Republic of the Philippines
SUPREME COURT
Manila
EN BANC
G.R. No. L-1950 May 16, 1949
LAO SENG HIAN, CHENG TO, AND Y.S. WOO, petitioners-appellants,
vs.
NATIVIDAD ALMEDA LOPEZ, Judge of Municipal Court of Manila, and JOSE M. OCAMPO, respondent-appellees.
Javier & Javier for petitioners-appellants.
Felipe Lim Reyes for respondents-appellees.
TUASON, J.:
The sole question presented in this appeal is whether the money claim at the rate of P5,250 a month, made in the complaint in an action for lawful detainer, removes the case from the jurisdiction of the municipal court. The Court of First Instance, on an application for certiorari to the municipal judge, ruled against the petitioner, defendant in the case for unlawful detainer and appellant herein.
The allegation in question reads:
Que en vista de la negativa de los demandados de dejar el terreno y la casa o barong-barong constrido en el mismo, el demandante sufre los daños y perjuicios de P5,250 al mes, que es la cantidad que actualmente puede la finca (puede) producir o tener mensualmente por ser sitio commercial.
The amount whose recovery is sought in this paragraph is obviously intended to represent reasonable compensation for the use and occupation for the use and occupation of the premises. This intention is manifest from the allegation, allegations which, following the injunction of section 2, Rule 1,and section 17, Rule 15, are to be construed liberally. It is not necessaryto use the precise language of the law or rule to give a pleading the effectsintended by the pleader.
This point being settled, the quantum of the money judgment demanded is immaterial to the court's jurisdiction. Any amount for rents or in the nature of rents or in the nature of rents is allowable in an action of forcible entry or unlawful detainer. This is so because rents or compensation for the use and occupation of the premises is only incidental or accessory to the main action for the restitution of possession unlawfully withheld. This rule is too familiar and too well settled to required citations of authorities.
The decision of the Court of First Instance of Manila is affirmed with costsagainst appellant.
Moran, C.J., Ozaeta, Paras, Feria, Pablo, Perfecto, Bengzon, Montemayor and Reyes, JJ., concur.
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