G.R. No. 176986. January 13, 2016.

NISSAN CAR LEASE PHILIPPINES., INC., petitioner, vs.

LICA MANAGEMENT, INC. and PROTON PILIPINAS,
INC., respondents.

Mercantile Law; Corporations; Separate Legal Personality; As a

rule, a corporation has a separate and distinct personality from its
directors and officers and can only exercise its corporate powers
through its board of directors.—As a rule, a corporation has a
separate and distinct personality from its directors and officers and
can only exercise its corporate powers through its board of directors.
Following this rule, a verification and certification signed by an
individual corporate officer is defective if done without authority
from the corporation’s board of directors.
Remedial Law; Civil Procedure; Appeals; Factual findings of
the Court of Appeals (CA) are binding and conclusive on the parties
and upon the Supreme Court (SC) and will not be reviewed or
disturbed on appeal.—Factual findings of the CA are binding and
conclusive on the parties and upon this Court and will not be
reviewed or disturbed on appeal. While the rule admits of certain
exceptions,NCLPI failed to prove that any of the exceptions applies
in this case. The crux of the controversy rather revolves around the
validity of LMI’s act of extrajudicially rescinding its Contract of
Lease with NCLPI.
Same; Special Civil Actions; Forcible Entry; Unlawful Detainer;
Rule 70 of the Rules of Court sets forth the procedure in relation to
the filing of suits for forcible entry and unlawful detainer.—Rule 70
of the Rules of Court sets forth the procedure in relation tothe filing
of suits for forcible entry and unlawful detainer. The action filed by
LMI against NCLPI, however, isone for the recovery of a sum of
money. Clearly, Section 2 of Rule 70 is not applicable. In fact, it does
not appear that it was even necessary for LMI to eject NCLPI from
the leased premises. NCLPI had already vacated the same as early
as October 11, 1996 when it surrendered possession of the

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* THIRD DIVISION.

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 premises to Proton, by virtue of their Memorandum of
Agreement, so that the latter can commence renovations. NCLPI
also maintains that LMI cannot unilaterally and extrajudicially
rescind their Contract of Leasein the absence of an express provision
in their Contract to that effect.
Civil Law; Obligations; Reciprocal Obligations; Rescission; Art.
1191 provides that the power to rescind is implied in reciprocal
obligations, in cases where one (1) of the obligors should fail to
comply with what is incumbent upon him.—It is true that NCLPI
and LMI’s Contract of Lease does not contain a provision expressly
authorizing extrajudicial rescission. LMI can nevertheless rescind
the contract, without prior court approval, pursuant to Art. 1191 of
the Civil Code. Art. 1191 provides that the power to rescind is
implied in reciprocal obligations, in cases where one of the obligors
should fail to comply with what is incumbent upon him. Otherwise
stated, an aggrieved party is not prevented from extrajudicially
rescinding a contract to protect its interests, even in the absence of
any provision expressly providing for such right.
Same; Same; Same; Same; Whether a contract provides for it or
not, the remedy of rescission is always available as a remedy against
a defaulting party.—Whether a contract provides for it or not, the
remedy of rescission is always available as a remedy against a
defaulting party. When done without prior judicialimprimatur,
however, it may still be subject to a possible court review. InGolden
Valley Exploration, Inc. v. Pinkian Mining Company, 726 SCRA 259
(2014), we explained: This notwithstanding, jurisprudence still
indicates thatan extrajudicial rescission based on grounds
not specified in the contract would not preclude a party to
treat the same as rescinded.The rescinding party, however, by
such course of action, subjects himself to the risk of being held
liable for damages when the extrajudicial rescission is questioned
by the opposing party in court. This was made clear in the case
ofU.P. v. De los Angeles, wherein the Court held as follows: Of
course, it must be understood thatthe act of a party in treating a
contract as cancelled or resolved on account of infractions
by the other contracting party must be made known to the
other and is always provisional, being ever subject to
scrutiny and review by the proper court.If the other party
denies that rescission is justified, it is free to resort to
judicial action in its own

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402 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

behalf, and bring the matter to court. Then,should the

court, after due hearing, decide that the resolution of the
contract was not warranted, the responsible party will be
sentenced todamages; in the contrary case, the resolution will be
affirmed, and the consequent indemnity awarded to the party
prejudiced. In other words, the party who deems the contract
violated may consider it resolved or rescinded, and act
accordingly, without previous court action, but itproceeds at
its own risk. For it is only the final judgment of the
corresponding court that will conclusively and finally settle
whether the action taken was or was not correct in law. x x x
(Emphasis and underscoring in the original) The only practical
effect of a contractual stipulation allowing extrajudicial rescission is
“merely to transfer to the defaulter the initiative of instituting suit,
instead of the rescinder.”
Same; Same; Same; Same; The rule is the same even if the
parties’ contract expressly allows extrajudicial rescission. The other
party denying the rescission may still seek judicial intervention to
determine whether or not the rescission was proper.—The rule is the
same even if the parties’ contractexpresslyallows extrajudicial
rescission. The other party denying the rescission may still seek
judicial intervention to determine whether or not the rescission was
proper. Having established that LMIcanextrajudicially rescind its
contract with NCLPI even absent an express contractual stipulation
to that effect, the question now to be resolved is whether this
extrajudicial rescission was proper under the circumstances. As
earlier discussed, NCLPI’s nonpayment of rentals and unauthorized
sublease of the leased premises were both clearly proven by the
records. We thus confirm LMI’s rescission of its contract with
NCLPI on account of the latter’s breach of its obligations.
Same; Lease; Interest Rates; Considering that the Contract of
Lease does not stipulate an applicable interest rate, again following
our ruling in Nacar v. Gallery Frames, 703 SCRA 439 (2013), the
rate shall be six percent (6%) from the time of judicial or
extrajudicial demand.—Considering, however, that the Contract of
Lease does not stipulate an applicable interest rate, again following
our ruling inNacar v. Gallery Frames, 703 SCRA 439 (2013),the
rate shall besix percent (6%)from the time of judicial or
extrajudicial demand. The records of this case show thatthe first
timeNCLPI raised the issue on the security deposit was in its Brief
dated March 25, 2003 filed

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with the CA.Thus, the interest should be computed starting

only on said date until the finality of this Decision, after which the
total amount shall earn interest at the rate of six percent (6%) from
the finality of this Decision until satisfaction by LMI.

PETITION for review on certiorari of the decision and

resolution of the Court of Appeals.
The facts are stated in the opinion of the Court.
Ponce Enrile, Reyes & Manalastas for petitioner.
Quiroz, Dumas, Capistrano & Teleron Law Offices for
respondent Proton Pilipinas.
Mercedes Buhayang-Margallo for respondent Lica
Management, Inc.
JARDELEZA, J.:

This is a Petition for Review on Certiorari1 filed by

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. (NCLPI) to assail the
Decision2 and Resolution3 dated September 27, 2006 and
March 8, 2007, respectively, of the Court of Appeals (CA) in
C.A.-G.R. CV No. 75985. The CA affirmed with
modification the Decision4 of the Regional Trial Court
dated June 7, 2002 and ruled that there was a valid
extrajudicial rescission of the lease contract between
NCLPI and Lica Management, Inc. (LMI). It also ordered
NCLPI to pay its unpaid rentals and awarded damages in
favor of LMI and third party respondent Proton Pilipinas,
Inc. (Proton).

_______________

1 Rollo, pp. 11-35.

2 Id., at pp. 39-52. Penned by Associate Justice Fernanda Lampas-
Peralta, with Associate Justices Bienvenido L. Reyes (now a member of
this Court) and Myrna Dimaranan-Vidal, concurring.
3 Id., at pp. 54-58.
4 Id., at pp. 144-168. Penned by Judge Marissa Macaraig-Guillen.

404

404 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

The Facts

LMI is the absolute owner of a property located at 2326

Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City with a total area of
approximately 2,860 square meters.5On June 24, 1994, it
entered into a contract with NCLPI for the latter to lease
the property for a term of ten (10) years (or from July 1,
1994 to June 30, 2004) with a monthly rental of
P308,000.00 and an annual escalation rate of ten percent
(10%).6 Sometime in September 1994, NCLPI, with LMI’s
consent, allowed its subsidiary Nissan Smartfix
Corporation (NSC) to use the leased premises.7
Subsequently, NCLPI became delinquent in paying the
monthly rent, such that its total rental
8 9
arrearages amounted to P1,741,520.85. In May 1996,
Nissan and Lica verbally agreed to convert the arrearages
into a debt to be covered by a promissory note and twelve
(12) postdated checks, each amounting to P162,541.95 as
monthly payments starting June 1996 until May 1997.10
While NCLPI was able to deliver the postdated checks
per its verbal agreement with LMI, it failed to sign the
promissory note and pay the checks for June to October
1996. Thus, in a letter dated October 16, 1996, which was
sent on October 18, 1996 by registered mail, LMI informed
NCLPI that it was terminating their Contract of Lease due
to arrears in the payment of rentals. It also demanded that
NCLPI (1) pay the

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5 Id., at pp. 60, 65.

6 Id., at pp. 65-71.
7 Id., at pp. 60, 72.
8 As of May 1996, id., at p. 60.
9 Id.
10 Id., at p. 61.

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amount of P2,651,570.39 for unpaid rentals11and (2)

vacate the premises within five (5) days from receipt of the
notice.12
In the meantime, Proton sent NCLPI an undated
request to use the premises as a temporary display center
for “Audi” brand cars for a period of ten (10) days. In the
same letter, Proton undertook “not to disturb [NCLPI and
LMI’s] lease agreement and ensure that [NCLPI] will not
breach the same [by] lending the premises x x x without
any consideration.”13NCLPI acceded to this request.14
On October 11, 1996, NCLPI entered into a
Memorandum of Agreement with Proton whereby the
former agreed to allow Proton “to immediately commence
renovation work even prior to the execution of the Contract
of Sublease x x x.”15In consideration, Proton agreed to
transmit to NCLPI a check representing three (3) months
of rental payments, to be deposited only upon the due
execution of their Contract of Sublease.16
In a letter dated October 24, 1996, NCLPI, through
counsel, replied to LMI’s letter of October 16, 1996
acknowledging the arrearages incurred by it under their
Contract of Lease. Claiming, however, that it has no
intention of abandoning the lease and citing efforts to
negotiate a possible sublease of the property, NCLPI
requested LMI to defer taking court action on the matter.17
LMI, on November 8, 1996, entered into a Contract of
Lease with Proton over the subject premises.18

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11 Covering a portion of July 1996 up to and including October 1996.

Id., at p. 73.
12 Id.
13 Id., at pp. 102-103.
14 Id., at p. 104.
15 Id., at pp. 142-143.
16 Id.
 17 Id., at pp. 74-75; pp. 61-62.
18 Id., at p. 139.

406

406 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

On November 12, 1996, LMI filed a Complaint19for sum

of money with damages seeking to recover from NCLPI the
amount of P2,696,639.97, equivalent to the balance of its
unpaid rentals, with interest and penalties, as well as
exemplary damages, attorney’s fees, and costs of
litigation.20
On November 20, 1996, NCLPI demanded Proton to
vacate the leased premises.21However, Proton replied that
it was occupying the property based on a lease contract
with LMI.22In a letter of even date addressed to LMI,
NCLPI asserted that its failure to pay rent does not
automatically result in the termination of the Contract of
Lease nor does it give LMI the right to terminate the
same.23NCLPI also informed LMI that since it was
unlawfully ousted from the leased premises and was not
deriving any benefit therefrom, it decided to stop payment
of the checks issued to pay the rent.24
In its Answer25and Third-Party Complaint26against
Proton, NCLPI alleged that LMI and Proton “schemed” and
“colluded” to unlawfully force NCLPI (and its subsidiary
NSC) from the premises. Since it has not abandoned its
leasehold right, NCLPI asserts that the lease contract
between LMI and Proton is void for lack of a valid cause or
consideration.27It likewise prayed for the award of: (1)
P3,000,000.00, an amount it anticipates to lose on account
of LMI and Proton’s deprivation of its right to use and
occupy the premises; (2)

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19 Docketed as Civil Case No. 96-1840 before the RTC, Branch 60 of

Makati City. Id., at pp. 59-64.
20 Id., at p. 63.
21 Id., at pp. 105-106.
22 Id., at p. 109.
23 Id., at p. 107.
24 Id., at p. 108.
25 Id., at pp. 84-94.
26 Id., at pp. 111-118.
27 Id., at p. 88.

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P1,000,000.00 as exemplary damages; and (3)

P500,000.00 as attorney’s fees, plus P2,000.00 for every
court appearance.28
The trial court admitted29 the third party complaint over
LMI’s opposition.30
Subsequently, or on April 17, 1998, Proton filed its
Answer with Compulsory Counterclaim against
31
NCLPI. According to Proton, the undated letter-request
supposedly sent by Proton to NCLPI was actually prepared
by the latter so as to keep from LMI its intention to
sublease the premises to Proton until NCLPI is able to
secure LMI’s consent.32Denying NCLPI’s allegation that its
use of the lease premises was made without any
consideration, Proton claims that it “actually paid [NCLPI]
rental of P200,000.00 for the use of subject property for 10
days x x x.”33
Proton further asserted that NCLPI had vacated the
premises as early as during the negotiations for the
sublease and, in fact, authorized the former to enter the
property and commence renovations.34 When NCLPI
ultimately failed to obtain LMI’s consent to the proposed
sublease and its lease contract was terminated, Proton,
having already incurred substantial expenses renovating
the premises, was constrained to enter into a Contract of
Lease with LMI. Thus, Proton prayed for the dismissal of
the Third-Party Complaint, and asked, by way of
counterclaim, that NCLPI be ordered to pay exemplary
damages, attorney’s fees, and costs of litigation.35

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28 Id., at pp. 88-89.

29 Id., at p. 136.
30 Id., at pp. 76-83.
31 Id., at pp. 137-143.
32 Id., at p. 137.
33 Id.
34 Id., at p. 139.
35 Id., at pp. 139-140.

408

408 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

Ruling of the Trial Court

On June 7, 2002, the trial court promulgated its
Decision,36the decretal portion of which reads:

WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, judgment

 is rendered in plaintiff LICA MANAGEMENT,
INCORPORATED’s favor. As a consequence of this,
defendant NISSAN CAR LEASE PHILIPPINES, INC.
is directed to pay plaintiff the following:
1.) [P]2,696,639.97 representing defendant’s
unpaid rentals inclusive of interest and
penalties up to 12 November 1996, plus interest
to be charged against said amount at the rate of
twelve percent (12%) beginning said date until
the amount is fully paid.
2.) Exemplary damages and attorney’s fees
amounting to Two Hundred Thousand Pesos
([P]200,000.00) and litigation expenses
amounting to Fifty Thousand Pesos
([P]50,000.00).
The third party complaint filed by defendant is
DENIED for lack of merit and in addition to the
foregoing and as prayed for, defendant NISSAN is
ordered to pay third party defendant PROTON
PILIPINAS, INC. the sum of Two Hundred Thousand
Pesos ([P]200,000.00) representing exemplary
damages and attorney’s fees due.
SO ORDERED.37

The trial court found that NCLPI purposely violated the

terms of its contract with LMI when it failed to pay the
required rentals and contracted to sublease the premises
without the latter’s consent.38Under Article 1191 of the
Civil Code, LMI was therefore entitled to rescind the
contract between

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36 Id., at pp. 144-168.

37 Id., at p. 168.
38 Id., at p. 166.

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the parties and seek payment of the unpaid rentals and

damages.39In addition, the trial court ruled that LMI’s act
of notifying NCLPI of the termination of their lease
contract due to nonpayment of rentals is expressly
sanctioned under paragraphs 1640and 1841of their
contract.42
Contrary to NCLPI’s claim that it was “fooled” into
allowing Proton to occupy the premises for a limited period
after which the latter unilaterally usurped the premises for
itself, the trial court found that it was NCLPI “which
misrepresented itself to [Proton] as being a lessee of good
standing, so that it could induce the latter to occupy and
renovate the premises when at that time the negotiations
were underway the lease between [LMI] and [NCLPI] had
already been terminated.”43
Aggrieved, NCLPI filed a Petition for Review with the
CA. In its Appellant’s Brief,44it argued that the trial court
erred in: (1) holding that there was a valid extrajudicial
rescission of its lease contract with LMI; and (2) dismissing
NCLPI’s claim for damages against LMI and Proton while
at the same

_______________

39 Id.
40 Id., at p. 69. This paragraph reads:
16. BREACH OR DEFAULT — Any breach or default by either party
of any of the terms and conditions of this Contract shall be sufficient
ground for the aggrieved party to rescind the same.
41 Id. This paragraph reads:
18. DAMAGES — It is hereby mutually agreed and covenanted that
noncompliance by either party with any of the provisions of this Contract
to be performed by it and which may be the basis of a suit by the other
shall entitle the injured party to collect such damages it may sustain.
42 Id., at pp. 65-71, 162.
43 Id., at p. 164.
44 Id., at pp. 169-206.

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Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

time holding NCLPI liable to them for exemplary

damages and attorney’s fees.45

Ruling of the Court of Appeals

The CA denied NCLPI’s appeal and affirmed the trial

court’s decision with modification. The decretal portion of
the CA’s Decision46reads:

WHEREFORE, the appealed Decision dated June

7, 2002 of the trial court is affirmed, subject to
modification that:
(1) The award of exemplary damages of
P100,000.00 each in favor of plaintiff-appellee and
third party defendant-appellee is reduced to
P50,000.00 each;
(2) The award of attorney’s fees of P100,000.00
each in favor of plaintiff-appellee and third party
defendant-appellee is reduced to P50,000.00 each;
(3) The amount of unpaid rentals is reduced from
P2,696,639.97 to P2,365,569.61, exclusive of interest;
and
(4) Plaintiff-appellee is ordered to return the
 balance of the security deposit amounting to
P883,253.72 to defendant-appellant.
The Decision dated June 7, 2002 is affirmed in all
other respects.
SO ORDERED.47

NCLPI sought for a reconsideration48of this decision.

LMI, on the other hand, filed a motion to clarify whether
the amount of P2,365,569.61 representing unpaid rentals
was inclusive of interest.49The CA resolved both motions,
thus:

_______________

45 Id., at p. 171.
46 Id., at pp. 39-52.
47 Id., at pp. 51-52.
48 CARollo, pp. 269-295.
49 Id., at pp. 205-268.

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Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
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WHEREFORE, the motion for reconsideration

filed by defendant-appellant Nissan Car Lease is
denied for lack of merit.
With respect to the motion for clarification filed by
plaintiff-appellee Lica Management, Inc., paragraph
(3) of the dispositive portion of the Decision is hereby
clarified to read as follows:
(3) The amount of unpaid rentals is reduced
from P2,696,639.97 to P2,365,569.61,inclusive of
interest and penalties up to November 12, 1996,
plus interest to be charged against said amount
at the rate of twelve percent (12%) beginning
said date until the amount is fully paid.
SO ORDERED.50

Hence, this petition.

The Petition

NCLPI, in its Petition, raises the following questions:

1. May a contract be rescinded extrajudicially despite
the absence of a special contractual stipulation therefor?
2. Do the prevailing facts warrant the dismissal of
[LMI]’s claims and the award of NCLPI’s claims?
3. How much interest should be paid in the delay of the
release of a security deposit in a lease contract?51

The CourtÊs Ruling

 We deny the Petition for lack of merit.

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50 Rollo, pp. 54-58.

51 Id., at p. 11.

412

412 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

Before going into the substantive merits of the case,

however, we shall first resolve the technical issue raised by
LMI in its Comment52dated August 22, 2007.
According to LMI, NCLPI’s petition must be denied
outright on the ground that Luis Manuel T. Banson
(Banson), who caused the preparation of the petition and
signed the Verification and Certification against Forum
Shopping, was not duly authorized to do so. His apparent
authority was based, not by virtue of any NCLPI Board
Resolution, but on a Special Power of Attorney (SPA)
signed only by NCLPI’s Corporate Secretary Robel C.
Lomibao.53
As a rule, a corporation has a separate and distinct
personality from its directors and officers and can only
exercise its corporate powers through its board of directors.
Following this rule, a verification and certification signed
by an individual corporate officer is defective if done
without authority from the corporation’s board of
directors.54
The requirement of verification being a condition
affecting only the form of the pleading,55this Court has, in a
number of cases, held that:

[T]he following officials or employees of the

company can sign the verification and
certification without need of a board
resolution:(1) the Chairperson of the Board of
Directors, (2)the President of a corporation,(3) the
General Manager or Acting General Manager, (4)
Personnel Officer, and (5) an Employment Specialist
in a labor case.

_______________

52 Id., at pp. 312-327.

53 Id., at p. 315.
54 Swedish Match Philippines, Inc. v. The Treasurer of the City of
Manila,G.R. No. 181277, July 3, 2013, 700 SCRA 428, 434.
55 Id., citingShipside, Incorporated v. Court of Appeals,G.R. No.
143377, February 20, 2001, 352 SCRA 334, 345-346.
 413

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x x x[T]he determination of the sufficiency of the

authority was done on a case to case basis.The
rationale applied in the foregoing cases is to justify the
authority of corporate officers or representatives of the
corporation to sign x x x, being “in a position to verify
the truthfulness and correctness of the allegations in
the petition.”56(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)

In this case, Banson was President of NCLPI at the time

of the filing of the petition.57 Thus, and applying the
foregoing ruling, he can sign the verification and
certification against forum shopping in the petition without
the need of a board resolution.58
Having settled the technical issue, we shall now proceed
to discuss the substantial issues.

Validity of Extrajudicial
Rescission of Lease Contract

It is clear from the records that NCLPI committed

substantial breaches of its Contract of Lease with LMI.
Under paragraph 2, NCLPI bound itself to pay a
monthly rental of P308,000.00 not later than the first day
of every month to which the rent corresponds. NCLPI,
however, defaulted on its contractual obligation to timely
and properly pay its rent, the arrearages of which, as of
October 16, 1996,

_______________

56 PCI Travel Corporation v. National Labor Relations

Commission,G.R. No. 154379, October 31, 2008, 570 SCRA 315, 321,
citingCagayan Valley Drug Corporation v. Commissioner of Internal
Revenue,G.R. No. 151413, February 13, 2008, 545 SCRA 10, 18-19. See
alsoUniversity of the East v. Pepanio, G.R. No. 193897, January 23, 2013,
689 SCRA 250, 258.
57 Rollo, p. 35.
58 See alsoPCI Travel Corporation v. National Labor Relations
Commission, supra.

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Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.
 amounted to P2,651,570.39.59This fact was
60
acknowledged and admitted by NCLPI.
Aside from nonpayment of rentals, it appears that
NCLPI also breached its obligations under paragraphs
461and 562of the Contract of Lease which prohibit it from
subleasing the premises or introducing improvements or
alterations thereon without LMI’s prior written consent.
The trial court found:

As revealed from the evidence presented by

PROTON however, even before [NCLPI] represented
that it would try to negotiate a possible sublease of
the premises,it had, without any semblance of
authority

_______________

59 Rollo, p. 73.
60 Id., at pp. 23, 74-75.
61 Id., at pp. 66-67. This paragraph reads:
4. USE OF LEASED PREMISES — The LESSEE shall use and
allow the use of the Leased Premises exclusively for legitimate business,
industrial and commercial purposes and for such purposes as the
premises are presently devoted and shall not divert the same or allow the
diversion thereof to other uses or purposes without the written consent of
the LESSOR. The LESSOR shall provide the LESSEE with written
notice requesting that the LESSEE cease any operations and activities
which the LESSOR deems to be non[-]acceptable use of the premises.
The LESSEE shall not sublease the premises to other parties without
the prior written consent of the LESSOR[.]
62 Id., at p. 67. This paragraph reads:
5. IMPROVEMENTS — The LESSEE may not introduce any
structural changes, improvements or alterations to the Leased Premises
without the LESSOR’S prior written consent, however, any such
improvements or alterations shall upon the expiration or termination of
this Contract inure to the benefit of the Leased Premises and become the
LESSOR’S property, without any obligation on the latter’s part to pay or
refund the LESSEE for its cost or value, except those improvements
which can be removed without causing damage to the Leased Premises.

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from [LMI,]already effectively subleased the

subject premises to PROTON and allowed the
latter not only to enter the premises but to
renovate the same.
[NCLPI]’s assertion that they only allowed
PROTON to utilize the premises for ten days as a
display center for Audi cars on the occasion of the
historic visit of Chancellor Helmut Kohl of Germany
 to the Philippines isbelied by the evidence offered
by PROTON that by virtue of a Memorandum of
Agreement [NCLPI] hadalready permitted
PROTON “to immediately commence
renovation workeven prior to the execution of
the Contract of Sublease”and had accepted a
checkfrom PROTON representing the rental deposit
under the yet to be executed Contract of Sublease.
xxx
xxxx
Besides, the court is not inclined to show [NCLPI]
any sympathy x x x becauseit came to court with
unclean handswhen it accused [LMI] and
PROTON of being guilty parties when they
supposedly connived with each other to oust
[NCLPI] from the leased premiseswhen in truth
and in fact, [NCLPI]’s lease was already
terminated when it pursued negotiations to
sublease the premises to PROTONthen giving the
latter the assurance they would be able lo obtain
[LMI]’s consent to the sublease when this was very
remote, in light of [NCLPI]’s failure to update its
rental payments.63(Emphasis and underscoring
supplied)

This factual finding was affirmed by the CA:

There is no merit in [NCLPI]’s claim for damages

allegedly arising from [LMI]’s failure to maintain it in
peaceful possession of the leased premises.It was
[NCLPI] who breached the lease contract
bydefaulting in the

_______________

63 Rollo, pp. 163-164, 167.

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416 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

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payment of lease rentals,entering into a sublease

contract with [Proton] and allowing [Proton] to
introduce renovations on the leased premises without
the consent of [LMI].64x x x (Emphasis supplied)

Factual findings of the CA are binding and conclusive on

the parties and upon this Court and will not be reviewed or
disturbed on appeal. While the rule admits of certain
exceptions,65NCLPI failed to prove that any of the
exceptions applies in this case.
The crux of the controversy rather revolves around the
validity of LMI’s act of extrajudicially rescinding its
Contract of Lease with NCLPI.
NCLPI maintains that while a lessor has a right to eject
a delinquent lessee from its property, such right must be
exercised in accordance with law:

6.15. In this case, [LMI] did not comply with the

requirement laid down in Section 2 of Rule 70 of the
Rules of Court, in unceremoniously ejecting [NCLPI]
from the property. The said Rule explicitly provides
that the lessor shall serve a written notice of the
demand to pay or comply with the conditions of the
lease and to vacate or post such notice on the
premises if no person is found thereon, giving the
lessee15 days to comply with the demand. [LMI]’s
demand letter dated 16 October 1996 provides only a
period offive daysfor [NCLPI] to comply with such
demand and, thus, defective.66 (Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

_______________

64 Id., at p. 48.
65 Bank of the Philippine Islands v. Leobrera, G.R. No. 137147,
November 18, 2003, 416 SCRA 15, 18, citingVicente v. Planters
Development Bank, G.R. No. 136112, January 28, 2003, 396 SCRA 282,
290.
66 Rollo, p. 23.

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NCLPI’s reliance on Section 2, Rule 7067in this case is

misplaced.
Rule 70 of the Rules of Court sets forth the procedure in
relation tothe filing of suits for forcible entry and unlawful
detainer. The action filed by LMI against NCLPI, however,
isone for the recovery of a sum of money. Clearly, Section 2
of Rule 70 is not applicable.
In fact, it does not appear that it was even necessary for
LMI to eject NCLPI from the leased premises. NCLPI had
already vacated the same as early as October 11, 1996
when it surrendered possession of the premises to Proton,
by virtue of their Memorandum of Agreement, so that the
latter can commence renovations.68
NCLPI also maintains that LMI cannot unilaterally and
extrajudicially rescind their Contract of Leasein the
absence of an express provision in their Contract to that
effect.69According to NCLPI:

6.1. The power to rescind is judicial in nature. x x x

6.2. Nevertheless, the Supreme Court has allowed

 extrajudicial rescission if such remedy is specifically
provided for in the contract. A provision granting the
non- defaulting party merely a right to rescind would
be su-

_______________

67 Rules of Court, Rule 70, Sec. 2 provides:

SEC. 2. Lessor to proceed against lessee only after demand.—Unless
otherwise stipulated, such action by the lessor shall be commenced only
after demand to pay or comply with the conditions of the lease and to
vacate is made upon the lessee, or by serving written notice of such
demand upon the person found on the premises, or by posting such notice
on the premises if no person be found thereon, and the lessee fails to
comply therewith after fifteen (15) days in the case of land, or five (5)
days in the case of buildings.
68 Rollo, pp. 139, 142.
69 Id., at pp. 17-20.

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418 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

perfluous because by law, it is inherent in such

contract [see by analogy Villanueva, PHILIPPINE
LAW ON SALES, p. 238 (1998)].
xxxx
70
6.4. [Paragraph 16], however, cannot be construed
as an authority for either party to unilaterally and
extrajudicially rescind theLease Contractin case of
breach by the other party. All that [paragraph] 16
affords the aggrieved party is merely therightto
rescind the lease contract, which is the very same
right already granted under Article 1191 of the Civil
Code.71(Emphasis and underscoring in the original)

It is true that NCLPI and LMI’s Contract of Lease does

not contain a provision expressly authorizing extrajudicial
rescission. LMI can nevertheless rescind the contract,
without prior court approval, pursuant to Art. 1191 of the
Civil Code.
Art. 1191 provides that the power to rescind is implied
in reciprocal obligations, in cases where one of the obligors
should fail to comply with what is incumbent upon him.
Otherwise stated, an aggrieved party is not prevented from
extrajudicially rescinding a contract to protect its interests,
even in the absence of any provision expressly providing for
such right.72The rationale for this rule was explained in the
case of

_______________

70 Id., at p. 124. This paragraph reads:

 16. BREACH OR DEFAULT — Any breach or default by either party
of any of the terms and conditions of this Contract shall be sufficient
ground for the party to rescind the same. (Emphasis supplied)
71 Id., at pp. 185-186, 188.
72 Multinational Village Homeowners Association, Inc. v. Ara
Security & Surveillance Agency, Inc., G.R. No. 154852, October 21, 2004,
441 SCRA 126, 135;Casiño, Jr. v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 133803,
September 16, 2005, 470 SCRA 57, 67-68. See also University of the
Philippines v. De los Angeles,No. L-28602, September 29, 1970, 35 SCRA
102, 107; and the Concurring Opinion of Justice

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University of the Philippines v. De los Angeles73wherein

this Court held:

[T]he law definitely doesnotrequire that the

contracting party who believes itself injured must
first file suit and wait for a judgment before taking
extrajudicial steps to protect its interest.Otherwise,
the party injured by the other’s breach will
have to passively sit and watch its damages
accumulate during the pendency of the suit
until the final judgment of rescission is
rendered when the law itself requires that he
should exercise due diligence to minimize its
own damages.(Civil Code, Article 2203) (Emphasis
and underscoring supplied)

We are aware of this Court’s previous rulings inTan v.

Court of Appeals,74 Iringan v. Court of Appeals,75andEDS
Manufacturing, Inc. v. Healthcheck International, Inc.,76for
example, wherein we held that extrajudicial rescission of a
contract is not possible without an express stipulation to
that effect.77
The seeming “conflict” between this and our previous
rulings, however, is more apparent than real.
Whether a contract provides for it or not, the remedy of
rescission is always available as a remedy against a
defaulting party. When done without prior
judicialimprimatur, however, it may still be subject to a
possible court review. InGolden

_______________

Marvic Mario Victor F. Leonen inEDS Manufacturing, Inc. v.

Healthcheck International, Inc.,G.R. No. 162802, October 9, 2013, 707
SCRA 133, 147-148.
73 University of the Philippines v. De los Angeles, id.
74 G.R. No. 80479, July 28, 1989, 175 SCRA 656.
75 G.R. No. 129107, September 26, 2001, 366 SCRA 41, 48.
 76 EDS Manufacturing, Inc. v. Healthcheck International, Inc., supra
note 72 at p. 143, citingIringan v. Court of Appeals, id.
77 Alcaraz v. Tangga-an, G.R. No. 128568, April 9, 2003, 401 SCRA
84, 92. See also Tan v. Court of Appeals, supraat p. 662.

420

420 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
Inc.

Valley Exploration, Inc. v. Pinkian Mining Company,78

we explained:

This notwithstanding, jurisprudence still indicates

thatan extrajudicial rescission based on
grounds not specified in the contract would not
preclude a party to treat the same as
rescinded.The rescinding party, however, by such
course of action, subjects himself to the risk of being
held liable for damages when the extrajudicial
rescission is questioned by the opposing party in
court. This was made clear in the case ofU.P. v. De los
Angeles, wherein the Court held as follows:
Of course, it must be understood thatthe act
of a party in treating a contract as
cancelled or resolved on account of
infractions by the other contracting party
must be made known to the other and is
always provisional, being ever subject to
scrutiny and review by the proper court.If
the other party denies that rescission is
justified, it is free to resort to judicial
action in its own behalf, and bring the
matter to court. Then,should the court,
after due hearing, decide that the
resolution of the contract was not
warranted, the responsible party will be
sentenced todamages; in the contrary case,
the resolution will be affirmed, and the
consequent indemnity awarded to the party
prejudiced.
In other words, the party who deems the
contract violated may consider it resolved
or rescinded, and act accordingly, without
previous court action, but itproceeds at its
own risk. For it is only the final judgment
of the corresponding court that will
conclusively

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78 G.R. No. 190080, June 11, 2014, 726 SCRA 259, 273.
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and finally settle whether the action taken

was or was not correct in law. x x x
(Emphasis and underscoring in the original)

The only practical effect of a contractual stipulation

allowing extrajudicial rescission is “merely to transfer to
the defaulter the initiative of instituting suit, instead of the
rescinder.”79
In fact, the rule is the same even if the parties’
contractexpresslyallows extrajudicial rescission. The other
party denying the rescission may still seek judicial
intervention to determine whether or not the rescission
was proper.80
Having established that LMIcanextrajudicially rescind
its contract with NCLPI even absent an express
contractual stipulation to that effect, the question now to
be resolved is whether this extrajudicial rescission was
proper under the circumstances.
As earlier discussed, NCLPI’s nonpayment of rentals
and unauthorized sublease of the leased premises were
both clearly proven by the records. We thus confirm LMI’s
rescission of its contract with NCLPI on account of the
latter’s breach of its obligations.

Rental Arrearages and Interest

Having upheld LMI’s extrajudicial rescission of its

Contract of Lease, we hold that NCLPI is required to pay
all rental arrearages owing to LMI, computed by the CA as
follows:

_______________

79 University of the Philippines v. De Los Angeles, supra note 72 at p.

108.
80 Golden Valley Exploration, Inc. v. Pinkian Mining Company, supra
note 78 at pp. 272, 274, citing De Luna v. Abrigo,No. L-57455, January
18, 1990, 181 SCRA 150, 158. See also Olympic Mines and Development
Corp. v. Platinum Group Metals Corporation,G.R. No. 178188, August
14, 2009, 596 SCRA 314;Pangilinan v. Court of Appeals,G.R. No. 83588,
September 29, 1997, 279 SCRA 590.

422

422 SUPREME COURT REPORTS ANNOTATED

Nissan Car Lease Philippines, Inc. vs. Lica Management,
 Inc.

In its appellant’s brief, [NCLPI] admitted that it

had rental arrears of P1,300,335.60as of May 1996.
Additionally, the statement of account submitted by
[LMI] showed that from June 1996 to October 1996the
rental arrears of [NCLPI] amounted to
P1,065,234.01.Hence, the total of said rental
arrears not disputed by the parties
81
isP2,365,569.61x x x. (Emphasis and underscoring
supplied)

The Contract of Lease shows that the parties did not

stipulate an applicable interest rate in case of default in
the payment of rentals. Thus, and following this Court’s
ruling inNacar v. Gallery Frames,82 the foregoing amount
of rental arrearages shall earn interest at the rate of six
percent (6%) per annum computed from October 18, 1996,
the date of LMI’s extrajudicial demand,83until the date of
finality of this judgment. The total amount shall thereafter
earn interest at the rate of six percent (6%) per annum
from such finality of judgment until its satisfaction.

Security Deposit

NCLPI also argues that, assuming LMI could validly

rescind their Contract of Lease, the security deposit must
be returned, with interest at the rate of twelve percent
(12%) per annum, the obligation to return being in the
nature of a forbearance of money.84
NCLPI is partly correct.

_______________

81 Rollo, p. 50.
82 G.R. No. 189871, August 13, 2013, 703 SCRA 439, 457-459.
83 Rollo, p. 73.See also Gilat Satellite Networks, Ltd. v. United
Coconut Planters Bank General Insurance Co., Inc.,G.R. No. 189563,
April 7, 2014, 720 SCRA 726, 741.
84 Rollo, p. 31.

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Paragraph 385of the Contract of Lease provides that, in

case of termination of the lease, the balance of the security
deposit must be returned to NCLPI within seven (7) days.
Since “there is no question that [LMI] is retaining the
security deposit” in the amount of P883,253.72 (after
deduction of the expenses for water and telephone
services),86LMI must return the same to NCLPI, with
interest.
 Considering, however, that the Contract of Lease does
not stipulate an applicable interest rate, again following
our ruling inNacar,the rate shall besix percent (6%)from
the time of judicial or extrajudicial demand. The records of
this case show thatthe first timeNCLPI raised the issue on
the security deposit was in its Brief dated March 25, 2003
filed with the CA.87Thus, the interest should be computed
starting only on said date until the finality of this Decision,
after which the total amount shall earn interest at the rate
of six percent (6%) from the finality of this Decision until
satisfaction by LMI.88

_______________

85 Id., at p. 121. This paragraph reads:

3. SECURITY DEPOSIT — During the effectivity of this Contract,
the LESSEE shall ensure that there is on deposit at all time with the
LESSOR an amount equivalent to three (3) months rental payments
which shall answer for water, gas[,] electricity, telephone, garbage fees,
or damages to the premises aside from ordinary wear and tear, the
liabilities for which shall be deducted from the depositand the balance,
if any, shall he refunded to the LESSEE not later than seven (7)
days from the termination of this lease. The security deposit
cannot be applied against unpaid rental payments. x x x
(Emphasis and underscoring supplied)
86 Id., at p. 51.
87 Id., at pp. 202-203.
88 Nacar v. Gallery Frames, supra note 82.

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Improvements

In itsPetition, NCLPI also prayed for the return of

“allthe equipment installed and the other improvements on
the property, or their value, pursuant to the mandate of
mutual restitution.”89

NCLPI errs.
Under paragraph 5 of the Contract of Lease, NCLPI is
entitled only to the return of those improvements
introduced by it which can be removed without causing
damage to the leased premises.90Considering, however,
that the issue of ownership of the improvements within the
premises appears to be subject of another case initiated by
NCLPI’s subsidiary, NSC,91this Court will not rule on the
same.

Denial of NCLPIÊs claim and

award of damages in favor
of LMI and Proton proper
 Both the trial court and CA found that NCLPI breached
the Contract of Lease. In sustaining the denial of NCLPI’s
claim for damages, the CA held:

_______________

89 Rollo, p. 31.Emphasis supplied.

90 Id., at p. 122, paragraph 5 of the Contract of Lease states:
5. IMPROVEMENTS — The LESSEE may not introduce any
structural changes, improvements or alterations to the Leased Premises
without the LESSOR’s prior written consent, however any such
improvements or alterations shall upon the expiration or termination of
this Contract inure to the benefit of the Leased Premises and become the
LESSOR’s property, without the obligation on the latter’s part to pay or
refund the LESSEE for its cost or value,except those improvements
which can be removed without causing damage to the Leased Premises.
(Underscoring supplied)
91 Docketed as Civil Case No. 98-595.SeeRTC Records (Vol. I), pp.
302-303.

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There is no merit in [NCLPI]’s claim for damages

allegedly arising from [LMI]’s failure to maintain it in
peaceful possession of the leased premises. It was
[NCLPI] who breached the lease contract. x x x
Moreover, the lease contract between [LMI] and
[Proton] was entered into only on November 8, 1996
x x x after the lease contract between [LMI] and
[NCLPI] had been terminated. As aptly noted by the
trial court:
xxxx
In other words, while in its responsive
pleading [NCLPI] claims [that] it was fooled into
allowing [Proton] to occupy the subject premises
for a limited period, alter which the latter, in
alleged collusion with [LMI] unilaterally
usurped the premises for itself,the evidence
shows that it was [NCLPI] which
misrepresented itself to PROTONas being a
lessee of good standing, so that it could
induce the latter to occupy and renovate
the premises when at that time the
negotiations were underway, the lease
between [LMI] and [NCLPI] had already
been terminated.92(Emphasis and
underscoring supplied)

Contrary to NCLPI’s claims of an unlawful “scheme”

devised by LMI and Proton to force it out of the leased
premises, we find that it was NCLPI who was in bad faith
and itself provided the bases for the cancellation of its
Contract of Lease with LMI and its eventual ejectment
from the leased premises. Accordingly, we affirm (1) the
award of exemplary damages and attorney’s fees in favor of
LMI and Proton and (2) the denial of NCLPI’s claim for
damages.93
WHEREFORE, in view of the foregoing, the petition
isDENIED. The Decision dated September 27, 2006 and
the

_______________

92 Rollo, pp. 48-49.

93 Id., at pp. 48-50.

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Resolution dated March 8, 2007 rendered by the CA in

C.A.-G.R. CV No. 75985 are, however,MODIFIEDas
follows:
(1) NCLPI is ordered to pay LMI and Proton exemplary
damages of P50,000.00 and attorney’s fees of P50,000.00,
each;
(2) NCLPI is ordered to pay the amount of
P2,365,569.61 unpaid rentals, with interest at the rate of
six percent (6%) per annum computed from October 18,
1996 until the date of finality of this judgment. The total
amount shall thereafter earn interest at the rate of six
percent (6%) per annum from the finality of judgment until
its satisfaction;
(3) LMI is ordered to return to NCLPI the balance of
the security deposit amounting to P883,253.72, with
interest at the rate of six percent (6%) starting March 25,
2003 until the finality of this Decision, after which the total
amount shall earn interest at the rate of six percent (6%)
from the finality of this Decision until satisfaction by
LMI.94
SO ORDERED.

Velasco, Jr. (Chairperson), Bersamin,** Villarama, Jr.

and Mendoza,*** JJ., concur.

Petition denied, judgment and resolution modified.

_______________

94 Nacar v. Gallery Frames, supra note 82.

** Designated additional member, in lieu of Associate Justice
Bienvenido L. Reyes, per Raffle dated September 3, 2014.
*** Designated additional member, in lieu of Associate Justice
 Diosdado M. Peralta, per Raffle dated November 11, 2015.

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In reciprocal obligations, either party may rescind the

contract upon the other’s substantial breach of the
obligation/s he had assumed thereunder. (Golden Valley
Exploration, Inc. vs. Pinkian Mining Company, Inc., 726
SCRA259 [2014])

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