JURISDICTION OF COURTS
SUPREME COURT CIVIL CASES
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
1. Petitions for CERTIORARI, PROHIBITION, or MANDAMUS against
a. Court of Appeals (Sec. 17, Judiciary Act of 1948)
b. COMELEC (Sec. 7, Art. IX, 1987 Constitution)
c. COA (Sec. 7, Art. IX, 1987 Constitution)
d. Sandiganbayan (PD 1606 as amended); and
e. CTA (RA No. 9282)
2. Disciplinary proceedings against members of the Bar and court personnel (Art. VIII,
Sec. 6, 1987 Constitution; Rule 56, Rules of Court)
CONCURRENT
Note: While the Rules provide for concurrent jurisdiction among the RTC, CA and SC, the same is
still subject to the Doctrine Hierarchy of Courts.
CONCURRENT with RTC
-cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers, and consuls (BP Blg. 129, Sec. 21(2); 1987
Constitution Art. VIII, Sec. 5, Par. 1)
CONCURRENT with CA
-Petition for Certiorari, prohibition, or mandamus against:
1. RTC (BP 129, Sec. 21, par. 1)
2. Civil Service Commission (RA No. 7902)
3. Central Board Assessment Appeals (PD No. 464, otherwise known as the Real Property Tax
Code; BP No. 129; RA No. 7902);
4. NLRC (St. Martin Funeral Homes v. NLRC, GR No. 130866);
5. Other quasi-judicial agencies (BP No. 129; RA No. 7902);
6. Petitions for Writ of Kalikasan
CONCURRENT with RTC and CA
1. Petitions for Habeas Corpus (BP 129, Sec. 9, par. 1 and Sec. 21, par. 1; 1987 Constitution,
Art. VIII, Sec. 5, par. 1);
2. Petitions for Quo Warranto (BP 129, Sec. 9, par. 1; 1987 Constitution, Art. VIII, Sec. 5, par. 1);
3. Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against inferior courts and other bodies
(BP No. 129, Secs. 9(1), 21(1); 1987 Constitution, Art. VII, Sec. 5, par. 1);
4. Petitions for continuing Mandamus (A. M. No. 09-6-8-SC, Rule 8, Sec. 1)
CONCURRENT with RTC, CA and Sandiganbayan
1. Petitions for Writ of Amparo (AM No. 07-9-12-SC, Sec. 3);
2. Petitions for Writ of Habeas Data (AM No. 08-1-16-SC, Sec. 3)
APPELLATE
1. By way of appeal by certiorari under Rule 45, against the:
a. Court of Appeals;
b. Sandiganbayan;
c. RTC on pure questions of law
2. In cases involving the constitutionality or validity of a law or treaty, international agreement,
or executive agreement, law presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction,
ordinance or regulation, legality of a tax, impost assessment, toll or penalty, jurisdiction of a
lower court (1987 Constitution, Art. VIII, Sec. 5);
3. Court of Tax Appeals En Banc (RA NO. 9282, Sec. 19)
COURT OF APPEALS CIVIL CASES
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
1. Actions for annulment of judgments of the RTC (BP 129, Sec. 9, par. 2)
CONCURRENT
Note: While the Rules provide for concurrent jurisdiction among the RTC, CA and SC, the same is
still subject to the Doctrine of Heirarchy of Courts.
WITH SUPREME COURT
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition, or mandamus against:
1. RTC
2. Civil Service Commission
3. Central Board of Assessment Appeals
4. NLRC
5. Other quasi-judicial agencies
6. Petitions for Writ of Kalikasan (AM No. 09-6-8-SC, Rule 7, Sec. 3)
WITH THE SC AND RTC
1. Petitions for Habeas Corpus
2. Petitions for Quo Warranto, Petitions for certiorari, prohibition or mandamus against
inferior courts and other bodies
3. Petitions for continuing mandamus
WITH THE RTC, SC & SANDIGANBAYAN
1. Petitions for Writ of Amparo
2. Petitions for Writ of Habeas Data
EXCLUSIVE APPELLATE
1. By way of ordinary appeal from the RTC and Family Courts
2. By way of petition for review from the RTC rendered in the exercise
3. By way of petition for review from the decisions, resolutions, orders or awards of the:
a. Civil Service Commission
b. Office of the Ombudsman in administrative disciplinary cases
c. Other bodies mentioned in Rule 43 (BP 129, Sec. 9, par. 3)
4. By way of ordinary appeal over decisions of MTCs in cadastral or land registration cases
pursuant to its delegated jurisdiction (BP 129, Sec. 34, as amended by RA 7691)
SANDIGANBAYAN
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
Cases involving violations of:
1. E.O. No. 1 (PCGG)
2. E.O. NO. 2 (Illegal Acquisition and Misappropriations of Ferdinand Marcos, Imelda Marcos,
those close relative, subordinates, business associates, dummies, agents or nominees
3. E.O. No. 14 (cases involving the ill-gotten wealth of the immediately mentioned person)
4. E.O. No. 14-A (amendments to E.O. No. 14 “An Act Strengthening Further the Functional and
Structural Organization of the Sandiganbayan, Sec. 2)
CONCURRENT
Note: While the Rules provide for concurrent jurisdiction among the RTC, CA and SC, the same is
still subject to the Doctrine of Heirarchy of Courts.
WITH THE SC
Petitions for certiorari, prohibition and mandamus whether or not in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction (A.M. No. 07-7-12-SC).
Petitions for Habeas Corpus, injunction and other ancillary writs in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction, including Quo Warranto arising in cases falling under EO No. 1,2,14 and 14-A
WITH THE SC, CA AND RTC
Petitions for Writ of Amparo (AM No. 07-9-12-SC, otherwise known as The Rule on Writ of
Amparo, Sec. 3)
Petitions for Writ of Habeas Data (AM No. 08-1-16-SC, otherwise known as The Rule on Writ of
Habeas Data, Sec. 3)
REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
1. All civil actions incapable of pecuniary estimation
2. In all civil actions which involve the title to, or possession of, real property, or any interest
therein, where the assessed value exceeds 400K (Note: Except for forcible entry and
unlawful detainer of lands or buildings, the jurisdiction therein being conferred to the MTC)
3. In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where the demand or claims exceeds
2million
4. In all matters of probate, both estate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate
exceeds 2million
5. In all actions involving the contract of marriage or marital relations
6. In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person, or body
exercising jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial
functions
7. In all civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive jurisdiction or a
Juvenile and Domestic relations Court and of the Court of Agrarian Relations as now
provided by law
8. In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kin,
attorney’s fees, litigation expenses and costs or the value of the property in controversy
exceeds 2million (Sec. 19, BP 129 as amended by RA 11576)
9. Cases involving devices or schemes employed by or any acts of the board of directors,
business associates, its officers, or partnership; amounting to fraud and misrepresentation,
Intra-corporate controversies, controversies in the election or appointments of directors,
trustees, officers or managers of corporations, partnerships, or associations; petitions of
corporations, partnership or associations to be declared in the state of suspension of
payments (Sec. 5.2, Securities Regulation Code)
SPECIAL
SC may designate certain branches of RTC to handle exclusive criminal cases, juvenile and
domestic, relations cases, agrarian cases, urban land reform cases which do not fall under the
jurisdiction of any quasi-judicial bodies and agencies, and other special cases as the SC may
determine in the interest of speedy and efficient administration of justice.
CONCURRENT
WITH SC:
Action affect ambassadors, public ministers, and consuls
WITH THE SC & CA
Petitions for Habeas Corpus
Petitions of Quo Warranto
Petitions for Certiorari, prohibition, or mandamus against inferior courts and other bodies; and
Petitions for continuing mandamus
WITH THE SC, CA & SANDIGANBAYAN
Petitions for Writ of Amparo and
Petition for Writ of Habeas Data
WITH THE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER
Single claim not exceeding 5million (RA 10607)(Insuranc Code, as amended by RA 10607, Sec.
439)
APPELLATE
All cases decided by the MeTC, MTCs and MCTCs in their respective territorial jurisdiction except
decisions of lower courts in the exercise of delegated jurisdiction.
FAMILY COURTS
ORIGINAL
Family Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and decide the following civil cases:
1. Petitions for guardianship,
2. Custody of children,
3. Habeas corpus involving children
4. Petitions for adoption of children and the revocation thereof;
5. Complaints for annulment, and declaration of nullity of marriage and matters relating to
marital 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
6. Petitions for support and /or acknowledgment
7. Summary judicial proceedings under the Family Code
8. Petition for declaration of status of children as abandoned, dependent.
9. Petitions for the constitution of the family home (RA 8369, Sec. 5b,c,d,e,f,g,h,i)
Family Courts have exclusive original jurisdiction to hear and decide the following criminal
cases:
1. Criminal cases where one or more of the accused is below 18yo but not less than 9yo or
where one or more of the victims is a minor at the time of the commission of the offense
2. Violations of RA 7610, otherwise known as the “Special Protection of Children Against Child
Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act,” as amended by Republic Act No. 7658
3. Cases of domestic violence against:
a. Women – which are acts of gender based violence that results, or are likely to result
in physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women; and other forms of
physical abuse such as battering or threats and coercion which violate a woman’s
personhood, integrity and freedom movement.
b. Children – which include the commission of all forms of abuse, neglect, cruelty,
exploitation, violence, and discrimination and all other conditions prejudicial to their
development. (RA 8369, Sec. 5a,j,k)
MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS
EXCLUSIVE ORIGINAL
1. 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 2million, exclusive of
interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney’s fees, litigation, expenses, and costs, the
amount of which must be specifically alleged.
2. Exclusive jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer.
3. 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 any interest
therein where the assessed value of the property or any interest therein does not exceed
400K exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney’s fees, litigation expenses
and costs.
4. Exclusive original jurisdiction in admiralty and maritime actions where the demand or claim
does not exceed 2million.
SPECIAL
Petition for writ of Habeas Corpus or application for bail in criminal cases in the absence of all
RTC judges in the province or city
DELEGATED
May be assigned by the SC to hear cadastral or land registration cases where:
1. There is no controversy or opposition over the land; or
2. In case of contested lands, the value does not exceed 100K
RULES ON SUMMARY PROCEDURE
1. Forcible entry and unlawful detainer cases, regardless of the amount to be recovered.
Attorney’s fees, if awarded, shall not exceed 100K
2. All civil actions, except probate proceedings, admiralty and maritime actions and small
claims where the claim does not exceed 2million
3. Complaints for damages where the claims do not exceed 2million
4. Cases for enforcement of barangay amicable settlement agreements and arbitration award
where the money claim exceeds 1 million, provided that no execution has been enforced
within 6months from the settlement date or receipt of award or the date when the
obligation becomes due and demandable;
5. Cases solely for the revival of judgment of any first level court;
6. The civil aspect of violations of BP 22, if no criminal action has been instituted.
7. With respect to criminal cases, violation of BP 22 is explicitly included, and the penalty
threshold of all other criminal cases is increased to imprisonment not exceeding one year,
or a fine not exceeding 50K, or both, and a fine not exceeding 150K for offenses involving
damage to property through criminal negligence. If the prescribed penalty consists of
imprisonment and/or a fine, the prescribed imprisonment shall be the basis for determining
the applicable procedure. Arraignment and pre-trial shall be scheduled and conducted in
accordance with the Revised Guidelines for Continuous Trial of Criminal Cases.
