PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL SYSTEM style Click to edit Master subtitle

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Lower Courts

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I. Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts

Every municipality in the Philippines has its own Municipal Trial Court. It is referred to as such if it covers only one municipality; otherwise, it is called Municipal Circuit Trial Court if it covers two or more municipalities.

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II. Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial Courts in Cities

Municipal

Trial Courts in the towns and cities in the Metropolitan Manila area, as distinguished from the other political subdivisions in the Philippines, are referred to as Metropolitan Trial Courts. In cities outside Metropolitan Manila, the equivalent of the Municipal Trial Courts are referred to as Municipal Trial
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III. Regional Trial Courts

Regional

Trial Courts were established among the thirteen regions in the Philippines consisting of Regions I to XII and the National Capital Region (NCR). There are as many Regional Trial Courts in each region as the law mandates.

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IV. Shari'a Courts

Equivalent to the Regional Trial Courts in rank are the Shari'a District Courts which were established in certain specified provinces in Mindanao where the Muslim Code on Personal Laws is being enforced.

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 Equivalent

to the Municipal Circuit Trial

Courts are the

Courts

Shari'a Circuit

which were established in certain municipalities in Mindanao

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There are fiveShari'a District Courtsand fifty oneShari'a Circuit Courtsin existence.

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It has exclusive original jurisdiction over the following: 1. All cases involving custody,
guardianship, legitimacy, paternity and filiation arising underPresidential Decree No. 1083;
2.

All cases involving disposition, distribution and settlement of the estate of a deceased Muslim, probate of wills, issuance of letters of administration or appointment of administrators or executors regardless
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V. Court of Tax Appeals

A

special court, the Court of Tax Appeals, composed of a Presiding Judge and two Associate Judges, is vested with the exclusive appellate jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue and the Commissioner of Customs on certain specific issues.
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VI. Sandiganbayan
A

special court, the Sandiganbayan, composed of a Presiding Justice and eight Associate Justices, has exclusive jurisdiction over violations of the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act [Republic Act No. 3019], the Unexplained Wealth Act [Republic Act No. 1379] and other crimes or felonies committed by public officials and employees in relation to their office, including those employees in 4/14/12

VII. Court of Appeals

The

Court of Appeals, composed of one Presiding Justice and sixty eight Associate Justices is vested with jurisdiction over appeals from the decisions of the Regional Trial Courts and certain quasi-judicial agencies, boards or commissions.

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The Highest Court Supreme Court

The

Supreme Court is the highest Court in the Philippines. There is only one Supreme Court composed of one Chief Justice and fourteen Associate Justices. It is the final arbiter of any and all judicial issues. When so deciding, it may siten bancor in divisions of three, five or seven members.

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