ALLIED AGRI-BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CO., INC vs.

CA
G.R. No. 118438, December 4, 1998

TOPIC: Admission of Facts

FACTS:
A complaint was filed by respondent Cherry Valley for collection of sum of money against the
petitioner Allied Agri-Business for its failure to pay for the value of orders made and received by the latter.
Cherry Valley served a Request for Admission of Facts to Agri-Business. The latter failed to submit a
sworn answer to the request for admission within the allowed period. Thus, summary judgment
ensued. Agri-Business alleged that Cherry Valley had the burden to prove through its own witness during
the trial the matters for which admissions were requested, and subsequently questioned the summary
judgment.
ISSUE:

Whether or not respondents failure to answer the Request for Admission shall mean admission
of the mailers stated in the request which can be the basis for summary judgment?

HELD:

The purpose of the rule governing requests for admission of facts and genuineness of documents
is to expedite trial and to relieve parties of the costs of proving facts which will not be disputed on trial and
the truth of which can be ascertained by reasonable inquiry. The burden of affirmative action is on
the party upon whom notice is served to avoid the admission rather than upon the party seeking
the admission. Hence, when Agri-Business failed to reply to a request to admit, it may not argue that
the adverse, party has the burden of proving the facts sought to be admitted. Agri-Business silence is an
admission of the facts stated in the request. This now becomes the basis of a summary judgment.