GR 45116; (September, 1936) (CRITIQUE)
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THE AI-ASSISTED CRITIQUE
The petition’s failure to specify which order was issued in excess of jurisdiction or with grave abuse of discretion is a fatal procedural defect. Certiorari requires a clear showing that a lower court acted without or in excess of jurisdiction, or with grave abuse of discretion amounting to lack of jurisdiction. Here, the pleading merely lists procedural events and concludes there is no other adequate remedy, without articulating the jurisdictional flaw. This vagueness violates the principle that certiorari is not a substitute for a lost appeal and demands precise allegations to justify the extraordinary writ. The Court correctly refused to speculate, as doing so would undermine the orderly administration of justice and the defined boundaries of special civil actions.

The ruling underscores the mandatory nature of pleading standards in extraordinary writs, even under a liberal construction. While courts may construe pleadings liberally to achieve substantial justice, they cannot remedy a petition that fails to state a cause of action for certiorari. The omission of a general averment that the respondent judge acted without or in excess of jurisdiction is not a mere technicality; it goes to the very essence of the remedy sought. The decision reinforces that parties must clearly frame issues, as courts cannot be tasked with “divining the intention” from an uncertain record, aligning with the maxim expressio unius est exclusio alterius—the specification of certain defects implies the exclusion of others not pleaded.

Ultimately, the dismissal rests on the petitioner’s failure to meet the basic pleading threshold, thereby precluding any substantive review of the underlying jurisdictional questions about the intervention or docket fees. The Court’s refusal to engage with the merits—such as whether the justice of the peace court improperly allowed an intervention beyond its monetary jurisdiction or whether the Court of First Instance acquired jurisdiction on appeal despite an unpaid fee balance—highlights a procedural gatekeeping function. This approach prioritizes judicial economy and clarity, ensuring that certiorari remains a narrow remedy for clear jurisdictional errors, not a catch-all for dissatisfied litigants.