G.R. No. 209447 and G.R. No.

210901

Presidential Commission on Good Government vs. Hon. Winlove Dumayas et. al.

Facts:

In Civil Case No. 12-1251, UCPB alleged that capital or equity used in establishing the CIIF
companies was not exclusively sourced from the Coconut Levy Fund. It claimed that, while the
P633,000,000.00 was invested by it as Administrator to the CIIF, as a universal bank. It also
invested around Php 112,000,000.00 in the six oil mill companies or oil mills group. UCPB prayed
for a judgment declaring the rights and duties of UCPB, affirming and confirming its right, title,
and interest in the Oil Mills Group Companies, its indirect equity of the 14 Coconut Industry
Investment Funds Holding Companies and the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Shares, the
dividends thereon and the proceeds of the redemption thereof and that any disbursement or
disposition thereof. PCGG filed a Motion to Dismiss citing lack of jurisdiction of the case. The
same was denied. In Civil Case No, 12-1252, Cocolife raised similar claims of ownership in the
subject companies and shares of stock by virtue of its being a stockholder. Civil Cases No. 12-
1252 and 12-1251 were consolidated, bearing the same issues raised. PCGG, again moved to
dismiss the complaints but were denied. PCGG argues that the Regional Trial Court has no
jurisdiction over the acts performed by PCGG pursuant to its quasi judicial functions, particularly
thoserelating to the issuance of writs of sequestration, and that all cases involving ill-gotten
wealth.

Issue:

Whether or not the Regional Trial Court has jurisdiction over suits involving sequestered coco
levy assets and funds.

Ruling:

The Supreme Court ruled that the Regional Trial Court has no jurisdiction over suits involving
sequestered coco levy assets and coco levy funds. Jurisdiction is defined as the power and
authority of a court to hear, try and decide a case. Jurisdiction over the subject matter is conferred
by the Constitution or by law and is determined by the allegations of the complaint and the relief
prayed for, regardless if whether entitled to recovery upon all or some of the claims prayed therein.
Jurisdiction is not acquired by agreement or consent of the parties and neither does it depend
upon the defenses raised in the answer or in a motion to dismiss. The Sandiganbayan shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction over petitions for the issuance of writs of mandamus, prohibition,
certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions, and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its
appellate jurisdiction and over petitions of similar nature