Jurisdiction-Sante Vs Claravall

FIRST DIVISION
IRENE SANTE AND REYNALDO
G.R. No. 173915
Petitioners,
Present:
HON. EDILBERTO T. CLARAVALL, in his
PUNO, C.J., Chairperson,

CARPIO MORALES,
LEONARDO-DE CASTRO,
BERSAMIN, and
VILLARAMA, JR., JJ.
Regional Trial Court of Baguio City, and
Promulgated:
Respondents.
February 22, 2010
SANTE,
- versus -
capacity as Presiding Judge of Branch 60,

VITA N. KALASHIAN,
x- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -x
DECISION
VILLARAMA, JR., J.:
Before this Court is a petition for certiorari [1] under Rule 65 of the 1997 Rules
of Civil Procedure, as amended, filed by petitioners Irene and Reynaldo Sante
assailing the Decision[2] dated January 31, 2006 and the Resolution [3] dated
June 23, 2006 of the Seventeenth Division of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R.
SP No. 87563. The assailed decision affirmed the orders of the Regional Trial
Court (RTC) of Baguio City, Branch 60, denying their motion to dismiss the
complaint for damages filed by respondent Vita Kalashian against them.
The facts, culled from the records, are as follows:
On April 5, 2004, respondent filed before the RTC of Baguio City a complaint
for damages
[4]
against petitioners. In her complaint, docketed as Civil Case
No. 5794-R, respondent alleged that while she was inside the Police Station
of Natividad, Pangasinan, and in the presence of other persons and police
officers, petitioner Irene Sante uttered words, which when translated in
English are as follows, How many rounds of sex did you have last night with
your boss, Bert? You fuckin bitch! Bert refers to Albert Gacusan, respondents
friend and one (1) of her hired personal security guards detained at the said
station and who is a suspect in the killing of petitioners close
relative. Petitioners also allegedly went around Natividad, Pangasinan
telling people that she is protecting and cuddling the suspects in the
aforesaid killing. Thus, respondent prayed that petitioners be held liable to
pay moral damages in the amount of P300,000.00; P50,000.00 as exemplary
damages; P50,000.00 attorneys fees; P20,000.00 litigation expenses; and
costs of suit.
Petitioners filed a Motion to Dismiss[5] on the ground that it was the
Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC) and not the RTC of Baguio, that had
jurisdiction over the case.They argued that the amount of the claim for
moral damages was not more than the jurisdictional amount of P300,000.00,
because the claim for exemplary damages should be excluded in computing
the total claim.
On June 24, 2004,[6] the trial court denied the motion to dismiss citing our
ruling in Movers-Baseco Integrated Port Services, Inc. v. Cyborg Leasing
Corporation.[7] The trial court held that the total claim of respondent
amounted to P420,000.00 which was above the jurisdictional amount for
MTCCs outside Metro Manila. The trial court also later issued Orders on
July 7, 2004[8] and July 19, 2004,[9] respectively reiterating its denial of the
motion to dismiss and denying petitioners motion for reconsideration.
Aggrieved, petitioners filed on August 2, 2004, a Petition for Certiorari and
Prohibition,[10] docketed as CA-G.R. SP No. 85465, before the Court of
Appeals. Meanwhile, on July 14, 2004, respondent and her husband filed an
Complaint[11] increasing
Amended
the
claim
for
moral
damages
from P300,000.00 to P1,000,000.00. Petitioners filed a Motion to Dismiss

with Answer Ad Cautelam and Counterclaim, but the trial court denied
their motion in an Order[12] dated September 17, 2004.
Hence,
petitioners
Prohibition
[13]
again
filed
Petition
for
Certiorari
and
before the Court of Appeals, docketed as CA-G.R. SP No.
87563, claiming that the trial court committed grave abuse of discretion in
allowing the amendment of the complaint to increase the amount of moral
damages from P300,000.00 to P1,000,000.00. The case was raffled to the

Seventeenth Division of the Court of Appeals.
original complaint and respondent is entitled to amend her complaint as a

matter of right under the Rules.
On January 23, 2006, the Court of Appeals, Seventh Division, promulgated a

decision in CA-G.R. SP No. 85465, as follows:
Unable to accept the decision, petitioners are now before us raising the
following issues:
WHEREFORE, finding grave abuse of discretion on the part

of [the] Regional Trial Court of Baguio, Branch 60, in
rendering the assailed Orders dated June 24, 2004 and July
[19], 2004 in Civil Case No. 5794-R the instant petition for
certiorari is GRANTED. The assailed Orders are
hereby ANNULLED and SET ASIDE. Civil Case No. 5794-R
for damages is ordered DISMISSED for lack of jurisdiction.
I.
SO ORDERED.[14]
The Court of Appeals held that the case clearly falls under the jurisdiction of the
MTCC as the allegations show that plaintiff was seeking to recover moral
damages in the amount ofP300,000.00, which amount was well within the
jurisdictional amount of the MTCC. The Court of Appeals added that the
totality of claim rule used for determining which court had jurisdiction could not
be applied to the instant case because plaintiffs claim for exemplary damages
was not a separate and distinct cause of action from her claim of moral
damages, but merely incidental to it. Thus, the prayer for exemplary damages
should be excluded in computing the total amount of the claim.
On January 31, 2006, the Court of Appeals, this time in CA-G.R. SP No.
87563, rendered a decision affirming the September 17, 2004 Order of the
RTC denying petitioners Motion to Dismiss Ad Cautelam. In the said
decision, the appellate court held that the total or aggregate amount
demanded in the complaint constitutes the basis of jurisdiction. The Court of
Appeals did not find merit in petitioners posture that the claims for
exemplary damages and attorneys fees are merely incidental to the main
cause and should not be included in the computation of the total claim.
The Court of Appeals additionally ruled that respondent can amend her
complaint by increasing the amount of moral damages from P300,000.00
to P1,000,000.00, on the ground that the trial court has jurisdiction over the
WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS GRAVE ABUSE OF

DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OR IN EXCESS OF
JURISDICTION ON THE PART OF THE (FORMER)
SEVENTEENTH DIVISION OF THE HONORABLE
COURT OF APPEALS WHEN IT RESOLVED THAT THE
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF BAGUIO CITY BRANCH 60
HAS JURISDICTION OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER OF
THE CASE FOR DAMAGES AMOUNTING TO P300,000.00;
II.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS GRAVE ABUSE OF
DISCRETION ON THE PART OF THE HONORABLE
RESPONDENT JUDGE OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL
COURT OF BAGUIO BRANCH 60 FOR ALLOWING THE
COMPLAINANT
TO
AMEND
THE
COMPLAINT
(INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGES TO
1,000,000.00 TO CONFER JURISDICTION OVER THE
SUBJECT MATTER OF THE CASE DESPITE THE
PENDENCY OF A PETITION FOR CERTIORARI FILED
AT THE COURT OF APPEALS, SEVENTH DIVISION,
DOCKETED AS CA G.R. NO. 85465.[15]
In essence, the basic issues for our resolution are:
1)
2)
Did the RTC acquire jurisdiction over the case? and

Did the RTC commit grave abuse of discretion in
allowing the amendment of the complaint?
Petitioners insist that the complaint falls under the exclusive jurisdiction of
the MTCC. They maintain that the claim for moral damages, in the amount
of P300,000.00 in the original complaint, is the main action. The exemplary
damages being discretionary should not be included in the computation of

the jurisdictional amount. And having no jurisdiction over the subject
matter of the case, the RTC acted with grave abuse of discretion when it
allowed the amendment of the complaint to increase the claim for moral
damages in order to confer jurisdiction.
hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00):Provided, however,

That in the case of Metro Manila, the abovementioned
jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted after five (5) years
from the effectivity of this Act to Four hundred thousand
pesos (P400,000.00).
In her Comment,[16] respondent averred that the nature of her complaint is

for recovery of damages. As such, the totality of the claim for damages,
including the exemplary damages as well as the other damages alleged and
prayed in the complaint, such as attorneys fees and litigation expenses,
should be included in determining jurisdiction. The total claim
being P420,000.00, the RTC has jurisdiction over the complaint.
Relatedly, Supreme Court Circular No. 21-99 was issued declaring that the
first adjustment in jurisdictional amount of first level courts outside of Metro
Manila fromP100,000.00 to P200,000.00 took effect on March 20, 1999.
Meanwhile, the second adjustment from P200,000.00 to P300,000.00
became effective on February 22, 2004 in accordance with OCA Circular No.
65-2004 issued by the Office of the Court Administrator on May 13, 2004.
We deny the petition, which although denominated as a petition for

certiorari, we treat as a petition for review on certiorari under Rule 45 in
view of the issues raised.
Based on the foregoing, there is no question that at the time of the filing of
the complaint on April 5, 2004, the MTCCs jurisdictional amount has been
adjusted to P300,000.00.
Section 19(8) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129,[17] as amended by Republic Act
But where damages is the main cause of action, should the amount of moral
damages prayed for in the complaint be the sole basis for determining which
court has jurisdiction or should the total amount of all the damages claimed
regardless of kind and nature, such as exemplary damages, nominal
damages, and attorneys fees, etc., be used?
No. 7691,
[18]
states:
SEC. 19. Jurisdiction in civil cases. Regional Trial Courts

shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction:
xxxx
(8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of
interest, damages of whatever kind, attorneys fees, litigation
expenses, and costs or the value of the property in
controversy exceeds One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) or, in such other cases in Metro Manila, where
the demand, exclusive of the abovementioned items exceeds
Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00).
Section 5 of Rep. Act No. 7691 further provides:
SEC. 5. After five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act,
the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec. 19(3), (4), and
(8); and Sec. 33(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 as amended
by this Act, shall be adjusted to Two hundred thousand pesos
(P200,000.00).
Five
(5)
years
thereafter,
such
jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted further to Three
In this regard, Administrative Circular No. 09-94[19] is instructive:

xxxx
2. The exclusion of the term damages of whatever kind in
determining the jurisdictional amount under Section 19 (8)
and Section 33 (1) of B.P. Blg. 129, as amended by R.A. No.
7691, applies to cases where the damages are merely
incidental to or a consequence of the main cause of
action. However, in cases where the claim for damages
is the main cause of action, or one of the causes of
action, the amount of such claim shall be considered

in determining the jurisdiction of the court. (Emphasis
ours.)
In the instant case, the complaint filed in Civil Case No. 5794-R is for the
recovery of damages for the alleged malicious acts of petitioners. The complaint
principally sought an award of moral and exemplary damages, as well as

attorneys fees and litigation expenses, for the alleged shame and injury suffered
by respondent by reason of petitioners utterance while they were at a police
station in Pangasinan. It is settled that jurisdiction is conferred by law based on
the facts alleged in the complaint since the latter comprises a concise statement
of the ultimate facts constituting the plaintiffs causes of action. [20] It is clear,
based on the allegations of the complaint, that respondents main action is for
damages. Hence, the other forms of damages being claimed by respondent, e.g.,
exemplary damages, attorneys fees and litigation expenses, are not merely
incidental to or consequences of the main action but constitute the primary
relief prayed for in the complaint.
In Mendoza v. Soriano,[21] it was held that in cases where the claim for
damages is the main cause of action, or one of the causes of action, the
amount of such claim shall be considered in determining the jurisdiction of
the court. In the said case, the respondents claim of P929,000.06 in damages
and P25,000 attorneys fees plus P500 per court appearance was held to
represent the monetary equivalent for compensation of the alleged
injury. The Court therein held that the total amount of monetary claims
including the claims for damages was the basis to determine the
jurisdictional amount.
Also, in Iniego v. Purganan,
[22]
the Court has held:
The amount of damages claimed is within the jurisdiction of

the RTC, since it is the claim for all kinds of damages that is
the basis of determining the jurisdiction of courts, whether

the claims for damages arise from the same or from different
causes of action.
xxxx
Considering that the total amount of damages claimed was P420,000.00, the
Court of Appeals was correct in ruling that the RTC had jurisdiction over
the case.
Lastly, we find no error, much less grave abuse of discretion, on the part of
the Court of Appeals in affirming the RTCs order allowing the amendment of
the original complaint from P300,000.00 to P1,000,000.00 despite the
pendency of a petition for certiorari filed before the Court of Appeals. While
it is a basic jurisprudential principle that an amendment cannot be allowed
when the court has no jurisdiction over the original complaint and the
purpose of the amendment is to confer jurisdiction on the court, [23] here, the
RTC clearly had jurisdiction over the original complaint and amendment of
the complaint was then still a matter of right.[24]
WHEREFORE, the petition is DENIED, for lack of merit. The
Decision and Resolution of the Court of Appeals dated January 31, 2006 and
June 23, 2006, respectively, are AFFIRMED. The Regional Trial Court of
Baguio City, Branch 60 is DIRECTED to continue with the trial
proceedings in Civil Case No. 5794-R with deliberate dispatch. No costs. SO

ORDERED.

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FIRST DIVISION

IRENE SANTE AND REYNALDO

G.R. No. 173915

HON. EDILBERTO T. CLARAVALL, in his

PUNO, C.J., Chairperson,

Regional Trial Court of Baguio City, and

February 22, 2010

capacity as Presiding Judge of Branch 60,

against petitioners. In her complaint, docketed as Civil Case

from P300,000.00 to P1,000,000.00. Petitioners filed a Motion to Dismiss

before the Court of Appeals, docketed as CA-G.R. SP No.

damages from P300,000.00 to P1,000,000.00. The case was raffled to the

original complaint and respondent is entitled to amend her complaint as a

On January 23, 2006, the Court of Appeals, Seventh Division, promulgated a

WHEREFORE, finding grave abuse of discretion on the part

WHETHER OR NOT THERE WAS GRAVE ABUSE OF

Did the RTC acquire jurisdiction over the case? and

damages being discretionary should not be included in the computation of

hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00):Provided, however,

In her Comment,[16] respondent averred that the nature of her complaint is

We deny the petition, which although denominated as a petition for

Section 19(8) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129,[17] as amended by Republic Act

SEC. 19. Jurisdiction in civil cases. Regional Trial Courts

In this regard, Administrative Circular No. 09-94[19] is instructive:

action, the amount of such claim shall be considered

principally sought an award of moral and exemplary damages, as well as

the Court has held:

The amount of damages claimed is within the jurisdiction of

the basis of determining the jurisdiction of courts, whether

proceedings in Civil Case No. 5794-R with deliberate dispatch. No costs. SO

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