Determination of Jurisdiction of Labor Courts

The jurisdiction of a court or quasi-judicial or administrative organ is determined by the issues raised by the parties, not by their success or failure in proving the allegations in their respective. Reception of proof is not a condition precedent to the assumption of jurisdiction, for precisely jurisdiction must exist before evidence can be taken, since the authority to receive it is in itself an exercise of jurisdiction. To affect the jurisdiction of said court, or organ, the main requirement is that the issue raised be a genuine one. In other words, the question posed must be one that is material to the right of action or which could affect the result of the dispute or controversy. (G.R. No. L-26461; November 27, 1968)