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[Syllabus]

SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. 116792. March 29, 1996]

BANK OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANS a!" GRA#EROMERO, petitioners, vs. #O$RT OF APPEALS a!" E%IN F.RE&ES, respondents.

E # I S I O N

P$NO, J.:

Petitioners seek a review of the Decision1 of reson!ent Court of "eals in C"#$%&% CV No% '1(') reversin* the Decision+ of the &e*ional ,rial Court of -ue.on City/0ranch 2/ an! or!erin* etitioners to cre!it rivate reson!ent3s Savin*s

 "ccount No% )14(#51+#(6 with P15/((6%55 lus interest%

,he facts reveal that on Sete7ber 25, 124(/ rivate reson!ent E!vin 8% &eyesoene! Savin*s "ccount No% ) 14(#51+#(6 at etitioner 0ank of the Philiine Islan!s90PI: Cubao/ Shoin* Center 0ranch% It is a 'o(!) *AN+OR acco-!) ()h h(/ (0,So!(a S% &eyes%

Private reson!ent also hel! a ;oint *AN+OR Sa(!3/ Acco-!) No. 415812552 ()h h(/ 3ra!"o)hr, E)r(a M. Fr!a!":, oene!) on 8ebruary 11/ 1246 atthe sa7e 0PI branch% <e re*ularly !eosite! in this account the =%S% ,reasury >arrantsayable to the or!er of E7eteria ?% 8ernan!e. as her 7onthly ension%

E7eteria ?% 8ernan!e. !ie! on c;r 25, 1959 without the knowle!*e of the=%S% ,reasury Deart7ent% She was still sent =%S% ,reasury >arrant No% +166)5+!ate! <a!-ar= 1, 1998 in the a7ount of =%S% @)%55) or P15/((6%55% On <a!-ar=>, 1998, rivate reson!ent !eosite! the sai! =%S% treasury check of 8ernan!e. inSavin*s "ccount No% ) 14(#51+4#4+% ,he =%S% Veterans "!7inistration Officein ?anila con!itionally cleare! the check%' ,he check was then sent to the =nite!States for further clearin*%(

,wo 7onths after or on March 5, 1998, rivate reson!ent close! Savin*s "ccountNo% ) 14(#51+4#4+ an! transferre! its fun!s a7ountin* to P1)/11+%21 to Savin*s

 "ccount No% ) 14(#51+#(6/ the ;oint account with his wife%

On Aanuary 16/ 1221/ =%S% ,reasury >arrant No% +166)5+ was !ishonore! as itwas !iscovere! that 8ernan!e. !ie! three ?4@ !ays r(or to its issuance% ,he =%S%Deart7ent of ,reasury reBueste! etitioner bank for a refun!%6 8or the first ti7eetitioner bank ca7e to know of the !eath of 8ernan!e.%

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On 8ebruary 12/ 1221/ rivate reson!ent receive! a P, , ur*ent tele*ra7 fro7etitioner bank reBuestin* hi7 to contact ?ana*er $race S% &o7ero or "ssistant?ana*er Car7en 0ernar!o% >hen he calle! u the bank/ he was infor7e! that thetreasury check was the sub;ect of a clai7 by Citibank N"/ correson!ent of etitioner bank% <e assure! etitioners that he woul! !ro by the bank to look into the 7atter% <e

also r;a= a-)hor(:" )h to !ebit fro7 his other ;oint account the a7ount state!in the !ishonore! =%S% ,reasury >arrant% On the sa7e !ay/ etitioner bank !ebite! thea7ount of P15/((6%55 fro7 rivate reson!ent3s Savin*s "ccount No% )14(#51+#(6%

On 8ebruary +1/ 1221/ rivate reson!ent with his lawyer <u7hrey ,u7anen*visite! the etitioner bank an! the refun! !ocu7ents were shown to the7% Surrisin*ly/rivate reson!ent !e7an!e! fro7 etitioner bank restitution of the !ebite!a7ount% <e clai7e! that because of the !ebit/ he faile! to with!raw his 7oney when henee!e! the7% <e then file! a suit for Da7a*es4a*ainst etitioners before the &e*ional,rial Court of -ue.on City/ 0ranch 2%

Petitioners conteste! the co7laint an! counter#clai7e! for 7oral an! ee7lary

!a7a*es% 0y way of Secial an! "ffir7ative Defense/ they averre! that rivatereson!ent *ave the7 hisCr// r;a a-)hor(:a)(o! to !ebit the Buestione!a7ount% ,hey clai7e! that rivate reson!ent later refuse! to eecute a writtenauthority%2

In a Decision !ate! Aanuary +5/ 122)/ the trial court !is7isse! the co7laint of rivate reson!ent for lack of cause of action% 15

Private reson!ent aeale! to the reson!ent Court of "eals% On "u*ust 16/122'/ the Siteenth Division of reson!ent court in "C#$%&% CV No% '1(') reverse! thei7u*ne! !ecision/ vi.

“WHEREFORE, the judgment appealed from is set aside, and another one enteredordering defendant (petitioner) to credit plaintiff’s (private respondent’s) !"! #o! $

%&'%*+' -ith .%,''! plus interest at the applica/le rates for e0press teller

savings accounts from Fe/ruar1 %2,%22%, until compliance here-ith! 3he claim and

counterclaim for damages are dismissed for lac4 of merit!

O OR5ERE5!6%%

Petitioners now conten! that reson!ent Court of "eals erre!

*I

RE.O#5E#3 7O8R3 OF "..E"9 :R";E9< ERRE5 =# #O3 HO95=#:

3H"3 RE.O#5E#3 RE<E :";E E>.RE "83HOR=3< 3O .E3=3=O#ER

?"#@ 3O 5E?=3 H= AO=#3 "77O8#3 W=3H H= W=FE FOR 3HE ;"98E OF

3HE RE38R#E5 8!! 3RE"8R< W"RR"#3!

II

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RE.O#5E#3 7O8R3 OF "..E"9 :R";E9< ERRE5 =# #O3 HO95=#:

3H"3 .E3=3=O#ER ?"#@ H" 9E:"9 R=:H3 3O "..9< 3HE 5E.O=3 OF

RE.O#5E#3 RE<E 3O H= O833"#5=#: O?9=:"3=O# 3O .E3=3=O#ER 

?"#@ ?RO8:H3 "?O83 ?< 3HE RE38R# OF 3HE 8!! 3RE"8R<

W"RR"#3 HE E"R9=ER 5E.O=3E5 8#5ER 3HE .R=#7=.9E OF “9E:"9

7OB.E#"3=O#!6

III

RE.O#5E#3 7O8R3 OF "..E"9 :R";E9< ERRE5 =# #O3 "..9<=#:

7ORRE739< 3HE .R=#7=.9E E#8#7="3E5 ?< 3HE 8.REBE 7O8R3 =#

3HE 7"E OF :899" V. .#?, + .H=9! '%2!

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RE.O#5E#3 7O8R3 OF "..E"9 :R";E9< ERRE5 =# #O3"..RE7="3=#: 3HE F"73 3H"3 3HE BO#E< 5E?=3E5 ?< .E3=3=O#ER

?"#@ W" 3HE "BE BO#E< 3R"#FERRE5 ?< RE.O#5E#3 RE<E

FROB H= AO=#3 “"#5COR6 "77O8#3 W=3H H= :R"#5BO3HER 3O H=

AO=#3 “"#5COR6 "77O8#3 W=3H H= W=FE!6%+

>e fin! 7erit in the etition%

,he first issue for resolution is whether rivate reson!entverbally a-)hor(:" etitioner bank to !ebit his ;oint account with his wife for thea7ount of the returne! =%S% ,reasury >arrant% >e fin! that etitioners were able )o

ro )h(/ r;a a-)hor()= ;= ro!"ra!c o0 ("!c.  ,he testi7onies of 0ernar!o an! &o7ero !eserve cre!ence% 0ernar!o testifie!

 

“Q:  "fter that/ what haene!F

 " Dr% &eyes calle! 7e u an! I infor7e! hi7 about the return of the =%S%,reasury >arrant an! we are reBueste! to rei7burse for the a7ount%

- >hat was his resonse if anyF

 " o!D) =o- orr= a;o-) (), )hr (/ !o r/o!a ro;.

 

Q:  "n! so what was his resonseF

 " H /a(" )ha) "o!D) =o- orr= a;o-) ().D

 

Q: Gou sai! that you aske! hi7 the a!vice an! he !i! not answer/ what a!vice areyou referrin* toF

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 " I! o-r co!r/a)(o!, h ro(/" )ha) h ( 3( r())!co!0(ra)(o! or a-)hor(:a)(o!.1)

,he conversation was ro7tly relaye! to &o7ero who testifie!

 

H- >as there any oortunity wherein sai! ?rs% 0ernar!o was able to convey toyou the contents of their conversationF

 " ,his was i77e!iately relaye! to 7e as 7ana*er of the 0ank of the PhiliineIslan!s/ sir%

- >hat/ if any was the content of her conversation/ if you knowF

 "  Mr. R=/ (!/)r-c)" Mr/. Br!ar"o )o ";() h(/ acco-!) ()h )h ;a!. H(/acco-!) a/ a(!)a(!" 'o(!)= ()h h(/ (0 )h! h ro(/" )o "ro ;= )o3( -/ a r())! co!0(ra)(o!, /(r.

 

Q:  Gou sai! that you authori.e! the !ebitin* of the account on 8ebruary 12/ 1221/ isthat correctF

 "  I "(" !o) a-)hor(:, r= 0oo" )h (!/)r-c)(o! o0 Mr. R=/, /(r.1'

>e are not !isose! to believe rivate reson!ent3s alle*ation that he !i! not *iveany verbal authori.ation% <is testi7ony is -!corro;ora)"% Nor !oes he insirecre!ence% <is ast an! frau!ulent con!uct is an evi!ence a*ainst hi7% 1( <e conceale!fro7 etitioner bank the !eath of 8ernan!e. on c;r 25, 1959.16  "s of that !ate/he knew that 8ernan!e. was no lon*er entitle! to receive any ension% Nonetheless/he still receive! the =%S% ,reasury >arrant of 8ernan!e./ an! on Aanuary '/1225 !eosite! the sa7e in Savin*s "ccount No% )14(#51+4#4+% ,o re#e7t a refun!/

rivate reson!ent close! his ;oint account with 8ernan!e. 9Savin*s "ccount No% )1#4(# 51+4#4+: on March 5, 1998 an! )ra!/0rr" its balance to his ;oint account with hiswife 9Savin*s "ccount No% ) 14(#51+#(6:% >orse/ rivate reson!ent !eclare! un!er the enalties of er;ury in the with!rawal sli1 !ate! ?arch 4/ 1225 that his co#!eositor/ 8ernan!e./ is still livin*% 0y his acts/ rivate reson!ent has strie! hi7self of cre!ibility%

?ore i7ortantly/ the reson!ent court erre! when it faile! to rule that le*alco7ensation is roer% #o!/a)(o! shall take lace when two ersons/ in their own ri*ht/ are cre!itors an! !ebtors of each other% 14 Ar)(c 1298 of the Civil Co!erovi!es that Hwhen all the reBuisites 7entione! in Ar)(c 1279 ar r/!),co!/a)(o! )a/ 00c) ;= ora)(o! o0 a, a!" C)(!3-(/h/ ;o)h ";)/ )o

)h co!c-rr!) ao-!), ! )ho-3h )h cr"()or/ a!" ";)or/ ar !o) aar o0 )h co!/a)(o!. e*al co7ensation oerates even a*ainst the will of theintereste! arties an! even ()ho-) )h co!/!) o0 )h%12 Since this co7ensationtakes lace ipso jure, its effects arise on the very !ay on which all its reBuisitesconcur%+5 >hen use! as a !efense/ it retroacts to the !ate when its reBuisites arefulfille!%+1

Ar)(c 1279 states that in or!er that co7ensation 7ay be roer/ it is necessary

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“(%) 3hat each one of the o/ligors /e /ound principall1, and that he /e at the same

time a principal creditor of the otherD

(+) 3hat /oth de/ts consist in a sum of mone1, or if the things due are consuma/le,

the1 /e of the same 4ind, and also of the same ualit1 if the latter has /een statedD

($) 3hat the t-o de/ts /e dueD

() 3hat the1 /e liuidated and demanda/leD

(5) 3hat over neither of them there /e an1 retention or controvers1, commenced /1

third persons and communicated in due time to the de/tor!6

,he ele7ents of le*al co7ensation are all resent in the case at bar% ,he obli*orsboun! rincially are at the sa7e ti7e cre!itors of each other% Petitioner bank stan!s

as a !ebtor of the rivate reson!ent/ a !eositor% "t the sa7e ti7e/ sai! bank is thecre!itor of the rivate reson!ent with resect to the !ishonore! =%S% ,reasury >arrantwhich the latter ille*ally transferre! to his ;oint account% ,he !ebts involve! consist of asu7 of 7oney% ,hey are !ue/ liBui!ate!/ an! !e7an!able% ,hey are not clai7e! by athir! erson%

It is true that the ;oint account of rivate reson!ent a!" h(/ (0 was !ebite! in thecase at bar% >e hol! that the resence of rivate reson!ent3s wife !oes not ne*ate theele7ent of 7utuality of arties/ i%e%/ that they 7ust be cre!itors an! !ebtors of eachother in their own ri*ht% ,he wife of rivate reson!ent is not a arty in the case atbar% She never asserte! any ri*ht to the !ebite! =%S% ,reasury >arrant% In!ee!/ theri*ht of the etitioner bank to 7ake the !ebit is clear an! cannot be !oubte!% ,o

frustrate the alication of le*al co7ensation on the *roun! that the arties arenot a 7utually obli*ate! woul! result in un;ust enrich7ent on the art of the rivatereson!ent an! his wife who herself out of honesty has not ob;ecte! to the !ebit%

Th r- a/ )o -)-a()= (/ /)r(c)= a(" a) a. B-) !o) (! -()=, hr )oao )h /a o-" "0a) a car r(3h) or r() (rr"(a; (!'-/)(c %++

IN %IE HEREOF, the Decision of reson!ent Court of "eals in C"#$%&% CV No%'1(') !ate! "u*ust 16/122' is "NN=ED an! SE, "SIDE an! the Decision of thetrial court in Civil Case No% -#21#4'(1 !ate! Aanuary +5/ 122) is &EINS,",ED% Costsa*ainst rivate reson!ent%

SO ORERE.(no digest available)