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04 GIOS-SAMAR Vs DOTC
04 GIOS-SAMAR Vs DOTC
ISSUE/S:
WON the direct resort to the SC by the petitioner is proper
DOCTRINES | HELD: NO
The 1987 Constitution and the Rules of Court promulgated, pursuant to its provisions, granted us original jurisdiction over certain cases.
In some instances, this jurisdiction is shared with Regional Trial Courts (RTCs) and the Court of Appeals (CA). However, litigants do not
have unfettered discretion to invoke the Court's original jurisdiction. The doctrine of hierarchy of courts dictates that, direct recourse to
this Court is allowed only to resolve questions of law, notwithstanding the invocation of paramount or transcendental importance of the
action. This doctrine is not mere policy, rather, it is a constitutional filtering mechanism designed to enable the Court to focus on the more
fundamental and essential tasks assigned to it by the highest law of the land.
The Supreme Court is a court of last resort, and must so remain if it is to satisfactorily perform the functions assigned to it by the
fundamental charter and immemorial tradition. It cannot and should not be burdened with the task of dealing with causes in the first
instance. Its original jurisdiction to issue the so-called extraordinary writs should be exercised only where absolutely necessary or where
serious and important reasons exist therefor
NOTES:
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