KHRISTINE REA M. REGINO v.

PANGASINAN
COLLEGES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY,
RACHELLE A. GAMUROT and ELISSA BALADAD
GR No. 156109
November 18, 2004│ PANGANIBAN, J.

PETITIONER: KHRISTINE REA M. REGINO

RESPONDENT: PANGASINAN COLLEGES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, RACHELLE A.
GAMUROT and ELISSA BALADAD

SUMMARY: Petitioner Khristine Rea M. Regino was a first-year computer science student at
Pangasinan Colleges of Science and Technology (PCST). PCST held a fundraising
campaign called the "Rave Party and Dance Revolution," where each student was required
to buy two tickets at the price of P100 each. The proceeds were to go towards the
construction of the school's tennis and volleyball courts. Students who refused to pay for the
tickets were denied the opportunity to take the final examinations. Regino, who came from a
financially strapped family and had religious objections to attending dance parties, refused to
pay for the tickets. As a result, she was allegedly prevented from taking her final
examinations in logic and statistics by her teachers Gamurot and Baladad. She filed a
complaint for damages against PCST, Gamurot, and Baladad, seeking compensation for
alleged violations of her rights.

ISSUE: WON Whether the principle of exhaustion of administrative remedies applies in a civil
action exclusively for damages based on violation of the human relation provisions of the Civil
Code, filed by a student against her former school.

WON Whether there is a need for prior declaration of invalidity of a certain school administrative
policy by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) before a former student can
successfully maintain an action exclusively for damages in regular courts.

WON Whether the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has exclusive original jurisdiction
over actions for damages based upon violation of the Civil Code provisions on human relations
filed by a student against the school.

DOCTRINE: Upon enrolment, students and their school enter upon a reciprocal contract. The
students agree to abide by the standards of academic performance and codes of conduct, issued
usually in the form of manuals that are distributed to the enrollees at the start of the school term.
Further, the school informs them of the itemized fees they are expected to pay. Consequently, it
cannot, after the enrolment of a student, vary the terms of the contract. It cannot require fees
other than those it specified upon enrolment.

FACTS:

1. Petitioner Khristine Rea M. Regino was a first year computer science student at Respondent
Pangasinan Colleges of Science and Technology (PCST).
2. PCST held a fund raising campaign dubbed the "Rave Party and Dance Revolution," the proceeds of
which were to go to the construction of the school's tennis and volleyball courts. Each student was
required to pay for two tickets at the price of P100 each. The project was allegedly implemented by
 recompensing students who purchased tickets with additional points in their test scores; those who
refused to pay were denied the opportunity to take the final examinations.
3. Financially strapped and prohibited by her religion from attending, Regino refused to pay for the
tickets. Her teachers -- Respondents Rachelle A. Gamurot and Elissa Baladad -- allegedly
disallowed her from taking the tests.
4. The petitioner filed, a Complaint for damages against PCST, Gamurot and Baladad.
5. Respondents filed a Motion to Dismiss on the ground of petitioner's failure to exhaust
administrative remedies. However, the RTC dismissed the Complaint for lack of cause of action

ISSUES:

1. WON Whether the principle of exhaustion of administrative remedies applies in a civil action
exclusively for damages based on violation of the human relation provisions of the Civil Code,
filed by a student against her former school.
2. WON Whether there is a need for prior declaration of invalidity of a certain school administrative
policy by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) before a former student can successfully
maintain an action exclusively for damages in regular courts.
3. WON Whether the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has exclusive original jurisdiction
over actions for damages based upon violation of the Civil Code provisions on human relations
filed by a student against the school.

HELD:

The Supreme Court ruled in favor of the petitioner, Khristine Rea M. Regino. The Court held that the
doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies did not apply in this case. The Court outlined several
reasons for this ruling: The doctrine of exhaustion of administrative remedies is not applicable because
Regino's claim for damages falls within the jurisdiction of the courts and not within the competence of the
Commission on Higher Education (CHED), which lacks the power to award damages.

Regino's action for damages is not administrative in nature but is based on alleged violations of human
relations provisions of the Civil Code. Therefore, it falls within the jurisdiction of the courts, and the
principle of exhaustion of administrative remedies is not relevant. The Court held that Regino's complaint
alleged sufficient causes of action against the respondents. She asserted claims for breach of contract and
liability for tort, as she was allegedly denied the opportunity to take her final examinations due to her refusal
to pay for the tickets. These claims were not dependent on CHED's jurisdiction or any administrative
decision.

Based on these reasons, the Court reversed the trial court's orders and directed the trial court to reinstate
Regino's complaint and continue the proceedings. The Court did not make a final determination of liability
but upheld Regino's right to pursue her claims in court.

DISPOSTION:
WHEREFORE, the Petition is hereby GRANTED, and the assailed Orders REVERSED. The trial court is
DIRECTED to reinstate the Complaint and, with all deliberate speed, to continue the proceedings in Civil
Case. No Costs