FIRST DIVISION
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AURELIO CABIGON, LORLIE N. ALESNA, MELANIE ALESNA, SOLOMON G. RIGONAN, LOLITA
ARTEZUELA, EFREN GOCOTANO, ERLINDA ABAR, ALICA VENTURES, JUSTINIANO B.
MENDEZ, EDELISA CODILLA, ROLINA BAGUIO, REBECCA SONGCADOS, ELENA A.
DATAN, AGUIDO AÑOS, RODIGONDO INDOYON,
LOURDES S. TUBALDE, ABUNDIO ALDAVE, GINA SINGSON, FEDERICA SUNGGAYAN,
LUCRECIA QUINTILITISCA, FILEMON YAP, JOSEPHINE CANTON, ASTERIA ABALO, RONALD CABALLES, RIZALINA
CABARRUBIAS, PIO TAN-AN, TEODORO LLORANDO, EDILBERTO VILLANUEVA, HONORIO
COMILANG, LUCIA SALEM, belda Arthur
castanas, CLAUDIA BEBITA, JOSEPH SUQUIB, REMEDIOS A. ATANACIO, LLOYD
BACALSO, JETROGER CHAN, WALTER PANAL, THELMA TOQUERO,
REYANALDO CABILAO, HILDA BACALSO, MERLYN SARANSAN, CASELDITA BUSTRILLO,
NATIVIDAD FISULBON, MILAGROS ABAN, SILVANO COLARTE, ROGELIO RUIZO,
CONCORDIA BOHOL, BONIFACIO
DURANGPARANG, BERNARDINO VALLES, BENITO DURANGPARANG, GERMANO MINGO, AURELIO
MIRANDA, NOEL BARGAMENTO, NELY TRAYA, GEORGE PADILLO, ROSALITA DELA PEÑA, GEMMA CAPITO, MARIANO BASLAN, LOURDES
NARAL, JESUS SAYUD, JOSEFINA ARCHULETA, LOLITA FUENTES, JOEL POLLICAR, VICTORINO
LUENGO, ALEX ABELLANA, LINDA HOLLERO, ANABELE TAUTHO, ELIZABETH MARTILLAN,
LYDIA T. MANCAO, MYRNA TORREGOSA, EDUARDO COMMENDADOR, JOEVIC GUEVARRA,
CONSTANTINO UBAL, MIGUEL APA, ALFONSO VILLARIN, APOLONIA CAPUNO, CATALINA
WAMAR, JOSEPHINE NEGAPATAN, CARMELA PERPETUA,
MATALISA GONZALES, PRIMA BUOT, ESTER INSAO, DOMINADOR ANGTUD, NARCISO
CABURNAY, BIENVENIDO GEMPESAO, REBECCA GABUYA, LEONARD AMBOS, FAUSTINO EMPIS, JR.,
LAUDELINA ADEVA, EMERITA BUAYA, EDITH BABAO, CONCEPCION AWE, JOSE POLIGRATES,
MARIO LAURON, LEONARDA BOLIVAR, NILO SULIB, RAMON BACLOHAN, DAMASO RAGANAS,
FLOREDELIZA SUNGGAYAN, JULIETA ORLANES, JUAN ESPEDILLON, JR., GINA LAPUT,
COSME BAYNOSA, DEDICACION BIHAG, CONCEPCION OPELARIO, BELINDA BASTISMO,[1]
EVANGELINE MAHUSAY, TEODOCIOS BIRAO,
ERNESTO JUMAO-AS, SR., JORGE SOCO, MELBA SANCHEZ, CORAZON ONG, MAXIMIANO
CASTILLON, AVELINA CATAM-ISAM, ELISA LOPEZ, GRECIA R. TAN, LUCENA S. VELASCO,
BEATRIZ JOSEPH, GUILLERMO N. PAPASIN, CRISPIN AMANCIO, AURELIO ALINABON, TEODOLO ABREGANA, TEODULO MONTECLARO, ANASTACIO ABELLA, JOSEFINA CO,
GEMMA H. WASKIN, PEDRO SUQUIB, NARCISA MAMOGAY, TEOFILA C. PRAJES,
ELEUTERIO CUIZON, BEATRIZ BIAÑO,[2]
LEOPOLDO LOPEZ, ROSITA CHAN, ELENA HERA, LEONISA VILLEGAS, LOLITA HERRERA,
REYNALDO B.
PADILLO, JUDE THADDEUS ALENTON, ANTONIETO ESTOY, AMY COLLAMAT, ANGEL JAN
CHIN, NICETORA GONZALES, CATALINA ENGLATERA, ROSARIO ALVAREZ, FELIX BELDAD, SR.,
RENE C. RIVERA, FLORENCIA ARRIESGADO, HILARIA BACALSO, MARIA GALACY, RUBEN
BAS, TRINIDAD M. ECOJEDO, LORNA ORTALEZA, NORMAN TAN, LIBRALDO ANDALES, JAIME
PARAS O. POLAN, ADONIS P. VARGAS, FELIPE TORINO CABALLERO, IGNACIO PATIGDAS,
MARGARITO TAPAO, ALFREDO V. TAN, JR., LAURO H. ORBASE, DOMINGITO BRIGOLI,
MILAGROS L. PADILLO, FIEL PLACIDO, JR., ANDRES DEGOMA, LEONISA BARRIOS,
JUANITO D. VAEEOR, VICTORIO P. SALAPI, ANAGORITA DUALLO, RAUL ARRIENTOS,
BELINDA PLACER, JOSE BOCOG, LIBRADO BELLITA, ANTONIO CABRERA, MARILOU
MURILLO, FELISA PONPON, SIMEON DE LA CALZADA, SUSAN LEGITIMAS, IRVI G.
AGUILAR, ANDREW V. MANUEL, HENRY LABUS, MATEA BARICUATRO, ERLINDA PANILAGAO,
MARTIN C. PANILAGAO, MINVILUZ D.
ABALO, ARTEMIO ORONCE, MATILDE MANGITNGIT, JOSEFINA JAKOSALEM, ALEJANDRA M.
LAGWA-AN, MERLYNDA RIVERAL, TEODOCIOS BILAO, MARLO L. YAP, ALBERTO DAUGDAUG,
CERILINA M. AGUELO, FRANCISCO CABANERO, MARILOU PANILAGAO, ARNEL B. BORROMEO,
VIRSISIMA S. PLICANO, ARTEMIO SAYON, FELIX GETUABAN, EVA S. ABRENICA, CORAZON
GLORITA SANCHEZ, FLORMINDA TAN, ROSALIO BARCOSO, NARCISA EMPIC, BEVERLY
HOYLAR, ELMA V. ROFLO, CESAR MARANO, VALENTIN B. SUMALINOG, JEREMIAS
CAPARIDA, DANTE RAMAS, JESUS R. MILMAO, PAZ C. DEL ROSARIO, MILAGROS DELA
CERNA, REYNALDO V. KIAMCO, DANILO R. SULTAN, CONCORDIA DIONSON, ELVIRA C.
TANGPUZ, LIRA D. VILLAS, PEDRO CAPISNON, EDILBERTO S. CANALITA, SERGIO
TANJAY, EMMA A. MORALES, DESIDERIO ENERLAS, ADOLFO Q. LATO, VICENTA
ALMENDRAS, FREDO CUIZON, PACITA FORTUNA, ANTONIA RONDINA, JUANITA SABERON,
LOURDES NAVAL, HERACLEO S. CONCON, WILLIAM BONTIA, MARILOU
COMILANG, JUANITA V. AGUILAR, FLORA OCHIA ELARCOSA, APOLONIA BARING, ELSA B.
BUCAO, ISABEL OSMENA, EDUARDO N. CARAMPATANA, ANECITA A. GELLANGGAO, CESAR
GABUTIN, REY NUNEZA, JESUS D. ATANACIO, DIONISIO CUBERO, MARLON E. ARANETA,
JOSEPH RONDINA, MARINO V. BASLAN, MATRANILLO MANTUA, MA. CECILIA CABAYO, CLEOFE
LUTAO, JOEL L. CABAHUG, EMMANUEL CABAHUG, ALEX CABAYO, FELICIANO CABAHUG,
JESSICA C. GUNGOB, NOLITO TALISIC, ESTRELLA B. CABAHUG, DEMETRIO PEPITO,
ROSAL QUINOPA, EPUGENIA L. ABERION, MARTALIZA L. GONZALES, HILARIO SAMEON, LILIBETH B. MISA,
EUFRACIA C. HERANA, MERCEDES L. PEPITO, NARCISA MAGRO, BONIFACIO APAS,
ROGELIO SUGUIB, RENE BUGTAI, PANFILO BACALLA, JR., LILIA S. PEPITO, JUANITO
L. DILAO, ROSARIO B. BACALLA, RODOLFO B. TUSOY, FLORA S. QUERUBIN, RODELIO L.
ARELA, CHARITO P. BONGO, PAQUITO A. BARBIEROS, ERLINDA ABANGAN, ESTRELLA A.
ESTARTE, LEOVIGILDO A. RIZADA, SHERLITA M. AVILA, MARILYN PERALES, ALAN
MARTIN GARCELLANO, MARIA T. BOHOL, DAVID LARSEN S. URSAL, ARLENE MORENO, ALAN
B. ABRIL, VILMA OSABEL, ROQUINA G. DAVIDON, JOSEFA CAPADA, CECILIA D. LENIZO,
QUILLANO V. VILLASOR, PRIMA JABONERO, WILMA L. EBALE, PAULITA CAPARROS,
JEANETH DOLON, LUCITA LAMOSTE, TERESITA REGIDOR, ALICIA IGOY, REYNALDO
PETILUNA, ALBERTO B. CARPESO, DANTE L. PERALES, RICARDO D. MONUNGOLH,
MICHELLE A. CELESTE, PATRICIO PARDILLO, ANIONIO D. VAFLOR, MARILYN A. SECO, LOLITA
FIGURACION, ROWENA ACEBUQUE, ANASTACIA MAHINAY, NATIVIDAD ABABA, LOURDES N.
ANCAJAS and ANNABELLE L. LIBATAN, Petitioners, |
G.R.
No. 168030 Present: PUNO,
J., Chairperson, SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ, CORONA, |
|
- v e r s u s - |
AZCUNA
and |
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PEPSI-COLA PRODUCTS PHILIPPINES, INC., Respondent. |
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO, JJ. Promulgated: December 19, 2007 |
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R E S O L U T I O N
CORONA,
J.:
This petition for review on
certiorari[3] seeks to
set aside the decision[4] of the
Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 60137 and its resolution denying
reconsideration.[5]
This
case involves actions filed against respondent Pepsi-Cola Products Philippines,
Inc. in connection with its 1992 “number fever promo.” Petitioners, holders of
non-winning 349 crowns,[6] filed
complaints for sum of money and damages,[7] as well
as specific performance and damages,[8] against
respondent in the Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branch 7, Cebu City. They
similarly alleged that respondent, by changing the winning combination and
refusing to pay their prizes,[9] was
guilty of gross negligence or fraud in dealing with its customers.[10]
The
RTC found that respondent caused “pain and suffering, mental anguish, broken
dreams or hopes, serious anxiety, wounded feelings, moral shock, embarrassment
and humiliation to its long-time patrons.”[11] Thus,
on December 15, 1997, it rendered a consolidated decision in favor of
petitioners:[12]
Wherefore, judgment is hereby
rendered in favor of [petitioners] and against [respondent] Pepsi Cola
Products, Philippines, Inc. ordering said [respondent]:
1. To
pay each [petitioner] (not for each “349” crown) in these two (2)
civil cases the amount of twenty thousand pesos (P20,000) by way of
moral damages; and
2. To
pay each [petitioner] the amount of ten thousand (P10,000) by way of
exemplary damages; and
3. If
the amount of prize money stated in a [petitioner's] crown is less than P30,000,
then such [petitioner] shall be entitled to payment of not more than the exact
amount so stated in his “349” crown, but if the amount stated in the “349”
crown exceeds P30,000, then such [petitioner] shall be entitled only to the
total herein ordered, which is P30,000 representing both moral and
exemplary damages.
SO ORDERED.[13]
Aggrieved,
respondent appealed[14] to the
CA.
In
the assailed decision, the appellate court found that the confusion with regard
to the winning and non-winning 349 crowns arose because respondent decided to
extend the promo period. It explained:
There were three types of crowns for
both the original and extension period of the [promo] — the winning, the
non-winning and the unused crowns — with numbers from 000 to 999 and with
appropriate security codes.
The number 349 bearing security code L-2560-FQ
was used during the original promo period in non-winning crowns. For the
extended promo period, the number 349 was inadvertently chosen as a winning
number but the security code for these crowns were security codes for the
extended period, not the L-2560-FQ used in the original promo period. The
problem arose because the original 349 with L-2560-FQ was still in circulation
during the extended promo period and were crowns picked out by the
[petitioners] in the present case. It is on the basis of undisputed facts that
we conclude that 349 crowns with security code L-2560-FQ were never winning
crowns and were never intended to be so.[15]
Nevertheless, respondent did not fail
to emphasize the importance of the alpha-numeric security code in its
promotional materials.[16] It
clearly stated that the code, printed on each crown, was its only means to
verify the genuineness of the winning crown.[17] Thus,
it was not negligent in the conduct of its promo.
Accordingly,
the CA granted respondent's petition and reversed the December 15, 1997 RTC
decision.[18]
Because petitioners raised an identical cause of action and issue, and
presented evidence similar to those in previous 349 number fever cases, the appellate
court dismissed the petition pursuant to its decision in the cases of Rodrigo[19] and Mendoza.[20]
Petitioners
moved for reconsideration[21] but
their motion was denied.[22] Hence,
this petition.
We
deny the petition.
Over
the past years, we have promulgated a number of cases[23] involving
the 349 number fever promo. Thus, we are bound by our pronouncement in those
cases.
The principle of stare decisis
et non quieta movere holds that a point of law, once established by the
court, will generally be followed by the same court and by all courts of lower
rank in subsequent cases involving a similar legal issue.[24] This
proceeds from the legal principle that, in the absence of powerful
countervailing considerations, like cases ought to be decided alike.[25]
We
have consistently held (in previous 349 number fever promo cases) that the
correct security code was an indispensable requirement to be entitled to the
cash prize concerned.[26] Here,
petitioners held 349 crowns bearing either security code L-2560-FQ or
L-3560-FQ. These, however, were not the security codes for the 349 crowns
issued during the extended period of the promo. Thus, petitioners were never
entitled to any prize.
WHEREFORE,
this petition is hereby DENIED. The February 24, 2004 decision and March
21, 2005 resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 60137 are hereby AFFIRMED.
Costs
against petitioners.
SO
ORDERED.
RENATO C. CORONA
Associate Justice
WE CONCUR:
REYNATO S. PUNO
Chief Justice
Chairperson
ANGELINA SANDOVAL-GUTIERREZ ADOLFO S. AZCUNA
Associate Justice Associate Justice
TERESITA J. LEONARDO-DE CASTRO
Associate Justice
Pursuant
to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution, I certify that the conclusions
in the above resolution had been reached in consultation before the case was
assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
REYNATO S. PUNO
[1] Also referred to as Belinda Rastimo.
[2] Also referred to as Beatriz Beano.
[3] Under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.
[4] Penned by Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion (now Secretary of Labor) and concurred in by Associate Justices Salvador J. Valdez, Jr. (retired) and Josefina Guevara-Salonga. Dated February 24, 2004. Rollo, pp. 65-100.
[5] Penned by Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion (now Secretary of Labor) and concurred in by Associate Justices Salvador J. Valdez, Jr. (retired) and Josefina Guevara-Salonga. Dated March 21, 2005. Id., pp. 107-108.
[6] Refer to those 349 crowns which contained non-winning security codes L-2560-FQ and L-3560-FQ.
[7] Docketed as Civil Case No. CEB-11758. Rollo, p. 41.
[8] Docketed as Civil Case No. CEB-12609. Id.
[9] Id., p. 45.
[10] Id.
[11] Id., pp. 52-53.
[12] Penned by Judge Martin A. Ocampo. Id., pp. 41-54.
[13] Id., pp. 53-54.
[14] Under Rule 41 of the Rules of Court.
[15] Rollo, pp. 91-92.
[16] Id., p. 93.
[17] Id.
[18] Supra note 12.
[19] Then docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 62837. The case was elevated to this Court via a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. The petition was docketed as G.R. No. 149411 and entitled Rodrigo v. Pepsi-Cola Products, Philippines, Inc. On October 1, 2001, the petition was denied because the Court found no reversible error in the CA decision. Rollo, pp. 89-90, 128-129.
[20] Then docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 53860. The case was later elevated to this Court via a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court. The petition was docketed as G.R. No. 153103 and entitled Mendoza v. Pepsi-Cola Products, Philippines, Inc. On July 24, 2002, the petition was denied because the Court found no reversible error in the CA decision. Id.
[21] Id., pp. 102-105.
[22] Supra note 5.
[23] See Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Patan, G.R. No. 152927, 14 January 2004, 419 SCRA 417; de Mesa v. Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc., G.R. Nos. 153063-70, 19 August 2005, 467 SCRA 433; Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Lacanilao, G.R. No. 146007 and No. 146295, 15 June 2006, 490 SCRA 615; Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Pagdanganan, G.R. No. 167866, 16 October 2006, 504 SCRA 549.
[24] Garcia v. JG Summit Petrochemical Corporation, G.R. No. 129925, 23 February 2007.
[25] Id.
[26] Pepsi Cola Products Philippines, Inc. v. Pagdanganan, supra note 23 at 562-563.