JURISDICTION OF THE SUPREME
COURT combinations in restraint of trade.
(Section 17 Judiciary Act as amended
by Section 2 of RA 5540)
Section 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 Court of
First Instance:
1. In petitions for the issuance of
writs of certiorari, prohibition,
mandamus, quo warranto, and
habeas corpus;
2. In actions between the Roman
Catholic Church and the
municipalities or towns, or the
Filipino Independent Church for
controversy as to title to, or
ownership, administration or
possession of hospitals, convents,
cemeteries or other properties
used in connection therewith;
3. In actions brought by the
Government of the Philippines
against the Roman Catholic
Church or vice versa for the title
to, or ownership of, hospitals,
asylums, charitable institutions,
or any other kind of property; and
4. In actions brought to prevent
and restrain violations of law
concerning monopolies and
The Supreme Court shall have exclusive
jurisdiction to review, revise, reverse,
modify or affirm on appeal, certiorari or
writ of error, as the law or rules of court
may provide, final judgment 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
toll, or any penalty imposed in
relation thereto;
(3) All cases in which the
jurisdiction of any inferior court is
in issue;
(4) 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;
(5) All civil cases in which the
value in controversy exceeds fifty
thousand pesos, exclusive of
 interests and costs, or in which
the title or possession of real
estate exceeding in value the sum
of fifty thousand pesos to be
ascertained by the oath of a party
to the cause or by other
competent evidence, is involved or
brought in question. The
Supreme Court shall likewise
have exclusive jurisdiction over all
appeals in civil cases, even
though the value in controversy,
exclusive of interests and costs, is
fifty thousand pesos or less, when
the evidence involved in said
cases is the same as the evidence
submitted in an appealed civil
case within the exclusive
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court
as provided herein;
(6) All other cases in which only
errors or questions of law are
involved.
RA 5540
Section 2. Section seventeen of the
same Act, as amended, is hereby further
amended to read as follows:
"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;
"(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."
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT
OF APPEALS
(Section 9 of BP 129 as amended
by Section 1 of RA 7902)
Section 9. Jurisdiction. – The Court of
Appeals shall Exercise:
1. Original jurisdiction to issue
writs
of mandamus, prohibition, certior
ari, 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
judgements of Regional Trial
Courts; and
3. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction
over all final judgements,
resolutions, orders or awards of
Regional Trial Courts and quasi-
judicial agencies,
instrumentalities, boards or
commission, 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 od Section 17 of the
Judiciary Act of 1948.
The court of Appeals shall have the Courts; and
power to try cases and conduct
hearings, receive evidence and perform "(3) Exclusive
any and all acts necessary to resolve appellate jurisdiction
factual issues raised in cases falling over all
within its original and appellate final judgments,
jurisdiction, including the power to
decisions,
grant and conduct new trials or Appeals
resolutions, orders or
must be continuous and must be
completed within three (3) months, awards of the
unless extended by the Chief Justice. Regional Trial
Courts and quasi-
judicial agencies,
instrumentalities,
RA 7902 boards
or commissions,
Section 1. Sec. 9 of Batas Pambansa including the
BIg. 129, as amended, known as the Securities and
Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980, is Exchange
hereby further amended to read as Commission, the
follows: Social Security
"SEC. 9. Jurisdiction. - The Commission, the
Court of Appeals shall Employees'Compens
exercise: ation Commission
and the Civil Service
"(1) Original Commission, except
jurisdiction to issue those falling within
writs of mandamus, the appelate
prohibition, jurisdiction of
certiorari, habeas the Supreme Court
corpus, and quo in accordance with
warranto, the Constitution,
and auxilliary writs the Labor Code of
or processes, whether the Philippines under
or not in aid of Presidential
its appellate Decree No. 442, as
jurisdiction; amended, the
provisions of this Act,
"(2) Exclusive original and
jurisdiction over of subparagraph (1)
actions of the third
for annulment of paragraph and
judgments of subparagraph (4) of
Regional Trial the fourth paragraph
 of Section 17 of the refunds of internal revenue taxes,
Judiciary Act of fees or other charges, penalties
1948. imposed in relation thereto, or
other matters arising under the
"The Court of Appeals National Internal Revenue Code
shall have the power or other law or part of law
administered by the Bureau of
to try cases and
Internal Revenue;
conduct hearings,
receive evidence and (2) Decisions of the Commissioner
perform any and all of Customs in cases involving
acts necessary to liability for customs duties, fees or
resolve factual issues other money charges; seizure,
raised in detention or release of property
cases falling within affected fines, forfeitures or other
its original and penalties imposed in relation
appellate thereto; or other matters arising
jurisdiction, under the Customs Law or other
including the power law or part of law administered by
to grant and conduct the Bureau of Customs; and
new trials or further
proceedings. Trials or (3) Decisions of provincial or city
Boards of Assessment Appeals in
hearings in the Court
cases involving the assessment
of Appeals must
and taxation of real property or
be continuous and other matters arising under the
must be completed Assessment Law, including rules
within three (3) and regulations relative thereto.
months unless
extended by the Chief
Justice."

JURISDICTION OF THE COURT OF JURISDICTION OF

TAX APPEALS SANDIGANYAN

(Section 7 of RA 1125) (Section 4 of PD 1606 as amended

by RA 8429)
Section 7. Jurisdiction. - The Court of
Tax Appeals shall exercise exclusive Section 4. Jurisdiction. The
appellate jurisdiction to review by Sandiganbayan shall have jurisdiction
appeal, as herein provided. over:

(1) Decisions of the Collector of (a) Violations of Republic Act No.

Internal Revenue in cases 3019, as amended, otherwise,
involving disputed assessments, known as the Anti-Graft and
 Corrupt Practices Act, and
Republic Act No. 1379;
(b) Crimes committed by public
officers and employees including
those employed in government-
owned or controlled corporations,
embraced in Title VII of the
Revised Penal Code, whether
simple or complexed with other
crimes; and
(c) Other crimes or offenses
committed by public officers or
employees, including those
employed in government-owned
or controlled corporations, in
relation to their office.
The jurisdiction herein conferred shall
be original and exclusive if the offense
charged is punishable by a penalty
higher than prision correccional, or its
equivalent, except as herein provided; in
other offenses, it shall be concurrent
with the regular courts.
In case private individuals are charged
as co-principals, accomplices or
accessories with the public officers or
employees including those employed in
government-owned or controlled
corporations, they shall be tried jointly
with said public officers and employees.
Where an accused is tried for any of the
above offenses and the evidence is
insufficient to establish the offense
charged, he may nevertheless be
convicted and sentenced for the offense
proved, included in that which is
charged.
Any provision of law or the Rules of
Court to the contrary notwithstanding,
the criminal action and the
corresponding civil action for the
recovery of civil liability arising from the
offense charged shall at all times be
simultaneously instituted with, and
jointly determined in the same
proceeding by, the Sandiganbayan, the
filing of the criminal action being
deemed to necessarily carry with it the
filing of the civil action, and no right to
reserve the filing of such action shall be
recognized; Provided, however, that, in
cases within the exclusive jurisdiction of
the Sandiganbayan, where the civil
action had therefore been filed
separately with a regular court but
judgment therein has not yet been
rendered and the criminal case is
hereafter filed with the Sandiganbayan,
said civil action shall be transferred to
the Sandiganbayan for consolidation
and joint determination with the
criminal action, otherwise, the criminal
action may no longer be filed with the
Sandiganbayan, its exclusive
jurisdiction over the same
notwithstanding, but may be filed and
prosecuted only in the regular courts of
competent jurisdiction; Provided,
further, that, in cases within the
concurrent jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan and the regular courts,
where either the criminal or civil action
is first filed with the regular courts, the
corresponding civil or criminal action,
as the case may be, shall only be filed
with the regular courts of competent
jurisdiction.
Excepted from the foregoing provisions,
during martial law, are criminal cases
against officers and members of the
armed forces in the active service.
RA 8429
Section 4. Section 4 of the same decree city department
is hereby further amended to read as heads;
follows:
"(c) Officials of the
"a. Violations of Republic Act No. diplomatic service
3019, as amended, otherwise occupying the
known as the Anti-graft and position of consul
Corrupt Practices Act, Republic and higher;
Act No. 1379, and Chapter II,
Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the "(d) Philippine army
Revised Penal Code, where one or and air force
more of the accused are officials colonels, naval
occupying the following positions captains, and all
in the government whether in a officers of higher
permanent, acting or interim rank;
capacity, at the time of the
commission of the offense: "(e) Officers of the
Philippine National
"(1) Officials of the executive Police while
branch occupying the occupying the
positions of regional position of provincial
director and higher, director and those
otherwise classified as holding the rank of
Grade '27' and higher, of senior
the Compensation and superintendent or
Position Classification Act higher;
of 1989 (Republic Act No.
6758), specifically "(f) City and
including: provincial
prosecutors and their
"(a) Provincial assistants, and
governors, vice- officials and
governors, members prosecutors in the
of the sangguniang Office of the
panlalawigan and Ombudsman and
provincial treasurers, special prosecutor;
assessors, engineers
and other provincial "(g) Presidents,
department heads; directors or trustees,
or managers of
"(b) City mayors, vice- government-owned
mayors, members of or -controlled
the sangguniang corporations, state
panlungsod, city universities or
treasurers, assessors educational
engineers and other
 institutions or
foundations;
"(2) Members of Congress
and officials thereof
classified as Grade'27'and
up under the
Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989;
"(3) Members of the
judiciary without prejudice
to the provisions of the
Constitution;
"(4) Chairmen and
members of 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 Compensation and
Position Classification Act
of 1989.
"b. Other offenses orfelonies
whether simple or complexed with
other crimes committed by the
public officials and employees
mentioned in subsection a of this
section in relation to their office.
"c. Civil and criminal cases filed
pursuant to and in connection
with Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14
and 14-A, issued in 1986.
"In cases where none of the
accused are occupying positions
corresponding to salary grade '27'
or higher, as prescribed in the
said Republic Act No. 6758, or
military or PNP officers mentioned
above, exclusive original
jurisdiction thereof shall be
vested in the proper regional trial
court, metropolitan trial court,
municipal trial court and
municipal circuit trial court ' as
the case may be, pursuant to their
respective jurisdiction as provided
in Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as
amended.
"The Sandiganbayan shall
exercise exclusive appellate
jurisdiction over final judgments,
resolutions or orders or regional
trial courts whether in the
exercise of their own original
jurisdiction orof their appellate
jurisdiction as herein provided.
"The Sandiganbayan shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction over
petitions for the issuance of the
writs of mandamus, prohibition,
certiorari, habeas corpus,
injunctions, and other ancillary
writs and processes in aid of its
appellate jurisdiction and over
petitions of similar nature,
including quo warranto, arising or
that may arise in cases filed or
which may be filed under
Executive Order Nos. 1,2,14 and
14-A, issued in 1986: Provided,
That the jurisdiction over these
petitions shall not be exclusive of
the Supreme Court.
The procedure prescribed in
Batas Pambansa Blg. 129, as well
as the implementing rules that
the Supreme Court has
promulgated and may hereafter
promulgate, relative to
appeals/petitions for review to the
Court of Appeals, shall apply to
appeals and petitions for review
filed with the Sandiganbayan. In
all cases elevated to the
Sandiganbayan and from the
Sandiganbayan to the Supreme
Court, the Office of the
Ombudsman, through its special
prosecutor, shall represent the
People of the Philippines, except
in cases filed pursuant to
Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and
14-A, issued in 1986.
"In case private individuals are
charged as co-principals,
accomplices or accessories with
the public officers or employees,
including those employed in
govemment-owned or controlled
corporations, they shall be tried
jointly with said public officers
and employees in the proper
courts which shall exercise
exclusive jurisdiction over them.
"Any provisions of law or Rules of
Court to the contrary
notwithstanding, the criminal
action and the corresponding civil
action for the recovery of civil
liability shall at all times be
simultaneously instituted with,
and jointly determined in, the
same proceeding by the
Sandiganbayan or the
appropriate courts, the filing of
the criminal action being deemed
to necessarily carry with it the
filing of the civil action, and no
right to reserve the filing of such
civil action separately from the
criminal action shall be
recognized: Provided, however,
That where the civil action had
therefore been filed separately but
judgment therein has not yet been
rendered, and the criminal case is
hereafter filed with the
Sandiganbayan or the
appropriate court, said civil action
shall be transferred to the
Sandiganbayan or the
appropriate court, as the case
may be, for consolidation and
joint determination with the
criminal action, otherwise the
separate civil action shall be
deemed abandoned."
JURISDICTION OF REGIONAL TRIAL
COURTS
(Sections 19 – 23 of BP 129)
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 the
value exceeds Fifty thousand
pesos (50,000.00) except actions
for forcible entry into and
unlawful detainer of lands or
buildings, original jurisdiction
over which is conferred upon
Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts, and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;
(3) In all actions in admiralty and
maritime jurisdiction where he
demand or claim exceeds One
hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) or , in Metro
Manila, where such demand or
claim exceeds Two hundred
thousand pesos (200,000.00);
(4) In all matters of probate, both
testate and intestate, where the
gross value of the estate exceeds
One hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) or, in probate
matters in Metro Manila, where
such gross value exceeds Two
hundred thousand pesos
(200,000.00);
(5) In all actions involving the
contract of marriage and marital
relations;
(6) In all cases not within the
exclusive jurisdiction of any
court, tribunal, person or body
exercising jurisdiction or 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 Courts of
Agrarian Relations as now
provided by law; and
(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 One hundred thousand
pesos (100,000.00) or, in such
other abovementioned items
exceeds Two hundred thousand
pesos (200,000.00). (as amended
by R.A. No. 7691*)
Section 20. Jurisdiction in criminal
cases. – Regional Trial Courts shall
exercise exclusive original jurisdiction
in all criminal cases not within the
exclusive jurisdiction of any court,
tribunal or body, except those now
falling under the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan which shall hereafter be
exclusively taken cognizance of by the
latter.
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.
JURISDICTION OF METROPOLITAN
TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL
COURTS AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT
TRIAL COURTS
(Section 32 – 35 of BP 129 as amended
by RA 7691)
Section 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan
Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in criminal
cases. – Except in cases falling within
the exclusive original jurisdiction of
Regional Trial Courts and of the
Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall
exercise:
(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction
over all violations of city or
municipal ordinances committed
within their respective territorial
jurisdiction; and
(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction
over all offenses punishable with
imprisonment not exceeding six
(6) years irrespective of the
amount of fine, and regardless of
other imposable accessory or
other penalties, including the civil
liability arising from such offenses
or predicated thereon, irrespective
of kind, nature, value, or amount
thereof: Provided, however, That
in offenses involving damage to
property through criminal
negligence they shall have
exclusive original jurisdiction
thereof. (as amended by R.A, No.
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 One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00) or, in Metro
Manila where such personal
property, estate, or amount of the
demand does not exceed Two
hundred thousand pesos
(P200,000.00) exclusive of
interest damages of whatever
kind, attorney's fees, litigation
expenses, and costs, the amount
of which must be specifically
alleged: Provided, That where
there are several claims or causes
of action 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 question 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.
(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 value of
such property shall be determined
by the assessed value of the
adjacent lots. (as amended by
R.A. No. 7691)
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 the 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. (as amended by R.A. No. 7691)
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.
RA 7691
Section 1. Section 19 of Batas
Pambansa Blg. 129, otherwise known
as the "Judiciary Reorganization Act of
1980", is hereby amended to read as
follows:
"Sec. 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
One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00) or, in
Metro Manila, where such
demand or claim exceeds
Two hundred thousand
pesos (P200,000.00);
"(4) In all matters of
probate, both testate and
intestate, where the gross
value of the estate exceeds
One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00) or, in
probate matters in Metro
Manila, where such gross
value exceeds Two Hundred
thousand pesos
(P200,000.00);
"(5) In all actions involving
the contract of marriage
and marital relations;
"(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
"(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 One
hundred thousand pesos
 (P100,000.00) or, in such value or amount thereof:
other cases in Metro Provided, however, That in
Manila, where the demand offenses involving damage
exclusive of the to property through
abovementioned items criminal negligence, they
exceeds Two Hundred shall have exclusive original
thousand pesos jurisdiction thereof."
(P200,000.00)."
Section 3. Section 33 of the same law is
Section 2. Section 32 of the same law is hereby amended to read as follows:
hereby amended to read as follows:
"Sec. 33. Jurisdiction of
"Sec. 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and
Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in Civil Cases. – Metropolitan Trial
Criminal Cases. – Except in cases Courts, Municipal Trial Courts,
falling within the exclusive and Municipal Circuit Trial
original jurisdiction of Regional Courts shall exercise:
Trial Courts and of the
Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan "(1) Exclusive original
Trial Courts, Municipal Trial jurisdiction over civil
Courts, and Municipal Circuit actions and probate
Trial Courts shall exercise: proceedings, testate and
intestate, including the
"(1) Exclusive original grant of provisional
jurisdiction over all remedies in proper cases,
violations of city or where the value of the
municipal ordinances personal property, estate,
committed within their or amount of the demand
respective territorial does not exceed One
jurisdiction; and hundred thousand pesos
(P100,000.00) or, in Metro
"(2) Exclusive original Manila where such
jurisdiction over all offenses personal property, estate,
punishable with or amount of the demand
imprisonment not does not exceed Two
exceeding six (6) years hundred thousand pesos
irrespective of the amount (P200,000.00), exclusive of
of fine, and regardless of interest, damages of
other imposable accessory whatever kind, attorney's
or other penalties, fees, litigation expenses,
including the civil liability and costs, the amount of
arising from such offenses which must be specifically
or predicated thereon, alleged: Provided, That
irrespective of kind, nature, interest, damages of
whatever kind, attorney's Manila, where such
fees, litigation expenses, assessed value does not
and costs shall be included exceed Fifty thousand
in the determination of the pesos (P50,000.00)
filing fees: Provided, exclusive of interest,
further, That where there damages of whatever kind,
are several claims or causes attorney's fees, litigation
of actions between the same expenses and costs:
or different parties, Provided, That in cases of
embodied in the same land not declared for
complaint, the amount of taxation purposes, the
the demand shall be the value of such property shall
totality of the claims in all be determined by the
the causes of action, assessed value of the
irrespective of whether the adjacent lots."
causes of action arose out
of the same or different Section 4. Section 34 of the same law is
transactions; hereby amended to read as follows:

"(2) Exclusive original "Sec. 34. Delegated Jurisdiction

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
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."
 JURISDICTION OF SHARI’A shall have original jurisdiction
COURTS over:

(Section 143 - 144 of PD 1083) (a) Petitions by Muslims for

the constitution of a family
Article 143. Original jurisdiction. home, change of name and
commitment of an insane
(1) The Shari'a District Court shall person to an asylum;
have exclusive original
jurisdiction over: (b) All other personal and
real actions not mentioned
(a) All cases involving in paragraph 1 (d) wherein
custody, guardianship, the parties involved are
legitimacy, paternity and Muslims except those for
filiation arising under this forcible entry and unlawful
Code; detainer, which shall fall
under the exclusive original
<="" p=""> jurisdiction of the
Municipal Circuit Court;
(c) Petitions for the and
declaration of absence and
death and for the (c) All special civil actions
cancellation or correction of for interpleader or
entries in the Muslim declaratory relief wherein
Registries mentioned in the parties are Muslims or
Title VI of Book Two of this the property involved
Code; belongs exclusively to
Muslims.
(d) All actions arising from
customary contracts in Article 144. Appellate jurisdiction.
which the parties are
Muslims, if they have not (1) Shari'a District Courts shall
specified which law shall have appellate jurisdiction over all
govern their relations; and cases tried in the Shari'a Circuit
Courts within their territorial
(e) All petitions for jurisdiction.
mandamus, prohibition,
injunction, certiorari, (2) The Shari'a District Court shall
habeas corpus, and all decide every case appealed to it on
other auxiliary writs and the basis of the evidence and
processes in aid of its records transmitted as well as
appellate jurisdiction. such memoranda, briefs or oral
arguments as the parties may
(2) Concurrently with existing civil submit.
courts, the Shari'a District Court