Maricel D.

Cueva

TIJAM VS SIBONGHANOY
G.R. NO. L-21450
APRIL 15, 1968
23 SCRA 29

Doctrine of Judicial Stability

Jurisdiction, according to the 1997 Revised

Rules of Court, is an essential part of a case
because it determines whether a court has
the authority to take cognizance of the case
filed before it.

In the case at bar, there is what we call a

Doctrine of Judicial Stability. This means
that once a court acquires jurisdiction it shall
dispense with it until the end.

Doctrine of Judicial
Stability

However, if the court is later on

discovered to be without jurisdiction, and
if the parties freely participated in the
deliberation, in the name of equity and
justice, an aggrieved party cannot use
the lack of jurisdiction to direct the court
of its power to hear the case.

Facts of the Case

Spouses Serafin and Felicitas Tijam

commenced a civil case against Spouses
Magdaleno and Lucia Sibonghanoy to
recover from them a sum of P1,908.00 but
the same was soon dissolved.

After trial, the court rendered judgment in

favor of the plaintiffs and after the same had
become final and executory, the court issued
a writ of execution against the defendants.