Jurisdiction In Criminal Cases

1. SUPREME COURT
A. ORIGINAL
i.
EXCLUSIVE
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus
against the Court of Appeals & the Sandiganbayan
ii.
CONCURRENT
a.
With the Court of Appeals:
a.
petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamusagainst the Regional Trial
Court
b.
With the Court of Appeals & the Regional Trial Court
a.
petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamusagainst the lower courts
c.
With the Sandiganbayan:
a.
petitions for mandamus, prohibition certiorari,habeas corpus, injunctions and
ancillary writs in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;
b.
petitions for quo warranto arising from Executive Order #s 1, 2, 14 & 14 A
B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE
i.
BY APPEAL
a.
From the Regional Trial Court:
a.
in all criminal cases involving offenses for which the penalty is reclusion
perpetua or life imprisonment;
b.
those involving other offenses which, although not so punished, arose out of
the same occurrence or which may have been committed by the accused on the
same occasion.
b.
Automatic review in criminal cases where the death penalty is imposed.
ii.
BY PETITION FOR REVIEW ON CERTIORARI
a.
From the Court of Appeals;
b.
From the Sandiganbayan; and
c.
From the Regional Trial Court where only an error
or question of law is involved
2. COURT OF APPEALS
A. ORIGINAL

i.

EXCLUSIVE
a.
Actions for annulment of judgments of the Regional Trial Court
ii.
CONCURRENT
a.
With the Supreme Court:
a.
petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamusagainst the Regional Trial
Court
b.
With the Supreme Court & Regional Trial Court:
a.
petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamusagainst the Regional Trial
Court
B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE
i.
BY APPEAL
From the RTC in cases commenced therein, except those appealable to the Supreme
Court or the Sandiganbayan
ii.
BY PETITION FOR REVIEW
From the Regional Trial Court in cases appealed thereto from the lower courts and not
appealable to the Sandiganbayan
3. SANDIGANBAYAN
A. ORIGINAL
i.
EXCLUSIVE
a.
Violations of:
a.
Republic Act 3019
(Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act)
b.
Republic Act No. 1379
c.
Chapter 11, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code
b.
where one or more of the accused are officials occupying the following positions in
the government, whether in a permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the
commission of the offense:
c.
(1) Officials of the executive branch occupying the position of regional director
and higher (AKA Grade 27 of RA 6758), including:
a.
Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang
panlalawigan, provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers and other provincial
department heads;

b.

City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod, city

treasurers, assessors, engineers and other city department heads;
c.
Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and
higher;
d.
Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of
higher rank;
e.
Officers of the PNP while occupying the position of provincial director and
those holding the rank of senior superintendent or higher;
f.
City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and
prosecutors in the office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
g.
Presidents, directors of trustees, or managers of government owned or
controlled corporations, state universities or educational institutions or
foundations.
d.
(2) Members of Congress and officials thereof (classified as Grade 27 and higher
under the CPCA of 1989);
e.
(3) Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution;
f.
(4) Chairmen and members of the Constitutional Commissions, without
prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution; and
g.
(5) All other national and local officials (classified as Grade 27 and higher under
the CPCA of 1989)
h.
b. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes
committed in relation to their office by the public officials and employees mentioned in
Section 4(a), P.D. 1606, as amended by Republic Act 7975
i.
c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order
#s 1,2,14 and 14 A, issued in 1986
ii.
CONCURRENT
a.
With the Supreme Court:
a.
petitions for mandamus, prohibition certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions
and ancillary writs in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;
b.
petitions for quo warranto arising from Executive Order #s 1, 2, 14 & 14 A
B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE
i.
BY APPEAL

a.

From the Regional Trial Court in cases under P.D. 1606 (as amended by P.D.
1861) whether or not the cases were decided by them in the exercise of their original
or appellate jurisdictions
4. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
A. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
i.
All criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body
B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE
i.
All cases decided by lower courts in their respective territorial jurisdictions
5. METROPLOITAN, MUNICIPAL, AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS
A. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
i.
All violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within their respective territorial
jurisdictions;
ii.
All offenses punishable with imprisonment of not more than 6 years irrespective of the
amount of fine
iii.
All cases of damage to property through criminal negligence
a.
regardless of other penalties and the civil liabilities arising therefrom
iv.
All offenses committed by public officers and employees in relation to their office,
including those employed in government-owned or controlled corporations
a.
except violations of RA 3019 & RA 1379
b.
except Articles 210 212 of the Revised Penal Code
v.
All offenses committed by private individuals charged as co-principals, accomplices or
accessories
a.
punishable with imprisonment of not more than 6 years; or
b.
where none of the accused holds a position of salary Grade 27 and higher
B. SUMMARY PROCEDURE
i.
Traffic violations
ii.
Violations of the rental law
iii.
Violations of city municipal ordinances
iv.
All other offenses where the penalty does not exceed 6 months imprisonment and/or
P1,000 fine
a.
irrespective of other penalties or civil liabilities arising therefrom
v.
All offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence
a.
where the imposable fine does not exceed P10,000.-

* Based on the Judiciary Act of 1980, as amended

rganizational Structure
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Organizational Structure

At present, the Department of Justice is headed by the Secretary of Justice, assisted by three (3)
Undersecretaries and five (5) Assistant Secretaries.
The Department Proper offices and services:

National Prosecution Service

Legal Staff

Office for Competition

Office of Cybercrime

Planning and Management Service

Financial Service

Administrative Service

Technical Staff

Internal Audit Service

Attached agencies (for policy and program coordination):

Public Attorneys Office

Office of the Solicitor General

Office for Alternative Dispute Resolution

Constituent agencies/units:

National Bureau of Investigation

Bureau of Immigration

Bureau of Corrections

Board of Pardons and Parole

Parole and Probation Administration

Office of the Government Corporate Counsel

Land Registration Authority

Administratively supervised:

Presidential Commission on Good Government

Department of Justice
ORGANIZATIONAL CHART BY FUNCTIONAL CLUSTER
As of July 2015