Batchnumber:1,Casenumber:4,Preparedby:JosephSolis

2. Royvs.CourtofAppeals,G.R.No.80718
GR No. 80718 - - 1988-01-29

FACTS:
Thefirewallofaburned-outbuildingownedbypetitionerscollapsedanddestroyedthetailoring
shopoccupiedbythefamilyofprivaterespondents,resultingininjuriestoprivaterespondents
andthedeathofMarissaBernal,adaughter.Privaterespondentshadbeenwarnedbypetitioners
tovacatetheirshopinviewofitsproximitytotheweakenedwallbuttheformerfailedtodoso.

Onthebasisoftheforegoingfacts,theRegionalTrialCourtFirstJudicialRegion,BranchXXXVIII,
presidedbytheHon.AntonioM.Belen,renderedjudgmentfindingpetitionersguiltyofgross
negligenceandawardingdamagestoprivaterespondents.Onappeal,thedecisionofthetrial
courtwasaffirmedintotobytheCourtofAppealsinadecisionpromulgatedonAugust17,1987,
acopyofwhichwasreceivedbypetitionersonAugust25,1987.

OnSeptember9,1987,thelastdayofthefifteen-dayperiodtofileanappeal,petitionersfileda
motionforextensionoftimetofileamotionforreconsideration,whichwaseventuallydeniedby
theappellatecourtintheResolutionofSeptember30,1987.Petitionersfiledtheirmotionfor
reconsiderationonSeptember24,1987butthiswasdeniedintheResolutionofOctober27,
1987.

ThisCourtfindsthattheCourtofAppealsdidnotcommitagraveabuseofdiscretionwhenit
deniedpetitioners'motionforextensionoftimetofileamotionforreconsideration,directed
entryofjudgmentanddeniedtheirmotionforreconsideration.Itcorrectlyappliedtherulelaid
downinHabaluyasEnterprises,Inc.v.Japzon,[G.R.No.70895,August5,1985,138SCRA461],
thatthefifteen-dayperiodforappealingorforfilingamotionforreconsiderationcannotbe
extended.

DeRoyscounselhoweverarguedthattheHabaluyascaseshouldnotbeapplicablebecausesaid
rulingwasneverpublishedintheOfficialGazette.

ISSUE:
WhetherornotSupremeCourtdecisionsmustbepublishedintheOfficialGazettebeforethey
canbebinding.

HELD:
No.thereisnolawrequiringthepublicationofSupremeCourtdecisionsintheOfficialGazette


beforetheycanbebindingandasaconditiontotheirbecomingeffective.Itistheboundendutyof
counselaslawyerinactivelawpracticetokeepabreastofdecisionsoftheSupremeCourt
particularlywhereissueshavebeenclarified,consistentlyreiterated,andpublishedintheadvance
reportsofSupremeCourtdecisions(G.R.s)andinsuchpublicationsastheSupremeCourt
ReportsAnnotated(SCRA)andlawjournals.