We thus find private respondents assertion that the case is purely domestic, imprecise.
A conflicts problem presents itself here, and the question of jurisdictionxliii[43] confronts
the court a quo.
After a careful study of the private respondents Amended Complaint,xliv[44] and the
Comment thereon, we note that she aptly predicated her cause of action on Articles 19
and 21 of the New Civil Code.
On one hand, Article 19 of the New Civil Code provides;
Art. 19. Every person must, in the exercise of his rights and in the performance
of his duties, act with justice give everyone his due and observe honesty and
good faith.
On the other hand, Article 21 of the New Civil Code provides:
Art. 21. Any person who willfully causes loss or injury to another in a manner
that is contrary to morals, good customs or public policy shall compensate the
latter for damages.
Thus, in Philippine National Bank (PNB) vs. Court of Appeals,xlv[45] this Court held that:
The aforecited provisions on human relations were intended to expand the
concept of torts in this jurisdiction by granting adequate legal remedy for the
untold number of moral wrongs which is impossible for human foresight to
specifically provide in the statutes.
Although Article 19 merely declares a principle of law, Article 21 gives flesh to its
provisions. Thus, we agree with private respondents assertion that violations of Articles
19 and 21 are actionable, with judicially enforceable remedies in the municipal forum.
Based on the allegationsxlvi[46] in the Amended Complaint, read in the light of the Rules
of Court on jurisdictionxlvii[47] we find that the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Quezon City
possesses jurisdiction over the subject matter of the suit.xlviii[48] Its authority to try and
hear the case is provided for under Section 1 of Republic Act No. 7691, to wit:
Section 1. Section 19 of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known as the
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, is hereby amended to read as follows:
SEC. 19. Jurisdiction in Civil Cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive
jurisdiction:
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xxx
xxx
(8) In all other cases in which demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
attorneys fees, litigation expenses, and costs or the value of the property in controversy