Latorre vs. Latorre

Latorre vs.
Latorre Complaint, petitioner sought the nullification of the Deed of Absolute Sale on the strength of two
Venue – Venue of Real and Personal Actions basic claims that (1) she did not execute the deed in favor of respondent; and (2) thus, she still
owned one half (½) of the subject property. Indubitably, petitioner’s complaint is a real action
Facts: involving the recovery of the subject property on the basis of her co-ownership thereof.
1. Petitioner alleged that She and Respondent executed a deed of donation in favor of foundation
of a property located in Makati City, but was thereafter revoked by a revocation of donation The action in the RTC, other than for Collection, was for the Declaration of Nullity of the Deed of
and reconveyance which was consented by the Foundation. However, the said deed of Absolute Sale involving the subject property, which is located at No. 1366 Caballero St., Dasmariñas
revocation was not registered, hence remained a property of Foundation. Further, Petitioner Village, Makati City. The venue for such action is unquestionably the proper court of Makati City,
alleged that she discovered that respondent caused the annotation of an adverse claim on the where the real property or part thereof lies, not the RTC of Muntinlupa City.
TCT of the subject property, claiming full ownership over the same by virtue of a Deed of
Absolute Sale to which the respondent forged her signature.  Sections 1 and 2, Rule 4 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Procedure provide an answer to the issue of
2. With this allegations, petitioner prayed that Ifzal be enjoined from paying the rentals to venue.
respondent, and the latter from receiving said rentals; that both Ifzal and respondent be ordered o Actions affecting title to or possession of real property or an interest therein (real actions) shall
to pay petitioner her share of the rentals; and that respondent be enjoined from asserting full be commenced and tried in the proper court that has territorial jurisdiction over the area where
ownership over the subject property and from committing any other act in derogation of the real property is situated.
petitioner’s interests therein. Petitioner also prayed for the payment of moral and exemplary o On the other hand, all other actions (personal actions) shall be commenced and tried in the
damages, litigation expenses, and costs of the suit. proper courts where the plaintiff or any of the principal plaintiffs resides or where the defendant
3. Petitioner Generosa Almeda Latorre (petitioner) filed before the RTC of Muntinlupa City a or any of the principal defendants resides.
Complaint for Collection and Declaration of Nullity of Deed of Absolute Sale with
Notes:
application for Injunction against her own son, herein respondent Luis Esteban Latorre
 WHEREFORE, the instant Petition is DENIED.
(respondent), and one Ifzal Ali (Ifzal).
4. Respondent immediately filed a Motion to Dismiss on the sole ground that the venue of
the case was improperly laid. He stressed that while the complaint was denominated as one
for Collection and Declaration of Nullity of Deed of Absolute Sale with application for
Injunction, in truth the case was a real action affecting title to and interest over the subject
property. Respondent insisted that all of petitioner’s claims were anchored on her claim of
ownership over one-half (½) portion of the subject property. Since the subject property is
located in Makati City, respondent argued that petitioner should have filed the case
before the RTC of Makati City and not of Muntinlupa City.
5. RTC denied respondent’s motion to dismiss. Undaunted, respondent filed an Answer Ad
Cautelam, insisting, among others, that the case was a real action and that the venue was
improperly laid.
6. RTC ruled in favor of respondent, disposing of the case:
a. “While the case herein filed by the plaintiff involves recovery of possession of a real
property situated at 1366 Caballero St., Dasmariñas Village, Makati City, the same
should have been filed and tried in the Regional Trial Court of Makati City who,
undoubtedly, has jurisdiction to hear the matter as aforementioned the same being
clearly a real action.
7. Aggrieved, petitioner filed her Motion for Reconsideration, which the RTC denied.
8. Hence, this Petition, claiming that the RTC erred in treating the venue as jurisdiction and in
treating petitioner’s complaint as a real action.
Issue:
o Main Issue: Whether the RTC erred in dismissing the case on the ground that the venue of the
case was improperly laid.
Court’s Ruling:
No, RTC did not erred in dismissing the case. Petitioner filed her complaint with the RTC of
Muntinlupa City instead of the RTC of Makati City, the latter being the proper venue in this case.
In this jurisdiction, we adhere to the principle that the nature of an action is determined by the
allegations in the Complaint itself, rather than by its title or heading. It is also a settled rule that
what determines the venue of a case is the primary objective for the filing of the case. In her

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