Jurisdiction- the power and authority of the
court to hear, try and decide a case; the
power to enforce its determination, as the
judgement or decree is the end for which
the jurisdiction is exercised, and it is only
through the judgement and its execution
that the power of the court is made
efficacious and its jurisdiction complete.
-Jurisdiction is the power of the court, not
the judge
Test of Jurisdiction- whether the court has
the power to enter inquiry
-Jurisdiction over subject matter cannot be
waived, enlarged or diminished by
stipulation of the parties
Error of judgement-one which the court
may commit in exercise of jurisdiction;
correctible by appeal
Error of jurisdiction- one where the act
complained of was issued by the court
without or in excess of jurisdiction;
correctible only by the extraordinary writ
of certiorari under Rule 65
-Any judgement without jurisdiction is a
total nullity and may be struck down
anytime, even on appeal; the only
exception is when the party raising the
issue is barred by estoppel
Jurisdiction over the subject matter
Subject matter- item with respect to which
the controversy has arisen, or concerning
which the wrong has been done, and it is
ordinarily the right, the thing, or the
contract under dispute
How jurisdiction over the subject matter is
conferred
Constitution, for SC
Statutes, for other courts
How jurisdiction over the subject matter is
determined
-by allegations of the complaint regardless
of whether or not the plaintiff is entitled to
his claims asserted therein
Jurisdiction over the parties
Plaintiff: acquired by filing of the
complaint or petition; XPN- if no juridical
capacity, it will not confer jurisdiction; XPN
to the XPN- when equitable justice
demands or when barred by estoppel
Defendant: obtained by a valid service of
summons upon him or by his voluntary
submission to the courts authority;
required only in an action in personam;
when his appearance is to question the
jurisdiction- not considered as voluntary
submission
Jurisdiction over the issue
Issue- disputed point or question to which
the parties to an action have narrowed
down their several allegations and upon
which they are desirous of obtaining a
decision
How jurisdiction over the issue is
conferred and determined
It is conferred and determined by the
pleadings of the parties
It may also be conferred by waiver or
failure to object to the presentation of
evidence on a matter not raised in the
pleadings
Jurisdiction over the res
-jurisdiction over the thing or property
which is the subject of the action
-acquired by the court by placing the
property or thing under its custody
General jurisdiction-those with
competence to decide on their own
jurisdiction and to take cognizance of all
cases, civil and criminal of a particular
nature
Special jurisdiction- those which have only
special jurisdiction for a particular purpose
or are clothed with special powers for the
performance of specified duties beyond
which they have no authority of any kind
Original jurisdiction- courts exercising
jurisdiction in the first instance
Appellate jurisdiction- superior courts
reviewing and deciding cases previously
decided by a lower court
Exclusive jurisdiction- where one court has
the power to try a case to the exclusion of
other courts
Concurrent jurisdiction- where two or more
courts have jurisdiction over a specific
case
Jurisdiction over 1st level courts
BP 129, 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)
BP 129, 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)
BP 129, 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.
Civil Cases on Summary Procedure,
Sec. 1A
(1) All cases of forcible entry and unlawful
detainer, irrespective of the amount of
damages or unpaid rentals sought to be
recovered. Where attorney's fees are
awarded, the same shall not exceed
twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00).
(2) All other civil cases, except probate
proceedings, where the total amount of
the plaintiff's claim does not exceed ten
thousand pesos (P10,000.00), exclusive of
interest and costs.

RTC Jurisdiction
BP 129, 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*)
Concurrent jurisdiction of RTC
BP 129, 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.
BP129, 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.
Jurisdiction of Family Courts
Family Courts Act of 1997 (RA 8369)
Section 5. Jurisdiction of family
Courts. - 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 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 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 Presidential Decree No. 603,
otherwise known as the "Child and Youth
Welfare Code";
b) Petitions for guardianship, custody of
children, habeas corpus in relation to the
latter;
c) Petitions for adoption of children and
the revocation thereof;
d) Complaints for annulment of marriage,
declaration of nullity of marriage and
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;
e) Petitions for support and/or
acknowledgment;
f) Summary judicial proceedings brought
under the provisions of Executive Order
No. 209, otherwise known as the "Family
Code of the Philippines";
g) Petitions for declaration of status of
children as abandoned, 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;
h) Petitions for the constitution of the
family home;
i) Cases against minors cognizable under
the Dangerous Drugs Act, as amended;
j) 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
k) Cases of domestic violence against:
1) Women - which are 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 movement; and
2) Children - which include 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 or batterer 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.
Section 7. Special Provisional
Remedies. - In cases of violence among
immediate family members living in the
same domicile or household, the Family
Court may issue a restraining order
against the accused of defendant upon
verified application by the complainant or
the victim for relief from abuse.
The court may order the temporary
custody of children in all civil actions for
their custody. The court may also order
support pendente lite, including deduction
from the salary and use of conjugal home
and other properties in all civil actions for
support.
Jurisdiction of CTA
RA 9282, Sec. 7 Jurisdiction. - The CTA
shall exercise:
"a. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction to
review by appeal, as herein provided:
"1. Decisions of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue in cases involving
disputed assessments, refunds of internal
revenue taxes, fees or other charges,
penalties in relation thereto, or other
matters arising under the National Internal
Revenue or other laws administered by
the Bureau of Internal Revenue;
"2. Inaction by the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue in cases involving
disputed assessments, refunds of internal
revenue taxes, fees or other charges,
penalties in relations thereto, or other
matters arising under the National Internal
Revenue Code or other laws administered
by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, where
the National Internal Revenue Code
provides a specific period of action, in
which case the inaction shall be deemed a
denial;
"3. Decisions, orders or resolutions of the
Regional Trial Courts in local tax cases
originally decided or resolved by them in
the exercise of their original or appellate
jurisdiction;
"4. 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 penalties in relation thereto, or other
matters arising under the Customs Law or
other laws administered by the Bureau of
Customs;
"5. Decisions of the Central Board of
Assessment Appeals in the exercise of its
appellate jurisdiction over cases involving
the assessment and taxation of real
property originally decided by the
provincial or city board of assessment
appeals;
"6. Decisions of the Secretary of Finance
on customs cases elevated to him
automatically for review from decisions of
the Commissioner of Customs which are
adverse to the Government under Section
2315 of the Tariff and Customs Code;
"7. Decisions of the Secretary of Trade and
Industry, in the case of nonagricultural
product, commodity or article, and the
Secretary of Agriculture in the case of
agricultural product, commodity or article,
involving dumping and countervailing
duties under Section 301 and 302,
respectively, of the Tariff and Customs
Code, and safeguard measures under
Republic Act No. 8800, where either party
may appeal the decision to impose or not
to impose said duties.
"b. Jurisdiction over cases involving
criminal offenses as herein provided:
"1. Exclusive original jurisdiction over all
criminal offenses arising from violations of
the National Internal Revenue Code or
Tariff and Customs Code and other laws
administered by the Bureau of Internal
Revenue or the Bureau of Customs:
Provided, however, That offenses or
felonies mentioned in this paragraph
where the principal amount o taxes and
fees, exclusive of charges and penalties,
claimed is less than One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00) or where there is no
specified amount claimed shall be tried by
the regular Courts and the jurisdiction of
the CTA shall be appellate. Any provision
of law or the Rules of Court to the contrary
notwithstanding, the criminal action and
the corresponding civil action for the
recovery of civil liability for taxes and
penalties shall at all times be
simultaneously instituted with, and jointly
determined in the same proceeding by the
CTA, the filing of the criminal action being
deemed to necessarily carry with it the
filing of the civil action, and no right to
reserve the filling of such civil action
separately from the criminal action will be
recognized.
"2. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in
criminal offenses:
"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.
"b. Over petitions for review of the
judgments, resolutions or orders of the
Regional Trial Courts in the exercise of
their appellate jurisdiction over tax cases
originally decided by the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in their
respective jurisdiction.
"c. Jurisdiction over tax collection cases as
herein provided:
"1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in tax
collection cases involving final and
executory assessments for taxes, fees,
charges and penalties: Provided, however,
That collection cases where the principal
amount of taxes and fees, exclusive of
charges and penalties, 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.
"2. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in tax
collection cases:
"a. Over appeals from the judgments,
resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial
Courts in tax collection cases originally
decided by them, in their respective
territorial jurisdiction.
"b. Over petitions for review of the
judgments, resolutions or orders of the
Regional Trial Courts in the Exercise of
their appellate jurisdiction over tax
collection cases originally decided by the
Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, in
their respective jurisdiction."
Jurisdiction of CA
BP 129, Sec. 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.)
Jurisdiction of Sandiganbayan
Sec. 4 The Sandiganbayan shall exercise
exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases
involving:
"a. Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as
amended, otherwise known as the Anti-
Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Republic
Act No. 1379, and Chapter II, Section 2,
Title VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code,
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:
"(1) 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 (Republic Act No. 6758),
specifically including:
"(a) Provincial governors, vice-governors,
members of the sangguniang
panlalawigan, and 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 Philippine National
Police while occupying the position of
provincial director and those holding the
rank of senior superintendent and 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 or trustees, or
managers of government-owned or
controlled corporations, state universities
or educational institutions or foundations.
"(2) Members of Congress and officials
thereof classified as Grade 27 and higher
under the Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989;
"(3) Members of the judiciary without
prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution;
"(4) Chairmen and members of the
Constitutional Commissions, without
prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution; and
"(5) All other national and local officials
classified as Grade 27 and higher under
the Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989.
"b. Other offenses or felonies whether
simple or complexed with other crimes
committed by the public officials and
employees mentioned in subsection a. of
this section in relation to their office.
"c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant
to and in connection with Executive Order
Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.
"Provided, That the Regional Trial Court
shall have exclusive original jurisdiction
where the information: (a) does not allege
any damage to the government or any
bribery; or (b) alleges damage to the
government or bribery arising from the
same or closely related transactions or
acts in an amount not exceeding One
million pesos (P1,000,000.00).
"Subject to the rules promulgated by the
Supreme Court, the cases falling under the
jurisdiction of the Regional Trial Court
under this section shall be tried in a
judicial region other than where the official
holds office.
"In cases where none of the accused are
occupying positions corresponding to
Salary Grade 27 or higher, as prescribed
in the said Republic Act No. 6758, or
military and PNP officers mentioned
above, exclusive original jurisdiction
thereof shall be vested in the proper
regional trial court, metropolitan trial
court, municipal trial court, and municipal
circuit trial court, as the case may be,
pursuant to their respective jurisdictions
as provided in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129,
as amended.
"The Sandiganbayan shall exercise
exclusive appellate jurisdiction over final
judgments, resolutions or orders of
regional trial courts whether in the
exercise of their own original jurisdiction
or of their appellate jurisdiction as herein
provided.
"The Sandiganbayan shall have exclusive
original jurisdiction over petitions for the
issuance of
the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certior
ari, habeas corpus, injunctions, 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
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A,
issued in 1986: Provided, That the
jurisdiction over these petitions shall not
be exclusive of the Supreme Court.
"The procedure prescribed in Batas
Pambansa 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. In all cases
elevated to the Sandiganbayan and from
the Sandiganbayan to the Supreme Court,
the Office of the Ombudsman, through its
special prosecutor, shall represent the
People of the Philippines, except in cases
filed pursuant to Executive Order Nos. 1,
2, 14 and 14-A, issued in 1986.
"In case private individuals are charged as
co-principals, accomplices or accessories
with the public officers or employees,
including those employed in government-
owned or controlled corporations, they
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 shall at all
times be simultaneously instituted with,
and jointly determined in, the same
proceeding by the Sandiganbayan or the
appropriate courts, the filing of the
criminal action being deemed to
necessarily carry with it the filing of the
civil action, and no right to reserve the
filing of such civil action separately from
the criminal action shall be
recognized: Provided, however, That where
the civil action had heretofore been filed
separately but judgment therein has not
yet been rendered, and the criminal case
is hereafter filed with the Sandiganbayan
or the appropriate court, said civil action
shall be transferred to the Sandiganbayan
or the appropriate court, as the case may
be, for consolidation and joint
determination with the criminal action,
otherwise the separate civil action shall be
deemed abandoned."
and legal assistance to the
underprivileged. Such rules shall provide a
simplified and inexpensive procedure for
the speedy disposition of cases, shall be
uniform for all courts of the same grade,
and shall not diminish, increase, or modify
substantive rights. Rules of procedure of
special courts and quasi-judicial bodies
shall remain effective unless disapproved
by the Supreme Court.
(6) Appoint all officials and employees of
the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil
Service Law.

Judicial Power - the duty of the courts of

Jurisdiction of Supreme Court justice to settle actual controversies
involving rights which are legally
1987 Constitution, Art. 8 demandable and enforceable, and to
Section 5. The Supreme Court shall have determine whether or not there has been
the following powers: a grave abuse of discretion amounting to
(1) Exercise original jurisdiction over cases lack or excess of jurisdiction on the part of
affecting ambassadors, other public any branch or instrumentality of the
ministers and consuls, and over petitions Government.
for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo
warranto, and habeas corpus.
(2) Review, revise, reverse, modify, or
affirm on appeal or certiorari, as the law or
the Rules of Court may provide, final
judgments and orders of lower courts in:
(a) All cases in which the constitutionality
or validity of any treaty, international or
executive agreement, law, presidential
decree, proclamation, order, instruction,
ordinance, or regulation is in question.
(b) All cases involving the legality of any
tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any
penalty imposed in relation thereto.
(c) All cases in which the jurisdiction of
any lower court is in issue.
(d) All criminal cases in which the penalty
imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher.
(e) All cases in which only an error or
question of law is involved.
(3) Assign temporarily judges of lower
courts to other stations as public interest
may require. Such temporary assignment
shall not exceed six months without the
consent of the judge concerned.
(4) Order a change of venue or place of
trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
(5) Promulgate rules concerning the
protection and enforcement of
constitutional rights, pleading, practice,
and procedure in all courts, the admission
to the practice of law, the integrated bar,