Citibank, N.A. V Ca: G.R. No. 61508

CITIBANK, N.A.
V CA
26 FEB
G.R. No. 61508 | March 17, 1999 | J. Purisima

FACTS:
1. In consideration for a loan with Citibank, N.A. (formerly First National City Bank), private
respondent Douglas Anama executed a promissory note to pay the plaintiff bank the sum
of P418,000.00 in sixty (60) equal successive monthly installments.
2. To secure payment of the loan, Anama also constituted a Chattel Mortgage in favor of petitioner,
on various machineries and equipment.
3. However, for failure and refusal of the private respondent to pay the monthly installments despite
repeated demands, petitioner filed a verified complaint against Anama in the Manila CFI for the
collection of his unpaid balance, for the delivery and possession of the chattels covered preparatory
to the foreclosure.
4. Anama submitted his Answer with Counterclaim, denying the material averments of the
complaint, and averring, inter alia that the remedy of replevin was improper and the writ of seizure
should be vacated.
5. The trial court, upon proof of default of the private respondent in the payment of the said loan,
issued an Order of Replevin. Despite the issuance of the said order however, actual delivery of
possession did not take place because of negotiations for an amicable settlement. A pre-trial
conference was held and the petitioner then took over private respondent’s business as receiver. But
when settlement failed, the lower court tried the case on the merits.
7. Petitioner presented a Motion for the Issuance of an Alias Writ of Seizure, ordering the sheriff to
seize and dispose of the properties involved.
8. Private respondent opposed the motion claiming, among others, (1) that Citibank’s P400,000
replevin bond to answer for damages was grossly inadequate; (2) that he was never in default to
justify the seizure; xxx (4) that his supposed obligations with Citibank were fully secured and his
mortgaged properties are more than sufficient to secure payment thereof; xxx
9. The trial court issued an Order granting the Motion for Alias Writ of Seizure. Private respondent
moved for reconsideration of the aforesaid order but the same was denied. As a consequence, the
sheriff seized subject properties, dismantled and removed them from the premises where they were
installed, delivered them to petitioner’s possession and advertised them for sale at public auction.
10. Private respondent filed with the CA a Petition for Certiorari and Prohibition with Injunction.
Finding that the trial court acted with grave abuse of discretion amounting to excess or lack of
jurisdiction in issuing the assailed resolutions, the CA granted the petition, holding that the
provisions of the Rules of Court on Replevin and Receivership have not been complied with, in that
(1) there was no Affidavit of Merit accompanying the Complaint for Replevin; (2) the bond posted by
Citibank was insufficient; and (3) there was non-compliance with the requirement of a receiver’s
bond and oath of office. Hence the present petition for certiorari with TRO by Citibank.
ISSUE:
1. W/N CA erred in finding that the issuance of writ of replevin was improper
2. W/N CA erred in finding that the complaint did not comply with the requirements of an affidavit
of merit
3. W/N CA erred in finding that the bond posted by petitioner is insufficient
4. W/N CA erred in finding that petitioner did not comply with Section 5, Rule 59

HELD:
1. No. (See highlighted ruling.)
2. Qualified yes. While petitioner is correct insofar as it contends that substantial compliance with
the affidavit requirement may be permissible pursuant to Section 2, Rule 60 of the ROC, petitioner’s
complaint does notallege all the facts that should be set forth in an affidavit of merit.

The Court held that the absence of an affidavit of merit is not fatal where the petition itself, which is
under oath, recites the following facts constitutive of the grounds for the petition: (1) that plaintiff
owns the property particularly describing the same, or that he is entitled to its possession; (2)
wrongful detention by defendant of said property; (3) that the property is not taken by virtue of a tax
assessment or fine pursuant to law or seized under execution or attachment or, if it is so seized, that
it is exempt from such seizure; and the (4) the actual value of the property.
Although the complaint alleges that petitioner is entitled to the possession of subject properties by
virtue of the chattel mortgage executed by the private respondent, upon the latter’s default on its
obligation, and the defendant’s alleged “wrongful detention” of the same, the said complaint does not
state that subject properties were not taken by virtue of a tax assessment or fine imposed pursuant to
law or seized under execution or attachment or, if they were so seized, that they are exempt from
such seizure. Then too, petitioner stated the value of subject properties at a “probable value
of P200,000.00, more or less”.

Although respondent’s defense of lack of affidavit of merit is meritorious, procedurally, such

a defense is unfortunately no longer available for failure to plead the same in the Answer as
required by the omnibus motion rule.

3.Yes. ROC requires the plaintiff to “give a bond, executed to the defendant in double the value of
the property as stated in the affidavit x x x .” Since the valuation made by the petitioner has been
disputed by the respondent, the lower court should have determined first the actual value of the
properties. It was thus an error for the said court to approve the bond, which was based merely on
the probable value of the properties. A replevin bond is intended to answer for damages and to
indemnify the defendant against any loss that he may suffer by reason of its being compelled to
surrender the possession of the disputed property pending trial of the action.

The remedies provided under Section 5, Rule 60, are alternative remedies. Conformably, a defendant
in a replevin suit may demand the return of possession of the property replevined by filing a
redelivery bond executed to the plaintiff in double the value of the property as stated in the plaintiff’s
affidavit within the period specified in Sections 5 and 6. Alternatively, “the defendant may object to
the sufficiency of the plaintiff’s bond, or of the surety or sureties thereon;” but if he does so, “he
cannot require the return of the property” by posting a counter-bond pursuant to Sections 5 and
6. The private respondent did not opt to cause redelivery of the properties to him by filing a counter-
bond precisely because he objected to the sufficiency of the bond posted by plaintiff. Therefore, he
need not file a counter-bond or redelivery bond.
4. No. CA found that the requirements of Section 5, Rule 59 on receivership were not complied with
by the petitioner, particularly the filing or posting of a bond and the taking of an oath. However, the
old Rules of Court which was in effect at the time this case was still at trial stage, a bond for the
appointment of a receiver was not generally required of the applicant, except when the application
was made ex parte. CA was right in finding a defect in such assumption of receivership in that the
requirement of taking an oath has not been complied with.
– For erroneously issuing the alias writ of seizure without inquiring into the
sufficiency of the replevin bond and for allowing petitioner to assume receivership
without the requisite oath, the Court of Appeals aptly held that the trial court acted
with grave abuse of discretion in dealing with the situation. Under the Revised Rules of
Court, the property seized under a writ of replevin is not to be delivered immediately
to the plaintiff. This is because a possessor has every right to be respected in its
possession and may not be deprived of it without due process. Petition DISMISSED.

NOTE:
– Actual value (or actual market value) means “the price which an article would command in the
ordinary course of business, that is to say, when offered for sale by one willing to sell, but not under
compulsion to sell, and purchased by another who is willing to buy, but under no obligation to
purchase it”.
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CITIBANK, N.A.

3. W/N CA erred in finding that the bond posted by petitioner is insufficient

Although respondent’s defense of lack of affidavit of merit is meritorious, procedurally, such

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