Republic of the Philippines

CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE

Sipocot, Camarines Sur

CLJ1- INTRODUCTION TO PHILIPPINE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

Activity 14

MARINEL A. ALCANTARA
BS CRIM 2-A

INSTRUCTIONS:

COURT HIERARCHY. Draw a diagram or a flow chart of the Philippine Court

System and be able to state each jurisdiction.
 Republic of the Philippines
CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
Sipocot, Camarines Sur

COURT JURISDICTION
SUPREME COURT The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over – the authority
to hear – a wide range of cases. Its jurisdiction is
generally classified into original, appellate and advisory.
Under its original jurisdiction, the Court enforces
fundamental rights, hears federal disputes and can
transfer cases. 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.
COURT OF APPEAL The Court of Appeal has the jurisdiction to decide
appeals from most decisions made by a High Court
judge in civil and criminal cases. The Court of Appeals’
principal mandate is to exercise appellate jurisdiction on
all cases not falling within the original and exclusive
jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Its decisions are final
except when appealed to the Supreme Court on
questions of law.
SANDIGANBAYAN Both the 1973 and 1987 Constitution contain provisions
on the present anti-graft court known as the
Sandiganbayan. It has jurisdiction over criminal and civil
cases involving graft and corrupt practices and such
other offenses committed by public officers and
employees, including those in government-owned or
controlled corporations, in relation to their office as may
be determined by law. The jurisdiction of the
Sandiganbayan is perhaps one of the most often
amended provision from the 1973 Constitution to
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 8249. Before R.A. No. 8249,
jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan was determined on the
basis of the penalty imposable on the offense charged.
COURT OF TAX Republic Act No. 9282 expanded the jurisdiction of the
APPEAL Court of Tax Appeals, elevating its rank to the level of a
collegiate court with special jurisdiction and enlarging its
membership.The Court of Tax Appeals (CTA) is now of
the same level as the Court of Appeals, possessing all
 Republic of the Philippines
CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
Sipocot, Camarines Sur

the inherent powers of a Court of Justice, and shall

consist of a Presiding Justice and five (5) Associate
Justices.
REGIONAL TRIAL Some jurisdiction of Regional Trial Courts is that
COURT 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. RTC
Criminal Courts typically try cases of serious crimes like
murder and robbery, as opposed to petty crimes, which
reduce the burden of court cases. As well as, 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.
SHARI’A DISTRICT The Shari'a District Court has appellate jurisdiction over
COURT all cases tried in the Shari'a Circuit Courts within their
territorial jurisdiction. It shall decide every case on the
basis of the evidence and the records transmitted as well
as such memoranda, briefs or oral arguments as the
parties may submit.
METRO POLITAN TRIAL Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and
COURT 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 value.
Metropolitan Trial Courts, the Municipal Trial Courts in
Cities, the Municipal Trial Courts and the Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise "Exclusive original
jurisdiction over civil actions and probate proceedings,
testate and intestate including the grant of provisional
 Republic of the Philippines
CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
Sipocot, Camarines Sur

remedies in proper cases.

MUNICIPAL TRIAL R.A. No. 7691, the Metropolitan Trial Courts, the
COURT IN CITIES Municipal Trial Courts in Cities, the Municipal Trial
Courts and the Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall
exercise "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 interest, damages of whatever
kind, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses, and costs, the
amount of which must be specifically alleged: Provided,
That interest, damages whatever kind, attorney’s fees,
litigation expenses, and cost shall be included in the
determination of the filing fees: Provided, further, 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 cause of action arose out of
the same or different transactions.
MUNICIPAL TRIAL Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
COURT 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.
MUNICIPAL TRIAL Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial
 Republic of the Philippines
CENTRAL BICOL STATE UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
Sipocot, Camarines Sur

CIRCUIT COURT 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.
SHARI’A CIRCUIT The Shari'a District Court has appellate jurisdiction over
COURT all cases tried in the Shari'a Circuit Courts within their
territorial jurisdiction. It shall decide every case on the
basis of the evidence and the records transmitted as well
as such memoranda, briefs or oral arguments as the
parties may submit.
NOTE: Add rows if necessary.