PHILIPPINE COURT SYSTEM

Review Courts
Supreme Court
Court of Appeals

Trial Courts
Regional Trial Court
Provincial Regional Trial Court
Metro Manila Regional Trial Court
Metropolitan Trial Court
Municipal Trial Court
Municipal Circuit Trial Court

Special Courts
Court of Tax Appeals
Sandiganbayan

Supreme Court
According to the 1987 Constitution, Article VIII, Section 5, the Supreme Court exercises the following
powers:
1. Exercise jurisdiction over cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and
consuls, and over petitions for certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, and
habeas corpus.
2. Review, revise, reverse, modify, or affirm, on appeal or certiorari, as the law or the Rules
of Court may provide, final judgments and orders of the lower courts in:
All cases in which the constitutionality or validity of any treaty, international or
executive agreement, law, presidential decree, proclamation, order, instruction,
ordinance, or regulation is in question;
All cases involving the legality of any tax, impost, assessment, or toll, or any
penalty imposed in relation thereto;
All cases in which the jurisdiction of any lower court is in issue;
All criminal cases in which the penalty imposed is reclusion perpetua or higher;
All cases in which only an error or question of law is involved;
3. Assign temporarily judges of lower courts to other stations as public interest may require.
Such temporary assignments shall not exceed six months without the consent of the
judge concerned.
4. Order a change of venue or place of trial to avoid a miscarriage of justice.
1. Promulgate rules concerning the protection and enforcement of constitutional rights, pleading,
practice, and procedure in all courts; the admission to the practice of law, the Integrated Bar;
and legal assistance to the underprivileged. Such rules shall provide a simplified and
inexpensive procedure for the speedy disposition of cases, shall be uniform for all courts the
same grade, and shall not diminish, increase or modify substantive rights. Rules of procedure of
special courts and quasi-judicial bodies shall remain effective unless disapproved by the
Supreme Court.
2. Appoint all officials and employees of the Judiciary in accordance with the Civil Service Law (Sec.
5 , id.).

COURT OF APPEALS

Section 9. Jurisdiction. The Court of Appeals shall Exercise:

1. Original jurisdiction to issue writs of mandamus, prohibition, certiorari, habeas corpus, and quo
warranto, and auxiliary writs or processes, whether or not in aid of its appellate jurisdiction;

2. Exclusive original jurisdiction over actions for annulment of judgements of Regional Trial Courts; and

3. Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over all final judgements, resolutions, orders or awards of Regional
Trial Courts and quasi-judicial agencies, instrumentalities, boards or commission, including the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Social Security Commission, the Employees Compensation
Commission and the Civil Service Commission, Except those falling within the appellate jurisdiction of
the Supreme Court in accordance with the Constitution, the Labor Code of the Philippines under
Presidential Decree No. 442, as amended, the provisions of this Act, and of subparagraph (1) of the
third paragraph and subparagraph 4 of the fourth paragraph od Section 17 of the Judiciary Act of 1948.

The court of Appeals shall have the power to try cases and conduct hearings, receive evidence and
perform any and all acts necessary to resolve factual issues raised in cases falling within its original and
appellate jurisdiction, including the power to grant and conduct new trials or Appeals must be
continuous and must be completed within three (3) months, unless extended by the Chief Justice. (as
amended by R.A. No. 7902.)

REGIONAL TRIAL COURTS

Section 19. Jurisdiction in civil cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original
jurisdiction:

(1) In all civil actions in which the subject of the litigation is 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 of the property involved exceeds Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or for
civil actions in Metro Manila, where such the value exceeds Fifty thousand pesos (50,000.00) except
actions for forcible entry into and unlawful detainer of lands or buildings, original jurisdiction over which
is conferred upon Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts;

(3) In all actions in admiralty and maritime jurisdiction where he demand or claim exceeds One hundred
thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or , in Metro Manila, where such demand or claim exceeds Two hundred
thousand pesos (200,000.00);

(4) In all matters of probate, both testate and intestate, where the gross value of the estate exceeds
One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in probate matters in Metro Manila, where such gross
value exceeds Two hundred thousand pesos (200,000.00);

(5) In all actions involving the contract of marriage and marital relations;

(6) In all cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal, person or body exercising
jurisdiction or any court, tribunal, person or body exercising judicial or quasi-judicial functions;

(7) In all civil actions and special proceedings falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of a
Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court and of the Courts of Agrarian Relations as now provided by law;
and

(8) In all other cases in which the demand, exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind, attorney's
fees, litigation expenses, and costs or the value of the property in controversy exceeds One hundred
thousand pesos (100,000.00) or, in such other abovementioned items exceeds Two hundred thousand
pesos (200,000.00). (as amended by R.A. No. 7691*)

Section 20. Jurisdiction in criminal cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise exclusive original
jurisdiction in all criminal cases not within the exclusive jurisdiction of any court, tribunal or body,
except those now falling under the exclusive and concurrent jurisdiction of the Sandiganbayan which
shall hereafter be exclusively taken cognizance of by the latter.

Section 21. Original jurisdiction in other cases. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise original
jurisdiction:

(1) In the issuance of writs of certiorari, prohibition, mandamus, quo warranto, habeas corpus and
injunction which may be enforced in any part of their respective regions; and
(2) In actions affecting ambassadors and other public ministers and consuls.
Section 22. Appellate jurisdiction. Regional Trial Courts shall exercise appellate jurisdiction over all
cases decided by Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts in
their respective territorial jurisdictions. Such cases shall be decided on the basis of the entire record of
the proceedings had in the court of origin and such memoranda and/or briefs as may be submitted by
the parties or required by the Regional Trial Courts. The decision of the Regional Trial Courts in such
cases shall be appealable by petition for review to the

Court of Appeals which may give it due course only when the petition shows prima facie that the lower
court has committed an error of fact or law that will warrant a reversal or modification of the decision or
judgment sought to be reviewed.

Section 23. Special jurisdiction to try special cases. The Supreme Court may designate certain
branches of the Regional Trial Courts to handle exclusively criminal cases, juvenile and domestic
relations cases, agrarian cases, urban land reform cases which do not fall under the jurisdiction of
quasi-judicial bodies and agencies, and/or such other special cases as the Supreme Court may
determine in the interest of a speedy and efficient administration of justice.

Section 24. Special Rules of Procedure. Whenever a Regional Trial Court takes cognizance of juvenile
and domestic relation cases and/or agrarian cases, the special rules of procedure applicable under
present laws to such cases shall continue to be applied, unless subsequently amended by law or by
rules of court promulgated by the Supreme Court.

METROPOLITAN TRIAL COURTS, MUNICIPAL TRIAL COURTS,

AND MUNICIPAL CIRCUIT TRIAL COURTS

Section 32. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts in criminal cases. Except in cases falling within the exclusive original jurisdiction of Regional
Trial Courts and of the Sandiganbayan, the Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and
Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall exercise:

(1) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all violations of city or municipal ordinances committed within
their respective territorial jurisdiction; and

(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over all offenses punishable with imprisonment not exceeding six (6)
years irrespective of the amount of fine, and regardless of other imposable accessory or other
penalties, including the civil liability arising from such offenses or predicated thereon, irrespective of
kind, nature, value, or amount thereof: Provided, however, That in offenses involving damage to
property through criminal negligence they shall have exclusive original jurisdiction thereof. (as
amended by R.A, No. 7691)

Section 33. Jurisdiction of Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts in civil cases. Metropolitan Trial Courts, Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial
Courts shall exercise:

(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 One hundred thousand pesos (P100,000.00) or, in
Metro Manila where such personal property, estate, or amount of the demand does not exceed Two
hundred thousand pesos (P200,000.00) exclusive of interest damages of whatever kind, attorney's fees,
litigation expenses, and costs, the amount of which must be specifically alleged: Provided, That where
there are several claims or causes of action between the same or different parties, embodied in the
same complaint, the amount of the demand shall be the totality of the claims in all the causes of
action, irrespective of whether the causes of action arose out of the same or different transactions;

(2) Exclusive original jurisdiction over cases of forcible entry and unlawful detainer: Provided, That
when, in such cases, the defendant raises the question of ownership in his pleadings and the question
of possession cannot be resolved without deciding the issue of ownership, the issue of ownership shall
be resolved only to determine the issue of possession.

(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 interest therein does not exceed
Twenty thousand pesos (P20,000.00) or, in civil actions in Metro Manila, where such assessed value
does not exceed Fifty thousand pesos (P50,000.00) exclusive of interest, damages of whatever kind,
attorney's fees, litigation expenses and costs: Provided, That value of such property shall be
determined by the assessed value of the adjacent lots. (as amended by R.A. No. 7691)

Section 34. Delegated jurisdiction in cadastral and land registration cases. Metropolitan Trial Courts,
Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts may be assigned by the Supreme Court to hear
and determine cadastral or land registration cases covering lots where there is no controversy or
opposition, or contested lots the where the value of which does not exceed One hundred thousand
pesos (P100,000.00), such value to be ascertained by the affidavit of the claimant or by agreement of
the respective claimants if there are more than one, or from the corresponding tax declaration of the
real property. Their decisions in these cases shall be appealable in the same manner as decisions of the
Regional Trial Courts. (as amended by R.A. No. 7691)

Section 35. Special jurisdiction in certain cases. In the absence of all the Regional Trial Judges in a
province or city, any Metropolitan Trial Judge, Municipal Trial Judge, Municipal Circuit Trial Judge may
hear and decide petitions for a writ of habeas corpus or applications for bail in criminal cases in the
province or city where the absent Regional Trial Judges sit.

Section 36. Summary procedures in special cases. In Metropolitan Trial Courts and Municipal Trial
Courts with at least two branches, the Supreme Court may designate one or more branches thereof to
try exclusively forcible entry and unlawful detainer cases, those involving violations of traffic laws, rules
and regulations, violations of the rental law, and such other cases requiring summary disposition as the
Supreme Court may determine. The Supreme Court shall adopt special rules or procedures applicable
to such cases in order to achieve an expeditious and inexpensive determination thereof without regard
to technical rules. Such simplified procedures may provide that affidavits and counter-affidavits may be
admitted in lieu of oral testimony and that the periods for filing pleadings shall be non-extendible.

Section 37. Preliminary investigation. Judges of Metropolitan Trial Courts, except those in the National
Capital Region, of Municipal Trial Courts, and Municipal Circuit Trial Courts shall have authority to
conduct preliminary investigation of crimes alleged to have been committed within their respective
territorial jurisdictions which are cognizable by the Regional Trial Courts.

The preliminary investigation shall be conducted in accordance with the procedure prescribed in
Section 1, paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d), of Presidential Decree No. 911: Provided, however, That if
after the preliminary investigation the Judge finds a prima facie case, he shall forward the records of
the case to the Provincial/City Fiscal for the filing of the corresponding information with the proper
court.

No warrant of arrest shall be issued by the Judge in connection with any criminal complaint filed with
him for preliminary investigation, unless after an examination in writing and under oath or affirmation
of the complainant and his witnesses, he finds that a probable cause exists.

Any warrant of arrest issued in accordance herewith may be served anywhere in the Philippines.

Section 45. Shari'a Courts. Shari'a Courts to be constituted as provided for in Presidential Decree No.
1083, otherwise known as the "Code of Muslim Personal Laws of the Philippines," shall be included in
the funding appropriations so provided in this Act.