Facts:

• The case involves Republic Resources and Development Corporation (petitioner) and United Geophysical Company, S.A. (Costa Rica) (respondent).
• A seismograph service contract was executed on December 15, 1959, between the respondent's predecessor and the petitioner.
• The contract, approved by the Director of Mines, required geophysical surveys in the Philippines for at least 12 months starting January 1960, for a monthly fee of $23,000, split between U.S. dollars and Philippine pesos.
• The petitioner paid in Philippine pesos for 1960 but defaulted on dollar payments from August to December 1960, totaling $34,908.33, plus $3,713.33 for equipment return.
• After several payment demands, the petitioner made a partial payment of $10,000 on November 8, 1963, but sought to condone a significant portion of the debt.
• The respondent filed a complaint on January 11, 1965, to recover the outstanding balance of $28,622.66.
• The trial court allowed ex parte evidence presentation due to the petitioner's absence and ruled in favor of the respondent, ordering payment of the outstanding amount, interest, and attorney's fees.
• The Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court's decision, modifying the attorney's fees.

Issue:

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Ruling:

• The Supreme Court dismissed the petition and affirmed the Court of Appeals' decision in its entirety, includin...(Unlock)

Ratio:

• The Supreme Court noted that the petitioner's failure to present evidence during the trial constituted a waiver of the right to contest the lower courts' factual findings.
• The Court emphasized that issues raised in the petition were not previously assigned as errors in lower courts, preventing their introduction at the Supreme Court level....continue reading