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Issues:
1. WON the cash dividends are corporate assets of Advent
or not?
Advent Capital could not dispose of Alcantaras’ portfolio on its
2. WON Rehabilitation Court has jurisdiction over the
own. The income and principal of the portfolio could only be
case?
withdrawn upon the Alcantaras’ written instruction or order to
Advent Capital. Advent Capital could neither assign or
encumber the portolio or its income without the consent of the
Alcantaras as stipulated in the Trust Agreement.
Held:
1. No, they are not corporate assets of Advent. The real
2. No, the Rehabilitation Court does not have jurisdiction
owner of the trust property is the trustor-beneficiary.
over the case since the cash dividends are not owned by
Advent Capital.
the first place, the Interim Rules do not exempt a company
under rehabilitation from availing of proper legal procedure for
Advent Capital’s recourse is to file a separate action for
collecting debt that may be due it. Secondly, Court records
collection to recover the trust fees it earned. Having failed to
show that Advent Capital had in fact sought to recover one of
collect the trust fees at the end of each calendar quarter as
its assets by filing a separate action for replevin involving a car
stated in the contract, all it had against the Alcantaras was a
that was registered in its name.
claim for payment which is a proper subject for an ordinary
action for collection.
2. METROPOLITAN BANK & TRUST COMPANY v. ASB
HOLDINGS, INC.,
Rehabilitation proceedings are summary and non- adversarial
G.R. No. 166197 February 27, 2007
in nature, and do not contemplate adjudication of claims that
must be threshed out in ordinary court proceedings.
Adversarial proceedings similar to that in ordinary courts are Topic: Purpose of Corporate Rehabiliation
inconsistent with the commercial nature of a rehabilitation
DOCTRINE: The purpose of rehabilitation proceedings is to
case. The latter must be resolved quickly and expeditiously for
enable the company to gain new lease on life and thereby
the sake of the corporate debtor, its creditors and other
allows creditors to be paid their claims from its
interested parties. Thus, the Interim Rules “incorporate the
earnings. Rehabilitation contemplates a continuance of
concept of prohibited pleadings, affidavit evidence in lieu of
corporate life and activities in an effort to restore and reinstate
oral testimony, clarificatory hearings instead of the traditional
the financially distressed corporation to its former position of
approach of receiving evidence, and the grant of authority to
successful operation and solvency. This is in consonance with
the court to decide the case, or any incident, on the basis of
the State’s objective to promote a wider and more meaningful
affidavits and documentary evidence.”
equitable distribution of wealth to protect investments and the
public.
Advent Capital’s claim is disputed and requires a full trial on the
merits. It must be resolved in a separate action where the
FACTS:
Alcantaras’ claim and defenses may also be presented and
heard. Advent Capital cannot say that the filing of a separate The Metropolitan Bank and Trust Company is a creditor bank of
action would defeat the purpose of corporate rehabilitation. In respondent corporations, collectively known as the ASB Group
of Companies, owner and developer of condominium and real Plan and appointing Mr. Fortunato Cruz as rehabilitation
estate projects. Petitioner bank extended loans secured by real receiver
estate mortgages to respondent corporations, specifically, to
Petitioner bank filed with the SEC En Banc a Petition for
ASB Realty Corporation and ASB Development Corporation
Certiorari praying for the issuance of a temporary restraining
amounting to ₱523.5 million and ₱1.073 billion, respectively.
order and/or a writ of preliminary injunction to enjoin its
implementation. The SEC En Banc denied the petition and
affirmed the SEC Hearing Panel’s Order. Petitioner bank then
The ASB Group of Companies filed with the SEC a Petition For
filed with the Court of Appeals a Petition for Review which was
Rehabilitation With Prayer For Suspension Of Actions And
denied by the appellate court. Petitioner bank’s Motion for
Proceedings pursuant to P.D. No. 902-A. The Hearing Panel of
Reconsideration was likewise denied.
the SEC, finding the petition sufficient in form and substance,
issued a 60-day Suspension Order. Thereafter, respondent
corporations submitted to SEC for its approval a Rehabilitation
ISSUE: Whether the approval of the Rehabilitation Plan violates
Plan.
petitioner bank’s constitutional right against impairment of
contracts and right to due process:
Petitioner bank objected to the said Rehabilitation Plan, (1) by impairing its lien over the mortgaged properties; and
specifically the arrangement concerning the mode of payment
(2) by compelling it to accept a dacion en pago arrangement of
by respondent corporations. Petitioner bank claimed that the
the mortgaged properties based on ASB Group of Companies’
arrangement "is not acceptable" because: (1) it does not agree
transfer values and and to waive the interest, penalties and
with the valuation of the properties offered for dacion; (2) the
other charges after the SEC issued its Stay Order.
waiver of interests, penalties and charges after April 30, 2000 is
not feasible; and (3) since the proposed dacion is not
acceptable to the bank, there is no basis to release the
HELD:
properties which serve as collateral for the loans.
(1) The Court is not convinced that the approval of the
Rehabilitation Plan impairs petitioner bank’s lien over the
The SEC Hearing Panel, finding petitioner bank’s objections mortgaged properties. Section 6 [c] of P.D. No. 902-A provides
unreasonable, issued an Order approving the Rehabilitation that "upon appointment of a management committee,
rehabilitation receiver, board or body, pursuant to this Decree, an initial discussion on these proposals and the majority of the
all actions for claims against corporations, partnerships or secured creditors showed their desire to complete dacion en
associations under management or receivership pending pago transactions, but they must be "based on MUTUALLY
before any court, tribunal, board or body shall be suspended." AGREED UPON TERMS."
By that statutory provision, it is clear that the approval of the Therefore, the approval of the Rehabilitation Plan by the SEC
Rehabilitation Plan and the appointment of a rehabilitation Hearing Panel, affirmed by both the SEC En Banc and the Court
receiver merely suspend the actions for claims against of Appeals, is valid and in furtherance of the rationale behind
respondent corporations. Petitioner bank’s preferred status P.D. No. 902-A, as amended, which is "to effect a feasible and
over the unsecured creditors relative to the mortgage liens is viable rehabilitation" of ailing corporations which affect the
retained, but the enforcement of such preference is suspended. public welfare.
The loan agreements between the parties have not been set
aside and petitioner bank may still enforce its preference when
the assets of ASB Group of Companies will be liquidated. WHEREFORE, we DENY the instant petition for review on
Considering that the provisions of the loan agreements are certiorari. The assailed Decision and Resolution of the Court of
merely suspended, there is no impairment of contracts, Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 77260 are AFFIRMED.
specifically its lien in the mortgaged properties.
HELD:
PBCOM filed an opposition asserting primarily that it is
CA was correct in ruling against Wonder Book. SC
clear from Wonder Book’s financial statements that it is
explained that rehabilitation is not the proper remedy for
insolvent and can no longer be rehabilitated. The bank also
Wonder Book’s dire financial condition. Given that it is actually
raised that there is no guaranty that the insurance claim of
Wonder Book on its destroyed inventories will be paid. It also
insolvent and not just suffering from temporary liquidity (d) cash flow cannot sustain daily operations; and (e) negative
problems, rehabilitation is not a viable option. net worth and the assets are near full depreciation or fully
depreciated.
ISSUE/S:
VMC filed a petition5before the SEC to declare itself in a state
of suspension of payments, alleging that although it has
sufficient property to cover all of its debts, it foresees its
Whether or not SEC erred in suspending the proceedings of the before any court, tribunal, board or body shall
collection suits filed by PICTD against VCM. be suspended accordingly
The purpose for the suspension of the proceedings is to
prevent a creditor from obtaining an advantage or
RULING:
preference over another and to protect and preserve
the rights of party litigants as well as the interest of the
investing public or creditors. Such suspension is
NO. The Supreme Court agreed to sustain the ruling of the
intended to give enough breathing space for the
appellate court upholding the SEC Order suspending the
management committee or rehabilitation receiver to
proceedings of the collection suit filed by PICTD against VMC.
make the business viable again, without having to divert
Section 6(c) of P.D. No. 902-A as amended by P.D. No. 1799, attention and resources to litigations in various fora.
enumerating the powers of the SEC provides: The suspension would enable the management
committee or rehabilitation receiver to effectively
SEC. 6. In order to effectively exercise such
exercise its/his powers free from any judicial or extra-
jurisdiction, the Commission shall possess the
judicial interference that might unduly hinder or
following powers:
prevent the "rescue" of the debtor company. To allow
c) To appoint one or more receivers of the such other action to continue would only add to the
property, real and personal, which is the subject burden of the management committee or rehabilitation
of the action pending before the Commission receiver, whose time, effort and resources would be
whenever necessary in order to preserve the wasted in defending claims against the corporation
rights of the parties-litigants and/or protect the instead of being directed toward its restructuring and
interest of the investing public and creditors: rehabilitation.
Provided, finally, That upon appointment of a
management committee, rehabilitation
receiver, board or body, pursuant to this 5. RUBBERWORLD, INC., v. NLRC, et al
Decree, all actions for claims against
G.R. No. 126773 April 14, 1999
corporations, partnerships or associations
under management or receivership pending
Topic: Difference between Corporate Rehabilitation and dismissal, unfair labor practice, damages and payment of
Corporate Liquidation separation pay, among others. Petitioners moved to suspend
the proceedings in the above labor cases on the strength of the
SEC Order. LA denied the motion holding that the injunction in
Doctrine: The purpose of rehabilitation proceedings is precisely the SEC Order applied only to the enforcement of established
to enable the company to gain a new lease on life and thereby rights and did not include the suspension of proceedings
allow creditors to be paid their claims from its earnings. On the involving claims against petitioner which have yet to be
other hand, in insolvency proceedings, the company stops ascertained. Furthermore, LA held that the order of the SEC
operating, and the claims of creditors are satisfied from the suspending all actions for claims against petitioners does not
assets of the insolvent corporation. cover the claims of private respondents in the labor cases
because said claims and the concomitant liability of petitioners
still had to be determined, thus carrying no dissipation of the
Facts: Petitioner is a domestic corporation which used to be in assets of petitioners. NLRC affirmed the LA ruling.
the business of manufacturing footwear, bags and garments. It
filed with the SEC a petition for suspension of payments and
prayed (1) that be declared in a state of suspension of Issue: Whether the respondent NLRC erred in denying
payments; (2) that the SEC accordingly issue an order petitioners' motion to suspend proceedings despite the SEC
restraining its creditors from enforcing their claims against the Order directing the suspension of all actions against a company
petitioner; (3) for the creation of a management committee; under the first stages of insolvency proceedings. - YES
and (4) for the approval of the proposed rehabilitation plan and
memorandum of agreement between petitioner corporation
and its creditors. SEC granted the petition. Accordingly, with the Held:
creation of the Management Committee, all actions for claims
1. Where the petition filed is one for declaration of a state of
against Rubberworld Philippines, Inc. pending before any court,
suspension of payments due to a recognition of the inability to
tribunal, office, board, body were deemed suspended.
pay one's debts and liabilities, and where the petitioning
corporation either: (a) has sufficient property to cover all its
debts but foresees the impossibility of meeting them when they
Private respondents, who claim to be employees of petitioner,
fall due (solvent but illiquid) or (b) has no sufficient property
filed against petitioners their respective complaints for illegal
(insolvent) but is under the management of a rehabilitation
receiver or a management committee, the applicable law is P.D. defending claims against the corporation instead of being
902-A (…that upon appointment of a management committee, directed toward its restructuring and rehabilitation.
rehabilitation receiver… all actions for claims against
corporations… under management or receivership pending
before any court,… shall be suspended accordingly). However, 2. The respondents contend that automatic stay under PD 902-
if the petitioning corporation has no sufficient assets to cover A is not applicable to the instant case; otherwise, the
its liabilities and is not under a rehabilitation receiver or a preference granted to workers by Article 110 of the Labor Code
management committee created under P.D. 902-A and does would be rendered ineffective. However, the SC held that this
not seek merely to have the payments of its debts suspended, contention is misleading. The preferential right of workers and
but seeks a declaration of insolvency . . . the applicable law is employees under Article 110 of the Labor code may be invoked
the Insolvency Law on voluntary Insolvency. only upon the institution of insolvency or judicial liquidation
proceeding.