EMILIO REYES VS. APOLONIO DIAZ
Jurisdiction over the subject-matter is the power to hear and determine cases of the general class to which the proceedings in question belong (C. J. S., p. 36) and is conferred by the sovereign authority which organizes the court and defines its powers (Banco Español Filipino vs. Palanca, 37 Phil. 921; Perkins vs. Dizon, 40 Off. Gaz. No. 7, 3d Sup. p. 216; Ng Si Chok vs. Vera, G. R. No. 45674).
The question, therefore, of whether a court has jurisdiction over the subject-matter, calls for interpretation and application of the law of jurisdiction which distributes the judicial power among the different courts in the Philippines, and since the ruling on the matter is of far-reaching consequences, affecting, as it may, the very life and structure of our judicial system, the law has deemed it wise to place the power and authority to act thereon in the highest court of the land.
In the instant case, there is no such question of jurisdiction as above described. Both parties agree that if the due filing of the protestant’s certificate of candidacy is proven, the trial court has jurisdiction, but that if such fact is not proven the trial court has no jurisdiction except to dismiss the case. There is, therefore, no question between the parties as to what the jurisdiction of the trial court is according to law in either case. The real question between them is one of fact — whether or not the protestant’s certificate of candidacy has been duly filed. And not until this fact is proved can the question of jurisdiction be determined. ch
