SECOND DIVISION

[G.R. No. 162175. June 28, 2010.]

MIGUEL J. OSSORIO PENSION FOUNDATION, INCORPORATED ,

petitioner, vs . COURT OF APPEALS and COMMISSIONER OF
INTERNAL REVENUE , respondents.

DECISION

CARPIO , J : p

The Case
The Miguel J. Ossorio Pension Foundation, Incorporated (petitioner or MJOPFI)
led this Petition for Certiorari 1 with Prayer for the Issuance of a Temporary
Restraining Order and/or Writ of Preliminary Injunction to reverse the Court of Appeals'
(CA) Decision 2 dated 30 May 2003 in CA-G.R. SP No. 61829 as well as the Resolution 3
dated 7 November 2003 denying the Motion for Reconsideration. In the assailed
decision, the CA a rmed the Court of Tax Appeals' (CTA) Decision 4 dated 24 October
2000. The CTA denied petitioner's claim for refund of withheld creditable tax of
P3,037,500 arising from the sale of real property of which petitioner claims to be a co-
owner as trustee of the employees' trust or retirement funds.
The Facts
Petitioner, a non-stock and non-profit corporation, was organized for the purpose
of holding title to and administering the employees' trust or retirement funds
(Employees' Trust Fund) established for the bene t of the employees of Victorias
Milling Company, Inc. (VMC). 5 Petitioner, as trustee, claims that the income earned by
the Employees' Trust Fund is tax exempt under Section 53 (b) of the National Internal
Revenue Code (Tax Code).
Petitioner alleges that on 25 March 1992, petitioner decided to invest part of the
Employees' Trust Fund to purchase a lot 6 in the Madrigal Business Park (MBP lot) in
Alabang, Muntinlupa. Petitioner bought the MBP lot through VMC. 7 Petitioner alleges
that its investment in the MBP lot came about upon the invitation of VMC, which also
purchased two lots. Petitioner claims that its share in the MBP lot is 49.59%.
Petitioner's investment manager, the Citytrust Banking Corporation (Citytrust), 8 in
submitting its Portfolio Mix Analysis, regularly reported the Employees' Trust Fund's
share in the MBP lot. 9 The MBP lot is covered by Transfer Certi cate of Title No.
183907 (TCT 183907) with VMC as the registered owner. 1 0
Petitioner claims that since it needed funds to pay the retirement and pension
bene ts of VMC employees and to reimburse advances made by VMC, petitioner's
Board of Trustees authorized the sale of its share in the MBP lot. 1 1
On 14 March 1997, VMC negotiated the sale of the MBP lot with Metropolitan
Bank and Trust Company, Inc. (Metrobank) for P81,675,000, but the consummation of
the sale was withheld. 1 2 On 26 March 1997, VMC eventually sold the MBP lot to
Metrobank. VMC, through its Vice President Rolando Rodriguez and Assistant Vice
President Teodorico Escober, signed the Deed of Absolute Sale as the sole vendor.
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 Metrobank, as withholding agent, paid the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR)
P6,125,625 as withholding tax on the sale of real property.
Petitioner alleges that the parties who co-owned the MBP lot executed a
notarized Memorandum of Agreement as to the proceeds of the sale, the pertinent
provisions of which state: 1 3
2. The said parcels of land are actually co-owned by the following:
BLOCK 4, LOT 1 COVERED BY TCT NO. 183907

% SQ. M. AMOUNT

MJOPFI 49.59% 450.00 P5,504,748.25

VMC 32.23% 351.02 3,578,294.70
VFC 18.18% 197.98 2,018,207.30

3. Since Lot 1 has been sold for P81,675,000.00 (gross of 7.5%

withholding tax and 3% broker's commission, MJOPFI's share in the proceeds of
the sale is P40,500,000.00 (gross of 7.5% withholding tax and 3% broker's
commission. However, MJO Pension Fund is indebted to VMC representing
pension bene t advances paid to retirees amounting to P21,425,141.54, thereby
leaving a balance of P14,822,358.46 in favor of MJOPFI. Check for said amount
of P14,822,358.46 will therefore be issued to MJOPFI as its share in the proceeds
of the sale of Lot 1. The check corresponding to said amount will be deposited
with MJOPFI's account with BPI Asset Management & Trust Group which will
then be invested by it in the usual course of its administration of MJOPFI funds.

Petitioner claims that it is a co-owner of the MBP lot as trustee of the

Employees' Trust Fund, based on the notarized Memorandum of Agreement presented
before the appellate courts. Petitioner asserts that VMC has con rmed that petitioner,
as trustee of the Employees' Trust Fund, is VMC's co-owner of the MBP lot. Petitioner
maintains that its ownership of the MBP lot is supported by the excerpts of the minutes
and the resolutions of petitioner's Board Meetings. Petitioner further contends that
there is no dispute that the Employees' Trust Fund is exempt from income tax. Since
petitioner, as trustee, purchased 49.59% of the MBP lot using funds of the Employees'
Trust Fund, petitioner asserts that the Employees' Trust Fund's 49.59% share in the
income tax paid (or P3,037,697.40 rounded off to P3,037,500) should be refunded. 1 4
Petitioner maintains that the tax exemption of the Employees' Trust Fund
rendered the payment of P3,037,500 as illegal or erroneous. On 5 May 1997, petitioner
filed a claim for tax refund. 1 5
On 14 August 1997, the BIR, through its Revenue District O cer, wrote petitioner
stating that under Section 26 of the Tax Code, petitioner is not exempt from tax on its
income from the sale of real property. The BIR asked petitioner to submit documents
to prove its co-ownership of the MBP lot and its exemption from tax. 1 6
On 2 September 1997, petitioner replied that the applicable provision granting its
claim for tax exemption is not Section 26 but Section 53 (b) of the Tax Code. Petitioner
claims that its co-ownership of the MBP lot is evidenced by Board Resolution Nos. 92-
34 and 96-46 and the memoranda of agreement among petitioner, VMC and its
subsidiaries. 1 7
Since the BIR failed to act on petitioner's claim for refund, petitioner elevated its
claim to the Commissioner of Internal Revenue (CIR) on 26 October 1998. The CIR did
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 not act on petitioner's claim for refund. Hence, petitioner led a petition for tax refund
before the CTA. On 24 October 2000, the CTA rendered a decision denying the petition.
18

On 22 November 2000, petitioner led its Petition for Review before the Court of
Appeals. On 20 May 2003, the CA rendered a decision denying the appeal. The CA also
denied petitioner's Motion for Reconsideration. 1 9
Aggrieved by the appellate court's Decision, petitioner elevated the case before this
Court.
The Ruling of the Court of Tax Appeals
The CTA held that under Section 53 (b) 2 0 [now Section 60 (b)] of the Tax Code, it
is not petitioner that is entitled to exemption from income tax but the income or
earnings of the Employees' Trust Fund. The CTA stated that petitioner is not the
pension trust itself but it is a separate and distinct entity whose function is to
administer the pension plan for some VMC employees. 2 1 The CTA, after evaluating the
evidence adduced by the parties, ruled that petitioner is not a party in interest.
To prove its co-ownership over the MBP lot, petitioner presented the following
documents:
a. Secretary's Certi cate showing how the purchase and eventual sale of the
MBP lot came about.

b. Memoranda of Agreement showing various details:

i. That the MBP lot was co-owned by VMC and petitioner on a 50/50
basis;

ii. That VMC held the property in trust for North Legaspi Land
Development Corporation, North Negros Marketing Co., Inc.,
Victorias Insurance Factors Corporation, Victorias Science and
Technical Foundation, Inc. and Canetown Development Corporation.
iii. That the previous agreement (ii) was cancelled and it showed that
the MBP lot was co-owned by petitioner, VMC and Victorias
Insurance Factors Corporation (VFC). 2 2

The CTA ruled that these pieces of evidence are self-serving and cannot by
themselves prove petitioner's co-ownership of the MBP lot when the TCT, the Deed of
Absolute Sale, and the Monthly Remittance Return of Income Taxes Withheld
(Remittance Return) disclose otherwise. The CTA further ruled that petitioner failed to
present any evidence to prove that the money used to purchase the MBP lot came from
the Employees' Trust Fund. 2 3
The CTA concluded that petitioner is estopped from claiming a tax exemption.
The CTA pointed out that VMC has led the government to believe that it is the sole
owner of the MBP lot through its execution of the Deeds of Absolute Sale both during
the purchase and subsequent sale of the MBP lot and through the registration of the
MBP lot in VMC's name. Consequently, the tax was also paid in VMC's name alone. The
CTA stated that petitioner may not now claim a refund of a portion of the tax paid by
the mere expediency of presenting Secretary's Certi cates and memoranda of
agreement in order to prove its ownership. These documents are self-serving; hence,
these documents merit very little weight. 2 4

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 The Ruling of the Court of Appeals
The CA declared that the ndings of the CTA involved three types of
documentary evidence that petitioner presented to prove its contention that it
purchased 49.59% of the MBP lot with funds from the Employees' Trust Fund: (1) the
memoranda of agreement executed by petitioner and other VMC subsidiaries; (2)
Secretary's Certi cates containing excerpts of the minutes of meetings conducted by
the respective boards of directors or trustees of VMC and petitioner; (3) Certi ed True
Copies of the Portfolio Mix Analysis issued by Citytrust regarding the investment of
P5,504,748.25 in Madrigal Business Park I for the years 1994 to 1997. 2 5
The CA agreed with the CTA that these pieces of documentary evidence
submitted by petitioner are largely self-serving and can be contrived easily. The CA
ruled that these documents failed to show that the funds used to purchase the MBP lot
came from the Employees' Trust Fund. The CA explained, thus:
We are constrained to echo the ndings of the Court of Tax Appeals in
regard to the failure of the petitioner to ensure that legal documents pertaining to
its investments, e.g., title to the subject property, were really in its name,
considering its awareness of the resulting tax bene t that such foresight or
providence would produce; hence, genuine efforts towards that end should have
been exerted, this notwithstanding the alleged di culty of procuring a title under
the names of all the co-owners. Indeed, we are unable to understand why
petitioner would allow the title of the property to be placed solely in the name of
petitioner's alleged co-owner, i.e., the VMC, although it allegedly owned a much
bigger (nearly half), portion thereof. Withal, petitioner failed to ensure a " x" so to
speak, on its investment, and we are not impressed by the documents which the
petitioner presented, as the same apparently allowed "mobility" of the subject real
estate assets between or among the petitioner, the VMC and the latter's
subsidiaries. Given the fact that the subject parcel of land was registered and sold
under the name solely of VMC, even as payment of taxes was also made only
under its name, we cannot but concur with the finding of the Court of Tax Appeals
that petitioner's claim for refund of withheld creditable tax is bereft of solid
juridical basis. 2 6

The Issues
The issues presented are:
1. Whether petitioner or the Employees' Trust Fund is estopped from
claiming that the Employees' Trust Fund is the bene cial owner of
49.59% of the MBP lot and that VMC merely held 49.59% of the MBP
lot in trust for the Employees' Trust Fund.
2. If petitioner or the Employees' Trust Fund is not estopped, whether
they have su ciently established that the Employees' Trust Fund is
the bene cial owner of 49.59% of the MBP lot, and thus entitled to tax
exemption for its share in the proceeds from the sale of the MBP lot.
The Ruling of the Court
We grant the petition.
The law expressly allows a co-owner ( rst co-owner) of a parcel of land to
register his proportionate share in the name of his co-owner (second co-owner) in
whose name the entire land is registered. The second co-owner serves as a legal
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 trustee of the rst co-owner insofar as the proportionate share of the rst co-owner is
concerned. The first co-owner remains the owner of his proportionate share and not the
second co-owner in whose name the entire land is registered. Article 1452 of the Civil
Code provides:
Art. 1452.If two or more persons agree to purchase a property and by
common consent the legal title is taken in the name of one of them for the bene t
of all, a trust is created by force of law in favor of the others in proportion to
the interest of each. (Emphasis supplied)

For Article 1452 to apply, all that a co-owner needs to show is that there is
"common consent" among the purchasing co-owners to put the legal title to the
purchased property in the name of one co-owner for the bene t of all. Once this
"common consent" is shown, "a trust is created by force of law ." The BIR has no
option but to recognize such legal trust as well as the bene cial ownership of the real
owners because the trust is created by force of law. The fact that the title is registered
solely in the name of one person is not conclusive that he alone owns the property.
Thus, this case turns on whether petitioner can su ciently establish that
petitioner, as trustee of the Employees' Trust Fund, has a common agreement with
VMC and VFC that petitioner, VMC and VFC shall jointly purchase the MBP lot and put
the title to the MBP lot in the name of VMC for the benefit petitioner, VMC and VFC.
We rule that petitioner, as trustee of the Employees' Trust Fund, has more than
su ciently established that it has an agreement with VMC and VFC to purchase jointly
the MBP lot and to register the MBP lot solely in the name of VMC for the bene t of
petitioner, VMC and VFC.
Factual findings of the CTA will be reviewed
when judgment is based on a misapprehension of facts.
Generally, the factual ndings of the CTA, a special court exercising expertise on
the subject of tax, are regarded as nal, binding and conclusive upon this Court,
especially if these are substantially similar to the ndings of the CA which is normally
the nal arbiter of questions of fact. 2 7 However, there are recognized exceptions to
this rule, 2 8 such as when the judgment is based on a misapprehension of facts.
Petitioner contends that the CA erred in evaluating the documents as self-serving
instead of considering them as truthful and genuine because they are public documents
duly notarized by a Notary Public and presumed to be regular unless the contrary
appears. Petitioner explains that the CA erred in doubting the authenticity and
genuineness of the three memoranda of agreement presented as evidence. Petitioner
submits that there is nothing wrong in the execution of the three memoranda of
agreement by the parties. Petitioner points out that VMC authorized petitioner to
administer its Employees' Trust Fund which is basically funded by donation from its
founder, Miguel J. Ossorio, with his shares of stocks and share in VMC's profits. 2 9
Petitioner argues that the Citytrust report re ecting petitioner's investment in the
MBP lot is concrete proof that money of the Employees' Trust Funds was used to
purchase the MBP lot. In fact, the CIR did not dispute the authenticity and existence of
this documentary evidence. Further, it would be unlikely for Citytrust to issue a certi ed
copy of the Portfolio Mix Analysis stating that petitioner invested in the MBP lot if it
were not true. 3 0
Petitioner claims that substantial evidence is all that is required to prove
petitioner's co-ownership and all the pieces of evidence have overwhelmingly proved
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 that petitioner is a co-owner of the MBP lot to the extent of 49.59% of the MBP lot.
Petitioner explains:
Thus, how the parties became co-owners was shown by the excerpts of the
minutes and the resolutions of the Board of Trustees of the petitioner and those
of VMC. All these documents showed that as far as March 1992, petitioner
already expressed intention to be co-owner of the said property. It then decided to
invest the retirement funds to buy the said property and culminated in it owning
49.59% thereof. When it was sold to Metrobank, petitioner received its share in the
proceeds from the sale thereof. The excerpts and resolutions of the parties'
respective Board of Directors were certi ed under oath by their respective
Corporate Secretaries at the time. The corporate certi cations are accorded verity
by law and accepted as prima facie evidence of what took place in the board
meetings because the corporate secretary is, for the time being, the board itself.
31

Petitioner, citing Article 1452 of the Civil Code, claims that even if VMC
registered the land solely in its name, it does not make VMC the absolute owner of the
whole property or deprive petitioner of its rights as a co-owner. 3 2 Petitioner argues
that under the Torrens system, the issuance of a TCT does not create or vest a title and
it has never been recognized as a mode of acquiring ownership. 3 3
The issues of whether petitioner or the Employees' Trust Fund is estopped from
claiming 49.59% ownership in the MBP lot, whether the documents presented by
petitioner are self-serving, and whether petitioner has proven its exemption from tax,
are all questions of fact which could only be resolved after reviewing, examining and
evaluating the probative value of the evidence presented. The CTA ruled that the
documents presented by petitioner cannot prove its co-ownership over the MBP lot
especially that the TCT, Deed of Absolute Sale and the Remittance Return disclosed
that VMC is the sole owner and taxpayer.
However, the appellate courts failed to consider the genuineness and due
execution of the notarized Memorandum of Agreement acknowledging petitioner's
ownership of the MBP lot which provides:
2. The said parcels of land are actually co-owned by the
following :
BLOCK 4, LOT 1 COVERED BY TCT NO. 183907
% SQ. M. AMOUNT

MJOPFI 49.59% 450.00 P5,504,748.25

VMC 32.23% 351.02 3,578,294.70
VFC 18.18% 197.98 2,018,207.30

Thus, there is a "common consent" or agreement among petitioner, VMC and VFC to co-
own the MBP lot in the proportion speci ed in the notarized Memorandum of
Agreement.
In Cuizon v. Remoto,3 4 we held:
Documents acknowledged before notaries public are public documents
and public documents are admissible in evidence without necessity of preliminary
proof as to their authenticity and due execution. They have in their favor the
presumption of regularity, and to contradict the same, there must be evidence that
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 is clear, convincing and more than merely preponderant.

The BIR failed to present any clear and convincing evidence to prove that the
notarized Memorandum of Agreement is ctitious or has no legal effect. Likewise,
VMC, the registered owner, did not repudiate petitioner's share in the MBP lot. Further,
Citytrust, a reputable banking institution, has prepared a Portfolio Mix Analysis for the
years 1994 to 1997 showing that petitioner invested P5,504,748.25 in the MBP lot.
Absent any proof that the Citytrust bank records have been tampered or falsi ed, and
the BIR has presented none, the Portfolio Mix Analysis should be given probative value.
The BIR argues that under the Torrens system, a third person dealing with
registered property need not go beyond the TCT and since the registered owner is
VMC, petitioner is estopped from claiming ownership of the MBP lot. This argument is
grossly erroneous. The trustor-bene ciary is not estopped from proving its ownership
over the property held in trust by the trustee when the purpose is not to contest the
disposition or encumbrance of the property in favor of an innocent third-party
purchaser for value. The BIR, not being a buyer or claimant to any interest in the MBP
lot, has not relied on the face of the title of the MBP lot to acquire any interest in the lot.
There is no basis for the BIR to claim that petitioner is estopped from proving that it co-
owns, as trustee of the Employees' Trust Fund, the MBP lot. Article 1452 of the Civil
Code recognizes the lawful ownership of the trustor-bene ciary over the property
registered in the name of the trustee. Certainly, the Torrens system was not established
to foreclose a trustor or bene ciary from proving its ownership of a property titled in
the name of another person when the rights of an innocent purchaser or lien-holder are
not involved. More so, when such other person, as in the present case, admits its being
a mere trustee of the trustor or beneficiary.
The registration of a land under the Torrens system does not create or vest title,
because registration is not one of the modes of acquiring ownership. A TCT is merely
an evidence of ownership over a particular property and its issuance in favor of a
particular person does not foreclose the possibility that the property may be co-owned
by persons not named in the certi cate, or that it may be held in trust for another
person by the registered owner. 3 5
No particular words are required for the creation of a trust, it being su cient that
a trust is clearly intended. 3 6 It is immaterial whether or not the trustor and the trustee
know that the relationship which they intend to create is called a trust, and whether or
not the parties know the precise characteristic of the relationship which is called a trust
because what is important is whether the parties manifested an intention to create the
kind of relationship which in law is known as a trust. 3 7
The fact that the TCT, Deed of Absolute Sale and the Remittance Return were in
VMC's name does not forestall the possibility that the property is owned by another
entity because Article 1452 of the Civil Code expressly authorizes a person to
purchase a property with his own money and to take conveyance in the name
of another .
In Tigno v. Court of Appeals, the Court explained, thus:
An implied trust arises where a person purchases land with his own money
and takes conveyance thereof in the name of another. In such a case, the property
is held on resulting trust in favor of the one furnishing the consideration for the
transfer, unless a different intention or understanding appears. The trust which
results under such circumstances does not arise from a contract or an agreement
of the parties, but from the facts and circumstances; that is to say, the trust
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 results because of equity and it arises by implication or operation of law. 3 8

In this case, the notarized Memorandum of Agreement and the certi ed true
copies of the Portfolio Mix Analysis prepared by Citytrust clearly prove that petitioner
invested P5,504,748.25, using funds of the Employees' Trust Fund, to purchase the
MBP lot. Since the MBP lot was registered in VMC's name only, a resulting trust is
created by operation of law . A resulting trust is based on the equitable doctrine that
valuable consideration and not legal title determines the equitable interest and is
presumed to have been contemplated by the parties. 3 9 Based on this resulting trust,
the Employees' Trust Fund is considered the beneficial co-owner of the MBP lot.
Petitioner has su ciently proven that it had a "common consent" or agreement
with VMC and VFC to jointly purchase the MBP lot. The absence of petitioner's name in
the TCT does not prevent petitioner from claiming before the BIR that the Employees'
Trust Fund is the bene cial owner of 49.59% of the MBP lot and that VMC merely holds
49.59% of the MBP lot in trust, through petitioner, for the bene t of the Employees'
Trust Fund.
The BIR has acknowledged that the owner of a land can validly place the title to
the land in the name of another person. In BIR Ruling [DA-(I-012) 190-09] dated 16 April
2009, a certain Amelia Segarra purchased a parcel of land and registered it in the
names of Armin Segarra and Amelito Segarra as trustees on the condition that upon
demand by Amelia Segarra, the trustees would transfer the land in favor of their sister,
Arleen May Segarra-Guevara. The BIR ruled that an implied trust is deemed created by
law and the transfer of the land to the bene ciary is not subject to capital gains tax or
creditable withholding tax.
Income from Employees' Trust Fund is Exempt from Income Tax
Petitioner claims that the Employees' Trust Fund is exempt from the payment of
income tax. Petitioner further claims that as trustee, it acts for the Employees' Trust
Fund, and can le the claim for refund. As trustee, petitioner considers itself as the
entity that is entitled to le a claim for refund of taxes erroneously paid in the sale of
the MBP lot. 4 0
The O ce of the Solicitor General argues that the cardinal rule in taxation is that
tax exemptions are highly disfavored and whoever claims a tax exemption must justify
his right by the clearest grant of law. Tax exemption cannot arise by implication and any
doubt whether the exemption exists is strictly construed against the taxpayer. 4 1
Further, the ndings of the CTA, which were a rmed by the CA, should be given respect
and weight in the absence of abuse or improvident exercise of authority. 4 2
Section 53 (b) and now Section 60 (b) of the Tax Code provides:
SEC. 60. Imposition of Tax. —
(A) Application of Tax. — . . .

(B) Exception. — The tax imposed by this Title shall not apply to
employee's trust which forms part of a pension, stock bonus or profit-sharing plan
of an employer for the bene t of some or all of his employees (1) if contributions
are made to the trust by such employer, or employees, or both for the purpose of
distributing to such employees the earnings and principal of the fund
accumulated by the trust in accordance with such plan, and (2) if under the trust
instrument it is impossible, at any time prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities
with respect to employees under the trust, for any part of the corpus or income to
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 be (within the taxable year or thereafter) used for, or diverted to, purposes other
than for the exclusive bene t of his employees: Provided, That any amount
actually distributed to any employee or distributee shall be taxable to him in the
year in which so distributed to the extent that it exceeds the amount contributed
by such employee or distributee.

Petitioner's Articles of Incorporation state the purpose for which the corporation
was formed:
Primary Purpose
To hold legal title to, control, invest and administer in the manner provided,
pursuant to applicable rules and conditions as established, and in the interest and
for the bene t of its bene ciaries and/or participants, the private pension plan
as established for certain employees of Victorias Milling Company, Inc.,
and other pension plans of Victorias Milling Company a liates and/or
subsidiaries , the pension funds and assets, as well as accruals, additions and
increments thereto, and such amounts as may be set aside or accumulated for
the bene t of the participants of said pension plans; and in furtherance of the
foregoing and as may be incidental thereto. 4 3 (Emphasis supplied)

Petitioner is a corporation that was formed to administer the Employees' Trust

Fund. Petitioner invested P5,504,748.25 of the funds of the Employees' Trust Fund to
purchase the MBP lot. When the MBP lot was sold, the gross income of the Employees'
Trust Fund from the sale of the MBP lot was P40,500,000. The 7.5% withholding tax of
P3,037,500 and broker's commission were deducted from the proceeds. In
Commissioner of Internal Revenue v. Court of Appeals, 4 4 the Court explained the
rationale for the tax-exemption privilege of income derived from employees' trusts:
It is evident that tax-exemption is likewise to be enjoyed by the income of
the pension trust. Otherwise, taxation of those earnings would result in a
diminution of accumulated income and reduce whatever the trust bene ciaries
would receive out of the trust fund. This would run afoul of the very intendment of
the law.

In Miguel J. Ossorio Pension Foundation, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal

Revenue, 4 5 the CTA held that petitioner is entitled to a refund of withholding taxes paid
on interest income from direct loans made by the Employees' Trust Fund since such
interest income is exempt from tax. The CTA, in recognizing petitioner's entitlement for
tax exemption, explained:
In or about 1968, Victorias Milling Co., Inc. established a retirement or
pension plan for its employees and those of its subsidiary companies pursuant to
a 22-page plan. Pursuant to said pension plan, Victorias Milling Co., Inc. makes a
(sic) regular nancial contributions to the employee trust for the purpose of
distributing or paying to said employees, the earnings and principal of the funds
accumulated by the trust in accordance with said plan. Under the plan, it is
imposable, at any time prior to the satisfaction of all liabilities with respect to
employees under the trust, for any part of the corpus or income to be used for, or
diverted to, purposes other than for the exclusive bene t of said employees.
Moreover, upon the termination of the plan, any remaining assets will be applied
for the bene t of all employees and their bene ciaries entitled thereto in
proportion to the amount allocated for their respective bene ts as provided in
said plan.

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 The petitioner and Victorias Milling Co., Inc., on January 22, 1970, entered
into a Memorandum of Understanding, whereby they agreed that petitioner would
administer the pension plan funds and assets, as assigned and transferred to it in
trust, as well as all amounts that may from time to time be set aside by Victorias
Milling Co., Inc. "For the bene t of the Pension Plan, said administration is to be
strictly adhered to pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Pension Plan and
of the Articles of Incorporation and By Laws" of petitioner.
The pension plan was thereafter submitted to the Bureau of Internal
Revenue for registration and for a ruling as to whether its income or earnings are
exempt from income tax pursuant to Rep. Act 4917, in relation to Sec. 56(b), now
Sec. 54(b), of the Tax Code.

In a letter dated January 18, 1974 addressed to Victorias Milling Co., Inc.,
the Bureau of Internal Revenue ruled that "the income of the trust fund of
your retirement bene t plan is exempt from income tax, pursuant to
Rep. Act 4917 in relation to Section 56(b) of the Tax Code."
In accordance with petitioner's Articles of Incorporation (Annex A),
petitioner would "hold legal title to, control, invest and administer, in the
manner provided, pursuant to applicable rules and conditions as
established, and in the interest and for the bene t of its bene ciaries
and/or participants, the private pension plan as established for certain
employees of Victorias Milling Co., Inc. and other pension plans of
Victorias Milling Co. a liates and/or subsidiaries, the pension funds
and assets, as well as the accruals, additions and increments thereto,
and such amounts as may be set aside or accumulated of said pension
plans. Moreover, pursuant to the same Articles of Incorporations,
petitioner is empowered to "settle, compromise or submit to arbitration,
any claims, debts or damages due or owing to or from pension funds
and assets and other funds and assets of the corporation, to commence
or defend suits or legal proceedings and to represent said funds and
assets in all suits or legal proceedings."
Petitioner, through its investment manager, the City Trust Banking
Corporation, has invested the funds of the employee trust in treasury
bills, Central Bank bills, direct lending, etc. so as to generate income or
earnings for the bene t of the employees-bene ciaries of the pension
plan . Prior to the effectivity of Presidential Decree No. 1959 on October 15, 1984,
respondent did not subject said income or earning of the employee trust to
income tax because they were exempt from income tax pursuant to Sec. 56(b),
now Sec. 54(b) of the Tax Code and the BIR Ruling dated January 18, 1984
(Annex D). (Boldfacing supplied; italicization in the original)
xxx xxx xxx

It asserted that the pension plan in question was previously submitted to

the Bureau of Internal Revenue for a ruling as to whether the income or earnings
of the retirement funds of said plan are exempt from income tax and in a letter
dated January 18, 1984, the Bureau ruled that the earnings of the trust
funds of the pension plan are exempt from income tax under Sec. 56(b)
of the Tax Code . (Emphasis supplied)
"A close review of the provisions of the plan and trust instrument
disclose that in reality the corpus and income of the trust fund are not at
no time used for, or diverted to, any purpose other than for the exclusive
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 bene t of the plan bene ciaries. This fact was likewise con rmed after
veri cation of the plan operations by the Revenue District No. 63 of the
Revenue Region No. 14, Bacolod City. Section X also con rms this fact by
providing that if any assets remain after satisfaction of the requirements
of all the above clauses, such remaining assets will be applied for the
bene ts of all persons included in such classes in proportion to the
amounts allocated for their respective bene ts pursuant to the foregoing
priorities.
"In view of all the foregoing, this O ce is of the opinion, as it hereby
holds, that the income of the trust fund of your retirement bene t plan is
exempt from income tax pursuant to Republic Act 4917 in relation to
Section 56(b) of the Tax Code. (Annex "D" of Petition)

This CTA decision, which was a rmed by the CA in a decision dated 20 January 1993,
became final and executory on 3 August 1993.
The tax-exempt character of petitioner's Employees' Trust Fund is not at issue in
this case. The tax-exempt character of the Employees' Trust Fund has long been
settled. It is also settled that petitioner exists for the purpose of holding title to, and
administering, the tax-exempt Employees' Trust Fund established for the bene t of
VMC's employees. As such, petitioner has the personality to claim tax refunds due the
Employees' Trust Fund.
In Citytrust Banking Corporation as Trustee and Investment Manager of Various
Retirement Funds v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 4 6 the CTA granted Citytrust's
claim for refund on withholding taxes paid on the investments made by Citytrust in
behalf of the trust funds it manages, including petitioner . 4 7 Thus:
In resolving the second issue, we note that the same is not a case of rst
impression. Indeed, the petitioner is correct in its adherence to the clear ruling laid
by the Supreme Court way back in 1992 in the case of Commissioner of Internal
Revenue vs. The Honorable Court of Appeals, The Court of Tax Appeals and GCL
Retirement Plan, 207 SCRA 487 at page 496, supra, wherein it was succinctly
held:
xxx xxx xxx

There can be no denying either that the nal withholding tax is

collected from income in respect of which employees' trusts are declared
exempt (Sec. 56(b), now 53(b), Tax Code). The application of the
withholdings system to interest on bank deposits or yield from deposit
substitutes is essentially to maximize and expedite the collection of
income taxes by requiring its payment at the source. If an employees' trust
like the GCL enjoys a tax-exempt status from income, we see no logic in
withholding a certain percentage of that income which it is not supposed
to pay in the first place.
xxx xxx xxx

Similarly, the income of the trust funds involved herein is exempt from the
payment of final withholding taxes.

This CTA decision became nal and executory when the CIR failed to le a Petition for
Review within the extension granted by the CA.
Similarly, in BIR Ruling [UN-450-95], Citytrust wrote the BIR to request for a ruling
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 exempting it from the payment of withholding tax on the sale of the land by various BIR-
approved trustees and tax-exempt private employees' retirement bene t trust funds 4 8
represented by Citytrust. The BIR ruled that the private employees bene t trust funds,
which included petitioner , have met the requirements of the law and the regulations and
therefore qualify as reasonable retirement bene t plans within the contemplation of
Republic Act No. 4917 (now Sec. 28 (b) (7) (A), Tax Code). The income from the trust fund
investments is therefore exempt from the payment of income tax and consequently from
the payment of the creditable withholding tax on the sale of their real property. 4 9
Thus, the documents issued and certi ed by Citytrust showing that money from the
Employees' Trust Fund was invested in the MBP lot cannot simply be brushed aside by the
BIR as self-serving, in the light of previous cases holding that Citytrust was indeed handling
the money of the Employees' Trust Fund. These documents, together with the notarized
Memorandum of Agreement, clearly establish that petitioner, on behalf of the Employees'
Trust Fund, indeed invested in the purchase of the MBP lot. Thus, the Employees' Trust
Fund owns 49.59% of the MBP lot.
Since petitioner has proven that the income from the sale of the MBP lot came from
an investment by the Employees' Trust Fund, petitioner, as trustee of the Employees' Trust
Fund, is entitled to claim the tax refund of P3,037,500 which was erroneously paid in the
sale of the MBP lot.
WHEREFORE , we GRANT the petition and SET ASIDE the Decision of 30 May
2003 of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. SP No. 61829. Respondent Commissioner of
Internal Revenue is directed to refund petitioner Miguel J. Ossorio Pension Foundation,
Incorporated, as trustee of the Employees' Trust Fund, the amount of P3,037,500,
representing income tax erroneously paid.
SO ORDERED .
Peralta, Abad, Perez * and Mendoza, JJ., concur.

Footnotes
*Designated additional member per Raffle dated 2 June 2010.

1.Under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court.

2.Penned by Associate Justice Renato C. Dacudao with Associate Justices Godardo A. Jacinto
and Danilo B. Pine, concurring.

3.Penned by Associate Justice Renato C. Dacudao with Associate Justices Mario L. Guariña III
and Danilo B. Pine, concurring.
4.Penned by Associate Judge Ramon O. De Veyra with Presiding Judge Ernesto D. Acosta and
Associate Judge Amancio Q. Saga, concurring.

5.Rollo, p. 7.
6.Id. at 6.

7.Id. at 159. Excerpts of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Miguel J.
Ossorio Pension Foundation, Inc. held on 25 March 1992 read as follows:
Mr. C.R. De Luzuriaga, Jr. informed the Board that VMC Co., Inc. and some of its
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 subsidiaries are buying Ayala-Alabang lots in Muntinlupa. He inquired whether MJOPFI
would be willing to invest in, or buy part, of the lots being purchased by VMC. Upon
motion of Mr. Emilio Y. Hilado, Jr. seconded by Mr. Orlando D. Fuentes, it was
unanimously —

Resolution No. 92-34

RESOLVED, That MJOPFI buy one-half (1/2) of one (1) Ayala-Alabang lot thru [VMC Co.,
Inc.], the purchase price thereof to be paid thru VMC and/or to be reimbursed to VMC.

8.Now Bank of the Philippine Islands after their merger.

9.Rollo, pp. 162-165. From 1994-1997, the Portfolio Mix Analysis reported that P5,504,748.25
was invested in real estate, specifically on the Madrigal Business Park I property.

10.Id. at 59.

11.Id. at 166. Excerpts of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Trustees of the petitioner
held on 24 July 1996 read as follows:

2. Mr. Gerardo B. Javellana informed the Board that there is a need to raise cash to pay
pension benefits. Upon motion of Mr. Rolando Hautea, seconded by Mr. Orlando D.
Fuentes, it was unanimously —
Resolution No. 96-46

RESOLVED, that MJOPFI's property consisting of 500 sq. m. situated at Madrigal Park in
Alabang, Muntinlupa, be sold at the best price available, and that any of the corporate
officers, namely, Mr. C.R. De Luzuriaga, Jr., or Mr. Rolando Hautea, or Mr. Orlando D.
Fuentes be authorized to sign the required deed of sale.
12.Id. at 167. Excerpts of the Minutes of the Meeting of the Board of Directors of VMC on 17
March 1997 read as follows:

Mr. Gerardo Javellana informed the Board that pursuant to previous authority from the
Board, VMC sold the Lot 1, Block 4 of the land, registered in VMC's name as TCT No.
183907 of the Registry of Deeds of Makati, which land is co-owned with Miguel J.
Ossorio Pension Foundation, Inc. and Victorias Insurance Factors Corp., in favor of
Metro Bank on March 14, 1997 for P81,675,000.00; that Metro Bank issued a check in
favor of VMC of P75,549,375.00 (which is less of P6,125,625.00 withholding tax), which
was supposed to have been deposited with Urban Bank, but in view of the latter's
freezing all VMC's deposits, VMC advised Metro Bank not to fund the check (to stop
payment), which it did. However, Metro Bank thereafter refused to release the proceeds
of the check to VMC, saying that it would apply part of the proceeds of the sale to the
obligations of VMC to Metrobank. As Metrobank's moves meant that it did not pay VMC,
because a check amounted to payment only when cashed, upon motion of Mr. Manuel
Manalac, seconded by Mr. Gerardo Javellana, it was unanimously —

RESOLVED, That in the event matters would not be amicably resolved or ironed out with
Metrobank, a letter be sent to Metrobank rescinding or cancelling the deed of sale of Lot
1, Block 4 at the Madrigal Business Part (sic) in Muntinlupa, with TCT No. 183907.

13.Id. at 13.
14.Id. at 15.

15.Id.

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 16.Id.

17.Id. at 16.
18.Id. at 17.

19.Id. at 17-18.
20.Section 53 (b) of the Tax Code.

Section 53. Imposition of Tax. —

xxx xxx xxx

(b) Exception. — The tax imposed by this Title shall not apply to employee's trust which
forms part of a pension, stock bonus or profit-sharing plan of an employer for the benefit
of some or all of his employees (1) if contributions are made to the trust by such
employer, or employees, or both for the purpose of distributing to such employees the
earnings and principal of the fund accumulated by the trust in accordance with such
plan, and (2) if under the trust instrument it is impossible, at any time prior to
satisfaction of all liabilities with respect to employees under the trust, for any part of the
corpus or income to be (within the taxable year or thereafter) used for, or diverted to,
purposes other than for the exclusive benefit of his employees: Provided, That any
amount actually distributed to any employee or distributee shall be taxable to him in the
year in which so distributed to the extent that it exceeds the amount contributed by such
employee or distributee.
21.Rollo, pp. 114-115.

22.Id. at 115.

23.Id. at 116.
24.Id. at 116-117.

25.Id. at 66.
26.Id. at 67.

27.Far East Bank and Trust Company v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 129130, 9 December 2005,
477 SCRA 49, 52.
28.Recognized exceptions to this rule are: (1) when the findings are grounded entirely on
speculation, surmises or conjectures; (2) when the inference made is manifestly
mistaken, absurd or impossible; (3) when there is grave abuse of discretion; (4) when the
judgment is based on misapprehension of facts; (5) when the findings of fact are
conflicting; (6) when in making its findings the Court of Appeals went beyond the issues
of the case, or its findings are contrary to the admissions of both the appellee and the
appellant; (7) when the findings are contrary to the trial court; (8) when the findings are
conclusions without citation of specific evidence on which they are based; (9) when the
facts set forth in the petition as well as in the petitioner's main and reply briefs are not
disputed by the respondent; (10) when the findings of fact are premised on the supposed
absence of evidence and contradicted by the evidence on record; or (11) when the Court
of Appeals manifestly overlooked certain relevant facts not disputed by the parties,
which, if properly considered, would justify a different conclusion.
29.Rollo, pp. 351-352.

30.Id. at 353.
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 31.Id. at 354.

32.Id. at 357.

33.Id. at 358.
34.G.R. No. 143027, 11 October 2005, 472 SCRA 274, 282.

35.Naval v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 167412, 22 February 2006, 483 SCRA 102, 113.
36.Civil Code, Article 1444.

37.DE LEON, HECTOR, COMMENTS AND CASES ON PARTNERSHIP, AGENCY AND TRUSTS, 5th
ed., p. 665 (1999).
38.G.R. No. 110115, 8 October 1997, 280 SCRA 262, 271.

39.Buan Vda. de Esconde v. Court of Appeals, 323 Phil. 81, 89 (1996).

40.Rollo, p. 361.
41.Id. at 324.

42.Id. at 325.

43.Id. at 128.
44.G.R. No. 95022, 23 March 1992, 207 SCRA 487, 495.

45.CTA Case No. 4244, 2 November 1990. On 2 November 1990, the CTA rendered this decision
which was affirmed by the CA in a decision dated 20 January 1993 in CA G.R. SP No.
23980 and which became final and executory on 3 August 1993. In compliance with the
decision, the CIR refunded to petitioner the amounts of P780,352.28 on 23 September
1994 and P312,606.40 on 19 September 1996.

46.CTA Case No. 5083, 9 March 1998. In a Resolution dated 13 July 1998, the Court of Appeals
in CA G.R. SP No. 47375 ruled:
For failure of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue to file the Petition for Review within
the extension granted which expired on 11 April 1998, this case is considered abandoned
and withdrawn and is ordered dismissed.

47.Citytrust was refunded the amount of P5,114,260.44 representing erroneously paid final
withholding taxes on the investments made by Citytrust in behalf of the trust funds it
manages. Of this amount, petitioner was refunded P293,482.49.

48.The list of BIR-approved duly trusteed and tax-exempt private employee's retirement benefit
trust funds includes petitioner Miguel J. Ossorio Pension Foundation, Inc. Trust Fund
under Trust Account No. TA # 5C-019A.
49.Likewise, in BIR Ruling [DA-(C-033) 139-09] dated 5 March 2009, the BIR confirmed that the
sale of the Bank of the Philippine Islands Group of Companies Retirement Fund's (BPI
RTF) capital assets is exempt from capital gains tax and from the creditable expanded
withholding tax.

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