GR L 1868; (March, 1949) (Digest)
G.R. No. L-1868. March 17, 1949.
MANUEL V. GALLEGO, ET AL., petitioners, vs. KAPISANAN TIMBULAN NG MGA MANGGAGAWA, respondent.
FACTS
Respondent Kapisanan Timbulan ng mga Manggagawa, a labor organization representing tenants and farm laborers, filed a complaint with the Court of Industrial Relations (CIR) against petitioners, who are landowners of haciendas in Nueva Ecija. The complaint alleged that the landowners, through threat, intimidation, fraud, and deceit, forced their tenants to enter into tenancy contracts that violated the Philippine Rice Share Tenancy Act (No. 4054, as amended) and public policy. The respondent prayed for the contracts to be declared null and void, for new contracts embodying the law’s provisions to be executed, and for an order restraining the petitioners from ejecting tenants without just cause and the CIR’s consent. The petitioners moved to dismiss the complaint on grounds of lack of jurisdiction, lack of cause of action, lack of legal capacity to sue, and defect of parties. The CIR denied the motion to dismiss and the subsequent motion for reconsideration, prompting this petition.
ISSUE
Whether the Court of Industrial Relations has jurisdiction over the complaint seeking the annulment of tenancy contracts for being contrary to law and public policy.
RULING
Yes. The Supreme Court held that the CIR has jurisdiction. Under Section 1 of Commonwealth Act No. 103 , as amended, the CIR has jurisdiction to settle “all questions, matters, controversies, or disputes arising between and/or affecting… landlord and tenants or farm-laborers.” This grant of jurisdiction is broad and includes questions involving the nullity of contracts. The controversy, as alleged in the complaint, arises from the landlord-tenant relationship and the potential for agrarian disorder, placing it squarely within the CIR’s jurisdiction. The Court also found no merit in the petitioners’ other assigned errors regarding the respondent’s legal capacity to sue and the nature of the action. The petition for certiorari was dismissed.
AI Generated by Armztrong.