Title
Duty Paid Import Co., Inc. vs. Landbank of the Philippines
Case
G.R. No. 238258
Decision Date
Dec 10, 2019
LBP sued sureties for unpaid P250M loan after DPICI defaulted; petitioners claimed restructuring, force majeure. SC upheld liability, citing lack of evidence, solidary obligation, and no force majeure.
A

Case Digest (G.R. No. 238258)

Facts:

On November 19, 1997, Landbank of the Philippines (LBP) extended an Omnibus Credit Line Agreement for P250,000,000 to Duty Paid Import Co. Inc. (DPICI), and petitioners Ramon P. Jacinto, Rajah Broadcasting Network, Inc., and RJ Music City executed a Comprehensive Surety Agreement jointly and severally guaranteeing DPICI’s obligations; various promissory notes were issued and a real estate mortgage was foreclosed yielding insufficient proceeds and a deficiency. LBP sued petitioners for collection; the Regional Trial Court rendered judgment ordering petitioners to pay P166,853,078.57 plus interest and attorney’s fees, and the Court of Appeals affirmed, prompting this Rule 45 petition.

Issues:

  • Did LBP have a cause of action against the petitioners?
  • Was the action prematurely filed because of an alleged agreement to restructure DPICI’s loan?
  • Are petitioners solidarily liable as sureties under the Comprehensive Surety Agreement?
  • Did the Asian financial crisis of 1997 constitute *force majeure* excusing petitioners’ nonperformance?

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Analyze Cases Smarter, Faster
Jur helps you analyze cases smarter to comprehend faster, building context before diving into full texts. AI-powered analysis, always verify critical details.