PETITIONER: KHRISTINE REA M. REGINO, Assisted and
Represented by ARMANDO REGINO RESPONDENT: PANGASINAN COLLEGES OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOG, TECHNOLOG, RACHELLE RACHELLE A. A. GAM!ROT and and ELISSA "ALADAD "ALADAD DATE: N#$e%ber &', ())* G.R. N#. &+&)Krsitin itine e /as pr# pr#ibi ibited ted 0r#% ta1i ta1in2 n2 er 3na4 DOCT DO CTRI RINE NE:: Krs e5a%s be6a7se se did n#t /ant t# b7y a ti61et t# a dan6e by reas#n #0 re4i2i#n and 3nan6es. Se 34ed a 6ase 0#r da%a2es t# te RTC b7t te RTC dis%issed te 6ase sayin2 tat tere /as n# 6a7se #0 a6ti#n and tat te CHED as 87risdi6ti#n #$er te 6ase. Te S7pre%e C#7rt r74ed tat it is n#t te CHED b7t te RTC 6#nsiderin2 tat Kristine is as1in2 0#r da%a2es and n#t 0#r te re$ersa4 #0 te r74e #0 te s6##4. Sin6e st7dents and teir s6##4 a$e a 6#ntra6t7a4 re4ati#nsip bet/een te%, b#t #0 te% are e5pe6ted t# 6#%p4y /it teir 6#ntra6t7 6#ntra6t7a4 a4 #b4i2ati#ns #b4i2ati#ns.. T7s, it 2#es t# t# s#/ tat tere tere is a brea6 brea6 #0 a6ti#n #n te te side #0 te s6##4. Relevant Provisions:
Se6ti#ns + 9&: #0 Arti64e ;I< #0 te &-'= C#nstit7ti#n. Te State sa44 pr#te6t and pr#%#te te ri2t #0 a44 6iti>ens t# ?7a4ity ed76ati#n at a44 4e$e4s and sa44 ta1e appr#priate steps t# %a1e s76 de64arati#n a66essib4e t# a44. Se6ti#ns + 9@: #0 Arti64e ;I< #0 te &-'= C#nstit7ti#n. E$ery st7dent as a ri2t t# se4e6t a pr#0essi#n #r 6#7rse #0 st7dy, s7b8e6t t# 0air, reas#nab4e and e?7itab4e ad%issi#n and a6ade%i6 re?7ire%ents. Se6ti#n -. Ri2ts #0 St7dents in S6##4. In additi#n t# #ter ri2ts, and s7b8e6t t# te 4i%itati#ns pres6ribed by 4a/ and re274ati#ns, st7dents and p7pi4s in a44 s6##4s sa44 en8#y te 0#44#/in2 ri2ts 5555555 55 9(: Te ri2t t# 0ree4y 6##se teir 3e4d #0 st7dy s7b8e6t t# e5istin2 67rri674a and t# 6#ntin7e teir 6#7rse terein 7p t# 2rad7ati#n, e56ept in 6ases #0 a6ade%i6 de36ien6y, #r $i#4ati#n #0 dis6ip4inary re274ati#ns. re274ati#ns. Arti64e &-. E$ery pers#n %7st, in te e5er6ise #0 is ri2ts and in te per0#r%an6e #0 is d7ties, a6t /it 87sti6e, 2i$e e$ery#ne is d7e, and #bser$e #nesty and 2##d 0ait.
Arti64e (&. Any pers#n /# /i40744y 6a7ses 4#ss #r in87ry t# an#ter in a %anner tat is 6#ntrary t# %#ra4s, 2##d 67st#%s #r p7b4i6 p#4i6y sa44 6#%pensate te 4atter 0#r te da%a2e. Arti64e (. E$ery pers#n sa44 respe6t te di2nity, pers#na4ity, pri$a6y and pea6e #0 %ind #0 is nei2b#rs and #ter pers#ns. Te 0#44#/in2 and and si%i4ar a6ts, a6ts, t#72 tey tey %ay n#t 6#nstit7te 6#nstit7te a 6ri%ina4 #Bense, sa44 pr#d76e a 6a7se #0 a6ti#n 0#r da%a2es, pre$enti#n and #ter re4ie0 9&: Pryin2 int# te pri$a6y #0 an#ters residen6e 9(: Medd4in2 /it #r dist7rbin2 te pri$ate 4i0e #r 0a%i4y re4ati#ns #0 an#ter 9@: Intri27in2 t# 6a7se an#ter t# be a4ienated 0r#% is 0riends 9*:
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Petiti#ner Petiti#ner Kristine Rea M. Re2in# /as a 3rst year 6#%p7ter s6ien6e s6ien6e st7dent st7dent at Resp#n Resp#ndent dent Pan2as Pan2asinan inan C#44e2es C#44e2es #0 S6ien6e and Te6n#4#2y 9PCST:. Se 6#%es 0r#% a $ery p##r 0a%i4y and se /as #n4y ab4e t# 2# t# s6# s6##4 #4 by %ean %eans s #0 3nan 3nan6i 6ia4 a4 s7pp s7pp#r #rtt 0r#% 0r#% er er re4ati$es. D7rin2 er se6#nd se%ester #0 s6##4 year ())&())(, se /as /as enr# enr#44 44ed ed in 4#2i 4#2i6 6 and and stat statis isti ti6s 6s s7b8 s7b8e6 e6ts ts 7nde 7nderr Rep#nde Rep#ndents nts Ra6e44 Ra6e44e e A. Ga%7r#t Ga%7r#t and E4issa E4issa "a4adad "a4adad 9er tea6ers: It /as in Febr7ary ())( tat te 6#44e2e arran2ed a 07nd raisin2 6a%pai2n 6a44ed Ra$e Party and Dan6e Re$#47ti#n. Te pr#6eeds pr#6eeds #0 tis dan6e /i44 be 7sed t# 6#nstr76t te s6##4s tennis and $#44eyba44 6#7rts. E$ery#ne /as re?7ired t# b7y at 4east t/# ti61ets pri6ed at &)) pes#s ea6. Pe#p4e /# b#72t te ti61ets /i44 be 2i$en additi#na4 p#ints in teir test s6#res b7t t#se /# did n#t b7y /i44 n#t be a44#/ed t# ta1e te 3na4 e5a%s. Krist Kristine ine,, a$in2 a$in2 n# %#ney %#ney and and re4i2 re4i2i#7 i#7s s rest restri6 ri6ti# ti#ns, ns, re07sed t# b7y te ti61ets. T7s #n te e5a%inati#n dates, se /as n#t a44#/ed by er t/# tea6ers, Ga%7r#t and "a4a4ad, t# ta1e er 3na4 e5a% #n statisti6s and 4#2i6.
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Te ne5t day, te tea6er ann#7n6ed t# te /#4e 64ass tat 1ristine and an#ter st7dent /as n#t per%itted t# ta1e te e5a% be6a7se #0 te 0ai47re t# b7y te ti61ets ten s7bse?7ent4y e8e6ted te t/# 0r#% 64ass. Kristine 6#ntin7ed t# p4ead /it te tea6ers t# a44#/ er b7t tey 1ept teir stand and de0ended teir p#siti#n sayin2 tat tey /ere 6#%p4yin2 /it PCSTs p#4i6y. Kristine 34ed in te RTC as a pa7per 4iti2ant a2ainst PCST and er t/# tea6ers 0#r da%a2es. Te resp#ndents 34ed a %#ti#n t# dis%iss based #n te 1ristines 0ai47re t# e5a7st ad%inistrati$e re%edies as tey are 6#ntendin2 tat te 6ase s#74d$e been 34ed in te CHED 96#%%issi#n #0 i2er ed76ati#n: and n#t in te RTC Kristine #n te #ter and says tat pri#r e5a7sti#n #0 ad%inistrati$e re%edies /as 7nne6essary, be6a7se er a6ti#n /as n#t ad%inistrati$e in nat7re, b7t #ne p7re4y 0#r da%a2es arisin2 0r#% resp#ndents brea6 #0 te 4a/s #n 7%an re4ati#ns RTC Te RTC dis%issed te 6#%p4aint 0#r te 4a61 #0 6a7se #0 o a6ti#n. It said tat 6#nsiderin2 te 6ase /as bet/een a s6##4, t/# tea6ers and a st7dent, CHED as 87risdi6ti#n #$er te 6ase and n#t RTC. And it dis%issed te 6ase 0#r te 4a61 #0 6a7se #0 a6ti#n /it#7t e5p4ainin2 teir 2r#7nd.
ISSUE/s: 1. N te d#6trine #0 e5a7sti#n #0 ad%inistrati$e
re%edies is app4i6ab4e 2. N te C#%p4aint stated s7J6ient 6a7se9s: #0 a6ti#n. HELD: 1. es
Te S7pre%e C#7rt r74ed tat te d#6trine #0 e5a7sti#n #0 ad%inistrati$e re%edies as n# bearin2 #n te present 6ase be6a7se te petiti#ner /as n#t as1in2 0#r te re$ersa4 #0 te p#4i6ies #0 te PCST neiter /as se de%andin2 tat te s6##4 a44#/ er t# ta1e te 3na4 e5a%inati#ns 96#nsiderin2 tat se /as a4ready enr#44ed in a diBerent s6##4:. Te a6ts #0 te resp#ndent 6an n# 4#n2er be re$ersed and e$en i0 it /as re$ersed, it /#74d n#t be ade?7ate t# redress er 2rie$an6es
Te S7pre%e C#7rt a4s# e4d tat te d#6trine 6an #n4y be app4ied /en tere is 6#%peten6e #n te part #0 te ad%inistrati$e b#dy t# a6t 7p#n te %atter 6#%p4ained #0. T7s in te 6ase at bar, te CHED d#es n#t a$e te p#/er t# a/ard da%a2es t# te petiti#ner. And 4ast4y, te d#6trine 6ann#t be app4ied /en te iss7e is p7re4y 4e2a4 and /e44 /itin te 87risdi6ti#n #0 te tria4 6#7rt. Te petiti#ners a6ti#n 0#r da%a2es 6a44s 0#r te app4i6ati#n #0 te Ci$i4 C#de /i6 0a44s /itin te 87risdi6ti#n #0 te 6#7rts. 2. es a. "rea6 #0 A6ti#n In te 6ase #0 A467a> $. PS"A, te 6#7rt 6ara6teri>ed te re4ati#nsip bet/een te s6##4 and te st7dent as a 6#ntra6t, /ere te st7dent, #n6e ad%itted by te s6##4 is 6#nsidered enr#44ed 0#r #ne se%ester. And in a s766eedin2 6ase 9N#n $. Da%es:, te 6#7rt r74ed tat it is n#t %ere4y 0#r #ne se%ester b7t an entire peri#d tat te st7dent is e5pe6ted t# 6#%p4ete it. T7s it 6an be seen tat /en it 6#%es t# te 6#7rt, te re4ati#nsip bet/een te s6##4 and te st7dent is 6#ntra6t7a4 in nat7re. "ein2 tat te re4ati#nsip is re6ipr#6a4, /ere te s6##4 /#74d be pr#$idin2 te ed76ati#n /i4e te st7dent /i44 be abidin2 by te r74es and re274ati#ns #0 te s6##4. Te ter%s #0 te 6#ntra6t are de3ned at te %#%ent #0 its in6epti#n 7p#n enr#44%ent #0 te st7dent. T7s it is in pra6ti6e tat te st7dent %a1es a d#/n pay%ent at te be2innin2 #0 te se%ester and s766eedin2 pay%ents paid be0#re e$ery pre4i%inary, %idter% and 3na4 e5a%inati#n. Teir 0ai47re t# pay teir 3nan6ia4 #b4i2ati#n is re2arded as a $a4id 2r#7nd 0#r te s6##4 t# deny te% te #pp#rt7nity t# ta1e tese e5a%inati#ns. In te present 6ase, te PCST i%p#sed a re$en7e raisin2 %eas7re in te %idd4e #0 te se%ester. It %ade te 3nan6ia4 6#ntrib7ti#n #0 te st7dent as a 6#nditi#n 0#r te st7dents t# ta1e teir 3na4 e5a%inati#ns /i6 74ti%ate4y is trans4ated t# te re6#2niti#n #0 teir abi4ity t# 3nis te 6#7rse. C#nsiderin2 tat te 0ee /as n#t part #0 te st7dents6##4 6#ntra6t entered int# at te start #0 te year, it 6ann#t be 7ni4atera44y i%p#sed t# te pre87di6e #0 te enr#44ees. It s#74d be n#ted tat te st7dents6##4 6#ntra6t is n#t an #rdinary #ne and is i%b7ed /it p7b4i6 interest 6#nsiderin2 tat it is pr#te6ted by te 6#nstit7ti#n and by a 4e2is4ati$e a6t 6a44ed te Ed76ati#n A6t #0 &-'(. . Liabi4ity 0#r T#rt
In er 6#%p4aint, Kristine /r#te tat se /as in7%an4y p7nised by reas#n #n4y #0 teir p#$erty, re4i2i#7s pra6ti$e #r 4#/4y stati#n I 4i0e /i6 in6746ated 0ee4in2s #0 27i4t, dis2ra6e and 7n/#rtiness and as a res74t se /as 7nab4e t# 3nis er s7b8e6ts 0#r te se6#nd se%ester and ad t# 4a2 er st7dies 0#r a 0744 year. Te a6ts 6a7sed er e5tre%e 7%i4iati#n and %enta4 a2#ny and se as1s 0#r 6#%pensati#n as te resp#ndents $i#4ated Arti64e &-, (&, and ( #0 te Ci$i4 C#de. Te 6#7rt e4d tat 2enera44y, t#rt arises #n4y bet/een partieis n#t #ter/ise b#7nd by a 6#ntra6t. "7t in te 6ase #0 PS"A $s. CA an a6ade%i6 instit7ti#n %ay be e4d 4iab4e 0#r t#rt e$en i0 it as an e5istin2 6#ntra6t /it its st7dents, sin6e te a6t tat $i#4ated te 6#ntra6t %ay a4s# be a t#rt.
Te Resp#ndent CANNOT 7se te ri2t t# a6ade%i6 0reed#% as a de0ense be6a7se A66#rdin2 t# present 87rispr7den6e, a6ade%i6 0reed#% en6#%passes te independen6e #0 an a6ade%i6 instit7ti#n t# deter%ine 0#r itse40 9&: /# %ay tea6, 9(: /at %ay be ta72t, 9@: #/ it sa44 tea6, and 9*: /# %ay be ad%itted t# st7dy. DISPOSITI!E: HEREFORE, te Petiti#n is ereby GRANTED,
and te assai4ed Orders RE