REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

COURT OF APPEALS
MANILA
NINTH DIVISION
BA SAVINGS BANK CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285
(Formerly BA Finance Corporation),
Plainti!Appellant, Mem"er#$

CRUZ, E. P., C%airman
!&er#'#! LAMPAS PERALTA, F( an)
PIZARRO, N. B., JJ($

YOLANDA D. RAMOS an) Prom'l*ate)$
PANTALEON RAMOS,
+een)ant#!Appellee#( ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
-! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !-
DECISION
LAMPAS PERALTA, J.:
A##aile) in t%i# appeal i# t%e Re#ol'tion )ate) Septem"er .,
/001
.
in Ci&il Ca#e No( 1020!AF o Branc% /3, Re*ional Trial
Co'rt, Ca"anat'an City )i#mi##in* t%e amen)e) complaint or
4Reple&in or S'm o Money5 ile) "y plainti!appellant BA Sa&in*#
Ban6 a*ain#t )een)ant#!appellee# 7olan)a Ramo# an) Pantaleon
Ramo# in&ol&in* a &e%icle 8%ic% 8a# t%e #'"9ect o a c%attel
mort*a*e e-ec'te) "y )een)ant#!appellee# in a&or o plainti!
appellant(
/
1 pp. 96-97, Records
2 pp. 47-50, Ibid.
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 2
DECISION
x-------------------------------x
THE ANTECE+ENTS
On Marc% /1, .::3, plainti!appellant ile) a complaint or
4Reco&ery o Po##e##ion 8it% Reple&in,5 alle*in* t%at ;i)
)een)ant#!appellee# #ec're) a loan rom plainti!appellant in t%e
amo'nt o P/<3,/<<(00 paya"le in ./ e='al mont%ly in#tallment# o
P/0,>3?(00 #tartin* @'ne /0, .::? an) e&ery /0
t%
)ay o t%e mont%
t%ereater 'ntil 'll payment o t%e 8%ole o"li*ation, ;ii) a# #ec'rity
or t%e loan, )een)ant#!appellee# e-ec'te) a )ee) o c%attel
mort*a*e o&er a &e%icle )e#cri"e) a# an I#'A' El +rop#i)e
NPR2?LB<BC/, an) ;iii) )een)ant#!appellee# aile) to pay t%e
o't#tan)in* "alance in t%e amo'nt o P.32,32<(>2 or to )eli&er t%e
&e%icle to plainti!appellant )e#pite t%e latterC# )eman)(
On Septem"er /?, /000, plainti!appellant ile) a motion to
amen) complaint an) an amen)e) complaint, #tatin* an alternati&e
ca'#e o action in t%e e&ent t%at t%e c%attel cannot "e locate) or it
"e in#'icient to #ati#y plainti!appellantC# claim( T%e amen)e)
complaint t%'# praye) or t%e payment o t%e 'npai) o"li*ation o
P.32,32<(>2, amon* ot%er#(
1
In t%eir an#8er
<
to t%e amen)e) complaint, )een)ant#!
appellee# alle*e) t%at ;i) t%e trial co'rt %a) no 9'ri#)iction to
entertain t%e complaint a# t%e amo'nt in&ol&e), P.32,32<(>2, 8a#
8it%in t%e 9'ri#)iction o t%e M'nicipal Trial Co'rt, an) ;ii) reple&in
8a# no lon*er ea#i"le a# t%e #'"9ect &e%icle co'l) no lon*er "e
o'n)(
For ail're o )een)ant#!appellee# an) t%eir co'n#el to
appear )'rin* t%e pre!trial conerence, t%ey 8ere )eclare) a# in
)ea'lt an) plainti!appellant 8a# allo8e) to pre#ent it# e&i)ence
ex-parte.
5
3 p. 47, Ibid.
4 pp. 54-57, Ibid.
5 pp. 77 and 85, Ibid.
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 3
DECISION
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T%ereater, t%e trial co'rt i##'e) a Re#ol'tion )ate)
Septem"er ., /001
>
)i#mi##in* 8it%o't pre9')ice t%e complaint or
8ant o 9'ri#)iction(
Plainti!appellant ile) a motion or recon#i)eration o t%e
Re#ol'tion )ate) Septem"er ., /001, "'t t%e trial co'rt )enie) t%e
#ame in an Or)er )ate) No&em"er 2, /001(
Hence, t%i# appeal,
?
pre#entin* it# a##i*nment o error a#
ollo8#$
3
ASSIDNMENT OF ERROR
T%e only i##'e in t%e a"o&e!entitle) ca#e may
"e #tate) a# ollo8#$
I t%e Re*ional Trial Co'rt %a# 9'ri#)iction o&er
t%e ca#e 'n)er t%e ori*inal complaint an) later t%e
complaint 8a# amene) to incl')e an alternati&e ca'#e
o action an) at t%e time o t%e ilin* o t%e amen)e)
complaint t%e Co'rt no lon*er %a# 9'ri#)iction
con#i)erin* t%e amo'nt in&ol&e), may t%e co'rt
)i#mi## t%e ca#e or lac6 o 9'ri#)ictionE
THE ISSUE
F%et%er t%e Re*ional Trial Co'rt %a#
lo#t 9'ri#)iction o&er t%e ca#e 8%en t%e
complaint 8a# amen)e) into one or 4Reple&in
or S'm o Money5(
6 p. 96, Ibid.
7 p. 105, Ibid.
8 p. 19, Rollo
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 4
DECISION
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THE COURTCS RULIND
For clarity, t%e ori*inal complaint or 4Reco&ery o
Po##e##ion 8it% Reple&in,5 ile) on Marc% /1, .::3, 8a# later
amen)e) to one or 4Reple&in or S'm o Money,5 ile) on
Septem"er /?, /000( In it# ori*inal complaint, plainti!appellant
alle*e) t%at )een)ant#!appellee# #ec're) a loan in t%e amo'nt o
P/<3,/<<(00 paya"le on mont%ly in#tallment o P/0,>3?(00 an)
)een)ant#!appellee# aile) to pay t%e "alance in t%e amo'nt o
P.32,32<(>2( In it# amen)e) complaint, plainti!appellant 'rt%er
alle*e) t%at t%e property #'"9ect o t%e c%attel mort*a*e cannot "e
o'n), t%'# it 8a# al#o praye) in t%e alternati&e t%at )een)ant!
appellee "e or)ere) to pay t%e amo'nt o P.32,32<(>2
repre#entin* t%e 'npai) "alance o t%e o"li*ation(
T%ere i# no ='e#tion t%at at time o t%e ilin* o t%e ori*inal
complaint on Marc% /1, .::3, t%e amo'nt o P.32,32<(>2
repre#entin* t%e alle*e) 'npai) o"li*ation o )een)ant#!appellee#
8a# 8it%in t%e 9'ri#)iction o t%e Re*ional Trial Co'rt, p'r#'ant to
BP Bl*( ./:, a# amen)e) "y RA No( ?>:.(
:
Ho8e&er, in a
Re#ol'tion )ate) Septem"er ., /001, ater plainti!appellant %a)
pre#ente) it# e&i)ence, t%e trial co'rt )i#mi##e) t%e ca#e on t%e
*ro'n) t%at at t%e time o t%e ilin* o t%e amen)e) complaint on
Septem"er /?, /000, 9'ri#)iction 8a# &e#te) in t%e MTC
p'r#'ant to Section 1, RA No( ?>:.(
.0
Sai) t%e trial co'rt$
9 SEC. 19. !risdic"ion in Ci#il Cases. -- Re$ional %rial Co!r"s s&all &a#e e'cl!si#e ori$inal
(!risdic"ion)
' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
*8+ In all o"&er cases in ,&ic& "&e de-and, e'cl!si#e o. in"eres", da-a$es o. ,&a"e#er /ind,
a""orne01s .ees, li"i$a"ion e'penses, and cos"s or "&e #al!e o. "&e proper"0 in con"ro#ers0 e'ceeds 2ne
&!ndred "&o!sand pesos *3100,000.00+ or, in s!c& o"&er cases in 4e"ro 4anila, ,&ere "&e de-and,
e'cl!si#e o. "&e abo#e -en"ioned i"e- e'ceeds %,o &!ndred "&o!sand pesos *3200,000.00+.

10 SEC. 3. Sec"ion 33 o. "&e sa-e la, is &ereb0 a-ended "o read as .ollo,s) ' ' '
SEC. 33. !risdic"ion o. 4e"ropoli"an %rial Co!r"s, 4!nicipal %rial Co!r"s and 4!nicipal Circ!i"
%rial Co!r"s in Ci#il Cases. -- 4e"ropoli"an %rial Co!r"s, 4!nicipal "rial Co!r"s and 4!nicipal
Circ!i" %rial Co!r"s s&all e'ercise)
*1+ E'cl!si#e ori$inal (!risdic"ion o#er ci#il ac"ions and proba"e
proceedin$s, "es"a"e and in"es"a"e, incl!din$ "&e $ran" o. pro#isional re-edies in
proper cases, ,&ere "&e #al!e o. "&e personal proper"0, es"a"e, or a-o!n" o. "&e
de-and does no" e'ceed 2ne &!ndred "&o!sand pesos *3100,000.00+ or, in 4e"ro
4anila ,&ere s!c& personal proper"0, es"a"e, or a-o!n" o. "&e de-and does no"
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 5
DECISION
x-------------------------------x
P'r#'ant to Bata# Pam"an#a Bl*( ./: a#
amen)e) "y Rep'"lic Act ?>:. ;An Act E-pan)in*
t%e @'ri#)iction o t%e Metropolitan Trial Co'rt#,
M'nicipal Trial Co'rt# an) M'nicipal Circ'it Trial
Co'rt#, amen)in* or t%e p'rpo#e BP Bl*( ./: )
8%ic% too6 eect on April .2, .::<, t%e a)9'#te)
9'ri#)ictional amo'nt o t%e ir#t le&el co'rt i# One
H'n)re) T%o'#an) ;P.00,000(00) Pe#o# an) t%e
#ame #%all "e a)9'#te) to T8o H'n)re) T%o'#an)
;P/00,000(00) Pe#o# ater i&e ;2) year# o it#
eecti&ity( ;Section 2, R(A( ?>:.)(
..
T%e trial co'rt erre) in #o r'lin*(
@'ri#)iction, once ac='ire), i# not lo#t 'pon t%e in#tance o
t%e partie# "'t contin'e# 'ntil t%e ca#e i# terminate)( Too!#ettle)
to re='ire 'rt%er el'ci)ation i# t%e r'le t%at$

It %a# "een r'le) t%at 8%ere a co'rt or tri"'nal %a#
alrea)y o"taine) an) i# e-erci#in* 9'ri#)iction o&er a
contro&er#y, it# 9'ri#)iction to %ear t%e ca#e 'ntil it# inal
)etermination i# not aecte) "y ne8 le*i#lation &e#tin*
#'c% 9'ri#)iction in anot%er tri"'nal, - - -(
./

Moreo&er, t%e totality o t%e claim# o plainti!appellant in it#
amen)e) complaint p't# t%e ca#e 8it%in t%e 9'ri#)iction o t%e
RTC( T%e alle*e) 'npai) o"li*ation o )een)ant#!appellee# i#
P.32,32<(>2 "'t a#i)e rom t%i#, plainti!appellant i# al#o prayin*
in it# amen)e) complaint li='i)ate) penalty o >G per mont% rom
Septem"er .::? an) /2G attorneyC# ee#, amon* ot%er#( T%e
totality o t%e claim# nece##arily e-cee)# P/00, 000(00( T%'#$

e'ceed %,o &!ndred "&o!sand pesos *3200,000.00+, e'cl!si#e o. in"eres", da-a$es
o. ,&a"e#er /ind ' ' '.
11 p. 26, Rollo
12 5lon"o #s. 3eople, 445 SCR5 624 620047
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 6
DECISION
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ALTERNATIHE CAUSE OF ACTION
in t%e e&ent t%at t%e c%attel 8%ic% i# t%e #'"9ect o t%e
mort*a*e cannot "e locate) or i it "e in#'icient to
#ati#y t%e claim o t%e plaintiI
") To or)er t%e )een)ant# to pay t%e plainti t%e #'m
o P.32,32<(>2 pl'# li='i)ate) penalty o >G per
mont% rom Septem"er, .::?I in eit%er ca#e to pay
attorneyC# ee e='i&alent to /2G o t%e total amo'nt
)'e an) in a))ition t%ereto, to pay t%e e-pen#e# o
collection an) repo##e##ion, co#t# o t%i# #'it an)
ot%er liti*ation e-pen#e#(
.1
A# %el) in Enerio &#( Alampay, >< SCRA .</ J.:?2K$
It i# 8ell #ettle) an) "eyon) ='e#tion t%at t%e
9'ri#)iction o a co'rt o&er a ca#e i# )etermine) "y t%e
alle*ation# o t%e complaint, an) #ince petitioner#C
complaint a##erte) a total )eman), e-cl'#i&e o
intere#t o o&er P.0,000(00 ;an) #o'*%t reco&ery o
)ama*e# o clo#e to P10,000(00) t%e ca#e clearly all#
8it%in t%e ori*inal 9'ri#)iction o re#pon)ent co'rt o
ir#t in#tance a# pro&i)e) "y #ection << o t%e
@')iciary Act, Rep'"lic Act /:> a# amen)e)(
T%e totality o t%e )eman) in #'it# or reco&ery
o #'m# o money "et8een t%e #ame partie#, i(e( t%e
total or a**re*ate amo'nt )eman)e) in t%e complaint
con#tit'te# t%e "a#i# o 9'ri#)iction an) or
)eterminin* t%e 9'ri#)ictional amo'nt in ci&il ca#e#(
Here petitioner#C total claim o P:?3(00 or act'al
)ama*e#, P.0,000(!moral )ama*e#, P.2,000(!
e-emplary )ama*e# an) P1,000(!attorneyC# ee#, etc(,
8a# clearly in e-ce## o P.0,000(00 an) t%ereore
properly ell 8it%in t%e 9'ri#)iction o re#pon)ent co'rt
o ir#t in#tance( Re#pon)ent co'rt co'l) not
ar"itrarily i#olate petitioner#C le##er claim or act'al
13 p. 49, Records
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 7
DECISION
x-------------------------------x
)ama*e# an) 8it%o't %earin* an) proo# r'le o't
petitioner#C ot%er claim# or moral an) e-emplary
)ama*e# a# 4"loate)5 an) #'mmarily )i#mi## motu
proprio t%e ca#e a# not allin* 8it%in it# 9'ri#)iction
contrary to t%e &ery alle*ation# on t%e ace o t%e
complaint(
.<
In Ratilla &#( Tap'car, ?2 SCRA >< J.:??K, it 8a# al#o %el)
t%at$

Fe %ol) t%at t%e )i#mi##al i# erroneo'#( From
Section 33 o t%e @')iciary La8, it i# clear t%at 8%ere
t%ere are #e&eral claim# "et8een t%e #ame partie#
em"o)ie) in t%e #ame complaint, t%e totality o t%e
claim# #'pplie# t%e 9'ri#)ictional te#t( T%e )ama*e#
are incl')e) in t%e amo'nt o t%e )eman) '#e) a# a
"a#i# or )eterminin* t%e co'rtC# 9'ri#)iction(
Since t%e total )eman) in RatillaC# complaint
e-cee)# P.0,000, t%e ca#e all# 8it%in t%e ori*inal,
e-cl'#i&e 9'ri#)iction o t%e Co'rt o Fir#t In#tance( ---
- - - - - - - - -
B't to pre9')*e t%e merit# o RatillaC# claim or
)ama*e#, "y )i#mi##in* %i# complaint, an) to re='ire
%im to reile t%e ca#e in t%e m'nicipal co'rt o Bi#li*
8o'l) not con)'ce to t%e e-pe)itio'# a)mini#tration
o 9'#tice( T%e pra*matic #ol'tion, 8%ic% i# #anctione)
"y t%e r'le t%at 9'ri#)iction i# )etermine) "y t%e
alle*ation# o t%e complaint an) not "y t%e amo'nt
'ltimately pro&en an) a8ar)e) "y t%e trial co'rt - - -,
i# to )irect t%e lo8er co'rt to try t%e ca#e on t%e merit#
i no amica"le #ettlement i# reac%e) "y t%e partie#(
14 Enerio #s. 5la-pa0, 64 SCR5 142 619757
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 8
DECISION
x-------------------------------x
It 8a# al#o erroneo'# or t%e trial co'rt to r'le t%at 4Section ?,
o RA ?>:.
.2
e-plicitly pro&i)e# t%at t%i# Act #%all apply to all ci&il
ca#e# t%at %a&e not yet reac%e) t%e pre!trial #ta*e5 an) t%at 4"y t%e
e-pre## pro&i#ion o t%e cite) #ection, t%e in#tant ca#e i# no
e-ception con#i)erin* t%at t%i# ca#e )i) not reac% t%e pre!trial
#ta*e an) t%ereore, t%i# co'rt 8a# )i&e#te) o it# 9'ri#)iction to
a)9')icate t%e matter no8 pen)in* "eore t%i# Co'rt(5 It #'ice# to
#tate t%at t%e pre#ent ca#e alrea)y pa##e) t%e pre!trial #ta*e, a#
)een)ant#!appellee# 8ere in act )eclare) a# in )ea'lt an)
plainti!appellant 8a# allo8e) to pre#ent e&i)ence ex-parte.
In #'m, t%e trial co'rt contra&ene) t%e la8 an) 9'ri#pr')ence
8%en it )i#mi##e) t%e #'"9ect amen)e) complaint on *ro'n) o
lac6 o 9'ri#)iction(
HEREFORE, t%e appeale) Re#ol'tion )ate) Septem"er
., /001 o t%e RTC i# #et a#i)e an) t%e ca#e reman)e) to #ai)
co'rt or 'rt%er procee)in*#(
SO ORDERED(
FERNANDA LAMPAS PERALTA
A##ociate @'#tice
E CONCUR$
EDGARDO P. CRUZ NORMANDIE B. PIZARRO
A##ociate @'#tice A##ociate @'#tice
15 SEC. 7. %&e pro#isions o. "&is 5c" s&all appl0 "o all ci#il cases "&a" &a#e no" 0e" reac&ed "&e pre-
"rial s"a$e. 8o,e#er, b0 a$ree-en" ci#il cases co$ni9able b0 -!nicipal and -e"ropoli"an co!r"s b0
"&e pro#isions o. "&is 5c" -a0 be "rans.erred .ro- "&e Re$ional %rial Co!r"s "o "&e la""er. %&e
e'ec!"i#e (!d$e o. "&e appropria"e Re$ional %rial Co!r" s&all de.ine "&e ad-inis"ra"i#e proced!re o.
"rans.errin$ "&e case a..ec"ed b0 "&e rede.ini"ion o. (!risdic"ion "o "&e 4e"ropoli"an %rial Co!r"s,
4!nicipal %rial Co!r"s and 4!nicipal Circ!i" %rial Co!r"s.
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 9
DECISION
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CERTIFICATION
P'r#'ant to Article HIII, Section .1 o t%e Con#tit'tion, it i#
%ere"y certiie) t%at t%e concl'#ion# in t%e a"o&e )eci#ion 8ere
reac%e) in con#'ltation "eore t%e ca#e 8a# a##i*ne) to t%e 8riter
o t%e opinion o t%e Co'rt(
EDGARDO P. CRUZ
A##ociate @'#tice
C%airman, Nint% +i&i#ion
CA-G.R. NO. CV-81285 10
DECISION
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