[G.R. No. 60036. January 27, 1987.

]
INVESTMENTS, INC., petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS, TO!""O
#N$%&TR#'& O( T)' *)#+#**#N'&, #N"., an, T)' &)'R#(( O( T)' "#T- O(
.!N#+!, respon,ents.
D E C I S I O N
N!R/!&!, J p0
T1e petitioner see2s t1e nullification by certiorari of to re!olution! of re!"on#ent
Court o3 !ppea4s in "! G.R. No. &p. 082536R0 one ,ate, $e7e89er 9, 1981, ,enyin: its
8otion inter a4ia to #eclare $oi# t%e auction !ale %el# on Au&u!t '(, )*+) at t%e
in!tance of re!"on#ent Tobacco In#u!trie! of t%e P%ili""ine!, Inc.; an, anot%er ,ate,
January 13, 1982 #enyin& it! ,otion for e-ten!ion of ti,e to file a ,otion for
recon!i#eration. T1e petitioner a4so see2s to 7o8pe4 respon,ent "ourt 9y 8an,a8us to
en3or7e an ear4ier reso4ution in t1e sa8e 7ase ,ate, $e7e89er 12, 1979, 3or t1e return to
it o3 t1e 71atte4s so4, at pu94i7 au7tion.
T1e instant petition ori:inate, 3ro8 "ivi4 "ase No. 116617, institute, 9y #nvest8ents,
#n7. <1ereina3ter re3erre, to si8p4y as =#nvest8ents=> on Ju4y 7, 1978 in t1e "ourt o3 (irst
#nstan7e o3 .ani4a a:ainst t1e private respon,ent, To9a77o #n,ustries o3 t1e *1i4ippines,
#n7. <=T#*=>. T1e a7tion ?as 3or t1e annul,ent of a c%attel ,ort&a&e e-ecute# by
In$e!t,ent! in TIP/! fa$or 7overin: 3ive 7i:arette68a2in: 8a71ines, ?1i71 ?ere a9out
to 9e so4, on 3ore74osure 9y t1e 4atter. #nitia44y a te,"orary re!trainin& or#er a!
i!!ue# by t%e Court e-0"arte en1oinin& t%e S%eriff fro, "rocee#in& it% t%e auction
!ale of t%e ,ac%ine!. ut not 4on: a3ter?ar,s, t1e Tria4 "ourt pro8u4:ate, an or,er
,enyin: #nvest8ents@ app4i7ation 3or a ?rit o3 inAun7tion an, ,isso4vin: t1e te8porary
restrainin: or,er. %na94e to o9tain a re7onsi,eration o3 t1e or,er, #nvest8ents 9rou:1t t1e
8atter to t1e "ourt o3 !ppea4s on 7ertiorari an, pro1i9ition.
T1at Court, on Dece,ber '), )*2+, #irecte# i!!uance of a rit of "reli,inary
in1unction a&ain!t t%e t%reatene# auction !ale u"on In$e!t,ent!/ "o!tin& a bon# in
t%e a,ount of P23,444.44. &u9seBuent4y, 1o?ever, by re!olution ,ate, .ay 15, 1979,
t1e "ourt #i!,i!!e# In$e!t,ent/! "etition an# lifte# t%e in1unction, In$e!t,ent! file#
a ,otion for recon!i#eration, at t1e 1earin: o3 ?1i71 it ar:ue, 3or t1e reinstate8ent o3
t1e pre4i8inary inAun7tion sin7e =t1e 1earin: on t1e 8erits o3 t1e 8ain 7ase 9e4o? is
a9out to 9e ter8inate,.= T1e !ppe44ate "ourt t1en su::este, t1at t1e inAun7tion 9on, 9e
in7rease, to *650,000.00 to 7over t1e prin7ipa4 o94i:ation. T1e su::estion 1avin: 9een
a77epte, 9y 9ot1 parties, #nvest8ents a77or,in:4y 3i4e, a 9on, in t1e in7rease, a8ount.
T1e "ourt approve, t1e 9on, on &epte89er 2C, 1979 an, issue, a restrainin: or,er
?1i71 in e33e7t reinstate, t1e inAun7tion ear4ier :rante,.
On $e7e89er 12, 1979 t1e Court of A""eal! "ro,ul&ate# a Reso4ution ,e74arin: t1at
?it1out preAu,i7e to t1e ear4y 7on74usion o3 t1e 7ase in t1e Tria4 "ourt, it ,ee8e, t1e
pro7ee,in:s 9e3ore it ter8inate, 9e7ause it 1a, a4rea,y =!to""e# t%e !ale . . . of t%e
,ac%ine! . . . until final 1u#&,ent !%all %a$e been ren#ere# in Ci$il Ca!e No.
))55)2.6 #n ,ue 7ourse, t1e "4er2 o3 "ourt 7ause, entry o3 Au,:8ent in "!6G.R. No.
&*6082536R, 9ut %at a! ina#$ertently entere# a! t%e #i!"o!iti$e "ortion of t%e
"re$iou! re!olution of May )3, )*2* #i!,i!!in& t%e "etition for certiorari, an# no
reference %ate$er a! ,a#e to t%e !ub!e7uent re!olution! of Se"te,ber '( an#
Dece,ber )', )*2*.
Trial in Ci$il Ca!e No. ))55)2 %a$in& continue# in t%e ,eanti,e, 1u#&,ent t1erein
?as ren,ere, on $e7e89er 19, 1980, #i!,i!!in& In$e!t,ent!/ co,"laint for lac8 of
,erit, an# aar#in& ,oral an# e-e,"lary #a,a&e! to TIP. #nvest8ents appea4e,
t1at ,e7ision to t1e "ourt o3 !ppea4s.
TIP file# it% t%e Trial Court a ,otion for e-ecution "en#in& a""eal; an, ?it1 t1e
"ourt o3 !ppea4s 6 in "!6G.R. No. &*6082536R D a 8otion to 4i3t t1e ?rit o3
pre4i8inary inAun7tion. #nvest8ents oppose, 9ot1 8otions on t1e :roun, t1at t1e
inAun7tion issue, 9y t1e !ppe44ate "ourt a:ainst t1e 1o4,in: o3 t1e au7tion sa4e ?as
8eant to su9sist unti4 =3ina4 Au,:8ent in "ivi4 "ase No. 116617,= an, !ince t%e #eci!ion
ren#ere# in !ai# ca!e a! not yet final an# e-ecutory, !ai# in1unction a! !till in
force. E1at t1e Court of A""eal! ,i,, 1o?ever ?as to ,e74are, 9y Reso4ution ,ate, June
9, 1981, t1at it ?as no lon&er entertainin& t%e "en#in& inci#ent! on t%e &roun# t%at
t%e ca!e before it 9CA0:.R. No. SP 4+'3;< %a# lon& been ter,inate#. #n so ,e74arin:
t1e Court e$i#ently relie# only on t%e #i!"o!iti$e "ortion of it! re!olution of May )3,
)*2* erroneou!ly entere# by t%e Cler8 of Court 9#i!,i!!in& In$e!t,ent/! "etition
for certiorari an# "ro%ibition< an# faile# to ta8e account of t%e in1unction it %a#
i!!ue# t%ereafter 9u"on t%e filin& of a bon# in t%e increa!e# a,ount of P534,444.44>.
T#* t1en 7ause, t1e 8ort:a:e, 71atte4s to 9e so4, 9y t1e &1eri33 at a pu94i7 au7tion on
!u:ust 2C, 1981, at ?1i71 sa4e it ?as t1e su77ess3u4 9i,,er.
In$e!t,ent! fort%it% file# it% re!"on#ent Court of A""eal! a ,otion for
conte,"t an# for annul,ent of t%e !ale. T1e "ourt@s response ?as to issue on !u:ust
28, 1981 a te8porary restrainin: or,er stoppin: T#* 3ro8 ta2in: possession o3 t1e
8a71ines, an, 7o88an,in: t1eir return to #nvest8ents i3 a4rea,y in T#*@s possession.
&u9seBuent4y, 1o?ever, 9y Reso4ution ,ate, $e7e89er 9, 1981, t%e Court #enie#
In$e!t,ent/! "lea for nullification of t%e !ale an# for an a#1u#ication of TIP/!
liability for conte,"t. #n t1at reso4ution o3 $e7e89er 9, 1981, t1e !ppe44ate "ourt
!u!taine# TIP/! "o!ition t%at t%e re!trainin& or#er en1oinin& t%e !ale of t%e
,ort&a&e# c%attel! %a# la"!e# u"on t%e ren#ition of final 1u#&,ent in Ci$il Ca!e
No. ))55)2, irrespe7tive o3 t1e appea4 ta2en t1ere3ro8. T1e "ourt a4so ,e74are, va4i, t1e
au7tion sa4e o3 !u:ust 2C, 1981, an, ,isso4ve, t1e restrainin: or,er e89o,ie, in t1e
Reso4ution o3 !u:ust 28, 1981 sai, reso4ution 1avin: 9een =inten,e, as a te8porary
8easure pen,in: ,eter8ination o3 t1e status o3 t1e 8ain 7ase 9e4o?.= (ina44y, t1e
respon,ent "ourt ,is8isse, t1e 7onte8pt 71ar:es, 3in,in: T#*@s o33er to put up a
7ounter9on, in 4ieu o3 returnin: t1e 8a71ines to 9e su9stantia4 7o8p4ian7e ?it1 sai,
reso4ution o3 !u:ust 28, 1981.
#nvest8ents t1en presente, a 8otion 3or eFtension o3 ti8e to 3i4e a 8otion 3or
re7onsi,eration, p4ea,in: ti8e pressure, ?1i71 ?as ,enie, 3or 4a72 o3 8erit. )en7e, t1e
present petition.
!s is at on7e apparent, t1e 7ruF o3 t1e 7ontroversy is t1e e33e7tive 4i3e o3 t1e pre4i8inary
inAun7tion o3 t1e !ppe44ate "ourt as re:ar,s t1e au7tion sa4e o3 #nvest8ents@ 7i:arette6
8a2in: 8a71ines, ,ate, $e7e89er 21, 1978 ?1i71, a3ter 1avin: 9een 4i3te,, ?as
reinstate, upon t1e 3i4in: 9y #nvest8ents o3 t1e in7rease, inAun7tion 9on, o3 *650,000.00
on &epte89er 2C, 1979. T%e "artie! #o not #i!"ute t%e fact t%at t%e in1unction a! to
!ub!i!t 6until final 1u#&,ent !%all %a$e been ren#ere# in Ci$il Ca!e No. ))55)2.6
T1e point a9out ?1i71 t1ey ,i33er is t1e 8eanin: to 9e a77or,e, to t1e ter8, =3ina4
Au,:8ent= in t1e 7onteFt o3 "ivi4 "ase No. 116617. #nvest8ents t1eoriGes t1at t1e
Au,:8ent ren,ere, 9y t1e Tria4 "ourt in sai, "ivi4 "ase No. 116617 on $e7e89er 19,
1980 ?as not a =3ina4 Au,:8ent= 9e7ause it ?as an appea4a94e Au,:8ent an, 1a,, in 3a7t,
9een appea4e, seasona94y. T#*, 3or its part, asserts t1at Au,:8ent ?as in trut1 a =3ina4
Au,:8ent= as t1e ter8 is use, in pro7e,ura4 4a?, even i3 appea4a94e an, 1en7e, upon its
ren,ition, t1e pre4i8inary inAun7tion o3 t1e !ppe44ate "ourt eFpire,, its 4i3e 1avin:
pre7ise4y 9een 3iFe, to en,ure unti4 su71 Au,:8ent s1a44 1ave 9een ren,ere,.
T1e 7on7ept o3 =3ina4= Au,:8ent, as ,istin:uis1e, 3ro8 one ?1i71 1as =9e7o8e 3ina4= <or
=eFe7utory= as o3 ri:1t [3ina4 an, eFe7utory]>, is ,e3inite an, sett4e,. ! =3ina4= Au,:8ent
or or,er is one t1at 3ina44y ,isposes o3 a 7ase, 4eavin: not1in: 8ore to 9e ,one 9y t1e
"ourt in respe7t t1ereto, e.:., an a,Au,i7ation on t1e 8erits ?1i71, on t1e 9asis o3 t1e
evi,en7e presente, at t1e tria4, ,e74ares 7ate:ori7a44y ?1at t1e ri:1ts an, o94i:ations o3
t1e parties are an, ?1i71 party is in t1e ri:1t; or a Au,:8ent or or,er t1at ,is8isses an
a7tion on t1e :roun,, 3or instan7e, o3 res a,Au,i7ata or pres7ription. On7e ren,ere,, t1e
tas2 o3 t1e "ourt is en,e,, as 3ar as ,e7i,in: t1e 7ontroversy or ,eter8inin: t1e ri:1ts
an, 4ia9i4ities o3 t1e 4iti:ants is 7on7erne,. Not1in: 8ore re8ains to 9e ,one 9y t1e "ourt
eF7ept to a?ait t1e parties@ neFt 8ove <?1i71 a8on: ot1ers, 8ay 7onsist o3 t1e 3i4in: o3 a
8otion 3or ne? tria4 or re7onsi,eration, or t1e ta2in: o3 an appea4> an, u4ti8ate4y, o3
7ourse, to 7ause t1e eFe7ution o3 t1e Au,:8ent on7e it 9e7o8es =3ina4= or, to use t1e
esta94is1e, an, 8ore ,istin7tive ter8, =3ina4 an, eFe7utory.=
=. . . <!>n or,er or Au,:8ent is ,ee8e, 3ina4 ?1en it 3ina44y ,isposes o3 t1e pen,in:
a7tion so t1at not1in: 8ore 7an 9e ,one ?it1 it in t1e tria4 7ourt. #n ot1er ?or,s, a 3ina4
or,er is t1at ?1i71 :ives an en, to t1e 4iti:ation.. E1en t1e or,er or Au,:8ent ,oes not
,ispose o3 t1e 7ase 7o8p4ete4y 9ut 4eaves so8et1in: to 9e ,one upon t1e 8erits, it is
8ere4y inter4o7utory.=
=! 3ina4 or,er or Au,:8ent 3ina44y ,isposes o3, a,Au,i7ates, or ,eter8ines t1e ri:1ts, or
so8e ri:1t or ri:1t o3 t1e parties, eit1er on t1e entire 7ontroversy or on so8e ,e3inite an,
separate 9ran71 t1ereo3, an, 7on74u,es t1e8 unti4 it is reverse, or set asi,e . . . E1ere no
issue is 4e3t 3or 3uture 7onsi,eration, eF7ept t1e 3a7t o3 7o8p4ian7e or non67o8p4ian7e
?it1 t1e ter8s o3 t1e Au,:8ent or or,er, su71 Au,:8ent or or,er is 3ina4 an, appea4a94e.=
1C
"onverse4y, an or,er t1at ,oes not 3ina44y ,ispose o3 t1e 7ase, an, ,oes not en, t1e
"ourt@s tas2 o3 a,Au,i7atin: t1e parties@ 7ontentions an, ,eter8inin: t1eir ri:1ts an,
4ia9i4ities as re:ar,s ea71 ot1er, 9ut o9vious4y in,i7ates t1at ot1er t1in:s re8ain to 9e
,one 9y t1e "ourt, is =inter4o7utory,= e.:., an or,er ,enyin: a 8otion to ,is8iss un,er
Ru4e 16 o3 t1e Ru4es, or :rantin: a 8otion 3or eFtension o3 ti8e to 3i4e a p4ea,in:, or
aut1oriGin: a8en,8ent t1ereo3, or :rantin: or ,enyin: app4i7ations 3or postpone8ent, or
pro,u7tion or inspe7tion o3 ,o7u8ents or t1in:s, et7. %n4i2e a =3ina4= Au,:8ent or or,er,
?1i71 is appea4a94e, as a9ove pointe, out, an =inter4o7utory= or,er 8ay not 9e Buestione,
on appea4 eF7ept on4y as part o3 an appea4 t1at 8ay eventua44y 9e ta2en 3ro8 t1e 3ina4
Au,:8ent ren,ere, in t1e 7ase.
=. . . On4y 3ina4 Au,:8ents or or,ers s1a44 9e su9Ae7t to appea4. No inter4o7utory or,er
s1a44 stay t1e pro:ress o3 an a7tion, nor s1a44 it 9e su9Ae7t o3 appea4 unti4 3ina4 Au,:8ent is
ren,ere, 3or one party or anot1er.= 15
T1e ru4e is 3oun,e, on 7onsi,erations o3 or,er4y pro7e,ure, to 3oresta44 use4ess appea4s
an, avoi, un,ue in7onvenien7e to t1e appea4in: party 9y 1avin: to assai4 or,ers as t1ey
are pro8u4:ate, 9y t1e 7ourt, ?1en a44 su71 or,ers 8ay 9e 7onteste, in a sin:4e appea4.
16
No?, a =3ina4 Au,:8ent= in t1e sense Aust ,es7ri9e, 9e7o8es 3ina4 =upon eFpiration o3 t1e
perio, to appea4 t1ere3ro8 i3 no appea4 1as 9een ,u4y per3e7te,= 17 or, an appea4
t1ere3ro8 1avin: 9een ta2en, t1e Au,:8ent o3 t1e appe44ate tri9una4 in turn 9e7o8es 3ina4
an, t1e re7or,s o3 t1e 7ase are returne, to t1e "ourt o3 ori:in. 18 T1e =3ina4= Au,:8ent is
t1en 7orre7t4y 7ate:oriGe, as a =3ina4 an, eFe7utory Au,:8ent= in respe7t to ?1i71, as t1e
4a? eFp4i7it4y provi,es, =eFe7ution s1a44 issue as a 8atter o3 ri:1t.= 19 #t 9ears stressin:
t1at on4y a 3ina4 Au,:8ent or or,er, i.e., =a Au,:8ent or or,er t1at 3ina44y ,isposes o3 t1e
a7tion o3 pro7ee,in:= 7an 9e7o8e 3ina4 an, eFe7utory.
T1ere is no s1o?in: t1at t1e parties an, t1eir 7ounse4 inten,e, to :ive t1e ter8 =3ina4
Au,:8ent= a spe7ia4 si:ni3i7ation, a 8eanin: ot1er t1an t1at a77or,e, to it 9y 4a? an,
esta94is1e, usa:e. T1eir a:ree8ent 8ust t1ere3ore 9e 7onstrue, to 8ean eFa7t4y ?1at it
says, t1at upon ren,ition 9y t1e Tria4 "ourt on $e7e89er 9, 1981 o3 its Au,:8ent on t1e
8erits, i.e., its =3ina4 Au,:8ent,= t1e 4i3e an, e33e7tivity o3 t1e pre4i8inary inAun7tion
7a8e to an en,, re:ar,4ess o3 t1e appea4a9i4ity o3, or t1e a7tua4 ta2in: o3 an appea4 3ro8,
sai, Au,:8ent. T1e petitioner@s t1eory o3 t1e 7ase, 3oun,e, on its 7on7ept o3 a =3ina4
Au,:8ent= is erroneous an, 7annot 9e sustaine,.
E)'R'(OR', t1e petition is ,is8isse,, ?it1 7osts a:ainst petitioner.
&O OR$'R'$.
-ap, .e4en7io6)errera, "ruG, (e4i7iano an, Gan7ay7o, JJ., 7on7ur.