Title
K.O. Glass Construction Co., Inc. vs. Valenzuela
Case
G.R. No. L-48756
Decision Date
Sep 11, 1982
Petitioner sought to annul a writ of preliminary attachment, arguing defective affidavit and improper grounds. Supreme Court ruled in favor, citing lack of valid basis and ordered release of garnished funds.

Case Summary (G.R. No. L-48756)

Background of the Case

In October 1977, Antonio D. Pinzon filed a complaint against Kenneth O. Glass to recover P37,190.00, which he claimed was overdue for truck rentals and missing spare parts at the termination of their lease agreement. In his complaint, he requested a writ of preliminary attachment on the basis that Kenneth O. Glass was a foreign national who may leave the country and that there was insufficient security for his claim.

Issuance of Writ of Attachment

The respondent Judge initially found Pinzon's complaint sufficient and issued a writ of preliminary attachment after Pinzon filed a bond. Subsequently, Kenneth O. Glass filed a motion to quash the attachment, arguing there was no cause of action against him personally, as any transaction was with the corporation and not with him as an individual. He asserted that the corporation had sufficient assets to satisfy any claims.

Amendment of Complaint

In response to the motion to quash, Pinzon amended his complaint to add K.O. Glass Construction Co., Inc. as a co-defendant, asserting that Glass controlled the corporation and was liable for the debts. Despite this amendment, the defendants persisted in their attempts to dissolve the writ of attachment, citing deficiencies in the affidavit supporting the attachment.

Court's Consideration of Grounds for Attachment

The respondent Judge's decision to maintain the writ of attachment was contested due to lack of grounds as specified in Rule 57 of the Revised Rules of Court. The grounds for issuing a writ include, among others, that the defendant is about to leave the Philippines to defraud creditors, or is a non-resident alien. The allegations made by Pinzon did not substantiate these grounds as required by the rules.

Flaws in the Affidavit Supporting Attachment

The affidavit submitted by Pinzon failed to meet the specific requirements for attachment outlined in Section 3, Rule 57. Notably, it did not adequately assert that there was no other sufficient security for the claim or that the case met any of the statutory grounds for issuing a preliminary attachment. This lack of necessary allegations rendered the writ of attachment issued against the defendant defective.

Counter-Bond and Entitlement to Release of Funds

The defendants also submitted a counter-bond equivalent to the amount sought by Pinzon, which should have warranted the discharge of the attachment under Section 12, Rule 57. The respondents did

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