CA petition dismissed on ground of deliberate forum shopping); Yap

Summary

Jesse Yap filed a complaint in Makati RTC seeking cancellation of checks issued to Eliza Chua, after Chua had already obtained judgment against him in General Santos RTC for collection on the same checks. The Supreme Court affirmed the Court of Appeals' dismissal of Yap's case on grounds of litis pendentia and forum shopping. The Court held that both cases involved identical parties, rights, and evidence - Yap's defense in the collection case became his cause of action in the cancellation case. The Court emphasized that Yap's attempt to use one court to nullify another co-equal court's decision violated judicial integrity and constituted impermissible forum shopping, regardless of the ultimate merits.