Action Definition
Civil A party sues another for
(Rules 1- the enforcement or
71) protection of a right, or the
prevention or redress of a
wrong.
Criminal The State prosecutes a
(Rules 110- person for an act or
127) omission punishable by
law.
Special A remedy by which a party
Proceeding seeks to establish a
(Rules 72- status, a right, or a
109) particular fact.
Court Original
Supreme a) Actions involving
Court ambassadors, public
ministers and consuls;
b) Over petition for
certiorari, prohibition,
mandamus, quo
warranto, habeas
corpus;
c) Petitions for writ of
amparo;
d) Petition for habeas
data.
Sec 5. par 1. Art VIII. 1987
Constitution
Court of a) Petition for certiorari,
Appeals prohibition,
mandamus, habeas
corpus; (Sec 9 of BP
129)
b) Writ of amparo (A.M.
No. 07-9-12-SC);
c) Habeas data (A.M. No.
08-1-16-SC);
d) Petition for freeze
order on any monetary
instrument, property,
or proceeds relating to
or involving any
unlawful activity as
defined under Sec 3(j)
of RA 9160 as
amended, (Sec 44 of
A.M. No. 05-11-04-SC,
December 15, 2005)
Sandigan
bayan
a) Violations of RA 3019, as amended, RA 1379, and Chapter II, Sec 2, Title VII, Book a) With the SC and CA:
II of the RPC, where one or more of the accused are officials occupying the
Basis
“Every ordinary action
must be based on a cause
of actions.” (Sec 1 Rule 2)
Arises from a violation of
an act or omission
punishable by law.
Exercise of privilege
provided by law or statute.
Concurrent
With the CA, SB and RTC
over petitions for certiorari,
prohibition, mandamus,
habeas corpus, amparo
and data.
Limitation: Must adhere to
the Doctrine of Hierarchy
of Courts. Such
concurrence does not give
the petitioner unrestricted
freedom of choice of court
forum.
With the SC, SB and RTC
over petitions for certiorari,
prohibition, mandamus,
habeas corpus, amparo
and data.
Original (PD 1606, as amended)
Commencement Parties
Filing a complaint/ Two (2) or more
petition/ statement of contending parties, the
claims before the clerk of plaintiff and the
court and the payment of defendant;
corresponding docket
fees;
Filing a complaint or Two (2) contending
information before the parties, the prosecution
court or if it requires and the defense;
preliminary investigation,
by filing an affidavit-
complaint before the
prosecutor’s office;
Filing a petition before the Generally by one (1) party
court and the payment of called the petitioner,
docket and other lawful except in some instances,
fees. i.e. oppositor in the
probate of the will.
Appellate
Over judgment, final orders and resolutions of the
following:
a) The CA;
b) SB under PD 1606, as amended;
c) CTA en banc under Sec 11 of RA 9282;
d) RTC on purely question of law;
e) CTA, SB, RTC in petition for writ of amparo filed in a
pending criminal case (Sec 19 of A.M. No. 07-9-12-
SC, effective October 24, 2007);
f) CTA, SB, RTC in a petition for habeas data filed in a
pending criminal case (Sec 19 of A.M. No. 08-1-16-
SC, effective February 2, 2008)
Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgments,
decisions, resolutions, orders or awards of: (Sec 9(3) of
BP 129)
a) RTC;
b) Quasi-judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or
commissions, including the SEC, the Social Security
Commission, ECC, and the CSC, except those falling
within the appellate jurisdiction of the SC in
accordance with the Constitution, Labor Code, the
provisions of BP 129, and of Sec 17 of the Judiciary
Act of 1948, pars 3.1 and 4.4.
Cases decided by the RTC in the exercise of its original
jurisdiction, shall be taken by
a) Filing a notice of appeal with the court which
rendered the judgment or final order appealed from;
and
b) By serving a copy thereof upon the adverse party.
(Sec 3(a) Rule 122)
Cases decided by the RTC in the exercise of its
appellate jurisdiction, shall be by petition for review
under Rule 42.
Decisions of the RTC when the penalty imposed is
death, reclusion perpetua, or life imprisonment are
automatically reviewed by the CA. (People v. Val Delos
Reyes, G.R. No. 130714 & 139634, October 16, 2012,
citing People v. Mateo)
Concurrent
i) Petitions for issuance
 following positions at the time of the commission of the offense: of writs of certiorari,
i) Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions of RD and higher, prohibition,
otherwise classified as Grade 27 and higher, of RA 6758, specifically mandamus, habeas
including: corpus, and injunction
1) Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of SP, provincial and other ancillary
treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other department heads; writs in aid of its
2) City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the SP, city treasurers, assessors, appellate jurisdiction,
engineers, and other department heads; including quo warranto
3) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and arising in cases falling
higher; under EO Nos 1, 2, 14
4) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of and 14-A, s. of 1986.
higher rank; ii) Petitions for issuance
5) Officers of the PNP while occupying the position of provincial director of writ of amparo. (Sec
and those holding the rank of senior superintendent or higher; 3, A.M. No. 07-9-12-SC)
6) City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and iii) Petition for habeas data
prosecutors in the Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor; (Sec 3, A.M. No. 08-1-
7) Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of GOCCs, SUCs or 16-SC)
educational institutions or foundations; b) With SC, CA and RTC:
ii) Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as Grade 27 and up i) Petition for writ of
under RA 6758; amparo and writ of
iii) Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the habeas data when
Constitution; action concerns public
iv) Chairmen and members of Constitutional Commissions without prejudice to data files of
the provisions of the Constitution; and government offices;
v) All other national and local officials classified as Grade 27 and up under RA ii) Petitions for certiorari,
6758. prohibition, and
b) Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes mandamus, relating to
committed by the public officials and employees mentioned is subsection a of acts or omission of a
this section in relation to their office. MTC, corporation,
c) Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in Connection with EO Nos 1, 2, 14 board, officer or person
and 14-A, s. of 1986. (People v. Morales, G.R. No. 166355, May 30, 2011) (Sec 4 Rule 65).
d) Violations of RA 9160, as amended, when committed by public officers and
private persons who are in conspiracy with such public officers. Appellate

Provided, that the RTC shall have exclusive original jurisdiction where the
Decisions and final orders
information:
of the RTC in the exercise
a) Does not allege any damage to the government or any bribery; or
of their original or
b) Alleges damage to the Government or bribery arising from the same or closely
appellate jurisdiction
related transactions or acts in an amount not exceeding P1M.
under PD 1606, and
appealable in the manner
provided by Rule 122.

Court of Exclusive original
Tax jurisdiction over all
criminal offenses arising
Appeals from violations of the
NIRC or the Tariff and
Customs Code and other
laws administered by the
BIR or the BoC: Provided,
however, That offenses or
felonies mentioned where
the principal amount of
taxes and fees, exclusive
of charges and penalties,
claimed is less than P1M
or where there is no
specified amount claimed
shall be tried by the
regular courts and the
jurisdiction of the CTA
shall be appellate.
Sec 1, Rule IV of the Revised Rules of the CTA provides that the Court shall exercise
exclusive original jurisdiction over or appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal the
cases specified in Sec 7, RA 1125, as amended.
The Court En Banc shall exercise exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by appeal
the following:
a) Decisions or resolutions on motions for reconsideration (MFR) or new trial of the
Court in Divisions in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction over:
i) Cases arising from admin agencies - BIR, BoC, DoF, DTI, DA;
ii) Local tax cases decided by the RTC in the exercise of their original
jurisdiction;
iii) Tax collection cases decided by the RTC in the exercise of their original
jurisdiction involving final and executory assessments for taxes, fees, charges
and penalties, where the principal amount of taxes and penalties claimed is
less than P1M.
b) Decisions, resolutions or orders of the RTC in local tax cases, or
c) Tax collection cases decided or resolved by them in the exercise of their
appellate jurisdiction;
d) Decisions, resolutions or orders on MFR or new trial of the Court in Division in the
exercise of its exclusive original jurisdiction over tax collection cases;
e) Decisions of the Central Board of Assessment Appeals (CBAA) in the exercise of
its appellate jurisdiction over cases involving the assessment and taxation of real
property originally decided by the provincial or city BAA;
f) Decisions, resolutions or orders on MFR or new trial of the Court in Division in the
exercise of its exclusive original jurisdiction over cases involving criminal
offenses arising from violations of the NIRC or the Tariff and Customs Code and
other laws administered by the BIR or the BoC;
g) Decisions, resolutions or orders on MFR or new trial of the Court in Division in the
exercise of its exclusive appellate jurisdiction over criminal offenses mentioned
in the preceding paragraph; and
h) Decisions, resolutions or orders of the RTC in the exercise of their appellate
jurisdiction over criminal offenses mentioned in subparagraph (f).
Regional Original
Trial
Courts Exclusive original a) With SC:
jurisdiction over:
a) Criminal cases not
within the exclusive b) With SC and CA:
jurisdiction of any
court, tribunal or body.
(Sec 20 BP 129) c) With SC, CA, and SB:
b) Criminal cases where
penalty > 6 years;
c) Accused occupying
below Salary Grade 27; ii) Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and
d) Cases where penalty
is only a fine that
>P4K.
e) Over Complex crimes; d) With MeTC, MTC, MCTC:
f) Illegal recruitment
cases under RA 8042,
as amended.
g) Violation of the IP
Code;
h) Violation of
Environmental Laws,
rules and regulations.
(Sec 1 Rule 9, Part IV
of Rules of Procedure
of Environmental
Cases).
Concurrent Appellate
Sec 22 of BP 129 provides
i) Actions affecting ambassadors, public ministers for the power of the RTC
and consuls (Sec 21[1] BP 129) to review judgment, final
orders of the MeTC, MTC
i) Petitions for habeas corpus and quo warranto. and MCTC.
(Sec 5[1] Art VIII, 1987 Constitution)
Special
i) Petition for writ of amparo and writ of habeas
data when action concerns public data files of
Sec 23 of BP 129 provides
government offices;
for the special jurisdiction
of the RTC is the following
mandamus, relating to acts or omission of a
cases:
MTC, corporation, board, officer or person (Sec 4
a) Criminal cases;
Rule 65).
b) Juvenile and domestic
cases;
i) Application for Protection Order under Sec 10 RA
c) Agrarian cases;
9262, unless there is a Family Court in the
d) Urban land reform
residence of petitioner.
cases which do not
fall under the
jurisdiction of quasi-
judicial bodies and
agencies; and/or
e) Such other special
cases as the SC may
determine in the
interest of a speedy
and efficient
administration of
justice.

Family Original and Exclusive Jurisdiction of the RTC acting as Family Court
Courts
RA 8369 granted exclusive original jurisdiction over child and family cases, as follows:
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 PD No. 603, or the "Child and Youth Welfare Code".
b) Cases against minors cognizable under RA 9165; (see also A.M. No. 07-8-2-SC)
c) Violation of RA 7610, as amended;
d) Violation of RA 9775;
e) Cases of violence against women and their children under RA 9262, including applications for Protection Order
under the same act;
f) Criminal cases involving juveniles if no preliminary investigation is required under Sec 1 Rule 112 (Sec 1 A.M.
No. 02-1-18-SC).

MeTC Exclusive Original Jurisdiction in Ordinary Criminal Actions Special

MTC
MCTC Sec 32 of BP 129, as amended provides for the jurisdiction of lower courts over the Sec 35 of BP 129, as
following criminal cases: amended, provides that in
a) All violations of city or municipal ordinances within their respective territorial the absence of all the RT
jurisdictions; Judges in a province or
b) All offenses punishable with imprisonment of not more than 6 years irrespective city, any MeT, MT or MCT
of the amount of fine, and Judge may hear and
c) In all cases of damage to property through criminal negligence, regardless of decide, the following:
other penalties and the civil liabilities arising therefrom; and a) Petition for habeas
d) All offenses (except violations of RA 3019, as amended, RA 1379, and Chapter II, corpus; and
Sec 2, Title VII, Book II of the RPC) committed by public officers in relation to b) Application for bail in
their office, including those employed in the GOCCs, and by private individuals criminal cases.
charged as co-principals, accomplices or accessories, punishable with
imprisonment of not more than 6 years with a salary grade of less than 27. < 6 years

Under Sec 1 Par B of the 1991 Rules on Summary Procedure, the following cases fall
under the exclusive jurisdiction of the MeTC/MTC/MCTC: Instances where penalty of
a) Traffic violations; imprisonment is < 6 years
b) Violations of the rental law; but jurisdiction lies with
c) Violations of city or municipal ordinances; and the RTC or SB:
d) All other offenses where imprisonment does not exceed 6 months, and in a) Libel;
offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence where the b) Art 210 of RPC;
imposable fine does not exceed P10K c) Art 211 of RPC
Shari’ah Jurisdiction over Criminal Cases
Circuit
Courts Art 155 of PD 1083 provides for the jurisdiction of Shari’ah Circuit Courts in the following criminal cases:
a) Illegal solemnization of marriage (Art 181);
b) Marriage before the expiration of ‘idda (Art 182);
c) Offenses relative to subsequent marriage, divorce and revocation of divorce (Art 183);
d) Failure to report for registration (Art 184);
e) Neglect of duty by registrars (Art 185).

The provisions of the RPC relative to Bigamy shall not apply to a person married in accordance with PD 1803, as
provided in Article 180 therein.