Facts:

• The case involves Otilla Solder de Ocampo and others as petitioners against Anatalio C. Manalac and others, with Saturnino Benito as the primary respondent.
• The dispute originated from civil case No. 43 at the Court of First Instance of Sorsogon, where petitioners were plaintiffs and Benito was the defendant.
• The court ruled in favor of Benito, declaring him the rightful owner of half of a disputed parcel of land.
• The court ordered the partition of the land and mandated the petitioners to deliver the half that Benito had possessed from 1944 to 1945.
• The petitioners were also required to pay Benito P1,500 annually from 1945 until the partition was completed.
• The petitioners appealed the decision.
• The Court of Appeals reversed the order for the P1,500 yearly payment, stating it was not justified as it was not claimed in Benito's pleadings.
• After the appellate decision became final, Benito filed a motion to admit a supplemental answer for the same P1,500 payment.
• The petitioners objected, citing the appellate court's disallowance of the claim.
• The lower court admitted the supplemental answer, leading the petitioners to file a petition for certiorari in the Supreme Court.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioners, setting aside the orders of the respondent judge that admitted the supplemental answer.
• The Court held that the supplemental answer was ...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court's decision was based on the principle that a final judgment should not be altered or modified, particularly regarding substantial matters.
• The Court clarified that the phrase "any stage of an action" in the Rules of Court does not apply to post-judgment scenari...continue reading