Arleen Ingrid Santos
JOSEPH O. REGALADO v EMMA DE LA RAMA VDA. DELA PEÑA ET. AL
G.R. No. 204448, December 13, 2017
Doctrine:
Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7691 (RA 7691), the proper Metropolitan Trial Court (MeTC),
MTC, or Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) has exclusive original jurisdiction over
ejectment cases.
Facts:
Respondents herein are registered owners of two parcels of land with an area of 44
hectares located in Murcia, Negros Occidental. Allegedly, in 1974, petitioners, without
consent, entered the property and took possession of the sugar canes. Upon failure of
the verbal demand and the barangay conciliation, respondents filed for the recovery of
possession and damages against the petitioners before the RTC of Bacolod on March 9,
1998. Petitioner contends that respondents waived their interest to Jaime who in turn,
waived all his rights to him. Petitioner then filed a motion to dismiss on the ground that
RTC has no jurisdiction over the subject matter of the case positing that the complaint
being a recovery of physical possession; it should be the MTC who has cognizance of
there being no allegation of the amount of the property in the complaint.
Issues:
Whether or not the regional trial court have jurisdiction over the subject matter of the
case?
Ruling:
No. Pursuant to Republic Act No. 7691 (RA 7691), the proper Metropolitan Trial Court
(MeTC), MTC, or Municipal Circuit Trial Court (MCTC) has exclusive original jurisdiction
over ejectment cases. Moreover, jurisdiction of the MeTC, MTC, and MCTC shall include
civil actions involving title to or possession of real property, or any interest therein where
the assessed value of the property does not exceed P20,000.00 (or P50,000.00 in Metro
Manila). On the other hand, the RTC has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions
involving title to or possession of real property, or any interest therein in case the assessed
value of the property exceeds P20,000.00 (or P50,000.00 in Metro Manila).
On the other hand, the RTC has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions involving
title to or possession of real property, or any interest therein in case the assessed value of
the property exceeds P.20, 000.00 (or P50, 000.00 in Metro Manila).
Jurisdiction is thus determined not only by the type of action filed but also by the
assessed value of the property. It follows that in accion publiciana and reinvindicatoria,
the assessed value of the real property is a jurisdictional element to determine the court
that can take cognizance of the action. As such, to ascertain the proper court that has
jurisdiction, reference must be made to the averments in the complaint, and the law in
force at the commencement of the action.