Paliwanag tungkol sa Forum Shopping

ni Atty. Persida Rueda-Acosta - @Magtanong Kay Attorney | February 12, 2022

Dear Chief Acosta,

Ako ay pinalalagda ng “Verification and Certification Against Non-Forum Shopping,” at ito diumano ay upang patunayan na wala akong ibang kasong isinampa laban sa aking kalaban sa kaso para sa parehas na usapin. Tama ba ito? Zavi

Dear Zavi,

Para sa inyong kaalaman, ayon sa Korte Suprema sa kasong Santos Ventura Hocorma Foundation, Inc. vs. Mabalacat Institute, Inc. (G.R. No. 211563, September 29, 2021, Ponente: Honorable Associate Justice Ramon Paul L. Hernando), ang forum shopping ay:

“In Intramuros Administration v. Offshore Construction Development Co., (Intramuros) we explained that ‘forum shopping is the practice of resorting to multiple fora for the same relief, to increase the chances of obtaining a favorable judgment’

Section 5, Rule 7 of the Rules of Court prohibits forum shopping by requiring the plaintiff or principal party to certify -under oath that he or she has not commenced any action involving the same issues in any court. In Orix Metro Leasing and Finance Corp. v. Cardline, Inc., We pointed out that the ‘rule against forum shopping seeks to address the great evil of two competent tribunals rendering two separate and contradictory decisions. Forum shopping exists when a party initiates two or more actions, other than appeal or certiorari, grounded on the same cause to obtain a more favorable decision from any tribunal.’

The elements of forum shopping are: (i) identity of parties, or at least such parties representing the same interest; (ii) identity of rights asserted and relief prayed for, the latter founded on the same facts; and (iii) any judgment rendered in one action will amount to res judicata in the other action.”

(Binigyang-diin.)

Kahalintulad ng inyong binanggit, kinakailangan ang beripikasyon at sertipikasyon hinggil sa forum shopping sa mga kasong isinasampa upang tiyakin na wala kayong kaparehas o kaugnay na kaso o reklamo na isinampa laban sa iisang tao o partido na mayroong kinalaman sa iisa o kahalintulad na interes o usapin. Layunin nitong tiyakin na hindi ninyo ginagamit ang anumang hukuman para makatiyak na mayroon kayong panalo laban sa kabilang partido.

Sana ay nabigyan namin ng linaw ang inyong katanungan. Ang payong aming ibinigay ay base lamang sa impormasyon na inyong inilahad at maaaring magbago kung mababawasan o madaragdagan ang mga detalye ng inyong salaysay.

Maraming salamat sa inyong patuloy na pagtitiwala.