!"#$%& &()(!

($%
* +,-, %$, ./01234 567869: .34 ;22/ <
=(>$?"%@ &$?@+@!4 A"B(B($%"-4 )!, )()(@% >@C%$ 5"%!"%4
-"!A$%&"%B,

& " # ( ! ( $ %
#@>>"5$4 !-,4 5,D
1hls ls a peLlLlon for revlew on cerLlorarl, under 8ule 43 of Lhe 8ules of CourL, of Lhe
ueclslon
[1]
of Lhe CourL of Appeals (CA) ln CA-C.8. Cv no. 73993, whlch afflrmed Lhe ueclslon
[2]
of
Lhe 8eglonal 1rlal CourL (81C) of uagupan ClLy, 8ranch 44, ln Clvll Case no. 2000-0244-u, whlch
declared null and vold Lhe declslon of Lhe Munlclpal 1rlal CourL (M1C) of Calaslao, angaslnan ln
Clvll Case no. 879.
[3]


1he anLecedenL facLs follow.

Cn lebruary 19, 1999, peLlLloner lllomena uomagas flled a complalnL for forclble enLry agalnsL
respondenL vlvlan !ensen before Lhe M1C of Calaslao, angaslnan. 1he peLlLloner alleged ln her
complalnL LhaL she was Lhe reglsLered owner of a parcel of land covered by Crlglnal CerLlflcaLe
of 1lLle (CC1) no. -30980, slLuaLed ln 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, and wlLh an area
of 827 square meLers. Cn !anuary 9, 1999 Lhe respondenL, by means of force, sLraLegy and
sLealLh, galned enLry lnLo Lhe peLlLloner's properLy by excavaLlng a porLlon Lhereof and
LhereafLer consLrucLlng a fence Lhereon. As such, Lhe peLlLloner was deprlved of a 68-square
meLer porLlon of her properLy along Lhe boundary llne. 1he peLlLloner prayed LhaL, afLer due
proceedlngs, [udgmenL be rendered ln her favor, Lhus:
3. And, afLer Lrlal, [udgmenL be rendered:
a) uLCLA8lnC Lhe wrlL of rellmlnary MandaLory ln[uncLlon and WrlL of rellmlnary ln[uncLlon
permanenL,

b) C8uL8lnC defendanL, hls represenLaLlves, agenLs and persons acLlng under her, Lo vacaLe
Lhe porLlon of Lhe properLy of Lhe plalnLlff occupled by Lhem and Lo deslsL from enLerlng,
excavaLlng and consLrucLlng ln Lhe sald properLy of Lhe plalnLlff descrlbed ln paragraph 2 hereof
and/or from dlsLurblng Lhe peaceful ownershlp and possesslon of Lhe plalnLlff over Lhe sald
land, pendlng Lhe flnal resoluLlon of Lhe lnsLanL acLlon,

c) C8uL8lnC defendanL Lo pay reasonable renLal aL llvL 1PCuSAnu (3,000.00) LSCS per
monLh from !anuary 9, 1999 up Lo Lhe Llme she flnally vacaLes and removes all consLrucLlons
made by her ln Lhe properLy of Lhe plalnLlff and up Lo Lhe Llme she flnally resLores Lhe sald
properLy ln Lhe condlLlon before her lllegal enLry, excavaLlon and consLrucLlon ln Lhe properLy of
Lhe plalnLlff,

d) C8uL8lnC defendanL Lo pay acLual damages ln Lhe amounL of 1WLn1? 1PCuSAnu
(20,000.00) LSCS, moral damages ln Lhe amounL of 1WLn1? 1PCuSAnu (20,000.00) LSCS,
aLLorney's fees of 1Pl81? 1PCuSAnu (30,000.00) LSCS ln reLalner's fee and CnL 1PCuSAnu
llvL Punu8Lu (1,300.00) LSCS per courL appearance fee, exemplary damages ln Lhe amounL
of 1WLn1? 1PCuSAnu (20,000.00) LSCS, and, cosLs.

lalnLlff furLher prays for oLher rellefs and remedles [usL and equlLable ln Lhe premlses.
[4]

1he case was dockeLed as Clvll Case no. 879. 1he summons and Lhe complalnL were noL served
on Lhe respondenL because Lhe laLLer was apparenLly ouL of Lhe counLry. 1hls was relayed Lo
Lhe Sherlff by her (Lhe respondenL's) broLher, Cscar Layno, who was Lhen ln Lhe respondenL's
house aL no. 372 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan. 1he Sherlff lefL Lhe summons and
complalnL wlLh Cscar Layno, who recelved Lhe same.
[3]


noneLheless, on May 17, 1999, Lhe courL rendered [udgmenL orderlng Lhe respondenL and all
persons occupylng Lhe properLy for and ln Lhe laLLer's behalf Lo vacaLe Lhe dlspuLed area and Lo
pay monLhly renLals Lherefor, lncludlng acLual damages, aLLorney's fees, and exemplary
damages. 1he "#$$% of Lhe declslon reads:

1) Crderlng Lhe defendanL, her represenLaLlves, agenLs and persons acLlng under her,
Lo vacaLe Lhe 68-square meLers whlch she encroached upon,

2) Crderlng Lhe defendanL Lo pay a monLhly renLal of 1,000.00 Lo Lhe plalnLlff,

3) 1o pay plalnLlff acLual damages of 20,000.00, aLLorney's fees of 13,000.00 and exemplary
damages ln Lhe amounL of 20,000.00 plus Lhe cosLs.

SC C8uL8Lu.
[6]


1he respondenL falled Lo appeal Lhe declslon. ConsequenLly, a wrlL of execuLlon was lssued on
SepLember 27, 1999.

Cn AugusL 16, 2000, Lhe respondenL flled a complalnL agalnsL Lhe peLlLloner before Lhe 81C of
uagupan ClLy for Lhe annulmenL of Lhe declslon of Lhe M1C ln Clvll Case no. 879, on Lhe ground
LhaL due Lo Lhe Sherlff's fallure Lo serve Lhe complalnL and summons on her because she was ln
Cslo, norway, Lhe M1C never acqulred [urlsdlcLlon over her person. 1he respondenL alleged
Lhereln LhaL Lhe servlce of Lhe complalnL and summons Lhrough subsLlLuLed servlce on her
broLher, Cscar Layno, was lmproper because of Lhe followlng: (a) when Lhe complalnL ln Clvll
Case no. 879 was flled, she was noL a resldenL of 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, buL of
Cslo, norway, and alLhough she owned Lhe house where Cscar Layno recelved Lhe summons
and Lhe complalnL, she had Lhen leased lL Lo Lduardo Conzales, (b) she was ln Cslo, norway, aL
Lhe Llme Lhe summons and Lhe complalnL were served, (c) her broLher, Cscar Layno, was merely
vlslLlng her house ln 8arangay 8uenlag and was noL a resldenL nor an occupanL Lhereof when he
recelved Lhe complalnL and summons, and (d) Cscar Layno was never auLhorlzed Lo recelve Lhe
summons and Lhe complalnL for and ln her behalf.
[7]


1he respondenL furLher alleged LhaL Lhe M1C had no [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe sub[ecL maLLer of Lhe
complalnL ln Clvll Case no. 879 because Lhe peLlLloner, Lhe plalnLlff Lhereln, falled Lo show prlor
possesslon of Lhe properLy. She furLher clalmed LhaL Lhe alleged forclble enLry was slmply based
on Lhe resulL of Lhe survey conducLed by CeodeLlc Lnglneer Leonardo de vera showlng LhaL Lhe
properLy of Lhe respondenL encroached on LhaL of Lhe peLlLloner.

1he respondenL flled a ManlfesLaLlon daLed AugusL 31, 2000, and appended LhereLo Lhe
followlng: (a) a copy
[8]
of her passporL showlng LhaL she lefL Lhe counLry on lebruary 17, 1999,
(b) a copy
[9]
of Lhe ConLracL of Lease daLed november 24, 1997, execuLed by her and Lduardo u.
Conzales over her house for a perlod of Lhree (3) years or unLll november 24, 2000, (c) her
affldavlL
[10]
sLaLlng, &'()* #$&#, LhaL she owned Lhe house aL 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao,
angaslnan, whlch she leased Lo Lduardo Conzales, LhaL she was marrled Lo !arl !ensen, a clLlzen
of norway, on AugusL 23, 1987 and had reslded ln norway wlLh her husband slnce 1993, LhaL
she arrlved ln Lhe hlllpplnes on uecember 31, 1998, buL lefL on lebruary 17, 1999, she
reLurned Lo Lhe hlllpplnes on !uly 30, 2000 and learned, only Lhen, of Lhe complalnL agalnsL her
and Lhe declslon of Lhe M1C ln Clvll Case no. 879, her broLher Cscar Layno was noL a resldenL of
Lhe house aL 8arangay 8uenlag, and LhaL she never recelved Lhe complalnL and summons ln sald
case, (d) Lhe affldavlL
[11]
of Cscar Layno declarlng LhaL someLlme ln Aprll 1999, he was ln Lhe
respondenL's house Lo collecL renLals from Lduardo Conzales, LhaL Lhe Sherlff arrlved and served
hlm wlLh a copy of Lhe summons and Lhe complalnL ln Clvll Case no. 879, and LhaL he never
lnformed Lhe respondenL of hls recelpL of Lhe sald summons and complalnL, (e) an affldavlL
[12]
of
Lduardo Conzales sLaLlng LhaL he leased Lhe house of Lhe respondenL and reslded LhereaL, Lhe
respondenL was noL a resldenL of Lhe sald house alLhough he (Conzales) allowed Lhe
respondenL Lo occupy a room Lhereln whenever she reLurned Lo Lhe hlllpplnes as a +#$&,+#-#',
and LhaL Cscar Layno was noL resldlng Lhereln buL only collecLed Lhe renLals.

ln her answer Lo Lhe complalnL, Lhe peLlLloner alleged LhaL Lhe respondenL was a resldenL of
8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan and was Lhe owner of Lhe sub[ecL premlses where Cscar
Layno was when Lhe Sherlff served Lhe summons and complalnL, LhaL Lhe servlce of Lhe
complalnL and summons by subsLlLuLed servlce on Lhe respondenL, Lhe defendanL ln Clvll Case
no. 879, was proper slnce her broLher Cscar Layno, a resldenL and reglsLered voLer of 8arangay.
8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, recelved Lhe complalnL and summons for and ln her behalf.

1he peLlLloner appended Lhe followlng Lo her answer: (a) a copy
[13]
of Lhe ueed of AbsoluLe Sale
execuLed by !ose Layno ln her favor, daLed AugusL 26, 1992, showlng LhaL Lhe respondenL was a
resldenL of 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, (b) a 8eal LsLaLe MorLgage
[14]
execuLed by
Lhe respondenL, daLed lebruary 9, 1999 showlng LhaL she was a resldenL of 8arangay 8uenlag,
Calaslao, angaslnan, (c) Lhe !olnL AffldavlL
[13]
of vlcenLa eralLa and Crlando Macalanda, boLh
resldenLs of 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, declarlng LhaL Lhe respondenL and her
broLher Cscar Layno were Lhelr nelghbors, LhaL Lhe respondenL and her broLher had been
resldenLs of 8arangay 8uenlag slnce Lhelr chlldhood, LhaL alLhough Lhe respondenL lefL Lhe
counLry on several occaslons, she reLurned Lo Lhe hlllpplnes and reslded ln her house aL no.
372 locaLed ln Lhe sald barangay, and (d) Lhe voLer's 8eglsLraLlon 8ecord
[16]
of Cscar Layno,
approved on !une 13, 1997.

AfLer due proceedlngs, Lhe Lrlal courL rendered a declslon ln favor of Lhe respondenL. 1he
dlsposlLlve porLlon reads:

WPL8LlC8L, [udgmenL ls rendered ln favor of plalnLlff vlvlan Layno !ensen and agalnsL
defendanL lllomena uomagas, as follows:
1. 1he ueclslon of Lhe Munlclpal 1rlal CourL of Calaslao, angaslnan ln Clvll Case no. 879,
enLlLled lllomena uomagas versus vlvlan Layno !ensen ls declared null and vold, for lack
of [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe person of Lhe plalnLlff and Lhe sub[ecL maLLer.
2. uefendanL lllomena uomagas ls ordered Lo pay plalnLlff, Lhe followlng:

a.) AcLual damages, represenLlng llLlgaLlon expenses ln Lhe amounL of 30,000.00,

b.) ALLorney's fees ln Lhe amounL of 30,000.00,

c.) Moral uamages ln Lhe amounL of 30,000.00,

d.) Lxemplary uamages ln Lhe amounL of 30,000.00, and

e.) CosLs of sulL.

SC C8uL8Lu.
[17]

1he Lrlal courL declared LhaL Lhere was no valld servlce of Lhe complalnL and summons on Lhe
respondenL, Lhe defendanL ln Clvll Case no. 879, conslderlng LhaL she lefL Lhe hlllpplnes on
lebruary 17, 1999 for Cslo, norway, and her broLher Cscar Layno was never auLhorlzed Lo
recelve Lhe sald complalnL and summons for and ln her behalf.

1he peLlLloner appealed Lhe declslon Lo Lhe CA whlch, on May 6, 2003, rendered [udgmenL
afflrmlng Lhe appealed declslon wlLh modlflcaLlons. 1he CA ruled LhaL Lhe complalnL ln Clvll
Case no. 879 was one for e[ecLmenL, whlch ls an acLlon ./#0& &' *)1. 1he appellaLe courL ruled
LhaL slnce Lhe defendanL Lhereln was Lemporarlly ouL of Lhe counLry, Lhe summons and Lhe
complalnL should have been served 2&# exLraLerrlLorlal servlce under SecLlon 13 ln relaLlon Lo
SecLlon 16, 8ule 14 of Lhe 8ules of CourL, whlch llkewlse requlres prlor leave of
courL. Conslderlng LhaL Lhere was no prlor leave of courL and none of Lhe modes of servlce
prescrlbed by Lhe 8ules of CourL was followed by Lhe peLlLloner, Lhe CA concluded LhaL Lhere
was really no valld servlce of summons and complalnL upon Lhe respondenL, Lhe defendanL ln
Clvll Case no. 879.

Pence, Lhe presenL peLlLlon.

1he peLlLloner assalls Lhe declslon of Lhe CA, alleglng LhaL Lhe appellaLe courL erred ln holdlng
LhaL Lhe respondenL's complalnL for e[ecLmenL ls an acLlon ./#0& &' *)13 1he peLlLloner lnslsLs
LhaL Lhe complalnL for forclble enLry ls an acLlon &' 4)*0%'#1, Lherefore, subsLlLuLed servlce of
Lhe summons and complalnL on Lhe respondenL, ln accordance wlLh SecLlon 7, 8ule 14 of Lhe
8ules of CourL, ls valld3 1he peLlLloner, llkewlse, asserLs LhaL Cscar Layno ls a resldenL and a
reglsLered voLer of 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, hence, Lhe servlce of Lhe complalnL
and summons on Lhe respondenL Lhrough hlm ls valld.

1he respondenL, on Lhe oLher hand, asserLs LhaL Lhe acLlon for forclble enLry flled agalnsL her
was an acLlon ./#0& &' *)1, and LhaL Lhe appllcable provlslon of Lhe 8ules of CourL ls SecLlon 13
of 8ule 14, whlch calls for exLraLerrlLorlal servlce of summons.

1he sole lssue ls wheLher or noL Lhere was a valld servlce of Lhe summons and complalnL ln Clvll
Case no. 879 on Lhe respondenL hereln who was Lhe defendanL ln Lhe sald case. 1he resoluLlon
of Lhe maLLer ls anchored on Lhe lssue of wheLher or noL Lhe acLlon of Lhe peLlLloner ln Lhe M1C
agalnsL Lhe respondenL hereln ls an acLlon &' 4)*0%'#1 or ./#0& &' *)1.

1he rullng of Lhe CA LhaL Lhe peLlLloner's complalnL for forclble enLry of Lhe peLlLloner agalnsL
Lhe respondenL ln Clvll Case no. 879 ls an acLlon ./#0& &' *)1, ls erroneous. 1he acLlon of Lhe
peLlLloner for forclble enLry ls a real acLlon and one &' 4)*0%'#1.

1he seLLled rule ls LhaL Lhe alm and ob[ecL of an acLlon deLermlne lLs characLer.
[18]
WheLher a
proceedlng ls &' *)1, or &' 4)*0%'#1, or ./#0& &' *)1 for LhaL maLLer, ls deLermlned by lLs naLure
and purpose, and by Lhese only.
[19]
A proceedlng &' 4)*0%'#1 ls a proceedlng Lo enforce
personal rlghLs and obllgaLlons broughL agalnsL Lhe person and ls based on Lhe [urlsdlcLlon of Lhe
person, alLhough lL may lnvolve hls rlghL Lo, or Lhe exerclse of ownershlp of, speclflc properLy, or
seek Lo compel hlm Lo conLrol or dlspose of lL ln accordance wlLh Lhe mandaLe of Lhe
courL.
[20]
1he purpose of a proceedlng &' 4)*0%'#1 ls Lo lmpose, Lhrough Lhe [udgmenL of a
courL, some responslblllLy or llablllLy dlrecLly upon Lhe person of Lhe defendanL.
[21]
Cf Lhls
characLer are sulLs Lo compel a defendanL Lo speclflcally perform some acL or acLlons Lo fasLen a
pecunlary llablllLy on hlm.
[22]
An acLlon &' 4)*0%'#1 ls sald Lo be one whlch has for lLs ob[ecL a
[udgmenL agalnsL Lhe person, as dlsLlngulshed from a [udgmenL agalnsL Lhe proprleLy Lo
deLermlne lLs sLaLe. lL has been held LhaL an acLlon &' 4)*0%'#1 ls a proceedlng Lo enforce
personal rlghLs or obllgaLlons, such acLlon ls broughL agalnsL Lhe person. As far as sulLs for
ln[uncLlve rellef are concerned, lL ls well-seLLled LhaL lL ls an ln[uncLlve acL &'
4)*0%'#1.
[23]
ln 5%1+0 23 5%1+0,
[24]
Lhe appellaLe courL held LhaL proceedlngs Lo enforce
personal rlghLs and obllgaLlons and ln whlch personal [udgmenLs are rendered ad[usLlng Lhe
rlghLs and obllgaLlons beLween Lhe affecLed parLles ls &' 4)*0%'#1. AcLlons for recovery of real
properLy are &' 4)*0%'#1.
[23]


Cn Lhe oLher hand, a proceedlng ./#0& &' *)1 ls one broughL agalnsL persons seeklng Lo sub[ecL
Lhe properLy of such persons Lo Lhe dlscharge of Lhe clalms assalled.
[26]
ln an acLlon./#0& &' *)1,
an lndlvldual ls named as defendanL and Lhe purpose of Lhe proceedlng ls Lo sub[ecL hls lnLeresLs
Lhereln Lo Lhe obllgaLlon or loan burdenlng Lhe properLy.
[27]
AcLlons./#0& &' *)1 deal wlLh Lhe
sLaLus, ownershlp or llablllLy of a parLlcular properLy buL whlch are lnLended Lo operaLe on Lhese
quesLlons only as beLween Lhe parLlcular parLles Lo Lhe proceedlngs and noL Lo ascerLaln or cuL
off Lhe rlghLs or lnLeresLs of all posslble clalmanLs. 1he [udgmenLs Lhereln are blndlng only upon
Lhe parLles who [olned ln Lhe acLlon.
[28]


SecLlon 1, 8ule 70 of Lhe 8ules of CourL provldes:
!EFGHI7 ., 67% 1#- &'0(&(/() 4*%8))9&':0; #'9 <7)'3 - Sub[ecL Lo Lhe provlslons of Lhe nexL
succeedlng secLlon, a person deprlved of Lhe possesslon of any land or bulldlng ln force,
lnLlmldaLlon, LhreaL, sLraLegy, or sLealLh, or a lessor, vendor, vendee, or oLher person agalnsL
whom Lhe possesslon of any land or bulldlng ls unlawfully wlLhheld afLer Lhe explraLlon or
LermlnaLlon of Lhe rlghL Lo hold possesslon by vlrLue of any conLracL, express or lmplled, or Lhe
legal represenLaLlves or asslgns of any such lessor, vendor, vendee, or oLher person, may, aL any
Llme wlLhln one (1) year afLer such unlawful deprlvaLlon or wlLhholdlng of possesslon, brlng an
acLlon ln Lhe proper Munlclpal 1rlal CourL agalnsL Lhe person or persons unlawfully wlLhholdlng
or deprlvlng of possesslon, or any person or persons clalmlng under Lhem, for Lhe resLlLuLlon of
such possesslon, LogeLher wlLh damages and cosLs.
under SecLlon 13, 8ule 70 of Lhe sald 8ule, Lhe plalnLlff may be granLed a wrlL of prellmlnary
prohlblLlon or mandaLory ln[uncLlon:
!EF, ./, =*)$&1&'#*- >'?/'8(&%'3 - 1he courL may granL prellmlnary ln[uncLlon, ln accordance wlLh
Lhe provlslons of 8ule 38 hereof, Lo prevenL Lhe defendanL from commlLLlng furLher acLs of
dlspossesslon agalnsL Lhe plalnLlff.

A possessor deprlved of hls possesslon Lhrough forclble enLry or unlawful deLalner may, wlLhln
flve (3) days from Lhe flllng of Lhe complalnL, presenL a moLlon ln Lhe acLlon for forclble enLry or
unlawful deLalner for Lhe lssuance of a wrlL of prellmlnary mandaLory ln[uncLlon Lo resLore hlm
ln hls possesslon. 1he courL shall declde Lhe moLlon wlLhln LhlrLy (30) days from Lhe flllng
Lhereof.
lf, afLer due proceedlngs, Lhe Lrlal courL flnds for Lhe plalnLlff, lL shall Lhen render [udgmenL ln
hls or her favor, Lhus:
!EF, .3, @/9:1)'(3 - lf, afLer Lrlal, Lhe courL flnds LhaL Lhe allegaLlons of Lhe complalnL are Lrue,
lL shall render [udgmenL ln favor of Lhe plalnLlff for Lhe resLlLuLlon of Lhe premlses, Lhe sum
[usLly due as arrears of renL or as reasonable compensaLlon for Lhe use and occupaLlon of Lhe
premlses, aLLorney's fees and cosLs. lf lL flnds LhaL sald allegaLlons are noL Lrue, lL shall render
[udgmenL for Lhe defendanL Lo recover hls cosLs. lf a counLerclalm ls esLabllshed, Lhe courL shall
render [udgmenL for Lhe sum found ln arrears from elLher parLy and award cosLs as [usLlce
requlres.
lrom Lhe aforemenLloned provlslons of Lhe 8ules of CourL and by lLs very naLure and purpose,
an acLlon for unlawful deLalner or forclble enLry ls a real acLlon and &' 4)*0%'#1 because Lhe
plalnLlff seeks Lo enforce a personal obllgaLlon or llablllLy on Lhe defendanL under ArLlcle 339 of
Lhe new Clvll Code,
[29]
for Lhe laLLer Lo vacaLe Lhe properLy sub[ecL of Lhe acLlon, resLore physlcal
possesslon Lhereof Lo Lhe plalnLlff, and pay acLual damages by way of reasonable compensaLlon
for hls use or occupaLlon of Lhe properLy.
[30]


As gleaned from Lhe avermenLs of Lhe peLlLloner's complalnL ln Lhe M1C, she soughL a wrlL of a
prellmlnary ln[uncLlon from Lhe M1C and prayed LhaL Lhe sald wrlL be made permanenL. under
lLs declslon, Lhe M1C ordered Lhe defendanL Lhereln (Lhe respondenL ln Lhls case), Lo vacaLe Lhe
properLy and pay a monLhly renLal" of 1,000.00 Lo Lhe plalnLlff Lhereln (Lhe peLlLloner ln Lhls
case).

Cn Lhe lssue of wheLher Lhe respondenL was valldly served wlLh Lhe summons and complalnL by
Lhe Sherlff on Aprll 3, 1999, Lhe peLlLloner asserLs LhaL slnce her acLlon of forclble enLry agalnsL
Lhe respondenL ln Clvll Case no. 879 was &' 4)*0%'#1, summons may be served on Lhe
respondenL, by subsLlLuLed servlce, Lhrough her broLher, Cscar Layno, ln accordance wlLh
SecLlon 7, 8ule 14 of Lhe 8ules of CourL. 1he peLlLloner avers LhaL Cscar Layno, a person of
sulLable age and dlscreLlon, was resldlng ln Lhe house of Lhe respondenL on Aprll 3, 1999. She
avers LhaL Lhe facL LhaL Lhe house was leased Lo and occupled by Lduardo Conzales was of no
momenL. Moreover, Lhe Sherlff ls presumed Lo have performed hls duLy of properly servlng Lhe
summons on Lhe respondenL by subsLlLuLed servlce.

1he conLenLlon of Lhe peLlLloner has no merlL.

ln A0&#2)0( B&1&()9 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0,
[31]
Lhe CourL had Lhe occaslon Lo sLaLe:
ln an acLlon &' 4)*0%'#1, [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe person of Lhe defendanL ls necessary for Lhe courL
Lo valldly Lry and declde Lhe case. !urlsdlcLlon over Lhe person of a resldenL defendanL who does
noL volunLarlly appear ln courL can be acqulred by personal servlce of summons as provlded
under SecLlon 7, 8ule 14 of Lhe 8ules of CourL. lf he cannoL be personally served wlLh summons
wlLhln a reasonable Llme, subsLlLuLed servlce may be made ln accordance wlLh SecLlon 8 of sald
8ule. lf he ls Lemporarlly ouL of Lhe counLry, any of Lhe followlng modes of servlce may be
resorLed Lo: (a) subsLlLuLed servlce seL forLh ln SecLlon 8, (2) personal servlce ouLslde Lhe
counLry, wlLh leave of courL, (3) servlce by publlcaLlon, also wlLh leave of courL, or (4) any oLher
manner Lhe courL may deem sufflclenL.
[32]

1hus, any [udgmenL of Lhe courL whlch has no [urlsdlcLlon over Lhe person of Lhe defendanL ls
null and vold3
[33]


ln Lhe presenL case, Lhe records show LhaL Lhe respondenL, before and afLer hls marrlage Lo !arl
!ensen on AugusL 23, 1987, remalned a resldenL of 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao,
angaslnan. 1hls can be gleaned from Lhe ueed of AbsoluLe Sale daLed AugusL 26, 1992 ln whlch
she declared LhaL she was a resldenL of sald barangay. Moreover, ln Lhe 8eal LsLaLe MorLgage
ConLracL daLed lebruary 9, 1999, Len days before Lhe complalnL ln Clvll Case no. 879 was flled,
Lhe peLlLloner caLegorlcally sLaLed LhaL she was a llllplno and a resldenL of 8arangay 8uenlag,
Calaslao, angaslnan. Conslderlng LhaL Lhe respondenL was ln Cslo, norway, havlng lefL Lhe
hlllpplnes on lebruary 17, 1999, Lhe summons and complalnL ln Clvll Case no. 879 may only be
valldly served on her Lhrough subsLlLuLed servlce under SecLlon 7, 8ule 14 of Lhe 8ules of CourL,
whlch reads:

SLC. 7. C/+0(&(/()9 0)*2&8)3 - lf, for [usLlflable causes, Lhe defendanL cannoL be served wlLhln a
reasonable Llme as provlded ln Lhe precedlng secLlon, servlce may be effecLed (a) by leavlng
coples of Lhe summons aL Lhe defendanL's resldence wlLh some person of sulLable age and
dlscreLlon Lhen resldlng Lhereln, or (b) by leavlng Lhe coples aL defendanL's offlce or regular
place of buslness wlLh some compeLenL person ln charge Lhereof.

SLrlcL compllance wlLh Lhe mode of servlce ls requlred ln order LhaL Lhe courL may acqulre
[urlsdlcLlon over Lhe person of Lhe defendanL.
[34]
1he sLaLuLory requlremenL of subsLlLuLed
servlce musL be followed falLhfully and sLrlcLly and any subsLlLuLed servlce oLher Lhan LhaL
auLhorlzed by Lhe sLaLuLe ls rendered lneffecLlve.
[33]
As Lhe CourL held ln D#1&$(%' 23 B)2-:
[36]


. 1he perLlnenL facLs and clrcumsLances aLLendanL Lo Lhe servlce of summons musL be sLaLed ln
Lhe proof of servlce or Cfflcer's 8eLurn, oLherwlse, any subsLlLuLed servlce made ln lleu of
personal servlce cannoL be upheld. 1hls ls necessary because subsLlLuLed servlce ls ln derogaLlon
of Lhe usual meLhod of servlce. lL ls a meLhod exLraordlnary ln characLer and hence may be
used only as prescrlbed and ln Lhe clrcumsLances auLhorlzed by sLaLuLe. Pere, no such
explanaLlon was made. lallure Lo falLhfully, sLrlcLly, and fully comply wlLh Lhe requlremenLs of
subsLlLuLed servlce renders sald servlce lneffecLlve.
[37]


ln E)&0()* 23 F#*8)*)%,
[38]
Lhe CourL held LhaL Lhe Lerm dwelllng house" or resldence" are
generally held Lo refer Lo Lhe Llme of servlce, hence, lL ls noL sufflclenL Lo leave Lhe summons aL
Lhe former's dwelllng house, resldence or place of abode, as Lhe case may be. uwelllng house
or resldence refers Lo Lhe place where Lhe person named ln Lhe summons ls llvlng aL Lhe Llme
when Lhe servlce ls made, even Lhough he may be Lemporarlly ouL of Lhe counLry aL Lhe Llme. lL
ls, Lhus, Lhe servlce of Lhe summons lnLended for Lhe defendanL LhaL musL be lefL wlLh Lhe
person of sulLable age and dlscreLlon resldlng ln Lhe house of Lhe defendanL. Compllance wlLh
Lhe rules regardlng Lhe servlce of summons ls as much lmporLanL as Lhe lssue of due process as
of [urlsdlcLlon.
[39]


1he 8eLurn of Servlce flled by Sherlff Lduardo !. Abulencla on Lhe servlce of summons reads:
8especLfully reLurned Lo Lhe courL of orlgln Lhe hereln summons and enclosures ln Lhe above-
enLlLled case, Lhe underslgned caused Lhe servlce on Aprll 3, 1999.

uefendanL vlvlan Layno !ensen ls ouL of Lhe counLry as per lnformaLlon from her broLher Cscar
Layno, however, copy of summons and enclosures was recelved by her broLher Cscar Layno on
Aprll 3, 1999 as evldenced by hls slgnaLure appearlng ln Lhe orlglnal summons.

Calaslao, angaslnan, Aprll 6, 1999.
(Sgd.)
LuuA8uC !. A8uLLnClA
!unlor rocess Server
[40]

As gleaned from Lhe sald reLurn, Lhere ls no showlng LhaL as of Aprll 3, 1999, Lhe house where
Lhe Sherlff found Cscar Layno was Lhe laLLer's resldence or LhaL of Lhe respondenL hereln.
nelLher ls Lhere any showlng LhaL Lhe Sherlff Lrled Lo ascerLaln where Lhe resldence of Lhe
respondenL was on Lhe sald daLe. lL Lurned ouL LhaL Lhe occupanL of Lhe house was a lessor,
Lduardo Conzales, and LhaL Cscar Layno was ln Lhe premlses only Lo collecL Lhe renLals from
hlm. 1he servlce of Lhe summons on a person aL a place where he was a vlslLor ls noL
consldered Lo have been lefL aL Lhe resldence or place or abode, where he has anoLher place aL
whlch he ordlnarlly sLays and Lo whlch he lnLends Lo reLurn.
[41]


1he voLer's 8eglsLraLlon 8ecord of Cscar Layno daLed !une 13, 1997 whereln he declared LhaL he
was a resldenL of no. 372 8arangay 8uenlag, Calaslao, angaslnan, as well as Lhe !olnL AffldavlL
of vlcenLa eralLa and Crlando Macasalda cannoL prevall over Lhe ConLracL of Lease Lhe
respondenL had execuLed ln favor of Lduardo Conzales showlng LhaL Lhe laLLer had reslded and
occupled Lhe house of Lhe respondenL as lessee slnce november 24, 1997, and Lhe affldavlL of
Lduardo Conzales LhaL Cscar Layno was noL resldlng ln Lhe sald house on Aprll 3, 1999.

ln sum, Lhen, Lhe respondenL was noL valldly served wlLh summons and Lhe complalnL ln Clvll
Case no. 879 on Aprll 3, 1999, by subsLlLuLed servlce. Pence, Lhe M1C falled Lo acqulre
[urlsdlcLlon over Lhe person of Lhe respondenL, as such, Lhe declslon of Lhe M1C ln Clvll Case no.
879 ls null and vold.

(% >(+JB $= @>> BJ" =$-"+$(%+, Lhe peLlLlon ls &"%("& for lack of merlL. no cosLs.

!$ $-&"-"&.

=/'%; G57#&*1#'H; A/0(*&#IJ#*(&')K; L&':#; and 57&8%IF#K#*&%; @@3; concur.


[1]
enned by AssoclaLe !usLlce Conrado M. vasquez, !r. wlLh AssoclaLe !usLlces Mercedes Cozo-
uadole and 8osmarl u. Carandang, concurrlng, 8ollo, pp. 23-33.

[2]
enned by !udge Crlspln C. Laron (8eLlred).

[3]
LnLlLled M&$%1)'# N%1#:#0 23 O&2&#' B#-'% @)'0)'3"

[4]
8ecords, p. 13.

[3]
>93 aL 20.

[6]
>93 aL 79.

[7]
8ecords, p. 2.

[8]
>93 aL 34-36.

[9]
>93 aL 37-38.

[10]
>93 aL 33.

[11]
>93 aL 60.

[12]
>93 aL 39.

[13]
>93 aL 46.

[14]
>93 aL 47.

[13]
>93 aL 30

[16]
LxhlblL 6."

[17]
8ecords, p. 126.

[18]
F#(&%'#$ C/*)(- 5%3 23 A/0(&' J#87&')*- 5%*4%*#(&%'; 33 l.2d 842 (1929).

[19]
C#'9)?#0 23 P%+$)0; 81 hll. 421 (1948).

[20]
>93 aL 424.

[21]
A0&#2)0( B(93 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0; 296 SC8A 339 (1998).

[22]
D/:7)0 23 D/:7)0; 278 S.W. 121 (1923).

[23]
Q*))' R#,0 A4#*(1)'(0; B(93 23 5#''%'; 696 S.W. 2d 413 (1983).

[24]
60 S.W. 2d 368 (1933).

[23]
=FS 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0; 133 SC8A 433 (1987).

[26]
M*))1#' 23 A$9)*0%'; 30 L.Ld.372 (1886).

[27]
S#'8% 9% S*#0&$ 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0; 333 SC8A 343 (2000).

[28]
=)**- 23 T%/':; 182 S.W. 377 (1916).

[29]
A81. 339. Lvery possessor has a rlghL Lo be respecLed ln hls possesslon, and should he be
dlsLurbed Lhereln he shall be proLecLed ln or resLored Lo sald possesslon by Lhe means
esLabllshed by Lhe laws and Lhe 8ules of CourL.

possessor deprlved of hls possesslon Lhrough forclble enLry may wlLhln Len days from Lhe flllng
of Lhe complalnL presenL a moLlon Lo secure from Lhe compeLenL courL, ln Lhe acLlon for forclble
enLry, a wrlL of prellmlnary mandaLory ln[uncLlon Lo resLore hlm ln hls possesslon. 1he courL
shall declde Lhe moLlon wlLhln LhlrLy (30) days from Lhe flllng Lhereof.

[30]
=*%:*)00&2) N)2)$%41)'( 5%*4%*#(&%'; >'83 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0; 301 SC8A 637 (1999).

[31]
296 SC8A 339 (1998).

[32]
>93 aL 332-333.

[33]
B#1 23 P%0&$$%0#; 86 hll. 447 (1936).

[34]
O)'(/*#'K# 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0; 136 SC8A 303 (1987).

[33]
U1#'9#4 23 C#+&%; @*3; 339 SC8A 243 (2000).

[36]
344 SC8A 821 (2000).

[37]
>93 aL 829.

[38]
77 SC8A 209 (1977).

[39]
A': =&': 23 5%/*( %" A44)#$0; 310 SC8A 343 (1999).

[40]
8ecords, p. 20.

[41]
@%7' D#'8%8, J/(/#$ B&") >'0/*#'8) 5%3 23 Q%%$)-; 118 AL8 1484 (1938), A$+)*0 23
S*#1+)*:; 32 n.L. 2d 362 (1941).