PHILIPPINE COURTS JURISDICTION

CLASSIFICATIONS OF JURISDICTION
a) General - Regional trial Court is a court of general jurisdiction because all cases, the jurisdiction of which is not specifically provided by law to
be within the jurisdiction of any court falls within the jurisdiction of the RTC
b) Special or limited - Restricts the courts jurisdiction only to particular cases and subject to limitation. Its scope is expressly delegated.
c) Original - Power of the Court to take judicial cognizance of a case instituted for judicial action for the first time under the conditions provided
by law
d) Exclusive - Power to adjudicate a case or proceeding to the exclusion of all other courts at that stage
e) Exclusive Original - power of the Court to take cognizance of a case instituted for judicial action for the first time under the conditions provided by law
and to the exclusion of all other courts
f) Appellate - the power and authority conferred upon a superior court to rehear and determine causes which have been tried in lower courts, the
cognizance which superior court takes of a case removed to it, by appeal or writ of error, from the decision of lower court, or by the
review of superior court of the final judgment or order of lower court
g) Concurrent - Sometimes referred to as confluent or coordinate jurisdiction. Power conferred upon different Courts, whether of the same or
different ranks to take cognizance on the same stage case in the same or different judicial territories

SUPREME COURT AND RTC have concurrent jurisdiction over civil actions involving ambassadors, public ministers and consuls
SC, CA, SB, RTC concurrent jurisdiction over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas
corpus. Writ of Amparo, habeas data and writ of kalikasan and injunctions
h) Delegated - grant of authority of inferior courts to hear and determine cadastral and land registration cases under certain conditions
i) Territorial - Geographical area within its powers can be exercised.

DOCTINE OF HIERARCHY OF COURTS

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
MeTC, MTC, MCTC, MuTC REGIONAL TRIAL COURT COURT OF APPEALS SUPREME COURT SHARIAH COURT
SEC 21, BP 129 SEC 9, JUDICIARY SEC 5, ARTICLE VIII OF THE 1987 ART 413, PD 1083 CODE OF
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980 CONSTITUTION MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS
a. Actions involving ambassadors, (BP 129) OF THE PHILIPPINES
public ministers and consuls a. Actions involving ambassadors,
b. Petition for certiorari, a. Petition for certiorari, public ministers and consuls a. Petition by the Muslims
prohibition, mandamus, quo prohibition, mandamus, quo b. Over petition for certiorari, for the constitution of a
warranto, habeas corpus warranto, habeas corpus prohibition, mandamus, quo family home, change of
 c. Petition for writ of amparo b. Writ of Amparo warranto, habeas corpus name, and commitment
d. Petition for habeas data c. Habeas Data c. Petitions for writ of amparo of an insane person to
e. Petition for continuing d. Writ of Continuing d. Petition for Habeas Data an asylum
Mandamus Mandamus e. Petition writ of continuing b. All other personal or real
e. Writ of Kalikasan mandamus actions not mentioned
f. Actions for annulment of f. Petition for Writ of Kalikasan in par 1 (d) wherein the
judgment of the RTC parties are Muslims
g. Petition for freeze order on except those for forcible
any monetary instrument, entry and unlawful
property or proceeds relating detainer, which shall fall
to or involving any unlawful under the exclusive
activity as defined under Sec original jurisdiction of
3j of RA 9194 the MTC
c. Special civil actions for
interpleader or
declaratory relief
wherein the parties are
Muslims or property
belongs exclusively to
Muslims

EXCLUSIVE AND ORIGINAL

MeTC, MTC, MCTC, MuTC REGIONAL TRIAL COURT COURT OF APPEALS SUPREME COURT SHARIAH COURT SANDIGANBAYAN
a. Actions involving SEC 19, BP 129 as amended by SEC 9, BP 129 Jurisdiction over petition for All civil actions and Jurisdiction over civil
personal property RA 7691 a. Annulment of judgments certiorari, prohibition and proceedings between case for the forfeiture
valued at not more than of RTC mandamus against judgment, parties who are Muslims of illegally acquired
300K/400K a. Other cases where final order and resolution of involving disputes relating wealth under RA
b. Actions demanding demand or value of b. Petitions under Rule 65 the ff: to: 1379
sum of money not property in controversy involving an act or a. CA
exceeds 300K/400K
exceeding 300K/400K omission of a quasi-judicial b. COMELEC a. Marriage
b. Actions in admiralty &
Includes admiralty & maritime jurisdiction where
agency c. COA b. Divorce recognized
 maritime cases demand/claim exceeds d. Sandiganbayan under Muslim Code
c. Probate proceedings 300K/400K e. CTA en banc c. Nethrotal or breach of
where gross value of c. Probate proceedings where f. Ombudsman in contract of marriage
estate does not exceed gross value of estate criminal and non- d. Customary dower
exceeds 300K/400K
300K/400K administrative e. Disposition and
d. Actions involving
d. Actions involving title/possession of real
disciplinary cases distribution of property
title/possession of property where assessed upon divorce
real property where value exceeds f. Maintenance and
assessed value does not 20K/50K support and cosolatary
exceed 20K/50K e. Actions not capable of gifts
e. Provisional remedies in pecuniary estimation g. Restitution of marital
principal actions within f. Cases not falling within gifts
their jurisdiction EJ of any court,
f. Summary Procedure tribunal, person or body All cases involving disputes
exercising judicial or
a. Forcible entry and relative to communal
quasi-judicial functions
unlawful detainer g. Under Securities &
properties
b. Irrespective of amount Regulation Code
of damages or unpaid
rentals sought to be Devices or schemes
recovered employed by the board of
c. Other cases where total directors, business
of the claim does not associates, its officers
exceed 100K/200K or partnership,
d. Small Claims Case amounting to fraud or
e. Inclusion and exclusion misrepresentation
of voters
Controversies arising out of
intra-corporate partnership
relations

Controversies in the
election or appointment of
directors, trustees, officers,
or managers of such
corporation, partnership or
association
 Petition to be declared in a
state of suspension of
payments
h. Application for issuance of
writ of search and seizure in
civil actions for infringement
of intellectual property
i. Violations of Anti-Money
Laundering Act

ORIGINAL JURISDICTION
MeTC, MTC, MCTC, MuTC REGIONAL TRIAL COURT COURT OF APPEALS SUPREME COURT SHARIAH COURT
SEC 21, BP 129 SEC 9, JUDICIARY SEC 5, ARTICLE VIII OF THE 1987 ART 413, PD 1083 CODE OF
REORGANIZATION ACT OF 1980 CONSTITUTION MUSLIM PERSONAL LAWS
f. Actions involving ambassadors, (BP 129) OF THE PHILIPPINES
public ministers and consuls g. Actions involving ambassadors,
g. Petition for certiorari, h. Petition for certiorari, public ministers and consuls d. Petition by the Muslims
prohibition, mandamus, quo prohibition, mandamus, quo h. Over petition for certiorari, for the constitution of a
warranto, habeas corpus warranto, habeas corpus prohibition, mandamus, quo family home, change of
h. Petition for writ of amparo i. Writ of Amparo warranto, habeas corpus name, and commitment
i. Petition for habeas data j. Habeas Data i. Petitions for writ of amparo of an insane person to
j. Petition for continuing k. Writ of Continuing j. Petition for Habeas Data an asylum
Mandamus Mandamus k. Petition writ of continuing e. All other personal or real
l. Writ of Kalikasan mandamus actions not mentioned
m. Actions for annulment of l. Petition for Writ of Kalikasan in par 1 (d) wherein the
judgment of the RTC parties are Muslims
n. Petition for freeze order on except those for forcible
any monetary instrument, entry and unlawful
property or proceeds relating detainer, which shall fall
to or involving any unlawful under the exclusive
activity as defined under Sec original jurisdiction of
 3j of RA 9194 the MTC
f. Special civil actions for
interpleader or
declaratory relief
wherein the parties are
Muslims or property
belongs exclusively to
Muslims

SPECIAL JURISDICTION
MeTC, MTC, MCTC, MuTC REGIONAL TRIAL COURT
a. Petition for habeas corpus The SC may designate certain branches of RTC to
b. Application for bail in criminal cases in the province or the handle exclusively the ff cases
city where absent Regional Trial Judge sit a. Criminal cases
b. Juvenile and domestic relations cases
c. Agrarian cases
d. Urban land reform cases which do not fall
under the jurisdiction of quasi judicial bodies
and agencies
e. Such other special cases as the SC may
determine in the interest of a speedy and
efficient administration of justice

APPELLATE JURISDICTION
COURT OF TAX APPEAL REGIONAL TRIAL COURT COURT OF APPEALS SUPREME COURT SHARIAH COURT
* Co equal with the CA All cases decided by lower courts in Sec 9, BP 129 A. ORDINARY APPEAL All cases tried in the Shariah
their respective territorial From CA, in all cases involving Circuit Court within their
a. Decisions of the Commissioner jurisdiction. A.ORDINARY APPEAL offenses for which: territorial jurisdiction
of Internal Revenue in cases a. From RTC a. Penalty imposed is reclusion
involving disputed In its exercise of OJ perpetua or life
assessments, refunds of
On constitutional, tax, imprisonment, or
 internal revenue taxes, fees or jurisdictional questions
other charges, penalties involving questions of facts b. Lesser penalty is imposed
imposed in relation thereto, or which should be appealed for offenses committed on
other matters arising under the first to CA the same occasion or which
National Internal Revenue Code
Penalty imposed is reclusion arose out of the same
or other law or part of law
administered by the Bureau of perpetua or life occurrence that gave rise to the
Internal Revenue; imprisonment more severe offense for
Lesser penalty is imposed for which the penalty of death is
b. Decisions of the Commissioner offenses committed on the imposed
of Customs in cases involving same occasion or which arose
liability for customs duties, fees out of the same occurrence B. PETITION FOR REVIEW ON
or other money charges; that gave rise to the more CERTIORARI
seizure, detention or release of severe offense for which a. From CA
property affected; fines,
imposed penalty is reclusion b. From Sandiganbayan on pure
forfeitures or other penalties
perpetua or life questions of law
imposed in relation thereto; or
other matters arising under the imprisonment c. From judgments or final
Customs Law or other law or b. From Family Courts orders of RTC (OJ)
part of law administered by the c. From MeTC, MTC, MCTC Constitutionality or validity
Bureau of Customs [Rep. Act. Based on delegated of any treaty, international
No. 1125, (1954), Sec. 7]; jurisdiction in Land or executive agreement, law,
registration and cadastral presidential decree,
c. In automatic review cases cases proclamation, order,
where such decisions of the instruction, ordinance or
Commission of Customs
B. PETITION FOR REVIEW regulation is in question
favorable to the taxpayer is
elevated to the Secretary of
a. From CSC Legality of any tax, impost,
Finance (Sec. 2315, TCC); and b. From RTC assessment or toll, or any
In cases appealed from penalty imposed in relation
d. Decisions of the Secretary of MeTC and MCTC, which are thereto
Trade and Industry, in the case not a matter of right Jurisdiction of lower court is in
of non-agricultural product, c. From quasi-judicial agencies issue
commodity or article, or the d. From NCIP Only error or question of law
Secretary of Agriculture, in the e. From Ombudsman is involved
case of agricultural product,
In administrative disciplinary d. From CTA
commodity or article, in
connection with the imposition
cases
 of the Anti-Dumping Duty, C. PETITION FOR CERTIORARI
Countervailing and Safeguard C. PETITION FOR CERTIORARI a. Against COMELEC and COA
Duty [Republic Act Nos. 8751 a. Against NLRC
and 8752, (1999) Sec. 301 (a)
and (p), and Republic Act
8800].
D. AUTOMATIC REVIEW
a. RTC imposed the death
REPUBLIC ACT NUMBER 9282,
penalty
THE CTA'S ORIGINAL APPELLATE
JURISDICTION WAS EXPANDED
The CA may perform the ff
TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING:
functions in the exercise of its
exclusive and appellate
e. Criminal cases involving
jurisdiction, as follows:
violations of the National
Internal Revenue Code and
1. Try cases and conduct
the Tariff and Customs
hearings
Code;
2. Receive evidence
3. 3. Perform any and all acts
f. Decisions of the Regional
necessary to resolve factual
Trial Courts (RTC) in local tax
issues raised in cases falling
cases;
within its original and
appellate jurisdiction,
g. Decisions of the Central
including the power to grant
Board of Assessment
and conduct new trials or
Appeals (CBAA) in cases
further proceedings
involving the assessment
and taxation of real
property; and

h. Collection of internal
revenue taxes and customs
duties the assessment of
which have already become
final.
 CONCURRENT JURISDICTION
MeTC, MTC, MCTC, MuTC REGIONAL TRIAL COURT COURT OF APPEALS SUPREME COURT
(1) With SC (1) With SC (1) With SC (1) With CA
a. Petition for quo a. Actions affecting a. Petitions under Rule 65 a. Petitions under Rule 65
warranto insofar as ambassadors & other against CSC against CSC
barangay officials are public ministers and b. Petitions under Rule 65 b. Petitions under Rule 65
concerned consuls against NLRC against NLRC
(2) With RTC (2) With SC and CA (2) With SC and RTC (2) With CA and RTC
a. Application for a. Petitions for habeas a. Petitions for habeas corpus a. Petitions for habeas corpus
Protection Order corpus and quo warranto and quo warranto and quo warranto
(3) With SC, CA and b. Actions brought to b. Actions brought to
Sandiganbayan: prevent and restrain prevent and restrain
a. Petitions for writ of violation of laws concerning violation of laws
amparo and habeas data monopolies and concerning monopolies
b. Petitions under Rule 65 combinations in restraint of and combinations in
(4) With MeTC, MTC, MCTC trade restraint of trade
a. Application for Protection (3) With SC, RTC and (3) With CA, RTC and
Order Sandiganbayan Sandiganbayan
(5) With Insurance Commission a. Petitions under Rule 65 a. Petitions under Rule 65
a. Claims not exceeding relating to an act or relating to an act or
100K omission of a MTC, or of a omission of a MTC, or of a
corporation, board, officer corporation, board, officer
or person or person
o Petitions for writ of amparo and b. Petitions for writ of
habeas data amparo and habeas data
(4) With RTC
a. Actions affecting
ambassadors & other
public ministers and
consuls
 (5) With MTC
a. Petition for quo warranto
insofar as barangay officials
are concerned

DELEGATED JURISDICTION
MeTC, MTC, MCTC, MuTC
SECTION 34 OF BP 129

1. Cadastral or land registration cases covering lots where

there is no controversy or opposition
2. Cadastral or land registration cases covering lots which is
contested lots where the value of which does not exceed
100k