JURISPRUDENCE ON RTC JURISDICTION INVOLVING PROPERTY

1. G.R. No. 201821, September 19, 2018, PABLO B. MALABANAN v. REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

The RTC may properly take cognizance of reversion suits which do not call for an annulment of
judgment of the RTC acting as a Land Registration Court. Actions for cancellation of title and
reversion, like the present case, belong to the class of cases that "involve the title to, or
possession of, real property, or any interest therein" and where the assessed value of the
property exceeds P20,000.00, fall under the jurisdiction of the RTC. Consequently, no grave
abuse of discretion excess of jurisdiction can be attributed to the RTC in denying RCAM's
motion to dismiss.25

2. G.R. No. 202448, December 13, 2017, JOSEPH O. REGALADO v. EMMA DE LA RAMA VDA. DE
LA PENA,1 JESUSA2 DE LA PENA, JOHNNY DE LA PENA, JOHANNA DE LA PENA, JOSE DE LA PENA,
JESSICA DE LA PENA, AND JAIME ANTONIO DE LA PENA
On the other hand, the RTC has exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions involving title to
or possession of real property, or any interest therein in case the assessed value of the property
exceeds P20,000.00 (or P50,000.00 in Metro Manila).21

3. G.R. No. 212413, June 06, 2018, MA. ROSARIO AGARRADO, RUTH LIBRADA AGARRADO AND
ROY AGARRADO, FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THEIR SIBLINGS AND CO-
OWNERS ROBERTO AGARRADO, REUEL ANDRES AGARRADO, HEIRS OF THE LATE RODRIGO
AGARRADO, JR., REX AGARRADO AND JUDY AGARRADO, Petitioners, v. CRISTITA LIBRANDO-
AGARRADO AND ANA LOU AGARRADO-KING, Respondents.

The case of Russel, the very same case cited by the Court of Appeals, determined
that while actions for partition are incapable of pecuniary estimation owing to its
two-phased subject matter, the determination of the court which will acquire
jurisdiction over the same must still conform to Sec. 33(3) of B.P. 129, as
amended. Russel said:

While actions under Sec. 33(3) of B.P. 129 are also incapable of pecuniary
estimation, the law specifically mandates that they are cognizable by the MTC,
METC, or MCTC where the assessed value of the real property involved does
exceed P20,000.00 in Metro Manila, or P50,000.00, if located elsewhere. If the
value exceeds P20,000.00 or P50,000.00 as the case may be, it is the Regional
Trial Courts which have jurisdiction under Sec. 19(2). (Emphasis and underscoring
supplied)