Case Digest (G.R. No. L-65629)
Facts:
The case involves Teresita E. Agbayani and Lucas F. Agbayani as petitioners against the Honorable Antonio M. Belen, in his capacity as Regional Trial Judge of Branch XXXVIII, Regional Trial Court, First Judicial Region, and spouses Severo A. Villafuerte and Ana P. Villafuerte as respondents. The events leading to this case began with the petitioners filing a civil action for quieting of title and damages concerning three parcels of land located in Dayomaca (Tobuan), Poblacion, Sual, Pangasinan. On September 28, 1983, the Regional Trial Court dismissed the petitioners' complaint based on the assertion that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the case. The court's dismissal was grounded on the failure of the petitioners to submit their dispute to conciliation proceedings as mandated by Presidential Decree No. 1508 before filing their complaint. The trial court reasoned that since the properties in question were situated in Barangay Tobuan, Sual, Pangasinan, the parties were ...
Case Digest (G.R. No. L-65629)
Facts:
- Parties Involved: Petitioners Teresita E. Agbayani and Lucas F. Agbayani filed a civil action against respondents Spouses Severo A. Villafuerte and Ana P. Villafuerte, seeking quieting of title and damages over three parcels of land in Barangay Tobuan, Sual, Pangasinan.
- Subject Matter: The dispute involved three parcels of land located in Barangay Tobuan, Sual, Pangasinan.
- Procedural Background: The petitioners filed a complaint in the Regional Trial Court (RTC). The respondents moved to dismiss the case, arguing that the petitioners failed to submit the dispute to the Barangay Lupon for conciliation as required under Presidential Decree (P.D.) No. 1508.
- Trial Court's Decision: The RTC granted the motion to dismiss, ruling that the dispute fell within the authority of the Barangay Lupon and that the petitioners should have first complied with the conciliation process under P.D. No. 1508 before filing the case in court.
Issue:
- Primary Issue: Whether the petitioners were required to submit their dispute to the Barangay Lupon for conciliation before filing their complaint in court, given that the parties resided in different cities or municipalities and the properties in question were located in the same barangay.
- Sub-Issue: Whether the Barangay Lupon had jurisdiction over the dispute, considering the residence of the parties and the location of the properties.
Ruling:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Ratio:
- (Subscriber-Only)
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court annulled the RTC's dismissal order and remanded the case for further proceedings, holding that the petitioners were not required to submit their dispute to the Barangay Lupon for conciliation before filing their complaint in court.