REMEDIAL LAW REVIEW

G.R. No. 114331 May 27, 1997 (Sorry for the long digest!)
[03] VIRATA v. SANDIGANBAYAN
a!"#$
Petitioner Cesar E. A. Virata is one of the defendants in Civil Case No. 0035, entitled Republic of the Philippines versus Benjamin (Kokoy)
Romualdez, et. al.. he !ase, "hi!h "as filed #y the Presidential Co$$ission on %ood %overn$ent against fifty three &ersons (53) in!l'ding Virata,
involves the re!overy of ill(gotten "ealth d'ring the reign President )ar!os.
he !o$&laint against the defendants "as a$ended three ti$es. he last a$ended !o$&laint filed "ith the Sandigan#ayan, *no"n as the e+&anded
Se!ond A$ended Co$&laint, states the follo"ing relevant allegations against &etitioner Virata ,that -efendants .en/a$in (0o*oy) 1o$'alde2 and
3'liette %o$e2 1o$'alde2, in 'nla"f'l !on!ert "ith -efendants 4erdinand E. )ar!os and 5$elda 1. )ar!os, 'n/'stly enri!hed the$selves at the
e+&ense of &laintiff and the 4ili&ino &eo&le #y6
78.#.) gave )E1A9C: 'nd'e advantage (i) #y effe!ting the in!rease of &o"er rates, and (ii) #y red'!ing the ele!tri! fran!hise ta+ fro$ 5; to
<; of gross re!ei&ts and the tariff d'ty on f'el oil i$&orts #y &'#li! 'tilities fro$ <0; to 70;, res'lting in s'#stantial savings for )E1A9C:
#'t "itho't any signifi!ant #enefit to the !ons'$ers of ele!tri! &o"er.
78.g.) se!'red, in a veiled atte$&t to /'stify )E1A9C:=s ano$alo's a!>'isition of the ele!tri! !oo&eratives, the a&&roval #y -efendant
4erdinand E. )ar!os and his !a#inet of the so(!alled ?hree(@ear Progra$ for the E+tension of )E1A9C:=s Servi!es to Areas Aithin the B0(
0ilo$eter 1adi's of )anila,? "hi!h re>'ired govern$ent !a&ital invest$ent a$o'nting to $illions of &esosC
78.$.) $ani&'lated, "ith the !olla#oration of Philg'arantee offi!ials led #y Chair$an Cesar E. A. Virata, the for$ation of Ere!ton Doldings,
5n!. "itho't inf'sing additional !a&ital solely for the &'r&ose of $a*ing it ass'$e the o#ligation of Ere!tors 5n!or&orated "ith Philg'arantee in
the a$o'nt of P5<E,3FE,880.E7 "ith ins'ffi!ient Se!'ritiesG!ollaterals /'st to ena#le Ere!tors 5n!. to a&&ear via#le and to #orro" $ore !a&itals.
7E. he follo"ing -efendants a!ted as d'$$ies, no$inees andGor agents #y allo"ing the$selves (i) as instr'$ents in a!!'$'lating ill(gotten
"ealth thro'gh govern$ent &oli!ies &re/'di!ial to &laintiff, or (ii) to #e dire!tors of !or&orations #enefi!ially held andGor !ontrolled #y
-efendants 4erdinand E. )ar!os, 5$elda 1. )ar!os, .en/a$in (0o*oy) . 1o$'alde2 and 3'lliette %o$e2 1a$'alde2 in order (to) !on!eal
and &revent re!overy of assets illegally o#tained.
Asserting that the foregoing allegations are vag'e and are not averred "ith s'ffi!ient definiteness as to ena#le hi$ to effe!tively &re&are his res&onsive
&leading, &etitioner Virata filed a $otion for a #ill of &arti!'lars.
5n a 1esol'tion &ro$'lgated, the Sandigan#ayan &artially granted the said $otion #y re>'iring the 1e&'#li! to s'#$it a #ill of &arti!'lars !on!erning the
!harges against &etitioner Virata stated only in &aragra&h 7E (a!ting as d'$$y, no$inee andGor agent) and &aragra&h 7F (gross a#'se of a'thority and
violation of la"s and the Constit'tion) of the e+&anded Se!ond A$ended Co$&laint. Do"ever, as to the other !harges, the Sandigan#ayan de!lared that
these a!!'sations are !lear and s&e!ifi! eno'gh to allo" Virata to s'#$it an intelligent res&onsive &leading, hen!e, the $otion for a #ill of &arti!'lars
res&e!ting the foregoing three !harges "as denied.
5n vie" of the Sandigan#ayan=s order of A'g'st 8, 7HH<, the 1e&'#li! thro'gh the :ffi!e of the Soli!itor %eneral s'#$itted the #ill of &arti!'lars dated
:!to#er <<, 7HH<, !alled as the 9i$ited .ill of Parti!'lars "hi!h "as signed #y a !ertain 1a$on A. 4eli&e 5V, "ho "as designated in the #ill of &arti!'lars
as ?&rivate !o'nsel?.
Aay #a!* on Se&te$#er 7, 7HH<, Virata, "ho "as dissatisfied "ith the Sandigan#ayan 1esol'tion of A'g'st 8, 7HH<, filed a &etition for certiorari (%.1.
No. 70B5<E) "ith this Co'rt >'estioning the Sandigan#ayan=s denial of his $otion for a #ill of &arti!'lars. he PC%% s'#$itted the #ill of &arti!'lars
dated Nove$#er 3, 7HH3, "hi!h "as a&&arently signed #y a !ertain 1eynaldo %. 1os, "ho "as na$ed in the #ill of &arti!'lars as ?de&'ti2ed &rose!'tor?
of the PC%%.
Virata filed on Nove$#er <3, 7HH3 his !o$$ent on the #ill of &arti!'lars "ith $otion to dis$iss the e+&anded Se!ond A$ended Co$&laint. De alleges
that #oth the #ills of &arti!'lars are pro forma and sho'ld #e stri!*en off the re!ords. A!!ording to hi$, the #ill of &arti!'lars dated Nove$#er 3, 7HH3 is
$erely a rehash of the assertions $ade in the e+&anded Se!ond A$ended Co$&laint. 4'rther$ore, a reading of the 9i$ited .ill of Parti!'lars sho"s
that it alleges ne" i$&'tations "hi!h are i$$aterial to the !harge of #eing a d'$$y, no$inee or agent, and that Virata a!ted, not as a d'$$y, no$inee
or agent of his !o(defendants as "hat is !harged in the !o$&laint, #'t as a govern$ent offi!er of the 1e&'#li!.
-issatisfied, Virata filed this instant &etition for certiorari 'nder 1'le B5 of the 1'les of Co'rt to !hallenge the foregoing 1esol'tion of the
Sandigan#ayan.
I##%&$ 7. Ahether the Sandigan#ayan !o$$itted %A- in ad$itting the .ill of Parti!'lars s'#$itted #y the 1e&''#li!. I @es.
<. Ahether the Sol(%en and the PC%% are a'thori2ed #y la" to de&'ti2e a !o'nsel to file the .ill of Parti!'lars in #ehalf of the 1e&i#li!. ( No.
Ra"'o(a)&$
7. he instant &etition $eritorio's. he r'le is that a !o$&laint $'st !ontain the 'lti$ate fa!ts !onstit'ting &laintiff=s !a'se of a!tion. As long as a !a'se
of a!tion e+ists even tho'gh the allegations therein are vag'e, and dis$issal of the a!tion is not the &ro&er re$edy "hen the &leading is a$#ig'o's
#e!a'se the defendant $ay as* for $ore &arti!'lars.
)i*hail %o$e2 Atty. ran>'il Salvador 555
REMEDIAL LAW REVIEW
As s'!h, the 1'les of Co'rt &rovide that a &arty $ay $ove for $ore definite state$ent or for a #ill of &arti!'lars of any $atter "hi!h is not averred "ith
s'ffi!ient definiteness or &arti!'larity to ena#le hi$ &ro&erly to &re&are his res&onsive &leading or to &re&are for trial. S'!h $otion shall &oint o't the
defe!ts !o$&lained of and the details desired. Jnder this 1'le, the re$edy availa#le to a &arty "ho see*s !larifi!ation of any iss'e or $atter vag'ely or
o#s!'rely &leaded #y the other &arty, is to file a $otion, either for a $ore definite state$ent or for a #ill of &arti!'lars. An order dire!ting the s'#$ission
of s'!h state$ent or #ill, f'rther, is &ro&er "here it ena#les the &arty $ovant intelligently to &re&are a res&onsive &leading, or ade>'ately to &re&are for
trial.
A #ill of &arti!'lars is a !o$&le$entary &ro!ed'ral do!'$ent !onsisting of an a$&lifi!ation or $ore &arti!'lari2ed o'tline of a &leading, and #eing in the
nat're of a $ore s&e!ifi! allegation of the fa!ts re!ited in the &leading. 5t is the offi!e of the #ill of &arti!'lars to infor$ the o&&osite &arty and the !o'rt of
the &re!ise nat're and !hara!ter of the !a'se of a!tion or defense "hi!h the &leader has atte$&ted to set forth and there#y to g'ide his adversary in his
&re&arations for trial, and reasona#ly to &rote!t hi$ against s'r&rise at the trial. 5t gives infor$ation of the s&e!ifi! &ro&osition for "hi!h the &leader
!ontends, in res&e!t to any $aterial and iss'a#le fa!t in the !ase, and it #e!o$es a &art of the &leading "hi!h it s'&&le$ents. 5t has #een held that a #ill
of &arti!'lars $'st infor$ the o&&osite &arty of the nat're of the &leader=s !a'se of a!tion or defense, and it $'st f'rnish the re>'ired ite$s of the !lai$
"ith reasona#le f'llness and &re!ision. %enerally, it "ill #e held s'ffi!ient if it fairly and s'#stantially gives the o&&osite &arty the infor$ation to "hi!h he
is entitled, as re>'ired #y the ter$s of the a&&li!ation and of the order therefor. 5t sho'ld #e definite and s&e!ifi! and not !ontain general allegations and
!on!l'sions. 5t sho'ld #e reasona#ly !ertain and as s&e!ifi! as the !ir!'$stan!es "ill allo".
%'ided #y the foregoing r'les and &rin!i&les, #oth the #ill of &arti!'lars and the 9i$ited .ill of Parti!'lars are !o'!hed in s'!h general and 'n!ertain
ter$s as "o'ld $a*e it diffi!'lt for &etitioner to s'#$it an intelligent res&onsive &leading to the !o$&laint and to ade>'ately &re&are for trial. 5t is
a&&arent fro$ the foregoing allegations that the 1e&'#li! did not f'rnish Virata the follo"ing $aterial $atters "hi!h are indis&ensa#le for hi$ to #e
&la!ed in s'!h a sit'ation "herein he !an &ro&erly #e infor$ed of the !harges against hi$6 a) -id Virata, "ho "as only one of the $e$#ers of the
.oard, a!t alone in a&&roving the 1esol'tionK Aho really a&&roved the 1esol'tion, Virata or the )onetary .oardKC #) Ahat "ere these o'tstanding loan
o#ligations of the three !or&orations !on!ernedK Aho "ere the !reditors and de#tors of these loan o#ligationsK Do" $'!h "ere involved in the
restr'!t'ring of the loan o#ligationsK Ahat $ade the transa!tion a =s"eetheart= or =#ehest= a!!o$$odationKC and !) Do" "as the a!>'isition of
)E1A9C: #y )eral!o 4o'ndation, 5n!. related to the 1esol'tion restr'!t'ring the loan o#ligations of the three !or&orationsK
here are !ertain $atters in the foregoing allegations "hi!h la!* in s'#stantial &arti!'larity. he follo"ing are the s&e!ifi! $atters "hi!h the 1e&'#li!
failed to &rovide, to "it6 a) Ahat $ade the transa!tion =disadvantageo's= to the govern$entK he allegation that it "as disadvantageo's is a !on!l'sion
of la" that la!*s fa!t'al #asis. Do" did )E1A9C: gain the P<0B.< $illionK he 1e&'#li! sho'ld have &rovided for $ore s&e!ifi!s ho" "as the
transa!tion favora#le to )E1A9C:KC #) Ahat "ere these foreign o#ligations of )E1A9C: "hi!h "ere ass'$ed #y the govern$entK Aho "ere the
!reditors in these o#ligationsK Ahen "ere these o#ligations !ontra!tedK Do" $'!h "ere involved in the ass'$&tion of foreign o#ligations #y the
govern$entKC and !) .y the &resen!e of the &rovision of the !ontra!t >'oted #y the 1e&'#li!, "hat $ade the agree$ent a =s"eetheart= dealK he
allegation that the agree$ent is a =s"eetheart deal= is a general state$ent that needs f'rther a$&lifi!ation.
5n li*e $anner, the state$ent of fa!ts fails to &rovide the follo"ing relevant $atters6 a) Ahat "as this L33.5 $illion &ro&osed #ehest loanK Ahat "ere its
ter$sK Aho "as s'&&osed to #e the grantor of this loanKC #) Ahat "ere these short ter$ loansK Aho "ere the &arties to these transa!tionsK Ahen
"ere these transa!tedK Do" "as this L 33.5 $illion #ehest loan related to the short ter$ loansK
As !learly esta#lished #y the foregoing dis!'ssion, the t"o #ills of &arti!'lars filed #y the 1e&'#li! failed to &ro&erly a$&lify the !harges leveled against
Virata #e!a'se, not only are they $ere reiteration or re&etition of the allegations set forth in the e+&anded Se!ond A$ended Co$&laint, #'t, to the large
e+tent, they !ontain vag'e, i$$aterial and generali2ed assertions "hi!h are inad$issi#le 'nder o'r &ro!ed'ral r'les.
<. he 9i$ited .ill of Parti!'lars dated :!to#er <<, 7HH< signed #y 1a$on 4eli&e 5V and the .ill of Parti!'lars dated Nove$#er 3, 7HH3 signed #y
1eynaldo 1os are valid &leadings "hi!h are #inding '&on the 1e&'#li! #e!a'se the t"o la"yer(signatories are legally de&'ti2ed and a'thori2ed #y the
:ffi!e of the Soli!itor %eneral and the Presidential Co$$ission on %ood %overn$ent to sign and file the #ills of &arti!'lars !on!erned.
he Ad$inistrative Code of 7HFE, "hi!h virt'ally re&rod'!es the &o"ers and f'n!tions of the :S% en'$erated in P.-. No. 8EF (he 9a" -efining the
Po"ers and 4'n!tions of the :ffi!e of the Soli!itor %eneral)6 ,Se!. 35. Po"ers and 4'n!tions, . . . . 5t (the :S%) shall have the &o"er to (F) -e&'ti2e
legal offi!ers of govern$ent de&art$ents, #'rea's, agen!ies and offi!es to assist the Soli!itor %eneral and a&&ear or re&resent the %overn$ent in
!ases involving their res&e!tive offi!es, #ro'ght #efore the !o'rts and e+er!ise s'&ervision and !ontrol over s'!h legal offi!ers "ith res&e!t to s'!h
!ases.M h's, the Soli!itor %eneral a!ted "ithin the legal #o'nds of its a'thority "hen it de&'ti2ed Attorney 4eli&e 5V to file in #ehalf of the 1e&'#li! the
#ill of &arti!'lars !on!erning the !harges stated in &aragra&h 7E and 7F of the e+&anded Se!ond A$ended Co$&laint.
)i*hail %o$e2 Atty. ran>'il Salvador 555