Republic of the Philippines

11th Judicial Region

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT-BRANCH 31
Tagum City, Davao del Norte

EDUARDO ACDAL, et. al. CIVIL CASE NO. 2946

Plaintiffs

-versus- For: DAMAGES

DOLE FOOD COMPANY INC.

STANDARD FRUIT COMPANY
STANDARD FRUIT and STEAMSHIP CO.
DOLE FRESH FRUIT COMPANY
Defendants
X-------------------------X

DECISION
(with reference to the Compromise Agreement)

Herein defendants collectively known as DOLE companies were the last of

the several defendants who entered into a settlement with the numerous
plaintiffs.

Referred to the court annex mediation (Philippine Mediation Center),

designated mediator Atty. Virginia C. Rafael sent notice to all the named plaintiffs
and caused the publication of said notice in a newspaper of general circulation
in the Davao provinces, cities and municipalities.

Hereunder are the named plaintiffs and representatives who appeared

before the mediator and whose identities were duly validated and who
subsequently signed and executed the Compromise Agreement, namely:

1.Abayon, Cirilo 2.Agan, Francisco 3.Aguelo, Godofredo G.

4.Aguilar, Artemio B. 5.Aguirre, Antonio 6.Albarracin, Baltazar M.
7.Albasin, Eduardo 8.Alcala, Dionisio M. 9.Ambos, Carlito C.
10.Almodia, Raul 11.Amparado, Sabino 12.Anadia, Antonio
13.Anadia, Marcelino 14.Ancob, Sergio 15.Antonio, Mardonio P.
16.Apatan Jr.,Paquides 17.Ba-ay, Vicente M. 18.Bacaling,Policarpio,Sr.
19.Badiang, Nicolas 20.Badia, Milgaros 21.Baguhin, Samuel
22.Bajao Jr.,Severo 23.Barangay,Virgilio 24.Bastatas,Gonzalo S.
25.Batingal,Luciano 26.Batulanon, Rodulfo 27.Bautista,Regardo
28.Betonio, Pablo 29.Bactot,Democrito 30.Bonete, Julius A.
31.Boquilon,Glorioso 32.Borres, Rizaldo 33.Bucol, Zosimo D.
34.Bulala,Leonilo 35.Bunal,Wilfredo S. 36.Caacbay,Ruben T.
37.Calamba,Crispon C. 38.Calamba, Romulo 39.Calapatoc,Arcadio
40.Calapatoc,Mateo 41.Calapatoc,Rosalinda 42.Canda,Noland C.
43.Canoy,Jeannit M. 44.Capoy, Licerio 45.Capua,Ireneo
46.Capua, Leonardo 47.Carig,Romulo 48.Catayas,Alberto H.
49.Colarte, Loncio L. 50.Daben, Felipe B. 51.Danding, Aulam S.
52.Daquio, Teofilo L. 53.Decinilla, Sarapion 54.DelaCerna, Serapio B.
55.Delatado, JohnnyA. 56.Demua,James M. 57.Dinauto,Modesto Jr.
58.Dipay, Raymundo 59.Dumayas,Orlino 60.Duque,Florentino B.
61.Duque, Jose 62.Edullantes,Eddie Q. 63.Egpit, Marcelino
64.Espantaleon,Quirino J.65.Esperat,Edgardo M.66.Ferrer, Disodado
67.Figuracion,Roberto 68.Flor,Roberto 69.Foronda,Roman
70.Galindez, Willy A. 71.Galleno,Dominador 72.Gallogo, Candelario
73.Ganal,Jeson D. 74.Ganeron,Gaudencio 75.Garapan,ClaroSr.
76.Garcia,Noel 77.Garcia,Rogelio E. 78.Garpao, Rodolfo
79.Gawala, Vicente S. 80.Gayuma,Margarito 81.Gemarino,Hipolito
82.Genita,Virgelio 83.Geraldo,Veronica 84.Gomez,Rufino
85.Gongob, Peddy M. 86.Gooc,Maximo B. 87.Graff,Nelson R.
88.Gudilosao,Rene P. 89.Guerrero,Nolly 90.Herbas, Celso G.
91.Hermano, Sergio 92.Hingpit,Mario 93.Iligan,Pio M.
94.Iligan, Sixto 95.Inte,Lucio L. 96.Isaac Sulpecio
97.Jamisola, Climaco 98.Jaudines, Raul C. 99.Jose, Renato D.
100. Jugarap, Antonio 101. Karangal, Jose Randell
102. Laab, Ronaldo P. 103. Labapiz, Antonio
104. Lagua, Alexander G. 105. Lagua, Antero
106. Lanoy, Lamberto B. 107. Lapinid, Gaudencio
108. Largo, Cecilio B. 109.Laureta, Juanito
110. leocadio Jr.,Manuela A. 111. Leones, Armando T.
112. Leres, Alberto 113. Lofranco, Fernando
114. Lolo, Wilfredo 115.Lomocso, Marquez
116. Lumangtad, Conrado S. 117.Macagaga, Abdul Cader
118. Magalona, Renato D. 119.Magnanao, Romeo
120. Magtubo, Ferdinand 121. Maguindanao, Abdulgapor T.
122. Mahinay, Patricio M. 123.Maloloy-on, Wilfredo T.
124. Mara, Constancio 125. Maturan, Pablo
126. Minanga, Mantongan 127. Monter, Juanito Sr. A.
128. Montilla, Remegio 129. Morales, Alfredo
130. Morales, German 131. Mortejo, Eleno F.
132. Nacorda, Rolando 133. Napoli, Felix
134. Narciso, Pablo 135. Nariz, Adriano
136. Nariz, Brigida 137. Nasayao, Constantino
138. Navora, Harvey 139. Ocay, Marcial
140. Ogdoc, Benjamin 141. Ojayas, Alberto
142. Optina, Julio 143. Padilla, Jose Sr. M.
144. Paiste, Elmer O. 145. Palma, Raquel M.
146. Parcon, Eduardo D.
148. Pedrajas, Lino
150. Peregrino, Jick M.
152. Pesao, Jaime
154. Pombo, Guillermo
156. Putong, Ricardo
158. Quilla, Baltazar
160. Rasucay, Mario
162. Reonales, Oscar J.
164. Sacayan. Teofilo M.
166. Sajulga, Felix C.
168. Sarda, Cresencio
170. Sermon, Franklin
172. Simfuego, Bonifacio Q.
174. Solis, Andres
176. Tacogue, Rogelio
178. Tatoy, Romulo L.
180. Torregosa, Ruben
182. Tranquilan, Dionisio S.
184. Tugade, Jr.Eustaquio
186. Villegas, Federico
188. Ylanan, Leonardo Jr.
Deceased/Absentee Plaintiffs and their representatives:
189. Alindajao, Alfredo
190. Alternado, Armando
191. Beldua, Jr, Jose
192. Borda, Crisostomo R. Sr. -
193. Cabañas, Panchito
194. Cabatuan, Juan Sr.
195. Cabrera, Medonio C.
196. Calapatoc, Manuel
197. Colita, Felix
198. Degamo, Miguel
199. Diagdal, Rodrigo M.
200. Eribal, Manuel B.
201. Esquivel, Antonio A.
202. Estandarte, Quirino
203.Orio, Carlos
204. Ganotise, German P.
205. Balaba, Guillermo
206. Helaga, Eulogio
207. Laab, Johhny
208. Lagua, Avelino
209. Laxina, Jesus
147. Parcon Rolando L.
149. Pelbera, Jr. Vicente I.
151. Perez, Leonor
153. Pinez, Diosdado
155. Posadas, Rolando
157. Quiachon, Vicente M.
159. Ramos, Gonzalo Jr.
161. Requeirme, Catalino
163. Royo, Fernando Sr. A.
165. Sagot, Robert
167. Salamanca, Benjamin Jr.
169. Sarda, Ric M.
171. Simeon, Alfonso B.
173. Sinalan, Leon R.
175. Taba, Licoy C.
177. Tamula, Rolando
179. Tonga, Marcos D.
181. Torres, Vicente D.
183. Tribunalo, Celestino
185. Vallarta, Antonio
187. Vito, Jeremias
- Alindajao, Editha
- Alternado, Sonia
- Beldua, Ermina
Borda, Zoila
- Cabañas, Rosita
- Cabautan, Loreto
- Cabrera, Thelma
- Calapatoc, Josefina
- Colita, Diosdada
- Degamo, Epifania
- Diagdal, Rosario
- Eribal. Leonida
- Esquivel, Elda D.
- Estandarte, Erlinda
- Estoquia, Lourdes
- Ganotise, Saturnina Q.
- Garpao, Cecilia
- Helaga, Elsa
- Laab, Evangeline
- Lagua, Cecilia
- Laxina, Ruth
210. Laxina, Abelardo - Laxina, Emerlinda
211. Leop, Silvestre - Leop, Carmelita
212. Loyola, Benjamin - Loyola, Gavina
213. Macadangdang, Pedro - Macadangdang, Anecita
214. Manuel, Victor - Manuel, Ignacia
215. Micaylas, Dominador - Micaylas, Lariosa
216. Paiton, Fernando - Paiton, Dolorosa
217. Panizare, Alberto - Panizares, Felicitas
218. Pilongo, Enecito - Pilongo, Enecito
219. Sosmeña, Justino - Sosmeña, Carmen
220. Tagod, Domingo - Tagod, Felipa R.
221. Oaga, Ely - Vega, Carmelita
222. Alejandrino, Isagani - Alejandrino, Jonathan
223. Amadeo, Rosalito - Amadeo, Verna
224. Angon, Pepito - Angon, Emma Mapando
225. Aparece, Enrique - Juliet, Aparece
226. Arañez, Dionesio A. - Arañez, Estrella
227. Aure, Ernesto - Aure, Nalita
228. Balista, Emiliano - Balista, Soledad
229. Barcena, Jesus - Tabugoc, Adelfa Barcena
230. Bustamante, Victoriano S. Bustamante, Gloria D.
231. Cabangon, Jose - Cabangon, Teresita
232. Cagas, Warlito E. - Cagas, Manolito
233. Calipayan, Dionilo C. - Dee Ann Calipayan
234. Caranza, Jesus G. - Caranza, Librada
235. Conson, Vicente - Conson, Thelma
236. Corilla, Wilfredo V. - Corilla, Harry Dela Merced
237. Cuarteron, Olimpio - Cuarteron, Teofila
238. Dacuno, Estanislao V. - Dacono, Liza
239. Danga, Ismael - Tantawan, Cresilda
240. Econas, Jaime - Econas, Librada A.
241. Etang, Amancio - Bantilan, Chona E.
242. Florida, Donato P. - Ugapang, Geraldine Florida
243. Nacario, Francisquito - Grate, Leah N.
244. Gabriel, Mario - Gabriel, Brenda
245. Gabuat, Crisanto - Gabuat, Rosalina
246. Gaveron, Fortunato - Ganeron (Gaveron), Prescilla
247. Gomez, Andres N. - Gomez, Judy P.
248. Herbis, Rudy - Herbis, Janeth
249. Hilarion, Eufrosino - Hilarion, Imelda
250. Hurtado Sr.Dominador A - Hurtado Jr.Dominador G.
251. Idjao, Carlito - Idjao, Severina
252. Intong Zaloy - Intong Alipio Jr.
253. Jamisola, Felixberto - Jamisola, Gloria
254. Juntilla, Celestino - Nova Prado Ombao
255. Lanzaders, Urbano - Lanzaderas, Romeo
 256. Lapasa, Venancio - Lapasa, Conchita
257. Lascuña Jr., Aniano - Lascuña Aleth Castañares
258. Liguyan, Jimmy - Liguyan, Michael
259. Llemit, Arsenio - Llemit, Arnel
260. Macaraeg, Cader - Macaraeg, Inocencia
261. Madera, Mariano T. - Marcel Christopher Nionis
262. Maguindanao, Arola - Maguindanao, Abdulgapor T.
263. Mahinay, Pastor Sr. - Mahinay, Pastor Jr.
264. Mahinay, Cosme M. - Mahinay, Alejandra
265. Mahinay, Engracio M. - Mahinay, Clarita
266. Martinez, Basilio - Martinez, Yolanda C.
267. Matabang, Antonio - Matabang, Manuel M.
268. Milan, Lamberto - Millan, Cresencia V.
269. Montajes, Antero - Montajes, Leonora
270. Morales, Guilberto - Morales, Mercia L.
271. Morales, Tranquilino M. - Canoy, Jeannit M.
272. Nacorda, Juanito - Nacorda, Jocelyn B.
273. Navalta, Modesto G. - Navalta, Emeterio
274. Neniel, Delfin L. - Gavina, Loyola
275. Nudalo Sr. Rogelio L. - Nudalo Jr. Rogelio
276. Ocariz, Demeterio - Ocariz, Chito P.
277. Ojarda Jr.,Valentin - Ojarda, Merlinda
278. Olitao, Samuel - Olitao, Marlyn
279. Ompas, Pedro L. - Ma.Hilaria D. Escobido
280. Palabras, Carlos O. - Chris Daisy Jenn P. Samson
281. Panulin, Rudy E. - Pangasian, Karen Panulin
282. Pascua, Clarito - Pascua, Patricia
283. Pate, Apolonio E. - Pate, Franscisco
284. Quiral, Anselmo - Queral, Renato
285. Ramis, Gener - Ranis (Ramis), Elsie
286. Ramasa, Virgilio - Ramasa, Rosita N.
287. Rivas, Teodolo - Rivas, Jomart Gura
288. Simpao, Clemente - Simpao, Avelina B.
289. Solon, Sergio - Solon, Lorna
290. Soriano, Liberito P. - Soriano, Hernanie
291. usit, Juanito M. - Noel Angelo C. De Leon
292. Zafra, Agripino B. - Olea Mary Cres Zafra

The above-stated plaintiffs, assisted by Atty. Randolph C. Parcasio and the

defendants Dole Companies, assisted by Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado, with Atty.
Virginia C. Rafael as mediator submitted the Compromise Agreement duly signed
and executed on October 18 and 19, 2016, November 22 and 23, 2016 and
December 6, 2016, with the hereunder quoted pertinent provisions to wit:
 “1. that during the proceedings, defendant DOLE Companies duly
represented by counsel and the plaintiffs present (Annex F) except
those who failed to appear despite due notice)(Annex G) and counsel
were present, agree to settle the above-entitled case in the following
manner, to wit:
2. that the defendant company shall pay in the form of damages the
amount of $500 for each plaintiff with an equivalent exchange rate
of P44.40 per One US Dollar or a total of P22,200 each;
3. that defendant DOLE Companies shall issue an individual BPI
Manager’s Check in the amount of P9,990.00 in the name of each
plaintiff; while the remaining amount shall be paid to the association
and to their counsel as attorney’s fees;
4. that considering the number of plaintiffs-claimants, the
distribution of the payment to the latter were scheduled in three
separate dates so as to accommodate the parties in executing all the
documents required, the said dates are as follows-
a) October 18-19, 2016 – Plaintiffs paid are listed
in Annex D-1
b) November 22-23, 2016 – Plaintiffs paid are
listed in Annex D-2 and
c)December 6, 2016 – Plaintiffs paid are listed in
Annex D-3
5. that the parties waived all their claims and counter-claims
against each other;
6. that this is a complete and final settlement of the case.”

Together with the duly signed and executed Compromise Agreement, the
following documents and attachments were also submitted to Court, to wit:

1. Notice of Mediation dated March 17, 2016

2. Request for Extension (until May 17, 2016)
3. Final Notice of Extension (until November 2016)
4. Attendance Sheets inclusive dates (March 17 and 18, 2016, April
7 and 8, 2016, October 18 and 19, 2016 and November 22 and
23, 2016)
5. Newspaper (Goldstar) for Final Notice for parties to appear before
the Philippines Mediation Center, Tagum City on June 16-17,
2016 (Annex B of Compromise Agreement)
6. List of Plaintiffs’ residence (Annex A ibid.)
7. Four (4) big envelopes containing the Identification Documents
and validation requirements of the 292 appearing/responding
plaintiffs and representatives (Annexes C and sub-markings,ibid.)
8. 292 copies of Compromise Agreements contained in boxes marked
as Annexes E and sub-markings)
9. List of plaintiffs present (Annex F, ibid)
10. List of plaintiffs who failed to appear despite notice(Annex G,ibid)
 11. List of plaintiffs who were paid (Annex D-1, D-2 and D-3, ibid.)

As can be gleaned from the Compromise Agreement, the plaintiffs

association and Atty. Randolph Parcasio received P12,300.00 from each of
the 292 plaintiffs, out of the P22,200.00 settlement payment, or a total of
P3, 591, 600.00.

Noteworthy to mention that Atty. Oswaldo Macadangdang who is

also the active lawyer for some of the plaintiffs and who earnestly worked
for a settlement with the DOLE companies was left out in the settlement
proceeding. This is most unfair and unjust to Atty. Macadangdang.

The compensation of P3, 591, 600.00 for Attorney Parcasio and the
plaintiffs association which, of course, he also represents, to our mind, is
far too much.

The ruling in NAPOCOR vs. Heirs of Macabangkit Sangkay (G.R. No.

165820, August 24, 2011) dictates to wit:

An award of attorneys fees has always been the exception rather than
the rule. To start with, attorneys fees are not awarded every time a party prevails
in a suit. Nor should an adverse decision ipso facto justify an award of attorneys
fees to the winning party. The policy of the Court is that no premium should be
placed on the right to litigate. Too, such fees, as part of damages, are assessed
only in the instances specified in Art. 2208, Civil Code. Indeed, attorneys fees
are in the nature of actual damages. But even when a claimant is compelled to
litigate with third persons or to incur expenses to protect his rights, attorneys fees
may still be withheld where no sufficient showing of bad faith could be reflected
in a partys persistence in a suit other than an erroneous conviction of the
righteousness of his cause. And, lastly, the trial court must make express findings
of fact and law that bring the suit within the exception. What this demands is that
the factual, legal or equitable justifications for the award must be set forth not
only in the fallo but also in the text of the decision, or else, the award should be
thrown out for being speculative and conjectural.

XXX a contract for a contingent fees is an agreement in writing by which

the fees, usually a fixed percentage of what may be recovered in the action, are
made to depend upon the success in the effort to enforce or defend a supposed
right. Contingent fees depend upon an express contract, without which the
attorney can only recover on the basis of quantum meruit.
 With neither Atty. xxxx presenting a written agreement bearing upon their
supposed contingent fees, the only way to determine their right to appropriate
attorneys fees is to apply the principle of quantum meruit.

Quantum meruit literally meaning as much as he deserves is used as basis for

determining an attorneys professional fees in the absence of an express
agreement. The recovery of attorneys fees on the basis of quantum meruit is a device
that prevents an unscrupulous client from running away with the fruits of the legal
services of counsel without paying for it and also avoids unjust enrichment on the
part of the attorney himself. An attorney must show that he is entitled to reasonable
compensation for the effort in pursuing the clients cause, taking into account certain
factors in fixing the amount of legal fees.

Rule 20.01 of the Code of Professional Responsibility lists the guidelines for
determining the proper amount of attorney fees, to wit:
Rule 20.1 A lawyer shall be guided by the following factors in determining
his fees:
a) The time spent and the extent of the services rendered or required;
b) The novelty and difficult of the questions involved;
c) The important of the subject matter;
d) The skill demanded;
e) The probability of losing other employment as a result of acceptance of
the proffered case;
f) The customary charges for similar services and the schedule of fees of
the IBP chapter to which he belongs;
g) The amount involved in the controversy and the benefits resulting to the
client from the service;
h) The contingency or certainty of compensation;
i) The character of the employment, whether occasional or established; and
j) The professional standing of the lawyer.

Attorneys fees under quantum meruit principle

are fixed at 10% of the judgment award

Also, worth mentioning is the payment of docket fees. True, that the
plaintiffs were allowed to litigate as pauper litigant when this case was first filed
on March 5, 1996 and their status as pauper litigant was again reiterated during
the settlement proceeding as per Order dated April 15, 2016.
 However, a pauper litigant may still have to pay the docket fees later, by way
of a lien on the monetary or property judgment that may accrue to him (Ricardo
Rizal et.al. vs. Leoncia Naredo et.al. G.R. No. 151898, March 14, 2012)

Now then, since payment had already been made, it would be an exercise
in futility to change the conditions of the Compromise Agreement, much less to
order the 292 plaintiffs to pay docket fees. Furthermore, these 292 plaintiffs
received less than the amount paid to Atty. Parcasio as attorney’s fees.

Therefore, being an officer of the Court and having received a huge amount
of attorney’s fee, which ought to have been based on quantum meruit, as above-
stated, Atty. Parcasio should bear the burden of paying the docket fees and
sharing his attorney’s fees with Atty. Oswaldo Macadangdang, who, as we have
stated, also earnestly negotiated with the DOLE for a settlement.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, judgment is hereby rendered

as follows:

1. The Compromise Agreement not being contrary to law, morals,

good customs and public policy, the same is hereby APPROVED.

2. The impleaded and named plaintiffs who failed to appear during

the mediation proceeding, despite notice by personal service and
publication are deemed to have waived their right to claim and
are estopped to pursue any action against defendants Dole
Companies. Moreover, their complaint against ALL the
defendants in this case are hereby DISMISSED with prejudice for
their failure to pursue their complaint for an unreasonable period
of time without justifiable cause.

3. Plaintiffs association DBCP Claimants Inc. or DCAI (as stated in

the Compromise Agreement) and Atty. Randolph Parcasio are
hereby ordered and directed to jointly and severally pay Atty.
 Oswaldo Macadangdang his share of the Attorney’s fee in the
reasonable amount of One Million, Five Hundred Thousand
Pesos (P1,500,000.00).

4. And lastly, Plaintiffs DBCP Claimants Inc. or DCAI (as stated in

the Compromise Agreement) and Atty. Randolph Parcasio are
hereby ordered and directed to jointly and severally pay the
docket fees computed on the basis of the settlement payment of
P6, 482, 400.00.

The RTC Clerk of Court is directed to serve Notice of Payment of Docket

Fees to Atty. Randolph Parcasio immediately upon receipt of this Decision.

This case is now deemed CLOSED AND TERMINATED.

SO ORDERED.

Given this January 4, 2017 at Tagum City, Davao del Norte,

Philippines.

JUDGE ARLENE I. LIRAG-PALABRICA

Serve to:

Cruz Marcelo Tenefrancia (Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado)

11th Ave.cor 39 St. Bonifacio Triangle
Bonifacio Global City
Taguig, Metro Manila

Atty. Randolph Parcasio

L5 B36 Vincent Ways Ave.
Vincent Heights Subd. Lanang
Davao City

Atty. Oswaldo Macadangdang

Fercia Tulip Townhouse
Tulip Drive, Matina
Davao City

Dole Companies
c/o Atty. Julius Gregory Delgado
Plaintiffs thru DBCP Claimants or DCAI
c/o Atty. Randolph Parcasio

Despite personal notice and thru newspaper publication, the rest of the
impleaded plaintiffs failed to appear before the mediator, and thus, they are
deemed to have waived their right to claim damages and are estopped from
pursuing any action against the herein defendants Dole Companies.