FIRST DIVISION
[G.R. No. 231861. February 7, 2018.]
MEKENI FOOD CORPORATION, petitioner,vs. ROBERTO T. MASBANG, RONIE F. PANOY, AND DR. RODRIGO J. CASTILLO, respondents.
NOTICE
Sirs/Mesdames :
Please take notice that the Court, First Division, issued a Resolution datedFebruary 7, 2018which reads as follows: cEaSHC
"G.R. No. 231861 (Mekeni Food Corporation v. Roberto T. Masbang, Ronie F. Panoy, and Dr. Rodrigo J. Castillo). — The motion for extension of time to file the petition for review on certiorari is GRANTED.
In any event, the Court resolves to DENY the petition and AFFIRM the Court of Appeals (CA) Decision dated February 28, 2017, in CA-G.R. CV No. 106676 for petitioners' failure to show that the CA committed any reversible error in affirming the February 25, 2015 Decision of the Regional Trial Court which dismissed petitioner's complaint for damages and awarded respondents attorney's fees.
The Court cannot subscribe to petitioner's clearly self-serving interpretation of Administrative Order No. 5, series of 2002 (A.O. No. 5). There is no dispute that the shipment of petitioner's meat products is illegal or unauthorized for lack of necessary permits. A.O. No. 5 plainly subjects these kinds of shipments to confiscation and disposal. The Court also finds no error in the award of attorney's fees to respondents, who were merely performing their official duties until they were forced to litigate to protect their interests. The award of attorney's fees is just and equitable under the circumstances. The application of the oft-stated principle that findings of the trial court, especially if affirmed by the appellate court, bear great weight and will not be disturbed on appeal before this Court, cannot be more apt.
The petitioner's compliance with the Resolution dated July 17, 2017 submitting the compact disc containing the required soft copy of the motion for extension of time to file petition for review on certiorari, is NOTED.
SO ORDERED."
Very truly yours,
(SGD.) LIBRADA C. BUENADeputy Division Clerk of Court