MOREH ACADEMY

Blk 52, Lot 31, Purok 2, A. Bonifacio Avenue, cor Ricahuerta St., Upper Bicutan Taguig City
Tel. Nos.: 839-0135; 838-9077 Email: morehacademy2002@yahoo.com.ph

Philippine Politics and

Governance

nd
2 Quarter- Week 1- Module Page | 1
I. Introduction

A. Overview

This lesson delves into the process by which legal issues are resolved. This gives the
student insights that will guide them in their decision-making not only on matters regarding
politics but also on everyday concerns.

B. Objectives

a. Identify the functions of Philippine Judiciary.

b. Discuss how the Judiciary Exercises Political Neutrality and fairness.
c. Discuss the performance of the Philippine Judiciary as a dispenser of Justice and a protector
of constitutional rights and freedom.

Most Essential Learning Competencies

Analyze the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Judiciary.

C. Topic Outline

a. Judicial Power
b. Philippine Judicial System
c. Judicial Courts
d. Membership and qualifications of the
members of judiciary

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 LET’S TRY

TRUE OR FALSE: Read and analyze each statement. Write TRUE if the statement is
true and FALSE if the statement is false. Write your answers on the blank before
each number.

______________1. Trial courts that hear and decide cases accommodates question of fact?
______________2. Supreme Court is the highest court of the land?
______________3. Sandiganbayan is the second-highest judicial court just after supreme court?
______________4. Court of Tax Appeals is a special court focusing on appeals from decisions of the Bureau of
customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue?
______________5. The Court of Tax Appeals known as “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980”?
______________6. Supreme Court has a 15 MEMBERS, 1 Chief justice, 14 Associates Justices?
______________7. Sandiganbayan is established under Presidential Decree No. 1606. Its rank equivalent to the
Court of Appeals?
______________8. Power of the supreme court primarily handles the cases of ambassadors, other public
ministers and consuls?
______________9. Sharia Court is the administrative agencies that are not courts of justice but empowered by
law to hear and decide certain classes of cases due to their specialized nature?
______________10. Court Appeals is the special court focusing on appeals from decisions of the Bureau of
customs and Bureau of Internal Revenue?

Lesson THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIARY

1

LET’S RECALL

What have you learned in our previous discussion and how important it is?

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 LET’S ELABORATE

FUNCTION OF JUDICIAL BRANCH

JUDICIARY (also known as the JUDICIAL SYSTEM/COURT SYSTEM)

- Is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the State. The
judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. Under the doctrine of
the separation of powers.

JUDICIAL POWER (Section 1, Article VIII,1987 Constitution)

TRADITIONAL DEFINITION:
➢ Power to settle actual controversies involving rights which are legally demandable and
enforceable.
EXPANDED DEFINITION:
➢ Power to determine whether or not there has been a grave abuse of discretion of
jurisdiction on the part of any branch or instrumentally of the government.
JUDICIAL POWER IS CONFERED TO:
➢ One supreme Court of the Philippines other courts that may be established by law.

THE PHILIPPINE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

TYPES OF PHILIPPINE COURTS:
1. TRIAL COURTS- courts that hear and decide cases accommodates question of fact.
2. REVIEW COURTS-courts that review the decision from the trial courts accommodates
questions of law.

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 JUDICIAL COURTS IN THE PHILIPPINES

SUPREME COURT- highest court of the land. It has an administrative supervision over all courts and the
personnel.

POWER OF SUPREME COURT

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION APPELATE JURISDICTION OTHERS

➢ Cases affecting
ambassadors, other
public minister and
consul.
➢ Petition for certiorari,
prohibition,
mandamus, quo
warranto, and habeas
corpus.
➢ Acts as Presidential
Electoral Tribunal.
➢ Temporary assignment
of judges.
➢ Appeals on decisions ➢ Change of venue for
made by the lower trials.
courts and quasi- ➢ Regulation of practice
judicial agencies. of law
➢ Administrative
supervision of the
Judiciary.

COURTS OF APPEALS- second-highest judicial court just after supreme court.

➢ Established under BATAS PAMBANSA NILANG 129 known as “THE JUDICIARY REORGANIZATION ACT
OF 1980”.
➢ Accept appeals from the decision of the lower courts.

SANDIGAN BAYAN- special court focusing on cases involving graft and corruption of government officials and
employees.

➢ Established under Presidential Decree No. 1606. Its rank equivalent to the Court of Appeals.
➢ Tries and decides criminal and civil cases against government officials and employees accused of graft
and corruption and similar other cases.

COURT OF TAX APPEALS- special court focusing on appeals from decisions of the Bureau of customs and
Bureau of Internal Revenue.

➢ Same level with the court of appeals. The court consist of 8 Associates Justices and 1 Presiding Justice.

REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS- were established among the 13 regions in the Philippines consisting of Regions I to
XII and the NCR.

➢ 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
Sandiganbayan which shall here after be exclusively taken cognizance 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.

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 MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS- covers only one municipality.

METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT- MTC in the towns and cities in the Metropolitan Manila Area, as distinguished
from the other political subdivisions in the Philippines, are referred to as MTC.

➢ In cities outside Metropolitan Manila, the equivalent of the Municipal Trial Courts is referred to as
Municipal Trial Courts in Cities.

MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS- are the judicial courts of the Philippine Judicial System which covers two or
more municipalities in the country.

SHARIA COURT SYSTEM- focusing on cases involving the code of Muslim Personal Laws (PD 1083).

QUASI-JUDICIAL AGENCIES- administrative agencies that are not courts of justice but empowered by law to
hear and decide certain classes of cases due to their specialized nature.

FUNCTION OF SUPREME COURT UNDER THE 1987 CONSTITUION ARE AS FOLLOWS.

1. The supreme court primarily handles the cases of ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls.
2. Review, affirm, reverse, or amend the decision of lower courts in certain cases that may concern the
constitutionality or validity of international agreement and presidential decrees, questionable decisions or
processes of the lower courts, cases which are punishable by lifetime imprisonment, error or question of law
among others.
3. Appointments of judges, officials and employees of the judiciary.
4. Create disseminate rules and procedures concerning the processes in legal courts as well as the membership
to the bar.

MEMBERSHIP AND QUALIFICATIONS OT THE MEMBERS OF JUDICIARY

SUPREME COURT OF REGIONAL METROPOLITAN/MUNICIPAL
COURT APPEALS COURT TRIAL COURT
COMPOSITION 15 MEMBERS (1 70 MEMBERS (1 13 Judicial 1 per Municipality/City
Chief justice, 14 Presiding Justice, Regions
Associates 69 Associates
Justices) Justices)
CITIZENSHIP NATURAL-BORN FILIPINO CITIZEN
MINIMUM AGE 40 40 35 30
REQUIREMNET FOR
APPOINTMENT
YEARS OF 15 15 10 5
PRACTICE LAW
CHARACTER PROVEN COMPETENCE, INTEGRITY, PROBITY, AND INDEPENDENCE
MEMBER OF YES
PHILIPPINE BAR?

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 LET’S DIG IN

ACTIVITY #1:

DIRECTION: Write the different courts of judicial branch from the highest to the lowest and
give brief descriptions of their functions.

ACTIVITY #2

DIRECTION: Share your own idea why it is important to study the Judiciary Branch of the Philippines.

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 LET’S APPLY

MOREH ACADEMY
Blk 52, Lot 31, Purok 2, A. Bonifacio Avenue, cor Ricahuerta St., Upper Bicutan Taguig City
Tel. Nos.: 839-0135; 838-9077 Email: morehacademy2002@yahoo.com.ph

Name Date
Grade &
Teacher SHIELA MANGUBAT
Section

Learning Activity Sheet

Subject/ Learning Area: POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

TITLE: FUNCTION OF JUDICIAL BRANCH

Intro: This lesson delves into the process by which legal issues are resolved. This gives the student insights that
will guide them in their decision-making not only on matters regarding politics but also on everyday concerns.

Objective/s:
MELC: Analyze the roles and responsibilities of the Philippine Judiciary

At the end of this activity, students should be able to:

a. Identify the functions of Philippine Judiciary.

b. Discuss how the Judiciary Exercises Political Neutrality and fairness.
c. Discuss the performance of the Philippine Judiciary as a dispenser of Justice and a protector of
constitutional rights and freedom.

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ACTIVITY:

DIRECTION: Make a flow chart of how legal complaints are addressed by the Judicial branch.
Briefly describe each stage of the resolution process.

LET’S EVALUATE

TRUE OR FALSE: Read and analyze each statement. Write TRUE if the statement is
true and FALSE if the statement is false. Write your answers on the blank before
each number.

____________1. Sharia court system focusing on cases involving the code of Muslim Personal Laws (PD
1083)?
____________2. Municipal circuit trial courts are the judicial courts of the Philippine Judicial System which
covers two or more municipalities in the country?
____________3. Court of appeal tries and decides criminal and civil cases against government officials and
employees accused of graft and corruption and similar other cases?
____________4. Judicial power refers to power to settle actual controversies involving rights which
are legally demandable and enforceable?
____________5. Trial courts is the courts that review the decision from the trial courts
accommodates questions of law?
____________6. Municipal t trial courts are the judicial courts of the Philippine Judicial System which
covers two or more municipalities in the country?
____________7. Appointments of judges, officials and employees of the judiciary are the power of Supreme
court?
____________8. Regional courts have a 70 MEMBERS, 1 Presiding Justice, 69 Associates Justices?
____________9. Regional trial courts criminal courts typically try cases of serious crimes like murder and
robbery as opposed to petty crimes, which reduce the burden of court cases?
____________10. Court of Appeals accept appeals from the decision of the lower courts?

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 REFERENCES

https://www.slideshare.net/kaorumatsubarabuttercup/judicial-branch-of-the-philippines
https://www.slideshare.net/raogania/judicial-department-of-the-
philippines#:~:text=Judicial%20power%20includes%20the%20duty,any%20branch%20or%
20instrumentality%20of
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyUC5kH-cWk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8IRUdvQByc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JNLMMsKT2w
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2mh-y22vn4

BOOKS

Philippine Politics and Governance pp. 62 (Rex Bookstore Publishing).

Prepared by:
MA’AM SHIELA MANGUBAT

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