REYES, JOSELLE J.

JURISDICTIONS OF COURTS IN CIVIL CASES

SUPREME COURT

CIVIL CASES SUPREME COURT

Exclusive Original Jurisdiction Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus

against:

1. Court of Appeals

2. Commission on Elections

3. Commission on Audit

4. Sandiganbayan

5. Court of Tax Appeals

Disciplinary proceedings against members of the

Bar and court personnel

With the RTC:

Cases affecting ambassadors, other public

ministers and consuls

With the CA:

1. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus

Concurrent
against:
Note: While the RULES provide for Concurrent a. RTC
Jurisdiction among the RTC, CA, and SC, the same b. Civil Service Commission
is still subject to the doctrine of Hieararchy of c. Central Board of Assessment Appeals
Courts. d. National Labor Relations Commission
e. Other quasi-judicial agencies

2. Petitions for a Writ of Kalikasan

With the RTC and CA:

1. Petitions for Writs of Habeas Corpus

2. Petitions for Quo Warranto
3. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or
 mandamus against inferior courts and
other bodies

Petitions for continuing mandamus

With the RTC, CA and Sandiganbayan

1. Petitions for a Writ of Amparo

2. Petitions for a Writ of Habeas Data

By way of petition for review on certiorari, against

the:

1. Court of Appeals;
2. Sandiganbayan;
3. RTC on pure questions of law;

Appellate In cases involving the constitutionality or validity of

a treaty, international agreement or executive
agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation,
order, instruction, ordinance or regulation, legality
of a tax, impost assessment, toll or penalty,
jurisdiction of a lower court

COURT OF APPEALS

CIVIL CASES COURT OF APPEALS

Exclusive Original Actions for annulment of judgments of the RTC

NOTE: The Court of Appeals may act as a trial court

in the following instances:

1. In annulment of judgments
2. When a motion for new tria is granted by
the Court of Appeals
3. A petition for habeas corpus shall be set
for hearing
4. To resolve factual issues in cases within its
original and appellate jurisdiction
5. In cases of new trial based on newly
discovered evidence
6. In cases involving claims for damages
 arising from provisional remedies;
7. In writ of amparo proceedings
8. In writ of kalilasan proceedings
9. In writ of habeas data proceedings.

With the SC:

1. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus

against:

a) RTC
b) Civil Service Commission
Concurrent c) Central Board of Assessment Appeals
d) National Labor Relations Commission
e) Other quasi-judicial agencies

2. Petitions for a Writ of Kalikasan

With the SC and RTC:

1. Petitions for Writ of Habeas Corpus;

2. Petitions for Quo Warranto;
3. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or
mandamus against inferior courts and
other bodies; and
4. Petitions for writ of continuing mandamus.

With the RTC, SC, and Sandiganbayan:

1. Petitions for a Writ of Amparo

2. Petitions for a Writ of Habeas Data

1. By way of Ordinary Appeal from the RTC

and the Family Courts;
2. By way of Petition for Review from the RTC
rendered in the exercise of its appellate
jurisdiction;
3. By way of Petition for Review from the
decisions, resolutions, orders or awards of
Appellate
the:
a. Civil Service Commission;
b. Office of the Ombudsman in
administrative disciplinary; and
c. Other bodies mentioned in Rule 43;
 (B.P. Blg. 129, Sec. 9, par. (3)); and

4. By way of ordinary appeal over decisions of

the MTCs in cadastral or land registration cases
pursuant to its delegated jurisdiction

COURT OF TAX APPEALS

COURT OF TAX APPEALS

EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE JURISDICTION * Decisions of the Collector of Internal

over: Revenue in cases involving disputed
assessments, refunds of taxes, fees or other
charges, penalties imposed in relation thereto,
or other matters arising under the NIRC;

* 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 matters arising penalties
imposed in relation thereto; and other matters
arising under the Customs Law; and

* Decisions of provincial or city Boards of

Assessment Appeals in cases involving the
assessment and taxation of real property or
other matters arising under the Assessment
Law.

 Jao v. CA (reiterated in Bureau of

Customs v. Ogario, March 2000)

RTCs are devoid of any competence to pass

upon the validity or regularity of seizure and
forfeiture proceedings conducted by the
Bureau of Customs and to enjoin or otherwise
interfere with these proceedings. The Collector
of Customs sitting in seizure and forfeiture
proceedings has exclusive jurisdiction to hear
and determine all questions touching on the
seizure and forfeiture of dutiable goods. The
Regional Trial Courts are precluded from
assuming cognizance over such matters even
 through petitions of certiorari, prohibition or
mandamus. The proper remedy is to appeal to
the Commissioner of Customs and thereafter
to the Court of Tax Appeals.

SANDIGANBAYAN

CIVIL CASES SANDIGANBAYAN

Exclusive Original Cases involving violations of:

1. E. O. No. 1 (Creating the PCGG);

2. E. O. No. 2 (Illegal Acquisition and
Misappropriations of a Ferdinand Marcos,
Imelda Marcos their close relatives,
subordinates, business associates,
dummies, agents or nominees) ;
3. E. O. No. 14 (Cases involving the ill-gotten
wealth of the immediately mentioned
persons) ; and
4. E. O No. 14-A(amendments to E. O. No. 14)
(R. A. No. 10660, otherwise known as An
Act Strengthening Further the Functional
and Structural Organization of the
Sandiganbayan, Sec. 2).

With the SC:

1. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and

mandamus whether or not in aid of its appellate
Concurrent jurisdiction; and

2. Petitions for writs of Habeas Corpus, injunction,

and other ancillary writs in aid of its appellate
Jurisdiction, including Quo Warranto arising in
cases falling under E. O. Nos. 1, 2, 14, and 14-A.

With the SC, CA and RTC:

1. Petitions of Writ of Amparo

 2. Petitions for Writ of Habeas Data

JURISDICTION OF THE OMBUDSMAN

Investigate and prosecute on its own or on complaint by any person, any act or omission of any public
officer or employee, office or agency, when such act or omission appears to be illegal, unjust, improper
or inefficient. It has primary jurisdiction over cases cognizable by the Sandiganbayan and, in the exercise
of his primary jurisdiction, it may take over, at any stage, from any investigatory agency of Government,
the investigation of such cases (Sec. 15(1) R.A. No. 6770; see also Sec. 13(1), Article XI, 1987
Constitution);

REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

CIVIL CASES REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

(1) a. Matters incapable of pecuniary estimation,

such as rescission of contract

b. Title to possession of, or interest in, real

Exclusive Original property with assessed value exceeding P20, 000
(outside Metro Manila), or exceeds P50, 000 in
Metro Manila

c. Probate proceedings where the gross value of

the estate exceeds P300, 000 outside Metro
Manila or exceeds P400, 000 in Metro Manila

d. Admiralty or maritime cases where the demand

or claim exceeds P300, 000 outside Metro Manila
or exceeds P400, 000 in Metro Manila

e. Other actions involving property valued at more

than P300, 000 outside Metro Manila or more
than P400, 000vin Metro Manila

(2) over cases not falling within the Jurisdiction of

any court, tribunal, person or body exercising
judicial or quasi-judicial functions

(3)a. Cases involving devises or schemes employed

by or any acts, of the board of directors, business
associates, its officers or partnership, amounting to
fraud and misrepresentation which may be
detrimental to the interest of the public and/or the
stockholders, partners, members of associations or
organizations registered with the SEC

b. Controversies arising out of intra-corporate or

partnership relations, between and among
stockholders, members or associates; between any
or all of them and the corporation, partnership or
association of which they are stockholders,
members or associates, respectively; and between
such corporation, partnership or association and
the state insofar as it concerns their individual
franchise or right to exist as such entity

c. Controversies in the election or appointments of

directors, trustees, officers or managers of such
corporations, partnerships or associations

d. Petitions of corporations, partnerships or

associations to be declared in the state of
suspension of payments in cases where the
corporation, partnership of association possesses
sufficient property to cover all its debts but
foresees the impossibility of meeting them when
they respectively fall due or in cases where the
corporation, partnership of association has no
sufficient assets to cover its liabilities, but is under
the management of a Rehabilitation Receiver or
Management Committee.

a) with the Supreme Court in actions affecting

 ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls

(b) with the SC and CA in petitions for certiorari,

prohibition and mandamus against lower courts
Concurrent and bodies in petitions for quo warranto, habeas
corpus, and writ of continuing mandamus on
environmental cases

(c) with the SC, CA and Sandiganbayan in petitions

for writs of habeas data and amparo

over cases decided by lower courts in their

respective territorial jurisdictions
Appellate

Over JDRC, agrarian and urban land reform cases

not within the exclusive jurisdiction of quasi-
Special jurisdiction judicial agencies when so designated by the SC.

METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT/MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT

CIVIL CASES METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT/ MUNICIPAL TRIAL

COURT

Exclusive Original 1. Civil actions and probate proceedings, testate

and intestate, including the ggran of provisional
remedies in proper cases, where the value of the
personal property, estate, or amount the demand
does not exceed P200,000 outside Metro Manila
or does not exceed P400,000 in Metro Manila,
exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
attorney‘ fees, litigation expenses, and costs.

2. Summary procedure of forcible entry and

unlawful detainer, violation of rental law
 3. Title to, or possession of, real property, or any
interest therein where the assessed value of the
property or interest therein does not exceed
P20,000 outside Metro Manila or does not exceed
P50,000 in Metro Manila.

4. Admiralty or maritime cases where the demand

or claim is below P300,000 outside Metro Manila
or below P400,000 in Metro Manila

over petition for writ of habeas corpus and

application for bail if the RTC Judge in area is not
Special Jurisdiction available

to hear and decide cadastral and land registration

cases where there is no controversy and there are
Delegated Jurisdiction no oppositors provided the value of the land to be
ascertained by the claimant does not exceed
P100,000.

FAMILY COURTS

CIVIL CASES FAMILY COURTS

Exclusive Original (1) Under RA 8369, Family Courts shall have

exclusive original jurisdiction over the following
cases, whether civil or criminal:

(a) Petitions for guardianship, custody of children

and habeas corpus involving children

(b) Petitions for adoption of children and the

revocation thereof

(c) Complaints for annulment of marriage,

declaration of nullity of marriage and those
relating to 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

(d) Petitions for support and/or acknowledgment

(e) Summary judicial proceedings brought under

the provisions of EO 209 (Family Code)

(f) Petitions for declaration of status of children as

abandoned, dependent or neglected children,
petitions for voluntary or involuntary commitment
of children, the

suspension, termination or restoration of parental

authority and other cases cognizable under PD
603, EO 56 (1986) and other related laws

(g) Petitions for the constitution of the family

home

In areas where there are no Family Courts, the

above-enumerated cases shall be adjudicated by
the RTC (RA 8369).

SHARI'A COURTS

SHARI'A DISTRICT COURTS SHARI'A CIRCUIT COURTS

Exclusive Original 1. All cases involving 1. Offenses defined and

custody, guardianship, punished under P. D. No. 1083;
legitimacy, paternity and
2. All civil actions between
filiation under the Code
of Muslim Personal parties who are Muslims or have
been married in accordance with
Laws;
2. All cases involving P. D. No. 1083; relating to:
disposition, distribution a. Marriage;
and settlement of estate b. Divorce;
of deceased Muslims, c. Betrothal or breach of
probate of wills, contract to marry;
issuance of letters of
 administration or d. Customary dower (mahr)
appointment of ;
administrators or e. Disposition and
executors regardless of distribution of property
the nature or aggregate upon divorce;
value of the property; f. Maintenance and
3. Petitions for the support consolatory gifts
declaration of absence (mut'a); and
and death for the g. Restitution of marital
cancelation or correction rights; and
of entries in the Muslim
3. Disputes relative to communal
Registries
4. All actions arising from properties (P. D. No. 1083, Art.
155).
the customary contracts
in which the parties are
Muslims, if they have
not specified which law
shall govern their
relations; and
5. All petitions for
mandamus, prohibition,
injunction, certiorari,
habeas corpus, and all
other auxiliary writs and
processes in aid of its
appellate jurisdiction

1. Petitions by Muslim for the

constitution of a family home,
change of name and
commitment of an insane person
to an asylum;

2. All other personal and legal

Concurrent actions not mentioned in
paragraph 1(d).,Sec. 143 of P. D.
No. 1083, (no. 4 of above)
wherein the parties involved are
Muslims except those for
forcible entry and unlawful
 detainer, which shall fall under
the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Municipal Circuit Court; and

3. All special civil actions for

interpleader or declaratory relief
wherein the parties are Muslims
or the property involved belongs
exclusively to Muslims (P. D. No.
1083, Art. 143, par. 2).

1. All cases tried in the Shari's

Circuit Courts within their
territorial jurisdiction. The
Shari'a District Court shall decide
every case appealed to it on the
basis of the evidence and
records transmitted as well as
such memoranda, briefs or oral
Appellate arguments as the parties may
submit (P. D. No. 1083, Sec. 44)

Note: The decisions of the

Shari'a District Courts whether
on appeal from the Shari`a
Circuit Court or not shall be final.
Nothing in P. D. No. 1083 shall
affect the original and appellate
jurisdiction of the SC as provided
in the Constitution (P. D. No.
1083, Art. 145)

Cases covered by the Rules on Barangay Conciliation (Sec. 408, RA 7160)

(1) The Lupon of each barangay shall have the authority to bring together the parties actually residing in
the same municipality or city for amicable settlement of all disputes except:

(a) Where one party is the government or any subdivision or instrumentality thereof
(b) Where one party is a public officer or employee, and the dispute relates to the performance of his
official functions

(c) Offenses punishable by imprisonment exceeding one (1) year or a fine exceeding P5,000

(d) Offenses where there is no private offended party

(e) Where the dispute involves real properties located in different cities or municipalities unless the
parties thereto agree to submit their differences to amicable settlement by an appropriate lupon

(f) Disputes involving parties who actually reside in barangays of different cities or municipalities, except
where such barangay units adjoin each other and the parties thereto agree to submit their differences
to amicable settlement by an appropriate lupon

(g) Such other classes of disputes which the President may determine in the interest of justice or upon
the recommendation of the Secretary of Justice

(h) Any complaint by or against corporations, partnerships, or juridical entities. The reason is that only
individuals shall be parties to barangay conciliation proceedings either as complainants or respondents

(i) Disputes where urgent legal action is necessary to prevent injustice from being

committed or further continued, specifically:

1. A criminal case where the accused is under police custody or detention

2. A petition for habeas corpus by a person illegally detained or deprived of his liberty or one acting in
his behalf

3. Actions coupled with provisional remedies, such as preliminary injunction, attachment, replevin and
support pendente lite

4. Where the action may be barred by statute of limitations

(j) Labor disputes or controversies arising from employer-employee relationship

(k) Where the dispute arises from the CARL

(l) Actions to annul judgment upon a compromise which can be directly filed in court.

JURISDICTIONS OF COURTS IN CRIMINAL CASES

 SUPREME COURT

CRIMINAL CASES SUPREME COURT

Exclusive Original Petition for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus

against the CA and the Sandiganbayan

With the CA:

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus

against the RTCs.
Concurrent
With the CA and RTC:

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus

against the MTCs.

By Petition for Review on Certiorari:

Appellate 1. From the CA;

2. From the Sandigabayan; and

3. From the RTC where only an error or question of

law is involved.

Note: Where the penalty imposed is reclusion

perpetua or life imprisonment, appeal should be
made to the CA, not the SC

COURTS OF APPEALS

CRIMINAL CASES COURT OF APPEALS

With the SC:

Concurrent Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus

against the RTCs.

With the SC and RTC:

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus

against the MTCs.

By Notice of Appeal:
 Appellate 1. From the RTC in the exercise of its original
Jurisdiction, except those appeabale to the
Sandiganbayan

SANDIGANBAYAN

CRIMINAL CASES SANDIGANBAYAN

Exclusive Original Violations of:

Republic Act 3019

(Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act)

Republic Act No. 1379

Chapter 11, 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

position of regional director and higher (AKA
Grade ‘27’ of RA 6758), including:

Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of

the sangguniang panlalawigan, provincial
treasurers, assessors, engineers and other
provincial department heads;

City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the

sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurers,
assessors, engineers and other city department
heads;

Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the

position of consul and higher;

Philippine army and air force colonels, naval

captains, and all officers of higher rank;

Officers of the PNP while occupying the position of

provincial director and those holding the rank of
senior superintendent or higher;

City and provincial prosecutors and their

assistants, and officials and prosecutors in the
office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;

Presidents, directors of 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 CPCA
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 CPCA of 1989)

b. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or

complexed with other crimes committed in
relation to their office by the public officials and
employees mentioned in Section 4(a), P.D. 1606, as
amended by Republic Act 7975

c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in

connection with Executive Order #s 1,2,14 and 14
– A, issued in 1986

With the Supreme Court:

petitions for mandamus, prohibition certiorari,

habeas corpus, injunctions and ancillary writs in
 Concurrent aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

petitions for quo warranto arising from Executive

Order #s 1, 2, 14 & 14 – A

EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE BY APPEAL

From the Regional Trial Court in cases under P.D.

1606 (as amended by P.D. 1861) whether or not
the cases were decided by them in the exercise of
their original or appellate jurisdictions

REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

CRIMINAL CASES REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL All criminal cases not within the exclusive

jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body

EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE All cases decided by lower courts in their

respective territorial jurisdictions

METROPLOITAN, MUNICIPAL, AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS

CRIMINAL CASES METC, MTC and MCTC

Exclusive Original 1.All violations of city or municipal ordinances

committed within their respective territorial
jurisdictions;

2.All offenses punishable with imprisonment of not

more than 6 years irrespective of the amount of
fine

3.All cases of damage to property through criminal

negligence

a. regardless of other penalties and the civil

liabilities arising therefrom

4.All offenses committed by public officers and

employees in relation to their office, including
 those employed in government-owned or
controlled corporations

a. except violations of RA 3019 & RA 1379

b. except Articles 210 – 212 of the Revised Penal

Code

5. All offenses committed by private individuals

charged as co-principals, accomplices or
accessories

a. punishable with imprisonment of not more than

6 years; or

b. where none of the accused holds a position of

salary Grade “27” and higher

SUMMARY PROCEDURE

1 Traffic violations

2. Violations of the rental law

3. Violations of city municipal ordinances

4. All other offenses where the penalty does not exceed 6 months imprisonment and/or P1,000 fine

a. irrespective of other penalties or civil liabilities arising therefrom

5. All offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence

a. where the imposable fine does not exceed P10,000.-