)e%*er +, ,---B :GL?s &etter o. re)onsi"eration "ate" $anuar0 2,, ,--2B &etter
o. (NR Se)retar0 A&vare< "ate" (e)e%*er 8, ,--, "en0in' re)onsi"eration o.
the or"erB an" re'istr0 return re)eipt sho/in' :GL?s re)eipt o. the "enia& o.
re)onsi"eration. In the a&ternative, petitioner pra0e" that the )ase *e set .or
pre&i%inar0 hearin' on its a..ir%ative "e.ense o. &a)@ o. )ause o. a)tion an" .oru%-
shoppin'.
2173
Pu*&i) respon"ent "enie" the O%ni*us Motion in a Reso&ution
"ate" $une ,2, ,--4.

Petitioner .i&e" a %otion .or re)onsi"eration o. the sai" reso&ution. Upon
:GL?s opposition, the %otion /as "e)&are" su*%itte" .or reso&ution in a))or"an)e
/ith the tria& )ourt?s Or"er o. Au'ust 3, ,--4.
2113

On Septe%*er 2+, ,--4, the tria& )ourt 'rante" the pra0er .or issuan)e o. a
Drit o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0 In>un)tion.
2143
Petitioner "i" not %ove .or
re)onsi"eration o. the or"er. !he Drit o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0 In>un)tion /as
a))or"in'&0 issue" *0 the tria& )ourt on O)to*er +, ,--4.
21*3
!he /rit restraine"
petitioner or its a'ents .ro% en)roa)hin' on the su*>e)t &an" or )on"u)tin' an0
a)tivities in it, an" )o%%an"e" petitioner to restore possession o. the su*>e)t &an"
to :GL or its a'ents.

Petitioner 5uestione" the Reso&ution "ate" Septe%*er 2+, ,--4, an" the Drit
o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0 In>un)tion "ate" O)to*er +, ,--4 *e.ore the Court o.
Appea&s in a petition .or )ertiorari, raisin' ei'ht issues. On $anuar0 12, ,--3,
ho/ever, the appe&&ate )ourt "is%isse" the petition. !he Court o. Appea&s in its
"e)ision *0 $usti)e Ma'pa&e ru&e" on the issues pose" *e.ore the appe&&ate )ourt:
2. PRI#A! RSPON(N! :AS NO LGAL RIG:! OR CAUS
O; AC!ION UN(R !: PRINCIPAL AC!ION OR
COMPLAIN!, MUC: LSS, !O !: ANCILLARE RM(E O;
IN$UNC!IONB
,. PRI#A! RSPON(N! (I( NO! COM !O COUR! DI!:
FCLAN :AN(SGB
1. RSPON(N! $U(G UN$US!I;IABLE AN( ARBI!RARILE
(PRI#( P!I!IONR O; I!S ;UN(AMN!AL RIG:! !O
(U PROCSS BE NO! GI#ING I! ANOPPOR!UNI!E !O
PRSN! #I(NC IN OPPOSI!ION !O !: MAN(A!ORE
IN$UNC!IONB
4. RSPON(N! $U(G IMM(IA!LE GRAN!( !:
APPLICA!ION ;OR !: ISSUANC O; A DRI! O;
MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!ION DI!:OU! ;IRS! RSOL#ING
!: PN(ING MO!ION ;OR RCONSI(RA!ION (A!(
$ULE 2,, ,--4 O; P!I!IONRB
3. RSPON(N! $U(G (I( NO! CONSI(R OR A(MI! !:
CR!I;I( !RU COPIS O; !: O;;ICIAL RCOR(S O;
!: (NR CANCLLING PRI#A! RSPON(N!?S ;LGLA
AS #I(NC AGAINS! !: MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!ION
PRAE( ;ORB
+. RSPON(N! $U(G S:OUL( :A# GRAN!(
P!I!IONR?S MO!ION ;OR PRLIMINARE :ARING ON
I!S A;;IRMA!I# (;NS !:A! PRI#A! RSPON(N!
UN(R I!S COMPLAIN! :AS NO CAUS O; AC!ION
AGAINS! P!I!IONRB
9. RSPON(N! $U(G S:OUL( :A# (ISMISS( !:
COMPLAIN! OU!RIG:! ;OR #IOLA!ION O; !: RULS ON
;ORUM S:OPPING BE PRI#A! RSPON(N!B
=. !: MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!ION ISSU( IN !: INS!AN!
CAS IS #IOLA!I# O; !: PRO#ISIONS O; PRSI(N!IAL
(CR +-3.
2143

!he Court o. Appea&s in the assai&e" (e)ision "ate" $anuar0 12, ,--3,
opine" an" ru&e" as .o&&o/s 6/hi)h /e 5uote ver*ati%7:
Anent the .irst issue, D ru&e a'ainst the petitioner.
Perusa& o. the a&&e'ations in the Co%p&aint .i&e" *0 the private
respon"ent /ith the )ourt a 5uo sho/ that its )ause o. a)tion is %ain&0
an)hore" on the ;orest Lan" Gra<in' Lease A'ree%ent 6F;LGLAG7
eAe)ute" *0 an" *et/een sai" private respon"ent an" the (epart%ent o.
nviron%ent an" Natura& Resour)es 6(NR7 /hi)h *e)a%e e..e)tive on
Au'ust ,=, 28=4an" to eApire on (e)e%*er 12, ,--8.
Un"er the sai" &ease a'ree%ent, the private respon"ent /as
'rante" per%ission to use an" possess the su*>e)t &an" )o%prisin'
o. 1+9-he)tares &o)ate" at the *arrios
o. Bo*o' an"Ponto", Se%irara Is&an", Anti5ue .or )att&e-'ra<in'
purposes.
:o/ever, petitioner avers that the F;LGLAG on /hi)h private
respon"ent?s )ause o. a)tion is *ase" /as a&rea"0 )an)e&&e" *0 the
(NR *0 virtue o. its Or"ers "ate" (e)e%*er +,,--- an" (e)e%*er
8, ,--,.
Dhi&e it is true that the (NR issue" the sai"
Or"ers )an)e&&in' the F;LGLAG, the sa%e is not 0et ;INAL sin)e it is
present&0 the su*>e)t o. Civi& Case No. ,-+93 pen"in' in the Re'iona&
!ria& Court 6R!C7 o. Ca&oo)an Cit0. !hus, .or a&& intents an" purposes,
the F;LGLAG is sti&& su*sistin'.
!he )onstru)tion o. nu%erous *ui&"in's an" the *&astin' a)tivities
thereon *0 the petitioner un"erta@en /ithout the )onsent o. the private
respon"ent *&atant&0 vio&ates the ri'hts o. the &atter *e)ause it re"u)e"
the area *ein' use" .or )att&e-'ra<in' pursuant to the F;LGLAG.
;ro% the .ore'oin' it is )&ear that the three 617 in"ispensa*&e
re5uisites o. a )ause o. a)tion, to /it: 6a7 the ri'ht in .avor o. the p&ainti..
*0 /hatever %eans an" un"er /hatever &a/ it arises or is )reate"B 6*7 an
o*&i'ation on the part o. the na%e" "e.en"ant to respe)t or not to vio&ate
su)h ri'htB 6)7 an a)t or o%ission on the part o. su)h "e.en"ant is
vio&ative o. the ri'ht o. p&ainti.. or )onstitutin' a *rea)h o. the o*&i'ation
o. "e.en"ant to the p&ainti.. .or /hi)h the &atter %a0 %aintain an a)tion
.or re)over0 o. "a%a'es, are PRSN!.
:en)e, havin' esta*&ishe" that private respon"ent herein has a
)ause o. a)tion un"er the prin)ipa& a)tion in Civi& Case No. C-24+,
ne)essari&0 it a&so has a )ause o. a)tion un"er the an)i&&ar0 re%e"0 o.
in>un)tion.
Anent the thir" issue, D ru&e a'ainst the petitioner.
!his Court .in"s that the petitioner /as not "eprive" o. "ue
pro)ess.
It appears .ro% the re)or"s o. the instant )ase that the petitioner
/as 'iven t/o 6,7 settin's .or the re)eption o. its evi"en)e in support o.
its opposition to the pra0er o. herein private respon"ent .or the issuan)e
o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion. Un.ortunate&0, on *oth
o))asions, petitioner "i" not present its evi"en)e.
Petitioner )&ai%s that its .ai&ure to atten" the hearin's .or the
re)eption o. its evi"en)e /as eA)usa*&e "ue to the su""en resi'nation o.
its &a/0er an" as su)h, no*o"0 )an atten" the hearin's o. the )ase.
D are not persua"e".
S)rutin0 o. the p&ea"in's su*%itte" *0 *oth parties sho/s that
petitioner?s &a/0er, Att0. Mar0 Catherine P. :i&ario, a..i&iates herse&.
/ith the &a/ .ir% o. BRNAS SAN $UAN H ASSOCIA! LAD
O;;ICS /ith a""ress
at ,
n"
;&oor, (MCI P&a<a ,,=2 Pason' !a%o Atension, Ma@ati Cit0, *0
si'nin' on an" in *eha&. o. the sai" &a/ o..i)e. !his Court ta@es >u"i)ia&
noti)e o. the .a)t that &a/ o..i)es e%p&o0 %ore than one 627 asso)iate
attorne0 asi"e .ro% the na%e partners. As su)h, it )an easi&0 assi'n the
instant )ase to its other &a/0ers /ho are %ore than )apa*&e to prepare the
ne)essar0 F%otion .or postpone%entG or persona&&0 appear to the )ourt a
quo to eAp&ain the situation.
ven assu%in' arguendo that Att0. :i&ario is the on&0 one /ho is
@no/&e"'ea*&e o. the .a)ts o. the )ase, sti&&, petitioners )annot )&ai% that
there /as vio&ation o. "ue pro)ess *e)ause the FSSNC o. "ue
pro)ess is reasona*&e opportunit0 to *e hear" A A A. Dhat the &a/
pros)ri*e" is &a)@ o. opportunit0 to *e hear".G In the )ase at *ar,
petitioner /as 'iven t/o 6,7 settin's to present its evi"en)e *ut it opte"
not to.
Last&0, a pra0er .or the issuan)e o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0
%an"ator0 in>un)tion "e%an"s ur'ent attention .ro% the )ourt an" as
su)h, "e&a0Cs isCare .ro/ne" upon "ue to the irrepara*&e "a%a'eCs that
)an *e sustaine" *0 the %ovant.
Anent the .ourth issue, D ru&e a'ainst the petitioner.
Petitioner )&ai%s that the )ourt a 5uo 'rave&0 erre" /hen it issue"
the /rit o. pre&i%inar0 in>un)tion /ithout .irst reso&vin' its Motion .or
Re)onsi"eration "ate" $u&0 2,, ,--4.
D ru&e that the pu*&i) respon"ent )annot *e .au&te" .or not
reso&vin' the Motion .or Re)onsi"eration "ate" $u&0 2,, ,--4 *e)ause
the sa%e parta@es o. the nature o. a se)on" %otion .or re)onsi"eration o.
the Or"er "ate" Mar)h ,4, ,--4.
Re)or"s rea"i&0 "is)&ose that a prior %otion .or re)onsi"eration
/as .i&e" *0 the petitioner herein assai&in' the Or"er
"ate" Mar)h ,4, ,--4. A&thou'h )aptione" as FO%ni*us MotionG the
sa%e /as rea&&0 a %otion .or re)onsi"eration. Sai" FO%ni*us MotionG
/as reso&ve" *0 the )ourt a quo in its Or"er "ate" $une ,2, ,--4.
:en)e, the pu*&i) respon"ent is no &on'er "ut0 *oun" to reso&ve
the su*se5uent, reiterative an" se)on" %otion .or re)onsi"eration.
Anent the .i.th issue, D ru&e a'ainst the petitioner.
!he )ourt a 5uo /as )orre)t in "isre'ar"in' the "o)u%entar0
evi"en)e su*%itte" *0 the petitioner in support o. its opposition to the
pra0er .or the issuan)e o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion.
!he "o)u%entar0 evi"en)e su*%itte" *0 the petitioner herein /ith
the )ourt a 5uo /ere %ere&0 atta)he" to an FO%ni*us MotionG an" /as
not proper&0 i"enti.ie", %ar@e" an" .or%a&&0 o..ere" as evi"en)e /hi)h
is a *&atant "isre'ar" an" vio&ation o. the Ru&es on vi"en)e.
Consi"erin' the a*ove "is)ussions, this Court .in"s that the pu*&i)
respon"ent "i" not a*use his "is)retion in issuin' the assai&e" reso&ution.
Anent the ei'hth issue, D &i@e/ise ru&e a'ainst the petitioner.
Presi"entia& (e)ree 6P(7 +-3 is the &a/ FBannin' the Issuan)e *0
Courts o. Pre&i%inar0 In>un)tions in Cases Invo&vin' Con)essions,
Li)enses, an" Other Per%its Issue" *0 Pu*&i) A"%inistrative O..i)ia&s or
Bo"ies .or the Ap&oitation o. Natura& Resour)es.G
Se)tion 2 thereo. provi"es that FNo )ourt o. the Phi&ippines sha&&
have >uris"i)tion to issue an0 restrainin' or"er, pre&i%inar0 in>un)tion or
pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion in an0 )ase invo&vin' or 'ro/in' out
o. the issuan)e, suspension, revo)ation, approva& or "isapprova& o. an0
)on)ession, &i)ense, per%it, patent or pu*&i) 'rant o. an0 @in" .or the
"isposition, eAp&oitation, uti&i<ation, eAp&oration an" "eve&op%ent o. the
natura& resour)es o. the )ountr0.G
!he instant )ase is not /ithin the purvie/ o. the a*ove-)ite" &a/
*e)ause the issueCs raise" herein "oes not invo&ve or arise out o.
petitioner?s )oa& operation )ontra)t.
!he )ase .i&e" /ith the )ourt a 5uo is prin)ipa&&0 *ase" on the
a&&e'e" en)roa)h%ent *0 the petitioner o. the su*>e)t &an" over /hi)h
private respon"ent )&ai%s it has authorit0 to o))up0 or possess
unti& (e)e%*er 12, ,--8 pursuant to ;LGLA No. 2=4.
As su)h, the pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion issue" *0 the )ourt
a 5uo "i" not in an0 /a0 a..e)t the e..i)a)0 o. the petitioner?s )oa&
)on)ession or &i)ense.
D:R;OR, the instant petition .or )ertiorari is (NI( an"
)onse5uent&0, the assai&e" Reso&ution is here*0 A;;IRM(.

SO OR(R(.
2153

:en)e, this instant petition. On ;e*ruar0 ,1, ,--3, this Court issue" a !RO
en>oinin' the i%p&e%entation an" en.or)e%ent o. the Court o. Appea&s (e)ision
"ate" $anuar0 12, ,--3.
2163

Petitioner su*%its in the petition no/ the .o&&o/in' 'roun"s:
I
!: RSOLU!ION (A!( 2+ SP!MBR ,--4 AN( !: DRI!
O; PRLIMINARE MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!ION (A!( +
OC!OBR ,--4 ISSU( BE PUBLIC RSPON(N! AR A
PA!N! NULLI!E AS PRI#A! RSPON(N! CLARLE :AS NO
LGAL RIG:! OR CAUS O; AC!ION UN(R I!S PRINCIPAL
AC!ION OR COMPLAIN!, MUC: LSS, !O !: ANCILLARE
RM(E O; PRLIMINARE MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!IONB
II
A DRI! O; PRLIMINARE MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!ION CANNO!
B US( !O !AI PROPR!E OU! O; !: POSSSSION O;
ON PAR!E AN( PLAC I! IN!O !:A! O; ANO!:R D:O :AS
NO CLAR LGAL RIG:! !:R!OB
III
PRI#A! RSPON(N!?S COMPLAIN! IN CI#IL CAS NO. C-
24+ IS IN !: NA!UR O; AN ACCION PUBLICIANA, NO!
;ORCIBL N!REB :NC, A DRI! O; PRLIMINARE
MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!ION IS NO! A PROPR RM(EB
I#
P!I!IONR DAS UN$US!I;IABLE AN( ARBI!RARILE
(PRI#( O; I!S ;UN(AMN!AL RIG:! !O (U PROCSS
D:N I! DAS (NI( !: RIG:! !O PRSN! #I(NC IN
OPPOSI!ION !O !: APPLICA!ION ;OR PRLIMINARE
MAN(A!ORE IN$UNC!IONB

#
!: PUBLIC RSPON(N! (LIBRA!LE DI!::L( !:
RSOLU!ION O; P!I!IONR?S MO!ION ;OR
RCONSI(RA!ION (A!( 2, $ULE ,--4 AN( PROC(( !O
PRMA!URLE ISSU !: PRLIMINARE MAN(A!ORE
IN$UNC!ION IN #IOLA!ION O; P!I!IONR?S RIG:! !O ;AIR
PLAE AN( $US!ICB
#I
PUBLIC RSPON(N! COMMI!!( GRA# ABUS O;
(ISCR!ION D:N:
27 : R;US( OR ;AIL( !O A(MI! AN(COR CONSI(R
!: CR!I;I( (NR RCOR(S O; !: (NR OR(R
CANCLLING PRI#A! RSPON(N!?S ;LGLAB
,7 : R;US( OR ;AIL( !O CON(UC! A :ARING ON
!:S CR!I;I( PUBLIC (OCUMN!S D:IC:
CONCLUSI#LE PRO# PRI#A! RSPON(N!?S LACI
O; CAUS O; AC!ION UN(R !: PRINCIPAL AC!IONB
AN(
17 : R;US( OR ;AIL( !O (ISMISS !: COMPLAIN!
OU!RIG:! ;OR #IOLA!ING !: RULS ON ;ORUM
S:OPPING BE PRI#A! RSPON(N!.
2153
Be.ore this Court "e)i"es the su*stantive issues raise" herein, )ertain
pro)e"ura& issues that /ere raise" *0 the parties %ust .irst *e a""resse".

Petitioner )onten"s that it /as i%proper .or the Re'iona& !ria& Court o.
Anti5ue to issue the /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion 6an" .or the Court o.
Appea&s to a..ir% the sa%e7 /ithout 'ivin' it an opportunit0 to present evi"en)e
an" /ithout .irst reso&vin' the Motion .or Re)onsi"eration "ate"
$u&0 2,, ,--4. But as *orne *0 the re)or"s o. the )ase, it is evi"ent that petitioner
ha" the opportunit0 to present evi"en)e in its .avor "urin' the hearin' .or the
app&i)ation o. the /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion *e.ore the &o/er
)ourt. :o/ever, petitioner?s .ai&ure to present its evi"en)e /as *rou'ht *0 its o/n
.ai&ure to appear on the hearin' "ates s)he"u&e" *0 the tria& )ourt. !hus, petitioner
)annot )o%p&ain o. "enia& o. "ue pro)ess /hen it /as its o/n "oin' that prevente" it
.ro% presentin' its evi"en)e in opposition to the app&i)ation .or a /rit o. pre&i%inar0
%an"ator0 in>un)tion. It %ust *e pointe" out that the tria& )ourt )orre)t&0 re.use" to
ta@e )o'ni<an)e o. the &etter o. petitioner?s Presi"ent /hi)h pra0e" .or the
postpone%ent o. the s)he"u&e" hearin's. Sai" &etter /as not a proper %otion that
%ust *e .i&e" *e.ore the &o/er )ourt .or the state" purpose *0 its )ounse& o.
re)or". Moreover, there /as a*so&ute&0 no proo. 'iven that the sen"er o. the &etter
/as the "u&0 authori<e" representative o. petitioner.

Se)on", the .i&in' o. the %otion .or re)onsi"eration "ate" $u&0 2,, ,--4,
/hi)h essentia&&0 repro"u)e" the ar'u%ents )ontaine" in the previous&0 .i&e" an"
"enie" O%ni*us Motion "ate" Apri& 24, ,--4, ren"ers the sai" %otion .or
re)onsi"eration "ate" $u&0 2,, ,--4, a %ere pro forma %otion. Moreover, the
%otion .or re)onsi"eration "ate" $une 2,, ,--4, *ein' a se)on" %otion
.or re)onsi"eration, the tria& )ourt )orre)t&0 "enie" it .or *ein' a prohi*ite" %otion.
2183

!hir", it %ust *e state" that the petition .or )ertiorari *e.ore the Court o.
Appea&s shou&" not have prospere" *e)ause petitioner .ai&e" to .i&e a %otion .or
re)onsi"eration .ro% the assai&e" reso&ution o. the Re'iona& !ria& Court o. Anti5ue,
'rantin' the /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion. De&& sett&e" is the ru&e that
*e.ore a part0 %a0 resort to the eAtraor"inar0 /rit o. )ertiorari, it %ust *e sho/n
that there is no other p&ain, spee"0 an" a"e5uate re%e"0 in the or"inar0 )ourse o.
&a/. !hus, it has *een he&" *0 this Court that a %otion .or re)onsi"eration is a
)on"ition sine qua non .or the 'rant o. the eAtraor"inar0 /rit o. )ertiorari.
2163
:ere,
a %otion .or re)onsi"eration /as an avai&a*&e p&ain, spee"0 an" a"e5uate re%e"0
in the or"inar0 )ourse o. &a/, "esi'ne" to 'ive the tria& )ourt the opportunit0 to
)orre)t itse&..

No/ on the %erits o. the instant petition.

!he pivota& issue )on.rontin' this Court is /hether the Court o. Appea&s
serious&0 erre" or )o%%itte" 'rave a*use o. "is)retion in a..ir%in' the
Septe%*er 2+, ,--4 Reso&ution o. the Re'iona& !ria& Court o. Anti5ue 'rantin' the
/rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion.

Un"er Arti)&e 318 o. the Ne/ Civi& Co"e, a &a/.u& possessor is entit&e" to *e
respe)te" in his possession an" an0 "istur*an)e o. possession is a 'roun" .or the
issuan)e o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion to restore the possession.
2473
!hus, petitioner?s )&ai% that the issuan)e o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0
in>un)tion is i%proper *e)ause the instant )ase is a&&e'e"&0 one
.or accion publiciana "eserves no )onsi"eration. !his Court has a&rea"0 ru&e"
in Torre, et al ! "on J #uerubin, et al
2413
that prior to the pro%u&'ation o. the
Ne/ Civi& Co"e, it /as "ee%e" i%proper to issue a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 in>un)tion
/here the part0 to *e en>oine" ha" a&rea"0 ta@en )o%p&ete %ateria& possession o.
the propert0 invo&ve". :o/ever, /ith the ena)t%ent o. Arti)&e 318, the p&ainti.. is
no/ a&&o/e" to avai& o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion to restore hi%
in his possession "urin' the pen"en)0 o. his a)tion to re)over possession.
2443

It is &i@e/ise esta*&ishe" that a /rit o. %an"ator0 in>un)tion is 'rante" upon
a sho/in' that 6a7 the invasion o. the ri'ht is %ateria& an" su*stantia&B 6*7 the ri'ht
o. )o%p&ainant is )&ear an" un%ista@a*&eB an" 6)7 there is an ur'ent an" per%anent
ne)essit0 .or the /rit to prevent serious "a%a'e.
24*3

In the instant )ase, it is )&ear that as ho&"er o. a pasture &ease a'ree%ent
un"er ;LGLA No. 2=4, :GL has a )&ear an" un%ista@a*&e ri'ht to the possession
o. the su*>e)t propert0. Re)a&& that un"er the ;LGLA, :GL has the ri'ht to the
&a/.u& possession o. the su*>e)t propert0 .or a perio" o. ,3 0ears or unti& ,--8. As
&a/.u& possessor, :GL is there.ore entit&e" to prote)tion o. its possession o. the
su*>e)t propert0 an" an0 "istur*an)e o. its possession is a va&i" 'roun" .or the
issuan)e o. a /rit o. pre&i%inar0 %an"ator0 in>un)tion in its .avor. !he ri'ht o.
:GL to the possession o. the propert0 is )on.ir%e" *0 petitioner itse&. /hen it
sou'ht per%ission .ro% :GL to use the su*>e)t propert0 in 2888. In )ontrast
to :GL?s )&ear &e'a& ri'ht to use an" possess the su*>e)t propert0, petitioner?s
possession /as %ere&0 *0 to&eran)e o. :GL an" on&0 *e)ause :GL per%itte"
petitioner to use a portion o. the su*>e)t propert0 so that the &atter )ou&" 'ain easier
a))ess to its %inin' area in thePanaan Coa& Reserve.

!he ur'en)0 an" ne)essit0 .or the issuan)e o. a /rit o. %an"ator0 in>un)tion
a&so )annot *e "enie", )onsi"erin' that :GL stan"s to su..er %ateria& an"
su*stantia& in>ur0 as a resu&t o. petitioner?s )ontinuous intrusion into the su*>e)t
propert0. Petitioner?s )ontinue" o))upation o. the propert0 not on&0 resu&ts in the
"eprivation o. :GL o. the use an" possession o. the su*>e)t propert0 *ut &i@e/ise
a..e)ts :GL?s *usiness operations. It %ust *e note" that petitioner o))upie" the
propert0 an" prevente" :GL .ro% )on"u)tin' its *usiness /a0 *a)@ in 2888 /hen
:GL sti&& ha" the ri'ht to the use an" possession o. the propert0 .or
another 2-0ears or unti& ,--8. At the ver0 &east, the .ai&ure o. :GL to operate its
)att&e-'ra<in' *usiness is per)eive" as an ina*i&it0 *0 :GL to )o%p&0 /ith the
"e%an"s o. its )usto%ers an" so/s "ou*ts in :GL?s )apa)it0 to )ontinue "oin'
*usiness. !his "a%a'e to :GL?s *usiness stan"in' is irrepara*&e in>ur0 *e)ause no
.air an" reasona*&e re"ress )an *e ha" *0 :GL inso.ar as the "a%a'e to its
'oo"/i&& an" *usiness reputation is )on)erne".

Petitioner posits that ;LGLA No. 2=4 ha" a&rea"0 *een )an)e&&e" *0 the
(NR in its or"er "ate" (e)e%*er +, ,---. But as ri'ht&0 he&" *0 the Court o.
Appea&s, the a&&e'e" )an)e&&ation o. ;LGLA No. 2=4 throu'h a uni&atera& a)t o. the
(NR "oes not auto%ati)a&&0 ren"er the ;LGLA inva&i" sin)e the uni&atera&
)an)e&&ation is su*>e)t o. a separate )ase /hi)h is sti&& pen"in' *e.ore
the Re'iona& !ria& Court o. Ca&oo)an Cit0. Nota*&0, sai" )ourt has issue" a /rit o.
pre&i%inar0 in>un)tion en>oinin' the (NR .ro% en.or)in' its or"er o.
)an)e&&ation o. ;LGLA No. 2=4.

!he Court o. Appea&s .oun" that the )onstru)tion o. nu%erous *ui&"in's an"
*&astin' a)tivities *0 petitioner /ere "one /ithout the )onsent o. :GL, *ut in
*&atant vio&ation o. its ri'hts as the &essee o. the su*>e)t propert0. It /as &i@e/ise
.oun" that these unauthori<e" a)tivities e..e)tive&0 "eprive" :GL o. its ri'ht to use
the su*>e)t propert0 .or )att&e-'ra<in' pursuant to the ;LGLA. It )annot *e "enie"
that the )ontinuan)e o. petitioner?s possession "urin' the pen"en)0 o. the )ase .or
re)over0 o. possession /i&& not on&0 *e un.air *ut /i&& un"enia*&0 /or@ in>usti)e to
:GL. It /ou&" a&so )ause )ontinuin' "a%a'e an" %ateria& in>ur0 to :GL. !hus,
the Court o. Appea&s )orre)t&0 uphe&" the issuan)e o. the /rit o. pre&i%inar0
%an"ator0 in>un)tion in .avor o. :GL.

8HERE9ORE, the instant petition is DENIED. !he (e)ision
"ate" $anuar0 12, ,--3, o. the Court o. Appea&s in CA G.R. CB SP No. ---13,
/hi)h a..ir%e" the Reso&ution "ate" Septe%*er 2+, ,--4 o. the Re'iona& !ria&
Court o. Cu&asi, Anti5ue, Bran)h 21, as /e&& as the Drit o. Pre&i%inar0 Man"ator0
In>un)tion "ate" O)to*er +, ,--4 issue" pursuant to sai" Reso&ution,
is A99IRMED. !he te%porar0 restrainin' or"er issue" *0 this Court is here*0
&i.te". No pronoun)e%ent as to )osts.

SO ORDERED.