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EN BANC

G.R. No. L-20288 June 22, 1965

JOSE CASARIA AND MILAGROS MESTIDIO Petitioners, vs. RICARDO ROSALES, MERCEDES GLORIA, Spouses and RAMON BLANCO, in his capacity as Associate Judge of the Court of Agrarian Relations, 8th Regional District, Respondents.

Nacianceno G. Rico for petitioners.
Mario P. Buenavenida for respondents Ricardo Rosales, et al.

BENGZON, J.P., J.:chanrobles virtual law library

A petition for liquidation of harvests and for ejectment, with prayer for an interlocutory order to deposit the palay from said harvests, was filed on September 15, 1960 in the Court of Agrarian Relations, 8th Regional District, Iloilo City, by Ricardo Rosales and Mercedes Gloria against Jose Casaria, Pablo Mercado and Elias Gimeno.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

On September 19, 1960 the court issued an interlocutory order as prayed for. On October 14, 1960 Jose Casaria filed his answer, stating that while he worked and cultivated portions of the land in question, the Agrarian Court has no jurisdiction because no tenancy relation between him and Ricardo Rosales exists, stating further that the land he cultivated belongs to Milagros Mestidio.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

An answer in intervention, admitted by the court upon motion therefor, was filed on February 8, 1961 by Milagros Mestidio, alleging that intervenor owns the land cultivated by Jose Casaria and praying that the Agrarian Court dismiss the case for lack of jurisdiction.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Ricardo Rosales, on August 8, 1961, filed his opposition, attacking thereto affidavits supporting his ownership of the land.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

By order of the court dated November 21, 1961, the Acting Clerk of the Court made an ocular inspection of the land involved on December 1, 1961.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Specifically, the description of the land in question, per ocular report of the Acting Clerk of Court, is:

North - Grogonio Gicole and Guinutos Creekchanrobles virtual law library

East - Guinobatan Creekchanrobles virtual law library

South - Juan Gicole and Ramon Gabasachanrobles virtual law library

West - Quinarbayan Creek, Panay River and Guinutos Creek

Ricardo Rosales' tax declaration No. 7434 gives the same description:

North - Antonio Beldia vs. Gorgonio Gicole and Guinutos Creekchanrobles virtual law library

East - Guinobatan Creekchanrobles virtual law library

South - Juan Gicole and Ramon Gabasachanrobles virtual law library

West - Quinarbayan Creek, Panay River and Guinutos Creek

Intervenor Milagros Mestidio presented a deed of sale relating to land with differential boundaries:chanrobles virtual law library

After trial, the Agrarian Court rendered its decision on April 7, 1962, declaring Ricardo Rosales and Mercedes Glorias as the landowners, ordering Jose Casaria to deal with them, dismissing the intervention of Milagros Mestidio, and ordering delivery of 25% of the amount of the palay deposited as the share of Ricardo Rosales. Jose Casaria and Milagros Mestidio filed a motion for reconsideration which was denied on August 13, 1962. They have, therefore, appealed to this Court. On May 17, 1964, however, after the appeal was submitted for decision, Jose Casaria filed a manifestation withdrawing his appeal. Appellant's counsel opposed said manifestation, praying that the case be decided on the merits.chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

It is appellants' contention that Agrarian Court has no jurisdiction over the case since, allegedly, ownership of the land is in issue. We have in may a case stated that whether the court has jurisdiction or not is determined by the allegations in the complaint or petition (Suanes vs. Almeda Lopez, 73 Phil. 573; Campos Rueda Corp. vs. Bautista, L-18453, September 29, 1963; Abo vs. Philame [KG] Employees and Workers Union, L-19912, January 30, 1955; Tuvera vs. De Guzman, L-20547, April 30, 1965).chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

The petition filed in this case before the Agrarian Court sets forth allegations for liquidation of harvests and ejectment of a tenant by the landholder, without putting ownership of the land in issue. It is the Agrarian Court, therefore, that has jurisdiction thereover. All cases involving the dispossession of a tenant, fall under the original and exclusive jurisdiction of the Court of Agrarian Relations (Sec. 21, RA 1199; Sec. 7, RA 1267).chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Since the Agrarian Court acquired jurisdiction, the same subsists even if in the answer the alleged landlord-tenant relationship is denied and ownership of the land is adversely interposed (Mandih vs. Tablantin, L-12795, March 30, 1960; Tuvera vs. De Guzman, supra).chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Furthermore, the record shows that the court a quo acted within its limited jurisdiction and did not adjudicate on the question of ownership for the purpose of determining who, as between the parties, is the landholder to whom the landholder's share in the produce should be delivered by the tenants (Tomacruz vs. Court of Agrarian Relations, L-16542, May 31, 1961).chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

Since the court a quo's finding, that Ricardo Rosales and Mercedes Gloria are in fact the landholders of the 34-hectare land in question, is supported by substantial evidence, this Court will not disturb it on appeal (Ulpiendo vs. CAR, L-13891, October 31, 1960; Tomacruz vs. CAR, supra; Toledo vs. CAR, L-16054, July 31, 1963; Sec. 3, Rule 43, Rules of Court).chanroblesvirtualawlibrarychanrobles virtual law library

WHEREFORE, the decision appealed from is hereby affirmed with costs against appellants. It is so ordered.

Bengzon, C.J., Bautista Angelo, Concepcion, Reyes, J.B.L., Paredes, Dizon, Regala, Makalintal and Zaldivar, JJ., concur.
Barrera, J., is on leave.