1. The petitioners argue that the complaint should be dismissed because the parties did not undergo the mandatory conciliation process before the local Lupong Tagapayapa.
2. The Court ruled that failure to raise the defense of lack of conciliation in the answer or timely motion to dismiss results in a waiver of that precondition. Here, the petitioners did not raise it until later.
3. Moreover, the Lupong Tagapayapa likely did not have authority over this dispute since the parties resided in different cities, except for one petitioner who resided in the US. The statutory provisions limit the Lupong's jurisdiction to intra-city or adjoining barangay disputes.
1. The petitioners argue that the complaint should be dismissed because the parties did not undergo the mandatory conciliation process before the local Lupong Tagapayapa.
2. The Court ruled that failure to raise the defense of lack of conciliation in the answer or timely motion to dismiss results in a waiver of that precondition. Here, the petitioners did not raise it until later.
3. Moreover, the Lupong Tagapayapa likely did not have authority over this dispute since the parties resided in different cities, except for one petitioner who resided in the US. The statutory provisions limit the Lupong's jurisdiction to intra-city or adjoining barangay disputes.
1. The petitioners argue that the complaint should be dismissed because the parties did not undergo the mandatory conciliation process before the local Lupong Tagapayapa.
2. The Court ruled that failure to raise the defense of lack of conciliation in the answer or timely motion to dismiss results in a waiver of that precondition. Here, the petitioners did not raise it until later.
3. Moreover, the Lupong Tagapayapa likely did not have authority over this dispute since the parties resided in different cities, except for one petitioner who resided in the US. The statutory provisions limit the Lupong's jurisdiction to intra-city or adjoining barangay disputes.
1. The petitioners argue that the complaint should be dismissed because the parties did not undergo the mandatory conciliation process before the local Lupong Tagapayapa.
2. The Court ruled that failure to raise the defense of lack of conciliation in the answer or timely motion to dismiss results in a waiver of that precondition. Here, the petitioners did not raise it until later.
3. Moreover, the Lupong Tagapayapa likely did not have authority over this dispute since the parties resided in different cities, except for one petitioner who resided in the US. The statutory provisions limit the Lupong's jurisdiction to intra-city or adjoining barangay disputes.
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CIVPRO DIGEST | RAMIREZ, LC
ISSUE: answer and seeking
EN BANC The present petition is premised on the affirmative relief [G.R. No. L-59801. May 31, 1988.] argument that inasmuch as the complaint before from it. LEONOR P. FERNANDEZ, CONNIE P. HALL, the trial court is a proper subject of conciliation BERNARDO PERALTA and MARIANO before the Lupong Tagapayapa, non-compliance Even assuming that PETs motion to dismiss had FERNANDEZ,Petitioners, v. THE with such requirement is a jurisdictional defect been filed on time, it is doubtful whether the HONORABLE FRANCIS J. MILITANTE, in his which renders the complaint vulnerable to Lupon has authority over the controversy capacity as Judge, Court of First Instance of dismissal. considering allegations regarding the residence Cebu, Branch XII, ESTRELITO P. of the parties involved. CAPUTOLAN, GONZALO P. CAPUTOLAN, RULING: PETs and PRs are admittedly all residents RAQUEL C. ANIBAN, ESTANISLAO L. The Court has repeatedly ruled that the of Jones Avenue, Cebu City, with the CAPUTOLAN and WILFREDO conciliation process at the Barangay level is a exception of PET Connie P. Hall who is a ANIBAN, Respondents. condition precedent for filing of actions before citizen of the United States of America the regular trial courts and ordinarily, non- TOPIC: WHEN TO RAISE NON-REFERRAL compliance therewith could affect the sufficiency Section 2 (of Pres. Dec. No. 1508) specifies Raising the defense of lack of conciliation after of plaintiff’s cause of action and make his the conditions under which the Lupon of a the filing of answer constitutes waiver complaint vulnerable to dismissal on the ground barangay "shall have authority" to bring of lack of cause of action or prematurity together the disputants for amicable settlement CORTES, J.: However, failure to raise it as a defense of their dispute: The parties must be "actually FACTS: in the answer or in a timely motion to residing in the same city or municipality." Private respondents (PRs) brought action dismiss is deemed a waiver of such against petitioners (PET) before the then precondition. The record shows that PETs At the same time, Section 3 —declares that the Court of First Instance of Cebu, Branch XII, answer to the complaint never raised the Lupon shall have "no authority" over disputes for "Declaration of Nullity of Deed of Sale defense that the PRs complaint did not "involving parties who actually reside in and of Transfer Certificates of Title" comply with the conciliation process barangays of different cities or municipalities," PETs filed on March 9, 1981 their answer prescribed by Pres. Dec. No. 1508. except where such barangays adjoin each raising special and affirmative defenses other. including a counterclaim. OTHER CONTENTION OF PETITIONERS: Subsequently, the case was set for pre-trial PETITIONERS SC By express statutory inclusion and and on April 15, 1981, the first pre-trial CONTENTION exclusion, the Lupon shall have no conference was held. PRs failure to The conciliation jurisdiction over disputes where the parties On May 27, 1981, PETs filed a Motion to comply with the procedure under Pres. are not actual residents of the same city or Dismiss on the ground that the court never conciliation process Dec. No. 1508 is not a municipality, except where the barangays in acquired jurisdiction over the case for non- is fatal to the trial jurisdictional requirement which they actually reside adjoin each other. compliance with the requirement of court’s jurisdiction. and its non-compliance conciliation before the Lupong Tagapayapa. cannot affect the jurisdiction which the WHEREFORE, the petition is hereby The trial court overruled the arguments court has already DISMISSED and the order of the respondent raised by the PETs and denied their motion acquired over the subject trial court in Civil Case No. R-20105 denying on. Motion for reconsideration was also matter or over the person petitioners’ motion to dismiss is AFFIRMED. The denied for being filed out of time. of the defendant Temporary Restraining Order issued by this Hence, this petition for certiorari and Court on March 9, 1982 is hereby LIFTED and prohibition with preliminary injunction. PETs also have They cannot now SET ASIDE. SO ORDERED. invoked the repudiate that jurisdiction jurisdiction of the to which they have respondent trial submitted themselves court by filing an voluntarily