SAN LUIS V.

COURT OF APPEALS
G.R. No. 80160 | June 26, 1989 | Cortes, J.
Nature: PETITION for certiorari and mandamus to review the decision of the Court of
Appeals.
Petitioner: GOVERNOR FELICISIMO T. SAN LUIS, THE SANGGUNIANG
PANLALAWIGAN, PROVINCIAL ENGINEER JUANITO C. RODIL AND PROVINCIAL
TREASURER AMADEO C. ROMEY, ALL OF LAGUNA
Respondent: COURT OF APPEALS AND MARIANO L. BERROYA, JR.

DOCTRINE: The decisions of both the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the
President had long become final and executory, the same can no longer be reviewed by
the courts. It is well-established in our jurisprudence that the decisions and orders of
administrative agencies, rendered pursuant to their quasi-judicial authority, have upon
their finality, the force and binding effect of a final judgment within the purview of the
doctrine of res judicata.

FACTS:
1. 31 May 1959: Mariano Berroya was appointed as quarry superintendent of Laguna
Province.
2. April and May of 1973, Berroya denounced graft and corrupt practices by employees
of the provincial government of Laguna.
3. 20 June 1973: Gov. San Luis issued Order No.72 transferring Berroya to Office of the
Provincial Engineer invoking LOI 14-B for such transfer. Berroya opposed.
4. 25 October 1973: CSC ruled the same violative of Section 32, RA 2260, and ordered
that Berroya be reverted to his regular position of quarry superintendent.
5. 12 Dec1973: Gov. San Luis suspended Berroya for alleged discourtesy, insufficiency
and insubordination.
6. 26 Feb 1974: CSC reiterated its October 25, 1973 directive and ruled the one-year
suspension illegal. Gov. San Luis appealed to Office of the President.
7. 29 May 1974: OP Decision 954 – reversed CSC ruling without prejudice to the decision
of the Local Review Board (sustained the 1-year suspension). Berroya filed a MR.
8. 19 May 1976: OP Decision 1834 set aside OP Decision 954, and ordered that Berroya
be paid his back salaries. Gov. San Luis moved for reconsideration of OP Decision
1834 but it was denied.
9. 27 Apr 1977: Gov. San Luis dismissed Berroya for alleged neglect of duty,
unauthorized absences, and conduct prejudicial to the interest of duty, and
abandonment of office. Berroya appealed to the CSC.
10. 23 Jan 1979: CSC declared Berroya’s dismissal as unjustified and directed his
reinstatement as quarry superintendent. Gov. San Luis sought relief thru MR which
the CSC Merit Systems Board denied in its Resolution No. 567.
11. 6 Nov 1978:Gov. San Luis moved anew to set aside OP Decision 1834, but the OP
dismissed said motion.
12. Berroya filed for MANDAMUS to compel his reversion as quarry superintendent with
back salaries for the entire period of his suspension and dismissal and damages. Gov.
 San Luis filed for a MTD said petition for Mandamus, and opposed the therein
application for preliminary injunctive relief for immediate reinstatement.
13. During pendency of CC for mandamus (9 April 1981), Gov. San Luis filed a petition
for relief from OP Decision 1834 with the OP (for the 3 rd time). The OP DENIED it
since it can only allow one MR.
14. 17 May 1985: RTC held that Berroya’s transfer is sufficiently warranted his one-year
suspension, and his summary dismissal is likewise justified by LIO 14-B; and none of
the respondents (petitioners herein) should be held personally liable because they did
not act with malice and bad faith; BUT it nevertheless ordered Berroya’s reinstatement
(to any position equivalent to that of a quarry superintendent which has been
abolished in the present plantilla of the provincial government of Laguna as
reorganized pursuant to PD 1136 without diminution in rank and salary).
15. Berroya appealed the RTC Decision to the Court of Appeals. The CA on April 30,
1987 ruled in Berroya’s favor. The decision of May 17, 1985 is set aside.
16. Gov. San Luis filed MR to CA but it was denied. Hence this instant petition which is
both or alternatively an original action for certiorari and mandamus and an appeal by
certiorari; and another petition for review of CA decision filed with SC.
17. This petition is considered to be a PETITION for certiorari and mandamus to review
the decision of the Court of Appeals.

ISSUE AND RULING: Whether or not the decisions of the Civil Service Commission and
the Office of the President can be reviewed by the Courts - NO

RATIO:
Since the decisions of both the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President
had long become final and executory, the same can no longer be reviewed by the courts.
It is well-established in our jurisprudence that the decisions and orders of administrative
agencies, rendered pursuant to their quasi-judicial authority, have upon their finality, the
force and binding effect of a final judgment within the purview of the doctrine of res
judicata.

The doctrine of res judicata forbids the reopening of a matter once judicially determined
by competent authority applies as well to the judicial and quasi-judicial acts of public,
executive or administrative officers and boards acting within their jurisdiction as to the
judgments of courts having general judicial powers.

The principle of conclusiveness of prior adjudications is not confined in its operation

to the judgments of what are ordinarily known as courts, but it extends to all bodies upon
whom judicial powers had been conferred. Hence, whenever any board, tribunal or
person is by law vested with authority to judicially determine a question, like the Merit
Systems Board of the Civil Service Commission and the Office of the President, for
instance, such determination, when it has become final, is as conclusive between the
same parties litigating for the same cause as though the adjudication had been made by
a court of general jurisdiction

On Petition for Mandamus

Berroya had established his clear legal right to reinstatement and back salaries under the
aforementioned final and executory administrative decisions, it became a clear ministerial
duty on the part of the authorities concerned to comply with the orders contained in said
decisions. In this case, the appropriate administrative agencies having determined with
finality that Berroya’s suspension and dismissal were without just cause, his
reinstatement becomes a plain ministerial duty of the petitioner Provincial Governor, a
duty whose performance may be controlled and enjoined by mandamus.

On backwages
According to settled jurisprudence, Berroya, as an illegally terminated civil service
employee is entitled to back salaries limited only to a maximum period of five years. hat
petitioners Provincial Governor, Provincial Treasurer and Provincial Engineer of Laguna,
the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Laguna and the Province of Laguna, formally
impleaded herein, are liable for back salaries in case of illegal termination of a civil service
employee finds support in earlier decisions of this Court.

However, the petitioners Juanito Rodil and Amado Romey must be held liable only in their
official capacities as Provincial Engineer and Provincial Treasurer, respectively since they
had been expressly sued by Berroya as such

DISPOSITIVE: WHEREFORE, the assailed decision of the appellate court is hereby

MODIFIED as follows: (1) the petitioners, in their official capacities, are ordered to pay
private respondent Berroya, his back salaries for a maximum period of five years; (2)
since the reinstatement of Berroya can no longer be ordered by reason of his having
reached the retirement age, he should instead be paid all the retirement benefits to which
he is entitled under the law; and (3) petitioner Felicisimo T. San Luis, in his personal
capacity, is further ordered to pay Berroya the sum of P50,000.00 as and for moral
damages, the sum of P20,000.00 as and for attorney’s fees plus costs and other
expenses of suit. This decision shall be IMMEDIATELY EXECUTORY.