Rehabilitation Plan the RTC as rehabilitation court did not divest it from
being a court of general jurisdiction. The insurance
STEEL CORPORATION OF THE PHILIPPINES companies refused to pay SCP the insurance proceeds vs. MAPFRE INSULAR INSURANCE contending that the fire was caused by several factors CORPORATIQN, NEW INDIA ASSURANCE attributable to SCP such as arson and negligence and COMPANY LIMITED, PHILIPPINE CHARTER that the rehabilitation court has no jurisdiction over INSURANCECORPORATION, MALAYAN the propriety of the payment or non-payment of the INSURANCECO., INC., and ASIA INSURANCE insurance proceeds as the claims contemplated CO., INC., and ASIA INSURANCE PHIL. CORP. under the law do not cover the claims of the distressed bank to its debtors. The RTC, acting as the G.R. No. 201199, October 16, 2013, J. Carpio rehabilitation court, ruled on the matter and directed the insurance companies to pay the proceeds to SCP. In an appeal with the CA, the appellate court reversed the decision of the trial court. Hence, the present FACTS: petition.
SCP is a domestic corporation engaged in the
ISSUE: manufacture and distribution of cold-rolled and galvanized steel sheets and coils. It obtained loans WON the rehabilitation court has jurisdiction over the from several creditors and, as security, mortgaged its issue of payment of the insurance proceeds to a assets in their favor. The creditors appointed Bank of corporation under rehabilitation and WON the claim the Philippine Islands (BPI) as their trustee. SCP and of SCP for insurance proceeds is covered by the BPI entered into a Mortgage Trust Indenture (MTI) claims under the law requiring SCP to insure all of its assets until the loans are fully paid. Under the MTI, the insurance policies RULING: were to be made payable to BPI. No. The RTC, acting as rehabilitation court, has no When SCP suffered financial difficulties, one of the jurisdiction over the subject matter of the insurance creditors filed a petition to have SCP placed under claim of SCP against respondent insurers. SCP must corporate rehabilitation and the RTC issued a stay file a separate action for collection where respondent order to defer all claims against SCP, appointed a insurers can properly thresh out their defenses. SCP rehabilitation receiver and eventually approved the cannot simply file with the RTC a motion to direct modified rehabilitation plan. respondent insurers to pay insurance proceeds. Section 3 of Republic Act No. 10142 states that Fires broke out at 2 SCP-plants damaging its rehabilitation proceedings are "summary and non- machineries. Invoking its right under the MTI, BPI adversarial" in nature. They do not include demanded and received from the insurers the adjudication of claims that require full trial on the insurance proceeds. SCP sought to collect the merits, like SCPs insurance claim against respondent insurance proceeds claiming that it shall be used to insurers. In Advent Capital and Finance Corporation rehabilitate the corporation by having the v. Alcantara, the Court held that: machineries repaired and to buy replacements for the heavily damaged machines and that the assignment of x x x Said insurance claims cannot be unliquidated, fixed or contingent, matured considered as "claims" within the or unmatured, disputed or undisputed, jurisdiction of the trial court functioning as including, but not limited to: (1) all claims a rehabilitation court. Rehabilitation courts of the government, whether national or only have limited jurisdiction over the local, including taxes, tariffs and customs claims by creditors against the distressed duties; and (2) claims against directors and company, not on the claims of said officers of the debtor arising from the acts distressed company against its debtors. The done in the discharge of their functions interim rules define claim as referring to all falling within the scope of their authority: claims or demands, of whatever nature or Provided, That, this inclusion does not character against a debtor or its property, prohibit the creditors or third parties from whether for money or otherwise. filing cases against the directors and officers acting in their personal Even under the new Rules of Procedure on capacities." (Emphasis supplied) Corporate Rehabilitation, claim is defined under Section 1, Rule 2 as "all claims or Respondent insurers are not claiming or demanding demands of whatever nature or character any money or property from SCP. In other words, against a debtor or its property, whether for respondent insurers are not creditors of SCP. money or otherwise." This is also the Respondent insurers are contingent debtors of SCP definition of a claim under Republic Act No. because they may possibly be, subject to proof during 10142. Section 4(c) thereof reads: trial, liable to SCP. Thus, the RTC has no jurisdiction over the insurance claim of SCP against respondent "(c) Claim shall refer to all claims or insurers. SCP must file a separate action against demands of whatever nature or character respondent insurers to recover whatever claim it may against the debtor or its property, whether have against them. for money or otherwise, liquidated or