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Actions
Actions .................................................................................................................................1
1. 1. Meaning of ordinary civil actions .............................................................................2
2. 2. Meaning of special civil actions................................................................................2
3. 3. Meaning of criminal actions .....................................................................................3
4. 4. Civil actions versus Special proceedings ..................................................................4
5. 5. Personal actions and real actions.............................................................................8
6. 6. Local and transitory actions ...................................................................................14
7. 7. Actions in rem, in personam and quasi in rem ......................................................17
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1. 1. Meaning of ordinary civil actions
1.1. Q: What is an ordinary civil action?
1.1.1. A: It is a formal demand of ones legal rights in a court of justice in the
manner prescribed by the court or by law. It is governed by ordinary rules
2. 2. Meaning of special civil actions
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2.1. Q: What is a special civil action?
2.1.1. A: It has special features not found in ordinary civil actions. It is governed by
ordinary rules but subject to specific rules prescribed in Rules 62-71.
3. 3. Meaning of criminal actions
3.1. Q: What is a criminal action?
3.1.1. A: It is one by which the state prosecutes a person for an act or omission
punishable by law (Sec.3 (b), Rule1).
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4. 4. Civil actions versus Special proceedings
4.1. Q: Distinguish action from special proceeding.
4.1.1. A:Action
4.1.1.1. Purpose
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4.1.1.1.1. Civil action:
4.1.1.1.1.1. 1. To protect a right
4.1.1.1.1.2. 2. Prevent or redress a wrong.
4.1.1.1.2. Criminal action: Prosecute a person for an act or omission
punishable by law (Sec. 3, Rule 1)
4.1.1.2. Application
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4.1.1.2.1. Where a party litigant seeks to recover property from another, his
remedy is to file an action.
4.1.1.3. Governing Law
4.1.1.3.1. Ordinary rules supplemented by special rules
4.1.1.4. Court
4.1.1.4.1. Heard by courts of general jurisdiction
4.1.1.5. Procedure
4.1.1.5.1. Initiated by a pleading and parties respond through an answer
4.1.2. Special Proceeding
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4.1.2.1. Purpose
4.1.2.1.1. To establish a status, a right or a particular fact (Sec. 3 Rule 1).
Specific kinds of special proceedings are found in Rule 72 Rule 109.
Examples: settlement of estate, escheat, guardianship, etc. (Riano, Civil
Procedure: A Restatement for the Bar, p. 121, 2009 ed.)
4.1.2.2. Application
4.1.2.2.1. Where his purpose is to seek the appointment of a guardian for an
insane person, his remedy is a special proceeding to establish the fact or
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status of insanity calling for an appointment of guardianship. (Herrera, Vol. I,
p. 370, 2007 ed.
4.1.2.3. Governing Law
4.1.2.3.1. Special rules supplemented by ordinary rules
4.1.2.4. Court
4.1.2.4.1. Heard by courts of limited jurisdiction
4.1.2.5. Procedure
4.1.2.5.1. Initiated by a petition and parties respond through an opposition
5. 5. Personal actions and real actions
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5.1. Q: Distinguish real actions from personal actions.
5.1.1. A:Real Action
5.1.1.1. Scope
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5.1.1.1.1. When it affects title to or possession of a real property, or an
interest therein (Sec. 1, Rule 4)
5.1.1.2. Basis
5.1.1.2.1. When it is founded upon the privity of a real estate. That means
that realty or interest therein is the subject matter of the action.
5.1.1.2.2. Note: It is important that the matter in litigation must also involve
any of the following issue:
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5.1.1.2.2.1. 1. Title to property
5.1.1.2.2.2. 2. Ownership
5.1.1.2.2.3. 3. Possession
5.1.1.2.2.4. 4. Partition
5.1.1.2.2.5. 5. Foreclosure of mortgage
5.1.1.2.2.6. 6. Any interest in real property.
5.1.1.3. Venue
5.1.1.3.1. Venue of action shall be commenced and tried in the proper court
which has jurisdiction over the area wherein the real property involved, or a
portion thereof is situated. (Rule 4, Sec. 1)
5.1.1.4. Example
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5.1.1.4.1. An action to recover possession of real property plus damages
5.1.1.4.2. Note: An action to annul or rescind a sale of real property has as its
fundamental and prime objective the recovery of real property (Emergency
Loan Pawnshop, Inc. vs. Court of appeals, 353 SCRA 89; Riano, p. 122, 2009
ed.)
5.1.2. Personal Action
5.1.2.1. Scope
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5.1.2.1.1. Personal property is sought to be recovered or where damages for
breach of contract are sought
5.1.2.2. Basis
5.1.2.2.1. Founded on privity of contract such as damages, claims of money,
etc.
5.1.2.3. Venue
5.1.2.3.1. Venue of action is the place where the plaintiff or any of the
principal plaintiffs resides or any of the defendants resides, at the election of
the plaintiff (Rule 2 Sec. 2)
5.1.2.4. Example
5.1.2.4.1. An action for sum of money
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6. 6. Local and transitory actions
6.1. Q: Distinguish local action from transitory actions.
6.1.1. A: Local Action
6.1.1.1. Venue
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6.1.1.1.1. Must be brought in a particular place where the subject property is
located, unless there is an agreement to the contrary.
6.1.1.2. Privity of contract
6.1.1.2.1. No privity of contract and the action is founded on privity of estate
only
6.1.1.3. Example
6.1.1.3.1. Action to recover real property
6.1.2. Transitory Action
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6.1.2.1. Venue
6.1.2.1.1. Dependent on the place where the party resides regardless of where
the cause of action arose subject to Sec. 4, Rule 4
6.1.2.2. Privity of contract
6.1.2.2.1. Founded on privity of contract between the parties whether debt or
covenant (Paper Industries Corporation of the Philippines v. Samson, G.R. No.
L-30175, Nov. 28, 1975).
6.1.2.3. Example
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6.1.2.3.1. Action to recover sum of money
7. 7. Actions in rem, in personam and quasi in rem
7.1. Q: Distinguish actions in rem, in personam and quasi in rem
7.1.1. A:Action In Rem
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7.1.1.1. Nature
7.1.1.1.1. A proceeding to subject the property of such persons to the
discharge of the claims assailed.
7.1.1.2. Purpose
7.1.1.2.1. A proceeding to determine the state or condition of a thing
7.1.1.3. Scope
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7.1.1.3.1. Directed against the thing itself Directed against the whole world
7.1.1.4. Required jurisdiction
7.1.1.4.1. Jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is not required.
Jusrisdiction over the RES is required through publication in a newspaper of
general circulation.
7.1.1.5. Effect of judgment
7.1.1.5.1. Judgment is binding upon the whole world.
7.1.1.6. Example
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7.1.1.6.1. 1. Probate proceeding
7.1.1.6.2. 2. Cadastral proceeding
7.1.1.6.3. 3. Land registration proceeding
7.1.2. Action In Personam
7.1.2.1. Nature
7.1.2.1.1. A proceeding to enforce personal rights and obligations brought
against the person
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7.1.2.2. Purpose
7.1.2.2.1. An action to impose a responsibility or liability upon a person
directly
7.1.2.3. Scope
7.1.2.3.1. Directed against particular persons
7.1.2.4. Required jurisdiction
7.1.2.4.1. Jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is required
7.1.2.5. Effect of judgment
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7.1.2.5.1. Judgment is binding only upon parties impleaded or their
successors-in-interest
7.1.2.6. Example
7.1.2.6.1. 1. Action for specific performance
7.1.2.6.2. 2. Action for breach of contract
7.1.2.6.3. 3. Action for ejectment
7.1.2.6.4. 4. Action for a sum of money; for damages (Riano, Civil Procedure:
A Restatement for the Bar,p.130, 2009 ed.)
7.1.3. Action Quasi In Rem
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7.1.3.1. Nature
7.1.3.1.1. A proceeding to subject the property of the named defendant or his
interests therein to the obligation or lien burdening the property
7.1.3.2. Purpose
7.1.3.2.1. Deals with the stauts, ownership or liability of a particular property
but which are intended to operate on these questions only as between the
particular parties to the proceedings and not to ascertain or cut-off the rights
or interests of all possible claimants. (Domagas vs. Jensen, 448 SCRA 663)
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7.1.3.3. Scope
7.1.3.3.1. Directed against particular persons

7.1.3.4. Required jurisdiction
7.1.3.4.1. Jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is not required as long
as jurisdiction over the res is acquired
7.1.3.5. Effect of judgment
7.1.3.5.1. Judgment will be binding only upon the litigants, privies, successor
in interest but the judgment shall be executed against a particular property.
The RES involve will answer the judgment.
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7.1.3.6. Example
7.1.3.6.1. 1. Action for partition
7.1.3.6.2. 2. Action to foreclose real estate mortgage attachment