Jurisdiction In Criminal Cases

1. SUPREME COURT

A. ORIGINAL

i. EXCLUSIVE
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus
against the Court of Appeals & the Sandiganbayan

ii. CONCURRENT

a. With the Court of Appeals:

a. petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the Regional Trial
Court

b. With the Court of Appeals & the Regional Trial Court

a. petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the lower courts

c. With the Sandiganbayan:

a. petitions for mandamus, prohibition certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions and

ancillary writs in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

b. petitions for quo warranto arising from Executive Order #s 1, 2, 14 & 14 – A

B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE

i. BY APPEAL

a. From the Regional Trial Court:

a. in all criminal cases involving offenses for which the penalty is reclusion
perpetua or life imprisonment;

b. 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.

b. Automatic review in criminal cases where the death penalty is imposed.

ii. BY PETITION FOR REVIEW ON CERTIORARI

a. From the Court of Appeals;

b. From the Sandiganbayan; and

c. From the Regional Trial Court where only an error

or question of law is involved

2. COURT OF APPEALS

A. ORIGINAL

i. EXCLUSIVE

a. Actions for annulment of judgments of the Regional Trial Court

ii. CONCURRENT
 a. With the Supreme Court:

a. petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the Regional Trial
Court

b. With the Supreme Court & Regional Trial Court:

a. petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the Regional Trial
Court

B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE

i. BY APPEAL
From the RTC in cases commenced therein, except those appealable to the Supreme Court or
the Sandiganbayan

ii. BY PETITION FOR REVIEW

From the Regional Trial Court in cases appealed thereto from the lower courts and not
appealable to the Sandiganbayan

3. SANDIGANBAYAN

A. ORIGINAL

i. EXCLUSIVE

a. Violations of:

a. Republic Act 3019

(Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act)

b. Republic Act No. 1379

c. Chapter 11, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised Penal Code

b. 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:

c. (1) Officials of the executive branch occupying the position of regional director and
higher (AKA Grade ‘27’ of RA 6758), including:

a. Provincial governors, vice-governors, members of the sangguniang

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

b. City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the sangguniang panlungsod, city

treasurers, assessors, engineers and other city department heads;

c. Officials of the diplomatic service occupying the position of consul and higher;

d. Philippine army and air force colonels, naval captains, and all officers of higher
rank;

e. Officers of the PNP while occupying the position of provincial director and those
holding the rank of senior superintendent or higher;

f. City and provincial prosecutors and their assistants, and officials and
prosecutors in the office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
 g. Presidents, directors of trustees, or managers of government owned or
controlled corporations, state universities or educational institutions or
foundations.

d. (2) Members of Congress and officials thereof (classified as Grade ‘27’ and higher under
the CPCA of 1989);

e. (3) Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution;

f. (4) Chairmen and members of the Constitutional Commissions, without prejudice to the
provisions of the Constitution; and

g. (5) All other national and local officials (classified as Grade ‘27’ and higher under the
CPCA of 1989)

h. 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

i. c. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with Executive Order #s
1,2,14 and 14 – A, issued in 1986

ii. CONCURRENT

a. With the Supreme Court:

a. petitions for mandamus, prohibition certiorari, habeas corpus, injunctions and

ancillary writs in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

b. petitions for quo warranto arising from Executive Order #s 1, 2, 14 & 14 – A

B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE

i. BY APPEAL

a. 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

4. REGIONAL TRIAL COURT

A. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL

i. All criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body

B. EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE

i. All cases decided by lower courts in their respective territorial jurisdictions

5. METROPLOITAN, MUNICIPAL, AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS

A. EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL

i. All violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within their respective territorial
jurisdictions;

ii. All offenses punishable with imprisonment of not more than 6 years irrespective of the amount
of fine

iii. All cases of damage to property through criminal negligence

 a. regardless of other penalties and the civil liabilities arising therefrom

iv. 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

v. 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

B. SUMMARY PROCEDURE

i. Traffic violations

ii. Violations of the rental law

iii. Violations of city municipal ordinances

iv. 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

v. All offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence

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