Facts:

• The case involves the payment of a registration fee for Felipe Belarmino's motor truck.
• The defendant, Insular Auditor of the Philippines, recommended the suspension of Belarmino's truck operation due to non-payment of the fee.
• Belarmino claimed that he had already paid the fee and sought to enjoin the defendants from suspending his truck operation.
• The defendants argued that Belarmino had not paid the fee and counterclaimed for him to pay the government the amount of the fee.
• Belarmino's son testified that he had paid the fee at the Bureau of Public Works and received a receipt and number plate in return.
• The superintendent of the automobile division of the Bureau of Public Works confirmed that the fee had been paid based on the Motor Vehicle Register.
• However, it was discovered that the duplicate copy of the official receipt in the Bureau of Public Works was made out in another person's name for a different amount.
• The court concluded that this discrepancy was likely due to misconduct on the part of some Public Works employees.

Issue:

• (Unlock)

Ruling:

• The court ruled in favor of Belarmino and affirmed the preliminary injunction against the defendants.
• The court reversed the ...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The court found that Belarmino had indeed paid the registration fee for his truck in 1929.
• Belarmino had fulfilled his obligation by paying the fee to an employee in the performance of his official duties.
• Belarmino was not responsible for ensuring that the money he paid would be deposited in the safe.
• The court reasoned that the discrepancy in the duplicate copy of the official receipt was likely due to misconduct on the part of some Public Works employees.
• Therefore, Belarmino was not required to pay the fee a second time and the defendants cannot suspend his truck operation.
• The cou...continue reading