G.R. No. 98120 December 22, 1992
FILOMENA R. MANCITA, petitioner, vs. HON. CEFERINO P. BARCINAS, in his capacity as Presiding Judge, Regional Trial Court of Camarines Sur, Branch 31, 5th Judicial Region, Pili, Camarines Sur, PRESCILLA B. NACARIO, HON. DELFIN DIVINAGRACIA, as Municipal Mayor of Pili, Camarines Sur, and HON. PATRICIA A. STO. TOMAS, in her capacity as Chairman, Civil Service Commission, respondents.

FACTS

Petitioner Filomena R. Mancita was appointed as Municipal Development Coordinator (MDC) of Pili, Camarines Sur, on a permanent status on August 1, 1980. Following the effectivity of Batas Pambansa Blg. 337 (Local Government Code) on March 14, 1983, the Sangguniang Bayan of Pili created the Office of the Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator (MPDC). After the approval of the Municipality’s Reorganization Plan on January 1, 1985, Mayor Anastacio M. Prila informed Mancita on June 17, 1985, that her MDC position was abolished and her services were terminated effective June 30, 1985. On the same date, Mayor Prila appointed private respondent Prescilla B. Nacario as MPDC effective July 1, 1985. Mancita appealed her separation to the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), which ruled in her favor on June 23, 1989, ordering her reinstatement with back salaries. The Municipal Government’s motion for reconsideration was denied on December 13, 1989. On appeal, the Civil Service Commission (CSC) affirmed the MSPB decision in its Resolution No. 90-657 dated July 16, 1990. Subsequently, Mayor Delfin Divinagracia, Jr., notified Nacario on October 15, 1990, that her services as MPDC would be terminated effective November 16, 1990, to pave the way for Mancita’s reinstatement, and notified Mancita of her reinstatement on the same date. The CSC issued an order on November 9, 1990, directing the immediate implementation of its resolution. Meanwhile, on November 8, 1990, Nacario filed a petition for declaratory relief and prohibition with preliminary injunction (Civil Case No. P-1781) before the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Pili, Camarines Sur, Branch 31, against the CSC, Mayor Divinagracia, and Mancita, seeking to declare the MSPB and CSC resolutions null and void and to restrain Mancita’s reinstatement. The RTC issued a temporary restraining order and, after Mancita filed a motion to dismiss on the ground that the court had no jurisdiction to review a final decision of the CSC, denied the motion to dismiss in its orders dated February 25, 1991, and April 8, 1991. Mancita then filed the present petition for certiorari before the Supreme Court.

ISSUE

Whether the Regional Trial Court has jurisdiction to review, pass upon, or nullify a final decision, order, or ruling of the Civil Service Commission.

RULING

No. The Supreme Court granted the petition, annulled and set aside the questioned RTC orders, and made the temporary restraining order permanent. The Court held that, pursuant to Section 7, Article IX of the Constitution , any decision, order, or ruling of the Civil Service Commission may be brought to the Supreme Court on certiorari by the aggrieved party within thirty days from receipt thereof. Citing Lopez, Jr. vs. The Civil Service Commission, the Court ruled that the CSC is the single arbiter of all contests relating to the civil service, and its judgments are unappealable and subject only to the Supreme Court’s certiorari jurisdiction under Rule 65 of the Rules of Court. Consequently, the Regional Trial Court has no jurisdiction over Civil Case No. P-1781, which sought a review of a CSC decision.