MEAT PACKING CORPORATION v.

SANDIGANBAYAN
G.R. No. 103068 l June 22, 2001
En Banc l Justice Ynares-Santiago
Digest by Karen Joy R. Masapol

Facts:

Meat Packaging Corporation, a corporation wholly

owned by the Government Service Insurance System,
entered into a Lease Agreement with the Philippine
Integrated Meat Corporation for 3 parcels of land
including a meat processing and packaging plant in
Pasig City.

However, the properties of PIMECO including the meat

processing and packaging plant, were sequestered by
the Philippine Commission on Good Government.

GSIS asked for the exclusion of the meat packaging

plant from the sequestered assets of PIMECO,
inasmuch as the same is owned by MPCP. MPCP also
sought for the turnover of the plant since the lease-
purchase agreement was rescinded due to
nonpayment of rental by PIMECO.

PCGG granted the turn-over to GSIS of the meat

processing and packaging plant.

Meanwhile, PCGG instituted with the Sandiganbayam

Civil Case No. 0024 “Republic v. Sabido” where
Sabido assailed the validity of the turn-over of
PIMECO to GSIS.

The Sandiganbayan issued a Resolution declaring the

turn-over of the meat packing complex as null and void
ab initio and upheld the tender of payment by PCGG.

ISSUE:

Did Sandiganbayan have jurisdiction over Meat

Packing Corporation of the Philippines?

RULING: YES

Jurisdiction over the person of the defendant in civil

cases is acquired either by his voluntary appearance in
court and his submission to its authority or by service
of summons.

Furthermore, the active participation of a party in the

proceedings is tantamount to an invocation of the
court’s jurisdiction and a willingness to abide by the
resolution of the case, and will bar said party from later
on impugning the court or body’s jurisdiction.

In this case, MPCP is precluded from questioning the

jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan over its person in
Civil Case No. 0024, considering that, as shown by the
records, it actively participated in the discussion of the
merits of the said case, even going to the extent of
seeking affirmative relief.