THIRD DIVISION

[G.R. No. 84197. July 28, 1989.]

PIONEER INSURANCE & SURETY CORPORATION , petitioner, vs. THE

HON. COURT OF APPEALS, BORDER MACHINERY & HEAVY
EQUIPMENT, INC., (BORMAHECO), CONSTANCIO M. MAGLANA and
JACOB S. LIM , respondents.

[G.R. No. 84157. July 28, 1989.]

JACOB S. LIM , petitioner, vs. COURT OF APPEALS, PIONEER

INSURANCE AND SURETY CORPORATION, BORDER MACHINERY and
HEAVY EQUIPMENT CO., INC., FRANCISCO and MODESTO
CERVANTES and CONSTANCIO MAGLANA, respondents.

Eriberto D. Ignacio for Pioneer Insurance & Surety Corporation.

Sycip, Salazar, Hernandez & Gatmaitan for Jacob S. Lim.
Renato J. Robles for BORMAHECO, Inc. and Cervanteses.
Leonardo B. Lucena for Constancio Maglana.

SYLLABUS

1. CIVIL LAW; DAMAGES; INSURANCE; AN INSURER IS SURROGATED TO THE

RIGHTS OF THE INSURED AGAINST THE WRONGDOER UPON RECEIPT OF THE
INDEMNITY. — The petitioner's argument that the respondents had no interest in the
reinsurance contract as this is strictly between the petitioner as insured and the
reinsuring company pursuant to Section 91 (should be Section 98) of the Insurance
Code has no basis. Under the provisions of Article 2207 of the Civil Code if a property is
insured and the owner receives the indemnity from the insurer, the insurer is deemed
subrogated to the rights of the insured against the wrongdoer and if the amount paid
by the insurer does not fully cover the loss, then the aggrieved party is the one entitled
to recover the de ciency. Evidently, under this legal provision, the real party in interest
with regard to the portion of the indemnity paid is the insurer and not the insured. (PAL
v. Heald Lumber Co., 101 Phil. 1031; Manila Mahogany Manufacturing Corporation v.
Court of Appeals, 154 SCRA 650 [1987]
2. REMEDIAL LAW; ACTIONS; PARTIES; ONLY THE REISURER OF THE
INSURER ACTING AS AN ATTORNEY-IN-FACT OF THE REINSURER CAN COLLECT
AGAINST THE INDEMNITY AGREEMENT. — The appellate court did not commit a
reversible error in dismissing the petitioner's complaint as against the respondents for
the reason that the petitioner was not the real party in interest in the complaint and,
therefore, has no cause of action against the respondents.
3. ID.; EVIDENCE; FINDINGS OF FACT OF THE TRIAL COURT UPHELD ON
APPEAL. — We nd the trial court's ndings on the matter replete with evidence to
substantiate its nding that the counter-indemnitors are not liable to the petitioner.
Pioneer, having foreclosed the chattel mortgage on the planes and spare parts, no
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 longer has any further action against the defendants as indemnitors to recover any
unpaid balance of the price. The indemnity agreement was ipso jure extinguished upon
the foreclosure of the chattel mortgage. These defendants, as indemnitors, would be
entitled to be subrogated to the right of Pioneer should they make payments to the
latter. (Articles 2067 and 2080, New Civil Code)
4. CIVIL LAW; CONTRACTS; A DE FACTO PARTNERSHIP IS CREATED WHERE
PERSONS ASSOCIATE THEMSELVES BUT FAILED TO FORM A CORPORATION. — Where
persons associate themselves together under articles to purchase property to carry on
a business, and their organization is so defective as to come short of creating a
corporation within the statute, they become in legal effect partners inter se, and their
rights as members of the company to the property acquired by the company will be
recognized (Smith v. Schoodoc Pond Packing Co., 84 A 268, 109 Me. 555; Whipple v.
Parker, 29 Mich. 369).
5. ID.; ID.; ID.; DOCTRINE NOT APPLICABLE WHERE THERE WAS REALLY NO
INVENTION TO FORM A CORPORATION; PARTIES NEED NOT SHARE IN LOSSES; CASE
AT BAR. — The petitioner never had the intention to form a corporation with the
respondents despite his representations to them. This gives credence to the cross-
claims of the respondents to the effect that they were induced and lured by the
petitioner to make contributions to a proposed corporation which was never formed
because the petitioner reneged on their agreement. Applying the principles of law
earlier cited to the facts of the case, necessarily, no de facto partnership was created
among the parties which would entitle the petitioner to a reimbursement of the
supposed losses of the proposed corporation. The record shows that the petitioner
was acting on his own and not in behalf of his other would-be incorporators in
transacting the sale of the airplanes and spare parts.

DECISION

GUTIERREZ, JR. , J : p

The subject matter of these consolidated petitions is the decision of the Court of
Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 66195 which modi ed the decision of the then Court of First
Instance of Manila in Civil Case No. 66135. The plaintiff's complaint (petitioner in G.R.
No. 84197) against all defendants (respondents in G.R. No. 84197) was dismissed but
in all other respects the trial court's decision was affirmed. LLpr

The dispositive portion of the trial court's decision reads as follows:

"WHEREFORE, judgment is rendered against defendant Jacob S. Lim
requiring him to pay plaintiff the amount of P311,056.02, with interest at the
rate of 12% per annum compounded monthly; plus 15% of the amount awarded
to plaintiff as attorney's fees from July 2, 1966, until full payment is made; plus
P70,000.00 moral and exemplary damages.
"It is found in the records that the cross party plaintiffs incurred
additional miscellaneous expenses aside from P151,000.00, making a total of
P184,878.74. Defendant Jacob S. Lim is further required to pay cross party
plaintiff, Bormaheco, the Cervanteses one-half and Maglana the other half, the
amount of P184,878.74 with interest from the ling of the cross-complaints
until the amount is fully paid; plus moral and exemplary damages in the amount
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 of P184,878.84 with interest from the ling of the cross-complaints until the
amount is fully paid; plus moral and exemplary damages in the amount of
P50,000.00 for each of the two Cervanteses.
"Furthermore, he is required to pay P20,000.00 to Bormaheco and the
Cervanteses, and another P20,000.00 to Constancio B. Maglana as attorney's
fees.
xxx xxx xxx
"WHEREFORE, in view of all above, the complaint of plaintiff Pioneer
against defendants Bormaheco, the Cervanteses and Constancio B. Maglana, is
dismissed. Instead, plaintiff is required to indemnify the defendants Bormaheco
and the Cervanteses the amount of P20,000.00 as attorney's fees and the
amount of P4,379.21, per year from 1966 with legal rate of interest up to the
time it is paid.
"Furthermore, the plaintiff is required to pay Constancio B. Maglana the
amount of P20,000.00 as attorney's fees and costs.
"No moral or exemplary damages is awarded against plaintiff for this
action was led in good faith. The fact that the properties of the Bormaheco
and the Cervanteses were attached and that they were required to le a
counterbond in order to dissolve the attachment, is not an act of bad faith.
When a man tries to protect his rights, he should not be saddled with moral or
exemplary damages. Furthermore, the rights exercised were provided for in the
Rules of Court, and it was the court that ordered it, in the exercise of its
discretion.
"No damage is decided against Malayan Insurance Company, Inc., the
third-party defendant, for it only secured the attachment prayed for by the
plaintiff Pioneer. If an insurance company would be liable for damages in
Jacob Lim was performing an act which is clearly within its power and which is the reason for
engaged in the
airline
business as
its being, then nobody would engage in the insurance business. No further claim
the owner-
operator of or counter-claim for or against anybody is declared by this Court." (Rollo — G.R.
SAL
No. 24197, pp. 15-16)
In 1965, Jacob S. Lim (petitioner in G.R. No. 84157) was engaged in the airline
JDA and Lim
business as owner-operator of Southern Air Lines (SAL) a single proprietorship.
entered into a
sales contract
for the sale of
On May 17, 1965, at Tokyo, Japan, Japan Domestic Airlines (JDA) and Lim
aircrafts and
spare parts entered into and executed a sales contract (Exhibit A) for the sale and purchase of two
(2) DC-3A Type aircrafts and one (1) set of necessary spare parts for the total agreed
price of US $109,000.00 to be paid in installments. One DC-3 Aircraft with Registry No.
PIC-718, arrived in Manila on June 7, 1965 while the other aircraft, arrived in Manila on
Pioneer as
surety
July 18, 1965.
executed
Surety Bond in
favor of JDA On May 22, 1965, Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation (Pioneer, petitioner
in G.R. No. 84197) as surety executed and issued its Surety Bond No. 6639 (Exhibit C)
for the balance
price

in favor of JDA, in behalf of its principal, Lim, for the balance price of the aircrafts and
Border
spare parts.
Machinery and
Heavy
Equipment It appears that Border Machinery and Heavy Equipment Company, Inc.
Company,
Cervanteses
and Maglana
(Bormaheco), Francisco and Modesto Cervantes (Cervanteses) and Constancio
contributed
some funds Maglana (respondents in both petitions) contributed some funds used in the purchase
used to
purchas
aircrafts
of the above aircrafts and spare parts. The funds were supposed to be their
contributions to a new corporation proposed by Lim to expand his airline business.
They executed two (2) separate indemnity agreements (Exhibits D-1 and D-2) in favor of
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 Pioneer, one signed by Maglana and the other jointly signed by Lim for SAL, Bormaheco
and the Cervanteses. The indemnity agreements stipulated that the indemnitors
principally agree and bind themselves jointly and severally to indemnify and hold and
save harmless Pioneer from and against any/all damages, losses, costs, damages,
taxes, penalties, charges and expenses of whatever kind and nature which Pioneer may
incur in consequence of having become surety upon the bond/note and to pay,
reimburse and make good to Pioneer, its successors and assigns, all sums and
amounts of money which it or its representatives should or may pay or cause to be paid
or become liable to pay on them of whatever kind and nature.
On June 10, 1965, Lim doing business under the name and style of SAL executed
in favor of Pioneer as deed of chattel mortgage as security for the latter's suretyship in
favor of the former. It was stipulated therein that Lim transfer and convey to the surety
the two aircrafts. The deed (Exhibit D) was duly registered with the O ce of the
Register of Deeds of the City of Manila and with the Civil Aeronautics Administration
pursuant to the Chattel Mortgage Law and the Civil Aeronautics Law (Republic Act No.
Lim defaulted on
776), respectively.
his subsequent
payments so
pioneer paid the
Lim defaulted on his subsequent installment payments prompting JDA to
rest
request payments from the surety. Pioneer paid a total sum of P298,626.12.
Pioneer filed a
petitioner for
extrajudicial Pioneer then led a petition for the extrajudicial foreclosure of the said chattel
foreclosure of
the chattel
mortgage.
mortgage before the Sheriff of Davao City. The Cervanteses and Maglana, however,
Cervanteses and
Maglana filed a filed a third party claim alleging that they are co-owners of the aircrafts.
3rd party claim,
alleging that they
are co-owners of
the aircraft
On July 19, 1966, Pioneer led an action for judicial foreclosure with an
application for a writ of preliminary attachment against Lim and respondents, the
Pioneer filed an
Cervanteses, Bormaheco and Maglana. cdll

action for judicial

foreclosure
against Lim and In their Answers, Maglana, Bormaheco and the Cervanteses led cross-claims
respondents
against Lim alleging that they were not privies to the contracts signed by Lim and, by
way of counterclaim, sought for damages for being exposed to litigation and for
recovery of the sums of money they advanced to Lim for the purchase of the aircrafts in
question.
After trial on the merits, a decision was rendered holding Lim liable to pay
Pioneer but dismissed Pioneer's complaint against all other defendants.
As stated earlier, the appellate court modi ed the trial court's decision in that the
plaintiffs complaint against all the defendants was dismissed. In all other respects the
trial court's decision was affirmed.
We first resolve G.R. No. 84197.
Petitioner Pioneer Insurance and Surety Corporation avers that:
RESPONDENT COURT OF APPEALS GRIEVOUSLY ERRED WHEN IT
DISMISSED THE APPEAL OF PETITIONER ON THE SOLE GROUND THAT
PETITIONER HAD ALREADY COLLECTED THE PROCEEDS OF THE
REINSURANCE ON ITS BOND IN FAVOR OF THE JDA AND THAT IT CANNOT
REPRESENT A REINSURER TO RECOVER THE AMOUNT FROM HEREIN PRIVATE
RESPONDENTS AS DEFENDANTS IN THE TRIAL COURT. (Rollo — G.R. No.
84197, p. 10)
The petitioner questions the following findings of the appellate court:
"We nd no merit in plaintiffs appeal. It is undisputed that plaintiff
Pioneer had reinsured its risk of liability under the surety bond in favor of JDA
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 and subsequently collected the proceeds of such reinsurance in the sum of
P295,000.00. Defendants' alleged obligation to Pioneer amounts to
P295,000.00, hence, plaintiff's instant action for the recovery of the amount of
P298,666.28 from defendants will no longer prosper. Plaintiff Pioneer is not the
real party in interest to institute the instant action as it does not stand to be
benefited or injured by the judgment.
"Plaintiff Pioneer's contention that it is representing the reinsurer to
recover the amount from defendants, hence, it instituted the action is utterly
devoid of merit. Plaintiff did not even present any evidence that it is the
attorney-in-fact of the reinsurance company, authorized to institute an action for
and in behalf of the latter. To qualify a person to be a real party in interest in
whose name an action must be prosecuted, he must appear to be the present
real owner of the right sought to be enforced (Moran, Vol. I, Comments on the
Rules of Court, 1979 ed., p. 155.). It has been held that the real party in interest
is the party who would be bene ted or injured by the judgment or the party
entitled to the avails of the suit (Salonga v. Warner Barnes & Co., Ltd., 88 Phil.
125, 131). By real party in interest is meant a present substantial interest as
distinguished from a mere expectancy or a future, contingent, subordinate or
consequential interest (Garcia v. David, 67 Phil. 27; Oglleaby v. Spring eld
Marine Bank, 52 N.E. 2d 1600, 385 III, 414; Flowers v. Germana, 1 NW 2d 424;
Weber v. City of Cheye, 97 P. 2d 667, 669, quoting 47 C.V. 35).
"Based on the foregoing premises, plaintiff Pioneer cannot be considered
as the real party in interest as it has already been paid by the reinsurer the sum
of P295,000.00 — the bulk of defendants' alleged obligation to Pioneer.
"In addition to the said proceeds of the reinsurance received by plaintiff
Pioneer from its reinsurer, the former was able to foreclose extra-judicially one
of the subject airplanes and its spare engine, realizing the total amount of
P37,050.00 from the sale of the mortgaged chattels. Adding the sum of
P37,050.00, to the proceeds of the reinsurance amounting to P295,000.00, it is
patent that plaintiff has been overpaid in the amount of P33,383.72 considering
that the total amount it had paid to JDA totals to only P298,666.28. To allow
plaintiff Pioneer to recover from defendants the amount in excess of
P298,666.28 would be tantamount to unjust enrichment as it has already been
paid by the reinsurance company of the amount plaintiff has paid to JDA as
surety of defendant Lim vis-a-vis defendant Lim's liability to JDA. Well settled is
the rule that no person should unjustly enrich himself at the expense of another
(Article 22, New Civil Code)." (Rollo-84197, pp. 24-25).
The petitioner contends that — (1) it is at a loss where respondent court based
its nding that petitioner was paid by its reinsurer in the aforesaid amount, as this
matter has never been raised by any of the parties herein both in their answers in the
court below and in their respective briefs with respondent court; (Rollo, p. 11) (2) even
assuming hypothetically that it was paid by its reinsurer, still none of the respondents
had any interest in the matter since the reinsurance is strictly between the petitioner
and the re-insurer pursuant to section 91 of the Insurance Code; (3) pursuant to the
indemnity agreements, the petitioner is entitled to recover from respondents
Bormaheco and Maglana; and (4) the principle of unjust enrichment is not applicable
considering that whatever amount he would recover from the co-indemnitor will be paid
to the reinsurer.
The records belie the petitioner's contention that the issue on the reinsurance
money was never raised by the parties.
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 A cursory reading of the trial court's lengthy decision shows that two of the
issues threshed out were:
xxx xxx xxx
"1. Has Pioneer a cause of action against defendants with respect to
so much of its obligations to JDA as has been paid with reinsurance money?
2. If the answer to the preceding question is in the negative, has
Pioneer still any claim against defendants, considering the amount it has
realized from the sale of the mortgaged properties? (Record on Appeal, p. 359,
Annex B of G.R. No. 84157).
In resolving these issues, the trial court made the following findings:
"It appearing that Pioneer reinsured its risk of liability under the surety
bond it had executed in favor of JDA, collected the proceeds of such
reinsurance in the sum of P295,000, and paid with the said amount the bulk of
its alleged liability to JDA under the said surety bond, it is plain that on this
score it no longer has any right to collect to the extent of the said amount.
On the question of why it is Pioneer, instead of the reinsurance (sic), that
is suing defendants for the amount paid to it by the reinsurers, notwithstanding
that the cause of action pertains to the latter, Pioneer says: 'The reinsurers opted
instead that the Pioneer Insurance & Surety Corporation shall pursue alone the
case.' '. . . . Pioneer Insurance & Surety Corporation is representing the reinsurers
to recover the amount.' In other words, insofar as the amount paid to it by the
reinsurers Pioneer is suing defendants as their attorney-in-fact.
But in the rst place, there is not the slightest indication in the complaint
that Pioneer is suing as attorney-in-fact of the reinsurers for any amount. Lastly,
and most important of all, Pioneer has no right to institute and maintain in its
own name an action for the bene t of the reinsurers. It is well-settled that an
action brought by an attorney-in-fact in his own name instead of that of the
principal will not prosper, and this is so even where the name of the principal is
disclosed in the complaint.
"'Section 2 of Rule 3 of the Old Rules of Court provides that 'Every
action must be prosecuted in the name of the real party in interest.' This
provision is mandatory. The real party in interest is the party who would be
bene ted or injured by the judgment or is the party entitled to the avails of
the suit.
"'This Court has held in various cases that an attorney-in-fact is not
a real party in interest, that there is no law permitting an action to be
brought by an attorney-in-fact. Arroyo v. Granada and Gentero, 18 Phil.
Rep. 484; Luchauco v. Limjuco and Gonzalo, 19 Phil. Rep. 12; Filipinas
Industrial Corporation v. San Diego G.R. No. L-22347, 1968, 23 SCRA 706,
710-714.'"
"The total amount paid by Pioneer to JDA is P299,666.29. Since Pioneer
has collected P295,000.00 from the reinsurers, the uninsured portion of what it
paid to JDA is the difference between the two amounts, or P3,666.28. This is the
amount for which Pioneer may sue defendants, assuming that the indemnity
agreement is still valid and effective. But since the amount realized from the
sale of the mortgaged chattels are P35,000.00 for one of the airplanes and
P2,050.00 for a spare engine, or a total of P37,050.00, Pioneer is still overpaid
by P33,383.72. Therefore, Pioneer has no more claim against defendants."'
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 (Record on Appeal, pp. 360-363).
The payment to the petitioner made by the reinsurers was not disputed in the
appellate court. Considering this admitted payment, the only issue that cropped up was
the effect of payment made by the reinsurers to the petitioner. Therefore, the
petitioner's argument that the respondents had no interest in the reinsurance contract
as this is strictly between the petitioner as insured and the reinsuring company
pursuant to Section 91 (should be Section 98) of the Insurance Code has no basis.
"In general a reinsurer, on payment of a loss acquires the same rights by
subrogation as are acquired in similar cases where the original insurer pays a
loss (Universal Ins. Co. v. Old Time Molasses Co. C.C.A. La., 46 F 2nd 925).
"The rules of practice in actions on original insurance policies are in
general applicable to actions or contracts of reinsurance. (Delaware, Ins. Co. v.
Pennsylvania Fire Ins. Co., 55 S.E. 330, 126 GA. 380, 7 Ann. Con. 1134)".
Hence the applicable law is Article 2207 of the new Civil Code, to wit:
"Art. 2207. If the plaintiffs property has been insured, and he has
received indemnity from the insurance company for the injury or loss arising out
of the wrong or breach of contract complained of, the insurance company shall
be subrogated to the rights of the insured against the wrongdoer or the person
who has violated the contract. If the amount paid by the insurance company
does not fully cover the injury or loss, the aggrieved party shall be entitled to
recover the deficiency from the person causing the loss or injury."
Interpreting the aforesaid provision, we ruled in the case of Phil. Air Lines, Inc. v.
Heald Lumber Co. (101 Phil. 1031 [1957]) which we subsequently applied in Manila
Mahogany Manufacturing Corporation v. Court of Appeals (154 SCRA 650 [1987]):.
"Note that if a property is insured and the owner receives the indemnity
from the insurer, it is provided in said article that the insurer is deemed
subrogated to the rights of the insured against the wrongdoer and if the amount
paid by the insurer does not fully cover the loss, then the aggrieved party is the
one entitled to recover the de ciency. Evidently, under this legal provision, the
real party in interest with regard to the portion of the indemnity paid is the
insurer and not the insured." (Emphasis supplied).
It is clear from the records that Pioneer sued in its own name and not as an
attorney-in-fact of the reinsurer.
Accordingly, the appellate court did not commit a reversible error in dismissing
the petitioner's complaint as against the respondents for the reason that the petitioner
was not the real party in interest in the complaint and, therefore, has no cause of action
against the respondents.
Nevertheless, the petitioner argues that the appeal as regards the counter
indemnitors should not have been dismissed on the premise that the evidence on
record shows that it is entitled to recover from the counter indemnitors. It does not,
however, cite any grounds except its allegation that respondent "Maglana's defense and
evidence are certainly incredible" (p. 12, Rollo) to back up its contention.
On the other hand, we nd the trial court's ndings on the matter replete with
evidence to substantiate its nding that the counter-indemnitors are not liable to the
petitioner. The trial court stated:
"Apart from the foregoing proposition, the indemnity agreement ceased
to be valid and effective after the execution of the chattel mortgage.
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 "Testimonies of defendants Francisco Cervantes and Modesto
Cervantes.
"Pioneer Insurance, knowing the value of the aircrafts and the spare parts
involved, agreed to issue the bond provided that the same would be mortgaged
to it, but this was not possible because the planes were still in Japan and could
not be mortgaged here in the Philippines. As soon as the aircrafts were brought
to the Philippines, they would be mortgaged to Pioneer Insurance to cover the
bond, and this indemnity agreement would be cancelled.
"The following is averred under oath by Pioneer in the original complaint:
"'The various con icting claims over the mortgaged properties have
impaired and rendered insu cient the security under the chattel mortgage
and there is thus no other su cient security for the claim sought to be
enforced by this action.'"
"This is judicial admission and aside from the chattel mortgage there is
no other security for the claim sought to be enforced by this action, which
necessarily means that the indemnity agreement had ceased to have any force
and effect at the time this action was instituted. Sec 2, Rule 129, Revised Rules
of Court.
"Prescinding from the foregoing, Pioneer, having foreclosed the chattel
mortgage on the planes and spare parts, no longer has any further action
against the defendants as indemnitors to recover any unpaid balance of the
price. The indemnity agreement was ipso jure extinguished upon the foreclosure
of the chattel mortgage. These defendants, as indemnitors, would be entitled to
be subrogated to the right of Pioneer should they make payments to the latter.
Articles 2067 and 2080 of the New Civil Code of the Philippines.
Independently of the preceding proposition Pioneer's election of the
remedy of foreclosure precludes any further action to recover any unpaid
balance of the price.
SAL or Lim, having failed to pay the second to the eight and last
installments to JDA and Pioneer as surety having made of the payments to
JDA, the alternative remedies open to Pioneer were as provided in Article 1484
of the New Civil Code, known as the Recto Law.
Pioneer exercised the remedy of foreclosure of the chattel mortgage both
by extrajudicial foreclosure and the instant suit. Such being the case, as
provided by the aforementioned provisions, Pioneer 'shall have no further action
against the purchaser to recover any unpaid balance and any agreement to the
contrary is void.' Cruz, et al. v. Filipinas Investment & Finance Corp. No. L-24772,
May 27, 1968, 23 SCRA 791, 795-6.
The operation of the foregoing provision cannot be escaped from
through the contention that Pioneer is not the vendor but JDA. The reason is
that Pioneer is actually exercising the rights of JDA as vendor, having
subrogated it in such rights. Nor may the application of the provision be validly
opposed on the ground that these defendants and defendant Maglana are not
the vendee but indemnitors. Pascual, et al. v. Universal Motors Corporation, G.R.
No. L-27862, Nov. 20, 1974, 61 SCRA 124.
The restructuring of the obligations of SAL or Lim, thru the change of
their maturity dates discharged these defendants from any liability as alleged
indemnitors. The change of the maturity dates of the obligations of Lim, or SAL,
extinguished the original obligations thru novations, thus discharging the
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 indemnitors.
"'The principal hereof shall be paid in eight equal successive three
months interval installments, the rst of which shall be due and payable
25 August 1965, the remainder of which . . . shall be due and payable on
the 26th day . . . of each succeeding three months and the last of which
shall be due and payable 26th May 1967.'"
"However, at the trial of this case, Pioneer produced a memorandum
executed by SAL, or Lim and JDA, modifying the maturity dates of the
obligations, as follows:
"'The principal hereof shall be paid in eight equal successive three
month interval installments the rst of which shall be due and payable 4
September 1965, the remainder of which . . . shall be due and payable on
the 4th day . . . of each succeeding months and the last of which shall be
due and payable 4th June 1967.'"
"Not only that, Pioneer also produced eight purported promissory notes
bearing maturity dates different from that xed in the aforesaid memorandum;
the due date of the rst installment appears as October 15, 1965, and those of
the rest of the installments, the 15th of each succeeding three months, that of
the last installment being July 15, 1967.
"These restructuring of the obligations with regard to their maturity dates,
effected twice, were done without the knowledge, much less, would have it
believed that these defendants Maglana (sic). Pioneer's o cial Numeriano
Carbonel, would have it believed that these defendants and defendant Maglana
knew of and consented to the modi cation of the obligations. But if that were
so, there would have been the corresponding documents in the form of a written
notice to as well as written conformity of these defendants, and there are no
such document. The consequence of this was the extinguishment of the
obligations and of the surety bond secured by the indemnity agreement which
was thereby also extinguished. Applicable by analogy are the rulings of the
Supreme Court in the case of Kabankalan Sugar Co. v. Pacheco, 55 Phil. 553,
563, and the case of Asiatic Petroleum Co. v. Hizon David, 45 Phil. 532, 538.
"'Art. 2079. An extension granted to the debtor by the creditor
without the consent of the guarantor extinguishes the guaranty. The mere
failure on the part of the creditor to demand payment after the debt has
become due does not of itself constitute any extension of time referred to
herein, (New Civil Code).'"
"Manresa, 4th ed., Vol. 12, pp. 316-317, Vol. VI, pp. 562-563, M.F.
Stevenson & Co., Ltd., v. Climacom et al. (C.A.) 36 O.G. 1571.
"Pioneer's liability as surety to JDA had already prescribed when Pioneer
paid the same. Consequently, Pioneer has no more cause of action to recover
from these defendants, as supposed indemnitors what it has paid to JDA. By
virtue of an express stipulation in the surety bond, the failure of JDA to present
its claim to Pioneer within ten days from default of Lim or SAL on every
installment, released Pioneer from liability from the claim.
"Therefore, Pioneer is not entitled to exact reimbursement from these
defendants thru the indemnity.

"'Art. 1318. Payment by a solidary debtor shall not entitle him to

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 reimbursement from his co-debtors if such payment is made after the
obligation has prescribed or became illegal.'"

"These defendants are entitled to recover damages and attorney's fees

from Pioneer and its surety by reason of the ling of the instant case against
them and the attachment and garnishment of their properties. The instant
action is clearly unfounded insofar as plaintiff drags these defendants and
defendant Maglana." (Record on Appeal, pp. 363-369, Rollo of G.R. No. 84157).
We find no cogent reason to reverse or modify these findings.
Hence, it is our conclusion that the petition in G.R. No. 84197 is not meritorious.
We now discuss the merits of G.R. No. 84157.
Petitioner Jacob S. Lim poses the following issues:
Petitioner: as a
result of the failure
"1. What legal rules govern the relationship among co-investors
of respondents to
incorporate, a de whose agreement was to do business through the corporate vehicle but who
facto partnership
among them was
created and all
failed to incorporate the entity in which they had chosen to invest? How are the
must share in the
losses or gains of
losses to be treated in situations where their contributions to the intended
the venture.
Petitioner 'corporation' were invested not through the corporate form? This Petition
questions
appellate court’s
findings ordering
presents these fundamental questions which we believe were resolved
him to reimburse
certain amts given
erroneously by the Court of Appeals ('CA')." (Rollo, p. 6).
by the respondents
to petitioner
These questions are premised on the petitioner's theory that as a result of the
failure of respondents Bormaheco, Spouses Cervantes, Constancio Maglana and
petitioner Lim to incorporate, a de facto partnership among them was created, and that
as a consequence of such relationship all must share in the losses and/or gains of the
venture in proportion to their contribution. The petitioner, therefore, questions the
appellate court's ndings ordering him to reimburse certain amounts given by the
respondents to the petitioner as their contributions to the intended corporation, to wit:
"However, defendant Lim should be held liable to pay his co-defendants'
cross-claims in the total amount of P184,878.74 as correctly found by the trial
court, with the interest from the ling of the cross-claims until the amount is
fully paid. Defendants Lim should pay one-half of the said amount to
Bormaheco and the Cervanteses and the other one-half to defendant Maglana.
It is established in the records that defendant Lim had duly received the amount
of P151,000.00 from defendants Bormaheco and Maglana representing the
latter's participation in the ownership of the subject airplanes and spare parts
(Exhibit 58). In addition, the cross-party plaintiffs incurred additional expenses,
hence, the total sum of P184,878.74."
We first state the principles.
"While it has been held that as between themselves the rights of the
stockholders in a defectively incorporated association should be governed by
Persons who attempt but
fail to form a corp and who the supposed charter and the laws of the state relating thereto and not by the
carry on business under
the corp name occupy a
position of partners inter
rules governing partners (Cannon v. Brush Electric Co., 54 A. 121, 96 Md. 446, 94
se
Am. S.R. 584), it is ordinarily held that persons who attempt, but fail, to form a
corporation and who carry on business under the corporate name occupy a
their rights as members of
the company to the
position of partners inter se (Lynch v. Perryman, 119 P. 229, 29 Okl. 615, Ann.
property acquired by the
company will be Cas. 1913A 1065). Thus, where persons associate themselves together under
recognized
articles to purchase property to carry on a business, and their organization is so
defective as to come short of creating a corporation within the statute, they
become in legal effect partners inter se, and their rights as members of the
company to the property acquired by the company will be recognized (Smith v.
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 Schoodoc Pond Packing Co., 84 A 268, 109 Me. 555; Whipple v. Parker, 29 Mich.
369). So, where certain persons associated themselves as a corporation for the
development of land for irrigation purposes, and each conveyed land to the
corporation, and two of them contracted to pay a third the difference in the
proportionate value of the land conveyed by him, and no stock was ever issued
However, such
relation does not
necessarily exist, for
in the corporation, it was treated as a trustee for the associates in an action
ordinarily persons
cannot be made to between them for an accounting, and its capital stock was treated as
assume the relation
of partners, when partnership assets, sold, and the proceeds distributed among them in proportion
their purpose is that
no partnership shall
exist
to the value of the property contributed by each (Shorb v. Beaudry, 56 Cal. 446).
However, such a relation does not necessarily exist, for ordinarily persons
cannot be made to assume the relation of partners, as between themselves,
when their purpose is that no partnership shall exist (London Assur. Corp. v.
Drennen, Minn., 6 S. Ct. 442, 116 U.S. 461, 472, 29 L.Ed. 688), and it should be
implied only when necessary to do justice between the parties; thus, one who
it should be implied
only when necessary
takes no part except to subscribe for stock in a proposed corporation which is
to do justice between
the parties; thus, one never legally formed does not become a partner with other subscribers who
who takes no part
except to subscribe engage in business under the name of the pretended corporation, so as to be
for stock in a
proposed corp does
not become a partner
liable as such in an action for settlement of the alleged partnership and
under the pretended
corp contribution (Ward v. Brigham, 127 Mass. 24). A partnership relation between
certain stockholders and other stockholders, who were also directors, will not be
implied in the absence of an agreement, so as to make the former liable to
petitioner denied
having received any contribute for payment of debts illegally contracted by the latter (Heald v. Owen,
amount from
respondents.
However, the RTC
44 N.W. 210, 79 Iowa 23). (Corpus Juris Secundum, Vol. 68, p. 464). (Emphasis
found that petitioner
received payment supplied).
from Bormaheco and

In the instant case, it is to be noted that the petitioner was declared non-suited
Maglana

for his failure to appear during the pre-trial despite noti cation. In his answer, the
petitioner denied having received any amount from respondents Bormaheco, the
Cervanteses and Maglana. The trial court and the appellate court, however, found
through Exhibit 58, that the petitioner received the amount of P151,000.00 representing
the participation of Bormaheco and Atty. Constancio B. Maglana in the ownership of
the subject airplanes and spare parts. The record shows that defendant Maglana gave
P75,000.00 to petitioner Jacob Lim thru the Cervanteses.
it is clear that
LexLib

petitioner never had

corporation with the

respondents
It is therefore clear that the petitioner never had the intention to form a
the intention to form a

corporation with the respondents despite his representations to them. This gives
credence to the cross-claims of the respondents to the effect that they were induced
and lured by the petitioner to make contributions to a proposed corporation which was
never formed because the petitioner reneged on their agreement. Maglana alleged in
his cross-claim:
Respondents were
induced to give their
share in the purchase
of the aircraft as their
". . . that sometime in early 1965, Jacob Lim proposed to Francisco
contribution to the
proposed corporation
Cervantes and Maglana to expand his airline business. Lim was to procure two
to be known as SAL
DC-3's from Japan and secure the necessary certi cates of public convenience
and necessity as well as the required permits for the operation thereof. Maglana
sometime in May 1965, gave Cervantes his share of P75,000.00 for delivery to
Lim which Cervantes did and Lim acknowledged receipt thereof Cervantes,
likewise, delivered his share of the undertaking. Lim in an undertaking sometime
on or about August 9, 1965, promised to incorporate his airline in accordance
with their agreement and proceeded to acquire the planes on his own account.
Since then up to the ling of this answer, Lim has refused, failed and still
refuses to set up the corporation or return the money of Maglana."
(Record on Appeal, pp. 337-338).

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 while respondents Bormaheco and the Cervanteses alleged in their answer,
counterclaim, cross-claim and third party complaint:
"Sometime in April 1965, defendant Lim lured and induced the answering
defendants to purchase two airplanes and spare parts from Japan which the
latter considered as their lawful contribution and participation in the proposed
corporation to be known as SAL. Arrangements and negotiations were
undertaken by defendant Lim. Down payments were advanced by defendants
Bormaheco and the Cervanteses and Constancio Maglana (Exh. E-1). Contrary
to the agreement among the defendants, defendant Lim in connivance with the
plaintiff, signed and executed the alleged chattel mortgage and surety bond
agreement in his personal capacity as the alleged proprietor of the SAL. The
answering defendants learned for the rst time of this trickery and
misrepresentation of the other, Jacob Lim, when the herein plaintiff chattel
mortgage (sic) allegedly executed by defendant Lim, thereby forcing them to le
an adverse claim in the form of third party claim. Notwithstanding repeated oral
demands made by defendants Bormaheco and Cervanteses, to defendant Lim,
to surrender the possession of the two planes and their accessories and or
return the amount advanced by the former amounting to an aggregate sum of
No de facto partnership
was created among
P178,997.14 as evidenced by a statement of accounts, the latter ignored,
parties which would
entitle the petitioner to
omitted and refused to comply with them." (Record on Appeal, pp. 341-342).
a reimbursement of the

Applying therefore the principles of law earlier cited to the facts of the case,
supposed losses of the
proposed corp

necessarily, no de facto partnership was created among the parties which would entitle
the petitioner to a reimbursement of the supposed losses of the proposed corporation.
The record shows that the petitioner was acting on his own and not in behalf of his
other would-be incorporators in transacting the sale of the airplanes and spare parts. LLjur

WHEREFORE, the instant petitions are DISMISSED. The questioned decision of

the Court of Appeals is AFFIRMED.
SO ORDERED.
Fernan, (C.J., Chairman), Bidin and Cortes, JJ., concur.
Feliciano, J., No part.

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