G.R. No.

L-56180 October 16, 1986

ATENEO DE MANILA UNIVERSITY, petitioner,
vs.
COURT OF APPEALS, and SPOUSES ROMEO G. GUANZON and TERESITA
REGALADO, respondents.
Ernesto P. Pangalangan for petitioner.
Mirano, Mirano & Associates for private respondents.
The Facts
On December 12, 1967, Juan Ramon Guanzon,
1st year student of ADMU and boarder at the
Cervini Hall struck at the left temple of Carmelita
Mateo, a waitress in the Cervini Hall cafeteria.
The university conducted an investigation of the slapping incident. On
the basis of the investigation results, Juan Ramon was dismissed from the
university.

This triggered the filing of a complaint for damages by his parents against
the ADMU.
The complaint states that:
• Juan Ramon was expelled without a fair trial which is in
violation of his right to due process;
• They (the Guanzon family) are a prominent and well
known residents of Bacolod City, hence, with the
unceremonious expulsion of their son causing them
– actual, moral and exemplary damages;
– as well as, attorney’s fees
The university denied the material allegations of the complaint and
justified the dismissal of Juan Ramon on the ground that his unbecoming
behavior is contrary to good morals, proper decorum, and civility, that
such behavior subjected him as a student to the university’s disciplinary
regulations’ action and sanction.
The Lower Court ruled in favor of the
Guanzons and ordered:
• The ADMU to pay the Guanzon Family:
– P92.00 as actual damages;
– P50,000 as moral damages;
– P5,000 as attorney’s fees
– The costs of the law suit

• Upon appeal by ADMU to the CA, the trial court’s decision

was initially reversed and set aside.
• However, upon motion for reconsideration filed by the
Guanzons, the CA reversed its decision and set aside through
a special division of five.
The Issue
• Whether the petitioner deprived the respondent
due process in the administrative proceeding?
The Ruling
HELD…
• NO, the petitioner did not deprive the respondent due
process in the administrative proceeding.
• Juan Ramon Guanzon was accorded administrative
due process in his dismissal case according to the
minimum standards laid down by the court to meet the
demands of procedural due process.
Reported in class by:
Richard Jeffrey “Chief” Ocampo
IDEA 3 – IPEL Student