ABS-CBN BROADCASTING G.R. No.

169332
that the airing of WINS WEEKLY was made with petitioner's
CORPORATION,
prior approval. It also alleged that petitioner only threatened to
Petitioner, Present:
PUNO, C.J., Chairperson, terminate their agreement because it wanted to renegotiate
SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ,
- v e r s u s - CORONA, the terms thereof to allow it to demand higher fees.
AZCUNA and Respondent also prayed for damages for petitioner's alleged
LEONARD
O-DE CASTRO, grant of an exclusive distribution license to another entity, NHK
WORLD INTERACTIVE
(Japan Broadcasting Corporation).[5]
NETWORK SYSTEMS (WINS)
JAPAN CO., LTD.,
Respondent. Promulgated: The parties appointed Professor Alfredo F. Tadiar to act as sole
February 11, 2008
arbitrator. They stipulated on the following issues in their terms
CORONA, J.: of reference (TOR)[6]:
This petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules
1. Was the broadcast of WINS WEEKLY
of Court seeks to set aside the February 16, 2005 decision [1] and by the claimant duly authorized by the
respondent [herein petitioner]?
August 16, 2005 resolution[2] of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-
G.R. SP No. 81940. 2. Did such broadcast constitute a
material breach of the agreement that
is a ground for termination of the
On September 27, 1999, petitioner ABS-CBN Broadcasting agreement in accordance with Section
Corporation entered into a licensing agreement with 13 (a) thereof?

respondent World Interactive Network Systems (WINS) Japan 3. If so, was the breach seasonably
cured under the same contractual
Co., Ltd., a foreign corporation licensed under the laws of
provision of Section 13 (a)?
Japan. Under the agreement, respondent was granted the
4. Which party is entitled to the
exclusive license to distribute and sublicense the distribution of
payment of damages they claim and
the television service known as The Filipino Channel (TFC) in to the other reliefs prayed for?

Japan. By virtue thereof, petitioner undertook to transmit the xxx xxx xxx
TFC programming signals to respondent which the latter
received through its decoders and distributed to its subscribers. The arbitrator found in favor of respondent. [7] He held that
petitioner gave its approval to respondent for the airing of
A dispute arose between the parties when petitioner accused WINS WEEKLY as shown by a series of written exchanges
respondent of inserting nine episodes of WINS WEEKLY, a between the parties. He also ruled that, had there really been a
weekly 35-minute community news program for Filipinos in material breach of the agreement, petitioner should have
Japan, into the TFC programming from March to May 2002. terminated the same instead of sending a mere notice to
[3]
Petitioner claimed that these were unauthorized insertions terminate said agreement. The arbitrator found that petitioner
constituting a material breach of their agreement. threatened to terminate the agreement due to its desire to
Consequently, on May 9, 2002,[4] petitioner notified respondent compel respondent to re-negotiate the terms thereof for higher
of its intention to terminate the agreement effective June 10, fees. He further stated that even if respondent committed a
2002. breach of the agreement, the same was seasonably cured. He
then allowed respondent to recover temperate damages,
Thereafter, respondent filed an arbitration suit pursuant to the
arbitration clause of its agreement with petitioner. It contended
attorney's fees and one-half of the amount it paid as cases only if the courts refuse or neglect to inquire into the
arbitrator's fee. facts of an arbitrator's award. The dispositive portion of the CA
decision read:
Petitioner filed in the CA a petition for review under Rule 43 of
the Rules of Court or, in the alternative, a petition for certiorari WHEREFORE, the instant petition is
hereby DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction. The
under Rule 65 of the same Rules, with application for
application for a writ of injunction and
temporary restraining order and writ of preliminary injunction. temporary restraining order is
likewise DENIED. The Regional Trial Court of
It was docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 81940. It alleged serious Quezon City Branch 93 is directed to proceed
errors of fact and law and/or grave abuse of discretion with the trial for the Petition for Confirmation
of Arbitral Award.
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of the
SO ORDERED.
arbitrator.

Respondent, on the other hand, filed a petition for confirmation

of arbitral award before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Petitioner moved for reconsideration. The same was denied.
Quezon City, Branch 93, docketed as Civil Case No. Q-04-51822. Hence, this petition.

Consequently, petitioner filed a supplemental petition in the CA Petitioner contends that the CA, in effect, ruled that: (a) it
seeking to enjoin the RTC of Quezon City from further should have first filed a petition to vacate the award in the RTC
proceeding with the hearing of respondent's petition for and only in case of denial could it elevate the matter to the CA
confirmation of arbitral award. After the petition was admitted via a petition for review under Rule 43 and (b) the assailed
by the appellate court, the RTC of Quezon City issued an order decision implied that an aggrieved party to an arbitral award
holding in abeyance any further action on respondent's petition does not have the option of directly filing a petition for review
as the assailed decision of the arbitrator had already become under Rule 43 or a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 with the
the subject of an appeal in the CA. Respondent filed a motion CA even if the issues raised pertain to errors of fact and law or
for reconsideration but no resolution has been issued by the grave abuse of discretion, as the case may be, and not
lower court to date.[8] dependent upon such grounds as enumerated under Section 24
(petition to vacate an arbitral award) of RA 876 (the Arbitration
On February 16, 2005, the CA rendered the assailed decision
Law). Petitioner alleged serious error on the part of the CA.
dismissing ABS-CBNs petition for lack of jurisdiction. It stated
that as the TOR itself provided that the arbitrator's decision The issue before us is whether or not an aggrieved
shall be final and unappealable and that no motion for party in a voluntary arbitration dispute may avail of, directly in
reconsideration shall be filed, then the petition for review must the CA, a petition for review under Rule 43 or a petition for
fail. It ruled that it is the RTC which has jurisdiction over certiorari under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court, instead of filing a
questions relating to arbitration. It held that the only instance it petition to vacate the award in the RTC when the grounds
can exercise jurisdiction over an arbitral award is an appeal invoked to overturn the arbitrators decision are other than
from the trial court's decision confirming, vacating or modifying those for a petition to vacate an arbitral award enumerated
the arbitral award. It further stated that a petition for certiorari under RA 876.
under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court is proper in arbitration
 RA 876 itself mandates that it is the Court of First certiorari under Rule 65, respectively) as grounds for
Instance, now the RTC, which has jurisdiction over questions maintaining a petition to vacate an arbitral award in the RTC, it
relating to arbitration,[9] such as a petition to vacate an arbitral necessarily follows that a party may not avail of the latter
award. remedy on the grounds of errors of fact and/or law or grave
abuse of discretion to overturn an arbitral award.
Section 24 of RA 876 provides for the specific grounds for a
petition to vacate an award made by an arbitrator: Adamson v. Court of Appeals[10] gave ample warning that a
petition to vacate filed in the RTC which is not based on the
Sec. 24. Grounds for vacating award. - In any
one of the following cases, the court must grounds enumerated in Section 24 of RA 876 should be
make an order vacating the award upon the
petition of any party to the controversy when dismissed. In that case, the trial court vacated the arbitral
such party proves affirmatively that in the award seemingly based on grounds included in Section 24 of RA
arbitration proceedings:
876 but a closer reading thereof revealed otherwise. On appeal,
(a) The award was procured by corruption,
the CA reversed the decision of the trial court and affirmed the
fraud, or other undue means; or
arbitral award. In affirming the CA, we held:
(b) That there was evident partiality or
corruption in the arbitrators or any of them; The Court of Appeals, in reversing the trial
or court's decision held that the nullification of
(c) That the arbitrators were guilty of the decision of the Arbitration Committee was
misconduct in refusing to postpone the not based on the grounds provided by the
hearing upon sufficient cause shown, or in Arbitration Law and that xxx private
refusing to hear evidence pertinent and respondents (petitioners herein) have failed to
material to the controversy; that one or more substantiate with any evidence their claim of
of the arbitrators was disqualified to act as partiality. Significantly, even as respondent
such under section nine hereof, and willfully judge ruled against the arbitrator's award, he
refrained from disclosing such could not find fault with their impartiality and
disqualifications or of any other misbehavior integrity. Evidently, the nullification of the
by which the rights of any party have been award rendered at the case at bar was not
materially prejudiced; or made on the basis of any of the grounds
(d) That the arbitrators exceeded their provided by law.
powers, or so imperfectly executed them,
that a mutual, final and definite award upon xxx xxx xxx
the subject matter submitted to them was not
made. It is clear, therefore, that the award was
vacated not because of evident partiality of
the arbitrators but because the latter
interpreted the contract in a way which was
not favorable to herein petitioners and because
Based on the foregoing provisions, the law itself clearly
it considered that herein private respondents,
provides that the RTC must issue an order vacating an arbitral by submitting the controversy to arbitration,
was seeking to renege on its obligations under
award only in any one of the . . . cases enumerated therein. the contract.
Under the legal maxim in statutory construction expressio unius
xxx xxx xxx
est exclusio alterius, the explicit mention of one thing in a
It is clear then that the Court of Appeals
statute means the elimination of others not specifically
reversed the trial court not because the latter
mentioned. As RA 876 did not expressly provide for errors of reviewed the arbitration award involved herein,
but because the respondent appellate court
fact and/or law and grave abuse of discretion (proper grounds
found that the trial court had no legal basis for
for a petition for review under Rule 43 and a petition for vacating the award. (Emphasis supplied).
 authorized by any quasi-judicial agency in the
In cases not falling under any of the aforementioned grounds
exercise of its quasi-judicial functions. Among
to vacate an award, the Court has already made several these agencies are the Civil Service
Commission, Central Board of Assessment
pronouncements that a petition for review under Rule 43 or a Appeals, Securities and Exchange
petition for certiorari under Rule 65 may be availed of in the Commission, Office of the President, Land
Registration Authority, Social Security
CA. Which one would depend on the grounds relied upon by Commission, Civil Aeronautics Board, Bureau
of Patents, Trademarks and Technology
petitioner.
Transfer, National Electrification
In Luzon Development Bank v. Association of Luzon Administration, Energy Regulatory Board,
National Telecommunications Commission,
Development Bank Employees,[11] the Court held that a Department of Agrarian Reform under
voluntary arbitrator is properly classified as a quasi-judicial Republic Act Number 6657, Government
Service Insurance System, Employees
instrumentality and is, thus, within the ambit of Section 9 (3) of Compensation Commission, Agricultural
the Judiciary Reorganization Act, as amended. Under this Inventions Board, Insurance Commission,
Philippine Atomic Energy Commission, Board
section, the Court of Appeals shall exercise: of Investments, Construction Industry
Arbitration Commission, and voluntary
xxx xxx xxx arbitrators authorized by law. (Emphasis
supplied)
(3) Exclusive appellate
jurisdiction over all final judgments,
decisions, resolutions, orders or
awards of Regional Trial Courts and This rule was cited in Sevilla Trading Company v. Semana,
quasi-judicial [13]
Manila Midtown Hotel v. Borromeo, [14] and Nippon Paint
agencies, instrumentalities, boards or
commissions, including the Securities Employees Union-Olalia v. Court of Appeals. [15] These cases held
and Exchange Commission, the that the proper remedy from the adverse decision of a
Employees Compensation
Commission and the Civil Service voluntary arbitrator, if errors of fact and/or law are raised, is a
Commission, except those falling petition for review under Rule 43 of the Rules of Court. Thus,
within the appellate jurisdiction of the
petitioner's contention that it may avail of a petition for review
Supreme Court in accordance with the
Constitution, the Labor Code of the under Rule 43 under the circumstances of this case is correct.
Philippines under Presidential Decree As to petitioner's arguments that a petition for certiorari under
No. 442, as amended, the provisions
of this Act and of subparagraph (1) of Rule 65 may also be resorted to, we hold the same to be in
the third paragraph and subparagraph accordance with the Constitution and jurisprudence.
(4) of the fourth paragraph of Section
17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948. Section 1 of Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution provides that:
(Emphasis supplied)
SECTION 1. The judicial power shall be vested
in one Supreme Court and in such lower
As such, decisions handed down by voluntary arbitrators fall courts as may be established by law.

within the exclusive appellate jurisdiction of the CA. This Judicial power includes the duty of the
courts of justice to settle actual controversies
decision was taken into consideration in approving Section 1 of
involving rights which are legally demandable
Rule 43 of the Rules of Court.[12] Thus: and enforceable, and to determine whether
or not there has been a grave abuse of
SECTION 1. Scope. - This Rule shall apply to discretion amounting to lack or excess of
appeals from judgments or final orders of the jurisdiction on the part of any branch or
Court of Tax Appeals and from awards, instrumentality of the
judgments, final orders or resolutions of or Government. (Emphasis supplied)
As may be gleaned from the above stated provision, it is well Proper issues that may be raised in a petition for review under
within the power and jurisdiction of the Court to inquire Rule 43 pertain to errors of fact, law or mixed questions of fact
whether any instrumentality of the Government, such as a and law.[21] While a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 should
voluntary arbitrator, has gravely abused its discretion in the only limit itself to errors of jurisdiction, that is, grave abuse of
exercise of its functions and prerogatives. Any agreement discretion amounting to a lack or excess of jurisdiction.
stipulating that the decision of the arbitrator shall be final and [22]
Moreover, it cannot be availed of where appeal is the proper
unappealable and that no further judicial recourse if either remedy or as a substitute for a lapsed appeal.[23]
party disagrees with the whole or any part of the arbitrator's
In the case at bar, the questions raised by petitioner in
award may be availed of cannot be held to preclude in proper
its alternative petition before the CA were the following:
cases the power of judicial review which is inherent in courts.
[16]
We will not hesitate to review a voluntary arbitrator's award A. THE SOLE ARBITRATOR COMMITTED
SERIOUS ERROR AND/OR GRAVELY ABUSED
where there is a showing of grave abuse of authority or HIS DISCRETION IN RULING THAT THE
discretion and such is properly raised in a petition for BROADCAST OF WINS WEEKLY WAS DULY
AUTHORIZED BY ABS-CBN.
certiorari[17] and there is no appeal, nor any plain, speedy
B. THE SOLE ARBITRATOR COMMITTED
remedy in the course of law.[18]
SERIOUS ERROR AND/OR GRAVELY ABUSED
Significantly, Insular Savings Bank v. Far East Bank and HIS DISCRETION IN RULING THAT THE
UNAUTHORIZED BROADCAST DID NOT
Trust Company[19] definitively outlined several judicial remedies CONSTITUTE MATERIAL BREACH OF THE
an aggrieved party to an arbitral award may undertake: AGREEMENT.

(1) a petition in the proper RTC to issue an C. THE SOLE ARBITRATOR COMMITTED
order to vacate the award on the grounds SERIOUS ERROR AND/OR GRAVELY ABUSED
provided for in Section 24 of RA 876; HIS DISCRETION IN RULING THAT WINS
(2) a petition for review in the CA under Rule SEASONABLY CURED THE BREACH.
43 of the Rules of Court on questions of D. THE SOLE ARBITRATOR COMMITTED
fact, of law, or mixed questions of fact and SERIOUS ERROR AND/OR GRAVELY ABUSED
law; and HIS DISCRETION IN RULING THAT TEMPERATE
(3) a petition for certiorari under Rule 65 of DAMAGES IN THE AMOUNT OF P1,166,955.00
the Rules of Court should the arbitrator MAY BE AWARDED TO WINS.
have acted without or in excess of his
jurisdiction or with grave abuse of E. THE SOLE ARBITRATOR COMMITTED
discretion amounting to lack or excess of SERIOUS ERROR AND/OR GRAVELY ABUSED
jurisdiction. HIS DISCRETION IN AWARDING ATTORNEY'S
FEES IN THE UNREASONABLE AMOUNT AND
UNCONSCIONABLE AMOUNT OF P850,000.00.
Nevertheless, although petitioners position on the judicial
F. THE ERROR COMMITTED BY THE SOLE
remedies available to it was correct, we sustain the dismissal of ARBITRATOR IS NOT A SIMPLE ERROR OF
JUDGMENT OR ABUSE OF DISCRETION. IT IS
its petition by the CA. The remedy petitioner availed of,
GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION TANTAMOUNT
entitled alternative petition for review under Rule 43 or petition TO LACK OR EXCESS OF JURISDICTION.
for certiorari under Rule 65, was wrong.

A careful reading of the assigned errors reveals that the real

Time and again, we have ruled that the remedies of appeal and
issues calling for the CA's resolution were less the alleged grave
certiorari are mutually exclusive and not alternative or
abuse of discretion exercised by the arbitrator and more about
successive.[20]
the arbitrators appreciation of the issues and evidence
presented by the parties. Therefore, the issues clearly fall under
the classification of errors of fact and law questions which may
be passed upon by the CA via a petition for review under Rule
43. Petitioner cleverly crafted its assignment of errors in such a
way as to straddle both judicial remedies, that is, by alleging
serious errors of fact and law (in which case a petition for
review under Rule 43 would be proper) and grave abuse of
discretion (because of which a petition for certiorari under Rule
65 would be permissible).

It must be emphasized that every lawyer should be familiar

with the distinctions between the two remedies for it is not the
duty of the courts to determine under which rule the
petition should fall.[24] Petitioner's ploy was fatal to its
cause. An appeal taken either to this Court or the CA by the
wrong or inappropriate mode shall be dismissed. [25] Thus,
the alternative petition filed in the CA, being an inappropriate
mode of appeal, should have been dismissed outright by the
CA.

WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby DENIED. The February 16,

2005 decision and August 16, 2005 resolution of the Court of
Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 81940 directing the Regional Trial
Court of Quezon City, Branch 93 to proceed with the trial of the
petition for confirmation of arbitral award is AFFIRMED.