FIRST DIVISION

[ G.R. No. 234655, September 11, 2019 ]

JESSICA LIO MARTINEZ, PETITIONER, VS. HEIRS OF REMBERTO F. LIM, NAMELY: FABIANA
TIMBANCAYA LIM, CHINITA LIM PE, MINYANI LIM BAYLOSIS, GENARO T. LIM, EMELINE LIM
ANGELES AND BELINDA LIM VILLEGAS, REPRESENTED BY THEIR ATTORNEY-IN-FACT, JIM
GERALD LIM PE, RESPONDENTS.

DECISION
BERSAMIN, C.J.:
The resolution of a boundary dispute - by reason of the issue therein being whether or not the
contested portion pertained to one or the other of the parties - is not within the province of the
summary action of forcible entry under Rule 70 of the Rules of Court. It can be taken proper
cognizance of in the context of accion reivindicatoria.
The Case
The petitioner hereby appeals the decision promulgated on March 20, 2017,[1] whereby the
Court of Appeals (CA) affirmed the judgment rendered on April 29, 2015 by the Regional Trial
Court (RTC), Branch 51, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan ordering her and all other persons
acting for and in her behalf to vacate the part of the premises covered by Tax Declaration No.
006-0515-A of the Assessor's Office of Coron, Palawan originally issued in the name of the heirs
of Socorro Lim, and to turn over its peaceful possession to the respondents.[2]
Antecedents
The factual and procedural antecedents of the case as summarized by the CA are as follows:
This case emanated from an action for Forcible Entry with Prayer for Issuance of Writ of
Preliminary Injunction filed by herein respondents heirs of Remberto Lim against petitioner
Jessica Lio Martinez.
Respondents are the heirs of Remberto Lim who, during his lifetime, owned, possessed, and
cultivated a parcel of land located in Sitio Banga, Barangay VI, Coron, Palawan, designated as
Assessor's Lot 065 and covered by Tax Declaration No. 006-0515-A.
Adjoining Remberto's land is the land of his brother - Jose Lim - registered under OCT No. E-
9487 with an area of Twenty Eight Thousand and Six square meters (28,006 sqm.). It is worthy
to note that per the technical description in said title, the property is bounded on both the east
and west by the properties of the Heirs of Socorro Lim, which were later on acquired by the late
Remberto Lim.
As it happened, Jose sold his land covered by OCT No. E-9487 to a certain Dorothy and
Alexander Medalla who, thereafter, subdivided the same into two (2) smaller lots, designated
as Lots 1 and 2. Lot 2 was further subdivided into nine (9) smaller lots, this time designated as
Lots 2-A to 2-I, inclusive. Lots 2-D, 2-E and 2-F were thereafter sold to herein petitioner
Martinez, pursuant to three (3) separate Deeds of Absolute Sale, and by virtue thereof,
petitioner Martinez was issued TCT Nos. 065-2010000259, 065-2010000260, and 065-
2010000261 in her favor.
On 10 August 2010, petitioner Martinez and her father entered into the property and uprooted
some of the acacia mangium trees that were previously planted thereon by the late Remberto
Lim and his son, Alan Lim. To further delineate their claimed property, petitioner fenced the
same and placed signs thereon that read "NO TRESPASSING" and "NOTICE THIS PROPERTY IS
OWNED BY THE MARTINEZ FAMILY."
Now then, claiming that petitioner had unlawfully encroached into a portion of their property,
respondents, through counsel, sent a demand letter to petitioner demanding that she
immediately remove the fence that she built on respondents' land as well as to turn over
peaceful possession of that portion of property that petitioner intruded into. Unfortunately, the
demand was ignored by petitioner, and respondents were constrained to file the instant
complaint for Forcible Entry with Prayer for Issuance of Writ of Preliminary Injunction against
petitioner before the Municipal Circuit Trial Court of Coron-Busuanga (MCTC)."
In its Decision dated 12 August 2014, the MCTC ordered petitioner, among others, to vacate
and turn over peaceful possession of the disputed portion of property. In its ruling, the MCTC
examined petitioner's title as well as those of her predecessors' and concluded that when the
Medalla spouses subdivided Lot 2 into nine (9) smaller lots, they erroneously included a portion
of Socorro Lim's property. Specifically, the MCTC noticed that in Jose Lim's title and the
resultant titles issued to the Medalla spouses, their property was bounded on the east by
Socorro Lim's property. However, in the titles for Lots 2-A to 2-I, inclusive, the properties
became bounded on the east by Mabentangan Road, which was supposedly the eastern
boundary of Socorro Lim's property. As such, despite petitioner's titles over the property, the
MCTC awarded possession de facto to respondents and, consequently, ordered petitioner to
immediately vacate and turn over peaceful possession of the disputed portion to the
respondents.
On appeal by petitioner, the Regional Trial Court, Branch 51, Palawan and Puerto Princesa City
(RTC) affirmed in toto the disposition of the MCTC. Petitioner then filed a Motion for
Reconsideration thereof, but to no avail.[3]
The petitioner timely filed an appeal.
Decision of the CA
In the now assailed decision,[4] the CA opined that in ejectment cases, the better right of
possession was primarily associated with the party who could prove prior physical possession of
the property in dispute; that the respondents had the better right of possession over the
disputed portion on account of priority in time considering the following documents submitted
as evidence by the respondents, namely: (1) tax declarations in the name of Remberto Lim,
from whom the respondents had inherited the portion in dispute; (2) a Tree Plantation Record
Form; and (3) the memorandum dated June 4, 1999 issued by the City Environment and Natural
Resources Office (CENRO) of Coron, Palawan certifying that acacia mangium trees and
mahogany species were planted by Remberto's son, Allan Lim, on the land covered by Tax
Declaration No. 006-0515-A issued in the name of Remberto Lim; and that it was evident that
neither Jose Lim nor the Medallas (Dorothy and Alexander), from whom the petitioner had
derived her title, had dominion over the disputed portion, thus warranting the logical
conclusion that said portion had been erroneously included in the titles issued to the Medallas.
The fallo of the decision of the CA reads:
WHEREFORE, foregoing considered, the Petition for Review is DENIED. The Decision dated 29
April 2015 of the Regional Trial Court, Branch 51, Palawan and Puerto Princesa City
is SUSTAINED.
SO ORDERED.[5]
The petitioner moved for reconsideration but her motion to that effect was denied on October
5, 2017.[6]
Hence, this appeal.
Issues
The petitioner poses the following issues,[7] namely:
I.
THE COURT A QUO ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE TRIAL COURT'S PARTICULAR FINDING THAT
RESPONDENTS SUPPOSEDLY HAVE A BETTER AND/OR SUPERIOR RIGHT OF POSSESSION OVER
THE CONTESTED PROPERTIES, NOTWITHSTANDING THAT THE PETITIONER'S CLAIM OF
OWNERSHIP OVER THE SUBJECT PROPERTIES IS SUPPORTED BY A TORRENS TITLE TO HER
NAME;
II.
THE COURT A QUO ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE TRIAL COURT'S PARTICULAR FINDING THAT
PETITIONER'S CERTIFICATES OF TITLE [SUPPOSEDLY] ENCROACHED ON THE RESPONDENTS'
PUTATIVE PROPERTY;
III.
THE COURT A QUO ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE TRIAL COURT'S FINDING THAT RESPONDENTS
ARE THE HEIRS OF THE DECEASED REMBERTO F. LIM, AND THAT THE PROPERTY BEING CLAIMED
BY THEM BELONGS TO THE ESTATE OF THE SAID DECEASED;
IV.
THE COURT A QUO ERRED IN UPHOLDING THE VALIDITY OF THE COMPLAINT,
NOTWITHSTANDING THE FAILURE OF ALL THE HEREIN RESPONDENTS, AS PLAINTIFFS IN THE
FORCIBLE ENTRY CASE, TO SIGN THE REQUISITE CERTIFICATE OF NON-FORUM SHOPPING
ATTACHED TO THE COMPLAINT; and
V.
THE COURT A QUO ERRED IN NOT FINDING THE RESPONDENTS GUIILTY OF FORUM-SHOPPING,
AND IN FAILING TO ORDER THE DISMISSAL OF THE COMPLAINT ON THIS ADDITIONAL GROUND.
In the resolution promulgated on February 21, 2018,[8] the Court denied the petition for review
on certiorari for its failure to sufficiently show that the CA had committed any reversible error
in promulgating the assailed decision and resolution as to warrant the exercise of the Court's
discretionary appellate jurisdiction.
Undaunted, the petitioner filed a motion for reconsideration arguing that the CA had grossly
erred in refusing to acknowledge and recognize her Torrens titles as proof of her superior right
to the possession of the disputed portion; and that the decision of the CA, like the previous
decisions of the lower courts, constituted a quintessential collateral attack on her various
certificates of title.
In a resolution promulgated on July 30, 2018,[9] the Court granted the petitioner's motion for
reconsideration; reinstated the appeal; and required the respondents to comment on the
petition for review on certiorari.
The respondents submit in their comment that the land covered by TD No. 006-0515-A had
been included in the titles issued to the petitioner who was consequently illegally and
unlawfully occupying the same; that they were still the lawful owners of the land illegally and
unlawfully included in the titles of the petitioner; that they had the better and superior rights of
possession over the land covered by TD No. 006-0515-A; and that they substantially complied
with the rules on certification on non-forum shopping.
Ruling of the Court
We find merit in the appeal.
Preliminarily, this Court discusses and distinguishes the three types of possessory actions
sanctioned in this jurisdiction, namely; accion interdictal, accion publiciana and accion
reivindicatoria.
Accion interdictal is a summary action that seeks the recovery of physical possession where the
dispossession has not lasted for more than one year, and is to be exclusively brought in the
proper inferior court.[10] The issue involved is material possession or possession de facto.
[11] The action is either forcible entry (detentacion) or unlawful detainer (deshhucio). In
forcible entry, the plaintiff is deprived of physical possession of real property by means of force,
intimidation, strategy, threats, or stealth, but in unlawful detainer, the defendant illegally
withholds possession of real property after the expiration or termination of his right to hold
possession under any contract, express or implied. The two are distinguished from each other
in that in forcible entry, the possession of the defendant is illegal from the beginning, and that
the issue is which a party has prior de facto possession, while in unlawful detainer, the
possession of the defendant is originally legal but becomes illegal because of the expiration or
termination of the right to possess.[12] Both actions must be brought within one year from the
date of actual entry on the land by the defendant in case of forcible entry, and within one year
from the date of last demand in case of unlawful detainer.[13]
The jurisdiction over these two summary actions lies in the proper Municipal Trial Court of the
municipality or city within whose territory the property in dispute is located. Section 33 (2) of
B.P. Blg. 129,[14] as amended by Republic Act No. 7691, provides:
Section 33. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts in Civil Cases. — Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:
xxx xxx xxx
2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer: Provided,
That when, in such cases, the defendant raises the question of ownership in his pleadings and
the question of possession cannot be resolved without deciding the issue of ownership, the
issue of ownership shall be resolved only to determine the issue of possession.
Accion publiciana is the second possessory action. It is a plenary action to recover the right of
possession,[15] and the issue is which party has the better right of possession (possession de
jure).[16] It can be filed when the dispossession lasted for more than one year.[17] It is also
used to refer to an ejectment suit where the cause of dispossession is not among the grounds
for forcible entry and unlawful detainer, or when possession has been lost for more than one
year and the action can no longer be maintained under Rule 70 of the Rules of Court. The
objective of the plaintiff in accion publiciana is to recover possession only, not ownership.[18]
The last possessory action is accion reivindicatoria or accion de reivindicacion. It is an action
whereby the plaintiff alleges ownership of the parcel of land and seeks recovery of its full
possession.[19] The issue involved in and determined through accion reivindicatoria is the
recovery of ownership of real property.[20] This action can be filed when the dispossession
lasted for more than one year.[21]
For purposes of determining the court that has exclusive original jurisdiction over accion
publiciana and accion reivindicatoria, Section 33 (3) of B.P. Blg. 129,[22] as amended, expressly
states:
Sec. 33. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit
Trial Courts in Civil Cases. - Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:
xxx xxx xxx
(3) Exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real
property, or any interest therein where the assessed value of the property or interest therein
does not exceed Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or, in civil actions in Metro Manila,
where such assessed value does not exceed Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) exclusive of
interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses and costs: Provided,
That in cases of land not declared for taxation purposes, the value of such property shall be
determined by the assessed value of the adjacent lots.
The determinant is the assessed value of the property subject of the dispute, not the market or
actual value thereof. The assessed value of real property is the fair market value of the real
property multiplied by the assessment level. It is synonymous to taxable value. In contrast, the
fair market value is the price at which property may be sold by a seller, who is not compelled to
sell, and may be bought by a buyer, who is not compelled to buy.[23]
The jurisdiction of the court over the subject matter is determined by the allegations of the
complaint irrespective of whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to recover upon all or only
some of the claims asserted therein. As a necessary consequence, the jurisdiction of the court
cannot be made to depend upon the defenses set up in the answer or upon the motion to
dismiss, for, otherwise, the matter of jurisdiction will become almost entirely dependent upon
the defendant. If the nature of the action pleaded as appearing from the allegations in the
complaint determines the jurisdiction of the court, the averments of the complaint and the
character of the relief sought are to be ascertained.[24] Verily, the body of the complaint, not
its title, fixes the nature of an action.[25]
The complaint for forcible entry filed by the respondents contained the following pertinent
allegations, to wit:
3. That during the lifetime of the deceased Remberto Lim he was the owner, claimant, actual,
open, adverse and public possessor, occupant and cultivator, in the concept of an owner and
against the whole world, of a parcel of land containing an area of Eight Thousand Two Hundred
Twenty Seven (8,227) sq. meters more or less situated at Sitio Banga, Brgy. VI Coron, Palawan
known and designated as Assessors Lot 065 covered by Tax Declaration No. 006-0515-A and
more particularly described as follows, to wit;
"A parcel of land situated at Sitio Banga, Barangay VI, Coron, Palawan, known and designated as
Assessors Lot No. 065 and containing and area of 8,227 sq. meters more or less. Bounded on
the North by Ass. Lot 037; on the East by Ass. Lot No. 002, Sec. 07; on the South, by Ass. Lot No.
066 and on the West; by Ass. Lot No. 064"
and declared for taxation purposes in the name of Remberto F. Lim as shown by a copy of Tax
Declaration No. 006-0515-A hereto attache as Annex "B". As shown in the tax declaration, the
land has an assessed value of P160,530.00;
4. That the above described parcel of land is a portion of that bigger parcel of land covered by
Tax Declaration No. 006-0329-A copy is hereto attached as Annex "C" while the land covered by
Tax Declaration No. 006-0329 is a portion of that bigger parcel of land covered by Tax
Declaration No. 006-0100-A copy is hereto attached as Annex "D". All the abovementioned Tax
Declarations are declared in the name of Remberto F. Lim.
5. That the land covered by Tax Declaration No. 006-0100-A, where the land covered by Tax
Dclaration No. 006-0515-A and Tax Declaration No. 006-0329-A originated, was previously
owned, actually possessed, occupied and cultivated by [Socorro] Lim, deceased mother of
deceased Remberto F. Lm.
6. That as indicated on Tax Declaration No. 006-0100-A, a portion of the land described thereon
is declared in the name of Jose Lim, brother of Remberto Lim, under TD 004-0104.
7. That Jose Lim was [a]ble to secure a title in his name over a portion of the land covered by
Tax Declaration No. 006-0100-A under OCT No. E-9487 copy of the title is hereto attached as
Annex "E". As indicated in the Title[,] the area covered by the said Titles is 28,006 sq. meters
and is designated as Lot F (045309)-2-D. Said area covered by the title in the name of Jose Lim is
covered by TD No. 006-496-C copy is hereto attached as Annex "F". That cleared from OCT No.
9487 and TD No. 006-496-C, the land described thereon is bounded on the East and on the
West by the properties claimed by the Heirs of Socorro Lim.
8. That during the lifetime of Remberto F. Lim and one of his sons, Alan Lim, also deceased, they
planted several seedlings of acacia manguim trees inside a portion of the land covered by TD
No. 006-0100-A which acacia manguim trees were specifically planted on the land covered by
TD No. 006-329-A which was cancelled by TD No. 006-0515-A as shown by a copy of the Tree
Plantation Record Form (Annex "G"), and the Memorandum dated January 4, 1999 (Annex "H")
and the Certificate of Registration (Annex "I") hereto attached.
9. That after the death of Alan Lim, who predeceased Remberto Lim, and the death of
Remberto Lim, the herein Plaintiffs, as the only surviving legitimate wife and children
respectively of Remberto Lim acquired, thru intestate succession, all rights, claims, ownership,
participation, and interest that Remberto Lim has over the property covered by TD No. 006-
0100-A which was cancelled by TD No. 006-329- A and which which was further cancelled by TD
No. 006-0515-A as indicated on the said Tax Declaration.
10. That upon the death of Remberto Lim, his surviving heirs continued the actual possession,
occupation, and cultivation of the subject parcel of land in the concept of an owner, open,
public, adverse and against the whole world;
11. That for the meantime, Jose Lim sold the land covered by OCT No. E-9487 in favor of
Dorothy Medalla and Alexander Medala and TCT No. 12496 was issued in their names copy of
the same is hereto attached as Annex "J",
12. That the new owners, Dorothy Medalla and Alexander Medalla caused the subdivision of
the land they purchased from Jose Lim into two (2) lots and denominated as Lot 1 Psd-04-
1346453 containing an area of 16, 415 sq. meteres and Lot 2 Psd-04-136453 containing an area
of 11, 591 sq meters as shown by a copy of the approved subdivision plan hereto attached as
Annex "K",
13. That clear from hereto attached subdivision plan Lot 1 Psd-04-136453 is bounded on the
West by the land claimed by the heirs of Socorro Lim while Lot 2 Psd-04-134653 is bounded on
the East by the land also claimed and owned by the heirs of Socorro Lim.
14. That Dorothy Medalla and Alexander Medalla were issued titles for Lot 1 and Lot 2 both
Psd-04-136453 as shown by a copy of TCT No. T-19582 and TCT No. 19583 respectively copies
aare hereto attached and marked as Annex "L" and "M" respectively;
15. That in order to show the relative position of Lot F (045309)-2- D, then titled in the name of
Jose Lim under OCT No. E-9487, which was cancelled by TCT No. T-12496 in the names of
Dorothy Medalla and Alexander Medalla, which was further cancelled by TCT No. 19582 and
TCT No. 19583 both registered in the names of Dorothy Medalla and Aleander Medalla, and the
land owned/possessed and cultivated by Socorro Lim which was acquired, possessed, occupied,
cultivated and owned by Remberto Lim, the heirs of Remberto Lim, the herein Plaintiffs, have
commissioned Engr. Lopez, a licensed Geodetic Engineer, in order to make a Sketch/Special
Plan and said Geodetic Engineer prepared a Sketch/Special Plan hereto attached as Annex "N";
16. That clear from the herein attached Sketch/Special Plan is that Lot F (045309)-2-D, is
bounded on the West by the land of Socorro Lim (which was then acquired by Remberto Lim
and lately, upon his death by his surviving heirs, the Plaintiffs herein) and then next to the land
owned by the plaintiffs is the existing road, the Mabentangan Road;
17. That Dorothy Medalla and Alexander Medalla caused the subdivision of Lot 2 Psd-04-
136453 into several smaller lots namely lots 2-A up to lot 2-I, inclusive, under Psd-04-186350 as
shown by a copy of the plan hereto attached as Annex "O". Plaintiffs came to know the
existence of said Plan only this year of 2010 when Defendant and her father, Stanley Martinez
alias Stanley Lim Yu, with the help of other people, forcibly, unlawfully and by means of threat
and intimidation entered into the land covered by TD No. 066-0515-A and once in illegal
possession and occupation of the same unlawfully and illegally cut and fell down the acacia
manguim trees planted by Allan Lim and Remberto Lim and were then growing thereon.
18. That scrutiny of the hereto attached subdivision plan Psd-04-186350 of Lot 2 Psd-04-136453
covered by TCT No. T-19583 would clearly show that the said lot deviates from the actual
position of the land as reflected and described in OCT No. E-6487 as cancelled by TCT No. 19583
because Lot 2 Psd-04-136453 under said plan Lot 2 Psd-04-136453 is bounded on the East by,
the existing road and not by the land claimed by the Heirs of Socorro Lim;
19. That Dorothy Medalla and Alexander Medalla sold to the herein Defendant Lot 2-D; Lot 2-E
and Lot 2-F all under Psd-04-186350 and was issued titles on those lots under TCT No 065-
2010000260, TCT No. 065-2010000259 and TCT No. 065-2010000261 as shown by copies of the
titles hereto attached as Annexes "P" "Q" and "R" respectively;
20. That sometime on August 10, 2010, Defendant, thru her father, Stanley Martinez a.k.a.
Stanley Lim Yu, and with the help and assistance of other people, by means of force, threat,
intimidation and other cunning means entered into, occupied, possessed and encroached upon
the property owned by the Plaintiffs covered by TD No. 006-0515-A which they acquired from
deceased Remberto Lim and once in unlawful occupation and possession of the same knocked
down, uprooted, cut and fell all the acacia mangium trees planted by Alan Lim and Remberto
Lim to the great damage and prejudice of the plaintiffs;
21. That Defendant caused the fencing of the area with barbed wires as shown by copies of the
pictures hereto attached Annexes "S", "S-1", "S-2", and "S-3" and placed thereon signs "NOTICE
THIS [PROPERTY] IS OWNED BY THE MARTINEZ FAMILY" and "NO TRESSPASSING PRIVATE
PROPERTY" copy of the pictures hereto attached as Annexes "T" and "U" respectively. Lately
fence of stronger materials [were] placed thereon;
22. That although Defendant requested the Office of the CENRO, Coron, Palawan permission
and authority to knock down, uproot and cut the acacia manuim trees growing on the land
covered by TD No. 006-0515-A, however, her request was not acted upon favorably by that
office and no permit was issued to her to cut, knock down and uproot the acacia manguim trees
growing thereon nor permit her to transport was issued to her as shown by a copy of the
Certification hereto attached as Annex "V",
23. That Plaintiffs, thru the undersigned counsel, sent a letter dated October 24, 2010
addressed to the Defendant demanding from her to remove the fence placed on the land of the
Plaintiffs and to turn over its peaceful possession and occupation to them as shown by a copy of
the letter hereto attached as Annex "W"; however Defendant failed and refused to remove the
fence put thereon and to vacate the place.[26] (Bold emphasis supplied)
Based on the aforequoted allegations of the complaint, the decisive issue is whether or not the
forcible entry case under Rule 70 was the proper remedy to resolve this controversy.
We rule that it is not.
A proper reading of the allegations of the complaint shows that the case revolved around the
actual metes and bounds of the parties' respective properties. The complaint was anchored on
the theory that the properties registered in three certificates of title issued in the name of the
petitioner had erroneously included portions of the property covered by the tax declaration
issued in the name of the respondents' predecessor in interest.[27]
In contrast, the petitioner hinged her right on the indefeasibility of her Torrens titles, and relied
on the technical descriptions of the boundaries of her properties as stated by metes and
bounds contained in her TCT No. 065-2010000259, TCT No. 065-2010000260 and TCT No. 065-
2010000261.[28] Thus, her answer to the complaint relevantly represented:
13. It cannot be sufficiently underscored that, as specifically alleged in the complaint no less,
the real properties subject matter of the instant complaint for forcible entry are actually
registered in the name of the defendant, as borne out by TCTs Nos. 065-2010000259, 065-
2010000260 and 065-2010000261, respectively, of the Registry of Deeds for the Province of
Palawan.
13.1 Parenthetically, the complaint admits in no uncertain terms that plaintiffs' putative
ownership of the subject real properties is supported only by a mere Tax Declaration, which is
not even in their names, but is supposedly in the name of plaintiffs' predecessor-in-interest, viz:
Remberto F. Lim.[29]
It can be gleaned therefrom that the dispute essentially concerned the actual metes and
bounds of their respective properties. Under such circumstances, the issue was really whether
or not the petitioner's titles included the disputed portion.
The dispute did not primarily concern merely possessory rights, but related to boundaries, and
could not be summarily determined. Nonetheless, the MCTC rendered its ruling based on its
deduction that "a part of the property being claimed by the Heirs of Socorro Lim had been
included in the lots that were titled in the name of the defendant." It held:
xxx xxx xxx
The first issue raised in the case at bar is whether or not the subject properties covered by TCTs
Nos. 065-2010000259, 065-2010000260, and 065-2010000261 all in the name of the defendant
have encroached upon, or have included property belonging to the plaintiffs covered under TD
No. 006-0515.
xxx xxx xxx
Logically, from these set of evidences, it can be deduced that a part of the property being
claimed by the Heirs of Socorro Lim had been included in the lots that were titled in the name
of the defendant. This is because when the technical description over the titles of the
defendant were issued, the boundary on the Eastern side that should have been in the name of
the heirs of Socorro Lim no longer exists but is now bounded immediately by the road. Hence,
plaintiffs have sufficiently established that as predecessors-in-interest, they have the right to
claim and possess such part of the property of the defendant which should still be in the name
of the heirs of Socorro Lim as originally reflected in the previous titles of the Medallas. As
successor-in-interest of the Medallas, defendant could only acquire the property of the former
(Medallas) which originally did not include that part of the property of the heirs of Socorro Lim
and is now the subject of this dispute. Notedly, plaintiffs in this case are not claiming the whole
property of the defendant but only that portion which should still belong to their predecessor-
in-interest and is now covered by the titles in the name of the defendant.[30] (Emphasis
supplied)
The foregoing ruling was plain error. What the MCTC should have quickly seen was that the
dispute did not concern mere possession of the area in litis but the supposed encroachment by
the petitioner on the portion of the respondents. In other words, the question focused on
whether the property being claimed and occupied by the petitioner had really been part of her
registered properties, or of the respondents' property.[31] The proper resolution of such
dispute in favor of the respondents could be had only after a hearing in which the trial court
was enabled through preponderant proof showing that, indeed, the disputed area was not
within the metes and bounds appearing and stated in the TCTs of the petitioner.
We reiterate that a boundary dispute cannot be settled summarily through the action for
forcible entry covered by Rule 70 of the Rules of Court. In forcible entry, the possession of the
defendant is illegal from the very beginning, and the issue centers on which between the
plaintiff and the defendant had the prior possession de facto.[32] If the petitioner had
possession of the disputed areas by virtue of the same being covered by the metes and bounds
stated and defined in her Torrens titles, then she might not be validly dispossessed thereof
through the action for forcible entry. The dispute should be properly threshed out only
through accion reivindicatoria. Accordingly, the MCTC acted without jurisdiction in taking
cognizance of and resolving the dispute as one for forcible entry.
Given the foregoing, the CA committed reversible error in affirming the judgments of the lower
courts, and in ordering the summary ejectment of the petitioner from the disputed area.
Considering that the remedy availed of by the respondents as the plaintiffs was improper, the
Court need not discuss and settle the other issues raised by the petitioner.
WHEREFORE, the Court GRANTS the petition for review on certiorari; REVERSES and SETS
ASIDE the decision promulgated on March 20, 2017 by the Court of Appeals; DISMISSES the
complaint for forcible entry without prejudice to the filing of the proper action;
and ORDERS the respondents to pay the costs of suit.
SO ORDERED.