intertwined issues

When the complaint in the petition seeks for the Regional Trial Court to cancel Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) issued to the farmer-beneficiaries and the TCTs issued pursuant thereto, these reliefs cannot be granted by the RTC since the complaint essentially prays for the annulment of the coverage of the property within the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), an incident involving the implementation of RA6657, as amended. These are matters relating to terms and conditions of transfer of ownership from landlord to agrarian reform beneficiaries over which DARAB has primary and exclusive jurisdiction.

Jurisdiction of a tribunal over the nature and subject matter of a petition or complaint is determined by the material allegations therein and the character of the relief prayed for, irrespective of whether the petitioner or complainant is entitled to any or all of such reliefs. It is also settled that jurisdiction should be determined by considering not only the status or relationship of the parties but also the nature of the issues or questions that is the subject of the controversy. Thus, if the issues between the parties are intertwined with the resolution of an issue within the exclusive jurisdiction of the DARAB, such dispute must be addressed and resolved by the DARAB (DAR v. RTC Judge Br.XII of  Zamboanga City, et al. G.R. No. 163285, February 27, 2008).