SUMMARY OF JURISDICTION OF PHILIPPINE COURTS

BY MARIA ROSARIO EBREO

ORIGINAL EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE CONCURRENT SPECIAL

EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION
JURISDICTION JURISDICTION JURISDICTION JURISDICTION
ORIGINAL
JURISDICTION

The power of the The power of the The power to The power and Also called A court that has the
court to take judicial court to take judicial adjudicate a case or authority conferred coordinate or power to handle
cognizance of a case cognizance of a case proceeding to the upon a superior court confluent jurisdiction. certain cases that are
instituted for judicial instituted for judicial exclusion of all other to rehear and It is the power specified by law
action for the first time action for the first time courts at that stage. determine causes conferred upon
under the conditions under the conditions (Tan) which have been tried different courts,
provided by law, and provided by law. in lower courts, the whether of the same
to the exclusion of (Tan) cognizance which a or different ranks, to
other courts. (Tan) superior court takes take cognizance at
of a case removed to the same stage of the
it, by appeal or writ of same case in the
error, from the same or different
decision of a lower judicial territories.
court, or the review by (Tan)
a superior court of the
final judgment or
order of some
lower courts. (Tan)

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 DOCTRINE OF HIEARCHY OF COURTS

The doctrine that requires respect for the

hierarchy of courts was created by this court to
ensure that every level of the judiciary performs
its designated roles in an effective and efficient
manner. Trial courts do not only determine the
facts from the evaluation of the evidence
presented before them. They are likewise
competent to determine issues of law which may
include the validity of an ordinance, statute, or
even an executive issuance in relation to the
Constitution.67 To effectively perform these
functions, they are territorially organized into
regions and then into branches. Their writs
generally reach within those territorial
boundaries. Necessarily, they mostly perform the
all-important task of inferring the facts from the
evidence as these are physically presented
before them. In many instances, the facts occur
within their territorial jurisdiction, which properly
present the ‘actual case’ that makes ripe a
determination of the constitutionality of such
action. The consequences, of course, would be
national in scope. There are, however, some
cases where resort to courts at their level would
not be practical considering their decisions could
still be appealed before the higher courts, such as
the Court of Appeals. (The Diocese of Bacolod,
G.R. No. 205728)

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 Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in criminal cases

EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION SPECIAL JURISDICTION RULE ON SUMMARY PROCEDURE

All violations of city or municipal ordinances In the absence of all the Regional Violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations;
committed within their respective territorial Trial Judges in a province or city,
jurisdiction (BP129)  May hear and decide
petitions for a writ of habeas
All offenses punishable with imprisonment not corpus or; Violations of the rental law;
exceeding six (6) years irrespective of the amount  Applications for bail in
of fine and regardless of other imposable criminal cases in the
accessory or other penalties, including the civil province or city where the
liability arising from such offenses or predicated absent Regional Trial
thereon, irrespective of kind, nature, value, or Judges sit.
amount thereof (BP129)
Offenses involving damage to property through Violations of municipal or city ordinances;
criminal negligence (BP129)

In case what is imposed is only fine, the amount of All other criminal cases where the penalty
penalty is P4,000 or less prescribed by law for the offense charged is
imprisonment not exceeding six months, or a fine
not exceeding (P1,000.00), or both, irrespective of
other imposable penalties, accessory or
otherwise, or of the civil liability arising therefrom:

All offenses (except violations of RA 3019, RA Offenses involving damage to property through
1379, and Articles 210-212 of the RPC) committed criminal negligence, this Rule shall govern where
by public officers and employees in goccs and by the imposable fine does not exceed ten thousand
private individuals charged as co-principals, pesos (P10,000.00).
accomplices, or accessories, punishable with Violations of Batas Pambansa Bilang 22
imprisonment of not more than 6 years with a (Bouncing Checks Law);
salary grade of less than 27
Criminal cases involving minor victims who is/are
deceased at the time of filing of the information (if
penalty prescribed is not exceeding 6 years of
imprisonment) (OCA CIRCULAR NO. 106-2019)

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 Jurisdiction of REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS in criminal cases
CONCURRENT AND SPECIAL APPELLATE SPECIAL RULES
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION JURISDICTION OF PROCEDURE
ORIGINAL JURISDICTION JURIDICTION
SPECIAL LAWS Concurrent with SC, CA, Sec. 23, BP 129 Sec. 22, BP 129 Sec. 24, BP 129
 Illegal recruitment cases as penalized under and SB Handle Regional Trial Whenever a
RA8042  In the issuance of writs exclusively Courts shall exercise Regional Trial
 Violation of the provisions of certiorari, prohibition, criminal cases, appellate jurisdiction Court takes
of the Intellectual Property Code mandamus, If the over all cases cognizance of
 Violation of Environmental laws, rules and petition relates to an act decided by juvenile and
regulations (sec. 2 Rule 9 Part IV of Rules or an omission of a Metropolitan Trial domestic relation
municipal trial court or of Courts, Municipal cases and/or
of Procedure of Environmental Cases, AM
a corporation, a board, Trial Courts, and agrarian cases,
No. 09-6-8 SC)
an officer or a person Municipal Circuit the special rules of
 Dangerous Drugs Act violations (RA 9165) (Sec. 4, Rule 65 as Trial Courts in their procedure
except in case of minor violators amended by AM no. 07- respective territorial applicable under
 Omnibus Election Code violations on 7-12-SC) jurisdictions. present laws to
election offenses  Writ of Amparo The decision of the such cases shall
 LIBEL  Habeas data Regional Trial continue to be
 Cybercrime Law under RA 10175 Courts in such cases applied, unless
Criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction Concurrent with SC Juvenile and shall be appealable subsequently
of any court, tribunal, or body (Sec. 20, BP129)  In actions affecting domestic by petition for review amended by law or
ambassadors and other relations cases, to the Court of by rules of court
public ministers and Appeals which may promulgated by
consuls. (Sec. 21(2) BP give it due course the Supreme
129) only when the Court.
Criminal cases where the penalty provided by law Concurrent with SC and CA Agrarian cases, petition shows prima
exceeds 6 years of imprisonment irrespective of the  Petitions for quo facie that the lower
fine (RA7691) warranto and habeas court has committed
corpus (Sec. 21(1) BP an error of fact or law
129) that will warrant a
reversal or
modification of the
In cases where none of the accused are occupying Concurrent with MTC/MCTC Urban land decision or judgment
positions corresponding to SG27 or higher, as  Application of Protection reform cases sought to be
prescribed in RA6758, or military or PNP officers Order under Section 10, which do not fall reviewed.
mentioned above, exclusive original jurisdiction RA 9262, unless there is under the
thereof shall be vested in the proper RTC, a Fmily Court in the jurisdiction of
residence of petitioner quasi-judicial
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MTC/MCTC, as the case may be, pursuant to their bodies and
respective jurisdictions. agencies,

In cases where the only penalty provided by law is And/or such

a fine, RTC have jurisdiction if the other special
amount of the fine exceeds P4,000 cases as the
Jurisdiction over complex crimes Jurisdiction over Supreme Court
the whole complex crime must logically be lodged may determine in
with the trial court having jurisdiction to impose the the interest of a
maximum and most serious penalty imposable on speedy and
an offense forming the complex crime. A complex efficient
crime must be prosecuted integrally and the latter administration of
made the subject of multiple informations possibily justice
brought in different courts. (Cuyos v Garcia)
Criminal cases involving minor victims who is/are
deceased at the time of filing of the information (if
penalty prescribed is more than 6 years of
imprisonment) (OCA CIRCULAR NO. 106-2019)

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 Jurisdiction of SANDIGANBAYAN (PD 1606, as amended by RA 7975 and RA 8249)

APPELLATE
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION ORIGINAL AND CONCURRENT JURISDICTION
JURISDICTION

1. Violations of RA3019, RA1379, and CH2 Sec2 Title VII Book II The Concurrent with SC and CA
of RPC, where one or more of the accused are officials occupying Sandiganbayan  petitions for the issuance of
the following positions in the government whether in a permanent, shall exercise the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari,
acting or interim capacity, at the time of the commission of the exclusive habeas corpus, injunctions, and other
offense: appellate ancillary writs and processes in aid of its
A. Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions of jurisdiction over appellate jurisdiction and over petitions of
regional director and higher, otherwise classified as SG27 and final similar nature, including quo warranto, arising
higher, including: judgments, or that may arise in cases filed or which may
i. Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the resolutions or be filed under Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14
Sangguniang Panlalawigan and provincial treasurers, orders of and 14-A issued in 1986: Provided, That the
assessors, engineers, and other provincial regional trial jurisdiction over these petitions shall not be
department heads; courts exclusive of the Supreme Court.
ii. City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the Sangguniang whether in the  Petitions for issuance of writ of amparo (sec.3
Panglunsod and city treasurers, assessors, engineers, and exercise of AM no 07-9-12-SC)
other city department heads; their own  Over petition for habeas data (sec.3 AM No.
original 08-1-16 SC)
iii. Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position
jurisdiction or
of consul and
of their Concurrent with SC, CA and RTC
higher;
appellate  Petitions for writ of amparo and writ of
iv. Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains,
jurisdiction as habeas data when action concerns public
and all officers of higher rank;
herein data files of government offices (sec.3 AM
v. Officers of the PNP, while occupying the position of provided. No. 079-12-SC or The Rule on the Writ of
provincial director and those holding the rank of senior
Amparo)
superintendent or higher;
 Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and
vi. City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and mandamus, relating to an act or omission of
officials and prosecutors in the Office of the a Municipal Trial Court, corporation, board,
Ombudsman and special prosecutor; officer, or person (Sec. 4 Rule 65 as
vii. Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of GOCCs, amended by AM No. 07-7-12-SC)
state universities or educational institutions or foundations;

B. Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as

SG27 and higher C. Members of the judiciary without prejudice
to the provisions of the Constitution

D. Chairmen and members of

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 Constitutional Commissions, without prejudice to the provisions
of the Constitution

E. Other national and local officials

classified as SG27 and higher

2. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with

other crimes committed by the public officials and employees
mentioned in (1)

3. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection

with EO 1, 2, 14, 14-A issued in 1986

4. Violations of RA9160 (AMLA) when committed by public

officers and private persons who are in conspiracy with such public
officers.

Original and exclusive jurisdiction of the SB over recovery and

sequestration of ill-gotten wealth of the Marcoses and associates
under EO 1, 2, 14, 14-A

EO 1 – refers to cases of recovery and sequestration of ill-gotten

wealth amassed by the Marcoses, their relatives, subordinates, and
close associates, directly or through nominees, by taking undue
advantage of their public office and/or by using their powers,
authority, influence, connections, or relationships.

EO 2 – states that all ill-gotten wealth includes assets and

properties in the form of estates and real properties in the
Philippines and abroad.

EO 14 & 14-A – pertain to the Sandiganbayan’s

jurisdiction over criminal and civil cases relative to the ill-gotten
wealth of the Marcoses and their cronies.

 Those enumerated are subject to the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan REGARDLESS of salary grade.
If not specifically enumerated, Salary Grade matters to determine whether under the jurisdiction of SB.
 Rule: NO SPLIT JURISDICTION in cases of private individuals in conspiracy with public officers aforementioned

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 Jurisdiction of COURT OF TAX APPEALS (RA 9282)

EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE JURISDICTION

a. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in
tax cases originally decided by them, in their respected territorial jurisdiction.
Exclusive original jurisdiction over all criminal
offenses arising from violations of the National b. Over petitions for review of the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial
Internal Revenue Code or Tariff and Customs Courts in the exercise of their appellate jurisdiction over tax cases originally decided by
Code and other laws administered by the Bureau the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in
of Internal Revenue or the Bureau of Customs: their respective jurisdiction.
Provided, however, That offenses or felonies
mentioned in this paragraph where the principal c. Jurisdiction over tax collection cases as herein provided:
amount of taxes and fees, exclusive of charges and
penalties, claimed is less than One million pesos 1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in tax collection cases involving final and executory
(P1,000,000.00) or where there is no specified assessments for taxes, fees, charges and penalties: Provided, however, That collection
amount claimed shall be tried by the regular Courts cases where the principal amount of taxes and fees, exclusive of charges and penalties,
and the jurisdiction of the CTA shall be appellate. claimed is less than One million pesos (P1,000,000.00) shall be tried by the proper
Municipal Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court and Regional Trial Court.
Any provision of law or the Rules of Court to the
contrary notwithstanding, the criminal action and 2. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in tax collection cases:
the corresponding civil action for the recovery of
civil liability for taxes and penalties shall at all times a. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial
be simultaneously instituted with, and jointly Courts in tax collection cases originally decided by them, in their respective
determined in the same proceeding by the CTA, territorial jurisdiction.
the filing of the criminal action being deemed to
necessarily carry with it the filing of the civil action, b. Over petitions for review of the judgments, resolutions or orders of the Regional
and no right to reserve the filling of such civil action Trial Courts in the Exercise of their appellate jurisdiction over tax collection cases
separately from the criminal action will be originally decided by the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and
recognized. Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, in their respective jurisdiction.

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 Jurisdiction of COURT OF APPEALS

ORIGINAL AND CONCURRENT EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE

EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
JURISDICTION JURISDICTION

Sec 9. BP 129: Sec 9. BP 129: Sec 9. BP 129:

Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for Original jurisdiction to issue writs Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all
annulment of judgements of Regional Trial Courts; of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, final judgements, resolutions, orders
habeas corpus, and quo warranto, and or awards of Regional Trial Courts
auxiliary writs or processes, whether or and quasi-judicial agencies,
not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction; instrumentalities, boards or
commission, including the Securities
and Exchange Commission, the
Social Security Commission, the
AM No. 07-9-12-SC: Writ of Amparo Employees Compensation
AM No. 08-1-16-SC: Habeas data Commission and the Civil Service
Commission, Except those falling
Sec 4 AM 05-11-04-SC: Petition for freeze within the appellate jurisdiction of the
order on any monetary instrument, Supreme Court in accordance with the
property, or proceeds relating to or Constitution, the Labor Code of the
involving any unlawful activity as defined Philippines under Presidential Decree
under Sec 3(j) of RA9160 as amended by No. 442, as amended, the provisions
RA9194 of this Act, and of subparagraph (1) of
the third paragraph and subparagraph
4 of the fourth paragraph of Section 17
of the Judiciary Act of 1948.

Nature: It is primarily designed as an appellate court Concurrent with SC, SB, RTC PROCEDURE ON APPEAL:
that reviews the determination of facts and law made over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, (refer to Rule 122, Rules of Court)
by the trial courts. It is collegiate in nature. This nature mandamus, quo warranto, injunction, 1. By Ordinary Appeal
ensures standpoints in the review of the actions of the habeas corpus, amparo, and data. 2. By Petition for review
trial court. But the CA also has original jurisdiction 3. Automatic review of the
over most special civil actions. Unlike the trial decisions of RTC when the
courts, its writs can have a nationwide scope. It is penalty imposed is death,
competent to determine facts and ideally, should act reclusion perpetua, or life
on constitutional issues that may not necessarily be imprisonment
novel unless there are factual questions to determine.
(The Diocese of Bacolod v Comelec)

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 Jurisdiction of SUPREME COURT

EXCLUSIVE
ORIGINAL CONCURRENT JURISDICTION APPELLATE JURISDICTION
JURISDICTION
Exercise original Concurrent with CA, SB and RTC: By way of petition for review on certiorari (Sec. 5, par.2, Article VIII of the 1987
jurisdiction over cases Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, under Rule 45 of the 1997 Rules of Civil Constitution)
affecting ambassadors, mandamus, habeas corpus, writ of Procedure in relation to Rule 125 of the
other public ministers amparo, and habeas data. RRCP: Review, revise, reverse, modify, or
and consuls, and over 1. Decision, final order or resolution by the affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the
petitions for certiorari, CA (under Rule 45) law or the Rules of Court may provide,
prohibition, mandamus, Limitations: final judgments and orders of lower
quo warranto, and Despite concurrence, it does not 2. Decisions, resolutions, or orders by the courts in:
habeas corpus. (Sec. 5, give petitioner unrestricted freedom Sandiganbayan (under PD1606 as
par.1, Article VIII of the of choice of court forum. The amended by RA 7975 and RA8249) (a) All cases in which the
1987 Constitution) rationale is two-fold: constitutionality or validity of any
1. It would be an imposition upon 3. Decisions, resolutions, or orders of the treaty, international or executive
the precious time of the Court CTA en banc (pursuant to Sec11 of agreement, law, presidential decree,
RA9282 in relation to Rule 45) proclamation, order, instruction,
2. It would cause an inevitable and ordinance, or regulation is in question.
resultant delay, intended or 4. Decisions, resolutions, or orders of the
otherwise, in the adjudication of the RTCs on purely question of law (b) All cases involving the legality of
case, which in some instances had to any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or
be remanded or referred to the lower 5. Decision of the Shari’ah Appellate any penalty imposed in relation
court as the proper forum under the thereto.
Courts
rules of procedure, or as better
equipped to resolve the issues 6. Decisions, resolutions, or orders of CA, (c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of
because the SC is not a trier of facts SB, and RTC in petition for writ of any lower court is in issue.
(CREBA v Sec of Agrarian Reform) amparo filed in a pending criminal case
(d) All criminal cases in which the
penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua
7. Decisions, resolutions, or orders of CA,
or higher.
SB and RTC in a petition for habeas
data filed in a pending criminal case
(e) All cases in which only an error or
question of law is involved.

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 FAMILY COURTS’S ACT OF 1997: REPUBLIC ACT NO. 8369

The Family Courts shall have EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL JURISDICTION to hear and decide the following cases:

a) Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is below h) Petitions for the constitution of the family home;
eighteen (18) years of age but not less than nine (9) years of
age but not less than nine (9) years of age or where one or more i) Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs
of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the Act, as amended;
offense: Provided, that if the minor is found guilty, the court shall
promulgate sentence and ascertain any civil liability which the j) Violations of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as
accused may have incurred. the "Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse,
Exploitation and Discrimination Act," as amended by Republic
The sentence, however, shall be suspended without need of Act No. 7658; and
application pursuant to Presidential Decree No. 603, otherwise
known as the "Child and Youth Welfare Code"; k) Cases of domestic violence against:

b) Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, habeas 1) Women - which are acts of gender based violence
corpus in relation to the latter; that results, or are likely to result in physical, sexual or
psychological harm or suffering to women; and other
c) Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof; forms of physical abuse such as battering or threats and
coercion which violate a woman's personhood, integrity
d) Complaints for annulment of marriage, declaration of nullity and freedom movement; and
of marriage and those relating to marital status and property
relations of husband and wife or those living together under 2) Children - which include the commission of all forms
different status and agreements, and petitions for dissolution of of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation, violence, and
conjugal partnership of gains; discrimination and all other conditions prejudicial to their
development.
e) Petitions for support and/or acknowledgment;
If an act constitutes a criminal offense, the accused or batterer shall be
f) Summary judicial proceedings brought under the provisions subject to criminal proceedings and the corresponding penalties.
of Executive Order No. 209, otherwise known as the "Family
Code of the Philippines"; If any question involving any of the above matters should arise as an
incident in any case pending in the regular courts, said incident shall be
g) Petitions for declaration of status of children as abandoned, determined in that court.
dependent o neglected children, petitions for voluntary or
involuntary commitment of children; the suspension,
termination, or restoration of parental authority and other cases
cognizable under Presidential Decree No. 603, Executive Order
No. 56, (Series of 1986), and other related laws;

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