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DAR vs. Trinidad Valley Realty
DAR vs. Trinidad Valley Realty
et
al.
G.R. No. 173386, February 11, 2014
Facts: Trinidad Valley Realty and Development Corporation, et al. are the registered
owners of a parcel of land in Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental devoted to the
cultivation of sugar cane. A portion of this land was awarded by respondent, DAR to
beneficiaries of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. Trinidad opposed this
move in the RTC and alleged that: DAR committed grave abuse of discretion
amounting to lack or excess of jurisdiction, the valuation by Land Bank is not just
compensation, the register of deeds cannot cancel their title without a court order, and
that Land Bank together with the LRA and Register of deeds committed grave abuse of
discretion when they cooperated to commit the act. In its answer, DAR asserted that
jurisdiction over all matters concerning agrarian reform exclusively belongs to
DAR and that the RTC’s jurisdiction in agrarian reform matters is limited only to the
determination of just compensation and prosecution of all criminal offenses
under RA 6657. The RTC ruled in favor of Trinidad claiming that it has
jurisdiction. On appeal, the CA set aside the lower court’s decision citing that the RTC
has no jurisdiction over the said case hence this petition.
Issue: Whether the RTC has jurisdiction over the case at bar.