JURISDICTION OF COURTS

The Supreme Court

Appellate Jurisdiction
Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm on appeal
or certiorari, as the law or the Rules of Court may
provide, final judgments and orders of lower courts
in:
o All cases in which the constitutionality or validity
of any treaty, international or executive agreement,
law, presidential decree, proclamation, order,
instruction, ordinance, or regulation is in question.
o All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost,
assessment, or toll, or any penalty imposed in
relation thereto.
o All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower
court is in issue.
o All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is
reclusion perpetua or higher.
o All cases in which only an error or question of law
is involved.

The Court of Appeals

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 of Section
17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948

Regional Trial Courts

Original Jurisdiction:
In all civil actions in which the subject of the
litigation is incapable of pecuniary estimation
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
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)

 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)
In all actions involving the contract of marriage and
marital relations
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
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
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)
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
In other cases
Original jurisdiction 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
Original Jurisdiction in actions affecting
ambassadors and other public ministers and
consuls
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

Special Jurisdiction
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 quasijudicial 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
Special Rules of Procedure
Whenever a Regional Trial Court takes cognizance
of juvenile and domestic relation cases and/or
agrarian cases, the special rules of procedure
applicable under present laws to such cases shall
continue to be applied, unless subsequently
amended by law or by rules of court promulgated
by the Supreme Court
Metropolitan
Trial
Courts, In Criminal Cases
Municipal Trial Courts and
Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts
city or municipal ordinances committed within
their respective territorial jurisdiction
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)
In Civil Cases
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
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
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)
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)
Special Jurisdiction
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
Summary Procedures in Special Cases
In Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial
Courts with at least two branches, the Supreme
Court may designate one or more branches thereof
to try exclusively forcible entry and unlawful
detainer cases, those involving violations of traffic
laws, rules and regulations, violations of the rental
law, and such other cases requiring summary
disposition as the Supreme Court may determine.
The Supreme Court shall adopt special rules or
procedures applicable to such cases in order to
achieve an expeditious
and inexpensive
determination thereof without regard to technical
rules. Such simplified procedures may provide that
affidavits and counter-affidavits may be admitted in
lieu of oral testimony and that the periods for filing

pleadings shall be non-extendible

Preliminary investigation
Judges of Metropolitan Trial Courts, except those
in the National Capital Region, of Municipal Trial
Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall
have authority to conduct preliminary investigation
of crimes alleged to have been committed within
their respective territorial jurisdictions which are
cognizable by the Regional Trial Courts
Family Courts

Exclusive Original Jurisdiction

Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is
below eighteen (18) years of age but not less than
nine (9) years of age, or where one or more of the
victims is a minor at the time of the commission of
the offense: Provided, That if the minor is found
guilty, the court shall promulgate sentence and
ascertain any civil liability which the respondent
may have incurred

Sandiganbayan

Exclusive Original Jurisdiction

Violations of Republic Act No. 3019, as amended,
otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and Corrupt
Practices Act, Republic Act No. 1379, and Chapter
II, Section 2, Title VII, Book II of the Revised
Penal Code, where one or more of the accused are
officials occupying the following positions in the
government, whether in a permanent, acting or
interim capacity, at the time of the commission of
the offense:
(1) 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 (Republic Act No. 6758), specifically
including:
(a) Provincial governors, vice-governors, members
of the sangguniang panlalawigan, and provincial
treasurers, assessors, engineers, and other
provincial department heads;
(b) City mayors, vice-mayors, members of the
sangguniang panlungsod, city treasurers, assessors,
engineers, and other city department heads;
(c) Officials of the diplomatic service occupying
the position of consul and higher;
(d) Philippine army and air force colonels, naval
captains, and all officers of higher rank;
(e) Officers of the Philippine National Police while
occupying the position of provincial director and
those holding the rank of senior superintendent and
higher;
(f) City and provincial prosecutors and their
assistants, and officials and prosecutors in the
Office of the Ombudsman and special prosecutor;
(g) Presidents, directors or trustees, or managers of
government-owned or controlled corporations, state
universities or educational institutions or
foundations.
(2) Members of Congress and officials thereof
classified as Grade 27 and higher 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 the 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.
Other offenses or felonies 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.
Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in
connection with Executive Order Nos. 1, 2, 14 and
14-A, issued in 1986.
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
Exclusive Appellate Jurisdiction
The Sandiganbayan shall exercise exclusive appellate
jurisdiction over final judgments, resolutions or orders of
regional trial courts whether in the exercise of their own
original jurisdiction or of their appellate jurisdiction
Sharia District Courts

Original Jurisdiction
All cases involving custody, guardianship,
legitimacy, paternity and filiation arising under the
Code of Muslim Personal Laws
All cases involving disposition, distribution and
settlement of estate of deceased Muslims, probate
of wills, issuance of letters of administration or
appointment of administrators or executors
regardless of the nature or aggregate value of the
property
Petitions for the declaration of absence and death
for the cancellation or correction of entries in the
Muslim Registries mentioned in Title VI, Book
Two of the Code of Muslim Personal Laws
All actions arising from the customary contracts in
which the parties are Muslims, if they have not
specified which law shall govern their relations
All petitions for mandamus, prohibition, injunction,
certiorari, habeas corpus, and all other auxiliary
writs and processes in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction
Concurrent Jurisdiction with Existing Civil Courts
Petitions by Muslim for the constitution of a family
home, change of name and commitment of an

insane person to an asylum

All other personal and legal actions not mentioned
in paragraph 1 (d) wherein the parties involved are
Muslims except those for forcible The Philippine
Sharia Courts: Courts for Muslim 5 entry and
unlawful detainer, which shall fall under the
exclusive jurisdiction of the Municipal Circuit
Court
All special civic actions for interpleader or
declaratory relief wherein the parties are Muslims
or the property involved belongs exclusively to
Muslims
The Special Commercial Courts

The court shall have jurisdiction over cases arising

within their respective territorial jurisdiction with
respect to the National Capital Judicial Region and
within the respective provinces with respect to the
First to Twelfth Judicial Regions. Thus, cases shall
be filed in the Office of the Clerk of Court in the
official station of the designated Special
Commercial Court

Court of Tax Appeal

Exclusive appellate jurisdiction to review by

appeal, as herein provided:
1. Decisions of the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue in cases involving disputed assessments,
refunds of internal revenue taxes, fees or other
charges, penalties in relation thereto, or other
matters arising under the National Internal Revenue
or other laws administered by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue;
2. Inaction by the Commissioner of Internal
Revenue in cases involving disputed assessments,
refunds of internal revenue taxes, fees or other
charges, penalties in relations thereto, or other
matters arising under the National Internal Revenue
Code or other laws administered by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue, where the National Internal
Revenue Code provides a specific period of action,
in which case the inaction shall be deemed a denial;
3. Decisions, orders or resolutions of the Regional
Trial Courts in local tax cases originally decided or
resolved by them in the exercise of their original or
appellate jurisdiction;
4. Decisions of the Commissioner of Customs in
cases involving liability for customs duties, fees or
other money charges, seizure, detention or release
of property affected, fines, forfeitures or other
penalties in relation thereto, or other matters arising
under the Customs Law or other laws administered
by the Bureau of Customs;
5. Decisions of the Central Board of Assessment
Appeals in the exercise of its appellate jurisdiction
over cases involving the assessment and taxation of
real property originally decided by the provincial or
city board of assessment appeals;
6. Decisions of the Secretary of Finance on customs
cases elevated to him automatically for review from
decisions of the Commissioner of Customs which

are adverse to the Government under Section 2315

of the Tariff and Customs Code;
7. Decisions of the Secretary of Trade and Industry,
in the case of nonagricultural product, commodity
or article, and the Secretary of Agriculture in the
case of agricultural product, commodity or article,
involving dumping and countervailing duties under
Section 301 and 302, respectively, of the Tariff and
Customs Code, and safeguard measures under
Republic Act No. 8800, where either party may
appeal the decision to impose or not to impose said
duties.
Jurisdiction over cases involving Criminal Offenses
Exclusive original jurisdiction over all criminal
offenses arising from violations of the National
Internal Revenue Code or Tariff and Customs Code
and 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 One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00) or where there is no specified
amount claimed shall be tried by the regular Courts
and the jurisdiction of the CTA shall be appellate.
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 for taxes and penalties shall at all
times be simultaneously instituted with, and jointly
determined in the same proceeding by the CTA, 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 filling of such
civil action separately from the criminal action will
be recognized
Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in criminal
offenses:
a. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or
orders of the Regional Trial Courts in tax cases
originally decided by them, in their respected
territorial jurisdiction.
b. Over petitions for review of the judgments,
resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in
the exercise of their appellate jurisdiction over tax
cases originally decided by the Metropolitan Trial
Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal
Circuit Trial Courts in their respective jurisdiction.
c. Jurisdiction over tax collection cases as herein
provided:
1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in tax collection
cases involving final and executory assessments for
taxes, fees, charges and penalties: Provided,
however, That collection cases where the principal
amount of taxes and fees, exclusive of charges and
penalties, claimed is less than One million pesos
(P1,000,000.00) shall be tried by the proper
Municipal Trial Court, Metropolitan Trial Court
and Regional Trial Court.
2. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction in tax collection
cases:

a. Over appeals from the judgments, resolutions or

orders of the Regional Trial Courts in tax collection
cases originally decided by them, in their respective
territorial jurisdiction.
b. Over petitions for review of the judgments,
resolutions or orders of the Regional Trial Courts in
the Exercise of their appellate jurisdiction over tax
collection cases originally decided by the
Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts
and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts, in their
respective jurisdiction.