CIVIL PROCEDURE | B2015
CASES
Ang v. Ang
August 22, 2012
Reyes, J.
Rañeses, Roberto Miguel O.
SUMMARY: Theodore and Nancy Ang granted Atty. Aceron a special
power of attorney for the purpose of filing an action against Alan and
Em Ang for a collection of a sum of money. Since Theodore and Nancy
Ang resided in the United States, Atty. Aceron, on the basis of the
power attorney, and the fact that he lived in Q.C., filed the action in the
RTC of Q.C. Alan and Em Ang moved to have it dismissed on the basis
of improper venue. RTC denied the motion to dismiss, saying that as
the duly-appointed representative, Atty. Aceron may file the action at
the place where he resides, following Sec. 2, Rule 4 of the Rules of
Civil Procedure. The motion for reconsideration was denied. The CA
dismissed the complaint, saying that the fact that Atty. Aceron was the
attorney-in-fact was not vital in determining the proper venue, since
he was not the real party in interest in the case. The SC affirmed.
DOCTRINE: Sec. 2. Parties in interest. – A real party in interest is the
party who stands to be benefited or injured by the judgment in the
suit, or the party entitled to the avails of the suit. Unless otherwise
authorized by law or these Rules, every action must be prosecuted or
defended in the name of the real party in interest.
Interest within the meaning of the Rules of Court means material
interest or an interest in issue to be affected by the decree or
judgment of the case, as distinguished from mere curiosity about the
question involved. A real party in interest is the party who, by the
substantive law, has the right sought to be enforced.
FACTS: On September 2, 1992, spouses Alan and Em Ang (respondents)
obtained a loan in the amount of US$300,000.00 from Theodore and
Nancy Ang (petitioners). On even date, the respondents executed a
promissory note in favor of the petitioners wherein they promised to
pay the latter the said amount, with interest at the rate of ten percent
(10%) per annum, upon demand. However, despite repeated demands,
the respondents failed to pay the petitioners.
Theodore and Nancy Ang sent the Alan and Em Ang a demand letter
asking them to pay their outstanding debt which, at that time, already
amounted to US$719,671.23, inclusive of the 10% annual interest that
had accumulated over the years. Despite the demand, the respondents
still failed to settle their loan obligation.
On August 6, 2006, the Theodore and Nancy Ang, who were then
residing in LA, California, USA, executed their respective Special Powers
of Attorney in favor of Attorney Eldrige Marvin B. Aceron for the
purpose of filing an action in court against the respondents. On
September 15, 2006, Atty. Aceron, in behalf of the petitioners, filed a
Complaint for collection of sum of money with the RTC of Quezon City
against the respondents.
Alan and Em Ang moved for the dismissal of the complaint filed by the
petitioners on the grounds of improper venue and prescription.
Insisting that the venue of the action was wrong, the Alan and Em Ang
asserted that the complaint against them may only be filed in the court
of the place where either they or the petitioners reside. Since they
reside in Bacolod City while Theodore and Nancy reside in Los Angeles,
California, USA, the filing of the complaint against them in the RTC of
Quezon City was improper. The RTC denied the motion to dismiss, since
Theodore and Nancy Ang constituted Atty. Aceron as their duly
appointed attorney-in-fact to prosecute her claim against Alan and Em
Ang. Considering that the address given by Atty. Aceron is in Quezon
City, venue of the action may lie where he resides as provided in
Section 2, Rule 4 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure. Motion for
reconsideration was denied.
Aside from their earlier argument, Alan and Em Ang said that Atty.
Aceron, being merely a representative of Theodore and Nancy, is
not the real party in interest in the case. Therefore, his residence
should not be considered in determining the proper venue of the
said complaint. The CA dismissed the petition by Theodore and Nancy
Ang, stating that since Theodore and Nancy Ang were residents of Los
Angeles, California, U.S.A., which is beyond the territorial jurisdiction of
 CIVIL PROCEDURE | B2015
CASES

Philippine courts, the case should have been filed in Bacolod City where He was merely appointed attorney-in-fact for the limited purpose of
the Alan and Em Ang reside. That Atty. Aceron was the attorney-in-fact filing and prosecuting the complaint against the respondents. Such
for Theodore and Nancy Ang and the fact that he lived in Quezon City appointment, however, does not mean that he is subrogated into the
was not vital to the determination of venue. rights of petitioners and ought to be considered as a real party in
interest. Section 3, Rule 3 of the Rules of Court, relied on by Theodore
ISSUES: WON not the court of appeals committed reversible error of and Nancy Ang, never stated that the representative is likewise deemed
law when it ruled that the complaint must be dismissed on the ground as the real party in interest.
that venue was not properly laid. (If Atty. Aceron may be considered as
a proper party in the proceedings because of the power of attorney, RULING: In consideration of the foregoing disquisitions, the petition is
then his residence may be considered as basis for the venue.) NO. DENIED. The Decision dated August 28, 2008 and Resolution dated
February 20, 2009 rendered by the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No.
RATIO: The complaint for collection of sum of money against is a 101159 are AFFIRMED.
personal action as it primarily seeks the enforcement of a contract. The
Rules give the plaintiff the option of choosing where to file his
complaint. He can file it in the place (1) where he himself or any of
them resides, or (2) where the defendant or any of the defendants
resides or may be found. The plaintiff or the defendant must be
residents of the place where the action has been instituted at the time
the action is commenced.

However, if the plaintiff does not reside in the Philippines, the

complaint in such case may only be filed in the court of the place where
the defendant resides. Theodore and Nancy Ang, being residents of Los
Angeles, California, USA, are not given the choice as to the venue of the
filing of their complaint.

Logically, Atty. Aceron, despite being the attorney-in-fact of the

petitioners, is not a real party in interest in the case below. Section 2,
Rule 3 of the Rules of Court states that:

Sec. 2. Parties in interest. – A real party in interest is the

party who stands to be benefited or injured by the
judgment in the suit, or the party entitled to the avails of
the suit. Unless otherwise authorized by law or these Rules,
every action must be prosecuted or defended in the name of
the real party in interest.

Clearly, Atty. Aceron is not a real party in interest in the case below as
he does not stand to be benefited or injured by any judgment therein.