Title
China Banking Corp. vs. Court of Appeals
Case
G.R. No. 117604
Decision Date
Mar 26, 1997
A stockholder pledged shares to CBC as loan security. VGCCI sold the shares despite CBC's prior claim. SC ruled CBC had prior rights, nullifying VGCCI's sale.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 249238)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Pledge and foreclosure
    • On August 21, 1974, stockholder Galicano Calapatia, Jr. pledged Stock Certificate No. 1219 to China Banking Corporation (CBC); Valley Golf & Country Club, Inc. (VGCCI) acknowledged and noted the pledge in its books on September 27, 1974.
    • On August 3, 1983, Calapatia obtained a P20,000 loan from CBC secured by the existing pledge. On April 12, 1985, CBC filed for extrajudicial foreclosure; a public auction was held on September 17, 1985, where CBC was the highest bidder and received a certificate of sale.
  • VGCCI’s subsequent auction and demands
    • Between November 1985 and November 1986, VGCCI sent Calapatia multiple notices demanding payment of his overdue club account. On December 4, 1986, VGCCI published a notice of auction of delinquent shares, including Certificate No. 1219, with the sale held on December 10, 1986.
    • On May 5, 1989, CBC requested VGCCI to issue a new stock certificate in its name. On March 2, 1990, VGCCI replied that the share had been sold at the December 1986 auction for P25,000.
  • Procedural history
    • September 1990: The RTC of Makati dismissed CBC’s suit for nullifying the December 1986 auction, citing lack of jurisdiction over intra-corporate disputes; motion for reconsideration denied.
    • September 1990–April 1992: CBC filed with the SEC; the Hearing Officer dismissed the complaint. June–December 1993: SEC en banc reversed, nullified VGCCI’s December 1986 auction, and ordered issuance of a new certificate to CBC.
    • August–October 1994: The Court of Appeals nullified the SEC orders for lack of jurisdiction and dismissed CBC’s complaint; denied CBC’s motions for reconsideration. March 26, 1997: The Supreme Court granted CBC’s petition for review on certiorari.

Issues:

  • Jurisdiction
    • Did the Court of Appeals gravely err in nullifying the SEC orders and dismissing CBC’s complaint for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction?
  • Ownership
    • Did the Court of Appeals err in failing to affirm the SEC en banc’s finding that CBC is the lawful owner of Membership Certificate No. 1219?

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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