JURISDICTION OF

PHIL. COURTS.
 
B. P. 129 AS AMENDED BY;

a) R.A. 7691 : ” AN ACT EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF

THE TRIAL COURTS’.
b) R.A 7902’: “AN ACT EXPANDING THE JURISDICTION OF
THE COURT OF APPEALS;
c) R.A 8246’: AN ACT INCREASING THE NUMBER OF
DIVISION OF THE COURT APPEALS.
 
 MTC; METC; MCTC.
 
1. Exclusive original jurisdiction over claim not
exceeding P300,000.00 IN PLACES OUSIDE OF
METROMANILA and not exceeding P400,000.00 in
METRO MANILA.

2. In cases of admiralty or maritime, if claims does

not exceed P300,000.00 outside Metro Manila and
P400,000.00 in Metro Manila.
 
3. In Probate cases where the gross value of the estate
whether personal or real does not exceed P300,000.00
outside Metro manila and P400,000.00 in Metro
Manila.
4. Exclusive original jurisdiction over unlawful
detainer and forcible entry cases regardless of the
amount of rentals or damages prayed for, even if the
rentals or damages run into millions.

5. Exclusive original jurisdiction over civil actions

involving title to or possession of real property or any
interest therein depending on the assessed value of the
land subject of litigation. if the assessed value of the
land or interest therein does not exceed P20,000.00
outside Metro Manila and P50,000.00 in Metro Manila,
the MTC has original jurisdiction over the case.
 6. Special jurisdiction over petitions for writ of habeas
corpus in the absence of all judges of the RTC in the
province or city where it sits.( Special Jurisdiction).
 7. Delegated jurisdiction over Cadastral and Land
Registration cases covering lots where there is no
controversy or opposition or in case of contested lots where
the value does not exceed P100,000.00. assigned by the
Supreme Court. (Delegated jurisdiction).
NOTE:
DECISIONS RENDERED BY THE MTC/METC/MCTC OVER
CADASTRAL AND LAND REGISTRATION CASES IN THE
EXERCISE OF ITS DELEGATED JURISDICTION SHALL BE
APPEALABLE DIRECTLY TO THE COURT OF APPEALS BECAUSE
THE MTC IN ITS DELEGATED JURISDICTION IS ACTING AS AN
RTC.
 B) REGIONAL TRIAL COURT (RTC):
 
All other cases not within the jurisdiction of the MTC et. al.
or of any other judicial or quasi judicial agency shall be filed
with the RTC as a court of general jurisdiction.
 
1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases which used
to be with the jurisdiction of the SEC.

2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all cases not capable

of pecuniary estimation.
 
3) All actions of admiralty and maritime where demand
or claim exceeds P300,000.00 outside Metro Manila and
P400,000.00 in Metro Manila.
4) In matters of probate, testate or intestate where the gross
value of the estate exceeds P300,000.00 outside Metro Manila
and P400,000.00 in Metro Manila.
 
5) In all actions involving contract of marriage and
marital relations.
 
6) In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any
court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi
judicial functions.
 
7) In all civil actions, special proceedings falling within
the exclusive jurisdiction of the juvenile and domestic
relations court and Court of Agrarian Reform.
8) In all other cases, in which the demand exclusive of
interest, damages of whatever kind, atty’s fees, litigation
expenses and costs or the value of the property in
controversy exceeds P300,000.00 outside Metro Manila
and P400,000.00 in Metro Manila.
 
9) Original jurisdiction in the issuance of writs of
Certiorari, Prohibition, Mandamus, Quo Warranto, Habeas
corpus and Injunction enforceable in any part of their
respective regions.
 
10) Original jurisdiction of all actions affecting
ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls.
 
APPELLATE JURISDICTION:
 
11) Over all cases decided by MTC/METC/MCTC in their
respective territorial jurisdiction.
 
SPECIAL JURISDICTION:
 
12) Supreme Court may designate certain branches of the
RTC to handle exclusively criminal cases, juvenile cases,
land reform cases and other cases which does not fall under
the jurisdiction of quasi judicial bodies and agencies.
On October 28,1997, Congress enacted R.A 8369 otherwise
known as ‘FAMILY COURT ACT OF 1997’.designating some
RTC branches to sit as Family Court exercising exclusive
original jurisdiction in the following cases:
 
1. Petition for guardianship , custody of children, habeas
corpus.
2. Petition for adoption of minor children and revocation
thereof.
3. Complaints of annulment of marriage, declaration of
nullity and those relating to marital status and property
relations between husband and wife.
4. Petitions for support and acknowledgment of minor
children.

5. Petitions for declaration of status of children as

abandoned, dependent ,or neglected children.

6. Petition for declaration of family home (Note, this

proceeding is no longer required under the Family
Code).

7. Summary judicial proceedings pursuant to the Family

Code.

8. All cases of domestic violence against women and

children as defined therein but which doesn’t
constitute criminal offense.
AS SPECIAL COMMERCIAL COURTS as designated by the
Supreme Court: RTC exercise original jurisdiction over the
following:

1. Cases involving violations of intellectual property rights.

2. Cases enumerated under Section 5 of P.D. 902 A like fraud
scheme cases, intra corporate disputes, election cases,
petition for suspension of payments and or rehabilitation
proceedings.
3. Rehabilitation, Insolvency and liquidation cases.

AS SPECIAL AGRARIAN COURTS:

RTC exercise exlusive original jurisdiction over all petitions for the
determination of just compensation to landowners and prosecution of all
criminal offenses under the comprehensive reform law.
C) COURT OF APPEALS.( C.A.)
 
1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in all actions for annulment
of judgments of RTC.
2.  Concurrent and original jurisdiction with the SC to issue
writs of Certiorari, Prohibitions,, Mandamus against :a)
RTC; b) Civil Service Commission; c) Central Board of
Assessment Appeals; d) all quasi judicial agencies
mentioned under Rule 43; e) NLRC ( St. Martins Funeral
Homes vs. NLRC, 295 SCRA 494).
3. Concurrent and original jurisdiction with the S.C. and the
RTC to issue writs of Certiorari, Prohibition ,Mandamus
against lower courts and to issue writs of Quo warrranto
and Habeas Corpus whether or not in aid of its appellate
jurisdiction.
4. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction by way of Ordinary
appeal from the RTC and Family Courts.
 
5. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction by way of Petition for
Review from RTC rendered in the exercise of its appellate
jurisdiction.
 
6. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction by way of Petition for
Review from the decisions, resolutions or awards of the
Civil Service Commission, Central Board of Assessment
Appeals and other quasi judicial agencies and of the
Ombudsman in Administrative disciplinary cases. ( Enemicio
vs. Office of The Ombudsman,419 SCRA 82).
NOTE:
THAT UNDER R.A 9282, ALL JUDGMENTS AND FINAL ORDERS
OF THE COURT OF TAX APPEALS ( CTA) ARE NO LONGER
APPEALABLE TO THE COURT OF APPEALS BY WAY OF PETITION
FOR REVIEW. JUDGMENTS OF THE CTA RENDERED EN BANC
ARE DIRECTLY APPEALABLE TO THE SUPREME COURT BY WAY
OF PETTION FOR REVIEW UNDER RULE 45.

7. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over decisions of MTC

in Cadastral cases or Land Registration cases pursuant to
the delegated jurisdiction of the MTC.
INSTANCES WHEN THE COURT OF APPEALS MAY ACT AS A
TRIAL COURT pursuant to Section 12, Rule 124 of the Rules of
Court. .
 
1. In annulment of Judgment in case the CA finds prima
facie merit in the petition, the same shall be given due
course and trial before the CA shall be conducted where
the CA may issue summons observing the procedure in
ordinary civil cases .
2.  When a motion for new trial is granted by the CA. the
procedure in the new trial shall be the same as that granted
by the RTC.
3.  A petition for Habeas corpus, Habeas data or petition for
Amparo filed with the CA shall be set for hearing
4. in cases where new evidence is discovered , CA may
conduct a new trial
D) SUPREME COURT (S.C.)
 
1. Exclusive original jurisdiction in Petitions for Certiorari,
Prohibition and Mandamus against: a) CA;
b)Commission on Election (COMELEC); c) Commission
on Audit (COA); d) Sandiganbayan; e) Court of Tax
Appeals (CTA).
2. Concurrent original jurisdiction with the CA in Petitions
for Certiorari, Prohibition, Mandamus against: a) RTC; b)
Civil Service Commission; c) NLRC; d) Central Board of
Assessment Appeals (CBAA); e) other quasi judicial
agencies.
3. Concurrent original jurisdiction with the CA and RTC over
Petitions for Certiorari, Prohibition, Mandamus against
lower courts and bodies and Petitions for Quo Warranto
and Habeas Corpus.
4. Concurrent jurisdiction with the RTC in cases affecting
ambassadors, public ministers and consuls.
 
5. Appellate jurisdiction by way of petition for review on
Certiorari under Rule 45 against: a) CA; b) Sandiganbayan and c)
RTC on pure questions of law; d) in cases involving the
constitutionality or validity of a law, treaty, international or
executive agreement ,presidential decree, proclamation, order,
ordinance, regulation, legality of a tax, impost, assessment, toll or
penalty. And over decisions of Court of Tax Appeals rendered en
banc .
 
NOTE:
The Supreme Court is not a trier of facts. Which means that passing
upon a factual issue is not within the province of the Supreme
Court. EXCEPT in some cases governed by special laws such as
petitions for Amparo or Habeas Data or Habeas Corpus.
 
D) SPECIAL LAWS:

1) SUMMARY PROCEDURE: The 1991 Revised Rules on

Summary Procedure as amended by A.M. 02-11-09 effective
November 25, 2002.

a) SCOPE: govern procedures in MTC, METC and

MCTC in the following cases:

1) forcible entry and unlawful detainer cases, irrespective of

the amount of damages or unpaid rentals where attorneys fees
not exceeding P20,000.00.

2) all other civil cases, except probate proceedings , total

claim does not exceed P100,000.00 outside Metro Manila
and P200,000.00 in Metro Manila.
NOTE:
As of November 25, 2002, the jurisdictional amount subject
to summary procedure has been increased from P20,000.00 to
P100,000.00 (outside Metro Manila) and P200,000.00 (in
Metro Manila), exclusive of interest and costs.

II) RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR SMALL CLAIMS

CASES : ( A.M. 08-8-7-SC)
This Rule took effect on October 1, 2008 with its amendments
effective November 3,2009.

a) SCOPE: the Rule shall govern the procedure in actions

before the MTC, METC and MCTC for payment of money
where the value of the claim does not exceed P100,000.00,
exclusive of interest and costs.
b) APPLICABILITY: The Rule is applicable in:

1) all actions which are purely civil in nature where the

claim is solely for payment or reimbursement of sum of
MONEY;

2) the civil aspect of criminal actions, either filed prior to

the institution of the criminal action, or reserved upon the
filing of the criminal action in court.

3) the enforcement of a barangay amicable settlement or an

arbitration award involving a money claim as long as the
award is within its jurisdictional limit.
c) CLAIMS: the claims or demand referred to maybe for
money owed to under any of the following circumstances
which may arise from a:
1) Contract of Lease;
2) Contract of Loan;
3) Contract of Services;
4) Contract of Sale;
5) Contract of Mortgage.

d) DAMAGES: if the claim is for damages, said may arise

from:
1) Fault or negligence’;
2) Quasi Contract;
3) Contract.
III. KATARUNGANG PAMBARANGAY LAW ( R.A.
No. 7160).

a) COVERAGE OF BARANGAY CONCILIATION: All

cases and disputes between residents of the same
municipality or city and between those who are residents of
adjoining barangays of different municipalities or cities
maybe the subject of the barangay proceedings EXCEPT IN
THE FOLLOWING CASES:
1) where one party is the government, or any subdivision or
instrumentality thereof;

2) where one party is a public officer or employee and the

disputes relates to the performance of his official functions;
3) offenses for which the law prescribes a maximum
penalty of imprisonment exceeding one year or a fine
exceeding P5,000.00;
4) offenses where there is no offended party;

5) where the disputes involve real properties located in

different cities or municipalities Unless, the parties agree
thereto to submit their differences to amicable settlement
in an appropriate Lupon;

6) Disputes involving parties who actually reside in

different barangays of different cities and municipalities
Except where such barangay units adjoin each other and the
parties agree thereto to submit their differences to amicable
settlement by the Lupon;
7) Such other classes of disputes which the President may
determine in the interest of justice or upon the
recommendation of the Secretary of Justice.

b) In the following cases, the parties may go directly to

the court which is made as procedural exceptions:

1) where the accused is under police custody or detention;

2) where the person has been deprived of personal liberty

calling for habeas corpus;

3) where the actions are coupled with provisional remedies

such as preliminary injunction, attachment, support pendente
lite or replevin;
4) where the action maybe barred by Statute of
Limitations;

5) labor disputes;

6) disputes involving traditions of indigenous

cultural community.

END