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CHICO-NAZARIO, J.:
FACTS:
petitioners in this case filed before the RTC of Tuguegarao an action for
reivindicatoria and quieting of title against the respondents. The petitioners alleged
that they are the owners of the land because they acquire it by inheritance from their
father. And that the respondents were only allowed by their father before the latter
died, to occupy the land on the condition that they will vacate it anytime they need the
subject property. However when their father died, the respondents continued to occupy
the property and had already built their residences using permanent materials and
claimed ownership over the property.
Petitioners referred their land dispute with the respondents to the lupong
tagapamayapa for conciliation. During the conciliation proceeding, respondents asserts
their ownership over the land
Petitioners were compelled to file before the RTC an action to remove the cloud
from their title alleging that the documents of the respondents were highly Dubious,
falsified and incapable of proving their ownership.
RTC issued an order dismissing the complaint for lack of jurisdiction. According
to BP 129, RTC has jurisdiction over real actions where the assessed value of the
property which involved exceeds 20,000 outside MM or 50,000 within MM. it found out
that the value of the property is only 410 pesos thus outside of its jurisdiction.
Petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration. They argued that the principal
action is quieting of title; reivindicacion was included merely to seek complete relief
from respondents.
RTC denied the MR it reasoned out that quieting of title is a real action. Pursuant
RA 7691 amending BP 129, it is the MTC that exercises jurisdiction over real action
where the assessed value does not exceed 20,000.
Hence this petition
ISSUE: whether the RTC committed grave abuse of discretion in dismissing petitioners
complaint for lack of jurisdiction
HELD:
The court ruled in the NEGATIVE