Summary of Jurisdiction of Philippine Courts

Remedial law reviewer

JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS

JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME COURT
1. ORIGINAL jurisdiction over cases involving ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls; petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo
warranto and habeas corpus (concurrent with RTC).
2. Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal or certiorari, final
judgments of lower courts in:
Cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or
executive agreement, law, decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance
or regulation is in question;
Cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any
penalty imposed thereto;
Cases involving the jurisdiction of lower courts;
All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion
perpetua or higher;
All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved.

1.

2. EXCLUSIVE original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgments

of RTCs.
3. EXCLUSIVE appellate jurisdiction over all final judgments, decisions,
resolutions, orders or awards of RTCs and quasi-judicial agencies, bodies, or
commissions,
EXCEPT those which fall within the appellate jurisdiction of the SC, namely:
a. COMELEC;
b. Commission on Audit;
c. Sandiganbayan.

JURISDICTION OF THE REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

I. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
A. CIVIL CASES
Cases where the subject of the litigation is incapable of pecuniary
estimation;
Involving the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest
therein, where the assessed value of the property involved exceeds P20,000/
P50,000, EXCEPT actions for forcible entry and unlawful detainer;

JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF APPEALS

All actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand

or claim exceeds P200,000/P400,000;

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 (concurrent with SC and RTCs)

Probate proceedings, both testate and intestate, where the gross

value of the estate P200,000/P400,000;

In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations;

In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal,
person or body exercising jurisdiction;
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

II. ORIGINAL
*
Issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto,
habeas corpus and injunction which may be enforced in any part of their
respective regions (concurrent with SC and CA).
*
In actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and
consuls (concurrent with SC).

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 P200,000/P400,000;
B. CRIMINAL CASES

*
Over offenses committed NOT in relation with public office with
imprisonment exceeding 6 years committed by public officers classified as
salary grade 27 or higher

All criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court,
tribunal, or body EXCEPT those within the jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan.

*
Over election contests for municipal offices.
Pre-week reviewer in remedial law,
III. APPELLATE

N.B. RTC has jurisdiction over criminal cases where the penalty
imposable:

All cases decided by the lower courts (MTCs) in their respective

territorial jurisdictions.

Exceeds 4 years 2 mos 1 day imprisonment,

irrespective of fine
Exceeds fine of P4000, if only a fine is imposable
Manzano vs. Valera
Libel is punishable by prision correcional in its minimum and medium
periods. R.A. 7691 places jurisdiction over criminal cases where the penalty
is 6 years or less with the MTCs. However, Art. 360 of the RPC gives
jurisdiction over libel cases to the RTC. Special law (RPC) must prevail over
general laws (RA 7691). Also, from the provisions of R.A. 7691, there is no
manifest intent to repeal or alter the jurisdiction in libel cases.

NOTE: no trial de novo; case is decided on the basis of decision and

supporting affidavits.

JURISDICTION OF THE FAMILY COURTS (R.A. 8369)

Family Courts shall have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and
decide the following cases:
Criminal cases where:
One or more of the accused is below eighteen (18) years of age but not less
than nine (9) years of age, OR

One or more of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the
offense.
Provided, That if the minor is found guilty, the court shall promulgate
sentence and ascertain any civil liability which the accused may have
incurred. The sentence, however, shall be suspended without need of
application pursuant to the "Child and Youth Welfare Code";
Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, habeas corpus in relation to
the latter;

The suspension, termination, or restoration of parental authority and other

cases cognizable under "Child and Youth Welfare Code", Executive Order
No. 56, (Series of 1986), and other related laws;
Petitions for the constitution of the family home;
Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs Act, as
amended;
Violations of Republic Act No. 7610, otherwise known as the "Special
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination
Act," as amended by Republic Act No. 7658; and

Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;

Complaints [for]:
Annulment of marriage
Declaration of nullity of marriage
Those relating to marital status and property relations of:

Husband and wife OR

Those living together under different status and agreements, AND
Petitions for dissolution of conjugal partnership of gains;
Petitions for support and/or acknowledgment;
Summary judicial proceedings brought under the provisions of the "Family
Code of the Philippines";
Petitions for:
Declaration of status of children as

Abandoned
Dependent OR
Neglected children
Voluntary or involuntary commitment of children;

Cases of domestic violence against:

Women
Acts of gender based violence that results, or are likely to result in physical,
sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women; and other forms of
physical abuse such as battering or threats and coercion which violate a
woman's personhood, integrity and freedom of movement; AND

Children

Includes the commission of all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty, exploitation,

violence, and discrimination and all other conditions prejudicial to their
development.

If an act constitutes a criminal offense, the accused shall be subject to

criminal proceedings and the corresponding penalties.
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 determined in
that court.

Decisions and orders of the court shall be appealed in the same manner and
subject to the same conditions as appeals from the ordinary Regional Trial
Courts.

JURISDICTION OF THE MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS, METROPOLITAN TRIAL

COURTS AND THE MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS
A. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
1. CIVIL CASES
Civil actions and probate proceedings, testate and intestate, including the
grant of provisional remedies where the demand, exclusive of interest,
damages, attorneys fees and costs, does not exceed P100,000/200,000.
Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful
detainer; issue of ownership resolved only to determine issue of possession.
After lapse of 1 year, MTC loses jurisdiction, and case becomes one for
recovery of possession de jure (accion publicicana), although MTC may still
have jurisdiction if value of property does not exceed P20,000/50,000.

Actions involving personal property valued at not more than

P100,000/200,000.
Actions involving title or possession of real property where the assessed
value does not exceed P20,000/50,000.
2. CRIMINAL CASES

Violations of city or municipal ordinances.

*
All offenses punishable with not more than 4 years 2 mos 1 day
imprisonment, irrespective of fine.
*

All offenses punishable by only a fine of not more than P4,000.

*
Offenses involving damage to property through criminal
negligence.
3. ELECTION CASES

Offense of failure to register or failure to vote.

Election contests for barangay offices.
B. DELEGATED JURISDICTION in cadastral and land registration
cases covering:
1. Lots where there is no controversy or opposition; OR
2. Contested lots the value of which does not exceed P100,000.
decisions of the MTC in these cases are appealable to the CA

Summary Procedure
Cases Applicable
A. CIVIL CASES

All cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer irrespective of

amount of damages or unpaid rentals; without question of ownership;

attorneys fees not exceeding P20,000 if quieting of ownership;

resolved to determine question of possession.
Other civil cases EXCEPT probate proceedings, where the total
amount of the claim does not exceed P10,000, exclusive of interest
and cost.
B. CRIMINAL CASES

*Violation of traffic laws, rules, regulations

Motions for new trial, reconsideration, re-opening

Petition for relief from judgment

Motion for extension of time to file pleadings, affidavits

Memoranda

*
Petition for certiorari, mandamus, and prohibition against any
interlocutory order issued by the court

*Violation of rental laws

Motion to declare defendant in default

*Violations of city or municipality ordinances

Dilatory motion for postponement

*All other criminal cases where the penalty does not exceed 6 months or a
fine of P1000 or both, irrespective of other imposable penalties or of the
amount of civil liability

Reply

Third-party complaints

*Damage to property through criminal negligence where the fine does not
exceed P10,000.

Motion for intervention

Prohibited pleadings and motions

*
Motion to dismiss or quash EXCEPT for lack of jurisdiction over
subject matter or
*
failure to comply with Katarungang Pambarangay (LGC)
requirements
*

Motion for bill of particulars

JURISDICTION
(HLURB)

OF THE

HOUSING

AND

LAND USE REGULATORY BOARD

EXCLUSIVE jurisdiction over

*

Unsound real estate business practices

*
Claims involving refund and any other claims filed by subdivision
lot or condominium unit buyer against the project owner, developer, dealer,
broker, or salesman

*
Cases involving specific performance of contractual and statutory
obligations filed by buyers of subdivision lots or condominium units against
the owner, developer, dealer, broker, or salesman

JURISDICTION OF THE KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY (UNDER

GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991)

THE

LOCAL

1. No complaint, petition, action or proceeding involving any matter within the

authority of the lupon shall be filed or instituted directly in court or any other
government office for adjudication, unless:
There has been a confrontation between the parties before the lupon
chairman or pangkat, AND
That no conciliation or settlement has been reached as certified by the
lupon/pangkat secretary as attested to by lupon chairman or pangkat
chairman, or unless such settlement has been repudiated by the parties
thereto

Where the dispute involves real properties located in different cities

and municipalities, unless the parties thereto agree to submit their difference
to amicable settlement by an appropriate Lupon;
Any complaint by or against corporations, partnerships or juridical
entities, since only individuals shall be parties to Barangay conciliation
proceedings either as complainants or respondents (Sec. 1, Rule VI,
Katarungang Pambarangay Rules);
Disputes involving parties who actually reside in barangays of
different cities or municipalities, EXCEPT:

Where such barangay units adjoin each other, AND

*
The parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable
settlement by an appropriate Lupon;

2. Disputes subject to Conciliation Requirement: All disputes between parties

actually residing in the same city or municipality

Offenses for which the law prescribes a maximum penalty of

imprisonment exceeding one (1) year or a fine over five thousand pesos
(P5,000.00);
Offenses where there is no private offended party;

HOWEVER, the court in which non-criminal cases not falling within the
authority of the Lupon may, at any time before trial, refer the case to the
lupon for amicable settlement.

Disputes where urgent legal action is necessary to prevent injustice

from being committed or further continued, specifically the following:

3. EXCEPTIONS TO CONCILIATION REQUIREMENT (SC Circular 14-93)

Where one party is the government, or any subdivision or
instrumentality thereof;
Where one party is a public officer or employee, and the dispute
relates to the performance of his official functions;

*
Criminal cases where accused is under police custody or
detention;
*
Petitions for habeas corpus by a person illegally deprived of his rightful
custody over another or a person illegally deprived of his liberty or one acting
in his behalf;

*
Actions coupled with provisional remedies such as preliminary injunction,
attachment, delivery of personal property and support during the pendency of
the action; AND
*

workplace

Actions which may be barred by the Statute of Limitations.

Any class of disputes which the President may determine in the

interest of justice or upon the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice;
Where the dispute arises from the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform
Law (CARL) (Sections. 46 & 47, R.A. 6657);
Labor disputes or controversies arising from employer-employee
relations (Montoya vs. Escayo, et al., 171 SCRA 442; Art. 226, Labor Code,
as amended, which grants original and exclusive jurisdiction over conciliation
and mediation of disputes, grievances or problems to certain offices of the
Department of Labor and Employment);
Actions to annul judgment upon a compromise, which may be filed
directly in court.
*

Disputes arising at the workplace where Barangay where such

the contending parties are employed, or at institution is located
the institution where such parties are
enrolled for study

VENUE OF PROCEEDINGS:

Parties reside in same barangay

Parties reside in different barangays
Disputes involving real property or interest
therein

5. EFFECT OF NON-COMPLIANCE:
Dismissal upon motion of defendants for failure to state cause of
action or prematurity; OR
Suspension of proceedings upon petition and referral of case motu
proprio to appropriate barangay authority.
6. PROCEDURE FOR AMICABLE SETTLEMENT:
*
Complainant pays appropriate filing fees, and shall complain, orally
or in writing, to the lupon chairman of the barangay;

Venue
Situation

Objections to venue shall be raised in the mediation proceedings before the

punong barangay; otherwise, they are deemed waived. Legal questions that
might arise in resolving such objections before the punong barangay are to
be submitted to the Secretary of the DOJ, whose ruling shall be binding.

*
Lupon chairman shall make attempts at mediation; if he fails within
15 days from date of first meeting, he shall set a date for the constitution of a
pangkat ng tagapagsundo (3 members; chosen by the parties from the list of
That barangay
the members of the lupon)
Barangay where respondent, or any of the
respondents, actually resides, at the option
*
Pangkat shall have power to issue summons, and shall hear both
of the complainant
parties and their witnesses, and attempt to arrive at an amicable settlement.
Barangay where property is situated Within 15 days from the day it convenes, it shall arrive at said settlement or
resolution of the dispute.

or

8. EXECUTION OF AMICABLE SETTLEMENT:

During the 15-day period when the dispute is under mediation, the
prescriptive periods for offenses, and for causes of action shall be interrupted
upon filing of the complaint with the punong barangay. Said interruption shall
not exceed 60 days from said filing.

In all proceedings, parties must appear in person without the assistance of

counsel or representatives, EXCEPT for minors and incompetents who may
be assisted by their next-of-kin who are not lawyers.
7. Amicable settlement shall have the force and effect of a final judgment upon
the expiration of 10 days from date of amicable settlement, unless:
a. It is repudiated, or

Repudiation must be done within 10 days, by filing a sworn

statement with the lupon chairman;
The grounds for repudiation are vitiation of consent by fraud, violence or
intimidation;
Such repudiation is a sufficient basis for the issuance of a certification for
filing a complaint with the court.
b. A petition to nullify the settlement is filed in the proper city or municipal court
The settlement agreed upon does not have the force and effect of a final
judgment when the dispute is not within jurisdiction of the lupon but submitted
to it. In this case, the compromise agreed upon by the parties before the
lupon/pangkat chair shall be submitted to the court and upon approval
thereof, shall have the force and effect of a judgment of said court.

a. Within 6 months from date of settlement: by the lupon.

b. Thereafter, by action in the appropriate city of municipal court
9. CERTIFICATION OF BARANGAY AUTHORITIES (for filing a complaint in court) shall
be issued only upon complying with the following requirements:
Issued by lupon secretary and attested by lupon chairman/ punong
barangay, that confrontation took place and conciliation settlement was
reached, but subsequently repudiated.
Issued by pangkat secretary and attested by pangkat chairman, that:
There was a confrontation but no settlement; OR

There was no personal confrontation without any fault on the part

of the complainant.
Issued by the Punong Barangay, as requested by the proper party,
on the ground of failure of settlement, where the dispute involves members of
the same indigenous cultural community, which shall be settled in accordance
with the customs and traditions of that particular cultural community, or where
one or more of the parties to the aforesaid dispute belong to the minority and
the parties mutually agreed to submit their dispute to the indigenous system
of amicable settlement, and there has been no settlement as certified by the
datu or tribal leader or elder, to the Punong Barangay of the place of
settlement.
If mediation or conciliation proved unsuccessful before punong barangay
there having been no agreement reached to conciliate, OR respondent failed
to appear before punong barangay, Punong Barangay shall not issue the

certification (because now mandatory for him to constitute the Pangkat before
whom mediation, conciliation, or arbitration proceedings shall be held.)

Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and

higher;

JURISDICTION OF THE SANDIGANBAYAN

Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of
higher rank;

Officers of the Philippine National Police while occupying the position of

provincial director and those holding the rank of senior superintendent or
higher;
City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and
prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;

ORIGINAL
Violations of:
Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act;

R.A. 1379 (An Act Declaring Forfeiture in Favor of the State of

Any Property Found to Have Been Unlawfully Acquired By Any Public
Officer or Employee and Providing for the Proceedings Therefor); or

Title VII, Chapter II, 2 of the RPC (i.e., Articles 210-212 of

RPC)

*
higher

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:

*
Members of the Judiciary, without prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution (on impeachment)

*
Officials of executive branch occupying positions classified as Grade
27 or higher, specifically including:
*

Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of government-owned or

controlled corporations, state universities or educational institutions or
foundations;

Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang

panlalawigan and provincial treasurers, assessors, engineers and other
provincial department heads;

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

city treasurers, assessors, engineers and other city department heads;

Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as Grade 27 or

*
Chairmen and members of the Constitutional Commissions, without
prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution
*
or

All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 or higher;

Other offenses or felonies, committed by public officials and

employees mentioned in #1, in relation to their office, whether simple or
complexed with other crimes
Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A series of 1986.

Petitions for the issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari,

habeas corpus, injunctions and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of
its appellate jurisdiction: provided, that the jurisdiction over these petitions
shall not be exclusive of the Supreme Court and over petitions of similar
nature, including quo warranto, arising or that may arise in cases failed or
which may be filed under Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A (concurrent
with SC)

If the last element, namely, in relation to his office is absent or is not

alleged in the information, the crime committed falls within the
exclusive original jurisdiction of ordinary courts and not the SB.
The offense is committed in relation to the office if the offense is intimately
connected with the office of the offender and perpetuated while he was in the
performance of his official functions, or when the crime cannot exist without
the office, or the office is a constituent element of the crime as defined in the
statute.

*
Private individuals charged as co-principals, accomplices or
accessories with the public officers or employees, including those employed
in GOCCs, shall be tried jointly with said public officers and employees in the
proper courts which shall exercise exclusive jurisdiction over them.
*
Any provisions of law or Rules of Court to the contrary
notwithstanding, the criminal action and the corresponding civil action for the
recovery of civil liability arising from the offense charged shall at all times be
simultaneously instituted with, and jointly determined in, the same proceeding
by the Sandiganbayan or the appropriate court, and no right to reserve the
filing of such civil action separately from the criminal action shall be
recognized.
*

Decisions of the Sandiganbayan:

a. Appealable to the SC by petition for review on certiorari raising

pure questions of law in accordance with Rule 45 of the Rules of Court;
b. If SB imposes penalty of reclusion perpetua or higher, the decision shall be
appealable to the SC by Notice of Appeal;

B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE
If none of the principal accused are occupying positions of grade 27 or higher,
original jurisdiction will be with either the MTC or RTC; SB will exercise
exclusive appellate jurisdiction on said cases.
The procedure prescribed in BP Blg. 129, as well as the implementing rules
that the Supreme Court has promulgated and may hereafter promulgate,
relative to appeals/petitions for review to the Court of Appeals shall apply to
appeals and petitions for review filed with the Sandiganbayan.
C. NOTES:

c. If penalty imposed is death, review by the Supreme Court shall be

automatic, whether or not the accused filed an appeal.
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF TAX APPEALS
EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE JURISDICTION over:
*
Decisions of the Collector of Internal Revenue in cases involving
disputed assessments, refunds of taxes, fees or other charges, penalties
imposed in relation thereto, or other matters arising under the NIRC;

*
Decisions of the Commissioner of Customs in cases involving liability for
customs duties, fees or other money charges; seizure, detention or release of
property affected; fines, forfeitures, or other matters arising penalties imposed
in relation thereto; and other matters arising under the Customs Law; and
*
Decisions of provincial or city Boards of Assessment Appeals in cases
involving the assessment and taxation of real property or other matters
arising under the Assessment Law.
Jao v. CA (reiterated in Bureau of Customs v. Ogario, March 2000)

RTCs are devoid of any competence to pass upon the validity or regularity of
seizure and forfeiture proceedings conducted by the Bureau of Customs and
to enjoin or otherwise interfere with these proceedings. The Collector of
Customs sitting in seizure and forfeiture proceedings has exclusive
jurisdiction to hear and determine all questions touching on the seizure and
forfeiture of dutiable goods. The Regional Trial Courts are precluded from
assuming cognizance over such matters even through petitions of certiorari,
prohibition or mandamus. The proper remedy is to appeal to the
Commissioner of Customs and thereafter to the Court of Tax Appeals.