Practice question
A tribunal with proper quasi-judicial authority finally decides the merits between the same parties on the same subject and cause. The loser alleges ordinary legal error but identifies no timely review, jurisdictional defect, fraud or other recognized ground to reopen. It argues that its own disagreement alone removes finality and authorizes an identical new case. Which response is strongest?
- Any dissatisfaction automatically erases finality.
- A losing party can privately declare the first decision nonexistent.
- Ordinary disagreement alone is not a substitute for review or a recognized preclusion exception; the qualifying final adjudication cannot simply be relitigated.
- Only favorable agency decisions can ever become final.
- A new case number always defeats every prior judgment.
Legal references
- Encinas v. Agustin, G.R. No. 187317, April 11, 2013, main decision: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2013/apr2013/gr_187317_2013.html
- Ligtas v. People, G.R. No. 200751, August 17, 2015, main decision: https://lawphil.net/judjuris/juri2015/aug2015/gr_200751_2015.html
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