4 Tsai v. CA

TSAI vs.
CA
G.R. Nos. 1200098 and 120109
October 2, 2001
Summary: EVERTEX obtained a loan from PBCom secured by a “Deed of Real and Chattel Mortgage”
over its factory lot and machineries and equipment. Subsequently, it obtained another loan secured by a
chattel mortgage on the same machineries and equipment. EVERTEX was declared insolvent and
defaulted on its obligation to PBCom. PBCom foreclosed the properties listed in the 2 mortgage deeds
including personal properties not mentioned in the same. WON the foreclosure of of properties acquired
after the execution of mortgage deeds and not included in the same is valid. NO. The Chattel Mortgage
Law provides that "a chattel mortgage shall be deemed to cover only the property described therein and
not like or substituted property thereafter acquired by the mortgagor and placed in the same depository
as the property originally mortgaged, anything in the mortgage to the contrary notwithstanding."
FACTS:
Ever Textile Mills, Inc., (EVERTEX) obtained a loan of P3,000,000 from Philippine Bank of
Communications (PBCom). As security for the loan, EVERTEX executed in favor of PBCom, a “Deed of
Real and Chattel Mortgage” over the lot where the factory stands and the chattels located therein as
enumerated in a schedule entitled “List of Machineries and Equipment) attached to the mortgage contract
(i.e. knitting machines,, winding machines etc.) . Subsequently, PBCom granted a second loan of P3, 356,
000 to EVERTEX which was secured by a Chattel Mortgage over personal properties enumerated in a list
attached thereto. The listed properties were similar to those listed in the first mortgage deed. After the
date of the execution of the second mortgage, EVERTEX purchased various machines and equipment.
3 years later, due to business reverses, EVERTEX filed insolvency proceedings before CFI Pasay. Said
court declared EVERTEX insolvent. All its assets were taken into the custody of the Insolvency Court,
including the collateral, real and personal, securing the two mortgages abovementioned. In the meantime,
upon EVERTEX’s failure to meet its obligation to PBCom, the latter commenced to extrajudicial
foreclosure proceedings against EVERTEX under ACT 3135 and the Chattel Mortgage Law. Two public
auctions were held (different dates) and PBCom emerged as the highest bidder in both. More than a year
later, PBCom consolidated its ownership over the lot and all the properties in it. Two years later, it leased
the entire factory premises to Ruby Tsai for P50, 000 a month. After two years, PBCom sold the factory,
lock, stock and barrel to Tsai for P9,000,000, including the contested machineries.
EVERTEX filed a complaint for annulment of sale, reconveyance, and damages with the RTC against
PBCom, alleging that the extrajudicial foreclosure of the subject mortgage was in violation of the
Insolvency Law. EVERTEX claimed that no rights having been transmitted to PBCom over the assets of
the insolvent EVERTEX. Further, EVERTEX averred that PBCom, without any legal or factual basis,
appropriated the contested properties which were not included in the Real and Chattel Mortgage nor in
the second Chattel Mortgage executed, and neither were those properties included in the respective
Notices of Sheriff’s Sale.
The disputed properties, which were valued at P4M are: 14 Interlock Circular Knitting Machines, 1 Jet
Drying Equipment, 1 Raisin Equipment and 1 Heatset Equipment. The RTC found that the lease and sale
of said personal properties were irregular and illegal because they were not duly foreclosed nor sold, since
they were not included in the schedules attached to the mortgage contracts.
ISSUES:
(1) WON the inclusion of the question properties in the foreclosed properties is proper (NO)
(2) WON the sale of these properties to Tsai is valid. (NO)
HELD:
(1) NO
Petitioners contend that the disputed machineries, i.e., that they were heavy, bolted or cemented on the
real property mortgaged, make them immovables. Mere nuts and bolts, however, do not foreclose the
controversy. Intent of the parties must prevail.
The parties executed a contract styled as “Real Estate Mortgage and Chattel Mortgage,” instead of just
“Real Estate Mortgage” and attached to the said contract is a separate “List of Machineries and
Equipment.” These facts, taken together, evince the conclusion that the parties’ intention is to treat these
units of machinery as chattels.
Assuming arguendo that the properties in question are immovable by nature, nothing detracts the parties
from treating it as chattels to secure an obligation under the principle of estoppel. As far back as Navarro
v. Pineda, 9 SCRA 631 (1963), an immovable may be considered a personal property if there is a
stipulation as when it is used as security in the payment of an obligation where a chattel mortgage is
executed over it, as in the case at bar.
The Chattel Mortgage Law which provides in Section 7 thereof that: "a chattel mortgage shall be deemed
to cover only the property described therein and not like or substituted property thereafter acquired by
the mortgagor and placed in the same depository as the property originally mortgaged, anything in the
mortgage to the contrary notwithstanding." And, since the disputed machineries were acquired in after the
execution of the mortgages, it was consequently an error on the part of the Sheriff to include subject
machineries with the properties enumerated in said chattel mortgages.
(2) NO
As the auction sale of the subject properties to PBCom is void, no valid title passed in its favor.
Consequently, the sale thereof to Tsai is also a nullity under the elementary principle of nemo quod non
habet, one cannot give what one does not have.
Wellsettled is the rule that the person who asserts the status of a purchaser in good faith and for value has
the burden of proving such assertion. Petitioner Tsai failed to discharge this burden persuasively.
Moreover, a purchaser in good faith and for value is one who buys the property of another without notice
that some other person has a right to or interest in such property and pays a full and fair price for the
same, at the time of purchase, or before he has notice of the claims or interest of some other person in the
property. Records reveal, however, that when Tsai purchased the controverted properties, she knew of
respondent's claim thereon. As borne out by the records, she received the letter of respondent's counsel,
apprising her of respondent's claim.
Petitioner Tsai's defense of indefeasibility of Torrens Title of the lot where the disputed properties are
located is equally unavailing. This defense refers to sale of lands and not to sale of properties situated
therein. Likewise, the mere fact that the lot where the factory and the disputed properties stand is in
PBCom's name does not automatically make PBCom the owner of everything found therein.

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