Title
Victorio-Aquino vs. Pacific Plans, Inc.
Case
G.R. No. 193108
Decision Date
Dec 10, 2014
A pre-need planholder challenged a Modified Rehabilitation Plan approved by the court, arguing it impaired her contractual rights. The Supreme Court upheld the plan, ruling it valid under the court's "cram-down" power and necessary for corporate rehabilitation, without violating the non-impairment clause.

Case Digest (G.R. No. 193108)
Expanded Legal Reasoning Model

Facts:

  • Parties and Pre-Need Plans
    • Respondent Pacific Plans, Inc. (now Abundance Providers and Entrepreneurs Corp.) markets “PEPTrads,” traditional open-ended educational plans guaranteeing full tuition regardless of cost fluctuations.
    • Petitioner Marilyn Victorio-Aquino holds two PEPTrad units.
  • Rehabilitation Proceedings
    • April 7, 2005 – Pacific Plans filed for corporate rehabilitation under P.D. No. 902-A before the Regional Trial Court (Rehabilitation Court), citing inability to meet obligations; some 34,000 outstanding PEPTrads.
    • April 12, 2005 – Rehabilitation Court issued a stay order, appointed Mamerto A. Marcelo, Jr. as rehabilitation receiver, and required creditors to comment.
    • February 16, 2006 – Receiver submitted an Alternative Rehabilitation Plan (ARP) converting benefits into fixed-value entitlements as of December 31, 2004 (“Base Year-end 2004 Entitlement”), computed with 7% net interest and providing tuition support through SY 2009-2010, funded by NAPOCOR bonds and forward Dollar sales.
    • April 27, 2006 – Rehabilitation Court approved the ARP; implementation commenced.
  • Modification of Rehabilitation Plan
    • February 29 & March 7, 2008 – Citing peso appreciation that diluted the USD-denominated trust fund, respondent and receiver proposed a Modified Rehabilitation Plan (MRP) to suspend tuition support, convert Peso-denominated liabilities into U.S. Dollar entitlements pro rata, and pay in USD at bond maturity.
    • July 28, 2008 – Rehabilitation Court approved the MRP under its “cram-down” power.
    • September 26, 2008 – Petitioner filed a Petition for Review under Rule 43 with the Court of Appeals (CA) and sought TRO/preliminary injunction.
    • February 26, 2010 – CA denied the petition; July 21, 2010 – CA denied reconsideration.

Issues:

  • Whether a petition for review under Rule 43 was the proper remedy to challenge approval of the MRP.
  • Whether petitioner paid the correct docket fees and complied with service and motion requirements.
  • Whether the CA decision was contrary to law and Supreme Court issuances regarding mode of appeal and fee payment.

Ruling:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Ratio:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

Doctrine:

  • (Subscriber-Only)

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