JURISIDICTION OF COURTS IN CRIMINAL PROCEDURE

SUPREME COURT

Petition for Certiorari, Prohibition and

EXCLUSIVE Mandamus [CPM] against:
and ORIGINAL a.Court of Appeals
JURISDICTION b.Sandiganbayan

With the CA
1.Petitions for Certiorari, Prohibition
and Mandamus (CPMC) against:
CONCURREN a.RTC
T

With the RTC and CA

1.Petitions for Certiorari, Prohibition
and Mandamus (CPM) against:
a. MTC

By way of Petition for Review on

Certiorari:
APPELLATE 1.From the Court of Appeals
2.From the Sandiganbayan; and
3.From the RTC where only an error or
question of law is involved.
Note: Where the penalty imposed is
reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment,
appeal should be made to the CA and
not with the SC (People vs. Mateo, G.R.
Nos. 14678-87, July 7, 2004).
 COURT OF APPEALS
EXCLUSIVE
and ORIGINAL Crimes of Terrorism under the Human Security Act of
JURISDICTION 2007

With the SC:

1. Petitions for Certiorari, Prohibition and Mandamus
(CPM) against:
1. RTC

CONCURREN With the RTC and SC:

T 1. Petitions for Certiorari, Prohibition and Mandamus
(CPM) against:
a. MTC

By Notice of Appeal:

1. From the RTC in the exercise of its original

jurisdiction, except those appealable to the
APPELLATE Sandiganbayan, CTA, and SC; and
2. From the RTC where the penalty imposed is
reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment or where a
lesser penalty is imposed but for offenses
committed on the same occasion or which arose
out of the same occurrence that gave rise to the
more serious offense for which the penalty of
death, reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment is
imposed (RoC, Rule 22, Sec. 3, as amended by
A.M. No. 00-5-03-SC).

By Automatic Review (i.e. no notice of appeal is

necessary):

1. From the RTC, in cases where the death penalty

(or capital punishment) is imposed.

By petition of review under Rule 42: (Rule 42: Petition

for review from the RTC to the CA)

1. From the RTC, in cases appealed thereto from

lower courts and not appealable to the
Sandiganbayan.
 SANDIGANBAYAN
1. Violation of:
a. R.A. No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act);
b. R.A. No. 1379 (Ill Gotten Wealth);
c. Chapter 2, Section 2, Title 7, Book 2 of the Revised Penal
EXCLUSIVE Code (Bribery, etc) where one or more of the accused are
and ORIGINAL official occupying the following positions in the government,
JURISDICTIO whether permanent, acting, or interim capacity at the time
N of the commission of the offense:
i. Officials of the Executive branch occupying the
positions of Regional Director and higher, otherwise
classified as Grade 27 and higher of the
Compensation and Position Classification Act of
1989;
ii. Members of the Congress and officials classified as
Grade 27 and up of the Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989;
iii. Members of the Judiciary without prejudice to the
provisions of the Constitution;
iv. Chairmen and members of the Constitutional
Commissions, without prejudice to the Constitution;
and
v. All other national and local officials classified as
Grade 27 and up of the Compensation and
Position Classification Act of 1989;

NOTE: It is not only the salary grade that determines the

jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan. The salary grade has no
reference for example to the Provincial Governors, vice
governors, or members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,
Sangguniang Panlungsod, directors and managers of GOCCs,
City Mayors, Vice-Mayors, City Treasurer, Assessors, Engineers,
Trustees of State Universities and other officials enumerated in
Sec. 4(1) (a) from letters a to g of P.D. No. 1606, as amended.

2. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with

other crimes committed by the public officials and employees
mentioned in subsection (a) in relation to their office.
3. Cases filed pursuant to and in connection with E.O. Nos. 1, 2,
14 and 14-a (sequestration cases), issued in 1986.
4. Money laundering cases committed by public officers and
private persons who are in conspiracy with such public officers.

Appeal from the final judgments, resolutions, or orders of RTCs

whether in the exercise of their own jurisdiction or of their appellate
APPELLATE jurisdiction where all the accused are occupying positions lower
than salary grade 27 or not otherwise covered by the preceding
enumeration.

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

certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction, and other ancillary writs and
processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction and over petitions of
similar nature, including quo warranto, arising or that may arise in
cases filed or which may be filed under E.O. Nos. 1, 2, 14-a, issued in
1986: Provided, that the jurisdiction over these petitions shall not be
exclusive of the Supreme Court.
 REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
1. Criminal case not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court,
tribunal, or body, except those falling under the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan;
EXCLUSIVE 2. Offenses the imposable penalty for which exceeds 6 years
and ORIGINAL imprisonment;
JURISDICTIO 3. In cases where the only penalty is a fine exceeding P4,000
N (Adm. Cir 09-94);
4. Criminal cases under specific laws:
a. Written defamation
b. Jurisdiction of designated courts over cases in violation
of the Comprehensive Drugs Act of 2002 as provided in
Section 90 thereof; and
c. Violation of Intellectual Property rights.

5. All cases on money laundering except those falling under the

jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan; and
6. Election Offenses

FAMILY COURT criminal cases where:

1. One or more of the accused is/are below 18 years of age but

not less than 9 years of age; or
2. Where one of the victims is a minor at the time of the
commission of the offense;
3. Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs
Act of 2002;
4. Violations of the R.A. No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children
Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act) as
amended by R.A. No. 7658; and
5. Cases of Domestic Violence against Women and Children.

5. Actions involving title to or possession of real property or any

interest therein where assessed value or interest in real
property
Exceeds P20, 000 outside Metro Manila
Exceeds P50, 000 in Metro Manila
6. Actions the subject matter is incapable of pecuniary estimation
7. Cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal,
person or body exercising juridical or quasi-judicial functions
8. Under Sec.5.2 of Securities and Regulation Code:
a. Cases involving devices or schemes employed by or any
acts of the board of directors, business associates, its
officers or partnership, amounting to fraud and
misrepresentation
b. Controversies arising out of Intra corporate or partnership
relations;
c. Controversies in the elections or appointments of directors,
trustees, officers, or managers of corporations, partnership
or associations
d. Petitions of corporations, partnerships or associations to be
declared in a state of suspension of payments

APPELLATE All cases decided by the MTCs in their respective territorial

jurisdiction.

SPECIAL To handle EXCLUSIVELY criminal cases to be designated by the

Supreme Court.
 MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS

1. Offenses punishable with imprisonment not

EXCLUSIVE exceeding 6 years irrespective of the amount of
and ORIGINAL fine and regardless of other imposable accessory
JURISDICTIO or other penalties, including the civil liability arising
N from such offenses or predicated thereon,
irrespective of kind, nature, value or amount
thereof;

NOTE: The rules disregarding the amount of the

fine and other accessory penalties applies where
the offense is punishable by imprisonment or fine
or both, but not when the offense is punishable by
fine only.

NOTE: The jurisdiction of the MTC is qualified by

the phrase Except in cases falling within the
exclusive jurisdiction of the RTC and of the
Sandiganbayan. This indicates that the MTC does
not at all times have jurisdiction over offenses
punishable with imprisonment not exceeding 6
years if jurisdiction is vested by law either in the
RTC, e.g., libel, or Sandiganbayan, e.g., bribery.
2. Where the only penalty provided for by law is a fine
not more than P4, 000 (Adm. Cir. 09-94).
3. Offenses involving damage to property through
criminal negligence.
4. Those covered by the Rules on Summary
Procedure:
a. Violation of traffic laws, rules and regulations;
b. Violation of rental law;
c. Violation of municipal or city ordinances;
d. Violation of B.P. Blg. 22 (A.M. No. 00-11-01-
SC);
e. All other criminal cases where the penalty
imprisonment not exceeding 6 months and/or
P1, 000 fine irrespective of other penalties or
civil liabilities arising therefrom; and
f. Offenses involving damage to property
through criminal negligence where the
imposable fine does not exceed P10, 000.

SPECIAL Special Jurisdiction on applications for bail in criminal cases

in the absence of all RTC judges in a province or city (B.P.
129, Sec. 35).