Jurisdiction of Courts
Jurisdiction of Courts
SUPREME COURT
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Disciplinary proceedings against members of the Bar and court personnel (Const., Art. VIII, Sec. 6; ROC, Rule 56).
With the RTC:
Cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls (B.P. Blg. 129, Sec. 21(2), Const. Art. VIII, Sec. 5,
par. (1));
Concurrent
With the CA:
1. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or madamus against:
Note: While
a. RTC (B.P. Blg. 129, Sec. 21, par. (1));
the Rules
b. Civil Service Commission (R.A. No. 7902);
provide for c. Central Board of Assessment Appeals (P.D. No. 464, B.P. Blg. 129; R.A. No. 7902);
concurrent
d. National Labor Relations Commission (St. Martin Funeral Homes v. NLRC, G.R. No. 130866,
jurisdiction
Septemb er 16, 1998);
among the
e. Other quasi-judicial agencies (B.P. Blg. 129; R.A. No. 7902; Heirs of Hinog v. Melicor, G.R. No. 140954,
RTC, CA and
April 12, 2005);
SC, the same 2. Petitions for a Writ of Kalikasan (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC, Rule 7, Sec. 3).
is still subject
to the doctrine
With the RTC & CA:
of Hierarchy
1. Petitions for Hab eas Corpus;
of Courts.
2. Petitions for Quo Warranto;
3. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against inferior courts and other bodies (B.P. Blg. 129, Secs.
9(1), 21(1); Const. Art. VII, Sec. 5, par. (1)); and
4. Petitions for continuing mandamus (A.M. No. 09-6-8-SC, Rule 8, Sec. 1).
By way of petition for review on certiorari (Appeal b y Certiorari under Rule 45), against the:
1. Court of Appeals;
2. Sandiganb ayan;
3. RTC on pure questions of law;
Appellate
4. In cases involving the constitutionality or validity of a treaty, international agreement or executive agreement,
law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction, ordinance or regulation, legality of a tax, impo rt,
assessment, toll or penalty, jurisdiction of a lower court (Cont. Art. VIII, Sec. 5); and
5. Court of Tax Appeals En Banc (R.A. No. 9282, Sec. 19).
CRIMINAL
SUPREME COURT
CASES
Exclusive
Petition for certiorari, prohibition, and mandamus against the CA and the Sandiganb ayan.
Original
With the CA:
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and madamus against the RTCs.
Concurrent
With the CA & RTC:
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, and madamus against the MTCs.
By Petition for Review on Certiorari:
1. From the CA;
2. From the Sandiganb ayan; and
Appellate 3. From the RTC where only an error or question of law is involved.
Note: Where the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or life imprisonment, appeal should be made to the CA, not
the SC (People v. Mateo, G.R. Nos. 147678-87, July 7, 2004).
COURT OF APPEALS
SANDIGANBAYAN
CRIMINAL
SANDIGANBAYAN
CASES
1. Violations of:
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a. R.A. No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act);
b. R.A. No. 1379 (Forfeiture of Ill Gotten Wealth Act);
c. Chapter 2, Section 2, Title 7, Book 2 of the Revised Penal Code (Bribery, etc.)
Where one or more of the accused are, whether permanent, acting or interim capacity, at the time of the
commission of the offense:
a. 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;
b. Members of Congress and officials thereof classified as Grade “27” and up under the Compensation and
Position Classification Act of 1989;
c. Members of the Judiciary without prejudice to the provisions of the C onstitution;
d. Chairmen and members of the Constitutional Commissions, without prejudice to the provisions of the
Constitution; and
Exclusive e. All other national and local officials classified as Grade “27” and higher under the Compensation and
Original
Position Classification Act of 1989.
Note: It is not only the salary grade that determines the jurisdiction of the Sandiganb ayan. The salary grade has no
reference, for example, to provincial governors, vice governors or members of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan,
Sangguniang Panlungsod, directors or managers of GOCCs, city mayors, vice mayors, city treasurers, assessors,
engineers, trustees of state universities, and other officials enumerated in Sec. 4(1)(a) from letters “a” to “g” of P.D.
No. 1606 as amended.
2. Other offenses or felonies whether simple or complexed with other crimes committed by the public offici als and
employees mentioned in subsection “a” in relation to their office;
3. Civil and criminal cases filed pursuant to and in connection with E.O. No. 1, 2, 14 and 14-A (1986) in
sequestration cases; and
4. Money laundering cases committed by public officers and private persons who are in conspiracy with such public
officers.
1. Appeals from the final judgments, resolutions or orders of RTCs whether in the exercise of their own jurisdiction
or of their appellate jurisdiction where all the accused are occupying positions lower than salary grade 27 or not
otherwise covered by the preceding enumeration.
2. Petitions for the issuance of the writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari whether or not in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction (A.M. No. 07-7-12-SC).
Note: R.A. No. 7975 as amended b y R.A. No. 8249 conferred certiorari jurisdiction in the Sandiganb ayan only in aid
Appellate
of its appellate jurisdiction, concerning cases filed pursuant to the Sequestration Cases, contrary to A.M. No. 07-12-
SC.
3. Petitions for the issuance of writ of hab eas 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. No. 1, 2, 14, 14-A (1986): Provided, that the jurisdiction over these
petitions shall not be exclusive of the Supreme Court.
Note: Exclusive of Damages of whatever kind, Interest, Attorney’s fees, Litigation Expenses and Costs (DIALEC), the
Exclusive
amount of which must be specifically alleged; but shall be included in the determination of the filing fees (B.P. Blg.
Original
129, Sec. 33, par. (1), as amended).
Note: The exclusion of the term “damages of whatever kind” in determining jurisdictional amount under Secs. 19, par.
(8) and 33, par. (1) of B.P. Blg. 129, as amended by R.A. No. 7691 applies to cases where the damages are merely
incidental to or a consequence of the main cause of action. 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 (A.C. No. 09-94).
Note: The totality of all claims embodied in one complaint shall be the test in determining jurisdiction whether the
Bantay | JURISDICTION | San Beda Memory Aid
claims arise out of the sam e or different transactions, or whether the claims arise out of the same or different
transactions, or whether they belong to the same or different persons (B.P. Blg. 129, Sec. 33).
If the assessed value or interest in of the real property If the assessed value or interest in of the real property
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exceeds P20,000 (outside Metro Manila), or exceeds does not exceed P20,000 (outside Metro Manila), or
P50,000 (Metro Manila); exceeds P50,000 (Metro Manila);
5. Actions involving title to or possession of real property, or any interest therein depending on the assessed
value.
6. Actions the subject matter of which is incapable of
pecuniary estimation (See discussion under Rule
6. Inclusion and exclusion of voters (B.P. Blg. 881,
1, Sec. 3).
Sec. 138);
7. Cases falling under the 1991 Rule on Summary
Where the basic issue is something other than the right to
Procedure:
recover a sum of money, or the money claim is merely
a. Forcible Entry and Unlawful Detainer –
incidental to the principal relief, the action is incapable of
irrespective of the amount of damages or
pecuniary estimation (Russel v. Vestil, G.R. No. 119347,
unpaid rentals sought to be recovered;
March 17, 1999).
Note: Where attorney’s fees are awarded,
the same shall not exceed P20,000.
Note: All actions which are incapable of pecuniary
b. other civil cases, except probate
estimation are cognizable by the RTC except the
proceedings, where the total amount of the
annulment of judgments of the RTC, which is cognizable
plaintiff’s claim does not exceed P100,000 or
by the CA (B.P. Blg. 129).
does not exceed P200,000 in Metro Manila,
exclusive of interests and costs (as amended
7. Cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any
b y A.M No. 02-11-09-SC, effective
court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial
Novemb er 25, 2002).
or quasi-judicial functions (General Jurisdiction of
8. Cases falling under the 2016 Revised Rules of
RTC);
Procedure for Small Claims Cases
8. Under Section 5.2 of the Securities and
Regulations Code to hear and decide:
These Rules shall govern the procedure in for payment of
a. Cases involving devices or schemes
money where the value of the claim does not exceed
employed by or any acts of the board of
P300,000 exclusive of interest and costs (A.M. No. 08-8-
directors, business associates, its officers
7-SC, Sec. 2, as amended b y OCA Cir. No. 165-2018).
or partnership amounting to fraud and
misrepresentation;
Applicable in all actions that are purely civil in nature
b. Intra-corporate controversies;
where the claim or relief prayed for by the plaintiff is
c. Controversies in the elections or
solely for payment or reimbursement of sum of money.
appointments of directors, trustees,
officers, or managers of corporations,
The claim or demand may be:
partnerships, or associations;
a. For money owed under the following:
d. Petitioners of corporations, partnership or
i. Contract of Lease;
associations to be declared in the state of
ii. Contract of Loan;
suspension of payments (Securities and
iii. Contract of Services;
Regulations Code, Sec. 5.2 and P.D. No.
iv. Contract of Sale; and
902-A, Sec. 5).
v. Contract of Mortgage;
b. For liquidated damages arising from contracts;
Note: If an ordinary civil case filed before the proper RTC
c. The enforcement of a b arangay amicable
is wrongly raffled to its branch designated as a Special
settlement or an arbitration award involving a
Commercial Court, then the case shall be referred to the
money claim covered by this Rules pursuant to
Executive Judge for re-docketing as an ordinary civil case
Section 417 of R.A. No. 7160, The Local
rather than dismissing the same (Gonzales v. GJH Land,
Government Code of 1991 (A.M. No. 08-8-7-SC,
Inc., G.R. No. 202664, Novemb er 20, 2015. This
Sec. 5, as amended).
overturns Home Guaranty Corp. v. R-II Builders, Inc.,
G.R. No. 192649, June 22, 2011).
The SC may designate certain branches of RTC to Petition for Hab eas Corpus or application for bail in
handle exclusively criminal cases, juvenile and domestic criminal cases in the absence of all RTC judges in the
relations cases, agrarian cases, urban reform cases not province or city.
falling under the jurisdiction of any quasi-judicial bodies
and agencies, and/or such other special cases as the SC Note: In the absence of all the RTC judges, any MTC
Special
may determine in the interest of speedy and efficient judge in the province or city where the absent RTC
administration of justice (B.P. Blg. 129, Sec. 23). judges sit, may hear and decide:
1. Petitions for a writ of habeas corpus; or
2. Applications for bail in criminal cases (B.P. Blg.
129, Sec. 35).
With the SC:
Actions affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and
consuls (B.P. Blg. 129, Sec. 21(2), Const. Art. VIII, Sec.
Concurrent -- --
5, par. (1));
FAMILY COURTS
FAMILY COURTS
CIVIL CASES
Note: In areas where there are no Family Courts, the enumerated cases shall be adjudicated by the RTC.
Original Family Courts have exclusive jurisdiction over:
1. Petitions for guardianship, custody of children, hab eas corpus involving children;
2. Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;
3. Complaints for annulment of marriage, declaration of nullity of marriage, and those relating to status and property
relations of husband and wife or those living together under different status or agreement, and petitions for
dissolution of conjugal partnership of gains;
4. Petitions for Support and/or acknowledgment;
5. Summary judicial proceedings brought under the provisions of the Family Code; and
6. Petition for declaration of status of children as abandoned, dependent, or neglected children, petitions for
voluntary or involuntary commitment of children, the suspension, termination or restoration of parental authority
and other cases cognizable under P.D. No. 603, E.O. No. 56 (1996), and other related laws.
Note: The provisions of R.A. No. 8369 reveal no manifest intent to revoke the jurisdiction of the Court of Appeals and
Supreme Court to issue writs of habeas corpus relating to the custody of minors. Further, it cannot be said that the
provisions of R.A. No. 8369, R.A. No. 7092 (An Act Expanding the Jurisdiction of the C ourt of Appeals) and B.P. Blg.
129 (The Judiciary Reorganization Act of 1980) are absolutely incompatible since R.A. No. 8369 does not prohibit the
Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court from issuing writs of habeas corpus in cases involving the custody of minors.
Thus, the provisions of R.A. No. 8369 must be read in harmony with the Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court in
petitions for habeas corpus where the custody of minors is at issue (Thornton v. Thornton, G.R. No. 154598, August
16, 2004).
Note: In areas where there are no Family Courts, the abovementioned cases shall be adjudicated by the RTC.
CRIMINAL
FAMILY COURTS
CASES
Original 1. One or more of the accused is/are below 18 years of age but not less than 9 years of age; or
2. Where one of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the offense;
3. Cases against minors cognizable under the Dangerous Drugs Act;
4. Violations of R.A. No. 7610 (Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination
Act), as amended by R.A. No. 7658; and
5. Cases of domestic violence against women and children.
which the parties are Muslims, if they have not 3. Disputes relative to communal properties (P.D. No.
specified which law shall govern their relations; and 1083, Art. 155).
5. All petitions for mandamus, prohibition, injunction,
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certiorari, habeas corpus, and all other auxiliary
writs and processes in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction (P.D. No. 1083, Sec. 143, par. (1)).
1. Petitions by Muslim for the constitution of a family
home, change of name and commitment of an
insane person to an asylum;
2. All other personal and legal actions not mentioned
in paragraph 1(d), Sec. 143 of P.D. No. 1083, (no. 4
of above) wherein the parties involved are Mus lims
Concurrent except those for forcible entry and unlawful detainer, -- --
which shall fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the
Municipal Circuit Court; and
3. All special civil actions for interpleader or
declaratory relief wherein the parties are Muslims or
the property involved belongs exclusively to
Muslims (P.D. No. 1083, Art. 143, par. 2).
1. All cases tried in the Shari’a Circuit Courts within
their territorial jurisdiction. The Shari’a District Court
shall decide every case appealed to it on the basis
of the evidence and records transmitted as well as
such memoranda, briefs or oral arguments as the
parties may submit (P.D. No. 1083, Sec. 44).
Appellate -- --
Note: The decisions of the Shari’a District Courts whether
on appeal from the Shari’a Circuit Court or not shall be
final. Nothing in P.D. No. 1083 shall affect the original
and appellate jurisdiction of the SC as provided in the
Constitution (P.D. No. 1083, Art. 145).