darma maslag

8/19/2019 Darma Maslag

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DARMA MASLAG, petitioner, vs. ELIZABETH MONZON, WILLIAM GESTON, andREGISTRY O DEEDS O BENG!ET, respondents.

Re"edia# La$% &ivi# 'ro(ed)re% &o)rts% *)risdi(tion% !nder t+e present state o t+e

#a$, in (ases invo#vin- tit#e to rea# propert, ori-ina# and e/(#)sive 0)risdi(tion1e#on-s to eit+er t+e Re-iona# Tria# &o)rt 2RT&3 or t+e M)ni(ipa# Tria# &o)rt 2MT&3,

dependin- on t+e assessed va#)e o t+e s)10e(t propert.4!nder t+e present stateo t+e #a$, in (ases invo#vin- tit#e to rea# propert, ori-ina# and e/(#)sive 0)risdi(tion1e#on-s to eit+er t+e RT& or t+e MT&, dependin- on t+e assessed va#)e o t+e

s)10e(t propert. 'ertinent provisions o Batas 'a"1ansa B#-. 2B'3 567, as a"ended

1 Rep)1#i( A(t 2RA3 No. 8975, provides: Se(. 57. *)risdi(tion in (ivi# (ases.;

Re-iona# Tria# &o)rts s+a## e/er(ise e/(#)sive ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion: 253 In a##


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)nder R)#e 5 in (ases $+ere t+e RT& e/er(ised its ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion. It is done 1F#in- a Noti(e o Appea# $it+ t+e RT&. T+e se(ond "ode is a petition or revie$

)nder R)#e 6 in (ases $+ere t+e RT& e/er(ised its appe##ate 0)risdi(tion over MT&

de(isions. It is done 1 F#in- a 'etition or Revie$ $it+ t+e &A. Si"p# p)t, t+edistin(tion 1et$een t+ese t$o "odes o appea# #ies in t+e tpe o 0)risdi(tion

e/er(ised 1 t+e RT& in t+e Order or De(ision 1ein- appea#ed.Sa"e% Sa"e% &o)rts% *)risdi(tion% *)risdi(tion over t+e s)10e(t "atter is (onerredon# 1 #a$ and it is not $it+in t+e (o)rts, #et a#one t+e parties, to t+e"se#ves

deter"ine or (onvenient# set aside.4It (annot 1e overe"p+asiCed t+at

0)risdi(tion over t+e

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S!'REME &O!RT RE'ORTS ANNOTATED

Mas#a- vs. MonCon

s)10e(t "atter is (onerred on# 1 #a$ and it is not $it+in t+e (o)rts, #et a#one t+eparties, to t+e"se#ves deter"ine or (ovenient# set aside. Neit+er $o)#d t+e a(tive

parti(ipation o t+e parties nor estoppe# operate to (oner ori-ina# and e/(#)sive

0)risdi(tion $+ere t+e (o)rt or tri1)na# on# $ie#ds appe##ate 0)risdi(tion over t+e

(ase. T+)s, t+e &A is (orre(t in +o#din- t+at t+e proper "ode o appea# s+o)#d +ave1een a 'etition or Revie$ )nder R)#e 6 o t+e R)#es o &o)rt, and not an ordinar

appea# )nder R)#e 5.

Sa"e% Sa"e% Sa"e% Sa"e% Appea#s% In deter"inin- t+e proper "ode o appea# ro"

an Re-iona# Tria# &o)rt 2RT&3 De(ision or Reso#)tion, t+e deter"inative a(tor is t+etpe o 0)risdi(tion a(t)a## e/er(ised 1 t+e RT& in renderin- its De(ision or

Reso#)tion. Was it rendered 1 t+e RT& in t+e e/er(ise o its ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion, orin t+e e/er(ise o its appe##ate 0)risdi(tionJ4To reiterate, on# stat)tes (an (oner

0)risdi(tion. &o)rt iss)an(es (annot seiCe or appropriate 0)risdi(tion. It +as 1een

repeated# +e#d t+at an 0)d-"ent, order or reso#)tion iss)ed $it+o)t 0)risdi(tionis void and (annot 1e -iven an eKe(t. B parit o reasonin-, an order iss)ed 1 a

(o)rt de(#arin- t+at it +as ori-ina# and e/(#)sive 0)risdi(tion over t+e s)10e(t "atter

o t+e (ase $+en )nder t+e #a$ it +as none (annot #ie$ise 1e -iven eKe(t. It

a"o)nts to )s)rpation o 0)risdi(tion $+i(+ (annot 1e (o)ntenan(ed. Sin(e B' 567a#read apportioned t+e 0)risdi(tion o t+e MT& and t+e RT& in (ases invo#vin- tit#e

to propert, neit+er t+e (o)rts nor t+e petitioner (o)#d a#ter or disre-ard t+e sa"e.Besides, in deter"inin- t+e proper "ode o appea# ro" an RT& De(ision orReso#)tion, t+e deter"inative a(tor is t+e tpe o 0)risdi(tion a(t)a## e/er(ised 1

t+e RT& in renderin- its De(ision or Reso#)tion. Was it rendered 1 t+e RT& in t+e

e/er(ise o its ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion, or in t+e e/er(ise o its appe##ate 0)risdi(tionJ Ins+ort, $e #oo at $+at tpe o 0)risdi(tion $as a(t)a## e/er(ised 1 t+e RT&. We do

not #oo into $+at tpe o 0)risdi(tion t+e RT& s+o)#d +ave e/er(ised. T+is is 1)t

#o-i(a#. In)irin- into $+at t+e RT& s+o)#d +ave done in disposin- o t+e (ase is a


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)estion $+i(+ a#read invo#ves t+e "erits o t+e appea#, 1)t $e o1vio)s# (annot-o into t+at $+ere t+e "ode o appea# $as i"proper to 1e-in $it+.

'ETITION or revie$ on (ertiorari o t+e reso#)tions o t+e &o)rt o Appea#s.

T+e a(ts are stated in t+e opinion o t+e &o)rt.

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>OL. 97@, *!NE 58, 65

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Mas#a- vs. MonCon

La$ ir" o Avi#a, Rees, Li(na(+an, Ma(eda, Li", Areva#o Li1iran or petitioner.

ran(is(o S. Rees La$ O(e or respondents.

DEL &ASTILLO, *.:

It is in()"1ent )pon / / / appe##ants to )ti#iCe t+e (orre(t "ode o appea# o t+ede(isions o tria# (o)rts to t+e appe##ate (o)rts. In t+e "istaen (+oi(e o t+eir

re"ed, t+e (an 1#a"e no one 1)t t+e"se#ves.5

T+is is a 'etition or Revie$ on &ertiorari6 o t+e Ma 5, 69 Reso#)tion o t+e&o)rt o Appea#s 2&A3 in &AQG.R. &> No. @9?, $+i(+ dis"issed petitioner Dar"a

Mas#a-s 2petitioner3 ordinar appea# to it or 1ein- an i"proper re"ed. T+e

Reso#)tion disposed o t+e (ase as o##o$s:

WHEREORE, t+e Motion to Dis"iss is GRANTED, and t+e Appea# is +ere1

DISMISSED.

SO ORDERED.

T+e 'etition a#so assai#s t+e &As Septe"1er 66, 69 Reso#)tion? denin-

petitioners Motion or Re(onsideration.9

a(t)a# Ante(edents

In 577@, petitioner F#ed a &o"p#aint8 or re(onvean(e o rea# propert $it+

de(#aration o n)##it o ori-ina# (ertiF(ate


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? Id., at pp. ?5Q?6.

9 &A Ro##o, pp. 8?Q88.

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Mas#a- vs. MonCon

o tit#e 2O&T3 a-ainst respondents E#iCa1et+ MonCon 2MonCon3, Wi##ia" Geston and

t+e Re-istr o Deeds o La Trinidad, Ben-)et. T+e &o"p#aint $as F#ed 1eore t+e

M)ni(ipa# Tria# &o)rt 2MT&3 o La Trinidad, Ben-)et.

Ater tria#, t+e MT& o)nd respondent MonCon -)i#t o ra)d in o1tainin- an O&T

over petitioners propert.@ It ordered +er to re(onve t+e said propert to

petitioner, and to pa da"a-es and (osts o s)it.7

Respondents appea#ed to t+e Re-iona# Tria# &o)rt 2RT&3 o La Trinidad, Ben-)et.

Ater -oin- over t+e MT& re(ords and t+e parties respe(tive "e"oranda, t+e RT& o

La Trinidad, Ben-)et, Bran(+ 5, t+ro)-+ A(tin- 'residin- *)d-e ernando '. &a1ato2*)d-e &a1ato3, iss)ed its O(to1er 66, 6 Order,5 de(#arin- t+e MT& $it+o)t

0)risdi(tion over petitioners (a)se o a(tion. It )rt+er +e#d t+at it $i## tae

(o-niCan(e o t+e (ase p)rs)ant to Se(tion @, R)#e o t+e R)#es o &o)rt, $+i(+reads:


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>OL. 97@, *!NE 58, 65

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Mas#a- vs. MonCon

SE&TION@. Appea# ro" orders dis"issin- (ase $it+o)t tria#% #a( o 0)risdi(tion.;

/ / /

I t+e (ase $as tried on t+e "erits 1 t+e #o$er (o)rt $it+o)t 0)risdi(tion over t+e

s)10e(t "atter, t+e Re-iona# Tria# &o)rt on appea# s+a## not dis"iss t+e (ase i it +as

ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion t+ereo, 1)t s+a## de(ide t+e (ase in a((ordan(e $it+ t+epre(edin- se(tion, $it+o)t pre0)di(e to t+e ad"ission o a"ended p#eadin-s and

additiona# eviden(e in t+e interest o 0)sti(e.

Bot+ parties a(no$#ed-ed re(eipt o t+e O(to1er 66, 6 Order,55 1)t neit+erpresented additiona# eviden(e 1eore t+e ne$ 0)d-e, Ed-ardo B. DiaC De Rivera, *r.

2*)d-e DiaC De Rivera3.56

On Ma , 6, *)d-e DiaC De Rivera iss)ed a Reso#)tion5 reversin- t+e MT&De(ision. T+e a##o reads as o##o$s:

WHEREORE, t+e *)d-"ent appea#ed ro" t+e M)ni(ipa# Tria# &o)rt o La Trinidad,

Ben-)et is set aside. 'etitioner is ordered to t)rn over t+e possession o t+e ,5?s)are "eter #and s+e present# o(()pies to MonCon. T+is (ase is re"anded to t+e

(o)rt a )o or )rt+er pro(eedin-s to deter"ine $+et+er Mas#a- is entit#ed to t+e

re"edies aKorded 1 #a$ to a 1)i#der in -ood ait+ or t+e i"prove"ents s+e

(onstr)(ted t+ereon.No prono)n(e"ent as to da"a-es and (osts.

SO ORDERED.5

'etitioner F#ed a Noti(e o Appea#5? ro" t+e RT&s Ma , 6 Reso#)tion.


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?7


Mas#a- vs. MonCon

'etitioner assai#ed t+e RT&s Ma , 6 Reso#)tion or reversin- t+e MT&s a(t)a#Fndin-s59 and praed t+at t+e MT& De(ision 1e adopted. Her praer 1eore t+e &A

reads:

WHEREORE, pre"ises (onsidered, it is "ost respe(t)## praed t+at t+e de(isiono t+e Re-iona# Tria# &o)rt, Bran(+ 5 o La Trinidad, Ben-)et, appea#ed ro" 1e

reversed in toto and t+at t+e Honora1#e &o)rt adopt t+e de(ision o t+e M)ni(ipa#

Tria# &o)rt. )rt+er re#ies 0)st and e)ita1#e )nder t+e pre"ises are praed or.58

Respondents "oved to dis"iss petitioners ordinar appea# or 1ein- t+e i"proper

re"ed. T+e asserted t+at t+e proper "ode o appea# is a 'etition or Revie$ )nder

R)#e 6 1e(a)se t+e RT& rendered its Ma , 6 Reso#)tion in its appe##ate 0)risdi(tion.5@

R)#in- o t+e &o)rt o Appea#s

T+e &A dis"issed petitioners appea#. It o1served t+at t+e RT&s Ma , 6Reso#)tion 2t+e s)10e(t "atter o t+e appea# 1eore t+e &A3 set aside an MT&

*)d-"ent% +en(e, t+e proper re"ed is a 'etition or Revie$ )nder R)#e 6, and not

an ordinar appea#.57

'etitioner so)-+t re(onsideration.6 S+e ar-)ed, or t+e Frst ti"e, t+at t+e RT&rendered its Ma , 6 Reso#)tion in its ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion. S+e (ited t+e ear#ier

O(to1er 66, 6 Order o t+e RT& de(#arin- t+e MT& $it+o)t 0)risdi(tion over t+e

(ase.


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T+e &A denied petitioners Motion or Re(onsideration in its Septe"1er 66, 69Reso#)tion:65

A per)sa# o t+e Ma , 6 Reso#)tion o t+e RT&, $+i(+ is t+e s)10e(t "atter o

t+e appea#, (#ear# revea#s t+at it too (o-niCan(e o t+e MT& (ase in t+e e/er(ise o its appe##ate 0)risdi(tion. &onse)ent#, as We +ave previo)s# en)n(iated, t+e

proper re"ed, is a petition or revie$ )nder R)#e 6 and not an ordinar appea#)nder R)#e 5.

WHEREORE, pre"ises (onsidered, t+e instant Motion or Re(onsideration is

DENIED. T+e Ma 5, 69 Reso#)tion o t+is &o)rt is +ere1 AIRMED in toto.

SO ORDERED.66

Hen(e t+is 'etition $+erein petitioner pras t+at t+e &A 1e ordered to tae

(o-niCan(e o +er appea#.6

Iss)es

'etitioner set ort+ t+e o##o$in- iss)es in +er 'etition:

WHETHER U U U THE &O!RT O A''EALS WAS &ORRE&T IN DISMISSING THE A''EAL

ILED BY THE 'ETITIONER, &ONSIDERING THAT THE REGIONAL TRIAL &O!RT,BRAN&H 5 O LA TRINIDAD, BENG!ET HELD THAT THE ORIGINAL &OM'LAINT AS

ILED BEORE THE M!NI&I'AL TRIAL &O!RT O LA TRINIDAD, BENG!ET WAS

DE&IDED BY THE LATTER WITHO!T ANY *!RISDI&TION AND, IN ORDERING THAT THE

&ASE SHALL BE DE&IDED '!RS!ANT TO THE 'RO>ISION O SE&TION @ O R!LE O THE R!LES O &O!RT, IT DE&IDED THE &ASE NOT ON ITS A''ELLATE

*!RISDI&TION B!T ON ITS ORIGINAL *!RISDI&TION


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O)r R)#in-

In its O(to1er 66, 6 Order, t+e RT& de(#ared t+at t+e MT& +as no 0)risdi(tion

over t+e s)10e(t "atter o t+e (ase 1ased on t+e s)pposition t+at t+e sa"e is

in(apa1#e o pe()niar esti"ation. T+)s, o##o$in- Se(tion @, R)#e o t+e R)#es o&o)rt, it too (o-niCan(e o t+e (ase and dire(ted t+e parties to add)(e )rt+er

eviden(e i t+e so desire. T+e parties 1o$ed to t+is r)#in- o t+e RT& and,event)a##, s)1"itted t+e (ase or its de(ision ater t+e +ad s)1"itted t+eirrespe(tive "e"oranda.

We (annot, +o$ever, -#oss over t+is 0)risdi(tiona# a)/ pas o t+e RT&. Sin(e it

invo#ves a )estion o 0)risdi(tion, $e "a "ot) proprio revie$ and pass )pon t+e

sa"e even at t+is #ate sta-e o t+e pro(eedin-s.6?

In +er &o"p#aint69 or re(onvean(e o rea# propert $it+ de(#aration o n)##it o

O&T, petitioner (#ai"ed t+at s+e and +er at+er +ad 1een in open, (ontin)o)s,

notorio)s and e/(#)sive possession o t+e disp)ted propert sin(e t+e 57s. S+eaverred:


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MonCon and WILLIAM GESTON. T+e na"e o Dar"a Mas#a- $as ra)d)#ent#,de#i1erate# and in 1ad ait+ o"itted. T+)s, t+e tit#e to t+e propert, to t+e e/tent o

5@,67? s)are "eters, $as tit#ed so#e# in t+e na"e o ELIZABETH MONZON.

As a re#ie, petitioner praed t+at MonCon 1e ordered to re(onve t+e portion o t+epropert $+i(+ s+e (#ai"ed $as ra)d)#ent# in(#)ded in MonCons tit#e. Her pri"ar

re#ie $as to re(over o$ners+ip o rea# propert. Ind)1ita1#, petitioners (o"p#aintinvo#ves tit#e to rea# propert. An a(tion invo#vin- tit#e to rea# propert, on t+eot+er +and, $as deFned as an a(tion $+ere t+e p#aintiKs (a)se o a(tion is 1ased

on a (#ai" t+at s+e o$ns s)(+ propert or t+at s+e +as t+e #e-a# ri-+ts to +ave

e/(#)sive (ontro#, possession, en0o"ent, or disposition o t+e sa"e.68 !nder t+e

present state o t+e #a$, in (ases invo#vin- tit#e to rea# propert, ori-ina# ande/(#)sive 0)risdi(tion 1e#on-s to eit+er t+e RT&


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/ / / /

23 E/(#)sive ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion in a## (ivi# a(tions $+i(+ invo#ve tit#e to, or

possession o, rea# propQ


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>OL. 97@, *!NE 58, 65

?78

Mas#a- vs. MonCon

(onerred on# 1 #a$ and it is not $it+in t+e (o)rts, #et a#one t+e parties, to

t+e"se#ves deter"ine or (ovenient# set aside.8 Neit+er $o)#d t+e a(tive

parti(ipation o t+e parties nor estoppe# operate to (oner ori-ina# and e/(#)sive 0)risdi(tion $+ere t+e (o)rt or tri1)na# on# $ie#ds appe##ate 0)risdi(tion over t+e

(ase.@ T+)s, t+e &A is (orre(t in +o#din- t+at t+e proper "ode o appea# s+o)#d

+ave 1een a 'etition or Revie$ )nder R)#e 6 o t+e R)#es o &o)rt, and not anordinar appea# )nder R)#e 5.

Seein- t+e )ti#it o ar-)in- a-ainst $+at t+e RT& a(t)a## did, petitioner resorts to

ar-)in- or $+at t+e RT& s+o)#d +ave done. S+e "aintains t+at t+e RT& s+o)#d +aveiss)ed its Ma , 6 Reso#)tion in its ori-ina# 0)risdi(tion 1e(a)se it +ad ear#ier

r)#ed t+at t+e MT& +ad no 0)risdi(tion over t+e (a)se o a(tion.

'etitioners ar-)"ent #a(s "erit. To reiterate, on# stat)tes (an (oner 0)risdi(tion.

&o)rt iss)an(es (annot seiCe or appropriate 0)risdi(tion. It +as 1een repeated# +e#dt+at an 0)d-"ent, order or reso#)tion iss)ed $it+o)t 0)risdi(tion is void and

(annot 1e -iven an eKe(t.7 B parit o reasonin-, an order iss)ed 1 a (o)rt

de(#arin- t+at it +as ori-ina# and e/(#)sive 0)risdi(tion over t+e s)10e(t "atter o t+e(ase $+en )nder t+e #a$ it +as none (annot #ie$ise 1e -iven eKe(t. It a"o)nts to

)s)rpation o 0)risdi(tion $+i(+ (annot 1e (o)ntenan(ed. Sin(e B' 567 a#read

apportioned t+e 0)risdi(tion o t+e MT& and t+e RT& in (ases invo#vin- tit#e topropert, neit+er t+e (o)rts nor t+e petitioner (o)#d a#ter or disre-ard t+e sa"e.

Besides, in deter"inin- t+e proper "ode o appea# ro" an RT& De(ision orReso#)tion, t+e deter"inative a(tor is t+e tpe o 0)risdi(tion a(t)a## e/er(ised 1t+e RT& in


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renderin- its De(ision or Reso#)tion. Was it rendered 1 t+e RT& in t+e e/er(ise o itsori-ina# 0)risdi(tion, or in t+e e/er(ise o its appe##ate 0)risdi(tionJ In s+ort, $e #oo

at $+at tpe o 0)risdi(tion $as a(t)a## e/er(ised 1 t+e RT&. We do not #oo into

$+at tpe o 0)risdi(tion t+e RT& s+o)#d +ave e/er(ised. T+is is 1)t #o-i(a#. In)irin-into $+at t+e RT& s+o)#d +ave done in disposin- o t+e (ase is a )estion $+i(+

a#read invo#ves t+e "erits o t+e appea#, 1)t $e o1vio)s# (annot -o into t+at$+ere t+e "ode o appea# $as i"proper to 1e-in $it+.

WHEREORE, pre"ises (onsidered, t+e 'etition or Revie$ is DENIED or #a( o

"erit. T+e assai#ed Ma 5, 69 and Septe"1er 66, 69 Reso#)tions o t+e &o)rt

o Appea#s in &AQG.R. &> No. @9? are AIRMED.

SO ORDERED.

&arpio 2&+airperson3, Brion, 'ereC and 'er#asQBerna1e, **., (on()r.

'etition denied, reso#)tions ar"ed.

Notes.4T+e (orre(t "ode o appea# ro" a de(ision o t+e Re-iona# Tria# &o)rt 2RT&3

rendered in t+e e/er(ise o its appe##ate 0)risdi(tion is a petition or revie$ in

a((ordan(e $it+ R)#e 6 o t+e R)#es o &o)rt. 2DadiCon vs. &o)rt o Appea#s, 95

S&RA ?5 673

La( o 0)risdi(tion over t+e s)10e(t "atter "a 1e raised at an sta-e o t+e

pro(eedin-s. 2Rep)1#i( vs. Banti-)e 'oint Deve#op"ent &orporation, 99@ S&RA 5?@

6563 Mas#a- vs. MonCon, 97@ S&RA ?@2653

darma maslag

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