G.R. No. L-25849 March 26, 1975
Roberto Laperal, applicant-appellee, vs. Pacifico Cruz, oppositor-appellant.

FACTS

Roberto Laperal filed an application for the registration of Lot 3 in Parañaque, Rizal, with an area of 756 square meters. Pacifico Cruz opposed the application, claiming ownership of the same parcel of land. The Court of First Instance of Rizal rendered a decision on May 20, 1965, declaring Laperal as the owner of the disputed lot. Cruz appealed the decision, stating in his notice of appeal that it was contrary to the evidence and the law. In his brief, Cruz specifically contended that the trial court erred in finding the land was formed by accretion rather than by artificial means and in not declaring him as the true owner. The application for registration stated the land’s market value was five pesos per square meter.

ISSUE

The primary issue resolved by the Supreme Court was whether it had appellate jurisdiction over the case, considering the value of the property involved and the nature of the issues raised on appeal.

RULING

The Supreme Court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over the appeal and ordered the transfer of the case to the Court of Appeals. The Court’s jurisdiction is determined by the state of facts existing at the time jurisdiction is invoked. When Cruz interposed his appeal on September 9, 1965, the governing law was Section 17 of the Judiciary Act, as amended by Republic Act No. 2613. This law vested the Supreme Court with appellate jurisdiction over civil cases where the value of the real estate involved exceeded two hundred thousand pesos. The record showed the total value of the land in litigation was only three thousand seven hundred eighty pesos (756 sq. m. x P5), which was far below the jurisdictional threshold. Furthermore, the appellant raised factual issues regarding the formation and ownership of the land, which are typically within the purview of the Court of Appeals. Consequently, the appeal was erroneously filed with the Supreme Court.