Вы находитесь на странице: 1из 27

CASE DOCTRINES

CORPORATION LAW
ATTY. BUSMENTE (2013-2014)
CASE

DOCTRINE

1. GOOD EARTH
EMPORIUM V. CA

A corporation has a personality distinct and separate from its individual


stockholders or members. As a consequence of the separate juridical personality of
a corporation, the corporate debt or credit is not the debt or credit of the
stockholder, nor is the stockholder's debt or credit that of the corporation

2. CRUZ V. DALISAY

The mere fact that one is president of the corporation does not render the property
he owns or possesses the property of the corporation, since that president, as an
individual, and the corporation, are separate entities.

3. BANK OF AMERICA Petitioners' argument that private respondents, being mere stockholders of the
V. CA
foreign corporations, have no personalities to sue, and therefore, the complaint
should be dismissed, is untenable. A case is dismissible for lack of personality to
sue upon proof that the plaintiff is not the real party-in-interest. Lack of personality
to sue can be used as a ground for a Motion to Dismiss based on the fact that the
complaint, on the face thereof, evidently states no cause of action.
In the case at bar, the complaint contains the three elements of a cause of action. It
alleges that: (1) plaintiffs, herein private respondents, have the right to demand for
an accounting from defendants (herein petitioners), as trustees by reason of the
fiduciary relationship that was created between the parties involving the vessels in
question; (2) petitioners have the obligation, as trustees, to render such an
accounting; and (3) petitioners failed to do the same.
4. AVON DALE
Thus, conformably with established jurisprudence, the two entities cannot be
GARMENTS, INC. V. deemed as separate and distinct where there is a showing that one is merely the
NLRC
continuation of the other. In fact, even a change in the corporate name does not
make a new corporation, whether effected by a special act or under a general law, it
has no effect on the identity of the corporation, or on its property, rights, or
liabilities.
5. CONCEPT
The test in determining the applicability of the doctrine of piercing the veil of
BUILDERS V. NLRC corporation fiction is as follows:
1. Control, not mere majority or complete stock control, but complete domination,
not only of finances but of policy and business practice in respect to the transaction
attacked so that the corporate entity as to this transaction had at the time no
separate mind, will or existence of its own;
2. Such control must have been used by the defendant to commit fraud or wrong, to
perpetuate the violation of a statutory or other positive legal duty, or dishonest and
unjust act in contravention of plaintiff's legal rights; and
3. The aforesaid control and breach of duty must proximately cause the injury or
unjust loss complained of.
Note: The absence of any one of these elements prevent 'piercing the corporate
veil.'
By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 1

6. FIRST PHIL.
INTERNATIONAL
BANK V. CA

The corporate veil cannot be used to shield an otherwise blatant violation of the
prohibition against forum-shopping. Shareholders, whether suing as the majority in
direct action or as the minority in a derivative suit, cannot be allowed to trifle with
court processes, particularly where, as in this case, the corporation itself has not
been remiss in vigorously prosecuting or defending corporate causes and in using
and applying remedies available to it. To rule otherwise would be to encourage
corporate litigants to use their shareholders as fronts to circumvent the stringent
rules against forum shopping.

7. FRANCISCO
MOTORS CORP. V.
CA

Instead of holding certain individuals or persons responsible for an alleged


corporate act, the situation has been reversed. It is the corporation which is being
ordered to answer for the personal liabilities of certain individual directors, officers
and incorporators concerned. The doctrine has been turned upside down because
of its erroneous invocation. The personality of the corporation and those of its
incorporators, directors and officers in their personal capacities ought to be kept
separate. The claim for legal fees against the concerned individual incorporators,
officers and directors could not be properly directed against the corporation without
violating basic principles governing corporations.

8. REYNOSO V. CA

The defense of separateness will be disregarded where the business affairs of a


subsidiary corporation are so controlled by the mother corporation to the extent that
it becomes an instrument or agent of its parent. But even where there is dominance
over the affairs of the subsidiary, the doctrine of piercing the veil of corporate fiction
applies only when such fiction is used to defeat public convenience, justify wrong,
protect fraud or defend crime.

9. DE LEON V. NLRC

The purported sale of the shares of the former stockholders to a new set of
stockholders who changed the name of the corporation to Magnum Integrated
Services, Inc. appears to be part of a scheme to terminate the services of FISI's
security guards posted at the premises of FTC and bust their newly-organized
union which was then beginning to become active in demanding the company's
compliance with Labor Standards laws. Under these circumstances, the Court
cannot allow FTC to use its separate corporate personality to shield itself from
liability for illegal acts committed against its employees.

10. PNB V. ANDRADA As a rule, a corporation that purchases the assets of another will not be liable for
the debts of the selling corporation, provided the former acted in good faith and paid
adequate consideration for such assets, EXCEPT when any of the following
circumstances is present:
(1) where the purchaser expressly or impliedly agrees to assume the debts,
(2) where the transaction amounts to a consolidation or merger of the corporations,
(3) where the purchasing corporation is merely a continuation of the selling
corporation, and
(4) where the transaction is fraudulently entered into in order to escape liability for
those debts.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 2

11. LIPAT V. PACIFIC


BANKING CORP.

Where one corporation is so organized and controlled and its affairs are conducted
so that it is, in fact, a mere instrumentality or adjunct of the other, the fiction of the
corporate entity of the 'instrumentality' may be disregarded. The control necessary
to invoke the rule is not majority or even complete stock control but such
domination of finances, policies and practices that the controlled corporation has,
so to speak, no separate mind, will or existence of its own, and is but a conduit for
its principal. . .

12. INTERNATIONAL
EXPRESS
TRAVEL & TOURS
INC. V. CA

It is a settled principle in corporation law that any person acting or purporting to act
on behalf of a corporation which has no valid existence assumes such privileges
and becomes personally liable for contract entered into or for other acts performed
as such agent. As president of the Federation, Henri Kahn is presumed to have
known about the corporate existence or non-existence of the Federation. We
cannot subscribe to the position taken by the appellate court that even assuming
that the Federation was defectively incorporated, the petitioner cannot deny the
corporate existence of the Federation because it had contracted and dealt with the
Federation in such a manner as to recognize and in effect admit its existence. The
doctrine of corporation by estoppel is mistakenly applied by the respondent court to
the petitioner. The application of the doctrine applies to a third party only when he
tries to escape liabilities on a contract from which he has benefited on the irrelevant
ground of defective incorporation. In the case at bar, the petitioner is not trying to
escape liability from the contract but rather is the one claiming from the contract.

13. LIM TONG LIM V.


PHILIPPINE
FISHING GEARS
INC.

There is no dispute that the respondent, Philippine Fishing Gear Industries, is


entitled to be paid for the nets it sold. The only question here is whether petitioner
should be held jointly liable with Chua and Yao. Petitioner contests such liability,
insisting that only those who dealt in the name of the ostensible corporation should
be held liable. Since his name does not appear on any of the contracts and since
he never directly transacted with the respondent corporation, ergo, he cannot be
held liable.
Clearly, under the law on estoppel, those acting on behalf of a corporation and
those benefited by it, knowing it to be without valid existence, are held liable as
general partners. Technically, it is true that petitioner did not directly act on behalf of
the corporation. However, having reaped the benefits of the contract entered into by
persons with whom he previously had an existing relationship, he is deemed to be
part of said association and is covered by the scope of the doctrine of corporation
by estoppel.

14. LOZANO V.
JUDGE DELOS
SANTOS

The doctrine of corporation by estoppel advanced by private respondent cannot


override jurisdictional requirements. Jurisdiction is fixed by law and is not subject to
the agreement of the parties. It cannot be acquired through or waived, enlarged or
diminished by, any act or omission of the parties, neither can it be conferred by the
acquiescence of the court.
Corporation by estoppel is founded on principles of equity and is designed to
prevent injustice and unfairness. It applies when persons assume to form a
corporation and exercise corporate functions and enter into business relations with
third persons. Where there is no third person involved and the conflict arises only
among those assuming the form of a corporation, who therefore know that it has not
been registered, there is no corporation by estoppel.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 3

15. LYCEUM OF THE


PHILIPPINES V.
CA

We do not consider that the corporate names of private respondent institutions are
"identical with, or deceptively or confusingly similar" to that of the petitioner
institution. True enough, the corporate names of private respondent entities all carry
the word "Lyceum" but confusion and deception are effectively precluded by the
appending of geographic names to the word "Lyceum." Thus, we do not believe that
the "Lyceum of Aparri" can be mistaken by the general public for the Lyceum of the
Philippines, or that the "Lyceum of Camalaniugan" would be confused with the
Lyceum of the Philippines.
Under the doctrine of secondary meaning, a word or phrase originally incapable of
exclusive appropriation with reference to an article in the market, because
geographical or otherwise descriptive might nevertheless have been used so long
and so exclusively by one producer with reference to this article that, in that trade
and to that group of the purchasing public, the word or phrase has come to mean
that the article was his produce
while the appellant may have proved that it had been using the word 'Lyceum' for a
long period of time, this fact alone did not amount to mean that the said word had
acquired secondary meaning in its favor because the appellant failed to prove that it
had been using the same word all by itself to the exclusion of others. More so, there
was no evidence presented to prove that confusion will surely arise if the same
word were to be used by other educational institutions.

16. HALL V. PICCIO

An entity whose certificate of incorporation had not been obtained may be


terminated in a private suit for its dissolution between stockholders, without the
intervention of the state. The question as to the right of minority stockholders to sue
for dissolution does not affect the court's jurisdiction, and is a matter for decision by
the judge, subject to review on appeal by the aggrieved party at the proper time.
Persons acting as corporation may not claim rights of "de facto" corporation if they
have not obtained certificate of incorporation.

17. INDUSTRIAL
REFRACTORIES
CORPORATION
OF THE
PHILIPPINES V.
CA

Section 18 of the Corporation Code expressly prohibits the use of a corporate name
which is "identical or deceptively or confusingly similar to that of any existing
corporation or to any other name already protected by law or is patently deceptive,
confusing or contrary to existing laws."
To fall within the prohibition of the law, two requisites must be proven, to wit:
(1) that the complainant corporation acquired a prior right over the use of such
corporate name; and
(2) the proposed name is either:
(a) identical, or
(b) deceptively or confusingly similar to that of any existing corporation or to
any other name already protected by law; or
(c) patently deceptive, confusing or contrary to existing law.
As regards the first requisite, it has been held that the right to the exclusive use of a
corporate name with freedom from infringement by similarity is determined
by priority of adoption.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 4

Anent the second requisite, in determining the existence of confusing similarity in


corporate names, the test is whether the similarity is such as to mislead a person
using ordinary care and discrimination and the Court must look to the record as well
as the names themselves.
18. SEVENTH DAY
ADVENTIST V.
NORTHEASTER
MINDANAO

The deed of donation was not in favor of any informal group of SDA members but a
supposed SPUM-SDA Bayugan (the local church) which, at the time, had neither
juridical personality nor capacity to accept such gift.
Declaring themselves a de facto corporation, petitioners allege that they should
benefit from the donation.But there are stringent requirements before one can
qualify as a de facto corporation:
(a) the existence of a valid law under which it may be incorporated;
(b) an attempt in good faith to incorporate; and
(c) assumption of corporate powers.

19. GRACE
CHRISTIAN HIGH
SCHOOL V. CA

Sections 28 and 29 of the Corporation Law require members of the boards of


directors of corporations to be elected. The board of directors of corporations must
be elected from among the stockholders or members.
There may be corporations in which there are unelected members in the board but
it is clear that in the examples cited by petitioner the unelected members sit as ex
officio members, i.e., by virtue of and for as long as they hold a particular office. But
in the case of petitioner, there is no reason at all for its representative to be given a
seat in the board. Nor does petitioner claim a right to such seat by virtue of an office
held.
For that matter the members of the association may have formally adopted the
provision in question, but their action would be of no avail because no provision of
the by-laws can be adopted if it is contrary to law.
It is more accurate to say that the members merely tolerated petitioner's
representative and tolerance cannot be considered ratification. Nor can petitioner
claim a vested right to sit in the board on the basis of "practice." Practice, no matter
how long continued, cannot give rise to any vested right if it is contrary to law.

20. JOHN
GOKONGWEI JR.
V. SEC

Any person who buys stock in a corporation does so with the knowledge that its
affairs are dominated by a majority of the stockholders and that he impliedly
contracts that the will of the majority shall govern in all matters within the limits of
the act of incorporation and lawfully enacted by-laws and not forbidden by law. To
this extent, therefore, the stockholder may be considered to have parted with his
personal right or privilege to regulate the disposition of his property which he has
invested in the capital stock of the corporation, and surrendered it to the will of the
majority of his fellow incorporators.
DOCTRINE OF CORPORATE OPPORTUNITY - is precisely a recognition by the
courts that the fiduciary standards could not be upheld where the fiduciary was
acting for two entities with competing interests. This doctrine rests fundamentally on
the unfairness, in particular circumstances of an officer or director taking advantage
of an opportunity for his own personal profit when the interest of the corporation
justly calls for protection.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 5

21. INTER-ASIA
INVESTMENTS
INDUSTRIES, INC.
V. CA

The general rule is that, in the absence of authority from the board of directors, no
person, not even its officers, can validly bind a corporation. (see sec. 23)

22. NACPIL V.
INTERNATIONAL
BROADCASTING
CORP.

As petitioner's appointment as comptroller required the approval and formal action


of the IBC's Board of Directors to become valid, it is clear therefore holds that
petitioner is a corporate officer whose dismissal may be the subject of a controversy
cognizable by the SEC under Section 5(c) of P.D. 902-A which includes
controversies involving both election and appointment of corporate directors,
trustees, officers, and managers. Had petitioner been an ordinary employee, such
board action would not have been required.

23. WESTERN
INSTITUTE OF
TECHNOLOGY V.
SALAS

There is no argument that directors or trustees, as the case may be, are not entitled
to salary or other compensation when they perform nothing more than the usual
and ordinary duties of their office. This rule is founded upon a presumption that
directors/trustees render service gratuitously, and that the return upon their shares
adequately furnishes the motives for service, without compensation. Under the
foregoing section, there are only two (2) ways by which members of the board can
be granted compensation apart from reasonable per diems: (1) when there is a
provision in the by-laws fixing their compensation; and (2) when the stockholders
representing a majority of the outstanding capital stock at a regular or special
stockholders' meeting agree to give it to them. (Sec. 30)

An officer of a corporation who is authorized to purchase the stock of another


corporation has the implied power to perform all other obligations arising therefrom,
such as payment of the shares of stock. By allowing its president to sign the
Agreement on its behalf, petitioner clothed him with apparent capacity to perform all
acts which are expressly, impliedly and inherently stated therein.

The unambiguous implication is that members of the board may receive


compensation, in addition to reasonable per diems; when they render services to
the corporation in a capacity other than as directors/ trustees. In the case at bench,
Resolution No. 48, s. 1986 granted monthly compensation to private respondents
not in their capacity as members of the board, but rather as officers of the
corporation, more particularly as Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and
Secretary of Western Institute of Technology. Thus, the prohibition with respect to
granting compensation to corporate directors/trustees as such under Section 30 is
not violated in this particular case.
24. SANTOS V. NLRC

The Court has collated the settled instances when, without necessarily piercing the
veil of corporate fiction, personal civil liability can also be said to lawfully attach to a
corporate director, trustee or officer; to wit: When "
(1) He assents
(a) to a patently unlawful act of the corporation, or
(b) for bad faith or gross negligence in directing its affairs, or
(c) for conflict of interest, resulting in damages to the corporation, its
stockholders or other persons;
(2) He consents to the issuance of watered stocks or who, having knowledge
thereof, does not forthwith file with the corporate secretary his written
objection thereto;

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 6

(3) He agrees to hold himself personally and solidarily liable with the
corporation; or
(4) He is made, by a specific provision of law, to personally answer for his
corporate action."
25. SPS. DAVID V.
CONSTRUCTION
INDUSTRY AND
ARBITRATION
COMMISSION
(CIAC)

As a general rule, the officers of a corporation are not personally liable for their
official acts unless it is shown that they have exceeded their authority. However, the
personal liability of a corporate director, trustee or officer, along with corporation,
may so validly attach when he assents to a patently unlawful act of the corporation
or for bad faith or gross negligence in directing its affairs.

26. MALAYANG
SAMAHAN NG
MGA
MANGGAGAWA
SA M.
GREENFIELD V.
RAMOS

The rule is that obligations incurred by the corporation, acting through its directors,
officers and employees, are its sole liabilities. True, solidary liabilities may at times
be incurred but only when exceptional circumstances warrant such as, generally, in
the following cases:
(1) When directors and trustees or, in appropriate cases, the officers of a
corporation
(a) Vote for or assent to patently unlawful acts of the corporation;
(b) act in bad faith or with gross negligence in directing the corporate
affairs;
(c) are guilty of conflict of interest to the prejudice of the corporation, its
stockholders or members, and other persons.
(2) When a director or officer has consented to the issuance of watered stocks
or who, having knowledge thereof, did not forthwith file with the corporate
secretary his written objection thereto.
(3) When a director, trustee or officer has contractually agreed or stipulated to
hold himself personally and solidarily liable with the Corporation.
(4) When a director, trustee or officer is made, by specific provision of law,
personally liable for his corporate action.
In labor cases, particularly, the Court has held corporate directors and officers
solidarily liable with the corporation for the termination of employment of corporate
employees done with malice or in bad faith. Bad faith or negligence is a question of
fact and is evidentiary. It has been held that bad faith does not connote bad
judgment or negligence; it imports a dishonest purpose or some moral obliquity and
conscious doing of wrong; it means breach of a known duty thru some motive or
interest or ill will; it partakes of the nature of fraud.

27. PRIME WHITE


All corporate powers shall be exercised by the Board of Directors, except as
CEMENT CORP. V. otherwise provided by law. Although it cannot completely abdicate its power and
IAC
responsibility to act for the juridical entity, the Board may expressly delegate
specific powers to its President or any of its officers. In the absence of such express
delegation, a contract entered into by its President, on behalf of the corporation,
may still bind the corporation if the board should ratify the same expressly or
impliedly. Implied ratification may take various forms - like silence or acquiescence;
by acts showing approval or adoption of the contract; or by acceptance and
retention of benefits flowing therefrom. Furthermore, even in the absence of
express or implied authority by ratification, the President as such may, as a general
rule, bind the corporation by a contract in the ordinary course of business, provided
the same is reasonable under the circumstances. These rules are basic, but are
By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 7

all general and thus quite flexible. They apply where the President or other officer,
purportedly acting for the corporation, is dealing with a third person, i.e.,
person outside the corporation.
28. DEE V. SEC

While the group of Luciano Maggay was in control of Natelco by virtue of the
restraining order issued in G.R. NO. 50885, the Maggay Board issued 113,800
shares of stock to CSI. Petitioner said that the Maggay Board, in issuing said
shares without notifying Natelco stockholders, violated their right of pre-emption to
the unissued shares. The questioned issuance of the 113,800 stocks is not invalid
even assuming that it was made without notice to the stockholders as claimed by
the petitioner. The power to issue shares of stocks in a corporation is lodged in the
board of directors and no stockholders meeting is required to consider it because
additional issuance of shares of stocks does not need approval of the stockholders.
Consequently, no preemptive right of Natelco stockholders was violated by the
issuance of the 113,800 shares to CSI.

29. MCLEOD V. NLRC As a rule, a corporation that purchases the assets of another will not be liable for
the debts of the selling corporation, provided the former acted in good faith and paid
adequate consideration for such assets, except when any of the following
circumstances is present:
(1) where the purchaser expressly or impliedly agrees to assume the debts,
(2) where the transaction amounts to a consolidation or merger of the corporations,
(3) where the purchasing corporation is merely a continuation of the selling
corporation, and
(4) where the selling corporation fraudulently enters into the transaction to escape
liability for those debts.
None of the foregoing exceptions is present in this case.
At any rate, the existence of interlocking incorporators, directors, and officers is not
enough justification to pierce the veil of corporate fiction, in the absence of fraud or
other public policy considerations.
30. ISLAMIC
DIRECTORATE V.
CA AND INC

The Carpizo Group-INC sale is further deemed null and void ab initio because of
the Carpizo Group's failure to comply with Section 40 of the Corporation Code
pertaining to the disposition of all or substantially all assets of the corporation:
"Sec. 40. Sale or other disposition of assets.
xxx
A sale or other disposition shall be deemed to cover substantially all the
corporate property and assets if thereby the corporation would be rendered
incapable of continuing the business or accomplishing the purpose for which it
was incorporated.
The Tandang Sora property, it appears from the records, constitutes the only
property of the IDP. Hence, its sale to a third-party is a sale or disposition of all the
corporate property and assets of IDP falling squarely within the contemplation of the
foregoing section. For the sale to be valid, the majority vote of the legitimate Board
of Trustees, concurred in by the vote of at least 2/3 of the bona fide members of the
corporation should have been obtained. These twin requirements were not met as
the Carpizo Group which voted to sell the Tandang Sora property was a fake Board
of Trustees, and those whose names and signatures were affixed by the Carpizo

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 8

Group together with the sham Board Resolution authorizing the negotiation for the
sale were, from all indications, not bona fide members of the IDP as they were
made to appear to be. Apparently, there are only fifteen (15) official members of the
petitioner corporation including the eight (8) members of the Board of Trustees.
31. NIELSON &
COMPANY INC. V.
LEPANTO
CONSOLIDATED
MINING
COMPANY

Shares of stock are given the special name "stock dividends" only if they are issued
in lieu of undistributed profits. If the shares of stocks are issued in exchange of cash
or Property then those shares do not fall under the category of "stock dividends". A
corporation may legally issue shares of stock in consideration of services rendered
to it by a person not a stockholder, or in payment of its indebtedness. A share of
stock issued to pay for services rendered is equivalent to a stock issued in
exchange of property because services is equivalent to property. Likewise a share
of stock issued in payment of indebtedness is equivalent to issuing a stock in
exchange for cash. But a share of stock thus issued should be part of the original
capital stock of the corporation upon its organization, or part of the stocks issued
when the increase of the capitalization of a corporation is properly authorized.
So, a stock dividend is actually two things: (1) a dividend, and (2) the enforced use
of the dividend money to purchase additional shares of stock at par. When a
corporation issues stock dividends, it shows that the corporations' accumulated
profits have been capitalized instead of distributed to the stockholders or retained
as surplus available for distribution, in money or in kind, should opportunity offer.
Far from being a realization of profits for the stockholder, it tends rather to postpone
said realization, in that the fund represented by the new stock has been transferred
from the surplus to assets and no longer available for actual distribution.

32. PNB V. ANDRADA The question of whether a corporation is a mere alter ego is one of fact. Piercing
the veil of corporate fiction may be allowed only if the following elements concur:
(1) control not mere stock control, but complete domination not only of
finances, but of policy and business practice in respect to the transaction
attacked, must have been such that the corporate entity as to this transaction
had at the time no separate mind, will or existence of its own;
(2) such control must have been used by the defendant to commit a fraud or a
wrong to perpetuate the violation of a statutory or other positive legal duty, or
a dishonest and an unjust act in contravention of plaintiff's legal right; and
(3) the said control and breach of duty must have proximately caused the
injury or unjust loss complained of. We believe that the absence of the
foregoing elements in the present case precludes the piercing of the corporate
veil.
33. HYDRO
RESOURCES
CORP. V. NIA

Even assuming for the sake of argument that the Administrator had no authority to
bind NIA, the latter is already estopped after repeatedly representing to Hydro that
the Administrator had such authority. A corporation may be held in estoppel from
denying as against third persons the authority of its officers or agents who have
been clothed by it with ostensible or apparent authority.
The rule is of course settled that "[a]lthough an officer or agent acts without, or in
excess of, his actual authority if he acts within the scope of an apparent authority

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 9

with which the corporation has clothed him by holding him out or permitting him to
appear as having such authority, the corporation is bound thereby in favor of a
person who deals with him in good faith in reliance on such apparent authority, as
where an officer is allowed to exercise a particular authority with respect to the
business, or a particular branch of it, continuously and publicly, for a considerable
time.". . .
34. LOYOLA GRAND
VILLAS V. CA

Although the Corporation Code requires the filing of by-laws, it does not expressly
provide for the consequences of the non-filing of the same within the period
provided for in Section 46. However, such omission has been rectified by
Presidential Decree No. 902-A, the pertinent provisions on the jurisdiction of the
SEC of which state: "SEC. 6. In order to effectively exercise such jurisdiction, the
Commission shall possess the following powers: . . . (1) to suspend, or revoke, after
proper notice and hearing, the franchise or certificate of registration of corporations,
partnerships or associations, upon any of the grounds provided by law, including
the following: . . . Failure to file by-laws within the required period
There can be no automatic corporate dissolution simply because the incorporators
failed to abide by the required filing of by-laws embodied in Section 46 of the
Corporation Code. There is no outright "demise" private of corporate existence.
Proper notice and hearing are cardinal components of due process in any
democratic institution, agency or society. In other words, the incorporators must be
given the chance to explain their neglect or omission and remedy the same.

35. CHINA BANK V.


CA AND VGCCI

In order to be bound, the third party must have acquired knowledge of the pertinent
by-laws at the time the transaction or agreement between said third party and the
shareholder was entered into, in this case, at the time the pledge agreement was
executed. VGCCI could have easily informed petitioner of its by-laws when it sent
notice formally recognizing petitioner as pledgee of one of its shares registered in
Calapatia's name. Petitioner's belated notice of said by-laws at the time of
foreclosure will not suffice.
Sec. 63 of the Corporation Code which provides that "no shares of stock against
which the corporation holds any unpaid claim shall be transferable in the books of
the corporation" cannot be utilized by VGCCI. The term "unpaid claim" refers to
"any unpaid claim arising from unpaid subscription, and not to any indebtedness
which a subscriber or stockholder may owe the corporation arising from any other
transaction." In the case at bar, the subscription for the share in question has been
fully paid as evidenced by the issuance of Membership Certificate No. 1219. What
Calapatia owed the corporation were merely the monthly dues. Hence, the
aforequoted provision does not apply.

36. SALAFRANCA V.
PHILAMLIFE

Admittedly, the right to amend the by-laws lies solely in the discretion of the
employer, this being in the exercise of management prerogative or business
judgment. However this right, extensive as it may be, cannot impair the obligation of
existing contracts or rights. If private respondent wanted to make the petitioner's
position co-terminus with that of the Board of Directors, then the amendment must
be effective after petitioner's stay with the private respondent, not during his term.
Obviously, the measure taken by the private respondent in amending its by-laws is
nothing but a devious, but crude, attempt to circumvent petitioner's right to security
of tenure as a regular employee guaranteed under the Labor Code.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 10

37. PCGG V.
COCOFED

The general rule is that the sequestered shares are voted by the registered holders
because voting is an act of dominion, and PCGG is only a conservator; the
exception is when the two tiered test has been complied with:
(1) prima facie evidence that said shares are ill-gotten wealth;
(2) imminent danger of dissipation - PCGG can instead vote
The general rule, apparently, does not find application in this case not because of
the compliance to the two-tiered test, but because of the "public character" of these
shares. Public character means that:
(1) government shares are taken over by private persons and registered them
in their own names; and
(2) these shares, which were acquired with public funds, landed in private
hands.
The rationale: Legal fiction must yield to truth; prima facie beneficial owner should
be given privilege of enjoying the rights flowing from the prima facie fact of
ownership

38. FRANCIS CHUA V. Private respondent asserts that she filed a derivative suit in behalf of the
CA
corporation. This assertion is inaccurate. Not every suit filed in behalf of the
corporation is a derivative suit. For a derivative suit to prosper, it is required that the
minority stockholder suing for and on behalf of the corporation must allege in his
complaint that he is suing on a derivative cause of action on behalf of the
corporation and all other stockholders similarly situated who may wish to join him in
the suit. It is a condition sine qua non that the corporation be impleaded as a party
because not only is the corporation an indispensable party, but it is also the present
rule that it must be served with process. The judgment must be made binding upon
the corporation in order that the corporation may get the benefit of the suit and may
not bring subsequent suit against the same defendants for the same cause of
action. In other words, the corporation must be joined as party because it is its
cause of action that is being litigated and because judgment must be a res
judicata against it.
39. EXPERTRAVEL &
TOURS, INC. V.
CA AND KOREAN
AIRLINES

In a case where the plaintiff is a private corporation, the certification may be signed,
for and on behalf of the said corporation, by a specifically authorized person,
including its retained counsel, who has personal knowledge of the facts required to
be established by the documents.
Under the law, Atty. Aguinaldo was not specifically authorized to execute a
certificate of non-forum shopping as required by Section 5, Rule 7 of the Rules of
Court. This is because while a resident agent may be aware of actions filed against
his principal (a foreign corporation doing business in the Philippines), such resident
may not be aware of actions initiated by its principal, whether in the Philippines
against a domestic corporation or private individual, or in the country where such
corporation was organized and registered, against a Philippine registered
corporation or a Filipino citizen.
In the Philippines, teleconferencing and videoconferencing of members of board of
directors of private corporations is a reality, in light of Republic Act No. 8792. The
Securities and Exchange Commission issued SEC Memorandum Circular No. 15,
on November 30, 2001, providing the guidelines to be complied with related to such
conferences. Thus, the Court agrees with the RTC that persons in the Philippines

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 11

may have a teleconference with a group of persons in South Korea relating to


business transactions or corporate governance.
40. RAMON LEE V.
CA

The most immediate effect of a voting trust agreement on the status of a


stockholder who is a party to its execution from legal title holder or owner of the
shares subject of the voting trust agreement, he becomes the equitable or
beneficial owner.
By its very nature, a voting trust agreement results in the separation of the voting
rights of a stockholder from his other rights such as the right to receive dividends,
the right to inspect the books of the corporation, the right to sell certain interests in
the assets of the corporation and other rights to which a stockholder may be entitled
until the liquidation of the corporation.
However, in order to distinguish a voting trust agreement from proxies and other
voting pools and agreements, it must pass three criteria or tests, namely:
(1) that the voting rights of the stock are separated from the other attributes of
ownership;
(2) that the voting rights granted are intended to be irrevocable for a definite
period of time; and
(3) that the principal purpose of the grant of voting rights is to acquire voting
control of the corporation.
Take note also that in order to be eligible as a director, what is material is the legal
title to, not beneficial ownership of, the stock as appearing on the books of the
corporation

41. ONG YONG V. TIU

However, although the Tius were adversely affected by the Ongs' unwillingness to
let them assume their positions, rescission due to breach of contract is definitely the
wrong remedy for their personal grievances.
A contrary doctrine will tread on extremely dangerous ground because it will allow
just any stockholder, for just about any real or imagined offense, to demand
rescission of his subscription and call for the distribution of some part of the
corporate assets to him without complying with the requirements of the Corporation
Code.
Contrary to the Tius' allegation, rescission will, in the final analysis, result in the
premature liquidation of the corporation without the benefit of prior dissolution in
accordance with Sections 117, 118, 119 and 120 of the Corporation Code.
The Trust Fund Doctrine is the underlying principle in the procedure for the
distribution of capital assets, embodied in the Corporation Code, which allows the
distribution of corporate capital only in three instances:
(1) amendment of the Articles of Incorporation to reduce the authorized capital
stock,
(2) purchase of redeemable shares by the corporation, regardless of the
existence of unrestricted retained earnings, and
(3) dissolution and eventual liquidation of the corporation.

MIDTERM EXAMS
By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 12

42. NAVA VS. PEERS


MARKETING

Peers Marketing Corp. cannot be compelled by mandamus to enter in its stock and
transfer book the sale made by Po to Nava because the transfer is not the
"alienation, sale or transfer of stock" that is supposed to be recorded in the stock
and transfer book under Sec. 35. As a rule, the shares which may be alienated are
those which are covered by certificates of stock. No stock certificate was issued to
Po. Without stock certificate, which is the evidence of ownership of corporate stock,
the assignment of corporate shares is effective only between the parties to the
transaction.

43. LIM TAY VS. CA

Mandamus will not issue to establish a legal right, but only to enforce one that is
already clearly established. Moreover, the duty of a corporate secretary to record
transfers of stocks is ministerial. However, he cannot be compelled to do so when
the transferee's title to said shares has no prima facie validity or is uncertain. More
specifically, a pledgor, prior to foreclosure and sale, does not acquire ownership
rights over the pledged shares and thus cannot compel the corporate secretary to
record his alleged ownership of such shares on the basis merely of the contract of
pledge.
Also, his possession as a pledgee cannot ripen into ownership by prescription.

44. RURAL BANK OF


LIPA CITY VS. CA

We have uniformly held that for a valid transfer of stocks, there must be strict
compliance with the mode of transfer prescribed by law. The requirements are:
(a) There must be delivery of the stock certificate;
(b) The certificate must be endorsed by the owner or his attorney-in-fact or
other persons legally authorized to make the transfer; and
(c) To be valid against third parties, the transfer must be recorded in the
books of the corporation.
While the assignment may be valid and binding on the petitioners and private
respondents, it does not necessarily make the transfer effective. Consequently, the
petitioners, as mere assignees, cannot enjoy the status of a stockholder, cannot
vote nor be voted for, and will not be entitled to dividends, insofar as the assigned
shares are concerned. Parenthetically, the private respondents cannot, as yet be
deprived of their rights as stockholders, until and unless the issue of ownership and
transfer of the shares in question is resolved with finality.

45. PONCE VS.


A transfer of shares of stock not recorded in the stock and transfer book of the
ALSONS CEMENT corporation is non-existent as far as the corporation is concerned. As between the
CORP.
corporation on the one hand, and its shareholders and third persons on the other,
the corporation looks only to its books for the purpose of determining who its
shareholders are. It is only when the transfer has been recorded in the stock and
transfer book that a corporation may rightfully regard the transferee as one of its
stockholders.
Hence, without such recording, the transferee may not be regarded by the
corporation as one among its stockholders and the corporation may legally refuse
the issuance of stock certificates in the name of the transferee even when there has
been compliance with the requirements of Sec. 64 of the Corporation code.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 13

Consequently, the corporation cannot be compelled by the transferee to record the


transfer.The situation would be different if the petitioner was himself the registered
owner of the stock which he sought to transfer to a third party, for then he would be
entitled to the remedy of mandamus. (emphasized by sir during class)
46. GONZALES VS.
PNB

As may be noted, among the changes introduced in the new Code with respect to
the right of inspection granted to a stockholder are the following:
(1) the records must be kept at the principal office of the corporation;
(2) the inspection must be made on business days;
(3) the stockholder may demand a copy of the excerpts of the records or
minutes; and
(4) the refusal to allow such inspection shall subject the erring officer or agent
of the corporation to civil and criminal liabilities.
However, while seemingly enlarging the right of inspection, the new Code has
prescribed limitations to the same. It is now expressly required as a condition
for such examination that the one requesting it:
(a) must not have been guilty of using improperly any information
secured through a prior examination, and that
(b) the person asking for such examinations must be "acting in good
faith and for a legitimate purpose in making his demand."

47. ASSOCIATED
BANK VS. CA

Ordinarily, in the merger of two or more existing corporations, one of the combining
corporations survives and continues the combined business, while the rest are
dissolved and all their rights, properties and liabilities are acquired by the surviving
corporation. Although there is a dissolution of the absorbed corporations, there is
no winding up of their affairs or liquidation of their assets, because the surviving
corporation automatically acquires all their rights, privileges and powers, as well as
their liabilities.

48. MINDANAO
SAVINGS VS. CA

It is undisputed that the articles of merger between FISLAI and DSLAI were not
registered with the SEC due to incomplete documentation. Consequently, the SEC
did not issue the required certificate of merger. Even if it is true that the Monetary
Board of the Central Bank of the Philippines recognized such merger, the fact
remains that no certificate was issued by the SEC. Such merger is still incomplete
without the certification.
The issuance of the certificate of merger is crucial because not only does it bear out
SEC's approval but it also marks the moment when the consequences of a merger
take place. By operation of law, upon the effectivity of the merger, the absorbed
corporation ceases to exist but its rights and properties, as well as liabilities, shall
be taken and deemed transferred to and vested in the surviving corporation.
The same rule applies to consolidation which becomes effective not upon mere
agreement of the members but only upon issuance of the certificate of consolidation

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 14

by the SEC. When the SEC, upon processing and examining the articles of
consolidation, is satisfied that the consolidation of the corporations is not
inconsistent with the provisions of the Corporation Code and existing laws, it issues
a certificate of consolidation which makes the reorganization official. The new
consolidated corporation comes into existence and the constituent corporations are
dissolved and cease to exist.
49. BABST VS. CA

At the outset, the preliminary issue of BPI's right of action must first be addressed.
ELISCON and MULTI assail BPI's legal capacity to recover their obligation to
CBTC. However, there is no question that there was a valid merger between BPI
and CBTC. It is settled that in the merger of two existing corporations, one of the
corporations survives and continues the business, while the other is dissolved and
all its rights, properties and liabilities are acquired by the surviving corporation.
Hence, BPI has a right to institute the case a quo.
(sinama ko na lang just in case)
BPI's conduct evinced a clear and unmistakable consent to the substitution of DBP
for ELISCON as debtor. Hence, there was a valid novation which resulted in the
release of ELISCON from its obligation to BPI, whose cause of action should be
directed against DBP as the new debtor. Novation, in its broad concept, may either
be extinctive or modificatory. It is extinctive when an old obligation is terminated
by the creation of a new obligation that takes the place of the former; it is merely
modificatory when the old obligation subsists to the extent it remains compatible
with the amendatory agreement. An extinctive novation results either by changing
the object or principal conditions (objective or real), or by substituting the person of
the debtor or subrogating a third person in the rights of the creditor (subjective or
personal). Under this mode, novation would have dual functions one to
extinguish an existing obligation, the other to substitute a new one in its place
requiring a conflux of four essential requisites, (1) a previous valid obligation; (2) an
agreement of all parties concerned to a new contract; (3) the extinguishment of the
old obligation; and (4) the birth of a valid new obligation. The original obligation
having been extinguished, the contracts of suretyship executed separately by Babst
and MULTI, being accessory obligations, are likewise extinguished.

50. TURNER VS.


LORENZO
SHIPPING CORP.

No payment shall be made to any dissenting stockholder unless the corporation has
unrestricted retained earnings in its books to cover the payment. In case the
corporation has no available unrestricted retained earnings in its books, Section 83
of the Corporation Code provides that if the dissenting stockholder is not paid the
value of his shares within 30 days after the award, his voting and dividend rights
shall immediately be restored.
Neither did the subsequent existence of unrestricted retained earnings after the
filing of the complaint cure the lack of cause of action in Civil Case No. 01-086. The
petitioners' right of action could only spring from an existing cause of action. Thus, a
complaint whose cause of action has not yet accrued cannot be cured by an
amended or supplemental pleading alleging the existence or accrual of a cause of
action during the pendency of the action. For, only when there is an invasion of
primary rights, not before, does the adjective or remedial law become operative.
Verily, a premature invocation of the court's intervention renders the complaint
without a cause of action and dismissible on such ground.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 15

51. CUA JR. VS.


OCAMPO

In effect, the (derivative) suit is an action for specific performance of an obligation,


owed by the corporation to the stockholders, to assist its rights of action when the
corporation has been put in default by the wrongful refusal of the directors or
management to adopt suitable measures for its protection. The basis of a
stockholder's suit is always one of equity. However, it cannot prosper without first
complying with the legal requisites for its institution.
Rule 8, Section 1 of the Interim Rules of Procedure for Intra-Corporate
Controversies (IRPICC) lays down the following requirements which a stockholder
must comply with in filing a derivative suit:
Sec. 1.Derivative action. A stockholder or member may bring an action in the
name of a corporation or association, as the case may be, provided, that:
(1) He was a stockholder or member at the time the acts or transactions subject of
the action occurred and at the time the action was filed;
(2) He exerted all reasonable efforts, and alleges the same with particularity in the
complaint, to exhaust all remedies available under the articles of incorporation, bylaws, laws or rules governing the corporation or partnership to obtain the relief he
desires;
(3) No appraisal rights are available for the act or acts complained of; and
(4) The suit is not a nuisance or harassment suit.

52. PADCOM
CONOMINIUM VS.
ORTIGAS
CENTER
ASSOCIATION,
INC.

As lot owner, PADCOM is a regular member of the Association. No application for


membership is necessary. If at all, acceptance by the Board of Directors is a
ministerial function considering that PADCOM is deemed to be a regular member
upon the acquisition of the lot pursuant to the automatic membership clause
annotated in the Certificate of Title of the property and the Deed of Transfer.
Neither are we convinced by PADCOM's contention that the automatic membership
clause is a violation of its freedom of association. PADCOM was never forced to
join the association. It could have avoided such membership by not buying the land
from TDC. Nobody forced it to buy the land when it bought the building with the
annotation of the condition or lien on the Certificate of Title thereof and accepted
the Deed. PADCOM voluntarily agreed to be bound by and respect the condition,
and thus to join the Association.

53. STA. CLARA


HOMES
ASSOCIATIONVS.
GASTON

Private respondents cannot be compelled to become members of the SCHA by the


simple expedient of including them in its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws
without their express or implied consent. True, it may be to the mutual advantage of
lot owners in a subdivision to band themselves together to promote their common
welfare. But that is possible only if the owners voluntarily agree, directly or
indirectly, to become members of the association.
When private respondents purchased their property in 1974 and obtained Transfer
Certificates of Title Nos. T-126542 and T-127462 for Lots 11 and 12 of Block 37
along San Jose Avenue in Sta. Clara Subdivision, there was no annotation showing
their automatic membership in the SCHA. Thus, no privity of contract arising from
the title certificate exists between petitioners and private respondents. Further, the
records are bereft of any evidence that would indicate that private respondents

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 16

intended to become members of the SCHA. Prior to the implementation of the


aforesaid Resolution, they and the other homeowners who were not members of
the association were issued non-member gate pass stickers for their vehicles. This
fact has not been disputed by petitioners. Thus, the SCHA recognized that there
were subdivision landowners who were not members thereof, notwithstanding the
provisions of its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws.
54. LONG VS. BASA

The Church ("The Church In Quezon City") By-law provision on expulsion, as


phrased, may sound unusual and objectionable to petitioners as there is no
requirement of prior notice to be given to an erring member before he can be
expelled. But that is how peculiar the nature of a religious corporation is vis--vis an
ordinary corporation organized for profit. It must be stressed that the basis of the
relationship between a religious corporation and its members is the latter's absolute
adherence to a common religious or spiritual belief. Once this basis ceases,
membership in the religious corporation must also cease. Thus, generally, there is
no room for dissension in a religious corporation. And where, as here, any member
of a religious corporation is expelled from the membership for espousing doctrines
and teachings contrary to that of his church, the established doctrine in this
jurisdiction is that such action from the church authorities is conclusive upon the
civil courts.

55. TAN VS. SYCIP

Quorum in a members meeting is to be reckoned as the actual number of


members of the corporation
In stock corporations, shareholders may generally transfer their shares. Thus, on
the death of a shareholder, the executor or administrator duly appointed by the
Court is vested with the legal title to the stock and entitled to vote it. Until a
settlement and division of the estate is effected, the stocks of the decedent are held
by the administrator or executor.
On the other hand, membership in and all rights arising from a nonstock corporation
are personal and non-transferable, unless the articles of incorporation or the bylaws
of the corporation provide otherwise. In other words, the determination of whether
or not "dead members" are entitled to exercise their voting rights (through their
executor or administrator), depends on those articles of incorporation or bylaws.
Applying Section 91 to the present case, we hold that dead members who are
dropped from the membership roster in the manner and for the cause provided for
in the By-Laws of GCHS are not to be counted in determining the requisite vote in
corporate matters or the requisite quorum for the annual members' meeting. With
11 remaining members, the quorum in the present case should be 6. Therefore,
there being a quorum, the annual members' meeting, conducted with six members
present, was valid.

56. SAN JUAN


STRUCTURAL
AND STEEL
FABRICATION VS.
CA

Petitioner claims that Motorich is a close corporation. We rule that it is not. (See
Sec. 96 for definition of a close corporation.)
The articles of incorporation of Motorich Sales Corporation does not contain any
provision stating that (1) the number of stockholders shall not exceed 20, or (2) a
preemption of shares is restricted in favor of any stockholder or of the corporation,
or (3) listing its stocks in any stock exchange or making a public offering of such

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 17

stocks is prohibited. From its articles, it is clear that Respondent Motorich is not a
close corporation. Motorich does not become one either, just because Spouses
Reynaldo and Nenita Gruenberg owned 99.866% of its subscribed capital stock.
The [m]ere ownership by a single stockholder or by another corporation of all or
nearly all of the capital stock of a corporation is not of itself sufficient ground for
disregarding the separate corporate personalities." So, too, a narrow distribution of
ownership does not, by itself, make a close corporation.
57. MANUEL R.
DULAY
ENTERPRISES
VS. CA

Petitioner corporation is classified as a close corporation and consequently a board


resolution authorizing the sale or mortgage of the subject property is not necessary
to bind the corporation for the action of its president. At any rate, a corporate action
taken at a board meeting without proper call or notice in a close corporation is
deemed ratified by the absent director unless the latter promptly files his written
objection with the secretary of the corporation after having knowledge of the
meeting which, in this case, petitioner Virgilio Dulay failed to do. Petitioners' claim
that the sale of the subject property by its president, Manuel Dulay, to private
respondents spouses Veloso is null and void as the alleged Board Resolution No.
18 was passed without the knowledge and consent of the other members of the
board of directors cannot be sustained. The sale of the subject property to private
respondents by Manuel Dulay is valid and binding.

58. IGLESIA
EVANGELICA
METODISTA ET.
AL. VS. BISHOP
LAZARO ET. AL

There is no point to dissolving the corporation sole of one member to enable the
corporation aggregate to emerge from it. Whether it is a non-stock corporation or a
corporation sole, the corporate being remains distinct from its members, whatever
be their number. The increase in the number of its corporate membership does not
change the complexion of its corporate responsibility to third parties. The one
member, with the concurrence of two-thirds of the membership of the organization
for whom he acts as trustee, can self-will the amendment. He can, with membership
concurrence, increase the technical number of the members of the corporation from
"sole" or one to the greater number authorized by its amended articles.

59. ROMAN
CATHOLIC
APOSTOLIC
ADMINISTRATION
OF DAVAO VS.
LAND
REGISTRATION
COMMISSION

The Corporation Law and the Canon Law are explicit in their provisions that a
corporation sole or "ordinary" is not the owner of the properties that he may acquire
but merely the administrator thereof and holds the same in trust for the church to
which the corporation is an organized and constituents part. Being mere
administrator of the temporalities or properties titled in his name, the constitutional
provision requiring 60 per centum Filipino ownership is not applicable. The said
constitutional provision is limited by it terms to ownership alone and does not
extend to control unless the control over the property affected has been devised to
circumvent the real purpose of the constitution.
The corporation sole by reason of their peculiar constitution and form of operation
have no designed owner of its temporalities, although by the terms of the law it can
be safely implied that they ordinarily hold them in trust for the benefit of the Roman
Catholic faithful of their respective locality or diocese. They cannot be considered
as aliens because they have no nationality at all. In determining, therefore, whether
the constitutional provision requiring 60 per centum Filipino capital is applicable to
corporations sole, the nationality of the constituents of the diocese, and not the
nationality of the actual incumbent of the parish, must be taken into consideration.
In the present case, even if the question of nationality be considered, the aforesaid
constitutional requirement is fully met and satisfied, considering that the corporation

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 18

sole in question is composed of an overwhelming majority of Filipinos.


60. VESAGAS VS. CA

The requirements (for dissolution) mandated by the Corporation Code should have
been strictly complied with by the members of the club. The records reveal that no
proof was offered by the petitioners with regard to the notice and publication
requirements. Similarly wanting is the proof of the board members' certification.
Lastly, and most important of all, the SEC Order of Dissolution was never submitted
as evidence.
We rule that the present dispute is intra-corporate in character. In the first place, the
parties here involved are officers and members of the club. Respondents claim to
be members of good standing of the club until they were purportedly stripped of
their membership in illegal fashion. Petitioners, on the other hand, are its President
and Vice-President, respectively. More significantly, the present conflict relates to,
and in fact arose from, this relation between the parties. The subject of the
complaint, namely, the legality of the expulsion from membership of the
respondents and the validity of the amendments in the club's by-laws are,
furthermore, within the Commission's jurisdiction.
Note: The enactment of R.A. 8799, otherwise known as the Securities Regulation
Code, however, transferred the jurisdiction to resolve intra-corporate controversies
to courts of general jurisdiction or the appropriate Regional Trial Courts.

61. GELANO VS. CA

Can a corporation, whose corporate life had ceased by the expiration of its terms of
existence, still continue prosecuting and defending suits after its dissolution and
beyond the period of three (3) years provided for under Act No. 1459, otherwise
known as the Corporation Law, to wind up its affairs, without having undertaken any
step to transfer its assets to a trustee or assignee.
YES. It is to be noted that the time during which the corporation, through its own
officers, may conduct the liquidation of its assets and sue and be sued as a
corporation is limited to three years from the time the period of dissolution
commences; but that there is no time limited within which the trustees must
complete a liquidation placed in their hands. It is provided only (Corp. Law, Sec. 78)
that the conveyance in the trustees must he made within the three-year period. It
may be found impossible to complete the work of liquidation within the three-year
period or to reduce disputed claims to judgment. The authorities are to the effect
that suits by or against a corporation abate where it ceased to be an entity capable
of suing or being sued; but trustees to whom the corporate assets have been
conveyed pursuant to the authority of Section 78 may sue and be sued as such in
all matters connected with the liquidation. By the terms of the statute the effect of
the conveyance is to make the trustees the legal owners of the property conveyed,
subject to the beneficial interest therein of creditors and stockholders."
The trustee may commence a suit which can proceed to final judgment even
beyond the three-year period. No reason can be conceived why a suit already
commenced by the corporation itself during its existence, not by a mere trustee
who, by fiction, merely continues the legal personality of the dissolved corporation
should not be accorded similar treatment allowed to proceed to final judgment
and execution thereof.

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 19

62. PHILIPPINE
VETERANS BANK
EMPLOYEES
UNION VS. VEGA

Liquidation, in corporation law, connotes a winding up or settling with creditors and


debtors. It is the winding up of a corporation so that assets are distributed to those
entitled to receive them. It is the process of reducing assets to cash, discharging
liabilities and dividing surplus or loss. It is crystal clear that the concept of
liquidation is diametrically opposed or contrary to the concept of rehabilitation, such
that both cannot be undertaken at the same time. To allow the liquidation
proceedings to continue would seriously hinder the rehabilitation of the subject
rank.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is rehabilitation which connotes a reopening or
reorganization. Rehabilitation contemplates a continuance of corporate life and
activities in an effort to restore and reinstate the corporation to its former position of
successful operation and solvency.

63. TAN TION VS. CIR

The creditor of a dissolved corporation may follow its assets once they passed into
the hands of the stockholders. The dissolution of a corporation does not extinguish
the debts due or owing to it. A creditor of a dissolved corporation may follow its
assets, as in the nature of a trust fund, into the hands of its stockholders. An
indebtedness of a corporation to the federal government for income and excess
profit taxes is not extinguished by the dissolution of the corporation.
That the hands of the government cannot, collects taxes from a defunct corporation,
it loses thereby none of its rights to assess taxes which had been due from the
corporation, and to collect them from persons who by reason of transaction with the
corporation hold property against which the tax can be enforced and that the legal
death of the corporation no more prevents such action than would the physical
death of an individual prevent the government from assessing taxes against him
and collecting them from his administrator who holds the property which the
decedent had formerly possessed.

64. REBOLLIDO VS.


CA

The law provides that a corporation whose corporate term has ceased can still be
made a party to suit. Under paragraph 1, Section 122 of the Corporation Code, a
dissolved corporation: . . . ". . . shall nevertheless be continued as a body corporate
for three (3) years after the time when it would have been so dissolved, for the
purpose of prosecuting and defending suits by or against it and enabling it to settle
and close its affairs, to dispose of and convey its property and to distribute its
assets, but not for the purpose of continuing the business for which it was
established." The rationale for extending the period of existence of a dissolved
corporation is explained in Castle's Administrator v. Acrogen Coal, Co. as follows:
"This continuance of its legal existence for the purpose of enabling it to close up its
business is necessary to enable the corporation to collect the demands due it as
well as to allow its creditors to assert the demands against it. If this were not so,
then a corporation that became involved in liabilities might escape the payment of
its just obligations by merely surrendering its charter, and thus defeat its creditors or
greatly hinder and delay them in the collection of their demands. This course of
conduct on the part of corporations the law in justice to persons dealing with them
does not permit. The person who has a valid claim against a corporation, whether it
arises in contract or tort should not be deprived of the right to prosecute an action
for the enforcement of his demands by the action of the stockholders of the
corporation in agreeing to its dissolution of a corporation does not extinguish
obligations or liabilities due by or to it."

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 20

(additional info) Although it may be true that the service of summons was made on
a person not authorized to receive the same . . ., nevertheless since it appears that
the summons an complaint were in fact received by the corporation through its said
clerk, the Court finds that there was substantial compliance, with the rule on service
of summons. Indeed the purpose of said rule as above stated to assure service of
summons on the corporation had thereby been attained. The need for speedy
justice must prevail over a technicality.
65. FACILITIES
MANAGEMENT
CORP. VS. DELA
OSA

If a foreign corporation, not engaged in business in the Philippines is not barred


from seeking redress from courts in the Philippines, a fortiori, that same corporation
cannot claim exemption from being sued in the Philippine courts for acts done
against a person or persons in the Philippines.
The act by a non-resident foreign corporation of recruiting Filipino workers for its
own use abroad constitutes in the law doing business in the Philippines.
Test of "doing business": Whether the foreign corporation is continuing the body or
substance of the business or enterprise for which it was organized or whether it has
substantially retired from it and turned it over to another.

66. HOME
INSURANCE VS.
EASTERN
SHIPPING LINES

On validity of contracts of unlicensed foreign corporations - Contract enforceable


upon compliance with the law - "Where there is a prohibition with a penalty, with no
express or implied declaration respecting the validity or enforceability of contracts
made by qualified foreign corporations, the contracts are enforceable upon
compliance with the law.
It is not necessary to declare the contract null and void as against the erring foreign
corporation. The penal sanction for violation and the denial of access to our courts
and administrative bodies are sufficient from the viewpoint of legislative policy. The
lack of capacity at the time of the execution of the contracts is CURED by the
subsequent registration of the licensed foreign corporation. (emphasized by sir
during class) see also p. 806, of De Leon Corpo (2013)

67. ERIKS PTE. LTD.


VS. CA

"Doing business" - The term implies a continuity of commercial dealings and


arrangements, and contemplates, to that extent, the performance of acts or works
or the exercise of some of the functions normally incident to, and in progressive
prosecution of, the purpose and object of its organization.
What is determinative of "doing business" is not really the number or the quantity of
the transactions, but more importantly, the intention of an entity to continue the
body of its business in the country. The number and quantity are merely evidence
of such intention. The phrase "isolated transaction" has a definite and fixed
meaning. i.e. a transaction or series of transactions set apart from the common
business of a foreign enterprise in the sense that there is no intention to engage in
a progressive pursuit of the purpose and object of the business organization.
Whether a foreign corporation is "doing business" does not necessarily depend
upon the frequency of its transactions, but more upon the nature and character of
the transactions.
By securing a license, the foreign entity would be giving assurance that it will abide
by the decisions of our courts, even if adverse to it. This Court has ruled that

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 21

subsequent acquisition of the license will cure the lack of capacity at the time of the
execution of the contract.
68. HUTCHINSON
Participating in the bidding process constitutes "doing business" because it shows
PORTS PHILS. VS. the foreign corporation's intention to engage in business here. The bidding for the
SBMA
concession contract is but an exercise of the corporation's reason for creation or
existence. Thus, it has been held that "a foreign company invited to bid for IBRD
and ADB international projects in the Philippines will be considered as doing
business in the Philippines for which a license is required." In this regard, it is the
performance by a foreign corporation of the acts for which it was created,
regardless of volume of business, that determines whether a foreign corporation
needs a license or not.
The primary purpose of the license requirement is to compel a foreign corporation
desiring to do business within the Philippines to submit itself to the jurisdiction of the
courts of the state and to enable the government to exercise jurisdiction over them
for the regulation of their activities in this country. If a foreign corporation operates a
business in the Philippines without a license, and thus does not submit itself to
Philippine laws, it is only just that said foreign corporation be not allowed to invoke
them in our courts when the need arises. "While foreign investors are always
welcome in this land to collaborate with us for our mutual benefit, they must be
prepared as an indispensable condition to respect and be bound by Philippine law
in proper cases, as in the one at bar." The requirement of a license is not intended
to put foreign corporations at a disadvantage, for the doctrine of lack of capacity to
sue is based on considerations of sound public policy. Accordingly, petitioner HPPL
must be held to be incapacitated to bring this petition for injunction before this Court
for it is a foreign corporation doing business in the Philippines without the requisite
license.
69. MR HOLDINGS
VS. BEJAR

Where the corporation enters into a single agreement, or engaged in some other
isolated or causal business act or transaction within a particular State, with no
intention to repeat the same or make such State a basis for the conduct of any part
of its corporate business, such corporation cannot be said to be doing business or
transacting business within the State, within the meaning of the usual statutory
provisions regulating the transaction of business by foreign corporations.
Mere ownership by a foreign corporation of a property in a certain state,
unaccompanied by its active use in furtherance of the business for which it was
formed, is insufficient in itself to constitute doing business. Thus, foreign corporation
which becomes the assignee of mining properties, facilities and equipment cannot
automatically be considered as doing business, nor presumed to have the intention
engaging in mining business.

70. SUMNDAD VS.


HARRIGAN

The mere use of the phrase "in fraud of creditors" does not, ipso fact, throw the
case within SEC's jurisdiction. The amended complaint filed by Harrigan does not
sufficiently allege acts amounting to fraud and misrepresentation committed by
respondent corporation.
Equally unavailing is petitioner's contention that the case involves an intracorporate controversy, or one between the corporation and its stockholder
transposing it within the domain of the SEC. It should be noted that the issue has

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 22

become moot and academic because with Republic Act No. 8799, Securities
Regulation Code, it is now the Regional Trial Court and no longer the SEC that has
jurisdiction. Under Section 5.2 of Republic Act No. 8799, original and exclusive
jurisdiction to hear and decide, cases involving intra-corporate controversies have
been transferred to a court of general jurisdiction or the appropriate Regional Trial
Court.
71. ORENDAIN VS. BF The issue central to this petition is: which has jurisdiction over the action for
HOMES
reconveyance the RTC or SEC.
Juxtaposing the jurisdiction of the RTC under RA 8799 and the powers that were
retained by the SEC, it is clear that the SEC retained its administrative, regulatory,
and oversight powers over all corporations, partnerships, and associations who are
grantees of primary franchises, and/or a license or permit issued by the
Government. However, the Securities Regulations Code (SRC) is clear that when
there is a controversy arising out of intra-corporate relations, between and among
stockholders, members or associates, and between, any, or all of them and the
corporation, it is the RTC, not SEC, which has jurisdiction over the case.
Thus, when the complaint involves "an active antagonistic assertion of a legal right
on one side and a denial thereof on the other concerning a real, and not a mere
theoretical question or issue," a cause of action involving a delict or wrongful act or
omission committed by a party in violation of the primary right of another, or an
actual controversy involving rights which are legally demandable or enforceable, the
jurisdiction over this complaint is lodged with the RTC but not the SEC.
72. VELARDE VS.
LOPEZ

Section 5(c) of P.D. 902-A (as amended by R.A. 8799, the Securities Regulation
Code) applies to a corporate officer's dismissal. For a corporate officer's dismissal
is always a corporate act and/or an intra-corporate controversy and that its nature is
not altered by the reason or wisdom which the Board of Directors may have in
taking such action.
With regard to petitioner's claim for unpaid salaries, unpaid share in net income,
reasonable return on the stock ownership plan and other benefits for services
rendered to Sky Vision, jurisdiction thereon pertains to the Securities Exchange
Commission even if the complaint by a corporate officer includes money claims
since such claims are actually part of the prerequisite of his position and, therefore,
interlinked with his relations with the corporation. 25 The question of remuneration
involving a person who is not a mere employee but a stockholder and officer of the
corporation is not a simple labor problem but a matter that comes within the area of
corporate affairs and management, and is in fact a corporate controversy in
contemplation of the Corporation Code.

73. TIMESHARE
REALTY VS. CA

The provisions of B.P. Blg. 178 do not support the contention of petitioner that its
mere registration as a corporation already authorizes it to deal with unregistered
timeshares. Corporate registration is just one of several requirements before it may
deal with timeshares:
Section 8.Procedure for registration. (a) All securities required to be registered
under subsection (a) of Section four of this Act shall be registered through the filing
by the issuer or by any dealer or underwriter interested in the sale thereof, in the

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 23

office of the Commission, of a sworn registration statement with respect to such


securities, containing or having attached thereto, the following:
xxx xxx xxx
(36) Unless previously filed and registered with the Commission and brought up to
date:
(a) A copy of its articles of incorporation with all amendments thereof and its
existing by-laws or instruments corresponding thereto, whatever the name, if the
issuer be a corporation.
Prior to fulfillment of all the other requirements of Section 8, petitioner is absolutely
proscribed under Section 4 from dealing with unregistered timeshares, thus:
Section 4.Requirement of registration of securities. (a) No securities, except of a
class exempt under any of the provisions of Section five hereof or unless sold in
any transaction exempt under any of the provisions of Section six hereof, shall be
sold or offered for sale or distribution to the public within the Philippines unless such
securities shall have been registered and permitted to be sold as hereinafter
provided. (Emphasis supplied.)
74. UNION BANK OF
THE PHILIPPINES
VS. SEC

That petitioner is under the supervision of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)
and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) does not exempt it from complying with
the continuing disclosure requirements embodied in the assailed Rules. Petitioner,
as a bank, is primarily subject to the control of the BSP; and as a corporation
trading its securities in the stock market, it is under the supervision of the SEC. It
must be pointed out that even the PSE is under the control and supervision of
respondent. There is no over-supervision here. Each regulating authority operates
within the sphere of its powers. That stringent requirements are imposed is
understandable, considering the paramount importance given to the interests of the
investing public. Otherwise stated, the mere fact that in regard to its banking
functions, petitioner is already subject to the supervision of the BSP does not
exempt the former from reasonable disclosure regulations issued by the SEC.
These regulations are meant to assure full, fair and accurate disclosure of
information for the protection of investors in the stock market. Imposing such
regulations is a function within the jurisdiction of the SEC. Since petitioner opted to
trade its shares in the exchange, then it must abide by the reasonable rules
imposed by the SEC.

75. ONAPAL VS. CA

The contract between the parties falls under the kind commonly called futures.
The term futures has grown out of those purely speculative transactions in which
there are nominal contracts to sell for future delivery, but where in fact no delivery is
intended or executed.
In the realities of the transaction, the parties merely speculated on the rise or fall in
the price of the goods/commodity subject matter of the transaction. If private
respondent's speculation was correct, she would be the winner and the petitioner,
the loser, so petitioner would have to pay private respondent the "margin". But if
private respondent was wrong in her speculation then she would emerge as the
loser and the petitioner, the winner. The petitioner would keep the money or collect
the difference from the private respondent. This is clearly a form of gambling

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 24

provided for with unmistakable certainty under Article 2018 above stated. It should
thus be governed by the New Civil Code and not by the Revised Securities Act nor
the Rules and Regulations on Commodity Futures Trading laid down by the SEC.
Article 1462 of the New Civil Code does not govern this case because the said
provision contemplates a contract of sale of specific goods where one of the
contracting parties binds himself to transfer the ownership of and deliver a
determinate thing and the other to pay therefore a price certain in money or its
equivalent. The said article requires that there be delivery of goods, actual or
constructive, to be applicable. In the transaction in question, there was no such
delivery; neither was there any intention to deliver a determinate thing.
76. CEMCO
HOLDINGS VS.
NATIONAL LIFE
INSURANCE

Petitioner asserts that the mandatory tender offer rule applies only to direct
acquisition of shares in the public company.
This contention is not meritorious.
Tender offer is a publicly announced intention by a person acting alone or in
concert with other persons to acquire equity securities of a public company. A
public company is defined as a corporation which is listed on an exchange, or a
corporation with assets exceeding P50,000,000.00 and with 200 or more
stockholders, at least 200 of them holding not less than 100 shares of such
company. Stated differently, a tender offer is an offer by the acquiring person to
stockholders of a public company for them to tender their shares therein on the
terms specified in the offer. Tender offer is in place to protect minority shareholders
against any scheme that dilutes the share value of their investments. It gives the
minority shareholders the chance to exit the company under reasonable terms,
giving them the opportunity to sell their shares at the same price as those of the
majority shareholders.
See Section 19 of Republic Act No. 8799 for your reference. Or better yet, read the
case.
Under existing SEC Rules, the 15% and 30% threshold acquisition of shares under
the foregoing provision was increased to thirty-five percent (35%). It is further
provided therein that mandatory tender offer is still applicable even if the acquisition
is less than 35% when the purchase would result in ownership of over 51% of the
total outstanding equity securities of the public company.

77. ABACUS
SECURITIES VS.
AMPIL

Otherwise stated, the margin requirements set out in the RSA are primarily
intended to achieve a macroeconomic purpose the protection of the overall
economy from excessive speculation in securities. Their recognized secondary
purpose is to protect small investors.
The law places the burden of compliance with margin requirements primarily upon
the brokers and dealers. Sections 23 and 25 and Rule 25-1, otherwise known as
the "mandatory close-out rule," clearly vest upon petitioner the obligation, not just
the right, to cancel or otherwise liquidate a customer's order, if payment is not
received within three days from the date of purchase. The word "shall" as opposed
to the word "may," is imperative and operates to impose a duty, which may be
legally enforced. For transactions subsequent to an unpaid order, the broker should
require its customer to deposit funds into the account sufficient to cover each
purchase transaction prior to its execution. These duties are imposed upon the

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 25

broker to ensure faithful compliance with the margin requirements of the law, which
forbids a broker from extending undue credit to a customer.
It will be noted that trading on credit (or "margin trading") allows investors to buy
more securities than their cash position would normally allow. Investors pay only a
portion of the purchase price of the securities; their broker advances for them the
balance of the purchase price and keeps the securities as collateral for the advance
or loan. Brokers take these securities/stocks to their bank and borrow the "balance"
on it, since they have to pay in full for the traded stock. Hence, increasing margins
i.e., decreasing the amounts which brokers may lend for the speculative purchase
and carrying of stocks is the most direct and effective method of discouraging an
abnormal attraction of funds into the stock market and achieving a more balanced
use of such resources.
78. PHIL. VETERANS
BANK VS.
CALLANGAN

The Bank reiterates that it is not a "public company" subject to the reportorial
requirements under Section 17.1 of the SRC because its shares can be owned only
by a specific group of people, namely, World War II veterans and their widows,
orphans and compulsory heirs, and is not open to the investing public in general.
We DENY the motion for reconsideration for lack of merit.
A "public company" as
(1) any corporation with a class of equity securities listed on an Exchange or
(2) (a corporation) with assets in excess of Fifty Million Pesos
(P50,000,000.00) and having two hundred (200) or more holders, at least two
hundred (200) of which are holding at least one hundred (100) shares of a
class of its equity securities."
From these provisions, it is clear that a "public company," as contemplated by the
SRC, is not limited to a company whose shares of stock are publicly listed; even
companies like the Bank, whose shares are offered only to a specific group of
people, are considered a public company, provided they meet the requirements
enumerated above.

79. SEC VS.


INTERPORT
RESOURCES ET.
AL.

The provision (Sec. 30 of RSA) explains in simple terms that the insider's misuse of
nonpublic and undisclosed information is the gravamen of illegal conduct. The
intent of the law is the protection of investors against fraud, committed when an
insider, using secret information, takes advantage of an uninformed investor.
Insiders are obligated to disclose material information to the other party or abstain
from trading the shares of his corporation. This duty to disclose or abstain is based
on two factors: first, the existence of a relationship giving access, directly or
indirectly, to information intended to be available only for a corporate purpose and
not for the personal benefit of anyone; and second, the inherent unfairness involved
when a party takes advantage of such information knowing it is unavailable to those
with whom he is dealing.
(concurring opinion of Justice Tinga)
In its barest essence, insider trading involves the trading of securities based on
knowledge of material information not disclosed to the public at the time. Such
activity is generally prohibited in many jurisdictions, including our own, though the

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 26

particular scope and definition of "insider trading" depends on the legislation or


case law of each jurisdiction. In the United States, the rule has been stated as "that
anyone who, for trading for his own account in the securities of a corporation has
'access, directly or indirectly, to information intended to be available only for a
corporate purpose and not for the personal benefit of anyone' may not take
'advantage of such information knowing it is unavailable to those with whom he is
dealing', i.e., the investing public."

FINAL EXAMS

By Ramon Muez (Disclaimer: This material does not in any way guarantee that you will top the exam. So read at your own risk)

Page 27

Вам также может понравиться