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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 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."
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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 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 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,
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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.

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.

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;
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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.

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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.

"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
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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;

(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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