PERSONS

Cases under Family Code - RHODA

G.R. No. 106169 February 14, 1994

SABALONES vs CA
SAMSON T. SABALONES vs. THE COURT OF APPEALS and REMEDIOS GAVIOLA-SABALONES

THE CASE husband disputes the writ of preliminary injunction issued by the Court FACTS As member of diplomatic service assigned to different countries, petitioner Samson Sabalones left to his wife (respondent), the administration of some of their conjugal properties for 15 years. He retired as ambassador in 1985 and came back to the Philippines, but not to his wife and children. 4 years later, he filed an action for judicial authorization to sell a building and lot in Greenhills, San Juan. He claimed that he was 68 years old, sick and living alone without any income, and that his share of the proceeds of the sale to defray the prohibitive cost of his hospitalization and medical treatment. In her answer, wife opposed the authorization and filed a counterclaim for legal separation. She alleged that the house in Greenhills was occupied by her and their 6 kids, and that they were depending for their support on the rentals from another conjugal property (building and lot in Forbes Park). She also informed the court that despite her husbands retirement, he had not returned to his legitimate family and was instead maintaining a separate residence with another woman and their 3 kids. Wife asked the court to grant legal separation and order the liquidation of their conjugal properties, with forfeiture of her husbands share because of his adultery. RTC RULING RTC found that petitioner had indeed contracted a bigamous marriage. Court thus decreed the legal separation and forfeiture of petitioners share in the conjugal properties, declaring as well that he was not entitled to support from his wife. CA RULING (wife filed motion for issuance of writ of preliminary injunction to enjoin petitioner from interfering with administration of their properties. She alleged that he had harassed the tenant in Forbes Park that his lease would not be renewed) =granted by CA (petitioner now assails this decision, arguing that since the law provides for joint administration of conjugal properties, no injunctive relief can be issued against one or the other because no right will be violated. He also cited Art 124 and Art 61 of FC). ISSUE W/N a preliminary injunction can be issued by the Court (despite joint administration of conjugal properties) YES SC RULING We agree with CA that pending the appointment of an administrator over the whole mass of conjugal assets, the respondent court was justified in allowing the wife to continue with her administration. It was also correct, taking into account the evidence adduced at the hearing, in enjoining the petitioner from interfering with his wifes administration pending resolution of the appeal. The law does indeed grant joint administration over the conjugal properties, as clearly provided in Art 124. However, Art 61 states that after a petition for legal separation has been filed, the trial court shall, in the absence of a written agreement, appoint either rd one of the spouse or a 3 person to act as administrator. While no formal designation of administrator has been made, such designation was implicit in the decision of the trial court denying the petitioner any share in the conjugal properties (and thus also disqualifying him as administrator thereof). That designation was in effect approved by the Court of Appeals when it issued in favor of the wife with the preliminary injunction. The primary purpose of injunction is to preserve status quo. The Court notes that the wife has been administering the subject properties for 19 years now, without complaint on the part of petitioner. He has not alleged, much less shown, that her administration has caused prejudice to the conjugal partnership. In her motion for issuance of preliminary injunction, the respondent wife alleged that the petitioners harassment of their tenant in Forbes Park would jeopardize the lease and deprive her and her children of the income therefrom. She also complained that petitioner executed a quitclaim over their conjugal property in USA in favor of Thelma Cumareng (the other woman) to improve her lifestyle, to the prejudice of his legitimate family. These allegations show that injunction is necessary to protect the interests of wife and kids. The twin requirements of a valid injunction are: existence of a right and its actual or threatened violation. Regardless of the outcome of the appeal, it cannot be denied that as the petitioners legitimate wife, she has a right to a share (if not the whole) of the conjugal estate. There is also enough evidence to raise apprehension that entrusting said estate to petitioner may result in its disposition to the detriment of the wife and kids. Let it be stressed that the injunction has not permanently installed the respondent wife as the administrator of the whole mass of conjugal assets. It has merely allowed her to continue administering the properties in the meantime without interference from the petitioner, pending the express designation of the administrator in accordance with Art 61. Art 124: The administration and enjoyment of the conjugal partnership property shall belong to both spouses jointly. In case of disagreement, the husband's decision shall prevail, subject to recourse to the court by the wife for proper remedy, which must be availed of within five years from the date of the contract implementing such decision.