Republic Act No.

7691

March 25, 1994

AN ACT EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF THE METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL

TRIAL COURTS, AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS, AMENDING FOR THE PURPOSE
BATAS PAMBANSA, BLG. 129, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE "JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT
OF 1980"
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in Congress assembled::
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 original jurisdiction.
"(1) In all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation;
"(2) In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest
therein, where the assessed value of the property involved exceeds Twenty thousand pesos
(P20,000,00) or, for civil actions in Metro Manila, where such value exceeds Fifty thousand pesos
(P50,000.00) except actions for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or buildings,
original jurisdiction over which is conferred upon the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;
"(3) In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or claim exceeds One
hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in Metro Manila, where such demand or claim exceeds
Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00);
"(4) In all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in probate matters in Metro Manila, where such
gross value exceeds Two Hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00);
"(5) In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations;
"(6) In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body
exercising jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial
functions;
"(7) In all civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of
a Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and of the Court of Agrarian Relations as now provided
by law; and
"(8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs or the value of the property in controversy exceeds
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in such other cases in Metro Manila, where the
demand exclusive of the abovementioned items exceeds Two Hundred thousand pesos
(P200,000.00)."
Section 2. Section 32 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts in Criminal Cases. Except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of Regional
Trial Courts and of the Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:
"(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of city or municipal ordinances committed
within their respective territorial jurisdiction; and
"(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding
six (6) years irrespective of the amount of fine, and regardless of other imposable accessory or
other penalties, including the civil liability arising from such offenses or predicated thereon,
irrespective of kind, nature, value or amount thereof: Provided, however, That in offenses
involving damage to property through criminal negligence, they shall have exclusive original
jurisdiction thereof."
Section 3. Section 33 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 33. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts in Civil Cases. Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts shall exercise:
"(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings, testate and
intestate, including the grant of provisional remedies in proper cases, where the value of the
personal property, estate, or amount of the demand does not exceed One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) or, in Metro Manila where such personal property, estate, or amount of the demand
does not exceed Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00), exclusive of interest, damages of
whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs, the amount of which must be
specifically alleged: Provided, That interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation
expenses, and costs shall be included in the determination of the filing fees: Provided, further, That
where there are several claims or causes of actions between the same or different parties,
embodied in the same complaint, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims in all
the causes of action, irrespective of whether the causes of action arose out of the same or different
transactions;
"(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer: Provided,
That when, in such cases, the defendant raises the questions of ownership in his pleadings and the
question of possession cannot be resolved without deciding the issue of ownership, the issue of
ownership shall be resolved only to determine the issue of possession; and
"(3) Exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real
property, or any interest therein where the assessed value of the property or interest therein does
not exceed Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or, in civil actions in Metro Manila, where such
assessed value does not exceed Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) exclusive of interest, damages
of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses and costs: Provided, That in cases of land not
declared for taxation purposes, the value of such property shall be determined by the assessed
value of the adjacent lots."
Section 4. Section 34 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:

"Sec. 34. Delegated Jurisdiction in Cadastral and Land Registration Cases. Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts may be assigned by the Supreme Court to hear
and determine cadastral or land registration cases covering lots where there is no controversy or opposition,
or contested lots where the value of which does not exceed One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00),
such value to be ascertained by the affidavit of the claimant or by agreement of the respective claimants if
there are more than one, or from the corresponding tax declaration of the real property. Their decisions in
these cases shall be appealable in the same manner as decisions of the Regional Trial Courts."
Section 5. After five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec. 19(3),
(4), and (8); and Sec. 33(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 as amended by this Act, shall be adjusted to Two hundred
thousand pesos (P200,000.00). Five (5) years thereafter, such jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted further to
Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00): Provided, however, That in the case of Metro Manila, the
abovementioned jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted after five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act to Four
hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00).
Section 6. All laws, decrees, and orders inconsistent with the provisions of this Act shall be considered amended or
modified accordingly.
Section 7. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all civil cases that have not yet reached the pre-trial stage.
However, by agreement of all the parties, civil cases cognizable by municipal and metropolitan courts by the
provisions of this Act may be transferred from the Regional Trial Courts to the latter. The executive judge of the
appropriate Regional Trial Courts shall define the administrative procedure of transferring the cases affected by the
redefinition of jurisdiction to the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts.
Section 8. This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its publication in the Official Gazette or in two (2)
national newspapers of general circulation.
Approved: March 25, 1994

Jurisdiction of Philippine courts

I am presenting below a brief digest of the jurisdiction of Philippine courts as contained in BATAS PAMBANSA
Blg. 129, as amended. for the benefit of foreign legal researchers visiting this blog.
x x x.
Section 1. Title. This Act shall be known as "The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980."
Section 2. Scope. The reorganization herein provided shall include the Court of Appeals, the Court of First
Instance, the Circuit Criminal Courts, the Juvenile and Domestic Relations Courts, the Courts of Agrarian Relations,
the City Courts, the Municipal Courts, and the Municipal Circuit Courts.
X x x.
COURT OF APPEALS

Section 3. Organization. There is hereby created a Court of Appeals which consists of a Presiding Justice and
fifty Associate Justice who shall be appointed by the President of the Philippines. The Presiding Justice shall be so
designated in his appointment, and the Associate Justice shall have precedence according to the dates of their
respective appointments, or when the appointments of two or more of them shall bear the same date, according to
the order in which their appointments were issued by the President. Any member who is reappointed to the Court
after rendering service in any other position in the government shall retain the precedence to which he was entitled
under his original appointment, and his service in the Court shall, for all intents and purposes, be considered as
continuous and uninterrupted. (as amended by Exec. Order No. 33,, July 28, 1986.)
Section 4. Exercise of powers and functions. The Court Appeals shall exercise its powers, functions, and duties,
through seventeen (17) divisions, each composed of three (3) members. The Court may sit en banc only for the
purpose of exercising administrative, ceremonial, or other non-adjudicatory functions. (as amended by Exec. Order
No. 33,.)
X x x.
COURT OF APPEALS
Section 9. Jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals shall Exercise:
1. Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, and quo warranto, and
auxiliary writs or processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;
2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgements of Regional Trial Courts; and
3. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgements, resolutions, orders or awards of Regional Trial Courts
and quasi-judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commission, including the Securities and Exchange
Commission, the Social Security Commission, the Employees Compensation Commission and the Civil Service
Commission, Except those falling within the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court in accordance with the
Constitution, the Labor Code of the Philippines under Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, the provisions of
this Act, and of subparagraph (1) of the third paragraph and subparagraph 4 of the fourth paragraph od Section 17 of
the Judiciary Act of 1948.
The court of Appeals shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and perform any and
all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original and appellate jurisdiction,
including the power to grant and conduct new trials or Appeals must be continuous and must be completed within
three (3) months, unless extended by the Chief Justice. (as amended by R.A. No. 7902.)
X x x.
Section 11. Quorum A majority of the actual members of the Court shall constitute a quorum for its session en
banc. Three members shall constitute a quorum for the session of a division. The unanimous vote of the three
members of a division shall be necessary for the pronouncement of a decision of final resolution, which shall be
reached in consultation before the writing of the opinion by any members of the division. In the event that the three
members do not reach a unanimous vote, the Presiding Justice shall request the Raffle Committee of the Court for
the designation of two additional Justice to sit temporarily with them, forming a special division of five members
and the concurrence of a majority of such division shall be necessary for the pronouncement of a decision or final
resolution. The designation of such additional Justice shall be made strictly by raffle.
A month for reconsideration of its decision or final resolution shall be resolved by the Court within ninety (90) days
from the time it is submitted for resolution, and no second motion for reconsideration from the same party shall be
entertainment. (as amended by Exec. Order No. 33, July 28, 1986.)
Section 12. Internal Rules. The court en banc is authorized to promulgate rules or orders governing the
constitution of the divisions and the assignment of Appellate Justices thereto, the distribution of cases, and other

matters pertaining to the operations of the Court of its divisions. Copies of such rules and orders shall be furnished
by the Supreme Court, which rules and orders shall be effective fifteen (15) days after receipt thereof, unless
directed otherwise by the Supreme Court.
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
X X X.
Section 19. Jurisdiction in civil cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction:
(1) In all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation;
(2) In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where the
assessed value of the property involved exceeds Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or for civil actions in Metro
Manila, where such the value exceeds Fifty thousand pesos (50,000.00) except actions for forcible entry into and
unlawful detainer of lands or buildings, original jurisdiction over which is conferred upon Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;
(3) In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where he demand or claim exceeds One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00) or , in Metro Manila, where such demand or claim exceeds Two hundred thousand pesos
(200,000.00);
(4) In all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in probate matters in Metro Manila, where such gross value exceeds Two hundred
thousand pesos (200,000.00);
(5) In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations;
(6) In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising jurisdiction or
any court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions;
(7) In all civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of a Juvenile and
Domestic Relations Court and of the Courts of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law; and
(8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation
expenses, and costs or the value of the property in controversy exceeds One hundred thousand pesos (100,000.00)
or, in such other abovementioned items exceeds Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00). (as amended by R.A.
No. 7691*)
Section 20. Jurisdiction in criminal cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original jurisdiction in
all criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body, except those now falling under
the exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan which shall hereafter be exclusively taken
cognizance of by the latter.
Section 21. Original jurisdiction in other cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise original jurisdiction:
(1) In the issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus and injunction which
may be enforced in any part of their respective regions; and
(2) In actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls.
Section 22. Appellate jurisdiction. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise appellate jurisdiction over all cases
decided by Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in their respective
territorial jurisdictions. Such cases shall be decided on the basis of the entire record of the proceedings had in the
court of origin and such memoranda and/or briefs as may be submitted by the parties or required by the Regional
Trial Courts. The decision of the Regional Trial Courts in such cases shall be appealable by petition for review to
the

Court of Appeals which may give it due course only when the petition shows prima facie that the lower court has
committed an error of fact or law that will warrant a reversal or modification of the decision or judgment sought to
be reviewed.
Section 23. Special jurisdiction to try special cases. The Supreme Court may designate certain branches of the
Regional Trial Courts to handle exclusively criminal cases, juvenile and domestic relations cases, agrarian cases,
urban land reform cases which do not fall under the jurisdiction of quasi-judicial bodies and agencies, and/or such
other special cases as the Supreme Court may determine in the interest of a speedy and efficient administration of
justice.
Section 24. Special Rules of Procedure. Whenever a Regional Trial Court takes cognizance of juvenile and
domestic relation cases and/or agrarian cases, the special rules of procedure applicable under present laws to such
cases shall continue to be applied, unless subsequently amended by law or by rules of court promulgated by the
Supreme Court.
METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS,
AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS
X x x.
Section 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in
criminal cases. Except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts and of
the Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall
exercise:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within their
respective territorial jurisdiction; and
(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding six (6) years
irrespective of the amount of fine, and regardless of other imposable accessory or other penalties, including the civil
liability arising from such offenses or predicated thereon, irrespective of kind, nature, value, or amount thereof:
Provided, however, That in offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence they shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction thereof. (as amended by R.A, No. 7691)
Section 33. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in
civil cases. Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings, testate and intestate, including the
grant of provisional remedies in proper cases, where the value of the personal property, estate, or amount of the
demand does not exceed One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in Metro Manila where such personal
property, estate, or amount of the demand does not exceed Two hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) exclusive of
interest damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs, the amount of which must be
specifically alleged: Provided, That where there are several claims or causes of action between the same or different
parties, embodied in the same complaint, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims in all the
causes of action, irrespective of whether the causes of action arose out of the same or different transactions;
(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer: Provided, That when, in such
cases, the defendant raises the question of ownership in his pleadings and the question of possession cannot be
resolved without deciding the issue of ownership, the issue of ownership shall be resolved only to determine the
issue of possession.
(3) Exclusive original jurisdiction in all civil actions which involve title to, or possession of, real property, or any
interest therein where the assessed value of the property or interest therein does not exceed Twenty thousand pesos
(P20,000.00) or, in civil actions in Metro Manila, where such assessed value does not exceed Fifty thousand pesos

(P50,000.00) exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses and costs:
Provided, That value of such property shall be determined by the assessed value of the adjacent lots. (as amended by
R.A. No. 7691)
Section 34. Delegated jurisdiction in cadastral and land registration cases. Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal
Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts may be assigned by the Supreme Court to hear and determine
cadastral or land registration cases covering lots where there is no controversy or opposition, or contested lots the
where the value of which does not exceed One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00), such value to be ascertained
by the affidavit of the claimant or by agreement of the respective claimants if there are more than one, or from the
corresponding tax declaration of the real property. Their decisions in these cases shall be appealable in the same
manner as decisions of the Regional Trial Courts. (as amended by R.A. No. 7691)
Section 35. Special jurisdiction in certain cases. In the absence of all the Regional Trial Judges in a province or
city, any Metropolitan Trial Judge, Municipal Trial Judge, Municipal Circuit Trial Judge may hear and decide
petitions for a writ of habeas corpus or applications for bail in criminal cases in the province or city where the absent
Regional Trial Judges sit.
Section 36. Summary procedures in special cases. In Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts with
at least two branches, the Supreme Court may designate one or more branches thereof to try exclusively forcible
entry and unlawful detainer cases, those involving violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations, violations of the
rental law, and such other cases requiring summary disposition as the Supreme Court may determine. The Supreme
Court shall adopt special rules or procedures applicable to such cases in order to achieve an expeditious and
inexpensive determination thereof without regard to technical rules. Such simplified procedures may provide that
affidavits and counter-affidavits may be admitted in lieu of oral testimony and that the periods for filing pleadings
shall be non-extendible.
Section 37. Preliminary investigation. Judges of Metropolitan Trial Courts, except those in the National Capital
Region, of Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall have authority to conduct preliminary
investigation of crimes alleged to have been committed within their respective territorial jurisdictions which are
cognizable by the Regional Trial Courts.
The preliminary investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Section 1,
paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d), of Presidential Decree No. 911: Provided, however, That if after the preliminary
investigation the Judge finds a prima facie case, he shall forward the records of the case to the Provincial/City Fiscal
for the filing of the corresponding information with the proper court.
No warrant of arrest shall be issued by the Judge in connection with any criminal complaint filed with him for
preliminary investigation, unless after an examination in writing and under oath or affirmation of the complainant
and his witnesses, he finds that a probable cause exists.
Any warrant of arrest issued in accordance herewith may be served anywhere in the Philippines.
Section 38. Judgments and processes.
(1) All judgments determining the merits of cases shall be in writing, stating clearly the facts and the law on which
they were based, signed by the Judge and filed with the Clerk of Court. Such judgment shall be appealable to the
Regional Trial Courts in accordance with the procedure now prescribed by law for appeals to the Court of First
Instance, by the provisions of this Act, and by such rules as the Supreme Court may hereafter prescribe.
(2) All processes issued by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts,
in cases falling within their jurisdiction, may be served anywhere in the Philippines without the necessity of
certification by the Judge of the Regional Trial Court.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 39. Appeals. The period for appeal from final orders, resolutions, awards, judgments, or decisions of any

court in all cases shall be fifteen (15) days counted from the notice of the final order, resolution, award, judgment, or
decision appealed from: Provided however, That in habeas corpus cases, the period for appeal shall be forty-eight
(48) hours from the notice of the judgment appealed from.
No record on appeal shall be required to take an appeal. In lieu thereof, the entire record shall be transmitted with all
the pages prominently numbered consecutively, together with an index of the contents thereof.
This section shall not apply in appeals in special proceedings and in other cases wherein multiple appeals are
allowed under applicable provisions of the Rules of Court.
Section 40. Form of decision in appealed cases. Every decision of final resolution of a court in appealed cases
shall clearly and distinctly state the findings of fact and the conclusions of law on which it is based, which may be
contained in the decision or final resolution itself, or adopted by reference from those set forth in the decision, order,
or resolution appealed from.
X x x.
Section 45. Shari'a Courts. Shari'a Courts to be constituted as provided for in Presidential Decree No. 1083,
otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines," shall be included in the funding
appropriations so provided in this Act.
X x x.
Section 47. Repealing clause. The provisions of Republic Act No. 296, otherwise known as the Judiciary Act of
1948, as amended, of Republic Act No. 5179 as amended, of the Rules of Court, and of all other statutes, letters of
instructions and general order or parts thereof, inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or
accordingly modified.
Section 48. Date of Effectivity. This Act shall take effect immediately.
Approved: August 14, 1981
Footnotes
*Other provisions of the Act:
"Section. 5. After five(5) years from the effectivity of this Act, the jurisdictional amounts mentioned in Sec. 19(3),
(4), and (8); and Sec. 33(1) of Batas Pambansa Blg. 129 as amended by this Act, shall be adjusted to Two hundred
thousand pesos (P200,000.00). five (5) years thereafter, such jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted further to
Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00): Provided, however, That in the case of Metro Manila, the
abovementioned jurisdictional amounts shall be adjusted after five (5) years from the effectivity of this Act of Four
hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00).
Section. 7. The provisions of this Act shall apply to all civil cases that have not yet reached the pre-trial stage.
However, by agreement of all the parties, civil cases cognizable by municipal and metropolitan courts by the
provisions of this Act may be transferred from the Regional Trial Courts to the latter. The executive judge of the
appropriate Regional Trial Court shall define the administrative procedure of transferring the cases affected by the
redefinition of jurisdiction to the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Court, and Municipal Circuit Trial
Court."
*Criminal cases falling within the jurisdiction of Family Courts (established by the Family Courts Act of 1997 [R.A.
No. 8369]) have been transferred from Metropolitan trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, Municipal trial Court in
Cities, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts to Regional trial Courts under A.M. No. 99-1-13SC effective March 1, 1999.
Posted by Philippine Laws and Cases - Manuel J. Laserna Jr. at 5:46 PM