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Jurisdiction In General

JURISDICTION IN GENERAL
The word JURISDICTION is derived from 2 Latin words: 1.) JURIS law; 2.) DICO to speak, or to
say. So, in effect, when you say jurisdiction, literally translated, it means, I speak by the law. It means
that you are saying I speak with authority because when you invoke the law, then your act is
authorized. Even in old times when the representatives of the king or the sovereign will try to arrest
somebody or will try to enter your house, they open up in the name of the law. They will always invoke
in the name of the law.
So when you say, I speak by the law I will do it in the name of the law. It connotes authority or
power. You cannot be wrong. How can you be wrong if you are doing it in the name of the law? So
more or less jurisdiction simply means authority or power. So more or less that is the whole concept of
jurisdiction. It simply means authority or power. That is precisely what jurisdiction is all about.
JURISDICTION simply means the power of the court to hear, try and decide a case. In its complete
aspect, jurisdiction includes not only the powers to hear and decide a case, but also the power to
enforce the judgment. (14 Am. Jur. 363-364)
Q: What is the effect if the court has no jurisdiction?
A: If a court has no jurisdiction, it has no power or authority to try a case and that is a concept you
already know in Criminal Procedure. Without jurisdiction, the trial is null and void as well as the
judgment.
Lets go to a criminal case. Can you file an information for murder before the MTC? Or can you file
an information for slight physical injuries before the RTC? There is something wrong there. If a slight
physical injury case is filed against you in the RTC, what will you do? If Im the lawyer of the accused
why will I allow my client to be arraigned and to be tried when everything is null and void. Kapoy-kapoy
lang ako. So Ill file a motion to quash under Rule 117. Thats the same thing in civil cases. If you file a
civil case before a court that has no jurisdiction, then it can be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction.
JURISDICTION vs. EXERCISE OF JURISDICTION
Now, let us not confuse jurisdiction with certain terms related to it.
Q: Distinguish jurisdiction from exercise of jurisdiction.
A: The authority to decide a case, not the decision rendered, is what makes up jurisdiction. It does
not depend upon the regularity of the exercise of that power or upon the rightfulness of the decision
made. Where there is jurisdiction over of the person and subject matter, the resolution of all other
questions arising in the case is but an exercise of jurisdiction. (Herrera vs. Barreto, 25 Phil. 245)
In other words, JURISDICTION is the authority. If I have no authority, I cannot act. And if I have
authority, I can act. Now, if the court has authority, it will try the case and render judgment.
Now, what the court will do later, like try the case and render judgment is merely an EXERCISE OF
ITS JURISDICTION. So the trial and judgment are all products of the exercise of jurisdiction. You
cannot talk of exercise without having first the authority. It is a useless procedure when you say I will
exercise something which I do not have.
Q: Why is it important to distinguish jurisdiction from exercise of jurisdiction?
A: Definitely, a court acting as such may commit errors or mistakes. That is why the action of the
court can be questioned later in a higher court. A court can commit an error which is either an error of
jurisdiction or an error of judgment.
EXAMPLE: A case of murder was filed in the MTC. The accused, Ken Sur, files a motion to quash
because MTC has no jurisdiction over cases of murder. Eh, yong judge iba man yong libro niya, No, I
have jurisdiction. So the court denied the motion to quash. Meaning, the judge has decided to assume
jurisdiction. So, meaning from the very start mali na. Now what do you call that? When the court without
authority assumes authority over the case that is called ERROR OF JURISDICTION the court
committed an error of jurisdiction.

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EXAMPLE: Suppose the case for murder is filed in the RTC where the court has jurisdiction. So
walang mali, everything is correct. But in the course of the trial, you cannot avoid mistakes being
committed like for example, the court misinterpreting the provision of the RPC saying that this is a
requirement, this is not a requirement for the crime. Meaning misapplication or misinterpretation of the
RPC as well as misinterpretation of the rules of evidence wrong interpretation of the law. And the
accused was convicted but actually tingin mo mali man ito, di ba! Under the law, this elements was not
considered or this element was considered as present. Do you say the decision of the judge is null and
void? NO, the judgment is valid kaya lang mali. So, you do not say the court committed an error in the
exercise of jurisdiction, and that is called an ERROR OF JUDGMENT. And that was also asked in the
bar.
ERROR OF JURISDICTION vs. ERROR OF JUDGMENT
BAR QUESTION: Distinguish ERRORS OF JURISDICTION from ERRORS OF JUDGMENT.
A: The following are the distinctions:
1.) When a court acquires jurisdiction over the subject matter, the decision or order on all other
questions arising in the case is but an exercise of jurisdiction; Errors which the court may
commit in the exercise of such jurisdiction are merely ERRORS OF JUDGMENT;
whereas,
When a court takes cognizance of a case over the subject matter of which it has no
jurisdiction, the court commits an ERROR OF JURISDICTION.
2.) ERRORS OF JURISDICTION are reviewable by certiorari; whereas,
ERRORS OF JUDGMENT are reviewable by appeal.
Meaning, when a court has no jurisdiction but insists in handling the case, that is a mistake by the
trial court. It is called an error of jurisdiction.
Now, suppose a court has jurisdiction over the case but the decision is wrong it applied the wrong
provision of the law, or interpretation of evidence. This is not an error of jurisdiction because the court
has authority. But in the exercise of its jurisdiction, it committed several errors. This is now what you call
an error of judgment.
Q: What is the use of distinguishing error of jurisdiction from error of judgment?
A: The difference is in the remedy taken. Actually, it is still an error. If it is an error, it can be
corrected by a higher court. The importance, however, as we will see later, is that there is a definite
procedure for correcting a mistake and other procedures which we will know later where the court
commits an error of judgment and an error of jurisdiction.
In error of judgment, if the judgment is wrong, it is a valid judgment. Your remedy is to APPEAL the
wrong judgment to a higher court. But when a court commits an error of jurisdiction, where it insists on
handling a case when it has no authority, I can question its actuation not necessarily by appeal, but by
resorting to extraordinary remedies, which refer to the remedy of CERTIORARI or PROHIBITION.
(Araneta vs. Commonwealth Ins. Co., L-11584, April 28, 1958; Nocon vs. Geronimo, 101 Phil. 735)
The principle came out in the bar. This error should have been raised on ordinary appeal, not by
certiorari because certiorari is only confined to correcting errors of jurisdiction or grave abuse of
discretion. The governing rule is that the remedy of certiorari is not available when the remedy of
appeal is available. And when the remedy of appeal is lost, you cannot revive it by resorting to
certiorari because certiorari is not a substitute for the lost remedy of appeal.
So, the remedies given by the law are different. These are basic terms which you should remember.
Q: In whom is jurisdiction is vested?
A: Jurisdiction is vested with the court, not in the judge. A court may have several branches, and
each is not a court distinct and separate from the others. So, when a case is filed before a branch, the
trial may be had or proceedings may continue before another branch or judge. (Tagumpay vs.
Moscoso, L-14723, May 29, 1959)

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EXAMPLE: The RTC of Davao is composed of several branches eleven to twelve judges. But
technically, there is only one court the RTC of Davao. We do not consider branches as separate
courts.
Q: Now, if the case is filed and is assigned to Branch 8, can that case later be transferred and
continued in Branch 9?
A: Ah YES, because you never leave the same court. You are still in the same court . This is
because jurisdiction is not with the judge. It is with the court itself.
TYPES OF JURISDICTION:
Types of jurisdiction:
1.) General Jurisdiction and Special or Limited Jurisdiction;
2.) Original Jurisdiction and Appellate Jurisdiction; and
3.) Exclusive Jurisdiction and Concurrent or Coordinate Jurisdiction;
1. GENERAL JURISDICTION and SPECIAL OR LIMITED JURISDICTION
a.) GENERAL JURISDICTION is the authority of the court to hear and determine all actions and
suits, whether civil, criminal, administrative, real, personal or mixed. It is very broad to hear
and try practically all types of cases. (14 Am. Jur. 249; Hahn vs. Kelly, 34 Cal. 391)
b.) SPECIAL or LIMITED JURISDICTION is the authority of the court to hear and determine
particular cases only. Its power is limited. (14 Am. Jur. 249; Hahn vs. Kelly, 34 Cal. 391)
So, the court is authorized to hear and try certain specified cases. Limitado pa ang
power niya. And when you go over the Judiciary Act, studying the jurisdiction of the
different courts, in civil cases you will see that the jurisdiction of some courts like the
RTC, masyadong far ranging. It covers many things whereas the jurisdiction of the
MTC, makipot. Very narrow bah because it is a court of limited or special jurisdiction.
2. ORIGINAL JURISDICTION and APPELLATE JURISDICTION
a.) ORIGINAL JURISDICTION is the power of the court to take cognizance of a case at its
inception or commencement. (Ballentines Law Dict., 2nd Ed., pp. 91 and 917) One can file
the case there for the first time.
b.) APPELLATE JURISDICTION is the power vested in a superior court to review and revise
the judicial action of a lower court. (Ballentines Law Dict., 2nd Ed., pp. 91 and 917) If one
court has the power to correct the decision of a lower court, the power of this court is
appellate. This is because it commenced somewhere else and it is just reviewing the
decision of the said lower court.
EXAMPLE: Maya Quitain will file a civil case in the RTC and that court will take
cognizance and try it. You are invoking the original jurisdiction of the RTC. After trial,
Maya lost the case, so Maya decided to appeal the decision of the RTC to the CA. The
case is now there. It is now in the CA and you are now invoking its appellate
jurisdiction.
3. EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION and CONCURRENT OR COORDINATE JURISDICTION
a.) EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION is that possessed by a court to the exclusion of all others.
Q: Sugar JJ filed a collection case against John Vera, for an unpaid loan of P5,000.
The judiciary law says, if you file a civil case to collect an unpaid loan below P200,000,
you should file it with the MTC. Can Sugar JJ file it in the RTC?
A: NO. Therefore the jurisdiction of the MTC is EXCLUSIVE. It does not share its
power with other courts.

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b.) CONCURRENT or COORDINATE JURISDICTION is that possessed by the court together

with another or other courts over the same subject matter, the court obtaining jurisdiction
first retaining it to the exclusion of the others, but the choice of court is lodged in those
persons duly authorized to file the action. (Villanueva vs. Ortiz, 58 O.G. 1318, Feb. 12,
1962)
Example: Thaddeus Tangkad wants to file a case or petition in court. Then, he
looks at the law and the law says that you can file it in this court or, kung ayaw mo
diyan, puwede din dito, diyan or doon Thaddeus Tangkad can file it in this court or in
other courts. Therefore, he has the right to choose where to file. So if Thaddeus files it
in court #2, and it assumes now jurisdiction, out na ang court #1 and court #3. If he
files it in court #3, out na yong #1 and #2. Now this is what you call CONCURRENT
jurisdiction because you can file the case in two courts or more at your choice.
Now, last time we were classifying courts and you learned that the SC is meron
palang original jurisdiction. Ito palang CA also has original jurisdiction. Ang RTC
obviously is more of an original court than an appellate court.
Q: Are there certain types of cases or petitions where I can file it directly with the
SC or file with the CA or file it with the RTC?
A: YES and the best example is a petition for HABEAS CORPUS. The SC, CA and
RTC share concurrent jurisdiction to entertain petitions for habeas corpus. Makapili ka.
I-file mo SC, puwede. Kung gusto mo sa CA, puwede din. Kung ifile mo sa RTC,
puwede. In effect, these are the instances when the SC, CA and RTC exercise
concurrent jurisdiction.

ELEMENTS OF JURISDICTION IN CIVIL CASES

In your study of criminal procedure where you also studied the law on jurisdiction, there are also
some elements of jurisdiction in criminal cases. Otherwise, the proceeding will be illegal. Jurisdiction
over the subject matter; Jurisdiction over the person of the accused; and the third is territorial
jurisdiction, i.e. the case should be filed in the place where the crime was committed. In civil cases
meron din iyong counterpart.
Q: What are the elements of jurisdiction in civil cases?
A: The following:
a.) Jurisdiction over the subject matter ;
b.) Jurisdiction over the person of the parties to the case;
c.) Jurisdiction over the res; and
d.) Jurisdiction over the issues.
Q: Now, what happens if in a particular case one of these is missing?
A: The proceedings become questionable. The proceedings become void. The judgment is not
binding. That is the effect of lack of jurisdiction. The proceedings are tainted with illegality and
irregularity. Alright, lets go over them one by one.
A. JURISDICTION OVER THE SUBJECT MATTER
Q: Define jurisdiction over the subject matter.
A: Jurisdiction over the subject matter is the power of the court to hear and determine cases of the
general class to which the proceedings in question belongs. (Banco Espaol-Filipino vs. Palanca, 37
Phil. 291)
In other words, it is the jurisdiction over the nature of the action. Now, you know already the various
types of civil cases such as actions for nullity of marriage, action publiciana, action reivindicatoria, etc.
This is what we call the NATURE OF THE ACTION.

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Now, if the nature of the subject matter of the action, e.g. annulment of marriage, where will you file
it? It should not be filed in the wrong court or else it will be dismissed. The counterpart of that in
Criminal law is e.g. offenses punishable by death penalty cannot be tried with the MTC. Annulment
cases should be filed in the RTC otherwise it will be dismissed for lack of jurisdiction over the subject
matter.
Q: How is jurisdiction over the subject matter acquired or conferred?
A: Jurisdiction over the subject matter is conferred by law and is never acquired by consent or
submission of the parties or by their laches. This is a matter of legislative enactment which none but the
legislature can change. (MRR Co. vs Atty. Gen. 20 Phil. 523; Otibar vs. Vinson, L-18023, May 30, 1962)
It cannot be acquired by an agreement between the parties, waiver, failure to object (silence).
Q: Now, suppose I want to file a case against you and under the law that should be filed in the RTC.
But both of us believe that the judges of the MTC like Judge Caete knows more, he is more competent
than the other judge there. Maganda siguro dito na lang tayo sa MTC. O sige, we sign an agreement,
magpirmahan tayo that we will file the case by agreement in the MTC. By agreement, doon sa MTC
natin i-file. Did the MTC acquire jurisdiction over the case because the parties agreed?
A: NO, agreements between parties cannot change the law. Jurisdiction is conferred by law, not by
agreements of the parties. Jurisdiction over the subject matter cannot be agreed upon. It is acquired by
or conferred to the court by law either the Constitution or the Judiciary Law. The parties cannot agree
to have the case submitted to another court.
Q: Now, suppose I will file a case against you in a wrong court. Ikaw naman hindi ka kumibo.
Actually what you should do there is file a motion to dismiss (or in criminal cases a motion to quash.)
But hindi ka nagkibo Sige lang. I will not complain. So is it okey? Since you did not object, you did not
file a motion to dismiss, you did not file a motion to quash, did the wrong court acquired jurisdiction
over the case?
A: NO. Jurisdiction cannot be conferred by silence of the parties or by waiver. Estoppel or waiver or
silence or failure to object cannot vest jurisdiction in the wrong court because jurisdiction over the
subject matter is conferred by law. And when the court has no jurisdiction, the court by itself has the
power to dismiss, Why will I burden myself for trying a case, when I have no jurisdiction?
The ONLY exception is when there is estoppel by laches, as laid down in tile TIJAM vs.
SIBONGHANOY (April 15, 1968). The issue of jurisdiction was not questioned for an unreasonable
length of time. BUT the rule is, it can be raised at any stage of the proceeding even for the first time on
appeal. And even the parties may not raise it, the court motu propio has the authority to dismiss it.
Q: How is jurisdiction over the subject matter determined?
A: It is determined by the allegations of the complaint. It does not depend upon the pleas or
defenses of the defendant in his answer or motion to dismiss. (Cardenas vs. Camus, L-19191, July 30,
1962; Edward J. Nell Co. vs. Cubacub, L-20842, June 23, 1965; Serrano vs. Muoz Motors, L-25547,
Nov. 27, 1967)
B. JURISDICTION OVER THE PERSON
Q: Define jurisdiction over the person.
A: Jurisdiction over the person is the power to render a personal judgment through the service of
process or by voluntary appearance of a party during the progress of a cause. (Banco Espaol-Filipino
vs. Palanca, 37 Phil. 291)
Q: In criminal cases, how does the court acquire jurisdiction over the person of the accused?
A: By having him (1) arrested; (2) by service of the warrant of arrest; or (3) by his voluntary
surrender.
Q: Even if he is not arrested, can the court try an accused without the accused being arrested?
A: Of course not, because the court has not acquired jurisdiction over his person. Arestuhin mo
muna. Then puwede siyang mag-bail kung gusto niya. After na-arrest, naglayas, nagsibat? Bahala ka itry in absentia. There will be a valid decision because the court has already acquired jurisdiction. Of
course we cannot enforce the decision until we caught him. Pero pagnahuli, ka diretso ka na sa
prisuhan. You say, I was not able to give my side. I was not able to confront and cross-examine the
witness against me. Eh, bakit ka naglayas? Pasensiya ka! Thats the concept of trial in absentia. But

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for trial in absentia to proceed in criminal cases, you must first arrest him. You cannot try him without
being arrested. You must arrest him and arraign him first. The same thing in civil cases. It must be that
the court must acquire jurisdiction over this person.
Normally, when we say jurisdiction over the parties, we are referring to the PLAINTIFF the one
suing, and the DEFENDAN'T the one being sued. For the decision to be valid, the court must obtain
jurisdiction over the person of the plaintiff and the defendant. Otherwise, the decision will not bind the
parties over whom the court has not acquired jurisdiction.
That is why jurisdiction over the parties is the power of the court to render a personal judgment
which will bind the parties to the case. What is the use of rendering a decision if the parties are not
bound? It must have effect.
Q: How does the court acquire jurisdiction over the plaintiff?
A: Jurisdiction over the person of the plaintiff is acquired from the moment he files his complaint.
Upon filing his complaint in court, he is automatically within the jurisdiction of the court. (MRR Co. vs
Atty. Gen. 20 Phil. 523)
Q: How does the court acquire jurisdiction over the defendant?
A: Jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is acquired:
1.) upon service on him of coercive process in the manner provided by law; or
2.) by his voluntary submission to the jurisdiction of the court. (MRR Co. vs Atty. Gen. 20 Phil.
523)
First Instance: UPON SERVICE ON HIM OF COERCIVE PROCESS
IN THE MANNER PROVIDED BY LAW
The first instance when a court acquires jurisdiction over the person of the defendant is through a
service upon him of the appropriate court process which in civil law is called service of summons. This
is the counterpart of warrant of arrest in criminal procedure.
So if the defendant was never served with summons, any judgment rendered by the court will not
bind him. Even if he is the loser in the case, judgment cannot be enforced because the court did not
acquire jurisdiction over his person.
The same principle holds true in criminal cases. A court cannot try and convict an accused over
whose person the court never acquired jurisdiction. In criminal cases, the court acquires jurisdiction
over the person through the issuance of a warrant of arrest. The warrant cannot have its effect even if it
was issued, if the same had not been served, i.e. by effecting the arrest of the accused by virtue of a
warrant.
Q: In criminal cases, how can the warrant of arrest be effected?
A: Once an information has been filed in court, the court issues a warrant. Then, the arresting
officer will arrest the accused. The court acquires jurisdiction by ENFORCEMENT OF SERVICE for
effective arrest of the accused pursuant to the warrant of arrest.
Second Instance: BY HIS VOLUNTARY SUBMISSION TO THE
JURISDICTION OF THE COURT
Another way to acquire jurisdiction over the person of the accused even if the accused is not
arrested is through VOLUNTARY SURRENDER. Since there is no more need for the warrant, the court
will recall the same. In civil cases, it is the voluntary submission of the defendant to the jurisdiction of
the court.
Q: Defendant was served with summons improperly or irregularly therefore, he could question the
jurisdiction of the court over his person. But instead, he did not question the jurisdiction of the court
despite the defective service of court process. Did the court acquire jurisdiction over the person of the
defendant?
A: YES, because jurisdiction over the person can be acquired by:
a.) waiver;
b.) consent; or

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c.) lack of objection by the defendant. (MRR Co. vs. Atty. Gen. 20 Phil. 523)
This is unlike the jurisdiction over subject matter wherein the case could be dismissed upon filing in
the wrong court. The SC said that when you remained silent despite the defects, your silence has cured
the defect. Meaning, the jurisdiction over your person was acquired by waiver, or consent, or lack of
objection.
Q: Distinguish jurisdiction over the subject matter from jurisdiction over the person of the
defendant?
A: Lack of jurisdiction over the person of the defendant may be cured by waiver, consent, silence or
failure to object, whereas jurisdiction over the subject matter cannot be cured by failure to object or by
silence, waiver or consent. (MRR Co. vs. Atty. Gen. 20 Phil. 523)
C. JURISDICTION OVER THE RES
RES is the Latin word for thing.
Q: Define jurisdiction over the res.
A: Jurisdiction over the res is that acquired by the court over the property or the thing in contest,
and is obtained by seizure under legal process of the court whereby it is held to abide such order as the
court may make. (Banco Espaol-Filipino vs. Palanca, 37 Phil. 291)
Q: A and B quarreled over a piece of land. What is the res of the case?
A: The piece of land is the res of the case.
Q: However, res may not be tangible. For example, Weng Kolotski is an illegitimate child. She wants
to be acknowledged by her father. Thus, she filed a case against her father for compulsory recognition.
What is the res?
A: The res is the status of the child because it is the object of the litigation.
Q: Why is jurisdiction over the res important?
A: Sometimes it is a substitute for jurisdiction over the person. There are instances when the court
cannot acquire jurisdiction over the defendant like when he is abroad. But if the court acquires
jurisdiction over the res, the case may go on. Even if the court cannot acquire jurisdiction over the
person of the defendant, jurisdiction over the res becomes a substitute over the person.
EXAMPLE: Even if the defendant is a non-resident who is out of the country and the object of
litigation is here in the Philippines, then acquisition of jurisdiction over the res confers jurisdiction to the
court even if the defendant is abroad. The res here is where the judgement can be enforced.
That is why in Rule 14, there is an extra-territorial service of summons. But based on a SC ruling,
the extra-territorial service of summons is not for the purpose of acquiring jurisdiction over the person of
the defendant but is merely how to comply with the due process clause.
D. JURISDICTION OVER THE ISSUES
Q: Define jurisdiction over the issues.
A: Jurisdiction over the issue is the authority to try and decide the issues raised by the pleadings of
the parties. (Reyes vs. Diaz, 73 Phil. 484)
Q: What are pleadings?
A: They are governed by Rule 6.
Rule 6, Section 1 - Pleadings are the written allegation of the parties of their respective
claims and defenses submitted to the court for trial and judgment.

In a civil case, the parties before the trial file in court pleadings. That is where you state your
position.

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EXAMPLE: Francis Paloy Ampig will sue you to collect a loan. So Paloy will file a complaint in
court. That is a pleading. Then you have to answer Paloys complaint in court. You say that you do not
owe him anything because you already paid him. So you prepare your answer in writing in court and
that is also called a pleading. Based on what Paloy said in his complaint and your answer, we will now
know what they are quarreling about.
For example: Paloy says you borrowed money, you never paid him. Now according to your
answer, No. I already paid him.
Q: Now what is the issue?
A: The issue is, whether the obligation still existing or is it already extinguished by payment. So that
is the issue. So that is where we will know what we will try in this case.
Q: Suppose after the trial, the court said that the obligation has been extinguished by condonation.
Now where did the court get that? Your defense is payment, and the decision now it was extinguished
by condonation. Is the decision correct?
A: The decision is WRONG because the parties did not raise condonation as the issue. The case
was decided on an issue that was not even raised by the parties. So the court never acquired
jurisdiction over the issue. In other words, the court should only rule on what the parties raised in their
pleadings. That is what we call jurisdiction over the issue. The court should only rule on what the
parties claim.
So, the court is supposed to rule on the issue raised and not those not raised by the parties.
Take note that jurisdiction over the issues in civil cases is acquired after defendant has filed an
answer. In criminal cases, jurisdiction over the issues is acquired upon filing of a complaint. For a
decision to be effective, the court must acquire the jurisdiction over the subject matter, the person, the
res in case the defendant is not around, and the last is jurisdiction over the issue.
Q: Distinguish jurisdiction over the subject matter and jurisdiction over the issues.
A: The following are the distinctions:
1.) Jurisdiction over the subject matter is the power to hear and try a particular case, while
Jurisdiction over the issues is the power of the court to resolve legal questions involved in
the case;
2.) Jurisdiction over the subject matter is acquired upon filing of the complaint, while
Jurisdiction over the issues of the case is acquired upon filing of the answer which joins the
issues involve in the case.
EXAMPLE: I am the plaintiff, I will file a case in court to collect an unpaid loan. From
the moment I file the case, the court has acquired jurisdiction over the subject matter. Now,
you are summoned. File ka naman ng sagot mo, Wala akong utang, bayad na. Then the
court has now acquired jurisdiction over the issue. One is acquired upon filing of the
complaint and the other one is acquired after the filing of the answer by the defendant.
HIERARCHY OF THE COURTS
In the 1996 BAR: One of the questions in Remedial Law was: State the hierarchy of the Courts in
the Philippines.
a.) Regular courts
SUPREME COURT
COURT OF APPEALS
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
MetTC

MTCC

MTC

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Note:
MetTC- In Manila
MTCC- cities outside Manila e.g. Cebu, Davao
MTC- municipalities such as Digos, Panabo
MCTC- circuitized areas because it is impractical and expensive to maintain one MTC in every
municipalities.
b.) Special courts
There are also Special Courts which are also considered part of the judiciary. These are:
1. Court of Tax Appeals (RA 1125)
2. Sandiganbayan (PD 1486 as amended)
3. Sharia District Courts and the Sharia Circuit Courts (PD 1083 , also known as the Code
of Muslim Personal Law);
4. Family Courts
We are concerned only of the jurisdiction of the REGULAR COURTS.

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