Title
Philippine Airlines, Inc. vs. Court of Appeals
Case
G.R. No. L-49188
Decision Date
Jan 30, 1990
Amelia Tan sued PAL for damages; judgment favored her. PAL paid sheriff, who disappeared. Alias writ issued; SC ruled payment to sheriff didn’t satisfy judgment, upheld Tan’s claim.

Case Digest (G.R. No. L-49188)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Origins and Trial Court Proceedings
  • On November 8, 1967, Amelia Tan, under the style “Able Printing Press,” filed Civil Case No. 71307 against Philippine Airlines, Inc. (PAL) in the Court of First Instance (CFI) of Manila.
  • On June 29, 1972, Branch 13 of the CFI rendered judgment in favor of Tan, awarding:
    • Actual damages of ₱75,000 with legal interest from July 20, 1967;
    • Unrealized profit of ₱18,200 (10% of contract price) with interest from July 20, 1967;
    • Moral damages of ₱20,000 with interest from July 20, 1967;
    • Attorney’s fees of ₱5,000.
Plaintiff’s other claims and PAL’s counterclaim were dismissed.
  • Appeal and Execution of Judgment
  • PAL appealed to the Court of Appeals (CA-G.R. No. 51079-R). On February 3, 1977, the CA affirmed the judgment with modification: ₱25,000 damages and ₱5,000 attorney’s fees. Reconsideration was denied May 23, 1977, and the decision became final on May 31, 1977.
  • On October 11, 1977, the CFI issued the original writ of execution; Deputy Sheriff Emilio Z. Reyes was tasked with enforcement.
  • Attempts to Enforce and Alias Writ
  • On February 11, 1978, Tan moved for an alias writ, alleging non-satisfaction of the judgment. PAL opposed, claiming full payment to Sheriff Reyes, supported by receipted cash vouchers.
  • On March 3, 1978, the CFI denied the alias writ as premature and ordered Reyes to return and explain. Reyes had by then absconded. Tan then withdrew her partial-alias motion and filed for a full alias writ.
  • Issuance of Alias Writ and Garnishment
  • On May 1, 1978, the CFI granted the alias writ of execution, appointing Deputy Sheriff Jaime K. del Rosario as special sheriff. On May 18, 1978, del Rosario was directed to levy ₱25,000 (plus interest) and ₱5,000 attorney’s fees.
  • On May 23, 1978, PAL filed a motion to quash, reiterating full payment to Reyes and absence of return. On May 26, 1978, del Rosario garnished PAL’s bank deposits totaling ₱64,408.

Issues:

  • May an alias writ of execution issue without a prior return of the original writ by the implementing officer?
  • Does payment of the judgment debt to the implementing officer, by check made payable to the officer, constitute satisfaction of the debt?
  • Is interest recoverable when the decision is silent on its award?
  • Does Section 5, Rule 39 refer exclusively to levy and sale of property, to the exclusion of other enforcement methods?

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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