Republic of the Philippines
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
                                          Fourth Judicial Region
                                               Lucena City
                                                Branch 56
IRENEA B. DE CASTRO, ET. AL.,
                    Petitioners,
     -versus-                                                          Special Civil Case No. 2000-166
YSIDRO K. CASTILLO, ET. AL.,
                              Respondents.
x------------------------------------------x
                        MOTION TO REVIVE SPECIAL CIVIL CASE WITH
                       MOTION TO SET FOR CLARIFICATORY CONFERENCE
           COME NOW Petitioners heirs of Irenea B. De Castro (deceased), Crispin
Briones, Anita Mascarinas, Paula Briones, Corazon Briones, Susan De Castro,
Remedios Mendoza, Adela Briones, Araceli Cosico, Angelina Guce, Lolita Briones,
and Eufrocina Mejia, through the undersigned counsel, unto this Honorable Court,
most respectfully state, that:
           1.      In the years 1995 and 1996, the respondents Segundina Liliosa Greña
offered for sale to the petitioners subdivided portions of a property located at
Brgy. Pury, Municipality of San Antonio, Province of Quezon, covered by
“Katibayan ng Orihinal na Titulo Blg. P-42052 1 (Patent No. 045-641-94-3301). The
petitioners, among other buyers, individually entered into Contracts of
Conditional Sale2 with the respondent Greña for the purchase on installment of
certain parcels of the subdivided property.
           2.      In 1999, the respondent Ysidro P. Castillo III, one of the former co-
owners of the property herein mentioned, filed against the petitioners a
1
    Annex E of the Petition.
2
    Annexes “D” to” D-4”, “D-8”, “D-12” to” D-15”,” D-20” to” D-26”, “D-33”, “D-37” to “D-38” of the Petition.
complaint for ejectment3 which case was eventually dismissed without prejudice
in an Order4 dated 17 May, 2000 of the Municipal Trial Court of San Antonio,
Quezon. Thus, on November 2000, the petitioners filed this Special Civil Case for
Declaratory Relief, Cancellation of Title, Consignation and Damages before this
Honorable Court against the respondents Castillo et.al, as the former owners of
the property subject matter of this case, and the respondent Greña, the apparent
transferee and subsequent owner of the subject property from whom the
petitioners bought individual and subdivided portions of lot. This Special Civil Case
was filed in order to determine the legal owners to whom the petitioners should
rightfully pay the amortizations due under their respective Contracts of
Conditional Sale, and to consign the money with the court pending the
determination of the legal owners of the property.
        3.      In the respondent Greña’s answer dated 18 December 20005 and the
respondent Castillos’ answer dated on 9 September 20016, both claimed
ownership of the property subject matter of this case. The respondent Greña
asserted that she bought the property by virtue of a Kasulatan ng Bilihan Tuluyan 7
executed by the respondent Ysidro P. Castillo IV who was authorized by other co-
owners though a special power of attorney8. On the other hand, the latter claimed
that the Kasulatan ng Bilihan Tuluyan in favor of the respondent Greña was null
and void as it was executed by one who has no authority nor power to sell the
property and/or for simulated price or consideration.
3
  Annex “F” of the Petition.
4
  Annex “G” of the Petition.
5
  Answer with Counterclaim dated 18 December 2000, received on 28 December 2000.
6
  Answer with Counterclaim and Crossclaim, dated 9 September 2001 received on 22 October 2001.
7
  Annexes “B”, “B-1” and “B-2” of the Petition
8
  Annex “A” of the Petition.
      4.     In an Order dated 17 January 2002, this Honorable Court, in
considering the complexities involved in the case recommended as follows –
             “The Court has suggested to the parties firstly, if petitioners will
      be willing to consign the remaining balance on their lots, with the
      Court as a sign of good faith and willingness to compromise; that on
      the part of respondent Castillos, they consider the delivery of the title
      over the land to respondent Segundina Liliosa Grena, in conformity
      with the special power of attorney marked as Annex “A” to the
      petition at the purchase price of not lower than P50.00 net per
      square meter, minus any amount the Castillos may have already
      received; and that on the part of Segundina Liliosa Grena, that she
      consider paying a consideration to the Castillos as specified in Annex
      “A”, so that the certificate of title to the land may be finally delivered
      to her to enable her to continue her subdivision of the property
      subject of this case into lots for resale.”
      5.     During the continuation of the pre-trial on 28 February 2002, and as
embodied in the Order of this Honorable Court on same date, the former counsel
for the petitioners, Atty. Salvador Britanico, manifested that the petitioners had
followed the suggestion of this Honorable Court and consigned the amount of
Four Hundred Fifty Thousand One Hundred Fifty Seven and 97/100 Pesos
(Php450,157.97) with the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City,
to exhibit their good faith. Said amount represents the amortization and
installments on the respective lots bought by the petitioners from the respondent
Greña.
      6.     No oppositions or objections were raised by the respondents on the
suggestion made by this Honorable Court as well as to the manifestation made by
Atty. Britanico regarding the consignation of the amount with the Clerk of Court of
the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City;
      7.    The deposits made by the above-named petitioners before the Clerk
of Court were as follows:
a. IRENEA B. DE CASTRO
       Date                       Amount Paid      Receipt No.
       November 17, 2000             5,334.00       12749217
       December 19, 2000             5,334.00       12749226
       January 30, 2001              5,334.00       13579457
       April 11, 2001                5,334.00       14217059
       Total                    Php 21,336.00
b. CRISPIN BRIONES married to LIGAYA A. BRIONES
       Date                       Amount Paid      Receipt No.
       November 7, 2000                 934.00      12254241
       January 15, 2001              1,868.00       13579452
       March 8, 2001                    934.00      13579487
       April 11, 2001                   934.00      14217056
       May 23, 2001                  1,868.00       14217071
       October 23, 2001             12,063.00       14717110
                                Php 18,601.00
c. ANITA MASCARINAS married to RAMON MASCARINAS
      Date                      Amount Paid  Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000            1,200.00    12254244
      January 15, 2001            2,400.00    13579453
      March 8, 2001               1,200.00    13579488
      April 11, 2001              1,200.00    14217057
      May 23, 2001                2,400.00    14217068
      October 3, 2001             8,400.00    14717111
                             Php 16,800.00
d. PAULA BRIONES
      Date                        Amount Paid      Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000               3,270.00       12254245
      January 15, 2001               6,540.00       13579454
      March 8, 2001                  3,270.00       13579489
      April 11, 2001                 3,270.00       14217058
      May 23, 2001                   6,540.00       14217069
      October 3, 2001               49,488.00       14717113
      October 11, 2001              12,416.00       14717119
                               Php 84,794.00
e. CORAZON BRIONES
      Date                        Amount Paid      Receipt No.
      November 3, 2000               89 6.00        12749213
      December 19, 2000               896.00        12749242
      January 30, 2001                896.00        13579462
      October 11, 2001              2,000.00        14717123
      January 22, 2002            9,034.00        14717149
      November 13, 2002             342.00        13578409
                             Php 14,064.00
f. SUSAN DE CASTRO married to RAMON DE CASTRO
      Date                      Amount Paid   Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000            2,134.00     12254250
      December 19, 2000           2,134.00     12749236
      January 31, 2001            2,134.00     13579463
      March 8, 2001               4,268.00     13579490
      October 3, 2001             6,318.00     14717115
                             Php 16,988.00
g. REMEDIOS MENDOZA married to JUANITO MENDOZA
      Date                     Amount Paid  Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000            2,200.00   12749201
      December 12, 2000           2,200.00   12749235
      January 30, 2001            2,200.00   13579464
      January 30, 2001              500.00   13579469
      February 28, 2001           2,200.00   13579481
      May 23, 2001                4,400.00   14217072
      February 22, 2002          10,000.00   15620362
      April 16, 2002              3,600.00   15620377
      May 10, 2002               12,633.00   15620381
      May 16, 2002                3,000.00   15620382
                           Php 42,933.00
h. ADELA BRIONES married to BIENVENIDO BRIONES
      Date                       Amount Paid  Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000               360.00    12749202
      January 15, 2001               612.00    12749249
      March 8, 2001                  306.00    13579484
      April 11, 2001                 306.00    14217053
      May 23, 2001                   612.00    14217066
      October 3, 2001                265.00    14717109
                               Php 2,461.00
i. ARACELI COSICO married to RUEL COSICO
      Date                       Amount Paid    Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000               1,067.00    12749203
      January 15, 2001               2,134.00    12749250
      March 8, 2001                  1,067.00    13579485
      April 11, 2001                 1,067.00    14217054
      May 23, 2001                   2,134.00    14217067
      October 3, 2001                7,053.00    14717112
                                  Php 14,522.00
j. ANGELINA GUCE married to ALBERT GUCE
      Date                      Amount Paid            Receipt No.
      November 3, 2000                934.00            12749214
      December 19, 2000               934.00            12749241
      30 January, 2001                934.00            13579467
      October 11, 2001              2,000.00            14717124
      January 22, 2002              5,071.00            14717148
                              Php 9,873.00
k. LOLITA BRIONES married to JUANITO BRIONES
       Date                       Amount Paid          Receipt No.
       November 13, 2000               800.00           12749215
       November 13, 2000              3,945.00          13578409
       December 19, 2000               800.00           12749240
       January 30, 2001                800.00           13579468
       October 11, 2001              5,000.00           14717122
       January 22, 2002             20,000.00           14717147
       February 11, 2002                 63.00          15620357
       February 11, 2002                126.00          15620418
       February 11, 2002            12,600.00           15620356
                               Php 44,134.00
l. EUFROCINA MEJIA
      Date                           Amount Paid       Receipt No.
      November 7, 2000                  1,450.00        12749208
      January 1, 2001                   2,900.00        13579451
      March 8, 2001                     1,450.00        13579486
      April 11, 2001                    1,450.00        14217055
      May 23, 2001                      2,900.00        14217070
      October 11, 2001                  4,000.00        14717125
      February 11, 2002                11,800.00        15620355
                                  Php 25,950.00
Copies of the official receipts representing the consigned amounts are attached to
this motion as Annexes “A” to “A-75” to form integral parts hereof.
      8.    The total payments made by herein petitioners to the Clerk of Court
of the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City amount to Three Hundred Seven
Thousand Four Hundred Eighty Pesos (Php307,480.00), breakdown of which is as
follows:
       Petitioner                                           Amount Paid
       Irenea De Castro (deceased)                        Php  21,336.00
       Crispin Briones married to Ligaya Briones               18,601.00
       Anita Mascarinas married to Ramon Mascarinas            16,800.00
       Paula Briones                                           84,794.00
       Corazon Briones                                         14,064.00
       Susan De Castro married to Ramon De Castro              16,988.00
       Remedios Mendoza married to Juanito Mendoza             42,933.00
       Adela Briones married to Bienvenido Briones              2,461.00
       Araceli Cosico married to Ruel Cosico                   14,522.00
       Angelina Guce married to Albert Guce                     9,873.00
       Lolita Briones married to Juanito Briones               44,134.00
       Eufrocina Mejia                                         25,950.00
       TOTAL                                              Php 312,456.00
The above consigned amount which represents full or substantial payment of the
consideration under the Contracts of Conditional Sale is presently in the custody
of the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City.
      9.     Without the main issue of the Petition being resolved, this Honorable
Court issued the order dated 18 July 2007 dismissing the case for failure of the
petitioners to furnish documents relevant to the petition to the respondents. With
all due respect, the petitioners maintain that they could not be faulted for the
dismissal as they had submitted the requested documents to their former
counsel. It was unfortunate that in the months leading to the dismissal, the strain
between petitioners and their former counsel escalated culminating in the
cessation of relations, with the petitioners bearing the brunt of the dismissal.
      10.    On 9 March 2012, herein petitioners individually received from the
respondent Greña, through Atty. German M. Fabro III, a Notice with Demand to
Vacate the properties subject matter of this Petition, on the ground that herein
petitioners stopped payment since 1999 and failed to pay despite repeated
demands in contravention to the Contracts of Conditional Sale. Copies of the
individual Notice to Vacate with Demand to Vacate is hereto attached as Annexes
“B” to “B-4” and made integral parts hereof.
      11.    It was only after the receipt of the aforementioned notice that herein
petitioners discovered that the respondent Greña was able to transfer and register
the property under her name on 19 September 2012. This supervening event
settled the question which the herein petitioners submitted before this Honorable
Court when it filed this instant case, specifically – who are legal owners to whom
they should rightfully pay the amortizations due in relation to their respective
Contracts of Conditional Sale. A copy of Transfer Certificate of Title No. T-515508 is
hereto attached as Annex “C” and made an integral part hereof.
      12.    Contrary to the statement in the notice, since November 2000, the
herein Petitioners faithfully deposited the installments payments of their
respective contract prices to the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court of
Lucena City in accordance with the suggestion of the Honorable Court and
without opposition on the part of the respondent Greña.
      13.    In order that there may be a proper accounting of the payments
consigned with the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City in
relation to the Contracts of Conditional Sale and to thresh out the residual matters
affecting the parties, herein petitioners move that a Clarificatory Conference be
conducted on a date and time most convenient to this Honorable Court.
      14.      Herein petitioners likewise move that the Clerk of Court of the
Regional Trial Court of Lucena City deliver the consigned amount to respondent
Grena, and/or that respondent Grena be authorized to withdraw the said
amounts consigned before the Clerk of Court of the Regional Trial Court Lucena
City, and that any excess in the consigned amounts in the custody of the Clerk of
Court of Lucena City be returned to herein petitioners who are entitled thereto.
      15.      Simultaneous with the delivery or withdrawal of the consigned
installment payments, herein petitioners pray that an order be issued directing
the respondent Greña to execute the Deed of Absolute Sale in favor of herein
petitioners, and for respondent Greña to deliver the Transfer Certificate of Title
No. T-515508 and documents necessary to effect the transfer of title and
ownership over the properties to herein petitioners.
      16.      This motion is filed in good faith and not for purposes of delay.
                                        PRAYER
      WHEREFORE, premises considered, it is most respectfully prayed of this
Honorable Court that an order be issued reviving the Special Civil Case for
Declaratory Relief, Cancellation of Title, Consignation and Damages before this
Honorable Court docketed as Special Civil Case No. 2000-166.
      It is likewise most respectfully prayed of this Honorable Court that an order
be issued:
            a. Setting the case for clarificatory conference on a date and time most
convenient to this Honorable Court;
         b. Ordering the accounting of the payments consigned with the Clerk of
Court of the Regional Trial Court of Lucena City in relation to the Contract of
Conditional Sale;
         c. Ordering the respondent Greña to execute the Deeds of Absolute
Sale in favor of herein petitioners and to deliver the Transfer Certificate of Title
No. T-515508 and documents necessary to effect the transfer of title and
ownership over the properties to herein petitioners;
         d. Ordering the Clerk of Court of Lucena City to deliver the consigned
amount to respondent Grena, and/or authorizing the respondent Grena to
withdraw the said amounts consigned before the Clerk of Court of Lucena City,
and to return any excess in the consigned amounts in the custody of the Clerk of
Court of Lucena City to herein petitioners who are entitled thereto.
      Other reliefs, just and equitable, in the premises are likewise prayed for.
      10 October 2012. Makati City for Lucena City.
                              BATINO LAW OFFICES
                              Counsel for Petitioners
                             4th Floor Oakridge Plaza
                                San Antonio Street
                        Paseo de Magallanes, Makati City
                            batinolaw@batinolaw.com
                           8539544; 8539578; 8539582
                               Local 116 for telefax
                       Cellphone number: +639209818646
                                        By:
                               SARA JEI L. SAN JUAN
                                             Roll No. 59310
                                   IBP No. 877559, Laguna, 1/3/2012
                                  PTR No. 3184660, Makati, 1/6/2012
                                    MCLE Compliance not required9
                                              VERIFICATION
Republic of the Philippines )
____________________ ) s.s.
           We, heirs of Irenea B. De Castro (deceased), Crispin Briones, Anita
Mascarinas, Paula Briones, Corazon Briones, Susan De Castro, Remedios Mendoza,
Adela Briones, Araceli Cosico, Angelina Guce, Lolita Briones, and Eufrocina Mejia,
of legal age, Filipino, residents of Brgy. Pury, Municipality of San Antonio, Province
of Quezon, after being duly sworn in accordance with law, depose and state that:
           1. We are the petitioners in the foregoing special civil case;
           2. We caused the preparation and filing of the foregoing motion to revive
special civil case with motion to set for clarificatory conference;
           3. We read and understood all the contents of the foregoing motion and
state that the allegations contained therein are true and correct of our personal
knowledge and based on authentic records;
           IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands this ____ day of
____________________ 2012 at __________, Philippines.
PAULA BRIONES                                         SUSAN DE CASTRO
REMEDIOS MENDOZA                                      ADELA BRIONES
ARACELI COSICO                                        ANGELINA GUCE
9
    Admitted to the Philippine Bar in 2011.
LOLITA BRIONES                            EUFROCINA MEJIA
CRISPIN BRIONES                           ANITA MASCARINAS
For: IRENEA B. DE CASTRO (deceased)
________________________                  ______________________
________________________                  ______________________
_______________________
      SUBSCRIBED AND SWORN to before me this ____ day of ______________
2012, the affiants having exhibited the following competent evidence of
identification:
                             Proof of Identity      Date and Place Issued
Paula Briones
Corazon Briones
Susan De Castro
Remedios Mendoza
Adela Briones
Araceli Cosico
Angelina Guce
Lolita Briones
Eufrocina Mejia
Crispin Briones
Anita Mascarinas
For Irenea B. De Castro
 _________________
                                                            NOTARY PUBLIC
Doc. No. _____;
Page No. _____;
Book No. _____;
Series of 2012.
                            NOTICE OF HEARING
The Clerk of Court
Regional Trial Court
Branch 56 Lucena City
GREETINGS:
       Please submit the foregoing MOTION TO REVIVE SPECIAL CIVIL CASE with
MOTION TO SET FOR CLARIFICATORY CONFERENCE for consideration and approval
of this Honorable Court on October 2, 2012 at 2:00 PM.
                                              SARA JEI L. SAN JUAN
Ms. Segundina Liliosa Grena
Brgy. Lusacan, Tiaong, Quezon
Atty. Jose C. Flores, Jr.
No. 11 Perez St. Lucena City
(counsel for Defendant Grena)
Atty. Crispin K. Castillo
Suite 204, 868 Building
San Andres cor Leon Guinto
Malate, Manila
(counsel for Himself and Respondents
Zenaida Castillo Cordova, Lourdes Castillo-
Arambulo and Ernesto K. Castillo)
Atty. Epifanio E. Gamo, Jr
A. Flores St 4000
San Pablo City, Laguna
(counsel for Alicia Castillo-Soriano
And the Estate of Nita Castillo)
Register of Deeds
Province of Quezon
Lucena City
GREETINGS:
      Please take notice that the undersigned counsel will submit the foregoing
MOTION TO REVIVE SPECIAL CIVIL CASE with MOTION TO SET FOR CLARIFICATORY
CONFERENCE for consideration and approval of this Honorable Court on October
23, 2012 at 2:00 PM.
                                                SARA JEI L. SAN JUAN
Copy furnished:
Ms. Segundina Liliosa Grena               by personal delivery:
Brgy. Lusacan, Tiaong, Quezon             recipient’s signature _____________
                                          recipient’s printed name:
                                          ______________________________
                                          date of receipt: _________________
Atty. Jose C. Flores, Jr.                 by personal delivery:
No. 11 Perez St. Lucena City              recipient’s signature _____________
(counsel for Defendant Grena)             recipient’s printed name:
                                          ______________________________
                                          date of receipt: _________________
Atty. Crispin K. Castillo                   by registered mail:
Suite 204, 868 Building                     per reg. rec. no. ___________
San Andres cor Leon Guinto                  posted at __________on__________
Malate, Manila
(counsel for Himself and Respondents
Zenaida Castillo Cordova, Lourdes Castillo-
Arambulo and Ernesto K. Castillo)
Atty. Epifanio E. Gamo, Jr                by registered mail:
A. Flores St 4000                         per reg. rec. no. __________
San Pablo City, Laguna                    posted at __________on __________
(counsel for Alicia Castillo-Soriano
And the Estate of Nita Castillo)
Register of Deeds                         by registered mail:
Province of Quezon                        per reg. rec. no. __________
Lucena City                               posted at __________on __________