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Jurisdictions of Philippine Courts
Jurisdictions of Philippine Courts
The judicial System of the Philippines provides courts both of law and equity which have jurisdiction
over all civil, criminal and probate cases unlike those courts in other countries.
Sandiganbayan
A special Graft court, the Sandiganbayan, composed of a Presiding Justice and 14
Associate Justices, has exclusive jurisdiction over violations of the Anti-Graft and
Corrupt Practices Act [Republic Act No. 3019], the Unexplained Wealth Act [Republic
Act No. 1379] and other crimes or felonies committed by public officials and employees
in relation to their office, including those employees in government-owned or controlled
corporations.
Presidential Decree 1606 (as amended by RA 7975 and RA 8249,) Sandiganbayan
exercises exclusive original jurisdiction in all cases involving:
1. Violations of RA 3019, as amended, otherwise known as the Anti-Graft and corrupt
Practices Act, RA 1379 and Chapter II, Sec 2, Title VII, Book II of the RPC, 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;
I.
Officials of 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;
II.
Members of Congress and officials thereof as grade 27 and up under
the Compensation and position clarification Act 0f 1989;
III.
Members of the Judiciary with out prejudice to the provisions of the
Chairman and members of the Constitutional Commissions with out
prejudice to the provisions of the Constitution and
IV.
All other national and local officials classified as grade 27 and higher
under the compensation and Position Classification Act.
2. Violations of the law on Plunder and Anti-Money Laundering Act of 2001 committed
by the aforementioned public officials and employees in relation to their office;
3. Other offenses and felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes
committed by the aforementioned public officials and employees in relation to their
office;
4. Civil and Criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with EO 1, 2, 14 and 14A issued in 1986;
5. Petition for the issuance of writs of mandamus, certiorari, habeas corpus, injunction
and other ancillary writs and processes in aid of its appellate jurisdiction and over
petitions of similar in nature, including quo warranto, that may arise in cases filed
under EO 1, 2, 14, 14-A issued in 1986: Provided, that the jurisdiction over these
petitions shal not be exclusive of the Supreme Court
2.
Actions which involves the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest therein, where
the assessed value of the property involved exceeds twenty thousand pesos, or for civil actions in Metro
Manila, where such value exceeds fifty thousand pesos, except actions for forcible entry and unlawful
detainer;
3.
Actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or claim exceeds two hundred
thousand pesos or, in Metro Manila four hundred thousand pesos;
4.
Matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds two
hundred thousand pesos or in Metro Manila four hundred thousand pesos;
5.
Actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations (now under the jurisdiction of the
Family Court);
6.
Cases not with in the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising
judicial or quasi judicial functions;
7.
Civil actions and special proceedings falling with in the exclusive original jurisdiction of the
Juvenile and domestic relation court (now Family Court)
8.
Other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorneys
fees, litigation expense and costs, or the value of the property in controversy exceeds to hundred
thousand pesos or, in such other cases in Metro Manila, where the demand, exclusive of the
abovementioned items exceeds four hundred thousand pesos.
However, in cases where the claim for damages is the main cause of action, or one of the causes of action,
the amount of such claim shall be considered in determining the jurisdiction of the court.