MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURT (MTC), METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURT (METC), AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL

COURT (MCTC)
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL 1. Offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding six (6) years
JURISDICTION 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 (Section 32, B.P. Blg. 129, as amended by Section
2, R.A. No. 7691).
2. Where the only penalty provided for by law is a fine not more than
P4,000.00 (Administrative Circular 09-94).
3. Offenses involving damage to property through criminal negligence
(Section 32, B.P. Blg. 129, as amended by Section 2, R.A. No. 7691).
4. Those covered by the Rule on Summary Procedure:
A. Violations of traffic laws, rules and regulations;
B. Violations of the rental law;
C. Violations of municipal or city ordinances;
D. Violations of B.P. Blg. 22, otherwise known as Bouncing Checks
Law (A.M. No. 00-11-01-SC);
E. All other criminal cases where the penalty is imprisonment not
exceeding 1 year, or a fine not exceeding Php50,000.00, or
both, regardless of other imposable penalties (A.M. No. 08-8-7-
SC);
F. Offenses involving damage to property through criminal
negligence where the imposable fine does not exceed
P150,000.00.
SPECIAL JURISDICTION Applications for bail in criminal cases in the absence of all RTC judges in a
province or city (Section 35, B.P. Blg. 129).
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT (RTC), GENERALLY
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL 1. Criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court,
JURISDICTION tribunal or body, except those falling under the exclusive and
concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan (Section 20, B.P. 129);

APPELLATE JURISDICTION
SPECIAL JURISDICTION
REGIONAL TRIAL COURT (RTC), SITTING AS FAMILY COURT
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
JURISDICTION
2. Offenses the imposable penalty for which exceeds 6 years
imprisonment;
3. In cases where the only penalty is a fine exceeding P4,000.00
(Administrative Circular 09-94);
4. Criminal cases under special laws:
A. Written defamation (Article 360 of the Revised Penal Code, as
amended by R.A. No. 4363);
B. Designated courts over cases in violation of the Comprehensive
Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 (Section 90, R.A. No. 9165);
C. Designated special cybercrime courts in cybercrime cases
(Section 21, R.A. No. 10175);
D. Designated special courts in war crimes, genocide cases, and
other crimes against humanity (Section 18, R.A. No. 9851);
All cases decided by the MTCs, MeTCs and MCTCs in their respective
territorial jurisdiction (Section 22, B.P. 129).
To handle exclusively criminal cases as designated by the Supreme Court
(Section 23, B.P. 129).
1. Criminal cases where:
A. One or more of the accused is/are below eighteen (18) years of
age but not less than nine (9) years of age (Section 5 [a] of
R.A. No.8369); or
B. Where one of the victims is a minor at the time of the
commission of the offense (Section 5 [a] of R.A. No.8369; See
also Section 8 of R.A. No. 9775, or the Anti- Child Pornography
Act of 2009);
C. Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drug Act
(Section 5 [i] of R.A. No.8369);
D. Violations of R.A. No. 7610, otherwise known as the “Special
Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and
Discrimination Act” as amended by R.A. No. 7658 (Section 5 [j]
 of R.A. No.8369, in relation to Section 16-A of R.A. No. 7610);
and
E. Cases of domestic violence against women and their children
(Section 5 [k] of R.A. No.8369, in relation to Section 7, R.A. No.
9262).
SANDIGANBAYAN
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL 1. Violations of:
JURISDICTION A. R.A. No. 3019, or the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act;
B. R.A. No. 1379 on Ill-Gotten Wealth;
C. Chapter 2, Section 2, Title 7, Book 2 of the Revised Penal Code
(Bribery, etc.) where one or more of the accused are officials
occupying the following positions in the government, whether
permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the
commission of the offense:
i. Officials of the executive branch occupying the positions
of regional director and higher, otherwise classified as
Grade “27” and higher, of the Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989 (Sec. 4 [a] [1], P.D. No. 1606,
as amended by R.A. No. 10660);

NOTE: The Sandiganbayan maintains jurisdiction over

specifically enumerated officials in Sec. 4(a)(1),
paragraphs (a) to (g) notwithstanding the salary grade
being below Grade 27, e.g., members of the sangguniang
bayan (SG 24 and 25), provincial treasurers, assessors,
engineers, and other provincial department heads (SG
26), members of the sangguniang panlungsod (SG 25
and 27), city treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other
city department heads (SG 25 to 27), etc.

ii. Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as

Grade “27” and higher under the Compensation and
 Position Classification Act of 1989 (Sec. 4 [a] [2], P.D.
No. 1606, as amended by R.A. No. 10660);
iii. Members of the judiciary without prejudice to the
provisions of the Constitution (Sec. 4 [a] [3], P.D. No.
1606, as amended by R.A. No. 10660);
iv. Chairmen and members of the Constitutional
Commissions, without prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution (Sec. 4 [a] [4], P.D. No. 1606, as amended
by R.A. No. 10660); and
v. All other national and local officials classified as Grade
“27” and higher under the Compensation and Position
Classification Act of 1989 (Sec. 4 [a] [5], P.D. No. 1606,
as amended by R.A. No. 10660).
2. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other
crimes committed by the public officials and employees mentioned in
subsection (a) in relation to their office (Section 4 [b], P.D. No. 1606,
as amended by R.A. No. 10660).
3. Cases filed pursuant to and in connection with E. O. No. 1, 2, 14 and
14-A (Sequestration cases), issued in 1986 (Section 4 [c], P.D. No.
1606, as amended by R.A. No. 10660).

Provided, That the RTC shall have exclusive original jurisdiction where
the information: (a) does not allege any damage to the government or
any bribery; or (b) alleges damage to the government or bribery
arising from the same or closely related transactions or acts in an
amount not exceeding One million pesos (P1,000,000.00).

Subject to the rules promulgated by the Supreme Court, the cases

falling under the jurisdiction of the RTC under this section shall be tried
in a judicial region other than where the official holds office.
 In cases where none of the accused are occupying positions
corresponding to Salary Grade ’27’ or higher, as prescribed in the said
R.A. No. 6758, or military and PNP officers mentioned above, exclusive
original jurisdiction thereof shall be vested in the proper RTC, MeTC,
MTC, and MTCC, as the case may be, pursuant to their respective
jurisdictions as provided in B.P. Blg. 129, as amended.

4. Plunder (Section 3, R.A. No. 7080).

5. Money laundering cases committed by public officers and private
persons who are in conspiracy with such public officers (Section 5, R.A.
No. 9160).
APPELLATE JURISDICTION 1. Appeals from the final judgments, resolutions or orders of RTCs
whether in the exercise of their original or appellate jurisdiction where
all the accused are occupying positions lower than salary grade 27 or
not otherwise covered by the preceding enumeration (Section 4, P.D.
No. 1606, as amended by R.A. No. 10660).
2. Petitions for the issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition,
certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction 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 E.O. 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 (Section 4, P.D. No. 1606, as amended
by R.A. No. 10660).
COURT OF TAX APPEALS (CTA)
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL 1. All criminal offenses arising from violations of:
JURISDICTION A. the National Internal Revenue Code or
B. the Tariff and Customs Code [now R.A. No. 10863, or the
Customs ModernizationandTariffAct]; and
C. other laws administered by the Bureau of Internal Revenue or
the Bureau of Customs;
 Provided, however, That offenses or felonies mentioned in this
paragraph where the principal amount of taxes and fees,
exclusive of charges and penalties, claimed is less than
P1,000,000.00 or where there is no specified amount claimed
shall be tried by the regular Courts x x x. (Sec. 7(b)(1), R.A. No.
1125, as amended by Sec. 7 of R.A. No. 9282)
APPELLATE JURISDICTION 1. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or orders of the
Regional Trial Courts in [criminal] tax cases originally decided by them,
in their respective territorial jurisdiction; (Section 7(b)(2)(a), R.A. No.
1125, as amended by Section 7 of R.A. No. 9282) and
2. Over petitions for review of the judgments, resolutions or orders of the
Regional Trial Courts in the exercise of their appellate jurisdiction over
[criminal] tax cases originally decided by the Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in their
respective jurisdiction. (Section 7(b)(2)(b), R.A. No. 1125, as amended
by Section 7 of R.A. No. 9282)
COURT OF APPEALS (CA)
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL 1. Petition for Freeze Order (Section 10, R.A. No. 9160, or the Anti-Money
JURISDICTION Laundering Act, as amended by R.A. Nos. 9194, 10167, 10365, and
10927);
2. Application to Inquire/Examine (Section 11, R.A. No. 9160, as
amended by R.A. Nos. 9194, and 10365);
3. Petition for extension of freeze order by the AMLC (Sec. 11, R.A. No.
10168, or The Terrorism Financing Prevention and Suppression Act of
2012; Sec. 36, R.A. No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Law of 2020);
4. Petition for determination of basis of freeze order by aggrieved party
(Sec. 11, R.A. No. 10168; Sec. 36, R.A. No. 11479);
5. Ex parte application for surveillance (Sec. 16 and 17, R.A. No. 11479);
6. Application for proscription order (Sec. 26 and 27, R.A. No. 11479)
CONCURRENT ORIGINAL Applications for the issuance of writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari,
JURISDICTION habeas corpus, and quo warranto, and auxiliary writs or processes, whether
 or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction (Section 9 of B.P. Blg. 129, as
amended by Executive Order No. 33 and R.A. No. 7902);

With the SC:

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the RTCs (Section
4, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court, in relation to Section 9, B.P. Blg. 129).

With the SC and RTC:

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the MTCs, MeTCs
or MCTCs (Section 4, Rule 65 of the Rules of Court, in relation to Sections 9
and 21, B.P. Blg. 129).
APPELLATE JURISDICTION All final judgments, decisions, resolutions, orders or awards of the RTC and
quasi- judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commissions, 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
(Section 9 of B.P. Blg. 129, as amended by Executive Order No. 33 and
Republic Act No. 7902);
SUPREME COURT (SC)
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the CA and
JURISDICTION Sandiganbayan (Section 17, R.A. No. 296, as amended by R.A. No. 5440; See
also R.A. No. 10660).
CONCURRENT JURISDICTION With the CA:
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the RTCs.

With the CA and RTC:

Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus against the MTCs, MeTCs
and MCTCs.
APPELLATE JURISDICTION By Petition for Review on Certiorari (Rule 45):

From the CA;

 From the Sandiganbayan;

From the RTC where only an error or question of law is involved.

SHARI’AH CIRCUIT COURTS
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL Cases where either or both parties are Muslims: Provided, That the non-
JURISDICTION Muslim party voluntarily submits to its jurisdiction:
1. Offenses under P.D. No. 1083, committed in the Bangsamoro
Autonomous Region (Sec. 5(a), Art. X, RA 11054), such as:
A. Illegal solemnization of marriage (Article 181, P.D. No. 1083);
B. Marriage before expiration ’idda (Article 182, P.D. No. 1083);
C. Offenses relative to subsequent marriage, divorce and
revocation of divorce in violation of Articles 85, 161 and 162 of
P.D. No. 1083 (Article 183, P.D. No. 1083);
D. Failure to report for registration (Article 184, P.D. No. 1083);
E. Neglect of duty of registrars (Article 185, P.D. No. 1083).
2. Cases involving ta’zir offenses defined under Shari’ah law enacted by
the Bangsamoro Parliament punishable by arresto menor, or fine, or
both (Sec. 5(d), Art. X, RA 11054)
SHARI’AH DISTRICT COURTS
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL All petitions for mandamus, prohibition, injunction, certiorari, habeas corpus,
JURISDICTION and all other auxiliary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction
(Article 143 (1) (e), P.D. No. 1083; 1st par., Sec. 6, Art. X, RA 11054).
APPELLATE JURISDICTION All cases tried in the Shari’ah Circuit Courts in the Bangsamoro Autonomous
Region within their territorial jurisdiction (Article 144, P.D. No. 1083; 2nd
par., Sec. 6, Art. X, RA 11054).
SHARI’AH HIGH COURT
APPELLATE JURISDICTION 1. Petitions for mandamus, prohibition, injunction, certiorari, habeas
corpus, and all other auxiliary writs and processes, in aid of its
appellate jurisdiction.
2. All actions for annulment of judgments of Shari'ah District Courts
within outside the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region. (Sec. 7, Art. X,
RA 11054) N.B. RA 11054, or the Bangsamoro Basic Law, did not
textually provide for the Shari’ah High Court’s appellate jurisdiction
over cases tried by the Shari’ah District Courts, unlike in RA 9054.
It must be noted, however, that RA 11054 expressly repealed RA
6734, as amended by RA 9054 (Sec. 4, Art. XVIII, RA 11054),
changing appellate remedies. Nonetheless, see Mendez v. Shari’a
District Court, G.R. No. 201614, 12 January 2016, for the previous
framework.