Sablas vs Sablas 526 SCRA 292

Facts:

Petitioner spouses were served with summons and a copy of the complaint, they filed a motion for extension of time requesting an additional period of 15 days, or until November 5, 1999, to file their answer. However, they were able to file it only on November 8, 1999. While the trial court observed that the answer was filed out of time, it admitted the pleading because no motion to declare petitioner spouses in default was filed.

The following day, respondents filed a motion to declare petitioner spouses in default. It was denied by the trial court. Respondents moved for reconsideration but it was also denied. Thereafter, they challenged the order in the Court of Appeals in a petition for certiorari alleging that the admission of the answer by the trial court was contrary to the rules of procedure and constituted grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction.

The appellate court ruled that the trial court committed grave abuse of discretion because, pursuant to Section 3, Rule 9 of the Rules of Court, the trial court had no recourse but to declare petitioner spouses in default when they failed to file their answer on or before November 5, 1999. Thus, the Court of Appeals granted the petition, vacated the December 6, 1999 order and remanded the case to the trial court for reception of plaintiffs’ evidence.

Aggrieved, petitioner spouses now assail the decision of the Court of Appeals in this petition for review on certiorari.

issue:

Whether there was a valid declaration of default?

held:

No, Where There Is No Motion, There Can Be No Declaration of Default, The elements of a valid declaration of default are:

1. the court has validly acquired jurisdiction over the person of the defending party either by service of summons or voluntary appearance;

2. the defending party failed to file the answer within the time allowed therefor and

3. a motion to declare the defending party in default has been filed by the claiming party with notice to the defending party.

An order of default can be made only upon motion of the claiming party. It can be properly issued against the defending party who failed to file the answer within the prescribed period only if the claiming party files a motion to that effect with notice to the defending party.

It is within the sound discretion of the trial court to permit the defendant to file his answer and to be heard on the merits even after the reglementary period for filing the answer expires. The Rules of Court provides for discretion on the part of the trial court not only to extend the time for filing an answer but also to allow an answer to be filed after the reglementary period.