G.R. No. 207816 - People vs. Yamon Tuando

Petitioners: Municipality of Taguig, then Mayor Ricardo Papa, Jr., and then-Chief of the General Service Office Roberto Santos.
Respondents: Barangay Hagonoy, Taguig, and the trial court judge (Rodolfo Bonifacio) involved in the initial proceedings.
Subject Matter: Dispute over the ownership and control of the Hagonoy Multi-Purpose Hall in Hagonoy, Taguig, Metro Manila.

December 8, 1999: Respondent Barangay filed a complaint for damages in the Regional Trial Court of Pasig (Civil Case No. 67720) with a prayer for a writ of preliminary injunction and a 72-hour temporary restraining order (TRO) against petitioners.
The trial court immediately issued a TRO and later, on December 10, 1999, extended the TRO from 72 hours to 20 days after considering petitioners’ arguments.

December 13, 1999: Petitioners filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition (CA-G.R. SP No. 56211) with an application for a writ of preliminary injunction to challenge the trial court’s actions.
December 15, 1999: The CA issued a Resolution directing the trial court to cease further proceedings in Civil Case No. 67720 for a period of 60 days and ordered respondents to file a comment.
December 16, 1999: Respondent Barangay, through an urgent motion, sought to lift the CA-imposed cease and desist order. The CA granted the motion and admitted the respondent’s comment, noting the long-standing possession of the hall by the Barangay.
December 17, 1999: Acting on the respondent’s successful motion, the trial court issued an order granting a writ of preliminary injunction to maintain the status quo regarding the hall’s possession.

Petitioners filed a motion to withdraw their earlier petition (CA-G.R. SP No. 56211).
On the same day, they filed a second petition (CA-G.R. SP No. 56369) for certiorari and prohibition with an application for a writ of preliminary injunction, assailing the trial court’s December 17, 1999, order.

The Fourth Division of the CA, on February 2, 2000, dismissed the second petition for violation of the rule against forum shopping.
The dismissal was based on the fact that petitioners had concurrently pursued essentially the same remedy in another pending petition (CA-G.R. SP No. 56211).

February 18, 2000: The CA’s former Fourteenth Division granted petitioners’ motion to withdraw the first pending petition.

August 8, 2003: The Municipality of Taguig filed a manifestation noting the change in its representation (new Mayor and new GSO Chief) and expressed its alignment with respondent Barangay’s position regarding ownership of the hall.
Petitioners’ Argument: They contended that no forum shopping occurred, arguing distinctions between the two orders they challenged and citing precedents (e.g., Executive Secretary vs. Gordon).
Respondents’ Position: They maintained that the simultaneous filing of two petitions on essentially the same cause of action was an abuse of judicial process.

Whether the filing of two separate petitions (CA-G.R. SP No. 56211 and CA-G.R. SP No. 56369), both seeking to enjoin the enforcement of judicial orders regarding the Hagonoy Multi-Purpose Hall, constitutes forum shopping.

Determining if the two petitions, despite being filed in the same court but in different divisions, are procedurally and substantively identical.
Assessing whether petitioners’ alleged motion to withdraw one petition absolves them from the rule against forum shopping.

Whether the reliefs sought in both petitions, although attacking different orders of the trial court, ultimately aim to obtain the same injunction preventing the petitioners from taking over, control, and possession of the hall.

The proper interpretation and application of the rule against forum shopping in circumstances where similar litigation is initiated simultaneously in different fora or different divisions within the same tribunal.