Spouses Benedict C. Roldan v. Spouses Anastacio V. Avendaño

Summary

This case involves a construction contract dispute where contractor Benedict Roldan was hired to build respondents' house for P660,000.00. Upon completion, substantial defects were discovered including leakage, imperfect grouting, sewerage problems, and various installation issues. Despite admitting the defects and promising repairs, Roldan failed to return to fix them. Respondents withheld the P100,000.00 balance pending repairs. The RTC, CA, and Supreme Court all ruled in favor of the homeowners, ordering the contractor to make repairs at his own expense and pay damages. The Supreme Court emphasized this was a factual dispute inappropriate for Rule 45 review, applied Civil Code Article 1167 on defective performance of obligations, and upheld the reciprocal nature of contractual obligations justifying the withholding of payment until proper completion.