Republic of the Philippines

Supreme Court

Manila

THIRD DIVISION

BARANGAY SANGALANG, represented by its Chairman DANTE C. MARCELLANA,

Petitioner,

- versus

BARANGAY MAGUIHAN, represented by its Chairman ARNULFO VILLAREZ,

Respondent.

G.R. No. 159792

Present:

CORONA, J.,

Chairperson,

velasco, jr.,

nachura,

PERALTA, and

DEL CASTILLO,* JJ.

Promulgated:

December 23, 2009

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D E C I S I O N

PERALTA, J.:

Before this Court is a Petition for Review[1] on certiorari, under Rule 45 of the Rules of Court, seeking to set aside the October 17, 2002 Decision[2] and August 25, 2003 Resolution[3] of the Court of Appeals (CA) in CA-G.R. CV No. 70021.

The facts of the case:

The controversy has its roots in a barangay jurisdiction dispute between petitioner Barangay Sangalang and respondent Barangay Maguihan, both situated in Lemery, Batangas. Specifically, the properties involved in the controversy are those covered by Tax Declaration Nos. 038-00315, 038-00316, and 038-00317. Petitioner claims the lots to be within their territorial jurisdiction, whereas respondent maintains that they are within their territorial boundary.

The case was lodged before the Sangguniang Bayan, which referred it to a hearing committee. In turn, the committee formed rendered a report[4] to the effect that the properties in dispute belonged to petitioner. The recommendation was subsequently affirmed in Resolution No. 75-96[5] passed on November 14, 1996 by the Sangguniang Bayan of Lemery, Batangas, the pertinent portion of which reads:

Resolved, as it hereby resolves to recognize as it hereby recognizes the old boundaries of Barangay Maguihan and Sangalang, specifically the areas which are the subject of a barangay dispute covered by TD Nos. 038-00315, 038-00316 and 038-00317 are within the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Sangalang.[6]

Respondent appealed the decision to the Regional Trial Court (RTC) pursuant to Section 119[7] of the Local Government Code, and the same was docketed as Barangay Jurisdiction Dispute No. 1.

On April 27, 2000, the RTC rendered a Decision[8] ruling in favor of respondent, the dispositive portion of which states:

WHEREFORE, Resolution No. 75-96, Series of 1996 of the Sangguniang Bayan of Lemery, Batangas is hereby reversed and set aside and that Lot Nos. 4469 and 6650, covered by and embraced in Tax Declaration Nos. 038-00315, 038-00316, and 038-00317 of the Municipal Assessor of Lemery, Batangas, are hereby adjudged and declared as within the territorial jurisdiction of appellant Barangay Maguihan and, consequently, the Municipal Assessor of Lemery, Batangas and the Provincial Assessor of the Province of Batangas are hereby ordered to make the necessary corrections in its records implemental of this decision.

SO ORDERED.[9]

Petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration,[10] which was, however, denied by the RTC in an Order[11] dated December 20, 2000.

Aggrieved, petitioner then filed a Notice of Appeal.[12] Later, petitioner filed an Amended Notice of Appeal.

On October 17, 2002, the CA rendered a Decision[13] dismissing the appeal, the dispositive portion of which reads:

IN VIEW OF ALL THE FOREGOING, the present appeal is ordered DISMISSED. No cost.

SO ORDERED.[14]

In dismissing the appeal, the CA ruled that petitioner had availed itself of the wrong remedy in filing a notice of appeal instead of filing a petition for review under Rule 42 of the Rules of Court. The pertinent portions of said decision is hereunder reproduced, to wit:

Given the procedural mandates, the Decision of the Regional Trial Court of Lemery, Batangas, dated April 27, 2000, was rendered by the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction. Appropriately, under Section 22 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, decisions of the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction, shall be appealable to the Court of Appeals by way of petitions for review under Rule 42 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure.[15]

The CA also ruled that if said appeal were to be considered as an ordinary appeal under Rule 41, it still should be dismissed, because the submitted appellant’s brief failed to contain a subject index and page references to the records requirement in its Statement of Facts and Case and Argument, as provided for in Section 13 of Rule 44 of the 1997 Rules of Procedure.[16]

Petitioner filed a Motion for Reconsideration, which was, however, denied by the CA in a Resolution dated August 25, 2003.

Hence, herein petition, with petitioner raising the following assignment of errors, to wit:

THE COURT A QUO COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION IN DISMISSING THE APPEAL OF PETITIONER SOLELY BASED ON THE RIGID AND STRICT APPLICATION OF TECHNICALITIES OVERRIDING SUBSTANTIAL JUSTICE, THAT IS, THE MERIT OF THE PETITIONER’S APPEAL, IN UTTER VIOLATION OF EXISTING AND WELL SETTLED NUMEROUS DECISIONS OF THIS HONORABLE SUPREME COURT.

THE DECISION, ANNEX “I”, AND THE ORDER, ANNEX “K”, RENDERED BY THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURT OF BATANGAS, BRANCH V, LEMERY, BATANGAS, IN CIVIL CASE BOUNDARY JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTE NO. 01, REVERSING AND SETTING ASIDE THE APPEALED RESOLUTION NO. 75-96, SERIES OF 1996, OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF LEMERY, BATANGAS, ARE NULL AND VOID BECAUSE RESPONDENT MAGUIHAN HAS NOT PERFECTED ITS APPEAL AND BY REASON THEREOF, THE TRIAL COURT HAS NOT ACQUIRED APPELLATE JURISDICTION.

THE TRIAL COURT COMMITTED GRAVE ABUSE OF DISCRETION AMOUNTING TO LACK OF OR IN EXCESS OF JURISDICTION IN SUBSTITUTING ITS OWN JUDGMENT OVER AND ABOVE THE JUDGMENT OF THE SANGGUNIANG BAYAN OF LEMERY, BATANGAS, WHICH IS SUPPORTED BY SUBSTANTIAL EVIDENCE LIKEWISE IN DISREGARD OF THE EXISTING AND WELL SETTLED DECISIONS OF THIS HONORABLE SUPREME COURT.[17]

At the outset, this Court shall first address the procedural issues raised by petitioner.

This Court is bewildered by petitioner’s posture to tailor-fit the rules of court to its own convenience. The first and second assigned errors involve a question of the propriety of a strict application of the rules. It seems, however, that petitioner has taken a divergent stand on the said matter depending, on whether the same would be favorable to his cause. As to his first assigned error, petitioner faults the CA for having strictly applied the rules of court notwithstanding his choice of the wrong remedy; yet, on the other hand, as to his second assigned error, petitioner faults the RTC for not having strictly applied the rules of court to respondent’s alleged failure to pay the corresponding docket fees.

Anent the issue of docket fees, this Court, in Yambao v. Court of Appeals,[18] declared:

x x x Considering the importance and purpose of the remedy of appeal, an essential part of our judicial system, courts are well-advised to proceed with caution so as not to deprive a party of the right to appeal, but rather, ensure that every party-litigant has the “amplest opportunity for the proper and just disposition of his cause, freed from constraints of technicalities.” In line with this policy, we have held that, in appealed cases, the failure to pay the appellate docket fee does not automatically result in the dismissal of the appeal x x x

A reading of the records of the case shows that it was only in his Supplemental Motion for Reconsideration[19] to the RTC Decision that petitioner first raised the issue of non-payment of docket fees. Respondent, for his part, filed with the RTC an Opposition and Comment[20] explaining his failure to file the corresponding docket fees, thus:

1. That as regards the claim of appellee that the docket fee has not been paid by the appellant the same is correct. But the appellant who appealed the case by himself and being a layman was not aware that a docket fee should be paid in case perfection of an appeal and no one from the court’s personnel reminds (sic) him of this requirement. But in order not to sacrifice the ends of justice, the appellant is willing to pay the docket fee and other lawful charges necessary for the perfection of an appeal.[21]

The Order denying petitioner’s motion for reconsideration was silent as to the issue of the non-payment of docket fees; however, this Court deems that the RTC must have accepted the explanation given by respondent, otherwise, said court would have dismissed the appeal and reconsidered its decision. The failure to pay docket fees does not automatically result in the dismissal of an appeal, it being discretionary on the part of the appellate court to give it due course or not.[22] This Court will then not interfere with matters addressed to the sound discretion of the RTC in the absence of proof that the exercise of such discretion was tainted with bias or prejudice, or made without due circumspection of the attendant circumstances of the case.[23]

In any case, the more pressing issue is whether or not this Court should even entertain petitioner’s appeal.

By filing a Notice of Appeal assailing the RTC Decision, petitioner has availed itself of the remedy provided for under Rule 41 of the Rules of Court, which provides for the ordinary mode of appeal. The CA, however, considered petitioner’s choice to be the wrong remedy and, forthwith, dismissed the petition.

After an examination of relevant laws pertinent to herein petition, this Court finds that the CA was correct in holding that petitioner had availed itself of the wrong remedy.

As correctly observed by the CA, under Section 118 of the Local Government Code, the jurisdictional responsibility for settlement of boundary disputes between and among local government units is to be lodged before the proper Sangguniang Panlungsod or Sangguniang Bayan concerned, if it involves two or more barangays in the same city or municipality. Under Section 118(e) of the same Code, if there is a failure of amicable settlement, the dispute shall be formally tried by the sanggunian concerned and shall decide the same within (60) days from the date of the certification referred to.[24]

Section 119 of the Local Government Code also provides that the decision of the sanggunian concerned may be appealed to the RTC having jurisdiction over the area in dispute, within the time and manner prescribed by the Rules of Court.

In the case at bar, it is clear that when the case was appealed to the RTC, the latter took cognizance of the case in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction, not its original jurisdiction. Hence, any further appeal from the RTC Decision must conform to the provisions of the Rules of Court dealing with said matter. On this score, Section 2, Rule 41 of the Rules of Court provides:

Sec. 2. Modes of appeal.

(a) Ordinary appeal. – The appeal to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of its original jurisdiction shall be taken by filing a notice of appeal with the court which rendered the judgment or final order appealed from and serving a copy thereof upon the adverse party. No record on appeal shall be required except in special proceedings and other cases of multiple or separate appeals where the law or these Rules so require. In such cases, the record on appeal shall be filed and served in like manner.

(b) Petition for review. - The appeal to the Court of Appeals in cases decided by the Regional Trial Court in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction shall be by petition for review in accordance with Rule 42.[25]

Based on the foregoing, it is apparent that petitioner has availed itself of the wrong remedy. Since the RTC tried the case in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction, petitioner should have filed a petition for review under Rule 42 of the Rules of Court, instead of an ordinary appeal under Rule 41. The law is clear in this respect.

In any case, as in the past, this Court has recognized the emerging trend towards a liberal construction of the Rules of Court. In Ong Lim Sing, Jr. v. FEB Leasing and Finance Corporation,[26] this Court stated:

Courts have the prerogative to relax procedural rules of even the most mandatory character, mindful of the duty to reconcile both the need to speedily put an end to litigation and the parties' right to due process. In numerous cases, this Court has allowed liberal construction of the rules when to do so would serve the demands of substantial justice and equity. In Aguam v. Court of Appeals, the Court explained:

The court has the discretion to dismiss or not to dismiss an appellant's appeal. It is a power conferred on the court, not a duty. The "discretion must be a sound one, to be exercised in accordance with the tenets of justice and fair play, having in mind the circumstances obtaining in each case." Technicalities, however, must be avoided. The law abhors technicalities that impede the cause of justice. The court's primary duty is to render or dispense justice. "A litigation is not a game of technicalities." "Lawsuits, unlike duels, are not to be won by a rapier's thrust. Technicality, when it deserts its proper office as an aid to justice and becomes its great hindrance and chief enemy, deserves scant consideration from courts." Litigations must be decided on their merits and not on technicality. Every party-litigant must be afforded the amplest opportunity for the proper and just determination of his cause, free from the unacceptable plea of technicalities. Thus, dismissal of appeals purely on technical grounds is frowned upon where the policy of the court is to encourage hearings of appeals on their merits and the rules of procedure ought not to be applied in a very rigid, technical sense; rules of procedure are used only to help secure, not override substantial justice. It is a far better and more prudent course of action for the court to excuse a technical lapse and afford the parties a review of the case on appeal to attain the ends of justice rather than dispose of the case on technicality and cause a grave injustice to the parties, giving a false impression of speedy disposal of cases while actually resulting in more delay, if not a miscarriage of justice.[27]

Thus, notwithstanding petitioner’s wrong mode of appeal, the CA should not have so easily dismissed the petition, considering that the parties involved are local government units and that what is involved is the determination of their respective territorial jurisdictions. In the same vein, the CA’s strict reliance on the requirements under Section 13 of Rule 44 of the 1997 Rules of Procedure relating to subject index and page references in an appellant’s brief is, to stress, putting a premium on technicalities. While the purpose of Section 13, Rule 44, is to present to the appellate court in the most helpful light, the factual and legal antecedents of a case on appeal,[28] said rule should not be strictly applied considering that petitioner’s brief before the CA contained only 9 pages, the records of the case consisted only of a few documents and pleadings, and there was no testimonial evidence.

Moving on to the substantive merits of the case, what it basically involves is adjudication as to which barangay the lots in dispute belong. Ideally, herein petition should be remanded to the CA, as the same inherently involves a question of fact. However, since this case has been pending for almost 13 years now, this Court deems it best to once and for all settle the controversy.

Petitioner presents the following documents to prove its claim:

1. Copy of a certification from the Office of the Provincial Assessor stating that the area covered by Tax Declaration Nos. 038-00315, 038-00316 and 038-00317 are all within the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Sangalang, Lemery, Batangas;[29]

2. Copies of Tax Declaration Nos. 038-00315, 038-00316 and 038-00317;[30] and

3. Old Map of Barangay Sangalang.[31]

Respondent, for its part, presents the following documents:

1. Certified copy of the cadastral map of the Lemery Cadastre, which was approved on March 17, 1983 by the Director of Lands, Department of Environment and Natural Resources;[32] and

2. Certification of the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office, Department of Environment and Natural Resources dated September 9, 1997.[33]

Article 17, Rule III of the Rules and Regulations Implementing the Local Government Code of 1991, outlines the procedures governing boundary disputes, including the documents that should be attached to the petition, to wit:

Art. 17. Procedures for Settling Boundary Disputes. – The following procedures shall govern the settlement of boundary disputes:

x x x x

1. Duly authenticated copy of the law or statute creating the LGU or any other document showing proof of creation of the LGU;

2. Provincial, city, municipal, or barangay map, as the case may be, duly certified by the LMB.

3. Technical description of the boundaries of the LGUs concerned;

4. Written certification of the provincial, city, or municipal assessor, as the case may be, as to territorial jurisdiction over the disputed area according to records in custody;

5. Written declarations or sworn statements of the people residing in the disputed area; and

6. Such other documents or information as may be required by the sanggunian hearing the dispute.

The RTC observed that neither of the parties satisfied the requirement that all the enumerated documents must be attached to the petition. Hence, like the RTC, this Court is left with no other option but to select which between the documents presented by the parties carries greater weight in proving its claim. The documents presented by petitioner were sourced from the tax assessor’s office, whereas the documents presented by respondent were sourced from the land management bureau. The answer is very apparent and needs little discussion.

To this Court’s mind, the presence of the cadastral map, which was approved by the Director of Lands, should be given more weight than the documents sourced by petitioner from the assessor’s office. Said map was approved on March 17, 1986, which was approximately 10 years before the controversy in hand developed. Hence, the same should be controlling in the absence of proof that such document is invalid or inaccurate. As a matter of fact, notwithstanding the hearing committee’s recommendation to rule in favor of petitioner, the committee itself stated in its report that the cadastral map submitted by respondent was authentic.[34]

Moreover, in ruling against petitioner, the RTC also gave greater weight to the documents submitted by respondent, thus:

x x x This Court is mindful of the fact and takes judicial notice that the Land Management Bureau is manned by geodetic engineers with sufficient expertise and is the cognizant agency of government charged with the responsibility of matters respecting surveys of land. This Court likewise takes into consideration that the duty of the provincial and municipal assessors are primarily assessments of taxes.[35]

This Court shares the view of the RTC. It is undisputed that the Land Management Bureau is the principal government agency tasked with the survey of lands, and thus, more weight should be given to the documents relating to its official tasks which are presumed to be done in the ordinary course of business. Between a geodetic engineer and a tax assessor, the conclusion is inevitable that it is the former’s certification as to the location of properties in dispute that is controlling, absent any finding of abuse of discretion. As correctly observed by respondent and the RTC, the duty of provincial and municipal assessors is primarily the assessment of taxes and not the survey of lands.

Lastly, petitioner alludes to a petition/resolution allegedly of persons residing in the properties in dispute to the effect they are under the jurisdiction of petitioner. On this note, this Court agrees with the observation of the RTC that the determination as to whether the properties in dispute are within a certain jurisdiction is not a decision to be made by the populace, to wit:

x x x In simple language, the population follows the territory and not vice versa. It is the determination of the ambit and sphere of the land area as culled in the approved barangay map that determines the jurisdiction of the barangay and not the decision of the populace. To allow the latter will open endless litigation concerning disputes of jurisdiction.[36]

In sum, this Court does not belittle the documents presented by petitioner or the duties of the provincial and municipal assessors; however, since the documents presented by respondent are sourced from the very agency primarily tasked with the survey of lands, more credence must be given to the same in the absence of proof that would cast doubt on the contents thereof.

WHEREFORE, premises considered, the petition is PARTLY GRANTED. The October 17, 2002 Decision and August 25, 2003 Resolution of the Court of Appeals in CA-G.R. CV No. 70021 are hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. The April 27, 2000 Decision and December 20, 2000 Order of the Regional Trial Court, Lemery, Batangas, in Barangay Jurisdiction Dispute No. 1, are hereby AFFIRMED.

SO ORDERED.

DIOSDADO M. PERALTA

Associate Justice

WE CONCUR:

RENATO C. CORONA

Associate Justice

Chairperson

PRESBITERO J. VELASCO, JR. ANTONIO EDUARDO B. NACHURA

Associate Justice Associate Justice

MARIANO C. DEL CASTILLO

Associate Justice

ATTESTATION

I attest that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

RENATO C. CORONA

Associate Justice

Third Division, Chairperson

CERTIFICATION

Pursuant to Section 13, Article VIII of the Constitution and the Division Chairperson’s Attestation, I certify that the conclusions in the above Decision had been reached in consultation before the case was assigned to the writer of the opinion of the Court’s Division.

REYNATO S. PUNO

Chief Justice

* Additional member per Special Order No. 805 dated December 4, 2009.

[1] Rollo, pp. 8-34.

[2] Penned by Associate Justice Conrado M. Vasquez, Jr., with Associate Justices Remedios A. Salazar-Fernando and Regalado E. Maambong, concurring, id. at 36-41.

[4] Rollo, pp. 46-47.

[7] SEC. 119. Appeal. - Within the time and manner prescribed by the Rules of Court, any party may elevate the decision of the sanggunian concerned to the proper Regional Trial Court having jurisdiction over the area in dispute. The Regional Trial Court shall decide the appeal within one (1) year from the filing thereof. Pending final resolution of the disputed area prior to the dispute shall be maintained and continued for all legal purposes.

[8] Rollo, pp. 58-60.

[18] Yambao v. Court of Appeals, 399 Phil. 712, 718-719 (2000).

[20] Records, Vol. 1, pp. 5-6.

[23] See Spouses Buenaflor v. Court of Appeals, 400 Phil. 395 (2000).

[25] Emphasis and underscoring supplied.

[26] G.R. No. 168115, June 8, 2007, 524 SCRA 333.

[27] Ong Lim Sing Jr. v. FEB Leasing and Finance Corporation, supra, at 343-344.

[28] De Liano v. Court of Appeals, G.R. No. 142316, November 22, 2001, 370 SCRA 349, 361.

[33] Id. at 41.

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

I hereby certify that the true location of Lot No. 6649 and Lot No. 6650 is in the territorial jurisdiction of Barangay Maguihan, Lemery Batangas based on Cadastral Map. No. 4 with a latitude of 13-52-45 and longitude of 120-54-30 duly approved by the Regional Director of Land on March 17, 1986.

(Sgd.) Edelberto T. Cadiz

DENR Geodetic Engineer I

[34] Rollo, p. 46. “x x x Sa pagdalo niya ay daladala ang isang mapa na galing daw sa CENRO/LMB na sinabi niyang opisyal daw at authenticated. Ang komite ay walang question sa authenticity ng mapa, x x x.