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G.R. No. 206653.  February 25, 2015.*

 
YUK LING ONG, petitioner, vs. BENJAMIN T. CO, respondent.

Remedial Law; Civil Procedure; Annulment of Judgment; Rule 47 of

the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure, as amended, governs actions for
annulment of judgments or final orders and resolutions, and Section 2
thereof explicitly provides only two (2) grounds for annulment of judgment,
that is, extrinsic fraud and lack of jurisdiction.—Annulment of judgment is
a recourse equitable in character, allowed only in exceptional cases as where
there is no available or other adequate remedy. Rule 47 of the 1997 Rules of
Civil Procedure, as amended, governs actions for annulment of judgments
or final orders and resolutions, and Section 2 thereof explicitly provides
only two grounds for annulment of judgment, that is, extrinsic fraud and
lack of jurisdiction. Annulment of judgment is an equitable principle not
because it allows a party-litigant another opportunity to reopen a judgment
that has long lapsed into finality but because it enables him to be discharged
from the burden of being bound to a judgment that is an absolute nullity to
begin with.
Same; Same; Same; Lack of jurisdiction on the part of the trial court in
rendering the judgment or final order is either lack of jurisdiction over the
subject matter or nature of the action, or lack of jurisdiction over the person
of the petitioner.—Lack of jurisdiction on the part of the trial court in
rendering the judgment or final order is either lack of jurisdiction over the
subject matter or nature of the action, or lack of jurisdiction over the person
of the petitioner. The former is a matter of substantive law because statutory
law defines the jurisdiction of the courts over the subject matter or nature of
the action. The latter is a matter of procedural law, for it involves the service
of summons or other processes on the petitioner.
Same; Same; Same; Jurisdiction over the defendant is acquired either
upon a valid service of summons or the defendant’s voluntary appearance in
court.—In the present case, petitioner contends that there was lack of
jurisdiction over her person because there was an

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*  SECOND DIVISION.

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invalid substituted service of summons. Jurisdiction over the defendant

is acquired either upon a valid service of summons or the defendant’s
voluntary appearance in court. If the defendant does not voluntarily appear
in court, jurisdiction can be acquired by personal or substituted service of
summons as laid out under Sections 6 and 7 of Rule 14 of the Rules of
Court.

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.
  Ephraim B. Cortez for petitioner.
  Mark John F. Dumbrique for respondent.

 
MENDOZA,  J.:
 
In court proceedings, there is no right more cherished than the
right of every litigant to be given an opportunity to be heard. This
right begins at the very moment that summons is served on the
defendant. The Rules of Court places utmost importance in ensuring
that the defendant personally grasp the weight of responsibility that
will befall him. Thus, it is only in exceptional circumstances that
constructive notification, or substituted service of summons, is
allowed. If the server falls short of the rigorous requirements for
substituted service of summons, then the Court has no other option
but to strike down a void judgment, regardless of the consequences.
This is a petition for review on certiorari seeking to reverse and
set aside the June 27, 2012 Decision1 and the March 26, 2013
Resolution2 of the Court of Appeals (CA) in C.A.-G.R. S.P. No.
106271, which denied the petition for annulment of judgment.

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1  Rollo, pp. 20-30.

2  Id., at p. 31.

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The Facts
 

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Petitioner Yuk Ling Ong (petitioner), a British-Hong Kong

national, and respondent Benjamin Co (respondent), a Filipino
citizen, were married on October 3, 1982 at Ellinwood-Malate
Church.3
Sometime in November 2008, petitioner received a subpoena
from the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (BID) directing her
to appear before the said agency because her permanent residence
visa was being subjected to cancellation proceedings. Reportedly,
her marriage with respondent was nullified by the court.
When petitioner appeared before the BID, she was furnished with
the copies of the following documents: (1) petition for declaration of
nullity of marriage filed as Civil Case No. CV-01-0177; (2) petition
for declaration of nullity of marriage docketed as Civil Case No. 02-
0306; (3) Decision,4 dated December 11, 2002, in Civil Case No. 02-
0306 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 260 (RTC), Parañaque
City, declaring the marriage between petitioner and respondent as
void ab initio; and (4) their marriage contract5 with the subject
decision annotated thereon. Petitioner was perplexed that her
marriage with respondent had been declared void ab initio.
The above documents showed that on April 26, 2001, respondent
filed a petition for declaration of nullity6 on the ground of
psychological incapacity before the RTC, which was docketed as
Civil Case No. CV-01-0177. Respondent stated that petitioner’s
address was 600 Elcano St., Binondo, Manila. There was no
showing of its status, whether pending, withdrawn or terminated.

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3  Id., at p. 67.
4  Id., at pp. 32-34.
5  Id., at p. 35.
6  Id., at pp. 61-66.

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On July 19, 2002, respondent filed another petition for

declaration of nullity7 on the ground of psychological incapacity
before the RTC, docketed as Civil Case No. 02-0306. Respondent
indicated that petitioner’s address was 23 Sta. Rosa Street, Unit B-2
Manresa Garden Homes, Quezon City. On July 29, 2002, the RTC
issued summons.8 In his Server’s Return,9 process server Rodolfo
Torres, Jr. stated that, on August 1, 2002, substituted service of
summons with the copy of the petition was effected after several
futile attempts to serve the same personally on petitioner. The said
documents were received by Mr. Roly Espinosa, a security officer.
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On December 11, 2002, the RTC rendered a decision10 in Civil

Case No. 02-0306 finding respondent’s marriage with petitioner as
void ab initio on the ground of psychological incapacity under
Article 36 of the Family Code. It stated that summons was served on
petitioner on August 1, 2002, but she failed to file her responsive
pleading within the reglementary period. The public prosecutor also
stated that there were no indicative facts to manifest collusion. Thus,
the RTC concluded that petitioner was psychologically incapacitated
to perform her essential marital obligations.
Consequently, petitioner filed a petition for annulment of
judgment11 under Rule 47 of the Rules of Court before the CA on
November 24, 2008, claiming that she was never notified of the
cases filed against her. She prayed that the RTC decision, dated
December 11, 2002, in Civil Case No. 02-0306, be nullified on the
grounds of extrinsic fraud and lack of jurisdiction.
Petitioner alleged that first, respondent committed extrinsic fraud
because, as seen in Civil Case No. CV-01-0177, he deliberately
indicated a wrong address to prevent her from

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7   Id., at pp. 73-79.

8   Id., at p. 85.
9   Id., at p. 86.
10  Id., at pp. 32-34.
11  Id., at pp. 49-55.

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participating in the trial; second, jurisdiction over her person was

not acquired in Civil Case No. 02-0306 because of an invalid
substituted service of summons as no sufficient explanation,
showing impossibility of personal service, was stated before
resorting to substituted service of summons; third, the alleged
substituted service was made on a security guard of their townhouse
and not on a member of her household; and fourth, she was not
psychologically incapacitated to perform her marital obligations.12
 
Ruling of the Court of Appeals
 
On June 27, 2012, the CA rendered the assailed decision finding
the petition for annulment of judgment to be devoid of merit. It held
that there was no sufficient proof to establish that respondent
employed fraud to insure petitioner’s nonparticipation in the trial of
Civil Case No. CV-01-0177.
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Relying on Robinson v. Miralles,13 the CA further ruled that the

substituted service of summons in Civil Case No. 02-0306 was
valid. It found that there was a customary practice in petitioner’s
townhouse that the security guard would first entertain any visitors
and receive any communication in behalf of the homeowners. With
this setup, it was obviously impossible for the process server to
personally serve the summons upon petitioner. It also declared that
the process server’s return carries with it the presumption of
regularity in the discharge of a public officer’s duties and functions.
Petitioner moved for reconsideration, but her motion was denied
by the CA in its Resolution,14 dated March 26, 2013.
Hence, this petition, anchored on the following:

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12  Id., at pp. 49-54.

13  540 Phil. 1; 510 SCRA 678 (2006).
14  Rollo, p. 31.

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ISSUES
1. Whether or not the Trial Court in Civil Case No. 02-0306 validly
acquired jurisdiction over the person of the petitioner.
2. Whether or not the facts proven by the petitioner constitute
extrinsic fraud within the purview of Rule 47 of the Rules of Court.15

 
Petitioner argues that there was an invalid substituted service of
summons. The process server’s return only contained a general
statement that substituted service was resorted to “after several futile
attempts to serve the same personally,”16 without stating the dates
and reasons of the failed attempts. Petitioner also reiterates her
argument that extrinsic fraud was employed.
In his Comment,17 filed on July 9, 2014, respondent contended
that the server’s return satisfactorily stated the reason for the resort
to a substituted service of summons on August 1, 2002; and it was
improbable that petitioner failed to receive the summons because it
was sent to the same address which she declared in this present
petition.
Petitioner filed her Reply18 on October 8, 2014 reiterating her
previous arguments.
 
The Court’s Ruling
 

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The Court finds merit in the petition.

Annulment of judgment is a recourse equitable in character,
allowed only in exceptional cases as where there is no available or
other adequate remedy. Rule 47 of the 1997 Rules of Civil
Procedure, as amended, governs actions for annul-

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15  Id., at p. 6.
16  Id., at p. 86.
17  Id., at pp. 124-133.
18  Id., at pp. 144-145.

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ment of judgments or final orders and resolutions, and Section 2

thereof explicitly provides only two grounds for annulment of
judgment, that is, extrinsic fraud and lack of jurisdiction.19
Annulment of judgment is an equitable principle not because it
allows a party-litigant another opportunity to reopen a judgment that
has long lapsed into finality but because it enables him to be
discharged from the burden of being bound to a judgment that is an
absolute nullity to begin with.20
Petitioner raises two grounds to support her claim for annulment
of judgment: (1) extrinsic fraud and (2) lack of jurisdiction. Her
contention on the existence of extrinsic fraud, however, is too
unsubstantial to warrant consideration. The discussion shall then
focus on the ground of lack of jurisdiction.
Lack of jurisdiction on the part of the trial court in rendering the
judgment or final order is either lack of jurisdiction over the subject
matter or nature of the action, or lack of jurisdiction over the person
of the petitioner. The former is a matter of substantive law because
statutory law defines the jurisdiction of the courts over the subject
matter or nature of the action. The latter is a matter of procedural
law, for it involves the service of summons or other processes on the
petitioner.21
In the present case, petitioner contends that there was lack of
jurisdiction over her person because there was an invalid substituted
service of summons. Jurisdiction over the defendant is acquired
either upon a valid service of summons or the

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19  Antonio v. Register of Deeds of Makati City, G.R. No. 185663, June 20, 2012,
674 SCRA 227, 236, citing Ramos v. Combong, Jr., 510 Phil. 277, 281-282; 473

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SCRA 499, 504 (2005).

20  Barco v. Court of Appeals, 465 Phil. 39, 64; 420 SCRA 162, 180 (2004).
21   Pinausukan Seafood House v. Far East Bank & Trust Company, G.R. No.
159926, January 20, 2014, 714 SCRA 226, 244.

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defendant’s voluntary appearance in court.22 If the defendant

does not voluntarily appear in court, jurisdiction can be acquired by
personal or substituted service of summons as laid out under
Sections 6 and 7 of Rule 14 of the Rules of Court, which state:

Sec.  6.  Service in person on defendant.—Whenever practicable, the

summons shall be served by handing a copy thereof to the defendant in
person, or, if he refuses to receive and sign for it, by tendering it to him.
Sec.  7.  Substituted Service.—If, for justifiable causes, the defendant
cannot be served within a reasonable time as provided in the preceding
section, service may be effected (a) by leaving copies of the summons at the
defendant’s residence with some person of suitable age and discretion then
residing therein, or (b) by leaving the copies at defendant’s office or regular
place of business with some competent person in charge thereof.

 
The landmark case of Manotoc v. CA (Manotoc)23 thoroughly
discussed the rigorous requirements of a substituted service of
summons, to wit: x x x

(1)  Impossibility of Prompt Personal Service

x x x
For substituted service of summons to be available, there must be several
attempts by the sheriff to personally serve the summons within a reasonable
period of one month which eventually resulted in failure to prove
impossibility of prompt service. “Several attempts” means at least three
(3) tries, preferably on at least two different dates. In addition, the
sheriff must cite why such efforts were unsuccessful. It is only then that
impossibility of service can be confirmed or accepted.

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22  Ellice Agro-Industrial Corp. v. Young, G.R. No. 174077, November 21, 2012,
686 SCRA 51, 61.
23  530 Phil. 454, 469-470; 499 SCRA 21, 35-37 (2006).

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(2)  Specific Details in the Return

The sheriff must describe in the Return of Summons the facts and
circumstances surrounding the attempted personal service. The efforts made
to find the defendant and the reasons behind the failure must be clearly
narrated in detail in the Return. The date and time of the attempts on
personal service, the inquiries made to locate the defendant, the name/s
of the occupants of the alleged residence or house of defendant and all
other acts done, though futile, to serve the summons on defendant must
be specified in the Return to justify substituted service.
(3)  A Person of Suitable Age and Discretion
x x x
The sheriff must therefore determine if the person found in the alleged
dwelling or residence of defendant is of legal age, what the recipient’s
relationship with the defendant is, and whether said person comprehends the
significance of the receipt of the summons and his duty to immediately
deliver it to the defendant or at least notify the defendant of said receipt of
summons. These matters must be clearly and specifically described in
the Return of Summons. (Emphases and underscoring supplied)

 
The pronouncements of the Court in Manotoc have been applied
to several succeeding cases. In Pascual v. Pascual,24 the return of
summons did not show or indicate the actual exertion or positive
steps taken by the officer or process server in serving the summons
personally to the defendant. Similarly, in Spouses Afdal v. Carlos,25
the process server’s indorsements therein failed to state that the
personal service on the defendants was rendered impossible and that
efforts were made to find them personally. In both those cases, the

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24  606 Phil. 451; 607 SCRA 288 (2009).

25  651 Phil. 104; 636 SCRA 389 (2010).

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Court ruled that the meticulous requirements for substituted

service of summons were not met.
There are cases, however, in which Manotoc was applied, but,
nevertheless, it was ruled that there was no lack of jurisdiction over
the person of the defendant. In Sagana v. Francisco,26 the diligent
efforts exerted by the sheriff to locate the respondent were
determined, not only based on the sheriff’s return, but also on the
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process server’s notation and case records. In the case of Wong v.

Factor-Koyama,27 on the other hand, even if the sheriff performed
an invalid substituted service of summons, jurisdiction over the
person of defendant was obtained because the latter had actively
participated in trial, amounting to a voluntary appearance under
Section 20 of Rule 14.28
In the case at bench, the summons in Civil Case No. 02-030629
was issued on July 29, 2002. In his server’s return,30 the process
server resorted to substituted service of summons on August 1,
2002. Surprisingly, the process server immediately opted for
substituted service of summons after only two (2) days from the
issuance of the summons. The server’s return stated the following:
 

SERVER’S RETURN
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT on August 1, 2002, substituted service of
summons with copy of petition, were effected to respondent, Yuk Ling H.
Ong, at the Unit B-2, No. 23 Sta. Rosa St., Manresa Garden Homes,

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26  617 Phil. 387; 602 SCRA 184 (2009).

27  616 Phil. 239; 600 SCRA 256 (2009).
28  Section  20.  Voluntary Appearance.—The defendant’s voluntary appearance
in the action shall be equivalent to service of summons. The inclusion in a motion to
dismiss of other grounds aside from lack of jurisdiction over the person of the
defendant shall not be deemed a voluntary appearance.
29  Rollo, p. 50.
30  Id., at p. 86.

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Manresa Garden City, Quezon City, after several futile attempts to

serve the same personally. The said documents were received by Mr. Roly
Espinosa of sufficient age and discretion, the Security Officer thereat.
Therefore, respectfully returning to Court, original copy of summons,
Duly Served, this 2nd day of August, 2002.
RODOLFO P. TORRES, JR.
   Process Server
(Emphasis supplied)

 
The server’s return utterly lacks sufficient detail of the attempts
undertaken by the process server to personally serve the summons
on petitioner. The server simply made a general statement that

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summons was effected after several futile attempts to serve the same
personally. The server did not state the specific number of attempts
made to perform the personal service of summons; the dates and the
corresponding time the attempts were made; and the underlying
reason for each unsuccessful service. He did not explain either if
there were inquiries made to locate the petitioner, who was the
defendant in the case. These important acts to serve the summons on
petitioner, though futile, must be specified in the return to justify
substituted service.
The server’s return did not describe in detail the person who
received the summons, on behalf of petitioner. It simply stated that
the summons was received “by Mr. Roly Espinosa of sufficient age
and discretion, the Security Officer thereat.” It did not expound on
the competence of the security officer to receive the summons.
Also, aside from the server’s return, respondent failed to indicate
any portion of the records which would describe the specific
attempts to personally serve the summons. Respondent did not even
claim that petitioner made any voluntary appearance and actively
participated in Civil Case No. 02-0306.

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The case of Robinson v. Miralles, cited by the CA, is not

applicable. In that case, the return described in thorough detail how
the security guard refused the sheriff’s entry despite several
attempts. The defendant in the said case specifically instructed the
guard to prevent anybody to proceed to her residence. In the present
case, the attempts made by the process server were stated in a broad
and ambiguous statement.
The CA likewise erred in ruling that the presumption of
regularity in the performance of official duty could be applied in the
case at bench. This presumption of regularity, however, was never
intended to be applied even in cases where there are no showing of
substantial compliance with the requirements of the rules of
procedure. Such presumption does not apply where it is patent that
the sheriff’s or server’s return is defective.31 As earlier explained,
the server’s return did not comply with the stringent requirements of
substituted service of summons.
Given that the meticulous requirements in Manotoc were not met,
the Court is not inclined to uphold the CA’s denial of the petition for
annulment of judgment for lack of jurisdiction over the person of
petitioner because there was an invalid substituted service of
summons. Accordingly, the decision in Civil Case No. 02-0306 must
be declared null and void.

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The stricter rule in substituted service of summons was meant to

address “[t]he numerous claims of irregularities in substituted
service which have spawned the filing of a great number of
unnecessary special civil actions of certiorari and appeals to higher
courts, resulting in prolonged litigation and wasteful legal
expenses.”32
Although the decision in Civil Case No. 02-0306 was
promulgated as early as December 11, 2002, the Court must strike

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31  Bank of the Philippine Islands v. Evangelista, 441 Phil. 445, 453; 393 SCRA
187, 195 (2002).
32  Manotoc v. Court of Appeals, supra note 23.

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it down for lack of jurisdiction over the person of petitioner. The

favorable judgment enjoyed by respondent cannot be categorized as
a genuine victory because it was fought against an adversary, who
was ignorant of the existing dispute. Whatever prize bestowed upon
the victor in such a void decision must also be undone. Respondent,
if he wishes to pursue, must start from scratch and institute his
action for declaration of nullity again; this time with petitioner fully
aware and ready for litigation.
WHEREFORE, the petition is GRANTED. The June 27, 2012
Decision and the March 26, 2013 Resolution of the Court of Appeals
in C.A.­G.R. S.P. No. 106271 are hereby REVERSED and SET
ASIDE. The December 11, 2002 Decision of the Regional Trial
Court, Branch 260, Parañaque City is hereby declared VOID.
SO ORDERED.

Carpio (Chairperson), Velasco, Jr.,** Del Castillo and Leonen,

JJ., concur.

Petition granted, judgment and resolution reversed and set aside.

Notes.—The only grounds for annulment of judgment are

extrinsic fraud and lack of jurisdiction. (Republic vs. Technological
Advocate for Agro-Forest Programs Association, Inc. [TAFPA,
INC.], 612 SCRA 76 [2010])
In a petition for annulment of judgment based on lack of
jurisdiction, petitioner must show not merely an abuse of
jurisdictional discretion, but an absolute lack of jurisdiction. (Id.)
——o0o——

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* *  Designated acting member, in lieu of Associate Justice Arturo D. Brion, per

Special Order No. 1910 dated January 12, 2015.

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