THIRD DIVISION
|
Petitioner, - versus - THE HONORABLE COURT OF
APPEALS, THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI, THE DIRECTOR OF LANDS, and THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES, Respondents. |
G.R.
No. 157714
Present: YNARES-SANTIAGO, J.,
Chairperson, NAZARIO, VELASCO, JR., NACHURA, and PERALTA, JJ. Promulgated: June 16,
2009 |
x------------------------------------------------------------------------------------x
DECISION
NACHURA, J.:
Before this Court is a Petition[1]
for Review on Certiorari under Rule
45 of the Rules of Civil Procedure, seeking the reversal of the Court of
Appeals (CA) Decision[2] dated
January 22, 2003, which denied the appeal of
The Facts
The
property subject of this case consists of portions of then Fort William
McKinley, now known as Fort Bonifacio (subject property), currently comprising Barangays Cembo, South Cembo, West
Rembo, East Rembo, Comembo, Pembo, and Pitogo (entire property). The subject property is allegedly situated
within the territorial jurisdiction of respondent Municipality (now City) of
As
Proclamation Nos. 2475 and 518 respectively stated that the entire property is
situated in
Makati
filed a Motion to Dismiss,[9]
contending that the issue was not the nullification of Proclamation No. 2475;
that the RTC had no jurisdiction over the subject matter of the action because
original jurisdiction to resolve boundary disputes among municipalities
situated in Metro Manila is vested in the Metropolitan Manila Authority (MMA);
that the RTC's jurisdiction is merely appellate; that the complaint failed to
state a cause of action as Pateros failed to exhaust administrative remedies by
failing to settle the dispute amicably; and that Pateros' claims had already
been barred by laches because Makati, throughout the years, had already
developed the subject property and had spent millions on such development.
On
July 19, 1994, Republic Act No. 7854[12]
was enacted into law, converting
The RTC's Ruling
On
June 14, 1996, the RTC issued an Order, dismissing the case on the ground of
lack of jurisdiction. The RTC held that Proclamation No. 2475 specifically
declared that the subject property is within the territorial jurisdiction of
Sections 10[15]
and 11,[16]
Article X of the 1987 Constitution, and pursuant to this Court's ruling in Municipality
of Sogod v. Rosal,[17]
the RTC held that the modification or substantial alteration of boundaries of
municipalities can be done only through a law enacted by Congress which shall
be subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the
political units directly affected. Hence, the RTC opined that it is without jurisdiction
to fix the territorial boundaries of the parties. Pateros filed a Motion for
Reconsideration[18] which
was, however, denied by the RTC in its Order[19]
dated August 30, 1996. Aggrieved, Pateros appealed to the CA.[20]
The CA's Ruling
On
January 22, 2003, the CA denied Pateros' appeal. The CA held that the RTC did
not make any findings of fact but merely applied various provisions of law and
jurisprudence. Thus, the case presented
a pure question of law, which Pateros should have brought directly to the
Supreme Court, pursuant to Section 5(2),[21]
Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution and Section 2,[22]
Rule 41 of the Revised Rules of Civil Procedure. The CA also held that it would
amount to grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction if the CA
insisted on resolving the issues raised therein. Thus, by undertaking a wrong
mode of appeal and citing Section 2,[23]
Rule 50 of the Revised Rules of Civil
Procedure, the CA denied Pateros' appeal. Pateros filed a Motion for
Reconsideration,[24] which
the CA denied in its Resolution[25]
dated March 27, 2003.
The Issue
Hence,
this Petition based on the sole ground that the CA committed grave abuse of
discretion in dismissing the appeal for lack of jurisdiction.[26]
Pateros
asseverates that the issues raised before the CA involved mixed questions of
fact and law, because Pateros sought the determination of its territorial
boundaries and the nullification of Proclamation No. 2475; that Pateros does
not seek the alteration, modification, or creation of another or a new local
government unit (LGU), but is concerned only with its territorial boundaries
which, according to existing records, consisted of 1,038 hectares; that
non-presentation of evidence before the RTC does not make the appeal purely a
question of law, because the parties were prevented from presenting any
evidence due to the RTC's erroneous dismissal of the case based on lack of
jurisdiction; that Proclamation Nos. 2475 and 518 suffer from Constitutional
infirmity; that the alteration or modification of the boundaries of municipalities
or cities can only be made by a law enacted by Congress and approved by the
majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly
affected; that Proclamation No. 2475, although issued by then President Marcos
during the Marcos era, was not a legislative enactment, pursuant to Section 6
of the 1976 Amendment to the Constitution; and granting, without admitting,
that Proclamation No. 2475 is a law, it should be subject to approval by the
majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly
affected. Thus, Pateros prays that the assailed CA Decision be reversed and set
aside, and that the RTC be directed to proceed with the trial of the instant
case.[27]
On
the other hand,
The
Director of Lands and the DENR, through the Office of the Solicitor General
(OSG), share the stand and arguments of
Our Ruling
We
agree that Pateros indeed committed a procedural infraction. It is clear that
the issue raised by Pateros to the CA involves the jurisdiction of the RTC over
the subject matter of the case. The jurisdiction of a court over the subject
matter of the action is a matter of law; it is conferred by the Constitution or
by law. Consequently, issues which deal with the jurisdiction of a court over
the subject matter of a case are pure questions of law. As Pateros' appeal
solely involves a question of law, it should have directly taken its appeal to
this Court by filing a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45,
not an ordinary appeal with the CA under Rule 41. The CA did not err in holding
that Pateros pursued the wrong mode of appeal.[30]
However,
in the interest of justice and in order to write finis to this
controversy, we opt to relax the rules. Our ruling in Atty. Ernesto A.
Tabujara III and Christine S. Dayrit v.
People of the Philippines and Daisy Afable[31] provides
us with ample justification, viz.:
While it is true that rules of procedure are intended to promote rather than frustrate the ends of justice, and while the swift unclogging of the dockets of the courts is a laudable objective, it nevertheless must not be met at the expense of substantial justice.
The Court has allowed some meritorious cases to proceed despite inherent procedural defects and lapses. This is in keeping with the principle that rules of procedure are mere tools designed to facilitate the attainment of justice, and that strict and rigid application of rules which would result in technicalities that tend to frustrate rather than promote substantial justice must always be avoided. It is a far better and more prudent cause of action for the court to excuse a technical lapse and afford the parties a review of the case to attain the ends of justice, rather than dispose of the case on technicality and cause grave injustice to the parties, giving a false impression of speedy disposal of cases while actually resulting in more delay, if not a miscarriage of justice.
In those rare cases to which we did not stringently apply the procedural rules, there always existed a clear need to prevent the commission of a grave injustice. Our judicial system and the courts have always tried to maintain a healthy balance between the strict enforcement of procedural laws and the guarantee that every litigant is given the full opportunity for a just and proper disposition of his cause.
The emerging trend in the rulings of this Court is to afford every party litigant the amplest opportunity for the proper and just determination of his cause, free from the constraints of technicalities. Time and again, we have consistently held that rules must not be applied so rigidly as to override substantial justice.
Given
the circumstances surrounding the instant case, we find sufficient reason to
relax the rules. Thus, we now resolve
the sole issue of whether the RTC has jurisdiction to entertain the boundary
dispute between Pateros and
Apart
from the doctrine that the jurisdiction of a tribunal over the subject matter
of an action is conferred by law, it is also the rule that the court’s exercise
of jurisdiction is determined by the material allegations of the complaint or information
and the law applicable at the time the action was commenced. Lack of
jurisdiction of the court over an action or the subject matter of an action
cannot be cured by the silence, by acquiescence, or even by express consent of
the parties. Thus, the jurisdiction of a court over the nature of the action
and the subject matter thereof cannot be made to depend upon the defenses set
up in court or upon a motion to dismiss for, otherwise, the question of
jurisdiction would depend almost entirely on the defendant. Once jurisdiction
is vested, the same is retained up to the end of the litigation.[32]
It
is worth stressing that, at the time the instant case was filed, the 1987
Constitution and the Local Government Code (LGC) of 1991 were already in
effect. Thus, the law in point is Section 118 of the LGC, which provides:
Section.
118. Jurisdictional
Responsibility for Settlement of Boundary Disputes. — Boundary disputes
between and among local government units shall, as much as possible, be settled
amicably. To this end:
(a) Boundary disputes involving two (2) or
more barangays in the same city or
municipality shall be referred for settlement to the sangguniang panlungsod or sangguniang
bayan concerned.
(b) Boundary disputes involving two (2) or more municipalities within the same
province shall be referred for settlement to the sangguniang panlalawigan concerned.
(c) Boundary disputes involving
municipalities or component cities of different provinces shall be jointly
referred for settlement to the sanggunians
of the province concerned.
(d) Boundary
disputes involving a component city or municipality on the one hand and a
highly urbanized city on the other, or two (2) or more highly urbanized cities,
shall be jointly referred for settlement to the respective sanggunians of the parties.
(e) In the
event the sanggunian fails to effect
an amicable settlement within sixty (60) days from the date the dispute was
referred thereto, it shall issue a certification to that effect. Thereafter,
the dispute shall be formally tried by the sanggunian
concerned which shall decide the issue within sixty (60) days from the date of
the certification referred to above.[33]
Notably,
when Pateros filed its complaint with the RTC of Makati,
However,
now that
Only upon failure of these
intermediary steps will resort to the RTC follow, as specifically provided in Section 119 of the LGC:
Section 119. Appeal. — Within the time and manner prescribed by the Rules of
Court, any party may elevate the decision of the sanggunian concerned to the proper Regional Trial Court having
jurisdiction over the area in dispute. The Regional Trial Court shall decide
the appeal within one (1) year from the filing thereof. Pending final
resolution of the disputed area prior to the dispute shall be maintained and
continued for all legal purposes.
On
this score, the jurisdiction of the RTC over boundary disputes among LGUs was settled
in National Housing Authority v. Commission on the Settlement of Land
Problems,[36] where
this Court recognized the appellate jurisdiction of the proper RTC. The jurisdiction
of the RTC was clarified in Municipality of Kananga v. Judge Madrona,[37]
where this Court held that, even in the absence of any specific provision of
law, “RTCs have general jurisdiction to adjudicate all controversies except
those expressly withheld from their plenary powers. They have the power not
only to take judicial cognizance of a case instituted for judicial action for
the first time, but also to do so to the exclusion of all other courts at that
stage. Indeed, the power is not only original, but also exclusive.”
Corollarily,
we feel obliged to inform Congress of the need to pass a law specifically delineating
the metes and bounds of the disputing LGUs. In Mariano, Jr. v. COMELEC,[38]
we held that the existence of a boundary dispute does not per se present
an unsurmountable difficulty which will prevent Congress from defining with
reasonable certitude the territorial
jurisdiction of an LGU. Congress, by virtue of the powers vested in it
by the Constitution, could very well put an end to this dispute. We reiterate what
we already said about the importance and sanctity of the territorial jurisdiction
of an LGU:
The
importance of drawing with precise strokes the territorial boundaries of a
local unit of government cannot be overemphasized. The boundaries must be clear
for they define the limits of the territorial jurisdiction of a local
government unit. It can legitimately exercise powers of government only within
the limits of its territorial jurisdiction. Beyond these limits, its acts are ultra
vires. Needless to state, any uncertainty in the boundaries of local
government units will sow costly conflicts in the exercise of governmental
powers which ultimately will prejudice the people's welfare. This is the evil
sought to be avoided by the Local Government Unit in requiring that the land
area of a local government unit must be spelled out in metes and bounds, with
technical descriptions.[39]
WHEREFORE,
the instant Petition is DENIED, having
been mooted by the conversion of respondent
SO ORDERED.
ANTONIO
EDUARDO B. NACHURA
Associate
Justice
WE CONCUR:
CONSUELO YNARES-SANTIAGO
Associate
Justice
Chairperson
|
MINITA V. CHICO-NAZARIO Associate
Justice |
PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR. Associate
Justice |
DIOSDADO M. PERALTA
Associate
Justice
A T T E S T A T I O N
I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision were
reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the
opinion of the Court’s Division.
CONSUELO
YNARES-SANTIAGO
Associate
Justice
Chairperson,
Third Division
C E R T I F I C A T I O N
Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution
and the Division Chairperson's Attestation, I certify that the conclusions in
the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was
assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.
REYNATO
S. PUNO
Chief
Justice
[1] Dated
May 7, 2003; rollo, pp. 7-29.
[2] Particularly
docketed as CA-G.R. CV No. 55886, penned by Associate Justice Perlita J. Tria
Tirona, with Associate Justices Roberto A. Barrios and Edgardo F. Sundiam (both
deceased), concurring; rollo, pp. 200-208.
[3] Particularly
docketed as Civil Case No. 93-4529, penned by then Judge Florentino A. Tuason,
Jr. (now a Commissioner of the Commission on Elections); rollo, pp. 119-123.
[4] Entitled: EXCLUDING FROM THE OPERATION OF PROCLAMATION NO. 423, SERIES OF 1957 WHICH ESTABLISHED THE FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY (NOW FORT BONIFACIO) MILITARY RESERVATION SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF PASIG, TAGUIG, PARAÑAQUE, MAKATI AND PASAY CITY, METRO MANILA, A CERTAIN PORTION OF THE LAND EMBRACED THEREIN SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI AND DECLARING THE SAME OPEN TO DISPOSITION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF ACT NO. 3038 AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 274 IN RELATION [TO] THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC LAND ACT, AS AMENDED.
[5] Entitled: EXCLUDING FROM THE OPERATION OF PROCLAMATION NO. 423 DATED JULY 12, 1957 WHICH ESTABLISHED THE MILITARY RESERVATION KNOWN AS "FORT WILLIAM MCKINLEY" (NOW FORT ANDRES BONIFACIO) SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITIES OF PASIG, TAGUIG, PATEROS AND PARAÑAQUE, PROVINCE OF RIZAL AND PASAY CITY (NOW METROPOLITAN MANILA) AS AMENDED BY PROCLAMATION NO. 2475 DATED JANUARY 7, 1986, CERTAIN PORTIONS OF LAND EMBRACED THEREIN KNOWN AS BARANGAYS CEMBO, SOUTH CEMBO, WEST REMBO, EAST REMBO, COMEMBO, PEMBO AND PITOGO, SITUATED IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF MAKATI, METROPOLITAN MANILA AND DECLARING THE SAME OPEN FOR DISPOSITION UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF REPUBLIC ACT NO. 274, AND REPUBLIC ACT NO. 730 IN RELATION TO THE PROVISIONS OF THE PUBLIC LAND ACT, AS AMENDED.
[6] Records, pp. 281-287.
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12] An
Act Converting the Municipality of
[13] Records, pp. 201-203.
[14]
[15] SECTION 10. No province, city, municipality, or barangay may be created, divided, merged, abolished, or its boundary substantially altered, except in accordance with the criteria established in the local government code and subject to approval by a majority of the votes cast in a plebiscite in the political units directly affected.
[16] SECTION 11. The Congress may, by law, create special metropolitan political subdivisions, subject to a plebiscite as set forth in Section 10 hereof. The component cities and municipalities shall retain their basic autonomy and shall be entitled to their own local executives and legislative assemblies. The jurisdiction of the metropolitan authority that will thereby be created shall be limited to basic services requiring coordination.
[17] G.R. Nos. 38204 and 38205, September 24, 1991, 201 SCRA 632, 640.
[18] Rollo, pp. 124-132.
[19]
[20]
[21] SECTION 5. The Supreme Court shall have the following powers:
x x x x
(2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts in:
(a) All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question.
(b) All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in relation thereto.
(c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue.
(d) All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher.
(e) All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.
[22] SEC. 2. Modes of appeal. —
(a) Ordinary appeal. — The appeal to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of its original jurisdiction shall be taken by filing a notice of appeal with the court which rendered the judgment or final order appealed from and serving a copy thereof upon the adverse party. No record on appeal shall be required except in special proceedings and other cases of multiple or separate appeals where the law or these Rules so require. In such cases, the record on appeal shall be filed and served in like manner.
(b) Petition for review. — The appeal to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction shall be by petition for review in accordance with Rule 42.
(c) Appeal by certiorari. — In all cases where only questions of law are raised or involved, the appeal shall be to the Supreme Court by petition for review on certiorari in accordance with Rule 45.
[23]
SEC. 2. Dismissal of improper
appeal to the Court of Appeals. — An appeal under Rule 41 taken from the
Regional Trial Court to the Court of Appeals raising only questions of law
shall be dismissed, issues purely of law not being reviewable by said court.
Similarly, an appeal by notice of appeal instead of by petition for review from
the appellate judgment of a Regional Trial Court shall be dismissed.
An appeal erroneously taken to
the Court of Appeals shall not be transferred to the appropriate court but
shall be dismissed outright.
[24] Rollo, pp. 209-217.
[25]
[26] Supra note 1, at 18.
[27] Pateros' Memorandum dated August 9, 2004; rollo, pp. 314-333.
[28]
[29] OSG's Comment dated April 16, 2004; rollo, pp. 279-289.
[30] Quezon
City and the City Treasurer of Quezon City v. ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation,
G.R. No. 166408, October 6, 2008.
[31] G.R.
No. 175162, October 29, 2008. (Citations omitted.)
[32] People v. Vanzuela, G.R. No. 178266, July 21, 2008, 559 SCRA 234, 242-243, citing Laresma v. Abellana, 442 SCRA 156, 168 (2004).
[33] Emphasis supplied.
[34] Metropolitan
[35]
Rule III of Administrative Order No. 270 dated February 21, 1992, entitled
“Prescribing the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the Local Government
Code of 1991” provides:
RULE
III
Settlement
of Boundary Disputes
ARTICLE 15. Definition
and Policy. — There is a boundary dispute when a portion or the whole of
the territorial area of an LGU is claimed by two or more LGUs. Boundary
disputes between or among LGUs shall, as much as possible, be settled amicably.
ARTICLE 16. Jurisdictional
Responsibility. — Boundary disputes shall be referred for settlement to the
following:
(a) Sangguniang
panlungsod or sangguniang bayan
for disputes involving two (2) or more barangays in the same city or
municipality, as the case may be;
(b) Sangguniang
panlalawigan, for those involving two (2) or more municipalities within the
same province;
(c) Jointly, to the sanggunians
of provinces concerned, for those involving component cities or municipalities
of different provinces; or
(d) Jointly, to the respective sanggunians, for those involving a component city or municipality
and a highly-urbanized city; or two (2) or more highly-urbanized cities.
ARTICLE 17. Procedures
for Settling Boundary Disputes. — The following procedures shall govern the
settlement of boundary disputes:
(a) Filing of petition — The sanggunian concerned may initiate action by filing a petition, in
the form of a resolution, with the sanggunian
having jurisdiction over the dispute.
(b) Contents of petition — The petition shall state the
grounds, reasons or justifications therefor.
(c) Documents attached to petition — The petition shall be
accompanied by:
(1) Duly authenticated copy of the law or statute creating the
LGU or any other document showing proof of creation of the LGU;
(2) Provincial, city, municipal, or barangay map, as the case may be, duly certified by the LMB;
(3) Technical description of the boundaries of the LGUs
concerned;
(4) Written certification of the provincial, city, or
municipal assessor, as the case may be, as to territorial jurisdiction over the
disputed area according to records in custody;
(5) Written declarations or sworn statements of the people
residing in the disputed area; and
(6) Such other documents or information as may be required by
the sanggunian hearing the dispute.
(d) Answer of adverse party — Upon receipt by the sanggunian concerned of the petition
together with the required documents, the LGU or LGUs complained against shall
be furnished copies thereof and shall be given fifteen (15) working days within
which to file their answers.
(e) Hearing — Within five (5) working days after receipt of
the answer of the adverse party, the sanggunian
shall hear the case and allow the parties concerned to present their respective
evidences.
(f) Joint hearing — When two or more sanggunians jointly hear a case, they
may sit en banc or designate their respective representatives. Where
representatives are designated, there shall be an equal number of
representatives from each sanggunian.
They shall elect from among themselves a presiding officer and a secretary. In
case of disagreement, selection shall be by drawing lot.
(g) Failure to settle — In the event the sanggunian fails to amicably settle the dispute within sixty (60)
days from the date such dispute was referred thereto, it shall issue a
certification to that effect and copies thereof shall be furnished the parties
concerned.
(h) Decision — Within sixty (60) days from the date the
certification was issued, the dispute shall be formally tried and decided by
the sanggunian concerned. Copies of
the decision shall, within fifteen (15) days from the promulgation thereof, be
furnished the parties concerned, DILG, local assessor, COMELEC, NSO, and other
NGAs concerned.
(i) Appeal — Within the time and manner prescribed by the
Rules of Court, any party may elevate the decision of the sanggunian concerned to the proper Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction
over the dispute by filing therewith the appropriate pleading, stating among
others, the nature of the dispute, the decision of the sanggunian concerned and the reasons for appealing therefrom. The
Regional Trial Court shall decide the case within one (1) year from the filing
thereof. Decisions on boundary disputes promulgated jointly by two (2) or more sangguniang panlalawigans shall be heard
by the Regional Trial Court of the province which first took cognizance of the
dispute.
ARTICLE 18. Maintenance
of Status Quo. — Pending final resolution of the dispute, the status of the
affected area prior to the dispute shall be maintained and continued for all
purposes.
ARTICLE 19. Official
Custodian. — The DILG shall be the official custodian of copies of all
documents on boundary disputes of LGUs. (Emphasis supplied)
[36] G.R.
No. 142601, October 23, 2006, 505 SCRA 38.
[37] 450 Phil. 392, 400 (2003).
[38] 312 Phil. 259, 267 (1995).
[39]