G.R. No. 212690 - Spouses Pajares vs. Remarkable Laundry and Dry Cleaning

Petitioners: Spouses Romeo and Ida Pajares.
Respondent: Remarkable Laundry and Dry Cleaning, represented by Archemedes G. Solis.
On September 3, 2012, respondent filed Civil Case No. CEB-39025 for “Breach of Contract and Damages” before RTC Cebu City, Branch 17.

Parties executed Remarkable Laundry Dealer Outlet Contract on September 8, 2011, obligating petitioners to deliver a minimum of 200 kilos of laundry items weekly.
On April 30, 2012, petitioners ceased operations allegedly due to lack of personnel, violating Article IV (Standard Required Quota & Penalties) and Article XV (Breach Penalties) of the contract.
Respondent demanded payment of penalties and damages under the contract’s liquidated-damages clause and Art. 1170, but petitioners did not pay.

RTC dismissed the complaint on February 19, 2013 for lack of jurisdiction, noting the total damage claim of ₱280,000 was below the ₱300,000 threshold for RTC.
Respondent’s motion for reconsideration was denied on April 29, 2013.
On December 11, 2013, the Court of Appeals (CA) reversed and set aside the RTC dismissal, ruling the action was for breach of contract (incapable of pecuniary estimation) and thus within RTC jurisdiction.
Petitioners’ motion for reconsideration was denied by the CA, and they filed a Petition for Review on Certiorari with the Supreme Court, which was granted on June 29, 2015.

Whether the complaint, albeit captioned “Breach of Contract and Damages,” is essentially an action for simple payment of damages.
Whether, based on the relief sought, the subject matter is capable of pecuniary estimation.

Whether the RTC correctly dismissed the case for lack of jurisdiction under Section 19, BP 129, as amended, given the claimed damages totaled ₱280,000.
Whether the CA erred in treating the action as non-pecuniary and thus within RTC exclusive original jurisdiction.