Margarita M. Benedicto-Munoz Vs. Maria Angeles Cacho-Olivares, et al.

/Abacus Securities
Corporation and Joel Chua Chui Vs. Maria Angeles Cacho-Olivares, et al./Sapphire Securities,
Inc. Vs. Maria Angeles Cacho-Olivares, et al.
G.R. No. 179121/G.R. No. 179128/G.R. No. 179129. November 9, 2015
Third Division, Jardeleza, J.

Effect of Dismissal of a Case Against Indispensable Parties

Petitioners were sued together with the Cuaycong brothers. The court dropped the Cuaycong
brothers from the case due a joint manifestation that the brothers and respondents have
entered into a Compromise Agreement. Petitioners contend that this dismissal against the
Cuaycong brothers should inure to their benefit because they were sued under a single and/or
common cause of action and that the brothers are indispensable parties to the case. Are they
correct?

Yes. Under both the Original Complaint and the Amended and Supplemental Complaint,
Cuaycong was the central actor in the series of wrongdoings that led to the loss of
investments of the respondents, while the defendants' alleged action or inaction made such
wrongdoings possible. Each of them performed an indispensable act that aided and abetted
the illegal activities of the Cuaycong brothers, without which the latter would not be able to
successfully consummate their fraudulent scheme.