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JURISDICTION OF VARIOUS COURTS

A) Jurisdiction of MeTC, MTC and MCTC in Civil Cases under B. P.

Blg. 129 as amended by R. A. 7691.

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 Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) or, in Metro
Manila where such personal property, estate, or amount of the demand does not
exceed Four hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00), exclusive of interest, damages
of whatever kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs, the amount of
which must be specifically alleged: Provided, That interest, damages of whatever
kind, attorney's fees, litigation expenses, and costs shall be included in the
determination of the filing fees: Provided, further, That where there are several
claims or causes of actions 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 questions 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; and

(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 in
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cases of land not declared for taxation purposes, the value of such property shall be
determined by the assessed value of the adjacent lots."

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 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."

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.

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B) Jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts in Civil Cases under B. P. Blg.

129 as amended by R. A. 7691.

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 value exceeds Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) except actions for
forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or buildings, original jurisdiction
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over which is conferred upon the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;

(3) In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or
claim exceeds Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) or, in Metro Manila,
where such demand or claim exceeds Four hundred thousand pesos (P4,000.00);

(4) In all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value
of the estate exceeds Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) or, in probate
matters in Metro Manila, where such gross value exceeds Four Hundred thousand
pesos (P400,000.00);

(5) In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations;
(See Section 5(d) of R. A. No.8369, The Family Courts Act of 1997.)

(6) In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal,
person or body exercising jurisdiction of 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 Court
of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law; and (See Section 5 of R. A. No.
8369.

(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 Three hundred thousand pesos (P300,000.00) or,
in such other cases in Metro Manila, where the demand exclusive of the
abovementioned items exceeds Four Hundred thousand pesos (P400,000.00)."

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.
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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.

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C) Jurisdiction of the Family Courts under R. A. No. 8369, otherwise

known as The Family Courts Act of 1997.

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 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.
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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
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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.

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D) Jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals under B. P. Blg. 129 as amended

by R. A. 7902.

"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 judgment

of Regional Trial Courts; and

"(3) Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgments, decisions,

resolutions, orders or awards of Regional Trial Courts and quasi-judicial
agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commissions, 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 of
Section 17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948.
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"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 further proceedings. Trials
or hearings in the Court of 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)

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E) Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under R. A. No. 296 (The

Judiciary Act of 1948) as amended by R. A. No. 5440.

Sec. 17. Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court shall have
original jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and
consuls; and original and exclusive jurisdiction in petitions for the issuance of
writs of certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the Court of Appeals.

In the following cases, the Supreme Court shall exercise original and
concurrent jurisdiction with Courts of First Instance:

1. In petition for the issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus,

quo warranto, and habeas corpus; and

2. In actions brought to prevent and restrain violations of law concerning

monopolies and combinations in restraint of trade.

The Supreme Court shall have exclusive jurisdiction to review, revise,

reverse, modify or affirm on appeal, as the law or rules of court may provide, final
judgments and decrees of inferior courts as herein provided, in

(1) All criminal cases involving offenses for which the penalty imposed is
death or life imprisonment; and those involving other offenses which,
although not so punished, arose out of the same occurrence or which may
have been committed by the accused on the same occasion, as that giving
rise to the more serious offense, regardless of whether the accused are
charged as principals, accomplices or accessories, or whether they have been
tried jointly or separately;
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(2) All cases involving petitions for naturalization or denaturalization; and

(3) All decisions of the Auditor General, if the appellant is a private person
or entity.

The Supreme Court shall further have exclusive jurisdiction to review,

revise, reverse, modify or affirm on certiorari as the law or rules of court may
provide, final judgments and decrees of inferior courts as herein provided, in

(1) All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, law,
ordinance, or executive order or regulation is in question;

(2) All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment or toil, or
any penalty imposed in relation thereto;

(3) All cases in which the jurisdiction of any inferior court is in issue;

(4) All other cases in which only errors or questions of law are involved:
Provided, however, That if, in addition to constitutional, tax or jurisdictional
questions, the cases mentioned in the three next preceding paragraphs also
involve questions of fact or mixed questions of fact and law, the aggrieved
party shall appeal to the Court of Appeals; and the final judgment or
decision of the latter may be reviewed, revised, reversed, modified or
affirmed by the Supreme Court on writ of certiorari; and

(5) Final awards, judgments, decisions, or orders of the Commission on

Elections, Court of Tax Appeals, Court of Industrial Relations, the Public
Service Commission and the Workmen's Compensation Commission.

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